Announcement
!! Pre-K through 2nd grade are nearing capacity; once at capacity, players can still register and will join the waitlist.
!! Registration for 3rd through 5th remains open through Labor Day with late fee.
Announcement
Check out the new FAQ page for common questions about fall recreation.
Overview of WMSC Fall Rec Soccer Programs Offered
Recreation Program
PreK through 5th grade
Basic training and small sided games for kids who enjoy the game, learning fundamentals, and playing in small sided games. More details are available on our website below and registration is open now through August 31st, with a late fee assessed after August 15th to allow for team formation.
Pre-Travel Program
U7 and U8 Age Groups Only
Designed to simulate the competitive play environment of travel in both individual drills and small sided play. This includes better understanding concepts of positions on the field, offensive play and defensive play. The program also introduces competitive play as the team trains together to participate in mini-tournaments and compete against other towns / teams. See our Pre-Travel program page for more information.
Middle School Competitive, League Play
6th, 7th, & 8th Grades
Offers a formal competitive team and league format where players train together and play against other towns each weekend. Coaches are dedicated volunteers who run weekly practices and coach weekend games. This is a combined offering through Long Valley Recreation soccer to ensure properly sized rosters (minimum 15 players required per team). We will form a West Morris Soccer Club team should registrations meet the roster minimum.
WMSC Fall Rec Season
Pre-K through 5th Grade Divisions
The fall recreational soccer program is for boys and girls Pre-K through 5th Grade. The program runs for 7 weeks, starting after Labor Day in September ending the first week of November. There are typically no practices or games Columbus day week.
Players in the recreation soccer program will be introduced to the technical, tactical and psychological components of the game that will increase their ability to make positive decisions through fun and engaging activities.
Detailed Program Structure
Pre-K through 2nd Grade Divisions
Small-sided games focus on maximizing touches, decision-making, and player development. The feature a festival style format for multiple games within the session.
- One weekday practice per week
- Saturday 5v5 Festival format
- Teams rotate from field to field
- Coaches remain static at each field
- No Goalies.
3rd through 5th Grade Divisions
Age-appropriate competition designed to reinforce technical skills and game concepts learned during training
- One weekday practice per week
- Saturday 7v7 games
- Weekly game rotations
- 1 trainer per team
- 1 high school referee per field when available
- Introduces Goalies
Team Formation (3rd Grade and Above)
To help ensure a fun, balanced, and competitive season, the first scheduled session for players in 3rd through 5th Grade will serve as a player placement session. During this session, coaches will evaluate players and create balanced teams based on skill level, experience, and overall roster composition.
Our goal is not to create "A" and "B" teams, but rather to form evenly matched teams that provide the best possible playing experience for all participants throughout the season.
Teams will be finalized shortly after the placement session and will remain together for the duration of the season. Friends and Family team assignment requests will not be guaranteed.
Coaching Philosophy
Players will work with a consistent coaching staff throughout the season during weekly training sessions, providing continuity and a structured developmental experience.
Weekend coaches will vary based on scheduling and program needs, allowing players to benefit from a variety of coaching perspectives, while maintaining a consistent training environment and curriculum.
Tentative Schedule (pending registration numbers)
The schedule is determined based on a variety of factors including field availability, registration numbers and coordination with the broader WMSC program. While we do our very best to plan for and maintain the proposed schedule below, there is potential that the schedule may adjust closer to the start of the season. We appreciate your understanding!
All sessions are hosted at Black River Fields in Chester, NJ.
Please find the relevant age groups to you and take note of the:
- field location
- day(s) of the week
- practice / game times.
Fall 2026 schedules are now available in Playmetrics.
To view detailed schedules and gameday information, please:
- log in with your account
- click on your assigned team on the left navigation
- view the calendar for latest practices and game schedules
Coaches and Training
KickzSoccer Trainers will be assigned to train and coach each session.
Required Equipment
Shin guards and cleats are mandatory for all players (baseball and football cleats with a toe spike are not allowed). Our Pre-K and K age groups are allowed to wear sneakers, but cleats are preferred.
Jewelry is never permitted during any of the play sessions. Starter earrings must also be removed.
Commitment Level
The recreation level program players are expected to participate in a majority of the games and practices. Team rosters are right-sized to maximize playing time; as a result, non-attendance will have an impact on the whole team.
