Charlotte Soccer Academy Recreational Soccer

Coach Update for Fall 2026 Season

All coaches should review the following:

1.Coach Welcome Video and Important Information from Keith Wienke, Director of Recreation.

Spring Video Coming Soon!

2. Coach FAQ - all coaches need to read the Coach FAQ document. Want to know what size soccer ball each age group uses. It's in there. Want to know what you should do at the first practice. It's in there. Weather policies. YEP - it's in there.

3. For those interested in the GRASSROOTS Coaching license - you can access instructions on how to register for the class SPRING CLASS LINK COMING SOON!!

4. RULES by Age group. Even if you think you know the game or have previously coached- YOU NEED TO REVIEW THE RULES FOR YOUR AGE GROUP!

U6 3v3 Rules

U8 4v4 Rules

U10 7v7 Rules

U12 9v9 Rules

U14/Middle School 11v11 Rules

U16/High School 11v11 Rules

U19/High School 11v11 Rules

5. If you are new to soccer, or just want a fun way to review the Laws of the Game (Soccer), we have a great PDF that goes over the laws, lingo in a (hopefully) easy-to-understand format. Please make note of the RED added CSA specific info or notes. CSA - Laws of the Game

5. U8 thru U19 teams practice one time a week for one hour. U6 practice is 45 minutes.

Kickstarter is 30-minute practice followed by a 30-minute game

6. Coaches who did not attend coach meeting should plan to pick up their coaching gear and equipment at the first practice. Please go to your locations CSA tent and collect.

7. Equipment bags contain pinafores (pinnies) cones (they are actually disks) a game ball and a ball bag. These items should be returned to us at the end of the season.

8. U6 thru U12 age groups WE DO NOT HAVE GAME SCHEDULES DONE!!!! The game schedule for the season will be available approximately Thursday of first game weekend. Please be patient. Games begin at 9am and run through the day as needed, depending on the number of teams. Game times will vary week to week. U14/U16 and U19 Schedules are posted on the MARS Site

9. YOU ARE REQUIRED to Secure an assistant coach asap from your roster of parents asap! Things happen. WE DO NOT PROVIDE STAFF to cover if you cannot be there. That is what the assistant coach is for! If parents stall on volunteering you might have to be blunt – no parent, no practice, no play. Assistant Coaches need to complete the following link https://csasoccercoach.blogspot.com/p/assistant-coach.html I do not need the name of that person – just forward them the link. (I’ll capture them that way)

10. Coach credits for being a head coach. We will start that process after we get the first game weekend done. This is a TIME-CONSUMING process as it must be done manually and “one at a time”. Credits will be issued in order of registration AND if all of the risk management and safe sport criteria has been completed by the deadline. Credits/refunds are issued to the card that you used to make the payment. If you have not done both the background check and the safe sport class - YOU WILL NOT GET CREDIT. NO EXCEPTIONS

11. Coaches MUST be in their CSA coaching shirts with their ID badge on for practices and games. We are providing coaches with multiple shirts – please wear them. YES you can wear an older CSA shirt if you have one. Pick up your shirt and equipment at your first practice if you didn’t make meeting

12. Other quick points for coaches

a. Please DO NOT GIVE AMY’S CELL PHONE NUMBER OUT TO PARENTS!!!!!! Amy is the coach coordinator. Parents with questions can email pkeen@charlottesocceracademy.com or call 980-290-7280
b. READ the emails and attachments we send out. We know it’s a lot of information at the start of the season – I promise, once the season is underway it is less.
c. When the game schedule is posted, it is posted for the entire season. We do not change the schedule unless it’s a weather issue.
d. We do not change practice nights.

We make every effort to play practices and games as scheduled.
We will play in light rain unless there is a danger posed to the players or the fields become unplayable.
However, rain accumulation may result in field closures, even if it is currently sunny!

CLOSURES ARE POSTED NO LATER THAN 4:30PM ON WEEKDAYS
AND 8:00AM ON SATURDAYS.

THE CITY OR COUNTY MAKE DECISIONS ON MANY OF OUR FIELDS.
CONDITIONS AND STATUS MAY CHANGE DURING THE DAY OR AFTER GAMES/PRACTICES HAVE BEGUN.
Check as close to practice/game time as possible!

WE POST FIELD CLOSURES/CANCELLATIONS ONLY.
PLAN TO ATTEND UNLESS YOUR FACILITY IS LISTED AS CLOSED.

NEW OPTION FOR NOTIFICATIONS - Stack Team App - click for signup info

Or read the updates here: https://csarecsoccer.teamapp.com/

FOR U14 and U19 MARS LEAGUE GAME STATUS INFORMATION, VISIT THE MARS LEAGUE WEBSITE.

GENERAL FIELD INFO

Assume the fields are open unless they are specifically listed as closed.

