Mendocino County Soccer Academy gets kids back on the field
UKIAH >> New state guidelines allow for a return to soccer, and The Mendocino County Soccer Academy is gearing up!
Mendocino County needs to be at 14 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, and the county is currently at 16.8. Expectations are that we’ll be under the new threshold soon.
Mendocino County Soccer Academy will implement the required COVID-19 protocols and work with families, players, and coaches to create a safe environment for kids to get back on the field, laughing, smiling and learning life-long skills!
The spring soccer program will be in Willits, Ukiah and Mendocino and will kick off the week of April 5 and wraps up Saturday, May 22.
Traditionally, MCSA hosts its Grassroots Academy during this time of year. Grassroots is a six-week introductory program where kids learn the basics and fall in love with the sport. These sessions are practice only, no games. However, this year, we’re adding a small wrinkle by creating a 5-vs.-5 mini-league, with games on Saturdays.
Please note: The Under-6 category will remain practice-only. We’ll create lots of playing and scrimmaging within their field sessions.
The program is available for kids as young as 3, up to the age of 18. Players will be trained by MCSA’s professional coaching staff and volunteer coaches utilizing the proven curriculum.
All players receive the popular, blue MCSA Eagles training shirt. To keep costs down, players will only wear their Eagles shirts on game days. We’ll differentiate teams with pennies (training vests that go over their blue shirt). Kids will need to have their own shinguards and cleats.
Players will practice two evenings per week with their age
group in their hometown. On Saturdays, we will break into 5-vs.-5 co-ed teams (under 8 will be 3-vs.-3). Some weekends — depending on the number of kids in each age group per location — teams will stay home and play teams from the same town. Other weekends teams will travel to either Ukiah, Willits or Mendocino, so travel will be minimal — but fun!
Specifics, including practice days, times, field location and age-groups, will be announced soon. Please follow MCSA on Facebook and Instagram for news and updates.
Generally, the Grassroots Academy is $120+ for the six-week program. Due to the financial stresses of the last year on many, MCSA is glad to offer this particular program at a lower rate than normal because of the generous financial support of TR Ericksen Foundation and Mendocino County Health Clinics.
The fee is just $75 for under 6, and $95 for all other age groups. In addition, there is a $15 early bird discount if you register by March 7. There’s also a $10 sibling discount for those registering multiple children.
MCSA is committed to offering soccer to any child who wants to play regardless of their family’s ability to play via the Peter LaCasse Scholarship Fund. We offer 25, 50, and 75 percent scholarships for those in need. Families can learn more and register at MendocinoSoccer.com/ Spring-2021.
Email questions to club admin director and coach, Ian Fitzpatrick, at ian@ MendocinoSoccer.com.