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Newton Girls Soccer provides both intramural and travel programs. We have over 1500 girls and 250 coaches participating in our programs.
In the fall, the intramural program is available to girls from Grade 1 through Grade 12. In the spring, the intramural program is available to girls from Grade 1 through Grade 6. This program includes approximately ten games played in Newton. Girls are assigned to teams consisting of players with a wide range of skills in order to create competitive balance. When possible, groups of at least two girls from each school are placed on a team. Intramural teams in grades 2 through 6 generally practice once per week. This program is supplemented by clinics conducted by professional coaching organizations. Note that in the intramural program girls must play with their school grade.
The travel program provides a more competitive alternative (at higher levels), and placement on these teams is determined by a tryout process. Teams are placed at levels from division 1 (highly skilled, highly competitive) to division 4 (less skilled, more recreational). No matter what the divisional level, girls enjoy wearing the Newton travel uniform and representing NGS in spirited competition with teams from other communities. Travel teams play a ten game schedule with 5 home and 5 away games. Teams usually practice twice per week. Many teams attend tournaments, particularly on Memorial and Columbus Day weekends. Note that in the travel program girls must play within age groupings established by Mass Youth Soccer. Except for high schools, teams stay together for the fall and spring seasons.
In both the intramural and travel programs, NGS seeks excellence in skill training, a high level of sportsmanship, quality field play appropriate to the players involved, and a fun experience for our players, parents, coaches and referees.
Our first grade intramural program provides a fun introduction to soccer for both players and parents. A professional soccer organization runs Saturday sessions that teach the basics of soccer and generally include a scrimmage. First grade teams do not practice during the week. This is a great chance for parents to volunteer to coach and learn the game right along with their girls. Players will be notified of their team assignment in late August (fall season) and late March (spring season).
The second and third grade intramural programs are also intended to stress fun, learning-oriented soccer. Girls who have not played soccer are always welcome to join. We play 4-aside soccer, which allows girls to touch the ball many times during Saturday games. Teams also practice once per week. Professional soccer organizations provide several clinics during the season. Occasionally, we organize fun tournaments for interested 3rd graders. Players will be notified of their team assignment in late August (fall season) and late March (spring season). Note that third graders are not eligible to participate in the travel program.
For fourth graders, NGS offers both a fourth grade intramural program and a U10 travel program (which is also available to some younger 5th graders born after July 31). These are both strong programs and parents are encouraged to select the program that works best for their child. Travel teams typically practice twice per week, and travel to at least five "away" games. Teams play competitively at the upper division levels and also at lower division levels. Intramural teams practice once per week, play locally, and emphasize recreational soccer. Travel teams are selected based on evaluation and tryout results. Intramural teams provide a better opportunity to be placed on a team with a friend or schoolmate. Both intramural and travel teams play 6-aside soccer.
In the past, NGS offered a four-team fall travel program. Beginning in 2003, all girls who want to play on a fall travel team may do so provided sufficient coaches and spots in the Boston Area Youth Soccer (BAYS) league are available. Teams will stay together for the fall and spring, and players are expected to commit for the entire year. Teams play a ten game schedule that includes travel to five communities in the BAYS league. These communities range from those directly adjacent to Newton to communities approximately 45 minutes away. An annual tryout for these teams is held each spring.
Girls are placed on travel teams on the basis of their tryout results and evaluation of their previous spring coaches. Girls interested in playing on a fall travel team (principally this year's third graders and younger fourth graders) must submit a registration form and should attend the tryout. Girls intending to play intramural soccer in the fall should not attend.
Girls who try out for fall travel teams will be notified of their team assignment in late June or early July. Intramural players will be notified of their team assignment in late August (fall season) and mid-March (spring season).
Fifth and sixth graders have the option of playing in Grade 5-6 intramural program or playing in the U12 travel program. The Grade 5-6 intramural program is offered in both the fall and the spring. Any girl wishing to be on a travel team will be placed on a team if sufficient coaches are available. Girls who play in the intramural program in the fall may apply to play in the travel program in the spring, and will be placed on a team if openings are available. Younger 5th graders born after July 31 also have the option of playing in the U10 travel program (see above).
