Boys and Girls born in 2004.

Where and when

5th graders play at Stanmore Bay Park on Saturday mornings starting at 8.20am ending at 9.30am. All games are played at home, no away games.

How

Teams are made up of a maximum of 10 players. The teams play on 1/4 of a standard pitch with small goals. Games are preceded by a 30minute skill based training period. The games are played with a size 3 soccer ball with 2 x 15 minute halves. The Midget Coordinator will sound the horn to indicate the start and stop of training and start and stop of game halves on the day.

When it is time to play your opposition, which will have been given to you via the midget draw, you (the coach) will split your 10 member team into 2 x 5 member teams. One of these teams will move to the opposition field, with one of your opposition's split teams coming across to play the 5 member team left on your field. Begin play with 3 v 3 and alternate those players on the sideline as substitutes. The emphasis is on FUN, BALL TOUCH and encouragement.

Rules

There are few rules.

• No off-sides rule is played
• Participation and enjoyment are to be encouraged over competitiveness.
• There may be are 2-3 substitutes depending on player numbers.
• 3 players play in the game at the same time. Teams must have even numbers on the field. If one team has more players than the opposition then they can either play with a substitute, or give the opposition a player for half a game. If one team has two more players than the opposition then they must give them a player for the whole game. (This would be a different player in each half). If a team has three or more players than the opposition, then you balance them as fairly as possible. Please let common sense prevail.
• Refereeing is undertaken by the coach from each team for 1 half each.  The referee's decision is final.
• At this level restarts are by kick-ins. Corner kicks are not taken. Goal kicks can be either kicked from the ground, the hand or thrown in. The quicker the ball is back in play the more football is played. At goal kicks all attacking players are to stand behind the referee.
• Free kicks are awarded for offenses such as pushing, tripping or holding another player.
• Handball is only penalised if blatant and intentional.
• No Goal Keepers or intentional goal tending is allowed. This is not to be confused with defenders playing in positional play.
• The three goal rule applies. This means that any one player may not score more than three goals in a game. This is to encourage those children who are dominant at this level to develop passing techniques and add to their skills. Coaches are asked to monitor and adjudicate this.
  
• Opposition coaches are permitted on to the field during games to encourage the children, and are allowed to coach during the game.
• There is no league table. Games are scheduled in an attempt to play games as competitive as possible against other club teams at the same grade.
• Bad language or dissent is not tolerated by either player, parent or supporter.
• Parents are not allowed to stand behind the goals or directly alongside.
• The club does not tolerate dirty play or poor sports - this includes parents and supporters.

Teams

Each team has 10 members.
Where possible we put friends in the same team but cannot guarantee this.   

Player of the Day (POD)

Each coach will nominate a player of the day after play after the game each Saturday. He may seek parent input for a fair decision. This player is awarded a trophy and a certificate for his/her efforts. The trophy must to be returned each week so that it can be awarded to the next POD the following Saturday. The coach will make the award as fare as possible. The POD is based on attitude, effort and should not be awarded to the same player twice in a row. The purpose is to stimulate the player and provide a player incentive to try hard.   

Season

The first game is on Saturday 4th April. The last game on Saturday 5th September.  We play the first Saturday of the school holidays, but not the middle or last Saturday. Weekly draws are posted on the board each Saturday morning before the days play. Each coach will be given a draw for his/her team.

Cancellations

Cancellations will be posted after 2pm on Friday on the Club website under the cancellations section.

Coaching

Coaching is done during the 30minute period prior to your game slot on a Saturday morning. Additional weekday evening training session may be organised at the coach’s discretion.

Rep Football

There is no rep football offered in the 5th grade.

Uniforms

Players need the following kit

• Boots
• Green club shorts
• Green club socks
• Shin pads (this is mandatory players without shin pads will not be allowed to play for safety reasons)

Green shorts, socks and some shin pads are available from the gear locker room at the Club on Saturday mornings during Midget play.
The club will supply team shirts for use during the season. These are to be returned at the end of the season. The shirts are the responsibility of the coach, who will roster washing of these each week amongst the parents of the team.

Parental involvement

Each team needs a coach and a manager. This can be the same person. Coaches need to coordinate the team on Saturdays. It is desirable that a parent assists at the coaching sessions. Other team parents are rostered to bring lollies, and wash the team shirts each week. Packing up the midget goals is the responsibility of the parents. Please take them off the field and pack them into the junior container located on the north side of the Club house.

Cost

The cost to play as a Midget can be obtained here

Playing up a grade

Players are encouraged to play in their correct grade exceptions are not made at this level. Players cannot play below their age level.