Each season, the Cape St. Claire Recreation Council creates 50-60 youth soccer teams to accommodate more than 600 players. Each athlete registers to participate in either the clinic or the county program depending on age and ability.
The Cape's clinic program, for the youngest players, is divided into three sections, the four- to five-year-olds are soccer starters, junior players are five to six and senior players are players six- to seven-years-old. All the teams are co-ed and practices and games are played on age-appropriate size fields at Cape St. Claire Elementary School. The emphasis is on beginning skill development, with lots of play and participation.
Players ages eight to eighteen in the county program travel throughout Anne Arundel and the surrounding counties. The athletes are grouped by age and then placed on a team appropriate for their skill level.
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“This process will allow those players with the drive and skill to get what they are looking for with tougher competition, increasing their abilities even further,” said Patrick Crouse, Cape soccer coach. “At the same time, we are allowing those who have not yet developed certain skills to compete at a level that is more in line with their current abilities. By having annual evaluations, we allow players to move up as their abilities improve.”
For the last eight years, Crouse has been coaching county soccer. He started coaching to have some fun with his son and he’s still out there, now coaching his daughter Miriam’s team. Crouse coaches 15 girls, ages 11 and under, with varying soccer experience.
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“For a couple of the players, this is their first time on a soccer team but there’s also a few who’ve been playing for a while,” he said.
The team practices for an hour and a half twice a week and plays a game every Sunday afternoon. Crouse usually starts the practice running drills, teaching the players the basics, and, for those players who are ready, he coaches them on the finer points of soccer. The team then puts what they learned during drills into play with scrimmages for the last 40 minutes of practice.
“As much as possible, training young players boils down to touches on the ball at practice and in games,” Crouse said. “It’s fun to take kids who haven’t played soccer before and watch as their skills progress through the season. It’s very rewarding.”
Today the first round of games begins for the Cape’s spring 2011 soccer season. Good luck to all. Go, Cougars!