Overview
The Juniors program is a recreational, in-town program that offers a fun and developmentally appropriate introduction to soccer. Divisions – based on school grade rather than birth year – are available for girls in Kindergarten – Grade 2. Our program uses a combination of professional trainers and volunteer coaches to provide the best soccer learning environment and opportunities for our children. Sessions are organized around activities that emphasize exploration, experimentation, and ball mastery in game-like situations. Teams are offered in the fall (September – November) and spring (April – June). Players are placed on balanced teams with girls from multiple schools and may submit one teammate request.
Kindergarten Division
NGS Juniors Kindergarten (JK) program sessions meet in Newton once per week on Saturday mornings. The 60-minute program emphasizes fun, touches on the ball, and positive encouragement. Each session includes time to practice and time to play a game. (There is not a separate practice day.) For the first half of the session, players engage in soccer learning activities led by the NGS Professional Coaching Staff. Dribbling, turning, receiving, and striking the ball are taught through dynamic games and guided questioning. Volunteer coaches assist staff in implementing the session plan, engaging the players, providing positive reinforcement, and organizing the team. During the second half of the session, teams play small-sided (4v4) games. Goalkeepers are not used and there is no scorekeeping.
1st Grade Division
NGS Juniors Grade 1 (J1) program sessions meet once per week on Saturday mornings (usually at 8:30 am or 10:00 am) for 75 minutes. In this age group, we continue to work on individual skills, ball control, and basic game understanding through creative activities, guided questioning, and scrimmages. Each session includes time to practice and time to play a game. (There is not a separate practice day.) For the first half of the session, players engage in soccer learning activities led by the NGS Professional Coaching Staff. Volunteer coaches assist staff in implementing the session plan, engaging the players, providing positive reinforcement, and organizing the team. During the second half of the session, teams play small-sided (4v4) games. Goalkeepers are not used and there is no scorekeeping.
2nd Grade Division
The NGS Juniors Grade 2 (J2) teams hold one weekly 60-minute practice session, in addition to games which are played on Saturday afternoons. Registrants are assigned to grade-level teams led by a volunteer coach. Coaches receive support and instruction from the NGS Director of Coaching. Throughout the season, coaches follow our age-specific Play-Practice-Play interactive session plan, consisting of various FUN activities and scrimmage games to help players understand the game better. The player-centered, positive coaching curriculum continues to focus on ball mastery, as well as introducing techniques for attacking, defending, passing, and shooting with accuracy. Teams test out their new skills on game day, playing 5v5 with goalkeepers against other NGS J2 teams. Games are 12-minute quarters with a 2-minute break after each quarter, and are officiated by NGS referees-in-training. There is no scorekeeping. All players get equal playing time.
