Des Moines Midway Soccer Programs

The Des Moines Midway Soccer Club is committed to providing the best possible youth sports experience for players age 4-18 and their families! Our youth soccer programs are modified (scaled to be developmentally appropriate) for players aged 4 to 11 years old. Please read Reasons for Small-Sided Play (published by US Youth Soccer) for additional information.

Ages for Soccer - All affiliates of US soccer agree that "AGE" is that of the player as of August 1st of the current year. Teams and ages are referred to as U (under) then an age. For example, 10 year olds play on U-11 teams.
League Affiliation - The Des Moines Midway Soccer Club is a member of the Highline Soccer Association under District 3 of Washington Youth Soccer.

Mini's Coed Soccer; U-6 & U-7 SOCCER (Club)

Ages. 4, 5 and 6 as of August 1st of the current year
Registration fee - $50
Season - 8 game from mid-September to mid-November
Game Days - Saturday's at Steve Underwood Field against other DMMSC teams
Girls and boys play on the same teams.
Team practices typically start in early September. The practice time (usually once a week) is determined by the volunteer coaches who make every effort to find a time suitable for all players on the team.

Coordinator(s) - TBD
Mini's Soccer is beginning soccer. Teams play "Micro" soccer. It involves short games on small fields with no goalkeeper and 3 players to a side. Games two 20-minute halves. This allows these young players plenty of opportunity to run and get a maximum number of touches on the ball, without worrying a lot about playing positions. Coed teams play only other DMMSC Coed teams. The emphasis is on beginning skills of ball handling and passing. The coaches of each team serve as the game referees and are permitted to coach from the field. Scores are not kept and there are no standings. Shin guards must be provided by each player; soccer cleats are recommended but not required.
View U-7 Rules (MS Word doc)

MOD SOCCER U-8 to U-9 (Association)

Age 7 - 8 as of July 31 of the current year
Season - 10 games in September - November
Games - Saturdays in Des Moines and HSA (Some travel is required. Up to 50% of games will be played AWAY at nearby clubs in WHSC, WSSC, STSC)
Girls and boys play on separate, single-gender teams.
Maximum roster size is 8 players at U8, and 9 players at U9
Team Practices typically start in late August. The practice time is determined by the volunteer coaches who make every effort to find a time suitable for all players on the team.

Mod Soccer means modified soccer. The team rosters are smaller. U-8 teams play 4-a-side (3 field players and a goalie). U-9 teams play 5-a-side (4 field players and a goalie). The fields on which they play are also smaller--about 25 yds by 40 yds. Games are two 25-minute halves. Goalkeepers are introduced. This is a developmental soccer program for younger players. Mod teams play other DMMSC teams as well as teams from other nearby soccer clubs in HSA. The emphasis of the game is on skills development. Scores are not kept and there are no standings. Shin guards and soccer cleats must be provided by each player. Referees are introduced, although they are not much older than the players. Many games are still refereed by the coaches. Girls and boys play on separate teams in separate leagues.

View U-8 Rules and U-9 Rules (MS Word docs)

MOD SOCCER U-10 (Association)

Age 9 as of August 1st of the current year
Season - 10 games in September - November
Games - Saturdays in Des Moines and HSA (Some travel is required. Up to 50% of games will be played AWAY at nearby clubs in WHSC, WSSC, STSC)
Girls and boys play on single gender teams
Maximum roster size is 10 players.
Team Practices typically start in late August. The practice time is determined by the volunteer coaches who make every effort to find a time suitable for all players on the team.

U-10 teams play 6 v 6 soccer. Fields are around 30yd x 50yd. Games are two 25-minute halves. Referees are scheduled through the league and cover many games although coaches still fill in. Girls and boys play on separate teams in separate leagues. Team rosters have a maximum of 10 players. U-10 teams play other WSSC teams as well as teams from HSA. The rules for U-10 (and above) are developed and maintained by HSA. Scores are not kept and there are no standings. Shin guards and soccer cleats must be provided by each player. The emphasis is on continued skill development, and the introduction of team play tactics.

