U4-U16 Boys and Girls

Recreational Program

Our Recreational program is designed as an introduction to the sport, focusing on skills, character development and having fun. We create a safe, positive environment for kids to play and learn soccer.

REGISTRATION FOR THE SPRING SEASON IS CLOSED.  Players can register to be on the waitlist, but there is no guarantee we can place players from the waitlist onto a team.

Spring 2025 Game Dates: April 5th, April 12th, April 19th, April 26th, May 3rd, May 10th, and May 17th. Make up dates for weather cancellations will be Sunday April 27th and Sunday May 4th.

FALL RECREATIONAL SEASON REGISTRATION WILL OPEN ON MAY 1ST! Registration will close on July 31st. A $20 late fee will be added to your registration fee if you register AFTER July 31st. Beginning August 1st, players who register will be placed on the waitlist and invited off of the waitlist on a need basis. There is no guarantee your child will be able to play if they register after July 31st. The $10 early bird discount will apply from May 1st to May 31st, May 31st to July 31st will be regular pricing.

Fall Recreational 2025 Game Dates: September 6th, September 13th, September 20th, September 27th, October 4th, October 11th, October 18th, October 25th.

Details

How to Register for a Recreational Program

If you do not have a PlayMetrics account, please follow these instructions to register for a program:

1. Download the PlayMetrics app.

2. Click on the red ‘register now’ button at the top of the page and create an account

3. Add your child as a player. If you have multiple children, be sure to add all as your players.

4. Navigate to club programs and you will see available programs for each child. 

5. Select the program you want to register for and check out to complete registration. To register for a recreational league, you will select ‘Recreational Spring/Fall 2025’. For other recreational programs such as camps, you will find the appropriate program name.

 If you do have a PlayMetrics account already, only follow step 3 and 4 to register for a program.

 

What age group is my child in and how are teams formed?

Our recreational program accepts players starting at U4 and extending to U16. Our recreational program operates off of school year birth dates. Please review what age group your child would fall in using this chart below.

Age Group Birthdates for the Fall 2025- Spring 2026 season
U4 Players Born Between Aug 1, 2021 and July 31, 2022
U5 Players Born Between Aug 1, 2020 and July 31, 2021
U6 Players Born Between Aug 1, 2019 and July 31, 2020
U7 Players Born Between Aug 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019
U8 Players Born Between Aug 1, 2017 and July 31, 2018
U9 Players Born Between Aug 1, 2016 and July 31, 2017
U10 Players Born Between Aug 1, 2015 and July 31, 2016
U11 Players Born Between Aug 1, 2014 and July 31, 2015
U12 Players Born Between Aug 1, 2013 and July 31, 2014
U13 Players Born Between Aug 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013
U14 Players Born Between Aug 1, 2011 and July 31, 2012
U15 Players Born Between Aug 1, 2010 and July 31, 2011
U16 Players Born Between Aug 1, 2009 and July 31, 2010

Teams are formed based on age group and gender of the players. Players are not allowed to play below their designated age group unless a doctor’s note is provided before each season. Players are allowed to play up an age group. For example, a U9 player cannot play in the U8 age group, but that U9 player can play in the U10 age group. The correct age group for your player will populate during the registration process in PlayMetrics. If you want your player to play up an age group, please make this apparent in your registration under ‘special requests’ and we will manually move your player to that age group. Please note that the certain age group transfers below will prompt additional fees.

U6 player moving to U7 age group

U8 player moving to U9 age group

Teams within each age group will be formed based on these bullet points. Returning players will get first priority to return to a coach/team that they played on the season prior.  

  • If the player registration is requesting a specific coach.
  • If the player registration is indicating a specific zip code or area preference.
  • If the player registration is indicating another special request that we can accommodate.

Understand that there is not a team in every zip code in the Colorado Springs area and the number of teams in each age group varies, so we will place players on the closest available team to them.

How to purchase a uniform and other necessary equipment

 All recreational players are required to purchase a recreational uniform. The uniform will include a red and white jersey, black shorts, and black socks. The uniform is separate from the recreational registration fee. Pricing varies based on sizes and will range from $55 – $70.

To order a uniform online, please click on the link below. Online orders can take up to 5 weeks to be delivered, so order early!

Order Your Rec Soccer Uniforms Here

We have uniforms available for purchase in the Pride Office located at 5955 Lehman Drive, unit 100, Colorado Springs, CO 80918. You are welcome to walk in from 10 AM – 5 PM; Tuesday – Friday to purchase a uniform. It is recommended to call our front desk to ensure we have the correct sizes for your child.

