Youth Soccer

YOUTH soccer LEAGUE

This youth soccer league will play an 8-game season on Saturday mornings/afternoons. Each team will also practice one night a week for the duration of the season. Players will be placed on teams based on their grade level and school they attend. Players must purchase DGPD uniforms in order to play. Uniforms are available at Soccer 2000, 224 Odgen Ave.

Spring League Registration Begins: January 6
Registration Deadline: March 9
Practices Begin: Week of April 6
Games Begin: April 11
Pre-K to 2nd Grade - R/NR: $77/$107
3rd Grade to 12th Grade - R/NR: $82/$112

Beginning March 10, we are only accepting waitlisted registrations.

To be placed on the waitlist, fill out the form below and email it to leagues@dgparks.org or turn it into the Recreation Center or Lincoln Center.

CLICK HERE FOR THE REGISTRATION FORM

Volunteer Coaches Needed!
The youth soccer league relies on volunteer coaches and every team must have a coach. If you are interested in coaching for the 2020 Spring Soccer League, please click on the link below and complete the form.

click here for the volunteer coach form

MAPS

Puffer School Practice Grids

McCollum Park Practice Grids

Hillcrest school	Mccollum park game fields
Highland schooL	Whitlock park game fields
INDIAN TRAIL school	O'brien park game fields
EL SIERRA SCHOOL	washington Park game fields

coaching guides

dgpd k-3rd grade	chicago fire 6-8 years
dgpd 4-5th grade	chicago fire 9-12 years
dgpd 6-9th grade	chicago fire 13-15 years

practice grid concept

The Downers Grove Park District has introduced the practice grid concept to its players in the youth soccer league. These grids were created to help coaches and players transition to the small sided games mentality. Ultimately, it is our goal to help develop player technique, tactical intelligence and mental speed though this concept.

Benefits of playing in smaller spaces:

More touches on the ball

Playing in smaller spaces results in more touches each player receives during play. As the number of touches increases, footwork development increases.

Quicker decision making

Players are forced to think quicker due to less reaction time in a smaller area of space. In order to keep possession of the ball while under pressure, players have think creatively while moving on and off the ball to create the space needed to retain or recover the ball.

Training options

One practice grid can be split into multiple quadrants where groups of players can train at the same time. See images below. There are several types of situational possession drills to create in a small space; 1v1 or 2v1, 2v2, 3v3 etc. More passing options are created as the number of players increase in the space. The level of difficulty to retain possession also increases with each added player.

Overall, the practice grids will enhance technical and tactical skills as players adjust to the speed of play and dimensions of the playing area. This new mentality will ultimately improve their performance during league play on a full field.