Perrysburg Soccer

PYSA to Phase in Small-Sided Game
Following a world wide change in the game that came to northwest Ohio seven-years-ago, the Perrysburg Youth Soccer Association (PYSA) will begin a phase in of what is called “small sided games” this coming spring season. PYSA will play “small sided games” in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade divisions this spring season, which begins play on September 12, 2009.

Open registration for the season is August 1 at the Way Library and the registration deadline is also August 1. In seasons past, the 3rd and 4th grade students played together as did children in the 5th and 6th grader.

Under this new format, the 5th and 6th graders will continue to play together while the 3rd and 4th grade divisions will be split. Instead of playing with 11 players on a field that is nearly the same size as a regulation football field, each 5th/6th grade PYSA team will now play with 8 players on the field (80 yards x 50 yards) that is about 20% smaller than it was in the fall season.

The new 4th grade division will play with 2 fewer players than in the past on a field that is also about 20% smaller. Each team of 3rd graders will play on the same field, but will only have 5 players on the field. Changes to other grade levels are scheduled for the fall season, pending a positive review of the changes this spring. “We have been looking at doing this for a couple of years,” commented Kim Mills, new PYSA President. “We feel that the changes are well thought out and will be enthusiastically accepted by the community.”

Professional soccer educators from around the world feel that the small sided game is the best developmental tool for players under the age of 13 and that it is the best way to teach the technical and tactical (decision making) parts of the game. Many believe that the fields used in the past, are too large for younger children due to the fact that they spend large amounts of time running around or standing still without even touching the ball. “A young player has to touch the ball to develop the basic skills of the game,” said Dale Price, PYSA Referee Commissioner. “If a child does not get to touch the ball, they probably are not having any fun and will eventually quit playing,” he continued. As the number of players on the field will be smaller, the number of players on each team will be smaller and the number of teams will increase.

To deal with the greater number of teams and in turn, the greater need for coaches, Mills said that PYSA will waive the registration fee for the child of every head coach, as well as that of every commissioner.

Registration for the coming PYSA season is underway with forms available at schools, at the Way Library, in the Messenger-Journal and on the website www.PerrysburgSoccer.com. Open registration will take place August 1, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. until noon at the Way Library. The deadline for mail registration is August 1, 2009. Fees for the coming season are $45 per player. A late registration fee of $20 per player will be assessed after August 1, 2009. New or replacement shirts are available for $20 per player. Registration fees are reduced 50% for the 3rd child from the same family.

To begin playing in the kindergarten division, players must be enrolled in kindergarten and must have turned five-years-old by September 30, 2009. PYSA teams typically practice once a week and play on Saturday mornings. Older teams may practice twice a week and play on Saturday or Sunday afternoons. More information is available at the website, www.PerrysburgSoccer.com, or by calling 419-874-5224.  

Questions? Call PYSA at (419) 874-5224.

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