Volunteer Coaches Needed!
We need you, Coach! The foundation of our Youth Sports Programs rests on our wonderful volunteer coaches who give their time, talent, and heart every day. For more information on volunteering, please see our Volunteer page.
League Game Schedules
- U8 Co-Ed Soccer – Fall 2019
- U10 Co-Ed Soccer – Fall 2019
- U12 Boy’s Soccer – Fall 2019
- U12 & 14 Girl’s Soccer – Fall 2019
- U14 Boy’s Soccer – Fall 2019
2019 CPD Youth Soccer Parent Handbook
The CPD Youth Soccer Parent Handbook is a required document including a Parents’ Promise waiver as well as frequently asked questions and responses for all youth soccer participants. Click here to access this form.
Champaign Park District Youth Soccer Leagues
1st – 8th grade; boys and girls
Learn hard work, teamwork, and social skills while having a great time! The leagues focus on fun, sportsmanship, instruction, and opportunity. All players will receive approximately equal playing time. Each league uses soccer balls, goals, and fields proportional to their age as recommended by the U.S. Youth Soccer. Teams will play six officiated games on Saturdays or on weeknights (depending on the league). See Youth Soccer Handbook for more information.
Practices: Expectations on practices is once a week, although older age groups may go twice a week. Practice days are generally Tuesday or Thursday nights, starting no earlier than 5:30p.
Games: Games begin on 9/7 and are played Saturdays or a weeknight (depending on the league). Make-up games may potentially be played on Tuesday or Thursday evenings. Depending on rainouts and other factors, games may go until the first Saturday in November.
Location: Dodds Soccer Complex. Exception: 12U & 14U teams may also have games in Urbana, etc.
Team Placement: Team placement will be done by the CPD Sports Staff. Requests for specific teams, coaches, or practice times/locations WILL NOT be accepted. However, completed Buddy Forms will be honored. Buddy Forms are available here or at the Leonhard Recreation Center.
Volunteer Coaches Needed: Click here for information about becoming a volunteer coach. Then, fill out a Volunteer Application and turn it in. We would not be able to run this program without volunteer coaches. There will be a coaches meeting (TBD) before the season begins.
Questions: Cody.Evans@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3983
Illinois Futbol Club (IFC) Soccer
Ages 3 – 2nd grade
The Champaign Park District and the Illinois Futbol Club (IFC) have worked together for over a decade to provide high-quality soccer coaching to youth ages 3 through 2nd grade. Below are a list of the programs we offer in partnership with IFC. IFC does offer programming past 2nd grade, but those programs are not in conjunction with the Park District. All instruction is provided by licensed IFC coaches.
Illinois FC Fall Soccer
IFC Micro Indoor Soccer
Ages 3-Kindergarten; boys and girls
Our popular Micro Soccer program is going indoors! The program is a chance for players to build on what they learned in the early fall or try out soccer for the first time. All instruction is done by licensed Illinois FC Coaches. For more details, please visit illinoisfc.com. Class meets once a week for 5 weeks. Players should bring a soccer ball (preferably size 3) if they can. Shin guards recommended. All players receive a free t-shirt.
Questions: Cody.Evans@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3983
IFC First Kicks Soccer
Age 3; boys and girls
Illinois FC First Kicks Soccer is an exciting program for 3-year-olds. This program introduces players to soccer in a fun-filled learning environment. Games and activities promote soccer skill and overall athletic development. All instruction is done by licensed Illinois FC coaches. For more details on Illinois FC First Kicks Soccer please visit illinoisfc.com.
Questions: Cody.Evans@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3983
IFC Micro Soccer (Pre-K)
Ages 4-5; boys and girls
The pre-kindergarten sessions will introduce players to dribbling, passing, shooting and coordination, and body movement activities in a fun-filled environment. Games and practice activities promote soccer skill and overall athletic development. All instruction is done by licensed Illinois FC coaches. For more details, please visit illinoisfc.com.
Questions: Cody.Evans@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3983
IFC Micro Soccer (Kindergarten)
Kindergarten; boys and girls
The kindergarten-age Micro Soccer sessions focus on the development of each individual player, helping each player reach his/her potential in an environment with a balanced dose of fun and challenge. The curriculum emphasizes technique training that strengthens dribbling, passing, shooting, ball control, decisionmaking, and creativity. Team play is fostered through group exercises and small-sided matches. All instruction is done by licensed Illinois FC coaches. For more details on Illinois FC Micro Soccer (Kindergarten), please visit illinoisfc.com.
Questions: Cody.Evans@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3983
IFC Soccer Academy
1st & 2nd grade; boys and girls
Illinois FC Soccer Academy is a program for players in first and second grade who are looking for a more challenging playing environment. The intent of the academy is to create a bridge between the recreational player and competitive player. Illinois FC is focused on the development of each individual player, helping each player reach his/her potential in a fun-filled and challenging environment. The curriculum emphasizes technique training that strengthens dribbling, passing, shooting, ball control, decision-making, and creativity. Team play is fostered through group exercises and small-sided matches. All instruction is done by licensed Illinois FC coaches. For more details on Illinois FC Soccer Academy, please visit illinoisfc.com.
