At SASA (Springfield Area Soccer Association) our primary focus is to provide a total, well rounded and positive soccer experience for the player, coach and parent. The emphasis will be on the education, technical development and sportsmanship of each and every player as well as continuing education of all our coaches.

As a result, in the spring of 2019, Richie, the Director of Youth Recreational Soccer at SASA, will be starting a recreational program in Springfield that follows the recommended guidelines developed by the US Youth Soccer Association for youth soccer players.

The guidelines follow the principle that children are not little adults! Young children lack most of the physical, social, and psychological abilities needed to play adult soccer. US Youth Soccer consulted experts in the fields of physical education, sociology, and psychology to figure out exactly what children are cable of at different ages. Then, they built the "best practice" soccer model off of those age characteristics. The recommendation is for U4, U6 and U8 soccer players play 4v4 on a smaller field. Those in the U9 and U10 will play 7v7, while those U11 and U12 will play 9v9. Having less players on a field (and playing on smaller fields) increases the amount each player touches the ball which leads to a higher level of engagement, skill acquisition, and most importantly FUN!

Our Recreational program will run in the spring/fall of each year. The program is designed for beginning soccer players or for any soccer player looking for a great skill development program that doesn't involve travel to other communities. We seek parent volunteers to be coaches and we provide training to those volunteers including access to Illinois Youth Soccer coaching education courses, club provided practice plans that follow US Youth Soccer guidelines, and ongoing coaching support via our experienced coaching directors. If you are interested in coaching please mark down that interest when registering or email SASArecsoccer@gmail.com.

Questions?
Contact Alexis Richie
Cell (text/call): 1-217-371-0053
Email: SASArecsoccer@gmail.com

Alexis Richie comes to SASA after spending one season as the assistant women’s soccer coach at Blackburn College. Previously she was the Associate Sports Director at the YMCA of Springfield from June 2016 - November 2018.

A 2016 graduate of Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL,  Richie played four seasons on the Women’s soccer team while attending Blackburn. She has also spent time coaching and reffing throughout Macoupin county.

Richie states, “I look forward to continuing to make an impact while sharing this opportunity with the youth of Springfield and its surrounding communities. Our staff has come together to provide not only another outlet for recreational soccer league play, but to provide players a clear development pathway to a more competitive environment once the player has phased out of the recreational program. How? We will be offering optional additional training by professional certified coaches outside of league play, to help advance youths skill sets for potential placement on one of our many travel teams! So, here is to a new outlet for the youth of the Springfield and it’s surrounding communities - I look forward to a successful kickoff in April!”