Grade 5-6 intramural teams play on Saturdays and end the season with a tournament. Teams practice once per week, and clinics are available during the season. The focus is on fun, recreational soccer.
Because Newton has such a large number of girls playing travel soccer at this level, we place girls at both the U11 and U12 age groupings within BAYS. The travel program offers teams from the highly competitive to recreational. Girls who wish to play in the travel program must submit a registration form and should attend the U12 tryout to be held in the spring (schedule below). Pre-registration is required. Girls intending to play in the intramural program should not attend. Teams are selected for the fall and spring seasons, and a full year commitment is expected.
Some higher division U12 teams will play in an 11-aside format. This change has been instituted to be consistent with other town programs in the area and to provide all of our teams with a better level of competition. All U11 teams will play in a 6-aside format, which NGS believes promotes greater technical and tactical development, and greater player involvement and enjoyment. U12 teams not playing in the 11-aside format will play in an 8-aside format beginning in September 2003.
The U14 travel program includes 7th and 8th graders and a few younger 9th graders. The travel program offers teams from the highly competitive to recreational level. All teams play a ten game schedule with five of the games played in other BAYS towns. Teams typically practice twice per week. All teams play 11-aside soccer, and for most girls, this will be their first 11v11 soccer experience. It is strongly recommended that all girls attend a tryout, which is held in the spring (schedule below). Pre-registration is required. Team placement is based upon tryout results and spring coach evaluations. Teams play together during both the fall and spring seasons, and a full year commitment is expected.
In the fall season, NGS offers a combined grade 7-8 intramural program as an alternative to the travel program. Games will be on Saturday afternoons and there are no practices. If 40 or more girls sign up for the Grade 7-8 program, teams will be formed, coaches assigned, and game schedules formally arranged. If fewer than 40 girls sign up, the games will be conducted as a "pick-up" game at a scheduled time, under adult supervision. Players should sign up on the fall intramural registration form.
In the spring, 7th and 8th graders may play in the travel program if openings are available.
Girls in the Fall High School program range from freshman and junior varsity high school players to girls who have traditionally enjoyed playing NGS recreational soccer. All teams in the high school program play 6-aside soccer on Sunday afternoons. Due to the busy schedules of high school athletes and the recreational nature of the program, there are no practices. Last fall, we offered a league that included Newton and Brookline teams and played all games in Newton. Most high school freshmen enjoy playing with their high school friends rather than at the U14 level (if eligible), so it is recommended that younger freshmen (i.e., those born after July 31 and, therefore, eligible next fall to play either U14 or U16) carefully consider their selection of fall programs, and make an informed decision. Younger freshman who play in the U14 program in the fall must also do so in the spring.
In the Spring High School program, teams are selected to play 11-aside travel soccer within BAYS. Newton places teams at the U16 and U18 levels. Teams are placed in several divisions offering alternatives for both highly competitive and recreational players. Division 1 BAYS teams are made up of top varsity players from area high schools. Teams are available at Division 1, 2, and 3. Players in the spring program range from varsity players at Newton North and Newton South to players who enjoy recreational soccer. Teams typically practice once per week and additional training opportunities are available. Weather permitting, a tryout scrimmage for spring teams will be held for any player who would like to participate. This will be especially helpful for non-varsity players who may be less “visible” to NGS coaches. Players are placed based upon the knowledge and observation of the coaches and high school coordinator. Registration for these teams is in the late fall, and additional information is mailed to eligible players in the fall. Please see the application form for additional information.
|
Program |
Due |
|
Travel U10, U12, U14 |
May 3, 2003 |
|
Travel Coach Applications |
May 15, 2003 |
|
Intramural Coach Applications |
June 15, 2003 |
|
Intramural grades 2-8 |
June 15, 2003 |
|
Intramural grade 1 |
August 1, 2003 |
|
Fall High School* |
September 1, 2003 |
* Note that the High School program uses the same application as the travel program, but has a different due date.
