Under 8 Program
(info for players, parents, and coaches, contacts, u8 calendar)
(enhancements, general info, K program, 1st-2nd program)

Introduction to the U8 Program

Hempfield Soccer Club's U8 Program provides kids in kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades the opportunity to play small-sided soccer games against other kids in a coed environment. Most games take place at Amos Herr Park in Landisville.The program is open to all players - no residency restrictions. 

Information for Players, Coaches, and Parents

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  Registration information for the U8 program is on our Registration page.

  Contacts for the U8 program are on this page, just below this section.
  Game Schedules (Fall and Spring) are available from your coach.
  U8 Quick Overview (Spring Season) Coaches will contact players by March 5th.  Field setup is March 18th. Practices begin in late March. First game day is April 1st. Pictures will be taken the week of April 24 during practices. Festival  will be held the last game day - June 3rd.  All games are played on Saturdays.

  Festival info and flyer and the game schedules for the event are now posted.

  Team picture schedule for spring U8's is posted in an excel file. Please review.

  New! Coerver® Coaching comes to Lancaster and HSC!  The world-renowned school of coaching is teaming up with our Director of Coaching to work with our 2nd graders under the umbrella of the Under 8 program to bring them the very best of ball-skills based coaching while incorporating fun, sportsmanship and a healthy philosophy and respect for the challenging game of soccer.

Read some Corever FAQ's here or to learn more click on the coerver logo.

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  Attention Parents/Guardians - Please review the Parent's Rules of Conduct that you agreed to when registering your child to play soccer with Hempfield Soccer Club.

  Directions to A. Herr Park - All Under 8 games and practices are at this complex.
  U8 Festival (Fall Season). Games are in a mini-tournament format, full of fun and surprises! Tournament is held mid-season, and schedules are distributed prior to the tournament. Get set for a great time!
  Quick Overview (Spring Season). Coaches contact players in early March or mid March. Practices begin in late March or early April. First game day is early April. Last game day is very early June. Games are Saturdays.
  U8 Festival (Spring/Fall Season). Games are in a mini-tournament format, full of fun and surprises! Schedules are distributed near the end of the season. Get set for a great time!
  Snack Stand. Be sure to visit the snack stand, located in the corner of the parking lot near the gazebo. There are a variety of items available, including water, coffee, sodas, hot dogs, chips, candy bars, and more! All of the proceeds benefit the U8 program. Enjoy a cup of coffee during the game, or a hot dog and a drink after the game -- all to benefit programs for the kids! Thanks for the support.


.  Information for Coaches

  Coaches Risk Management - forms due before the first practice for all coaches
 


U8 Program and Club Administrators Contact Info

 
Overall U8 Coordinators
Cindy Zawrotuk 898-8171 cindyz@paonline.com
Julie Tebera 808-1111 jmtebera@hotmail.com
Kindergarten Boys
Tricia Glinsky   matzglinsky@dejazzd.com
Kindergarten Girls
Nicole Koger 892-2751 nicolekoger@comcast.net
1st Grade Boys
Jen Barron 892-4926 Barronjen@aol.com
1st Grade Girls
Colleen Sheerin 898-7921 CMSheerin@aol.com
2nd Grade Boys
Heather Ashley 492-0155 theashleysare@comcast.net
2nd Grade Girls
Janice Nikoloff 295-3303 jan814@comcast.net

  All Club Officers and Administrators

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U8 Calendar

  The U8 program lists all events on the Club Events Calendar. 
 


U8 General Information

Small Sided Games. In the fall of 1999, the Hempfield Soccer Club adopted the United States Youth Soccer Association's (USYSA) Guidelines for Small Sided Games (generally 3v3, meaning that each team fields three players at a time). The reason for reducing the number of players on the field and for reducing the size of the field is to provide the players with more opportunities to kick the ball, score goals, and have fun.

Objectives. The objectives of the U8 program are to develop the individual player, for the players to have fun, and for the players to desire playing soccer in the future. In the U8 program the score is neither kept nor recorded. Learning and having fun should be emphasized. Coaches and parents should not emphasize winning or losing.

Training of Players. Structured, age appropriate, team-based instructional sessions are offered to the 2nd graders, who play the second half of the season with an individual in the goal.

If You Sign Up. If you sign up for the U8 program, a coach will contact you approximately three weeks before the season begins. The coach will let you know when practices will be held and will let you know your team's schedule for the year.
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U8 Kindergarten Program

The U8 Kindergarten program of the Hempfield Soccer Club is based on The Official 3v3 Program recommended by USYSA.

 

Field Size:  Approximately 30x20 yard field.
Laws of the Game:  Modified.
Roster Size:  No more than 8 players.
Field Players:  4 players on the field during the game (4v4, no goalkeeper).
Playing Time:  All players play just about the same amount of time during the games.
Ball size:  3
Games:  Saturdays, One 32 minute game, four 8-minute quarters

Practices:  One, 1 hour evening practice per week.
Fall Season:  Begins the first weekend after Labor Day and runs for 8 weeks.
Spring Season:  Begins in early April or the first weekend after Easter and runs for 8 weeks (No games Memorial Day Weekend. No games Easter weekend.)

Goal Arc (Kindergarten and 1st Grade Play)

The goal arc is the prescribed area directly in front of the goal.  There is no ball contact allowed within the goal arc, however any player may pass through the goal arc.  If the ball comes to rest in the goal arc, a goal kick is awarded regardless of who touched the ball last.


U8 1st Grade Program

The U8 1st Grade program of the Hempfield Soccer Club is based on The Official 4v4 Program recommended by USYSA.

 

Field Size:  Approximately 50x30 yard field.
Laws of the Game:  Modified.
Roster Size: No more than 8 players. 

Field Players:  4 players on the field during the game (4v4, no goalkeeper).
Playing Time:  All players play just about the same amount of time during the games.
Ball size:  3
Games:  Saturdays, One 40 minute game, four 10-minute quarters.
Practices:  One, 1 hour evening practice per week.
Fall Season:  Begins the first weekend after Labor Day and runs for 8 weeks.
Spring Season:  Begins in early April or the first weekend after Faster and runs for 8 weeks (No games Memorial Day Weekend. No games Easter weekend.) 


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  U8 2nd Grade Program

*See also Coerver FAQ's  - for info regarding spring 2006 season.

The U8 2nd Grade program of the Hempfield Soccer Club is based on The Official 4v4 Program recommended by USYSA.

 

Field Size:  Approximately 50x30 yard field.
Laws of the Game:  Modified.
Roster Size:  No more than 10 players. 

Field Players:  5 players on the field during the game. 4 field players and 1 goalie (5v5).

Playing Time:  All players play just about the same amount of time during the games.
Ball size:  3
Games:  Saturdays, One 48 minute game, four 12-minute quarters. Exception for Coerver weeks. *
Practices:  One, 1 hour evening practice per week.
Fall Season:  Begins the first weekend after Labor Day and runs for 8 weeks.
Spring Season:  Begins in early April or the first weekend after Easter and runs for 8 weeks (No games Memorial Day Weekend. No games Easter weekend.) 


 

Goalie Box (2nd Grade Play)

The goalie box is part of the playing field.  Field players are permitted inside this box.  HOWEVER, field players are not allowed to challenge the goalie when 1) the goalie is in possession of the ball, or 2) the goalie in the process of obtaining possession of the ball (with hands or feet).  This rule is intended to protect the safety of the players.

Please refer to the following for more information.
US Youth Soccer Official Rules for Small-Sided Games