Soccer for 4 year old in Lamorinda

My 4 year old son would LOVE to play soccer, but I think I've ''missed the ball'' for this year's sign up or have I? I've heard there are fun/instructional (non-competitive) leagues out there. We live in Orinda and are not very savvy to the where, how and when of the Lamorinda soccer leagues. Could anyone fill me in? Maya

I KNOW I saw this on the recommendation list in the past year, but I can't find it on the web or on my own archives of this list. Someone mentioned a Saturday morning soccer league for little guys (mine are 4 1/2) that was fun, not overly competitive, and run by a great guy. Does this ring any bells with anyone? Any idea how I can find out more? Thanks, Kristin

Soccer for 5-year-old in Oakland

I have a 5 year-old and I'm interested in getting him into soccer. Does anyone have experience with good places in Oakland. I looked on the website and I don't see anything for soccer in Oakland. Thanks Royah

Weekend Soccer club for 5-6 year olds

My son LOVES sports and wants to play soccer. It seems like this should be easy, but I'm having a hard time finding the right program. The Montclair Soccer Club looks perfect so I've been watching their web site but I just discovered he misses the cut-off for their youngest group by two days for this fall's registration (kids have to be 6 years old on July 31st). I've seen a few clubs outside Oakland and summer camp programs on the BPN, but I'm looking for a Saturday or Sunday game with possibly weekday evening practices. I can't seem to find one in Oakland, the rec dept has their programs during weekday working hours. Does anyone know of a soccer program for 5-6 year olds with practices and games after 5pm and/or on weekends? Oakland preferred, but if there really is nothing else, we'll drive somewhere. Thanks!

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Soccer for 6-year-old in Oakland

Hi all - My nearly 6 year old son is ready for soccer, so I need to key in to what the happenings may be in the Oakland area... We are in Montclair and it would be great to find a local team. Does anyone have suggestions for Fall sign-ups (or, am I too late?) -- Thanks so much! Laurie Laurie

Sunday Soccer for 7 year old girl

My strong 7-year-old daughter would love to play soccer or softball on a Sunday league. She is committed and willing to practice. There seem to be lots of choices for Saturday (during the same time she is in German School), and yet I'm not able to find anything for Sunday. Anyone have suggestions? Thanks in Advance. Deb

Soccer camp for 7-year-old girl

Can anyone give me feedback on the Cal Strawberry Canyon Girls Soccer Camps? Can you recommend a girls soccer team/club in the El Cerrito, Albany, Berkeley areas for a 7 year old girl? Mary

Depending on where you live and where your daughter goes to school, you might also consider the Rockridge Soccer Club, which has a lot of Berkeley players as well. Their website is http://rockridgesoccer.org/ and registration for new players for the fall is on 4/29, 5/6 and 5/8 at Chabot School in north Oakland. Details on the web page. Have fun! Norm

Gifted 3rd Grade Athlete

HELP I am trying to map out school for my daughter currently a student at Kaiser Elementary School, who is a gifted athlete. She is an average student academically and shows promise in the areas of math and science. We have ltd. funds as I am a single parent. I am trying to figure out how to give her as much exposure to athletics. She is currently on a soccer team, will do the swim team at Dimond pool. I am looking for a track Team that will not be to costly and am wondering if anyone has any experience with junior high schools and high schools which might help her cultivate her talents. Is there any parent who was in a similiar situation a few years ago and wishes someone had told them to do something they didn't. any input appreciated anon

Less competitive soccer team for 9-year-old

We are a South Berkeley family interested in recommendations for the Rockridge Soccer Club from parents of kids with recent experiences. Our 9 year old son recently completed the Fall season with ABSC and we are looking for a less competitive team atmosphere. I have heard that Rockridge keeps the ''fun'' spirit alive and that practices are limited to once a week, but would like additional feedback regarding coaches' attitudes, etc. Also, is it possible to sign up for Spring 2006 if he did not play in the Fall?

