Junior Cutters (U9-U10)

About the Program

Junior Cutters is an intermediate step from recreational soccer to travel soccer for U9 and U10 players. There are separate programs for boys and girls.

If a player joins Junior Cutters, he or she will be coached by the Junior Cutters head coach and their assistant coaches beginning the first week of August. Each of these coaches either has licenses from one of the national governing bodies of soccer or is in the process of acquiring one and has played at a competitive level.

Training sessions will be held twice each week. The days and times of these sessions will be determined by the head coach no later than July 1^st. Training sessions will run from August through the end of October and March through the end of May. Playing through the winter at either the Bloomington SportsPlex or Bloomington United Soccer School is not mandatory but strongly encouraged.

The first training session of each week will be focused on the development of the player’s technical abilities through age appropriate activities (not drills) and games. On the second day of training, small sided games will be the focus. These games may range from 3 v 3 to 6 v 6. U9 and U10 teams will be playing 6 vs. 6 during games this fall.

The head coach will select three tournaments in which the players will participate. Players need to make a commitment to either participate in the tournaments or not. If players wish to participate in tournaments, they need to honor those commitments. In the event a player is not able to participate in the tournaments, they will still be welcome to train throughout the season. Tournaments will be selected by August 1.

Cutters Soccer Club Coaching Methodology Change

Why is Cutters Soccer Club discontinuing its travel soccer program for the U9/U10 age groups and replacing it with the Junior Cutters program?

1. The traditional travel program was not developing a large enough pool of players at the U9 and U10 age group so that the U11 age group could field two teams for boys and two teams for girls. Talented soccer players (and parents) were not participating due to travel and cost.
2. Instead of players not participating (and developing) because they are not able or willing financially or time-wise to make the commitment to travel at age 8 or 9, they are kept in the potential player pool for the U11 teams.
3. Cutters Soccer Club hopes to develop a pool of players large enough to field 2 teams at the U11, U12, U13 and U14 age groups for boys and girls.
4. At this point in the development of Cutters Soccer Club, it is difficult to secure enough quality coaches to fully support two travel teams in the U9 and U10 age groups for boys and girls.  The Junior Cutters structure exposes more players at a younger age to a higher quality of coaching throughout the year.
5. The geographic location of Cutters Soccer Club places 8 and 9 year olds in the car for trips which can take almost twice as long as the game the kids play. U9 and U10 will be playing 6 v 6 (5 and a goalkeeper) games with 25 minute halves. Driving 90 minutes for 25 – 50 minutes of play is not attractive to most 8 and 9 year old players.
6. Tournaments will provide an enjoyable and competitive environment for players to compete against other players of equal or higher abilities. One trip can equal multiple games versus one trip for one short game.
7. Tournaments and rosters will be identified.
8. Junior Cutters will participate in training throughout the week. Games will be played in monthly tournaments with occasional friendly matches. See coaching staff.