Take the First Step Toward Excellence
RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS
The NYSA recreational program is intended to promote youth soccer through participation, player development, friendship, and fun. Players participate in one or more practice(s) a week and eight games (six games for U4-U5) throughout the season. Players receive at least 50% playing time during games.* Team sizes are limited to ensure adequate playing opportunity. Our goal is to develop players so they will continue to enjoy soccer and be successful at it.
Your registration fee goes towards individual player insurance, park maintenance (goals, field markings, mowing, nets, corner flags, trash collection and removal on game days, etc.) referees for appropriate age groups, and NYSA recreational and office staff.
There will be a $15 withdrawal fee (applicable to all players in all divisions) before the registration deadline to cover online fees incurred by the club per player. NO refunds after the registration deadline. Only a parent may request a refund, and it must be received by the NYSA office at rec@oklahomaceltic.com by the appropriate date.
Location
Gillis Rother Soccer Complex
Registration
Opens May 28th
Cost
$93-$125
Find Your League
FALL 2026
NYSA RECREATIONAL LEAGUE U4-U12 AGE GROUP INFO
U4 AND U5 PROGRAM INFO (BORN IN JULY 2023-AUGUST 2021)
U4-U5 Players will play 3v3. Each team will be placed in groups of 5-6. Teams may be formed using team forms, buddy forms, or individual sign-ups. Teams will practice for 20 minutes on the field with a volunteer coach prior to each game. No weekly practices outside of game days.
U6, U7, and U8 PROGRAM INFO (BORN IN JULY 2021-AUGUST 2018)
U6-U8 players will play 4v4. Each team will be placed in groups of 6-8. Teams may be formed using team forms, buddy forms, or individual sign-up. Teams will train once or twice per week with a volunteer coach for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Volunteer coaches will assign practice days and times.
U9 AND U10 PROGRAM INFO (BORN IN JULY 2018-AUGUST 2016)
U9-U10 players will play 7v7 soccer (6v6 plus goalkeepers). Teams will be formed in groups of 10-12. Teams may be formed using team forms, buddy forms, or individual sign-ups. Teams will train once to twice per week with a volunteer coach for 1 to 1.5 hours. Volunteer coaches will assign practice days and times.
U11 AND U12 PROGRAM INFO (BORN IN JULY 2016-AUGUST 2014)
U11-U12 players will play 9v9 soccer (8v8 plus goalkeepers). Teams will be formed in groups of 12-14. Teams may be formed using team forms, buddy forms, or individual sign-ups. Teams will train once to twice per week with a volunteer coach for 1 to 1.5 hours. Volunteer coaches will assign practice days and times.
PRACTICES FOR RECREATIONAL TEAMS
Recreational teams do not practice at the NYSA Gillis-Rother Park. NYSA is insured at any local neighborhood park or school.
List of Parks with one 4v4 goal - Deerfield, Eaglecliff, Eastridge, Lions Memorial, Royal Oaks, June Benson, Cascade, Berkley, Kevin Gottshall, Woodlawn (East)
PLAYER PLACEMENT
Please remember that coaches pick their team's day, time, and practice location. Requests to play together are subject to approval and are not guaranteed. NYSA’s ability to fulfill play-together requests will also depend on the number and combinations of players signed up in each area for each age group.
EMAIL ALL DOCUMENTS TO rec@oklahomaceltic.com
UNIFORMS
Official jerseys are to be worn in the recreational NYSA league. 2 piece jersey sets (White for home/Green for away) are available at Play It Again Sports, located at 2203 West Main in Norman, for a total cost of $32 plus tax. Jerseys are $16 per shirt and available in numbers 1-10 (duplicate numbers on a team do not matter). Custom numbers are $5 extra and require a 48-hour advanced notice to order. Teams will pick short and sock colors.
*All players must wear shin guards and soccer cleats, no baseball/football cleats. NO JEWELRY is allowed (you can’t tape over earrings)
COST
- $93 for U4's-U5's (BORN IN JULY 2023-AUGUST 2021) (FL $43 RL $63) - 3v3 - Ball Size 3
- $103 for U6's-U8's (BORN IN JULY 2021-AUGUST 2018) (FL $53 RL $73) - 4v4 - Ball Size 3
- $108 for U9’s-U10’s (BORN IN JULY 2018-AUGUST 2016) (FL $58 RL $78) - 7v7 - Ball Size 4
- $113 for U11's-U12's (BORN IN JULY 2016-AUGUST 2014) (FL $63 RL $83) - 9v9 - Ball Size 4
(Late fee will apply if past deadline- August 13th prices increase by $10 across the board)
To receive a Free or Reduced Lunch code, a director must see the FL/RL Form; viewing the form can be done in person with a hard copy, on the phone, or emailed to Jessica Knehans at rec@oklahomaceltic.com
If the school provides meals for every student, a government assistance card/paper will need to be shown.