Click here to proceed with online registration for the Fall 2003 season.
If you do not have web access and need to register by mail, send a self addressed, stamped envelope to: NGS Registrar, P.O. Box 620275, Newton, Massachusetts 02462 or call (617) 965-8594 and request a paper form. Use of web registration is strongly encouraged.
U10 Travel Team Tryouts - Saturday May 10, 2003
U12 Travel Team Tryouts - Saturday May 17, 2003
U14 Travel Team Tryouts - Saturday May 31, 2003
Tryouts will be at the Newton South High School fields. In case of bad weather, call (617) 928-6061
Newton Girls Soccer goes to great lengths to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to try out for a team and be fairly evaluated. Because this process involves a degree of subjectivity, and because some girls inevitably are not placed on the team that they would like, the tryout process is often open to question by girls and their parents. The philosophy of NGS is that each girl deserves the chance to try out for a team on annual basis. Efforts are made to avoid "tracking" of girls and to recognize that a young girl's skills and motivations change over short periods of time.
For many years, tryouts for the younger girls consisted of a set of skill stations. Recently, in keeping with a national trend, tryouts have evolved into a series of small-sided (4v4) soccer games. Each of these games is watched by a group of evaluators who are experienced soccer coaches and, when possible, are not directly connected or interested in the age group trying out. Also, the evaluators are not involved in selecting the actual teams within the age group, but are assigned to provide an impartial evaluation. These evaluations are coupled with the written evaluations of spring coaches to be used during the player selection process. Coaches' evaluations from prior seasons are not used in this process, so that girls start each season with a "clean slate."
The age group coordinators try to organize the tryouts in a way that will be fun and will lessen anxiety among the girls and their parents. Parents are typically asked to stay away from the field and to refrain from cheering or making any comments. Any type of tryout involves some level of anxiety, and it is important to have the support of parents to keep things in perspective.
Travel team tryouts are offered on one date only for each age group. Players are strongly encouraged to attend, because tryouts are an important part of assuring that players are properly placed. In the event of illness or other absence, coach evaluations will be used. In the event of bad weather, call (617) 928-6061 for information.
Some age groups may have a "callback" tryout after the initial tryout date. Callbacks are a way of allowing coaches and coordinators to more closely observe a smaller group of players. Often, those girls about whom the coaches need more data are invited. An invitation to a callback does not necessarily mean that a player has made or not made a particular team.
In June, after completion of the spring season, meetings are held to select players for fall travel teams. In attendance at each of these meetings is a group of coaches involved in the selection, an age group coordinator who is not involved in coaching in the age group, and an independent observer. The role of the age group coordinator and independent observer is to assure that all girls have been fairly treated and properly considered during the selection process. The goal of the age group coordinator and independent observer is to make sure that each girl is placed on a team appropriate to her skills. Their job is to see that tryout and coaches' evaluation information is properly considered by the coaches. The presence of these two outside individuals is to create a fair process recognizing, again, that some level of subjectivity is involved team selection.
As parents, the most important thing that you can do is to help to provide your daughter with a positive soccer experience. Support her if she chooses to try out for a team and support the team for which she is selected. Volunteer to coach or be the assistant coach or team manager. If you or your daughter is disappointed with the team selection, please know that these things tend to equalize over time. It is our goal, within the limits of our volunteer organization, to provide girls in Newton with the best soccer experience possible, whether they play travel or intramural on any one of our approximately 100 teams. Please contact the age group coordinator or travel chair (names available on the website) if you have questions or comments.
Girls will be notified of their team selections during the summer. Coaches are asked to keep team selections confidential until all teams have been chosen. At that time, a postcard is sent to all girls notifying them of their team selection. The post cards are mailed after the Newton public school schedule has concluded for the year. Spring high school team players will be notified of their assignment by their coaches in December or January.
One of the wonderful things about participating in Newton Girls Soccer is the opportunity to meet and play with girls from all over the city. Older girls who have played in the NGS program find that they know many girls throughout the city when they move to middle school and high school.
