Will Scherer, NJ Youth Soccer

New Jersey Youth Soccer recently hosted its final 4v4 League America Festival for the season in Secaucus. The session was led by Coach Alex Lalaoui, US Soccer Federation and NJYS Coaching Instructor. The purpose of the NJYS 4v4 League America Festival is to provide youth players with a stress-free environment to simply enjoy the game.

“The players were able to enjoy positive, free play in a simple environment,” said Coach Lalaoui. “Players were given the freedom to read, understand and modify their game with their own decisions. We were able to offer plentiful playing time with no substitutions or waiting times. No referees and no positions, giving the players an opportunity to take the lead and feel ownership of their game. The gameplay was fully controlled by the youth participants.”

The 4v4 format makes learning and development fun because players are constantly in close contact with the ball, maximizing participation and engagement while also accelerating their skill acquisition and game intelligence. The program uses a pool of players rather than distinct teams so participants can focus solely on the enjoyment of playing the game. This event was also made possible with support from the US Soccer Innovate to Grow Grant.

NJ Youth Soccer would like to thank the players and families who participated in our recent 4v4 events. Additionally, the state association would like to thank the Town of Secaucus for supporting this initiative.  

For more information about NJYS 4v4 programming, please contact [email protected].