Other equipment needed for games and practice are listed below:

  • Cleats
  • Shin Guards
  • Water bottle
  • Soccer ball

If there is incoming weather, please make sure players wear appropriate attire. Players are allowed to wear warm gear underneath their uniform, but their jersey must be visible during games. Hats, gloves, sweats, and undergarment underneath the jersey are permitted.

The home team is listed first, and will wear the RED JERSEY. The away team is listed second, and will wear the WHITE JERSEY. Please always pack both jerseys on game day.

How do I use PlayMetrics as a parent?

PlayMetrics is the software that Pride Soccer uses to communicate important information such as player placement, game schedules, updates for the season, and allows you to register for club programs available to your player.

1. Download the PlayMetrics app to your mobile device.

2. Log into your account or create an account by clicking on the register now button in red located on this page.

3. Turn on notifications by going to the top left corner icon -> click on Account -> click on settings -> scroll down to communication preferences -> select mobile app check box options -> make sure system notifications are enabled as well.

4.  On the bottom banner, you should see home, calendar, my team, programs, and menu. The home option shows upcoming events and you have the ability to sync your calendar. The calendar will show your game schedule and practice schedule if your coach has uploaded it to PlayMetrics. Under my teams (if you have multiple children) you will be able to toggle between each team your child is on to see information. You are also able to see coach contact information by scrolling to the bottom. Programs will show programs available to your children that you can register for. Under menu, you are able to add additional family members to your account by clicking on Family Contacts, so they can receive communications and see calendar event details for practice, games, and more.

How much does registration cost?

For the Spring 2025 season, pricing is below:

U4-U6 $110.00
U7-U8 $130.00
U9-U10 $185.00
U11-U16 $185.00

Registration fees are subject to change for the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 season.

*Fees do not include the price of the uniform.

Late fee of $20 will be added on to regular prices once registration closes and the waitlist is active.

Where will games be played at during the season?

We have 6 different venues that your child could potentially play at throughout the recreational season. Those venues are listed below. 

El Pomar Sports Park
2212 Executive Circle, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Cottonwood Creek Park
7040 Rangewood Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918

Woodland Hills Park
3617 Woodland Hills Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918

Mary Kyer Park
1102 Middle Creek Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80921

Lewis Palmer High School
1300 Higby Road, Monument, CO 80132

Grant Park
3215 Westwood Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80918

At all locations, the designated home team will occupy the North or West sideline.  Away teams will occupy the South or East sideline.  

All locations maintain a policy of no smoking, vaping or alcohol.

 

Refund Policy

Please note our refund policy below:

PRIOR to the release of the game schedule, we can provide a refund of all but $25 per player.

There are no refunds once the game schedule is released.

Full refunds will be issued only for these reasons below.

  • If Pride Soccer is unable to place your child on a team.
  • Your child has an injury/illness and cannot participate, please provide Eli Stauffer or Tarah Patterson a physician’s note within 2 weeks of the injury/illness.
  • If your family moves more than 50 miles from the primary residence prior to the start of the season. 

No refunds or credits will be issued for any other reason. Conflicts with practice schedules or location are not grounds for refund.

There will be no reimbursements granted for any programming cancelled due to forfeited games, weather, pandemic or acts of God.

Is the recreational program the right fit for my child?

Pride’s recreational program is intended for players who have never played soccer before, want a lower commitment, inexpensive soccer experience, or for players who want to play for fun! This is the lowest level program we offer at Pride.

We have a variety of players with different skill sets and experience levels. We emphasize the importance of learning, fun, and enjoyment of the sport. 

 

Common Questions

How do I volunteer to coach a team?

We are almost always looking for coaches!

If you’re interested, email Tarah Patterson or Elijah Stauffer.

Why Coach?

– Head coaches get their child’s registration fee waived!

– Coaches get to decide practice logistics (location, days of the week, and time) to provide convenience for your personal schedule.

– We provide you with training session resources, like drills and activities you can do with your team based on their age and gear!

– We work to accommodate the game schedule to your personal needs!

– Get involved with our community and get the opportunity to teach the sport to young kids!

What will I have to do to get started?

We have outlined the coaching requirements you will need to complete prior to volunteering. The three coaching requirements include: 

1. Background check 

2. Safesport course

3. Introduction to safe and healthy environment course

ALL HEAD COACH AND ASSISTANT COACHES MUST COMPLETE THE THREE REQUIREMENTS.

The background check is free and will be sent to you from Colorado Soccer Association via email. Make sure to click on the email and complete the information given to you. The background check is good for 2 years.

The Safesport and Introduction to safe and healthy environment courses expire annually, and will need to be refreshed every year. These courses are available on the US Soccer Learning Center website. You will have to create an account to complete the requirements. Safesport takes 90 minutes to complete and Intro to Safety takes 20 minutes to complete. We will require the volunteer to email us screenshots of the completed courses, which we will provide instructions via email to you on what the screenshots will need to look like.