Soccer for 9-year-old beginner

My 9-year-old son (4th grade) is interested in playing soccer but has never played before. Many of his friends are already on teams and have been for several years. Can anyone recommend where he might get started but with kids his own age and not toddlers?! There are lots of soccer venues out there, but most 9-year-olds already have lots of experience, and the ''beginners'' I've checked out are all 4- and 5-year olds. I need to add that my son is Not real sporty and is also embarrassed by this. Is there anywhere to learn the very basics of the game and have fun playing it too? Thanks. Laurel

Here's a concrete suggestion. Most leagues (including Rockridge and Montclair soccer leagues) have sign-ups for fall soccer that occur in the spring. You son can sign-up and ask to be matched with a particular coach or kid he knows, and it will probably happen. Then have your son go to Albany Sports Camp or some summer camp that includes non-competitive soccer. (I would stay away from all-day summer soccer camps, they're pretty intense.) He can get some practice and fun with the game before fall even rolls around.

You could also talk to the parent-coach of a team that includes your son's friends -- coaches are volunteers who do it for the kids, and he/she might provide some good advice too. Have fun! Funloving Sports Parent

Soccer for beginner 12 yr old?

My daughter has been shy about commpetitive sports in the past and has finnally agreed to try a soccer team. We were told that the spring would be a good time to try to find a team but upon reading past posting, and some of the clubs schedules, I am starting to worry that I waited to long since the try-outs passed already.(not that she would have agreed to a try-out.) I am wondering if there are any teams that would take a begginer this late in the game, maybe without making her try- out. I have been told by her P.E. teacher that she is a gifted athlete, though she is not very confident in her skills. If anybody has any leads on a low key team in the oakland/berkeley area I would greatly appreciate it. Wants to be a soccer mom

Beginning soccer for a 12 yr old?

My 12 year old has been looking longingly at soccer teams, but feeling that she has completely missed the boat. She feels (and I am concerned this might be true) if she didn't start learning soccer as a 6 year old, then it's too late for her. She's really never played any soccer in her life. Are there any BEGINNING soccer classes for older kids? Too late?

Piedmont Soccer

How competitive league soccer is really depends on the coach and the parents. Some kids play on "select teams" for which they have try-outs. Otherwise, it is called recreational soccer and there is usually one practice during the week (and hour or two in the afternoon)and then a game on Saturdays. The Fall season goes from the beinning of September to mid-November. There is also a Spring season beginning in April, when the fields get dry. The spring season is more informal.It does tend to eat up your Saturday, especially when games are scheduled in the middle of the day. But it has been fun and the camaraderie among the parents is something else.

My son plays with kids who are not from his school, which is really an advantage because he has a much wider group of friends this way and, I think, it helps to give him a greater sense of community. Most of the kids on his team are in public school in Oakland, and a few go to private schools.The coaches volunteer their time and parents are asked/expected to help out in some way ( eg. uniform coordinator, picture day coordinator, snack coordinator, end-of-season pizza party organizer) and each family has to bring snack once during the season. The sign-up deadline for the Fall season is in May. Rockridge Soccer can be reached by leaving a message at 548-5019. There is also a Berkeley-Albany Soccer League, another one in Berkeley called Mersey Soccer. But I don't have their numbers.

Hello all, I have reviewed some rather dated messages (1999-2001) about the Albany Berkeley Soccer Club. Is this still in existence? I am looking for a place for my daughter, almost 5, who is entering Kindergarten, to learn and play soccer. Thanks! Margaret

The Albany Berkeley league starts not much older than 4 1/2 and doesn't take things too seriously at the younger levels (5 on a side, no goalie, no score kept...no one cares if you score on the wrong end of the field, etc.). They are certainly listed in the phone book but maybe under "Albany Berkeley Soccer Club". Registration for fall seems to be starting next week (EGAD!). Heather