Questions: Cody.Evans@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3983
Illinois FC Fall Soccer (outdoors)
First Kicks Soccer
Age 3
Illinois FC First Kicks Soccer is an exciting program for 3-year-olds. This program introduces players to soccer in a fun-filled learning environment. Games and activities promote soccer skill and overall athletic development. All instruction is done by licensed Illinois FC coaches. For more details on Illinois FC First Kicks Soccer please visit illinoisfc.com.
Questions: Cody.Evans@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3983
Indoor Micro Soccer
Ages 3-5
Our popular Micro Soccer program is going indoors. The program is a chance for players to build on what they learned in the early fall or just try out soccer for the first time. All instruction is done by licensed Illinois FC Coaches. For more details, please visit illinoisfc.com. Class meets once a week for 5 weeks. players should bring a soccer ball if they can. Shin guards recommended. All players receive a free t-shirt. For more information, please see our Program Guide.
Questions: Cody.Evans@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3983
Indoor Micro Soccer (Pre-K)
Ages 4-5
This pre-kindergarten program will introduce players to dribbling, passing, shooting and coordination and body movement activities in a fun-filled environment. Games and practice activities promote soccer skill and overall athletic development. All instruction is done by licensed Illinois FC coaches. For more details on Illinois FC Micro Soccer (Pre-K), please visit illinoisfc.com.
Questions: Cody.Evans@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3983
Micro Soccer (Kindergarten)
Kindergarten; boys and girls
The kindergarten age Micro Soccer sessions focus on the development of each individual player, helping each player reach their potential in a fun-filled and challenging environment. The curriculum emphasizes technique training that strengthens dribbling, passing, shooting, ball control, decision-making, and creativity. Team play is fostered through group exercises and small-sided matches. All instruction is done by licensed Illinois FC coaches. For more details on Illinois FC Micro Soccer (Kindergarten), please visit illinoisfc.com.
Questions: Cody.Evans@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3983
Soccer Academy
1st-2nd graders
Illinois FC Soccer Academy is a program for players in first and second grade who are looking for a more challenging playing environment. The idea behind the academy is to create a bridge between the recreational player and competitive player. Illinois FC is focused on the development of each individual player, helping each player reach their potential in a fun-filled and challenging environment. The curriculum emphasizes technique training that strengthens dribbling, passing, shooting, ball control, decision-making, and creativity. Team play is fostered through group exercises and small-sided matches. All instruction is done by licensed Illinois FC coaches. For more details on Illinois FC Soccer Academy, please visitillinoisfc.com.
The program meets once a week for six weeks. Players should bring a soccer ball, water bottle, and shin guards to each session. Soccer cleats are recommended. All players receive a free t-shirt.
Questions: Cody.Evans@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3983
Challenger British Soccer Camps
Ages 3-14; boys and girls
Challenger British Soccer Camps provide young players of all abilities with the rare opportunity to receive high-level soccer coaching from a team of international experts right in the heart of their own community. Campers will be exposed to individual foot skills, technical drills, tactical practices, small-sided games and scrimmages. Soccer skills are coached within a framework of character development based on respect, responsibility, integrity, leadership and sportsmanship. We offer a cultural education too! Our ever-popular Camp World Cup Tournament allows us to introduce players to the geography, traditions, and culture of other great soccer-playing countries. Simply put; amazing coaches, awesome accents, and cultural ingredients combine for a one-of-a-kind camp experience. Each child will receive a free t-shirt, soccer ball, giant fold-out poster, and a personal player evaluation. Supplies: Campers should bring plenty of water each day. Full-day campers should also bring a packed lunch with a beverage and snacks each day. All campers should arrive at camp with sunscreen already applied, as well as with additional sunscreen to apply as needed (we recommend an SPF of at least 30). Attire: Summer active wear, shin guards, and athletic shoes or soccer cleats. Partial rebates are available for families willing to host the British coaches.
Host families needed! Host a traveling coach and receive a partial rebate!
- First Kicks (ages 3-4) is a fun introduction to the very basic elements of the game. Small coaching groups, lots of running, kicking, laughing, and new friends.
- Mini Soccer (ages 4-6) offers a chance to learn and develop basic skills, team concepts and fun habits. Emphasis on a variety of fun teaching activities.
- Half-Day Recreational (ages 6-11) develops individual foot skills, technical practices, tactical progressions and small sided games.
- Half-Day Competitive (8-14) is for the more advanced player. These sessions offer some of the same skill building as the Half-Day Recreational with a much stronger emphasis on competition and advanced play.
- Full-Day sessions (ages 10-14) are for the senior player and include a high level of individual skill building, tactical instruction, and an emphasis on highly competitive game-related activities.
For more information, see our Summer Program Guide.
Visit www.challengersports.com to register!
Questions: Cody.Evans@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3983
Places to Play Pick Up Games
The Champaign Park District maintains soccer fields in many area parks. Please visit our Parks page and search the park features for “soccer” to find a field near you! Note: the Dodds Soccer Complex is open for programming only. Due to considerable wear and tear, there are no “open play” times at Dodds. For more information about neighborhood soccer fields or Dodds Soccer Complex reservations, please call 217-398-2550
Resources
