Started by a local White Bear Lake Family, Soccer Buddies is designed to build community connections between families. In an informal practice setting, preschoolers will learn fundamental soccer skills through entertaining games.
Soccer Buddies hopes to:
engage preschoolers in outdoor movement
encourage preschoolers to make new friends (and parents, too!)
excite preschoolers about the sport of soccer
2013: 30+ preschoolers
2016: 52 preschoolers
2017: 92 preschoolers
2018: 130 preschoolers
2019: 175 preschoolers
2021: 138 preschoolers
2022: 172 preschoolers
2023: 95 preschoolers
STRUCTURE
Parents often ask us, "What are the ages of participants?" We welcome all preschool aged children and leave it up to you, the parents, to decide when Soccer Buddies will be a good fit for your child.
Our program is developed for 3 and 4 year-olds; however, our past participants have ranged from ages 2 - 5 years. We know (and expect) preschoolers' attention and interest to vary each session.
Each session is 45 minutes. Preschoolers attend all four (4) sessions) The first portion of each session will focus on practicing very basic soccer skills. During the remaining portion of the session, we attempt to play an actual (and often hilarious) soccer game!
Soccer Buddies uses parents and local high school and college soccer players to help coach. All coaches are instructed to encourage kindness and fun! If you are a parent/guardian and would like to help coach, please indicate this on the registration form.
Each preschooler will be placed on a "team" and will receive a t-shirt and soccer ball at the first session. Soccer Buddies makes every attempt to honor requests as indicated on the registration form that children be placed on the same team as their friends. However, know that it may not always be possible.
Please have your child wear their jersey and bring their ball and a water bottle to each practice.
Shin guards are recommended. Soccer cleats are optional.
Soccer Buddies asks that parents allow preschoolers to participate on their own during each session -- while this may be a new experience, we have found preschoolers are more likely to engage in the soccer activities without a parent at their side. It is completely fine if your child does not participate in every activity – it is expected at this age! We will do our best to encourage preschoolers to join in and keep their attention.
Parents and Families: Feel free to bring chairs or blankets to watch from the sideline! And remember to bring a camera -- these little soccer players are pretty darn cute!