What is Short-Sided Soccer?
Short-sided soccer is about what is best for young soccer players. It's for AYSO coaches, referees, administrators, spectators, and anyone else concerned with the development of 5 to 12 year old soccer players.

Why Short-Sided Soccer?
Because young players need special consideration. Little research or attention has been given this critical period in the development of the under-12 year old players, but most educators agree the early learning experiences are the most important and result in the most retention.

Traditionally, youth soccer programs are viewed from an adult perspective, using the 11-a-side game as a reference. But we need to remember these important points about young players:

• Children must be treated as children, not as mini-adults.
• Children are essentially self-oriented and only relate naturally to a friend or two, not to groups of six or more.
• Children cannot sustain prolonged activity and function best with frequent rest periods.
• Children have a limited span of attention, so frequent activity changes are necessary.
• Children focus best when learning activities are fun.

Almost 70 percent of AYSO coaches are first-time coaches-parents with little free time. Short-sided soccer is a way to ease adults into coaching as well as to ease children into playing.

Be creative and remember children play games to have fun. Short-sided games help ensure children have fun and at the same time, maximize their learning opportunities.

La Mesa AYSO Region 89

The board of Region 89 has adopted the short sided philosophy since the 1998 season and expanded each year to the present configuration. As of 2001 we completed the integration of short side games into La Mesa’s program and feel that we will continue this for many years to come. The relationship of the number of players on the team verses the number of players on the field, continues to allow La Mesa’s coaching goal of ¾ playing time for all during the regular season. What follows is the make up for U6, U8 and U10 short sided games.

U6	3 v 3	pug goals	8 players per team	two games side by side
U8	6 v 6	6ft x 6yrd	8 players per team	5 field players and goalie
U10	9 v 9	7ft x 7yrd	10 players per team	7 field players and goalie
U12+	11 v 11	8ft x 8yrd	14 players per team	10 field players and goalie

We hope all the players, coaches and parents embrace the Short Sided Games because our goal is to let the kids have a good time while learning the game of soccer and with SSG we believe this can be achieved.

U10 All-Stars and Helix Classic and tourneys will all be run at 9 vs 9 for the Area V which includes La Mesa Region 89.