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Travel Soccer (spring and fall)The Travel Program allows players with advanced interest and abilities an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the game and to challenge themselves at a higher level of competition with players at the same level from surrounding towns. Travel teams may also compete in regional tournaments with teams from Massachusetts and other states.
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Roots Soccer League |
Northampton Soccer participates in the Roots Soccer League which is a member of US Club Soccer. This is a competitive league with multiple division levels at each age group depending on the skill of the team. Clubs in the league include Agawam, East Longmeadow, Westfield, West Springfield, Southwick, Palmer, Paper City, and many more. Roots follows a "small sided" soccer philosophy that focuses on more player touches at young ages on smaller fields. At the U8 age kids play 5v5. At, U9 & U10 age levels games are 7v7. At ages U11 & U12 teams play 9v9. And at U13 and above kids play 11v11 on full size fields.
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Team Selection |
Northampton Soccer strives to field competitive teams at each age group. In June each year NSC holds evaluations to select players for teams. At the U8, U9, and U10 age groups, if there are enough players for more than one team, Northampton Soccer attempts to create equal teams. At the U11 age group and above teams are organized according to ability. It's possible, at all age groups, that some kids may not be selected for a team. But once on a team all players will get meaningful playing time.
For the Spring Season, preference is given to returning players from the fall. NSC attempts to place all kids on an age appropriate team but it is possible that there will not be spaces available for every child. Final decisions on team placement are at the discretion of the Coaching Director. NSC's detailed policy on team formation is linked below 2019_-_nsc-policies___procedures-coaching__eligibility__team_formation_and_playing.pdf |
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Time Commitment
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Games are on Saturdays beginning after Labor Day Weekend in September through the beginning of November. In the spring, games run from mid-April through June. Team practices typically start in August/March and run twice a week through the season at Florence Fields. Games are played on Saturdays and possibly one weekday at Florence Fields in Northampton, in a neighboring town, or at the Roots soccer facility in Westfield. (U8 games occur every other Saturday at the Roots soccer facility). Families often carpool or ride share to make sure their players get to all team practices and games.
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Coaching
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All of Northampton Soccer's coaches are parent-volunteers. The club strives to have coaches who are passionate about working with kids to learn and grow as individuals and team members. NSC's coaching director works with each coach to provide training, guidance, and practice plans, and works with each team and the team's coaches to improve the skill and team work of players. NSC and Roots require that travel soccer coaches complete two online trainings and a background check. Volunteer coaches receive registration discounts with the club.
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