We try to post info no later than 4:30 on weekdays and 8:00am on weekends. We rely on other sources to make decisions on the fields and cannot control when they make decisions!

Occasionally conditions will change or an update will have to be made after practices or games are underway. We recommend checking the field status prior to leaving for your event, using the info above.

Inclement Weather:
We make every effort to play practices and games as scheduled. Please dress your child appropriately.
We will play in light rain unless there is a danger posed to the players or the fields become unplayable.
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING: If you see lightning, clear the field. If you hear thunder, clear the field. Play will be halted for a minimum of 30 minutes. If no lightning is spotted during the 30 minutes and/or no thunder is heard during the 30 minutes, play will resume. If lightning is seen and/or thunder is heard during the 30 minute period, the clock starts over. No play will resume until a minimum of 30 minutes passes with no thunder and/or no lightning.

NO PETS ARE PERMITTED AT ANY OF OUR PRACTICE OR GAME FACILITIES.

NO SMOKING AT ANY FACILITY.

OUR FACILITIES ARE SNACK-FREE ZONES FOR HEALTH & SANITATION REASONS!

Parents, please remain in the designated viewing areas.

FIELD INFORMATION

FIELD STATUS IS PROVIDED THROUGH THE STACK TEAM APP OR X/TWITTER.
Return to the top of the page for field status notification information.

SOUTH REGION COMPLEXES
FIELD NAME AND ADDRESS	Google Map Link	Field Layout Map Link
McALPINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 9100 Carswell Lane Charlotte 28277		PRACTICE FIELDS GAME FIELDS
COLONEL BEATTY PARK 4330 Weddington Rd Matthews 28105		FIELD MAP-Practices
McKEE ROAD PARK 4201 McKee Rd, Charlotte 28270		FIELD MAP
McCLINTOCK MIDDLE SCHOOL 925 Rama Rd, Charlotte 28212		FIELD MAP-Practices
HARRIS TEETER FIELDS @ PALISADES 14600 Grand Palisades Pkwy, Charlotte 28278		FIELD MAP-Practices
CRESTDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL 940 Sam Newell Road Matthews, NC 28105		FIELD MAP
NORTH REGION COMPLEXES
FIELD NAME AND ADDRESS	Google Map Link	Field Layout Map Link
DAVE AND BUSTER'S NORTH SOCCER COMPLEX (DAVIDSON HIGHWAY) 3400 Davidson Highway Concord, 28027		FIELD MAP-Practice
CANNON SCHOOL 5801 Poplar Tent Road Concord, NC 28027		FIELD MAP-Practice
FRANK LISKE PARK 4001 Stough Road Concord, 28027		Park Overview Map FIELD MAP-Practices FIELD MAP-Games

Training Videos and Instructions-Please use these as needed for your practices.

1. Dribbling Medley Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upw192gixN4

This video demonstration is with 6u players but can be modified for all ages based on the words used. Coach Rich works on the following skills and points in the session:

A. NOT walking while dribbling

B. using the four parts of the foot. Inside, Outside, Laces and Soles- say NO to the TOE

C. demonstration of several fun games, again these can be modified for other age groups

2. Four Corner Dribbling- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PJrYof39dk

The video demonstration is using 10u/12u age boys – modifications can be made to be age appropriate. During the demonstrations notice when players are listening to instructions that Coach Rich gives them.

3. 1v1 Dribbling- This drill works with older age groups- 10u and up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu1j4gpBxoE

A. In this demonstration Coach Rich has them in LINES – BUT he uses multiple lines.

B. Coach Rich continues to give instruction as the players run the drill

4. Links to diagrams and written instruction on drills and games.

Four Corner Dribbling – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zbKEj8VcyUUxdGLFitIGpnRx0MVj4hW7/view?usp=sharing

Sharks and Minnows (when using this for older players feel free to change name or not give it a name) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fwK1rjlJjtX8JNpX9nITNGHjlMf6yx3Q/view?usp=sharing

1v1 across the line https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RJNQJw4XL3qhN9kICIEpGGOiz-e5fmhB/view?usp=sharing

Statue game https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CkGB9Dzb26WxUVIwpL3ZlXh3QKgOZT5o/view?usp=sharing

Dribbling thru the gates https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BvEk5nYDLu6BPvn6gRcgcgRkBRc9Q-Nb/view?usp=sharing

Four parts of dribbling https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-eL4_qpaHFeeEdR-iy9P3HTAUHWALzGV/view?usp=sharing

1v1 Change Directions https://drive.google.com/file/d/18XmlX4DdwVmJ6zG02Y0G8ZICKd0-J_fm/view?usp=sharing

Parts Game https://drive.google.com/file/d/15CvopRNzxnhVTCaEht-cZ67MIE_-0t1h/view?usp=sharing