 Recommendations

The coach is responsible for selecting the practice location, days of the week, and times. We recommend that your practice location is relatively close to where you live, as most teams are formed based on zip code. If this isn’t the case, we recommend a practice location that is central to the players on your team. The practice location should be a free city or neighborhood park. Pride does not reserve field space for any recreational teams. If you need help finding a park, click here.

Age Appropriate Practice length guidelines:

U4-U6 Age Group: 1 practice per week, 45 minutes.

U7-U8 Age Group: 1 or 2 practices per week, 45 minutes – 1 hour.

U9-U10 Age Group: 2 practices per week, 1 hour.

U11-U15 Age Group: 2 practices per week, 1 hour – 1 hour and 15 minutes.

The coach is responsible for contacting all team members and communicating the practice schedule. Coaches are recommended to upload the practice schedule into the PlayMetrics app, so that it is visible for all participants. We recommend starting practice at least a week prior to the first game, although some teams like to begin before then.

Want to pay off club/player fees?

Volunteer to field marshal during the recreational season! This is an easy way to work off fees.

Field marshals will be assigned to one of our locations to supervise all activities at the park. Field marshals are considered a representative of the club and a point of contact for all coaches and members at the club. Information and roles/responsibilities will be provided to you prior to your shift.

E-mail our volunteer coordinator Kristin Mezey for more details. Please ask about other avenues to work off fees if you are interested.

 

How are teams established?

Each individual player will complete registration. As you complete registration for the recreational league, there will be questions asked that will help the recreational directors place your player on a team that accommodates your requests if able. Players who are returning from the previous season will have first priority getting on a team that satisfies any requests we can accommodate.  

During the registration process, players are able to request a specific coach if they are a returning player. If you are a returning player, your registration will automatically show who your coach was from the previous season. You are able to select yes or no if you would like to return to that team/coach. We will do the best we can to place new players on a team that will suit them best based on location or any other requests made.

If your player is wanting to play up an age group, please make that known in your registration under special requests. PlayMetrics will automatically place players in their correct age group, we will manually move players.

Each season, there are instances where we will build a team that does not have a coach. The recreational directors will first reach out to the team and ask if any of the parents would like to volunteer to coach the team. If we do not garner any interest, we will seek out volunteers within our own community. If your child is placed on a team without a coach already assigned, please be patient during this process as coaches are volunteers and this is not uncommon. We will find a coach for the team! 

Information about practice will come from the team coach. The recreational directors will instruct all coaches to communicate important information about the season to the team. Please be sure to check all communication channels (PlayMetrics app, email, text message) to ensure you are receiving necessary information. If you have not, please reach out to your age group director. 

When are league games?

The recreational program provides two seasons per year (Spring and Fall). We do not offer any leagues during the summer or winter time. 

The recreational league format typically follows an 8 week game schedule. Games are played each Saturday, any time from 8 AM to 5 PM, at the venues provided above under the ‘where will games be played at during the season?’ tab. During the spring season, we will have Sunday make-up dates that we will reschedule games to if there is weather related cancellations. 

*For the Spring 2025 league, the format follows a 7 week game schedule to avoid spring break dates and Memorial weekend.* 

The game schedule will be released for the entire season a week and a half before the start of the first game.

Do I need a uniform?

If you played the previous season, you don’t need to purchase a new uniform unless you just want to.

If you’re new or have outgrown your uniform, you can order online by clicking on the order Rec uniform button at the top of the page. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery just in case. All rec uniforms come with a red and white jersey, black shorts, and black socks.

You’ll also need SHIN GUARDS and CLEATS. Any sporting goods store can help you out with these purchases.

What programs are available for my child under the recreational umbrella?

The recreational program offers these activities each calendar year:

– 2 recreational leagues (fall/spring seasons)

– 2 Winter skills clinics (typically during January-February)

– Spring break camp (towards the end of March)

– 2 summer skills clinics (June and July)

– 1 Recreational tournament (Veteran’s Cup 2025: October 31st-November 2nd)

To review a specific camp or tournament, please navigate to the ‘Camps and Clinics’ or ‘Tournaments’ tab to view information about these programs.  

