In-House Kindergarten - 1st Grade Co-Ed Program

The K-1 program introduces the game of basketball in a clinic style format using youth size and mini-sized basketballs played on a small court and an 8-foot high hoop.  Games are played 3-on-3 without a clock and without keeping score.  Players are reminded of rules and very loose enforcement progresses as the season goes on, but double dribbling, traveling, etc., are not strictly enforced.  This is a co-ed league where everyone gets equal playing time and in-game coaches ensure the less extroverted players get plenty of touches on the ball.  Practices are conducted with all players in one session with an emphasis on non-basketball games that use a basketball as a prop, such as tag, red-light/green light, simon says, steal the bacon, etc.  
The following skills/concepts are taught at the K-1 level:

• Fundamental rules and terminology
• Basic ball handling – using fingertips, familiarization with the ball, dribbling (both hands)
• Footwork/body positioning – proper defensive stance, triple threat position, jump stop, slides
• Shooting/hand coordination – proper shooting form and ball grip, keeping hands up
• Passing/catching – catching with hands, proper passing form (bounce, chest)

In-House 2nd Grade - 3rd Grade Co-Ed Program

The 2nd-3rd grade program builds on the K-1st grade program but introduces more advanced concepts and enforcement of the rules.  The hoop is raised to 9 feet and the ball is a youth 27”-27.5” ball, still playing on a small court.  Games are played 4-on-4 without a clock and without keeping score.  More rigorous enforcement of the rules occurs with a focus on stopping play and providing instruction in-game.  This is a co-ed league where everyone gets equal playing time and in-game coaches ensure the less extroverted players get plenty of touches on the ball.  Practices are conducted for individual teams or two teams at a time depending on gym availability.  Team size is 6-8 kids to allow for absences but still provide substitutions on game day.
The following skills/concepts are taught at the 2-3 level:

• Technical Dribbling, using both hands, basketball moves.
• Ball handling skills, catching, passing, both hands.
• Proper hand positioning, shooting form, footwork
• Body position, introduction to rebounding, boxing out
• Tactical Attacking, try moves, with and without ball.
• Defending, footwork, keep between offender and basket, introduction of team defense concept
• Court awareness, quickness, cutting, aggressiveness

In-House 4th Grade - 5th Grade Co-Ed Program

The 4-5 program builds on the 2nd-3rd grade program and introduces more advanced concepts and enforcement of the rules. A higher level of both the Technical and Tactical skills are covered.

• Technical Dribbling, using both hands, basketball moves.
• Ball handling skills, catching, passing, both hands.
• Proper hand positioning, shooting form, footwork
• Body position, introduction to rebounding, boxing out
• Tactical Attacking, try moves, with and without ball.
• Defending, footwork, keep between offender and basket, introduction of team defense concept
• Court awareness, quickness, cutting, aggressiveness

WMAA provides shirts for each of the players as part of the registration fee.  Players get to keep the shirts at the end of each season. Teams may be sponsored by local businesses and the sponsor's name will appear on the back of the team shirts.  All basketball coaches are required to pass a background check. WMAA has also offered CPR and first aid training to its coaches in the past to better prepare them in case of an emergency or sport injury.

Here is a great website with videos of individual ball handling drills that each child registering for WMAA basketball is encouraged to try on their own: http://www.coachesclipboard.net/VideoClips.html

For further information, or for questions, please contact the In-House Basketball coordinator at [email protected]

 

WMAA offers two levels of soccer play for its members, both of which are offered in the fall and the spring sport seasons.  Fees, registration dates, and more information about each of them follow:
Mid-Augus

Registration for Spring 2023 travel and intramural soccer is currently open.

- Travel soccer practices should begin in the  immediate term with games starting late March.  The season will end in early June after 8 games and a tournament.
- The intramural season will begin in April 15 and run through June 3.  Practices are Saturday morning.  The intramural director will provide all communications on starting day logistics and timing shortly before the start of the season.