I'm the President of the the Albany-Berkeley Soccer Club. We are a volunteer community-based non-profit with programs for girls and boys from age 6 to 19. We serve about 1500 kids each year in two seasons, fall and spring. We have been developing a strong, active girls' program for more than 10 years, and I'm sure your daughter would enjoy it. (Some of our girls have gone on to play for the local public and private high schools, as well as college teams.) There are also opportunities to try out later this Spring (March, April) for girls' competitive teams that travel to play over a larger geographic area (e.g. Concord, Union City, etc.) through our Mavericks Class-III and Class-I program sponsored by the Alameda-Contra Costa Youth Soccer League, of which the ABSC is about 1/2 the membership. (Your daughter may not be quite old enough for those teams, which usually start with the Under-12 (10 and 11 year old) age group.)

There are two other programs I'll mention briefly: Mersey Soccer Club is a private club that is significantly more expensive than ABSC. They use paid coaches rather than volunteers and are listed in the phone book. There is also a local club in the Rockridge area whose name escapes me. That may be more geographically convenient for you (or not): ABSC tends to go from Berkeley north, the Rockridge club is more Oakland-oriented. If nobody else here gives you their name, you can call the Jack London Soccer Club, also in Oakland, and get the particulars. There is also a competitive program in Oakland called the Bay Oaks club. They have very strong teams if you are looking for a competitive program in that area.

ABSC Spring season registration will take place next month at several sites around Berkeley -- dates/locations info will be posted on our website at www.abscsoccer.com later this month.(BTW the site is definitely *under construction* at the moment -- there's nothing but a home page now but it will be up later in the month. You can also register by mail. Tim

The Albany Berkeley Soccer Club (ABSC) is listed in the business section of the Telephone white pages. ABSC is not directly associated with schools. I have three daughters who have participated in ABSC soccer, and it has been a good experience for all of them, from the one who is most serious about the game to the one who has a very casual attitude toward soccer. There is also a more serious league called the Mavericks, divided into classes by skill, which requires try-outs. Some of the Mavericks classes travel out-of-town. King Middle School also has a soccer team, but I don't know anything about it.

The Albany Berkeley Soccer Club (ABSC) offers teams for a variety of age groups, starting as young as 5 or 6 (I'm not sure which). The main season is the fall season, which just finished, but some coaches and kids also sign up for the spring season. Teams are all-girls, all-boys, or coed. Kids are assigned to teams based on age and on preferences for unisex vs. coed, practice days and times, game days (Saturday vs. Sunday), preferred coaches, and the desire to be on the same team as named friends. The coaches, assistant coaches and team managers are all volunteers - I think they must be parents of a kid on the team they handle. The ABSC provides some training for the coaches.The spirit is generally very supportive, discouraging aggressive or hostile cheering. Teams practice twice a week, or once a week for some, and have a game with another team every week-end but one during the season. For the youngest kids, the parents are expected to stay throughout the practice and throughout each game. If you have a parent of another kid on the same team to trade off with, that helps a lot. Each family is expected to provide a snack (oranges, water, and optionally more) for the entire team for one game per season. Parent volunteers also help out with ordering trophies, getting a gift for the coach, and arranging a pot luck or pizza get-together at the end of the season. Beverly

The Albany/Berkeley Soccer league is forming its teams as we speak. You should call the Registrar, Connie Present - ASAP to see if you can get your kids on a team. He number is: 524-5172. Veronica

one of the best places for youth soccer, girls and boys, is the Albany Berkeley Soccer Club, 848-1339. It's almost exclusively parent/volunteer run, and we've had a great experience with it for the past five years -- starting in kindergarten. Registration has already happened for the spring, but you might still be able to sign up. Call the league phone number for information. Andrea

To the person that was interested in Soccer for their 5 yr. old. The city of Albany runs a soccer program on Sundays for this age group. There are 2 sessions that run for 6 weeks each. You can pick up a signup sheet at the Albany Community Center on Marin at Masonic in Albany. Our daughter will try it for the first time in the May session so I can't say how it is yet.