TIMELINE
Recreational U4 - U12 Timeline from Registration to the Start of the Season:
- May 28th - Registration Opens
- July 31st - Team Forms Due
- August 12th - Registration Deadline
- August 13th - Late registration prices begin
- August 13th-31st - Director builds rosters for teams and sends contact info to coaches
- August 31st - Coaches contact players and inform them about practices
- September 2nd - Email the director if you have not heard from a coach
- September 5th - Full schedule will be posted
- September 12th-13th - Opening Weekend
PLAY DATES
Saturdays: September 12, 19, 26, October 3, 17, 24
Your player will play on 2 of these 4 Sundays: September 13, 20, 27, October 4
Potential make-up dates due to weather cancellations: October 18, 25, November 1, 7, 8
*Games on Sunday begin after 1:00 PM
We will schedule 8 games (6 for U4 and U5) and guarantee that 6 of them will be played.
*When making the schedule, we initially place each team on 6 Saturdays and 2 Sundays. Coaches are able to submit scheduling requests before the schedule is made live to families, so if a coach requests off on a particular weekend, your team may receive an additional Sunday or weeknight game. Please also note that rainout games are typically rescheduled to Sundays. Weeknight makeup games are generally played on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
WALK-IN AND SCHOLARSHIP REGISTRATION
We provide scholarship prices for players who qualify for free/reduced lunches through public schools. If the school provides meals for every student at your school, a government assistance card/paper will need to be shown. Please choose one of the two ways to register for a scholarship. THERE WILL BE NO REFUND IF YOU REGISTER PRIOR TO RECEIVING A CODE FOR THE DISCOUNT.
Online - Email rec@oklahomaceltic.com - a copy of your free and reduced lunch form along with your child's name and date of birth, or bring your free/reduced lunch form from school to qualify.
Hours for walk-ins start the week of August 4th
Tuesday - Thursday 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Evening Walk-in/Scholarship Registration is open:
Tuesday, August 4th - 5:30 PM - 7 PM
Club Office (Green Building) located by field 7 - 1001 E. Robinson Street, Norman, OK 73071
TEAM FORMATION AND BUDDY FORMS
Team Form and/or Buddy Form Registration Deadline: July 31st
We form teams in 2 different ways.
1) A coach can complete a team form and select players he/she want on the roster by listing them on the team form. Team forms do not have to be full; we will fill in the open spots with other players.
2) We also form teams by geographical location (school district). We place players from nearby school districts on open teams.
**You can also complete a buddy form to ensure your child and 1 other player are on the same team.**
FALL 2026 -BUDDY AND TEAM FORMS
Rules/Laws of the Game
4v4 - NO GK RULE/POSITION SUGGESTION
ADDED 4v4 LAW for FALL 2025 & ONWARD (UPDATED LAW 14)- If a player is close to their defending goal and denies a clear goal or goal-scoring opportunity by a handball offense, a penalty kick will be awarded at the halfway line. The penalty kick is taken on the halfway line spot, and all players will be behind the halfway line. No rebounds, and if the ball stops or misses the target, play will resume from a goal-kick.
All goals must be scored from the attacking team's half, or last touched in the attacking half.
NOTE—Mercy rule. If you are down by five goals, add a player; if you are down by eight goals, add another player; if you are down by ten goals, add another player. Remove the additional player if the score changes under the allowed player amount.
UPDATES—All 4v4 coaches are allowed on the field to coach and help their players (one coach per team). If the ball hits/touches the coach in front of the goal, a goal will be awarded.
Free Kicks - In 4v4 all free kicks in the game are indirect. In the 7v7 & 9v9, there are indirect and direct free kicks.
NEW GOALKEEPER LAW (7v7 & 9v9) - Once the GK has possession of the ball in their hands, they must release the ball within 8 seconds. If they don’t release the ball within 8 seconds, a corner kick will be awarded to the opposition team. In the 7v7 game, the countdown will begin once the opposition team has retreated past the build-out line.
Academy Skill Nights (Players born between July 2020 - August 2016)
Training Session Opportunities for Recreational Players! These sessions are designed to bring all Academy and Recreational players together in a club atmosphere.
Cost: $80 for eight sessions. All sessions held at Gillis-Rother Soccer Complex
July 2020 - August 2018 players train 5 pm - 6 pm. July 2018 - August 2016 players train 6:05 pm - 7:05 pm
Academy Skill Dates:
August 19th, September 2nd, 16th and 30th, October 14th and 28th, November 11th and December 2nd
If you have any questions on academy skills, please reach out to the Academy Director, Michael Thomas: michaelt@oklahomaceltic.com