Ridgefield's Talk of Our Town

Spring Soccer in Ridgefield “Kicks Off” Soon

By Steve Carlson

Soccer? In the Spring?

As the snow melts and we see and smell the grass again, many of us think of spring sports.   Not everyone associates spring with soccer, but it really is a spring sport.  In Europe the football (soccer) season begins in August.   Here in the US, the Major League Soccer (MLS) season kicks off in late March and continues through the summer and next Fall.

In Ridgefield, the Soccer Club of Ridgefield (SCOR) is gearing up for its spring season.  Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the town. It offers opportunities for young children just experimenting with their first athletic activity and continues on to High School.

SCOR has about 1200 kids participating in the spring and about 1600 in the fall. The majority of the players are in the recreational House program, looking to have fun while learning the game of soccer.

For kids looking to step up the competition, they may choose the developmental “Academy” program where the training is more focused and provides the fundamental skills required to move into the competitive “Travel” divisions.

As with many of the athletic programs in Ridgefield, the key to the success is its volunteers. It’s hard to imagine but over 200 Moms, Dads and some high school students step forward each season to mentor children, teach soccer … and have a blast! A huge thank you goes out to all who provide their time and guidance to the players that they coach and the leagues that they organize. Without their help, none of this could come about.

This spring is a very exciting time for those who follow soccer as it leads into the FIFA World Cup 2010 which begins in June. The players in SCOR will all be participating in activities that help them learn about the World Cup. Thirty two national teams will gather in South Africa to compete for one of the true world championships of sport.

For more information on Soccer in Ridgefield, click  here.

Check back, future posts will have more on ….

- The World Cup

- The landscape of soccer in Ridgefield, Connecticut and the US

- Adult Soccer in Ridgefield and the region

- High School

- Can you play in college?

Steve Carlson is a long time member of the Board of Directors for SCOR and the President of the Boys Tiger Soccer Booster Club at Ridgefield High School