Fall 2026 Recreational Soccer Pilot Program - Grade 3 - 5
Our 3rd to 5th Grade Recreational Soccer Pilot Program is designed to teach our players fundamental skills with many touches on the ball. Building skills through complex drills that involve individual and teamwork elements. This program will meet twice per week, with separate practice and scrimmage days so players have more opportunities to learn positions and rules of play. This “in-town” only Recreational Soccer Program includes players from East Lyme and Salem.
Our 3rd to 5th Grade Recreational Soccer program is best suited for players who are playing soccer for the first time, are returning to soccer after taking a season off, or are not ready for the commitment of our U9/U10/U11 Travel program. Our goal is to offer a Recreational Pilot Program that fosters players' love for the game of soccer!
Please know that players of all skill levels remain eligible for our Travel program. This Recreational Pilot Program offers families a new opportunity to decide what commitment level is best for their player. Please register your player for only one program, either Recreational Soccer or Travel Soccer.
When: Two days per week, September 2026 to October 2026, for eight weeks.
Where: Bridebrook Park, 221 W. Main Street, East Lyme, CT.
Bridebrook Map:
Grade, Times and Field Locations (2026):
All teams will practice and scrimmage on the baseball fields on the same days and times (TBD by ELSA).
3rd - 5th grade Girls will play separately from 3rd to 5th grade Boys
Parking: Please only park in the designated parking spaces. If the parking lot is full, you may park in the grass in front of Bridebrook Park or on the side of the road on N. Bridebrook Road.
Cost: $125 per player for the Fall 2026 season.
Player Equipment:
Shin guards (required)
Cleats (required)
Size 4 soccer ball (required)
Team jersey (provided)
Water bottle (recommended)
Team Composition: 3rd to 5th Grade Girls will play separately from 3rd to 5th Grade Boys.
Volunteer Coaches: Similar to the PreK-2nd Grade program, volunteer coaches will receive weekly lesson plans with progressive skills and drills to run on the assigned practice day. Volunteers also will coach players during a 40 minute scrimmage on game day.
Field Locations: Each team is assigned a color-based team name corresponding to the color jersey worn. Weekly practices will be held at the same field location assigned prior to the first week. Weekly game schedules and field assignments to support those games will be emailed to families prior to the game day.
Games: Games will run in a 7 v 7 format, with four ten-minute quarters, and will follow the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association rules for U10 game play. Each game will have one assigned referee.
First Session: A check-in table will be set up in front of the Baseball field to distribute equipment bags and player jerseys to volunteer coaches and to help direct players to their practice field assignments.
Please understand that this is a Pilot Program. Some of the details about the structure of the Pilot Program may change depending on the composition of registrants. Changes may include, but are not limited to, age groupings, ball size, location, and rules of play. If an insufficient number of players register to run a Pilot Program, even with changes, those players who registered will be offered a refund of the registration cost or an opportunity to play on a bronze Travel team in the appropriate age/gender group.
Questions: Please reach out to the Recreation Program Director at [email protected] with any questions.
Fall 2026 6th to 8th Grade Recreational Soccer Pilot Program
Our 6th to 8th Grade Recreational Soccer program is designed to continue to build our players fundamental skills through more teamwork focused drills than at younger ages. This program meets twice per week, with separate days for practice and scrimmage so that players have greater opportunities to learn game play. This “in-town” only Recreational Soccer program includes players from East Lyme and Salem.
Our 6th to 8th Grade Recreational Soccer program is best suited for players who are playing soccer for the first time, returning to soccer after taking several seasons off, or not ready for the commitment of our U12/U13/U14/U15 Travel programs. Our goal ultimately is to offer a Recreational Pilot Program that fosters players' love for the game of soccer!
Please know that players of all skill levels remain eligible for our Travel program. This Recreational Pilot Program offers families a new opportunity to decide what commitment level is best for their player. Please register your player for only one program, either Recreational Soccer or Travel Soccer.
When: Two days per week, September 2026 to October 2026, for eight weeks. All teams will practice and scrimmage on the Baseball or Softball fields on the same dates and times, which will be set by ELSA.
Where: Bridebrook Park, 221 W. Main Street, East Lyme, CT.
Field Map:
Parking: Please only park in the designated parking spaces. If the parking lot is full, you may park in the grass in front of Bridebrook Park or on the side of the road on N. Bridebrook Road.
Cost: $125 per player for the Fall 2026 season.
Player Equipment:
Shin guards (required)
Cleats (required)
Size 5 soccer ball (required)
Team jersey (provided)
Water bottle (recommended)
Team Composition: 6th to 8th Grade Girls will play separately from 6th to 8th Grade Boys.
Volunteer Coaches: Similar to the PreK-2nd Grade program, volunteer coaches will receive weekly lesson plans with progressive skills and drills to run on the assigned practice day. Volunteers also will coach players during a 40 minute scrimmage on game day.
Field Locations: Each team is assigned a color-based team name corresponding to the color jersey worn. Weekly practices will be held at the same field location assigned prior to the first week. Weekly game schedules and field assignments to support those games will be emailed to families prior to the game day.
Games: Games will run in a 7 v 7 format (or a 9 v 9 format if registration numbers allow), with four ten-minute quarters, and will otherwise follow the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association rules for U14 game play. Each game will have one assigned referee.
First Session Expectations: A check-in table will be set up in front of the Baseball field to distribute equipment bags and player jerseys to volunteer coaches and to help direct players to their practice field assignments.
Please understand that this is a Pilot Program. Some of the details about the structure of the Pilot Program may change depending on the composition of registrants. Changes may include, but are not limited to, age groupings, ball size, location, and rules of play. If registration numbers are not adequate to support a Pilot Program, registered players will be offered the opportunity to play on a Bronze Travel Team in the appropriate age/gender group or families may request a refund of the registration cost.
Questions: Please reach out to the Recreation Program Director at [email protected] with any questions.