Woodstock United, the Recreational Program, is designed to be Equitable and Inclusive. Our mission is to introduce the beautiful game of soccer to as many young people as possible in a nurturing, creative, dynamic, organized and FUN environment.

Equitable: All athletes will have as equal an experience as possible and shall participate in at least 50% of all match minutes to the best of our coaches' abilities.

Inclusive: All participants are accepted regardless of natural development or ability. WUSC recognizes that all individuals are different, compromised of unique strengths and weaknesses. Therefore progress and development expectations are also unique to each individual athlete. Recreational soccer with Woodstock United is designed to encourage all forms of athleticism and is focused on developing each athlete into the highest quality soccer player they personally can be.

From the 6U to 10U levels of play, competition is entirely In-House, meaning athletes will compete with other teams from inside the organization only. This makes healthy competition and good sportsmanship paramount to the success and enjoyability of each season. The 12U, 14U and High School age levels engage in outside leagues and compete with teams from other areas. Athletes at all levels are expected to exhibit high standards of sportsmanship.

WUSC endeavors to make all recreational teams as even as possible in order to encourage development & good competition. Winning and losing are not the main focus, and scores or standings are not kept at the 6U or 8U levels. WUSC's priority is building athletes' resiliency to outcomes, helping them manage and accept both winning & losing as the natural, inevitable outcomes of engaging in sport.

All Woodstock United Recreational Program coaches are Volunteers. They receive training from Illinois Youth Soccer Association (IYSA) and WUSC. WUSC Coaches' Training is based on the US Soccer Grassroots Methodology: Play, Practice, Play. Volunteer coaches are not professional coaches, nor are they expected to be. Coaches and all club members are partners in the common goal of creating the best possible learning environment for athletes This is done through respect, encouragement and support for all involved.

6U trainings (practices) and scrimmages take place on Saturdays. The session is one hour with 30 minutes for training and 30 minutes for a scrimmage against another 6U team. Athletes play 4v4 with no goalkeepers or referees. Coaches are on the field with the athletes.

8U & 10U trainings (practices) take place one day per week, on the day of the coaches' choosing. All 8U & 10U matches are held at the WUSC fields on Saturdays. 8U matches are 6v6, with 5 field players and a goalkeeper. 10U matches are 7v7, with 6 field players and a goalkeeper. 8U & 10U matches typically have referees assigned, but coaches may step in to referee matches as needed. The US Soccer "Build Out Line" is used at both levels. "Offsides" is not called inside the Neutral Third (between the Build-Out Lines). "Offsides" is introduced at the 8U level with only flagrant offenses being called, and is fully enforced in the Attacking Third for 10U.

12U & above trainings (practices) take place one day per week, on the day of the coaches' choosing. All 12U & above trainings and home matches take place at the WUSC Fields. Away matches are in surrounding areas, typically less than one hour away. 12U matches are 9v9, with 8 field players and a goalkeeper. All 14U & above matches are 11v11, with 10 field players and a goalkeeper. "Offsides" is fully enforced at these levels. Heading the ball is not allowed until the 14U level and above.

Academy athletes practice one extra day per week. The Woodstock United Academy Program is designed to be a bridge to Competitive soccer for Recreational athletes. The program is divided into teams who play each other in friendly home matches at the WUSC Fields, may travel to surrounding areas to play against other clubs with similar programs, or may enter into a tournament at the end of the regular Recreational season.

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doc@woodstockunitedsoccer.org