Recreation Program
The primary objective in the recreational program is for players to have fun with an emphasis on sportsmanship, good play, and following the laws of the game of soccer. Recreational players in the 4U-12U age brackets play small-sided (micro) soccer. Recreational players in the 14U and up brackets play in the GSSA inter league format and play clubs, both home and away, from the Atlanta area and follow the rules of GSSA. IAFC offers a Girl's Only division for: 7U, 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U divisions.
Rec Soccer is entirely coached by parent and community volunteers. We rely on our 200+ coaches to help keep our team sizes manageable and to maximize each child's time touching the ball and playing the game. Please consider helping out! Fill out this google doc AND register as a volunteer coach when registration opens, so we know you plan on helping this season.
* You'll only receive the $45 non-volunteer waiver if you register as a volunteer in your account. Simply filling out the google form will not yield a waiver of the $45 non-volunteer fee.
Age Brackets for Fall 2019-Spring 2020
Division - Birth Year
4U Coed - 2016
5U Coed - 2015
6U Coed - 2014
7U Coed - 2013
8U Coed - 2012
7U All Girls - 2013
8U All Girls -2012
9U Coed - 2011
10U Coed - 2010
9U/10U All Girls - 2011 and 2010
12U Coed - 2009 and 2008
12U Girls - 2009 and 2008
14U Coed - 2007 and 2006
14U Girls - 2007 and 2006
16U Coed - 2005 and 2004
16U Girls - 2005 and 2004
19U Coed - 2003, 2002, and 2001
19U Girls - 2003, 2002, and 2001
Important Dates
Spring 2020 Dates (current season)
• December 1 – Registration Opens and Early Bird Discount ($25) Applied
• January 1 – Regular Registration Begins/Pre-Academy Registration Opens
• February 1 – Late Fees Begin
• February 10 – Last day to withdrawal and receive 100% refund (must email registrar)
• February 17 Week – 1st Draft of Team Placements Posted Online (rosters will change)
• February 22nd – Mandatory Coach's Meeting 9:30 AM, Clubhouse
• February 24 Week – Practices start for U5 and up
• March 2 Week – Game Schedules Released (minor changes can occur)
• March 7 – First Game for all age groups (and first practice/game day for 4U)
• April 11 – No Games (Spring Break)
• May 9 – Last Game
Fall 2020 Dates (upcoming season)
• June 1 – Registration Opens and Early Bird Discount ($25) Applied
• July 1 – Regular Registration Fees Applied/Pre-Academy Registration Opens
• August 1 – Late Fees Applied ($25)
• August 2 – Last day to withdraw and receive 100% refund (must email registrar)
• August 8 – Mandatory Coaches Meeting Saturday 9:30 AM, Arizona Avenue Fields
• August 10 Week – 1st Draft of Team Placements Posted Online (rosters will change)
• August 17 Week – Practices start for 5U and up and Game Schedules Released
• August 20 – Last day to withdraw and receive 50% refund (must email registrar)
• September 12 – First Game for all age groups (and first practice/game day for 4U)
• October 10 – No Games (Fall Break)
• November 14 – Last Game
IAFC Play Up and Play Down Policy
IAFC does not encourage playing up UNLESS the player’s development is better suited for the age group above. For Recreation players wanting to play up into a new age group, parents can request a play up through emailing our Director of Coaching -Recreation. Only our Director of Coaching - Recreation is able to approve a play up request. Requests need to be made every season and be in writing to our DOC - Rec no later than three weeks prior to the season start. There are never any approvals for players to play "down" age groups. Ga Soccer and our liability insurance does not allow it. We also do not allow requests to play up into our 4U division (you have to be enrolled in our program for at least one season before you can request a play up)
Team Formations
Every season, there are over 1000 children registered for recreational soccer. As you can imagine, team formations can be complicated. Our goal is to create balanced teams to ensure as enjoyable a season as possible. We try to consider a number of factors to create balanced teams. During registration, parents are allowed to indicate one friend their child would like to play with and one practice day conflict.
We will attempt to honor "reciprocal" friend requests (both children's parents make the same request) when their indicated practice preference days don't conflict. We do not accept coach requests. We try to slightly shuffle rosters around from Fall to Spring to keep parity among teams paramount, but teams are freshly formed each Fall.
Please Note: Rosters WILL change and shuffle frequently before the start of a season. If you don't choose a conflict night during registration, then we are free to schedule or shuffle you around to accommodate balanced teams. Many players are shuffled around at least once before the season starts. When rosters are released, please consider those a "rough draft," waiting a few weeks until most roster shuffles are complete.