In the intramural program, every effort is made, whenever possible, to place at least two girls from the same school on each team. Requests for friends to play together and requests made for carpooling reasons are honored when possible. NGS specifically encourages teams composed of girls from different schools. NGS also believes that it is beneficial to expose girls to new and different coaching styles each season, and it does not serve girls well to request the same coach each season. Teams in the third grade and older are competitively balanced based on coaches evaluations from prior seasons.
Travel teams are not selected on the basis of keeping either friends or girls from the same school district on the same team. To do so would be unfair and inconsistent with the selection criteria. Unfortunately, requests to play with friends or neighbors cannot be accommodated.
If you are unhappy regarding your daughter's placement, or have any questions after she has received her placement, please call the grade/age group coordinator or the intramural/travel chairs for additional information.
Tournaments are an exciting part of the soccer experience. In the intramural program, we provide a tournament at the end of the season in grades two through six. These are "non results oriented" where the emphasis is on fun and everyone is a winner.
Travel teams typically play in tournaments on Columbus Day and Memorial Day, and occasionally on the weekends before or after the fall or spring seasons. This is determined on a team-by-team basis. No player is required to participate in a tournament.
NGS sponsors the premier girls' soccer tournaments in New England over Columbus Day weekend. Many of the NGS teams in Divisions 1 and 2 participate in this tournament, and it is expected that all NGS teams invited to play will do so. For other teams, a variety of other tournaments are available, both locally and out of state. NGS believes each of these tournaments provides a very positive and enjoyable experience for the players, coaches and families.
NGS encourages all parents to become involved in coaching, no matter what their soccer experience. Many opportunities are available to attend clinics, get helpful materials and obtain coaching licenses. Even the most experienced coaches in our system were coaching novices at one time, so don't be intimidated! We especially encourage women to get involved as role models for their daughters.
Parents who would like to volunteer to coach in the intramural program should so indicate on their daughter's registration form. These parents also must complete and return the Intramural Coaching Application form available on our website. No experience is required other than a desire to learn, a willingness to uphold the philosophy of the intramural program, and a commitment to creating a good experience for the players. Beginning Fall 2003, for the 2nd and 3rd grade levels, we will only accept coaches that have completed a minimum of 4-hours of MYSA training and obtained a least a “G” level license (equivalent training from other sources will be considered). In the event that not enough coaching volunteers have completed this training, we will select coaches that commit to take the training during the first month of the season. Course schedules are posted on our website.
Those interested in coaching in the travel program must complete the Travel Coaching Application form available on the website and return it no later than May 15, 2003. The travel committee of the NGS Board of Directors then meets in May to consider all coaching applications. The travel committee, which consists of approximately 15 members of the NGS Board, carefully considers each application to determine the level of training, experience, and effectiveness of each coach. [Specific criteria are posted on the website.] Because of the level of interest in coaching, particularly for the higher level teams, there are often many more qualified candidates than there are positions available. This makes the travel committee's decisions difficult. The committee attempts to place coaches on a team that is generally consistent with the skill level of the coach's daughter. Consistent with this goal, coaches are not placed until tryout information is available. We often do not have a sufficient number of coaches for lower level teams, and may not be able to field teams if coaching volunteers are not available.
No girl is denied an opportunity to participate in Newton Girls Soccer due to financial need. Requests for fee waivers may be submitted by checking the appropriate box on the paper application form (those requesting a fee waiver should not use the online registration system). Assistance is also available for travel uniform purchase, travel tournament costs, team fees, and for the School of Excellence Program. In addition, NGS offers scholarships based on financial need to several summer soccer camps. For more information, contact the or (617) 965-8594. All requests are confidential.
There is a grade coordinator assigned to each intramural grade and an age group coordinator assigned to each travel age group. Because we are a large volunteer organization, we greatly appreciate your effort to try to direct your question to the appropriate person and to use e-mail if possible. Click here for NGS contact information.
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