What should my child wear to class?

Participants should wear comfortable clothes and athletic close-toed shoes (no outdoor cleats). Shinguards are not needed until Micro Classes and Skills Institute classes. Lil’ Kicker or Skills Institute jerseys are given to first-time customers (with a registration of 8 classes or more) for free, and can thereafter be purchased at a low cost. Outfitting your child in Lil’ Kickers garb is a fun way to make your child feel part of a team.  Kids naturally appreciate looking like older uniformed kids and role models.  

 

How long are classes?

Each of our classes lasts 50 minutes with a water break halfway through.  Between classes, there is a 10-minute break.

 

How long are your sessions?

We offer four sessions a year (fall, winter, spring, summer) that break down into approximately 10-13 week seasons.

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Can I drop my child off for class?

No, classes are 50 minutes and require a parent or guardian to be on-site at all times.

 

Can I join a class in the middle of a session?

Yes! We offer open enrollment so that you can join anytime and have your class fees prorated. This means that you pay only for the remaining class and not the full session fee.

 

Can we pay as we go during the session?

The session needs to be paid in full at the time of registration to reserve your child’s spot, or you may set up a payment plan for the session. Please note that we offer open enrollment, we do prorate class fees.

 

Can I get a Lil' Kickers discount for both of my children?

Yes! We offer a sibling discount of 10% for each additional child registered as long as the children are registered at the same time.

 

What if I can't make it to one of my classes?

 

We understand life can get busy and you might have to miss a class. With our easy make-up class policy, you may  a make-up class in one of the same level classes on the schedule. Make-up classes are based on availability and not guaranteed. They must be made within the current session. We will do our very best to accommodate your requests. If you have multiple children, please schedule a make-up class for each child individually.

 

Can we come on any day?

No, in order to maintain class ratios and consistency within the program, we schedule children for specific times and days. When registering, be sure to first determine which day best suits your schedule. Of course, there may be an occasion when a make-up class is needed. In that situation, you can schedule a make-up class for any day in which class space is available. If your schedule changes during the session and you need to switch days, we will try to accommodate your needs to the best of our ability. However, changes cannot be guaranteed and are based on space availability.

 

What are the child-to-coach ratios for each class?

Ratios vary depending on several factors including the mobility of the children in the class, whether parents are participating in the class, and the level of technical instruction required. Typically, if a class has more than 8 children, there will be a second coach. Some exceptions may apply.

 

If my child is struggling in class without parents on the field, such as a Hoppers or Jackrabbits class, is it okay for me to be on the field to help my child?

 

In this situation, we normally suggest placing the child in a Cottontails class. Cottontails classes are methodically structured and specifically designed to  promote independence. We have found that these classes provide a successful, long-term solution to separation issues.

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Why doesn't my child play more soccer in the program?

While many soccer programs are busy using traditional soccer skill drills to drive home the fundamentals of soccer, we approach coaching from a child-centered perspective. Because of this perspective, our main goal is to make learning fun for kids. We do this by putting instruction into a context that children understand, using special techniques designed around how kids naturally learn. Lil’ Kickers teaches your child the fundamentals of soccer but focuses on developing the whole child. Our program helps build social, emotional, and cognitive skills that result in our Lil Kickers becoming well-balanced and conscientious individuals on and off the soccer field.

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What is the difference between Lil”Kickers and Skills Institute?    

Lil’ Kickers is a child development soccer program that teaches basic skills through fun, creative, and energetic games. Skills Institute also encourages age-appropriate child development and focuses on teaching more technical and tactical skills through various fast-paced, challenging and structured drills.

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Why does the Skills Institute class cost more?

A higher level of specialized technical instruction is provided in Skills Institute classes, and the value of this instruction is priced accordingly.