SECOND GRADE

Below is the configuration of the fields. It shows where parents should sit, and where the players and coaches should be. It's one 4v4 game.

US Soccer wants children of this age to just get used to passing and moving within a given space. Having fun is the most important thing. Kids will play 2 x 25 minute halves with a 5 minute break in between.

The job of the coach is simply to roll a ball back into play when it goes out of bounds. It's important to balance instruction with positive reinforcement.

At this level, we don't have referees because there simply isn't anything for a referee to do. As a coach, if you feel that a player is overly rough, the coach of that player just needs to remove the child from the game, explain that they need to calm down, and return them to the game. Typically, that's all that's needed. 

If a hard collision does occur, stop play to make sure the players involved are ok, then give the ball to the team that has the longest way to go to score.  Aside from that it will be just young kids running around. 

Most teams have adequate numbers. However, if your team is short of players, you can either borrow players from the other team, or play just one of the two games. Also please make sure your kids don't hang in the goal. Some will just gravitate towards in front of their goal. So, if you see this, just ask them to move out of the goal mouth.

Please remember that these are not competitive games. The kids are young, so it's about learning the game and having fun. I find that if the parents have that type of attitude, then the games are much more instructive and fun for the kids. You'll find that the kids just want to know about what's for snack, and who they'll have a playdate with after the game.