Most youth sports leagues wrap up their spring sports right when school ends and the fall sports don't begin until after school begins. Summer youth sports camps are an option but most of those only last one week and cost nearly as much as a typical 6-10 week league does. Hardly enough to put a dent in the summer calendar.

i9 Sports offers a 6-week summer instructional youth soccer league and I signed my daughter up for one in her age bracket (5-7). i9 Sports has an excellent reputation for being extremely low-pressure and kid-friendly and their summer instructional youth soccer program filled the bill nicely. i9 youth soccer instructional programs are also offered for 3-4 year olds and 8-10 years old.

The i9 instructional youth soccer league is for boys and girls. I was a little worried about my daughter not being able to keep up with the boys but the fun-first approach of i9 gave every child an equal opportunity regardless of skill level.

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Our league ran from 6:30p-8p at the practice fields outside of the Pontiac Silverdome. The field is separated into mini-fields with many goals for the 3 age groups. The staff that i9 employs to teach the skills are very ambitious and beyond friendly. A typical session includes many sit-down sessions to discuss skills, fair-play and sportsmanship. The kids are then encouraged to use their skills in scrimmages on the mini fields where every child plays equal time.

The i9 Sports instructional youth soccer program includes reversible jerseys and every child receives awards for teamwork and dedication. They even have hot dogs and pop on-site to purchase making it a fun, family atmosphere.

i9 offers a $10 discount to OCM members. Be sure to mention OCM when signing up for an i9 program. Click here to find out how to save money on i9 sports leagues.

I was able to view all three age groups during the sessions. One suggestion i9 may want to revisit is the field size. The fields are micro-sized and the size can make it difficult for kids to showcase their skills or keep the ball in-bounds in the 5 vs 5 matchups. 

I would recommend the i9 Sports program for any child looking to get an introduction to the sport of soccer or just looking to have some fun during the summer. If your child is more experienced and highly skilled in soccer (or competitive), they may find the relaxed atmosphere and micro fields as being a detriment to advancing their skills. In my daughter's case, the i9 option worked well.

i9 website.

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