Summer Soccer at Youth Memorial Park
2024 dates: Mondays and Wednesdays, July 10 - July 31
7:30pm - 8:30pm
This is our version of street soccer with NO COACHING or adult directions. Just play!
In the summer, Greenbelt SA runs a small-sided, intramural soccer program with two sessions per week in the evenings for each age group. Rising 3rd-6th grade players and 7th-12th graders will play on separate fields, both at Youth Memorial Park in New Carrollton. The one hour sessions start at 7:30 pm as the sun has started setting, providing relief from the direct heat.
We line small fields, provide goals and balls and have a background-checked adult present for safety. But after that the kids take over and play small-sided soccer enabling them to acquire many touches on the ball and enjoy just playing the game in a safe setting. Parents are encouraged to not stay by the field so as to not give their children directions during their play (does your child really want to be told how to play a game?). If parents wish to drop them off and return later to pick them up, that is fine.
This summer soccer program is designed to let the kids play and have fun at soccer with a minimum of adult intervention so they can experience the pure joy of just playing soccer. This format attempts to replicate the "street soccer" experience encouraged by the US Youth Soccer Association in their National Street Soccer day and from the US Soccer Federation in their Best Practices for Coaching in the US. It is a way for kids to develop a love of the game and become more creative soccer players. Less structured play time is also consistent with the recommendations of the Alliance for Childhood. So there are no fixed teams; those who show up form teams and play. There is a background-checked adult present and all players are insured through MSYSA to provide safety but, as much as possible, we want the games to be player-directed. Adults can just go for a walk or go shopping!
The standard cost for summer soccer is $10. There are discounts for Greenbelt and New Carrollton residents and FARM students.
We play at Youth Memorial Park, 7500 Good Luck Rd, Lanham/New Carrollton
The minimum age to register for this activity is those players entering 3rd grade in fall.