Referees
We are continuing the Youth Referee program this year! We welcome local High School students in grades 9 or higher to participate. Interested candidates must be familiar with the game. There will be a mandatory training session the last week of August. We aim to have each referee work at least one game per weekend. Schedules are set each week and we offer flexibility if the refs have a commitment and cannot participate every weekend.
This is great opportunity for the teens in our community to have leadership responsibilities and be involved with the WMSC program. Most of our refs started their soccer career in the rec program!
Whistles and yellow shirts will be provided.
Uniforms
Pre-K through 5th grade players are expected to wear a WMSC Rec uniform at their game sessions. Players are welcome to re-use their jerseys from last year as the will remain the same colors and design. Please always bring both red and blue jersey's. RED will be used for "Home" team and BLUE for "Away" team.
Players in grades Pre-K through 5th who answered 'Yes' to purchase a new uniform kit will receive more information in July about ordering uniforms.
We also welcome players to upcycle and use a second hand uniform from siblings, friends, or through the West Morris Sports Equipment Exchange Page on Facebook. If you have jerseys to donate please consider posting them on the group page.
Fees
Pre-K
- $ 125 registration
Kindergarten - 5th Grade
The Rec fee is $280.
- Family discount (All divisions) for those with multiple kids in the rec program (will automatically apply at checkout)
- Late fee charges are $25 per player registered after 11:59pm August 15th
MS Competitive - 6/7/8 Grade
The team fee is $300.
- Only the non-volunteer fee is due at the time of registration.
- You will be charged on Aug 22nd if the number of registrations meet the minimum roster size.
Non-Volunteer fee
As of 2025, we have added a $30 non-volunteer fee which is applied one time per family, for grades K and above. Our club is a 501c non-profit, run by a volunteer, un-paid board of trustees - the programs we offer requires people’s time, energy, and commitment. We need more helping hands to keep delivering quality experiences to our players and families, or more capital to hire the help needed.
Want to skip the fee? Volunteer!
Simply select a volunteer role or theme during registration, and the $30 fee will be credited automatically at checkout. We'll contact you during the season to assist with the role or theme you've volunteered for to help out with specific tasks. Your time helps make things more efficient and allows the club to do even more for all of our members.
Refunds: WMSC will not provide refunds for any players who drop out of the program after the start of the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the practices and games begin? Where are they played?
Recreation training for Fall 2026 sessions begin September 7th and 9th with our Kickoff practices which are designed to give our staff an opportunity to get to know the players before the season begins.
Games will begin on Saturday, September 12th. All game and practice and game times will be posted to the Playmetrics app.
All practices and games will take place at the Black River Facility, 233 North Rd, Chester, NJ 07930.
Where and when do I receive the t-shirt / uniform?
WMSC has made a change this season for recreation uniforms. We have simplified the process for families and taken care of all uniform orders for the program.
Upon arrival for the first few sessions at Black River, there will be a tent at the entrance to the fields where you can purchase your uniform kit.
Cash and venmo are accepted.
Will my player be on the same team as their friend if they are the same age?
Each player will be assigned to a team of different players within their age group. Teams will be organized and balanced based on skill and locale.
Teams within the same age group will play at the same time, so team formation will not impact carpooling.
The team your player is placed on for both training and game day may change as the season progresses as coaches strive to keep teams competitive and attendance fluctuates.
Will my player play their favorite position?
Yes. Players will also be expected to learn and play each position to help garner
a better understanding of the sport as a whole. “My player will not play x” is not a
statement that will be accepted.
As coaches and parents, we aim to work together on and off the field to help
players tackle new challenges enthusiastically.
Will there be a trophy or medals for the winning team?
No. Score nor standings are not a factor that we consider as a staff when it comes to gauging player performance or development.
Establishing an environment where players are celebrated for learning and are unafraid to make mistakes is paramount for player development. Keeping track of the score or standings plays no part in that mission.
What can I expect my player to gain from this experience?
Through participating in West Morris’ Recreational Soccer Program you player will be exposed to a seven week program designed to develop their individual skills through technical and tactical drills and games each week.
On the weekends, players will be introduced to new coaches' perspectives as the focus shifts to using the skills developed during the week to on field coached games. Players will learn some of the main laws of the game and other core game play concepts. Parents should not expect all laws of the game and game day scenarios to be covered within the 7 week period.
At the end of the seven weeks, each player will have a common understanding of laws of the game, game day concepts, and improved their ball skills. The program is designed to keep their success and knowledge rolling forward into the spring program.