Soccer
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West Baton Rouge Parks and Recreation will have two options for our Fall Soccer Program; a Recreational League and a new Academy League. No soccer experience is necessary to play; learn and have a great time playing in West Baton Rouge.
Our Academy League is for players seeking more advanced training and game opportunities beyond the normal recreational experience. While not essential, academy participants are encouraged to register for recreational soccer as well.
Preseason Clinics at the WBR Soccer Complex
All clinics will begin from the Pavilion closest to Port Allen football field.
Ages 4-7: Saturdays, 8/19, 8/26 from 8:30 to 9:15 am
- All participants must bring their own ball and water.
- Parents may participate with their child, if they have their own ball.
Ages 8-14: Saturdays, 8/19, 8/26 from 9:30 to 10:30 am
- All participants must bring their own ball, shin guards, and water
- Coaches may attend and participate in this session.
Key Dates for Fall Soccer 2023
- Now – Online Registration Open here
- August 31 – Registration Closed
- Tuesday, September 5th – Coaches Meeting at 6PM – Player Assignments Finalized
- Saturday, September 23rd – First Game
- Saturday, November 11th – Last Game
Recreational League
Registration
- The recreational league is open to boys and girls ages 4 - 14 as of September 30, 2023.
- Cost is $40/child, which includes a uniform shirt, shorts, and socks.
- Registration is available online with a credit card. Click here.
- Teams will be organized by geography due to evening traffic. The preference you indicate is not a guarantee. If you want to guarantee where your child will practice, please consider coaching.
- Divisions will be organized by age with a cut-off date of September 30th: 4,5,6,7, 8 & 9, 10 & 11, 12-14
- 8 & 9 year-olds will have a girls' division, if coaches and players numbers allow.
- To balance teams for older ages, 7th graders may play up or down depending on numbers.
Practices
- Practices and practice locations are determined by the volunteer coaches, locations include: Port Allen Soccer Complex, Addis Myhand Park, or Brusly's Alexander Park
- Shin guards should be worn under socks
- Bring a water bottle
- Coaches are provided with a few balls for the team, but it will be helpful if players bring their own ball for practices
- Ages 4-7: Size 3 ball
- Ages 8-11: Size 4 ball
- Ages 12 & up: Size 5 ball
- Most teams will practice once a week
Games
- Games will be played on Saturday mornings (starting at 8:30 am and finishing at noon) at the West Baton Rouge Soccer Complex next to Port Allen High.
- 4-6 year-olds will play 4v4 with no goal keeper
- 7 year-olds will play 5v5, including the goalkeeper
- 8 & 9 year-olds will play 7v7, including the goalkeeper
- 10 & up will play 7v7 to 9v9 based on numbers
- Coaches are encouraged to play each player at least 50% of game
- Older divisions may play Iberville, Point Coupee, and West Feliciana parishes
Academy
This academy league is open to boys and girls ages 8 - 12 who want additional training and games for the purposes of developing for future competitive play. The league will be directed by a licensed coach with assistance of a skilled coaching staff. The league is not for competitive soccer, but it is intended to give the opportunity for knowledge and skills development that will help the player.
Registration
- The program is open to boys and girls, ages 7 - 11 as of September 30, 2023.
- Cost is $150/child, which includes two academy jerseys and shorts.
- Registration is available online with a credit card. Click here.
Tactical Training
- Location: Soccer Complex in Port Allen
- Date/Time: (9/10 to 10/29), 8 Sundays for 90 minutes starting at 4:00 PM, or earlier to beat sundown.
- Development focus: attacking and defending as a team in all parts of the field, movement without the ball
Technical Training
- Location: Myhand Park in Addis
- Days/Time: (9/12 to 10/25), Tuesdays & Wednesdays for 60 minutes, starting at 6:30 PM.
- Development Focus: Individual skills, 1v1, 2v1
Intra-Program Games
- Location: Soccer Complex in Port Allen
- Date/Time: (9/23 to 11/4), Saturdays at approximately noon, following the conclusion of most recreational games.
- Games will be organized based on the numbers in the program. There is a possibility of games outside the program, but this is not guaranteed
Coaching Curriculum
Program Director is John Alexander who has US Soccer’s Class E coaching license and additional Grassroots training. He has coached high school, middle school, indoor, and recreational soccer for the last 10 years. Other adult coaches may include those with coaching certification and/or referee license. There is a potential for assistance from youth who have previous competitive or academy training. The curriculum is being developed in partnership with experienced and licensed coaches and referees that have been involved in WBR Soccer, Baton Rouge Soccer Club, and Ascension Flight.
Participant Expectations
- Wear the proper jersey and shin guards under socks
- All players will be in the same color, a scrimmage vest will be used as needed
- Bring your own ball and water
- Do your best to make each event and notify the program director of Saturday's absence in advance.
Please be flexible. This is the first offering of an academy league in WBR and we will learn many things during the fall to help us decide how to best grow soccer on the westside.
Other Notes
Can we enter tournaments? – US Soccer is the governing body which delegates to state associations and a few other entities. In order to play “competitive” soccer or to play in tournaments like “Strawberry Cup”, membership in Louisiana Soccer Association (LSA) is required. WBR is not currently part of LSA, but it is considered for the future. While the focus of the program will be to develop the players that are involved, it will help clarify the potential for a competitive soccer program based in West Baton Rouge that would compete at a higher level in the future. To attract the coaching and direction necessary to have a successful program, costs and time commitment will be higher. This fall can be a window into this world.
So what CAN we do next?
Indoor soccer is offered in St. Gabriel in the winter and summer. This past winter/summer, John Alexander coached a team of kids born in 2013 and 2014 that were primarily, but not entirely, from WBR. Adam Lacy also coach a team of kids born in 2015 that were primarily, but not entirely, from WBR. Indoor is generally a fun experience for the kids, but the level of competition increases as kids get older. Middle School soccer is a winter outdoor league run by Baton Rouge Soccer Club. John Alexander intends to coach a team of largely 5/6th graders this winter and play in a lower division. Last winter, Brusly Middle School fielded a team of mostly 7/8th graders. Point Coupee participates in the winter league. Last winter, Plaquemine/MSA organized a middle school team that played friendlies.
I want to Coach!
To inquire about coaching, please email wbrsoccer@gmail.com with your full contact information and your child’s fall grade and birthdate. Previous coaches can contact me through the GroupMe App. I will give you some information that will help build your confidence in helping your team enjoy soccer in our coaches' meeting and through GroupMe. Some of the benefits in coaching:
- You get to choose your team’s practice location and time.
- You get to help choose your roster.
- If you coach two teams, it will be rare that the two teams will play at the same time.