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- What equipment does my U2-U7 Mini player need?
Every player will receive a jersey, shorts, socks, and a size 3 soccer ball from UDFC. This gear can be picked up during the Mini Program Gear Pick-Up on May 31 Shin pads are mandatory for U5 and older, and are not provided by the club. Cleats are highly recommended for U5 and older players.
- What if I can't make it on May 31st?
It is ideal for families to get their gear on May 31st so they are ready to begin the week of June 2. If a family can't make it on the 31st we ask you to fill out this form and pick up your jersey BEFORE May 31st. We will have some jerseys at the field but it adds to a lot of confusion on the first night and sizes will be limited. At the gear pick up event, parents can choose the size that fits your player. At the field we can only offer what we have available on site. Neighbours and friends can pick up the gear for your child if needed with a note or text from the players' parent or guardian. Players who are not able to get their jersey before their first practice can attend in activewear.
What are the U8/9 mini Players wearing this season? (Update)
Unfortunately Tim Hortons no longer sponsors players above U7. United DFC will be providing cotton jerseys/ Tshirts for U8/9 Mini/ Fundamentals players and they can be picked up at the Mini Gear Pick up on May 31 at Woodlawn High. It was initially thought that parents might purchase the shirts but UDFC will be providing them for free as part of their registration. U8/9 Players will need shin pads and cleats (or sneakers). You may see training clothing on the UDFC Store for U8/9 Skills Center. Our U8/9 Fundamental players don't need to purchase club clothing from the UDFC Store website but like all club members, are welcome to purchase items if they wish.
- Is U8/9 Mini?
Yes, U8/9 Fundamentals are part of the overall mini program. Their sessions take place on the mini field following the U5/6 Active Start players and are supported by the mini coordinators. There is also a program called U8/9 Skill Center. The Skill Center program costs more, runs for 20 weeks and is 3 times a week (including Saturdays in June-Aug). Both programs are great. Families choose the program that matches their commitment and interest level. You may see training clothing on the UDFC Store for U8/9 Skills Center. Our U8/9 Fundamental players don't need the clothing from the UDFC Store website. They will pick up their Tshirt for the U8/9 mini program at the mini gear pick up on May 31.
Why wasn’t my friend request accommodated?
We did our best to accommodate all friend requests submitted before the final deadline of May 11th. Reasons why a friend request may not have been accommodated is because your requested friend was not signed up for the same day of the week as you, they were not registered for the same age group as you, they were not registered at the same field as you, we were not given their full name, or they weren’t registered with our program at the time lists were originally made.
Can I still make friend requests?
Friend requests cannot be guaranteed beyond May 11 as it is passed our friend request deadline and the lists have been made. Reach out to miniprogram@udfc.ca if you have a special circumstance and they will let you know if it can be accommodated.
I registered for the Girls or Boys team but was placed on a CO-ED team instead (or vice versa).
Due to registration numbers we can not accommodate every type of team for every age group at every field. For example, sometimes only two boys register for a U8 boys team at a certain field. In these situations we have to combine teams together in order to have enough players. If you really want to be placed on a specific type of team please reach out to your Coordinator and they can see if they can fit you on a team in a different field.
Why doesn’t my child’s team have a coach?
Some teams have not been assigned a coach because there is no parent or junior coach who has volunteered. If you would like to volunteer to coach your child’s team please contact me or your Field Coordinator. In the case no volunteer signs up to coach a team, a UDFC staff member will be there to lead each practice.
- How will the program operate?
Visit this page for more info: Session Structure
- Is there still a need for coaches?
We’re still looking for coaches! No prior experience is needed! Our program runs on the generous contributions of our volunteers. Please check out the Coaches Corner Tab for more information.
- What happens if I am a coach and need to miss a practice?
If you need to miss a practice, please contact your field coordinator so that we can find a substitute coach. Please notify us at least two weeks in advance so that the practice runs smoothly.
- How will I know if my practice is canceled due to poor weather?
As all practices are held outside, on HRM grass fields (natural sports fields), United DFC follows the guidelines of HRM. If the fields are open and it is wet (heavy mist) but not actually raining, our staff will be there and run the session for any minis that show up! (Dress for the weather!)
If it is actually raining, chances are practice will be cancelled. If you’re unsure if practice is cancelled due to the weather you can check the link below or call 311. An email will also be sent to you from your Mini Program Coordinator or Mini Manager Program to alert you of the cancellation.
So to be clear - if fields are open at the link below- someone will be there to run a session in the mist/ light rain. If it is pouring rain, the staff may cancel and send an email. Always check your email before heading to the field on a wet day and attendance is at a parent's discretion. For more details visit HERE
Check out UDFC's Extreme Weather Policy
- Will my child participate in any tournaments/ festivals?
Yes! United DFC hosts two different tournament-type events for our Mini Program - the July Soccermania Mini Festival, and Soccer by the Sea in August. These festivals include all U5 and older players from all mini field locations (Eastern Passage, Cole Harbour, Portland Estates, and Dartmouth High) . Teams invited to one field for two festival style soccer games.
Portland Estates Soccermania Jamboree - July 12th (Rain date July 13th) times TBD
Soccer by the Sea - August 16th (Rain date August 17th) times TBD
- What is Physical Literacy?
Physical Literacy is the process of mastering different fundamental movements necessary for sports. At the minis field, this involves learning and playing games with different movements such as running, jumping, balance, etc.
- We do we rotate through stations?
Great question - please visit this page for a detailed answer
Why do we play small sided games of 3 v 3 and 4 v 4 instead of bigger games like 7 v 7 or 8 v 8?
Why do we play small sided games of 3 v 3 and 4 v 4 instead of bigger games like 7 v 7 or 8 v 8?
Small sided games far greater for player development because the players have much greater contact time with the ball in smaller games. "In the mid-2000s, Manchester Metropolitan University and Manchester United carried out a pilot study around the use of 4v4 in their games program.[1] The club based all their Under-9 and Under-10 games on a four-game round-robin of 4v4. Their aim was “to optimise the ‘window of opportunity’ that exists for skill development.” The 4v4 program, compared to the 8v8 equivalent produced the following results:
135% more passes
260% more scoring attempts
500% more goals scored
225% more 1 v 1 encounters
280% more dribbling skills (tricks)"
https://www.bennionkearny.com/small-sided-games-in-football/
Why don't we do throw ins?
One of the greatest challenges that young players face as they are learning to control the ball is keeping the ball in play. When the ball goes out of play along the sidelines, it is required to be played back into play by the team who did not touch the ball last. The traditional method of returning the ball into play is via a throw-in. However, for young players, this can be a challenging skill to learn and often results in the ball going back out of play. To facilitate more contact time with the ball at their feet and more time for the ball to be in play, players up to U12 will be permitted to pass or dribble the ball back into play when a restart from the sidelines is required. From Soccer Canada Grassroots Standards
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