There's a California Youth Soccer Association, Inc., that I know of. Mr. Lynn Holland is 2nd Vice Chairman, Coach & Player Development, he could steer you in the right direction depending upon where you live etc... His telephone in Pleasant Hill, CA is (925) 372-9464, he gave me permisison to give this #. Good luck!

Jack London Soccer League

Mersey Soccer Club is looking for a couple of reasonably good players for the fall under-16 boys team. The BHS freshman soccer coach recommends that if your child is serious about playing high school soccer in the winter, he should play club soccer in the fall. Mersey has been a wonderful experience for our son, who has played with them since he was 8. The coaching is excellent, the teams have great camaraderie, and a lot of them move on to Berkeley High. For info on the fall team, call 232-4625. Thanks, Laurie

Re: soccer for little kids
Soccer League - try Mersey Soccer League. Bill O'Donnell is the head coach. It is a wonderful, professionally run organization. My 8 year old son has played with them since he turned 5. They offer a nice Saturday morning low key session for 4 and 5 year olds at the King St. field, behind King Junior High in North Berkeley. It is just up the road on Hopkins street from Monterey Market. The phone number is 232-6425. georgz

My daughter has participated in the Mersey Soccer Club for two seasons (last spring and this fall). She was recruited by a parent at our school, so I don't know how the city leagues (Berkeley-Albany or El Cerrito-Richmond) work.

She plays in the "under 10" league. It is _not_ competitive, though some of the parents get a little worked up at the games. Because we pay for her to belong to the Mersey Soccer Club, the club provides (pays for) a coach. In our case, the coach is a lovely young Cal student. She has been a great role model for the girls.

My daughter goes to two practices a week after school (1 1/2 each) and the games are on Saturday, though the fall season has just ended. I don't think there were any disadvantages except for the time commitment, though she didn't go to all practices or all games. The advantages are the exercise, the camaraderie with the other girls on the team, learning to play cooperatively, and learning to lose. As far as the time commitment goes, we carpooled with one or two other families so that I didn't have to drive her to all of the practices.

Four of the girls on the team also attend my daughter's school, but the other seven are from other schools.

In our case, one mother volunteered to be the team parent so she organized the water and snacks for each game. One parent brings water for half time to each game plus snack (fruit + carbohydrate) to each after the game. At the end of the season we had a team party, which was nice both for the girls and the parents.

My daughter started last year just before she turned nine. I think there is an under 8 league. And I think the leagues go all the way up to under 16. From what I hear, the older boys are definitely more competitive and rougher (more shoving and tripping) when they play. Janet

Soccer? Try Mersey soccer club. Call Soccer Basics on Solano in Albany 546-4625. It's a great club with the best field around - King field on Hopkins. Lots of UC families. Paid coaches so it costs money, but the children learn to play well. Very good summer camps week long, June 15 - August 29. $145 full day/$70 half day. They swim and have fun. Wendy

Norm Freidman

Re: Soccer for little kids
Soccer League - Norm Friedman has a wkd soccer program in Albany, you can track him down through the Albany Library or Community Center. Heather

Soccer Basics

Soccer Basics has been offering fun Soccer Camps in Berkeley for 15 years for children of ages 5 thru 13. The camps are held weekly at the soccer field/track on Hopkins. Although spaces are limited, we welcome teenagers with soccer experience to participate in our CIT (coaches in training) program. For information call 232-4625.

There are still spaces available for teens ages 13-17 in the Pacific Soccer Training Camp coached by Teale Matteson, August 20-24 from 1-4 pm. The cost for this camp is $125 for the week. For more information call University Village Recreation at 510-524-4926 or email: uvrec at mail.housing.berkeley.edu.

Try the University Village in Albany Recreation Program. It runs soccer classes for young children at very reasonable prices. The classes are kid friendly and fun.