View the U-10 Rules (MS Word doc)

MOD SOCCER U-11 (Association or District 3*)

Age 10 as of August 1^st of the current year
Season - 10 games in September - November
Games - Saturdays in Des Moines and HSA (Some travel is required. Up to 50% of games will be played AWAY at nearby clubs in WHSC, WSSC, STSC)
Girls and boys play on single gender teams
Maximum roster size is 14 players
Team Practices typically start in late August. The practice time is determined by the volunteer coaches who make every effort to find a time suitable for all players on the team.

U-11 teams play 9v9 soccer. Fields are around 40yd x 80yd. Games are two 30 minute halves. Referees are scheduled through the league and cover many games although coaches still fill in. Girls and boys play on separate teams in separate leagues. Team rosters have a maximum of 14 players. U-11 teams play other DMMSC(if any) as well as teams from HSA. The rules for U-11 (and above) are developed and maintained by HSA. Scores are kept and there are standings. HSA awards team trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams. Shin guards and soccer cleats must be provided by each player. The emphasis is on continued skill development, and the introduction of team play tactics.

For the U-11 Rules (MS Word doc)

The transition between Mod Soccer (Association) and Full-Sided soccer (District 3)

U-8 through U-11 teams* play "Association" soccer. The Association is the Highline Soccer Association (HSA) which consists of 4 neighborhood recreational clubs and a premier soccer program called Highline Premier Football Club (HPFC). Within each age group U-12 and older*, there are separate District 3 competitive divisions: Gold, Silver, and Recreational. The coaches submit a placement request to the DMMSC Board. The VP of Coaches recommends placement to the HSA VP of Competition who has the final say concerning team placement within the Association. Teams stay together year to year and may move up or down a division each season.

*Most DMMSC U-11 team teams play Association soccer, although District 3 also offers U-11 competitive divisions, which DMMSC teams may opt to participate in. DMMSC has only recreational soccer teams - player selection for teams may not be based on ability or by any tryout process.

View the Association - HSA Rules

Full-Sided Soccer U-12 and Above (District 3 Recreational - Bronze & Copper)

Age 11 or older as of July 31 of the current year
Season - 10 games in September - November
Games - Saturdays in Des Moines and District 3
Girls and boys play on single gender teams in separate leagues
Maximum roster size is 18 players
Team Practices typically start in late August. The practice time is determined by the volunteer coaches who make every effort to find a time suitable for all players on the team.

U-12 and older teams play 11 v 11 soccer on full-sized 40yd x 100yd (or larger) fields. Games are two 30-minute halves at U-12 and progresses to two 45-minute halves at U-18. Certified referees are scheduled through state authorized organizations like TRIAS. Girls and boys play on separate teams in separate leagues. Team rosters have a maximum of 18 players. Teams play against teams from District 3. The rules for U-12 (and above) are developed and maintained by District 3. Scores are kept and league standings are maintained. Trophies are awarded for the 1st and 2nd place teams in each competitive division. Shin guards and soccer cleats must be provided by each player. The emphasis is on continued skill development and team play tactics.

View the District 3 Operating Procedures

Full-Sided Soccer U-12 and Above (District 3 Competitive - Gold & Silver)

Age 11 or older as of August 1^st of the current year
Season - 14 weeks in September - December
Games - Saturdays or Sundays in Des Moines and District 3
Girls and boys play on single gender teams in separate leagues
Maximum roster size is 18 players
Team Practices typically start in early August. The practice time is determined by the volunteer coaches who make every effort to find a time suitable for all players on the team.

Coordinator(s) - TBA

Although some DMSSC teams opt to compete against a stronger pool of competitors - player selection for teams may not be based on ability or by any tryout process. Within each age group U-11 and older, there may be as many as ten separate divisions (from strongest to weakest in assessed team strength): Gold (1, 2, 3, 4) and Silver (1, 2, 3), and Recreational (1, 2, 3). The coaches submit a placement request to the DMMSC Board. The Board recommends placement to the HSA VP of Competition who recommends placement within District 3. Teams generally stay together year to year and may move up or down a division each season.

View the District 3 Operating Procedures