Recreational Objectives

Rules and expectations

Recreational Rules and Formats
  • U4-U6
  • U7 & U8
  • U9 & U10
  • U11-U16
  • 8 game season
  • Saturday games
  • Some Sunday make-up games
  • Potential double-header days
  • Cottonwood Creek Park, Woodland Hills, El Pomar, Mary Kyer, Grant Park, and Lewis Palmer
  • *At all locations, the designated home team will wear red uniforms and will occupy the North or West sideline.  Away teams will wear white uniforms and take the South or East sideline.  
Pride Standards Chart (Includes ball sizes)

U4-U8 is a size 3 soccer ball
U9-U12 is a size 4 soccer ball
U13-U16 is a size 5 soccer ball

 

Behavioral Expectations

Coaches

  • Set a good example for your players and team
  • Represent yourself, your players and Pride Soccer
  • Provide each player with a positive experience, safe environment and at least 50% play time
  • Teach the players!

Parents

  • Focus on the experience rather than the result and performance
  • Positive and encouraging; not coaching from sidelines

Players

  • Have fun
  • Respect teammates, coaches, referees and opponents
  • Be coachable!!!

*At all locations, the designated home team will wear red uniforms and will occupy the North or West sideline.  Away teams will wear white uniforms and take the South or East sideline.  

What to do in event of a ‘blowout’
Add players; work on tactics*
Zero tolerance of abuse of players, parents, coaches or referees – Referees are typically juniors, training prior to taking charge of competitive games. They are learning the role and need our help!

U4-U6 Rules

4v4 (no GK)
2×15 min halves
40×30 yard field
4×6 feet goals
Size 3 Ball
No heading
Kick-ins instead of throw-ins for Fall 2020
Coaches on the field refereeing
Scores not recorded
NO SLIDE TACKLING

 

*At all locations, the designated home team will wear red uniforms and will occupy the North or West sideline.  Away teams will wear white uniforms and take the South or East sideline.  

U7-U8 Rules

U7 – Coaches will be on field with players and no referee

U8 – Coaches no longer allowed on field

6v6 (5 plus a GK)
2×20 min halves
55×35 yard field
6×12 feet goals
Size 3 Ball
No heading
No punting – Build out line in effect
Throw ins
Coaches and parents may not stand behind goal
Scores only recorded by referee
Emphasis remains on development
4 goal ‘mercy rule’
NO SLIDE TACKLING
ALL KICKS INIDIRECT

*At all locations, the designated home team will wear red uniforms and will occupy the North or West sideline.  Away teams will wear white uniforms and take the South or East sideline.  

 

U9-U10 Rules

7v7 (6 plus a GK)
2×25 min halves
55×35 yard field
6×12 feet goals
Size 4 Ball
No heading
No punting – Build out line in effect
Throw ins
Central referee
Coaches no longer on field. Coaches and parents may not stand behind goal
Scores only recorded by referee
Emphasis remains on development
4 goal ‘mercy rule’
Offside Rule in effect – From the build-out line (Not the half-way line)
FIFA laws in effect

 

*At all locations, the designated home team will wear red uniforms and will occupy the North or West sideline.  Away teams will wear white uniforms and take the South or East sideline.  

U11-U16 Rules

9v9 (8 plus a GK)
2×25 min halves
75×47 yard field
7×21 feet goals
Size 4 Ball (U11/U12)
Size 5 Ball (U13/14)
Heading is permitted in games – should be ‘limited’ in training with emphasis on correct technique
Throw-ins
Central referee
Coaches no longer on field. Coaches and parents may not stand behind goal
Scores only recorded by referee
Emphasis remains on development
4 goal ‘mercy rule’
Offside Rule in effect
FIFA laws in effect

 

*At all locations, the designated home team will wear red uniforms and will occupy the North or West sideline.  Away teams will wear white uniforms and take the South or East sideline.  

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please send us an email or give us a call.

Tarah Patterson

U9-U16 Recreational Director

719 597-6700 x217

The Learning Comes From The Loving

In our recreational soccer program, we want our kids to fall in love with the game, learn the fundamentals, and play in a safe, fun environment.

Laura Y, Pride Soccer Parent

We found Pride's recreational program and knew instantly that we were home. It's run with clear and effective communication that gives players, parents, and coaches an environment to be excited about. Pride's passion for the game is evident at every level and age group.

Neil R, Pride Soccer Parent

“Pride Soccer has been a wonderful avenue for my kids to learn to love the game of soccer. Their focus on player development and integrity, from recreational to competitive is exactly what I want for my kids.”

Anna D, Pride Soccer Parent

“We have had the opportunity for our children to participate in soccer at Pride for the last 10 years! Pride has made a positive change in all of our lives and we’re thankful for the organization!”

Karina G, Pride Soccer Parent

“They always say, “it takes a village to raise a child”, and I wholeheartedly believe that. The Pride Family has helped shape my daughter through the love and concern shown by the coaches, the game, and the team concept. Thank you Pride family!”