Dublin, California has been the home to the Dublin United Soccer League (DUSL) for nearly 45 years. That length of time is almost 20 years longer than how long the city has been incorporated. Many of Dublin’s newer residents may not realize the full spectrum of programs offered by the DUSL. One of these unique programs is designed specifically for kids ages 4 to 7 called the Junior Shamrocks. If you have a child who is interested in soccer or has played in another program, the DUSL would like to encourage you to check out the Junior Shamrocks.

The DUSL created the Junior Shamrocks about three years ago with the simple goal of introducing soccer to kids. The Junior Shamrocks training program combines the foundation of individual ball skills with the basic game play, so the kids can become better athletes as they learn to appreciate and love soccer. What sets the Junior Shamrocks apart from other soccer clubs in the Tri-Valley is its unique format in practice and game play. The Junior Shamrocks members play in a 4v4 format, which allows for significantly higher number of ball touches for each player. This playing format for U-8 (under 8 years old) is endorsed and recommended by many National and International soccer ruling bodies including the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). By giving young players a “foundation of soccer excellence,” the Junior Shamrocks sets them up to compete at a high level in either DUSL’s House Program or in the Premier program.

The Junior Shamrocks provide a great, fun-filled environment for kids to learn the soccer and develop new skills at a very affordable price. For the fall season, the price per player will be $148. Included with the cost of the program are bi-monthly training sessions with DUSL’s professional coaching staff and a weekly “ID” program. The “ID” program is available to kids who show exceptional talent and players who wish to receive extra development training.

The Junior Shamrocks will begin training early August in preparation for the fall season. The place and time for the weekly practice sessions will be determined by the dedicated team of parent volunteer coaches. Games will be played Saturdays on fields closest to the Civic Center and Library at the Dublin Sports Ground. New this year and exclusive to the Junior Shamrocks are the International Series Uniforms. The Junior Shamrocks will not be limited to just green or white jerseys; instead, they will be sporting jerseys of soccer clubs from the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, etc. On game days two games will play concurrently on adjacent fields, so even with a roster of 11 to 12 players, every child will get plenty of play time.

You can register your child for soccer online now. If you have any question about DUSL and its many offerings, please contact Dublin United’s House Programs Director, Richard Stafford, at house@dublinsoccer.org or the Dublin United Technical Director, Nick Lusson, at td@dublinsoccer.org.