 

Fees:

• Fees for travel soccer are $75 for this Spring 2023 season, focused on covering our costs through the URSL league we are associated with this season;
  

• Intramural fees are $55.

 

Recreational Travel:

This division is normally managed through the United Rec Soccer League (URSL), of which WMAA is a member. WMAA must abide by its rules, guidelines, and deadlines as a participant in its program. 

The recreational travel teams:

• Play 8 games in each of the fall and spring seasons,
• Travel throughout Frederick and other local counties for weekend games, and
• Have the opportunity to participate in various tournaments throughout each of the seasons if offered

The longest travel distance for a game averages 30 minutes, although several of the games are played on our Home field at Doub's Park in Myersville. Travel teams practice twice each week and games are held on Saturdays or Sundays.

Shin guards and cleats are required in order for a child to participate in the travel program. WMAA provides jerseys for each of the players as part of the registration fee, which are returned at the end of each season. Teams usually wear black shorts and black soccer socks.  Socks must be long enough to completely cover the shin guards.

Recreational travel teams for URSL are available in the following age groups, if enough registrations are received:

• Under 10 (Grades 3-4), co-ed
  

All recreational travel coaches are required to pass a background check and take Grassroots Coaching training through US Soccer.

For further information, or for questions, please contact the Travel Soccer coordinator at [email protected]

Intramural:

This division is a more informal program managed internally by WMAA, intended to introduce young players to the game of soccer and to acclimate them to working in a team environment before advancing to the Recreational Travel division as a more experienced player.

The intramural teams also hold 8 practice sessions in each of the fall and spring seasons, but they are all held at Doub's Park in Myersville at a consistent time on Saturday mornings. There are no practices during the week. Each Saturday session lasts for an hour, with the first 30 minutes focused on drills and game fundamentals and the second 30 minutes scrimmaging other intramural teams.

Intramural teams are organized into two age brackets:

• PreK/K
• 1st-3rd grade

Once kids reach 4th grade, they are required to move to the recreational travel division to continue playing soccer. Players may move up to travel prior to 4th grade depending on skill level. There is no minimum age requirement for the kids to play on the PreK/K teams. WMAA leaves it up to the discretion of the parent to determine if their child is ready to effectively participate.

Shin guards are the only thing required in order for a child to participate in the intramural program. Cleats are recommended, although the kids can play in sneakers. WMAA provides shirts for each of the players as part of the registration fee, which the players get to keep at the end of each season. Teams may be sponsored by local businesses. In those cases, the sponsor's name will appear on the back of the team shirts.

All intramural coaches are required to pass a background check.

For further information, or for questions, please contact the Intramural Soccer coordinator at [email protected].

WMAA Football Program Description

Our Flag Football program emphasizes fundamentals, sportsmanship and age-appropriate skill development.  At all levels, priority is placed on enjoying the game of Football while learning new skills and being a part of a team. Our desire is to find kids who may not be ready to commit to tackle football but still want to learn the game. WMAA Flag Football  is an  In-House, Co-Ed Program of two age groups, 1st -3rd and 4th-5th.

Registration and Timing

Flag Football registration will begin in June and run through early August with practice beginning after labor day. The season will last 8 weeks with practice/scrimmage once a week. 

WMAA In-House 1st-3rd Co-Ed Program

The 1st-3rd program is designed to teach kids the fundamentals skills and terminology involved with football. Practice will be ran clinic style with half of the time spent working on skills and the second half scrimmage or games with transferable skills. Each child will be given the opportunity to play all the positions on the field. 

Skills/Concepts taught

-Rules and Strategy 

-Throwing

-Catching

-Running / Backpedaling

-Stance

WMAA In-House 4th-5th Co-Ed Program

The 4th-5th grade program builds off the skills learned and prepares kids for the next level of football. Fundamentals will be expounded on while incorporating skills and concepts into the game of football. Players' skill sets will be emphasized during games.  Practice will be ran clinic style with drills and skill work for half the session. Games will be played in the second half. 

Skills/Concepts taught

-Coverages

-Routes Running

-Catching 

-Throwing