PROGRAM * Itty Bitty Soccer: 2 & 3 years old.
Posted by Lee Spooner on 5/1/2026
Itty Bitty Program website: https://ittybittysoccer.playerspace.com
SUMMER 2026 ITTY BITTY SOCCER PROGRAM - REGISTRATION OPEN
STARTS week of June 15th - ENDS week of August 8th
Wilmington Area
-Nir Family YMCA – 2710 Market Street
Tuesdays or Thursdays: 5:30 PM groups
Saturdays: 10 AM groups.
-Mid-Town YMCA – 709 George Anderson Drive
Mondays or Wednesdays 4:30 PM or 5:30 PM groups
Saturdays: 10 AM groups.
-Ogden Park / Eaton Elementary School Fields
Tuesdays or Thursdays: 5:30 PM or 6:15 PM groups
Hampstead Area
-Hamstead United Methodist Church
Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays: 5:30 PM groups
Saturdays: 10 AM
FALL 2026 ITTY BITTY SOCCER PROGRAM - REGISTRATION OPEN July 15th
STARTS week of September 14th - ENDS week of November 7th
08/14-08/16: Dicks Sporting Goods 20% OFF Weekend
Wilmington Area
-Long Leaf Athletics Complex (Hoggard High School)
Saturdays: 9 AM, 10 AM or 11 AM groups.
(This is where Midtown Y League teams play on Saturdays.)
-Nir Family YMCA – 2710 Market Street
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays: 5:30 PM groups
Saturdays: 9 AM, 10 AM or 11 AM groups.
-Mid-Town YMCA – 709 George Anderson Drive
Mondays: 5:30 PM group
Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays: 4:30 PM or 5:30 PM groups
-Ogden Park / Eaton Elementary School Fields
Mondays: 5:30 PM & 6:15 PM groups
Tuesdays, Wednesdays: 4:30 PM, 5:30 PM or 6:15 PM groups
Thursdays: 4:30 PM or 5:30 PM groups
Saturdays: 9 AM, 10 AM or 11 AM groups.
-Veterans Park
Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays: 5:30 PM groups
Saturdays: 10 AM
Hampstead Area
-Hamstead United Methodist Church
Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays: 5:30 PM groups
Saturdays: 10 AM
Leland Area
-N-Cino Sports Park (Formally Cape Fear Soccer Park)
Tuesdays or Thursdays: 5:30 PM or 6:15 PM
*This is a Wilmington address, but is located on the Leland side of the bridge.
Itty Bitty Introduction Program Q&A
2 to 3 Year-Old's
Directors Note: Please understand most young children will need their parents assistance during the first few weeks. Each child is so different, some may run right out without, some will cling to your leg for the first couple of weeks until they learn to trust us and discover it is fun. I encourage you to stick in there as every child shows improvement if they attend the majority of the sessions. We play games with this age group that teach the basic skills that big kids use in their drills. We make it fun as that is what 2 and 3 years old want. Depending on your group we will introduce scrimmages in the later sessions.
Q: What time are practice and games?
A: Our Itty Bitty group meets one day per week and DO NOT play games on Saturdays. We do have groups that meet on Saturdays, but they are the same as the weekday sessions, just less traffic. You choose one day and attend that day on a weekly bases as the kids do better once they get to know each other.
Q: How much does it cost.
A: We price divisions based on our cost, so as our younger groups do not have referee's means the games cost less. As kids get older we add referees to the field per league guidelines.
Ages League Play Prices
2- 3 Itty-Bitty Soccer Program $ 90
4- 5 U5 & U6 5 v 5 $ 100
* Members receive 20% off registration.
* Financial Aid is available to those that qualify and covers up to 50% of registration.
* Multiple Child Discount ($10 off each child's registration) *Must use promocode: MORETHANONE during checkout.
Q: What is our goal with 2 & 3 year old'?
A: We will show the kids how to play with a soccer ball, but our goal is for them to have fun. By the end of the 8 sessions we would like the group to be able to conduct a scrimmage successfully.
Q: Can we play with our friends?
A: There is one group per times slot at each location. As long as you both (or all) sign-up for the same location, day and time then you would be placed together. Group sizes are limited.
Q: My kid already plays with a ball. What's so different?
A: We're using a soccer ball, and so we want to play with specific goals in mind. You'll learn to recognize when your child is performing a soccer maneuver versus a directionless kick.
Q: What equipment does my child need?
A: None at all! For players ages 2 & 3 in Itty Bitty soccer shin guards and cleats are not needed! A ball should be purchased for practice at home but The YMCA provides a ball for every player, we even ask you NOT to bring a ball to your clinic as this helps with the "that's my ball" for our coaches. PERSONAL NOTE: Cleats and Shin guards are not needed until a player enrolls for the league....save the money, once you know your child likes it you can start the investment into gear.
Q: Sounds like work. How do you measure progress?
A: With the smiles that we see each week, it can hardly be called work! If each player has a smile and is having fun with their coach, that's success. We also want each player to strive to perform passes and dribbling correctly, but we'll gladly accept big kicks and theatrical falling if the player really wants to show off those skills.
Q: But my kid just might stand there and not participate. What do we do then?
A: They are 2 and 3 year old's, and as long as we keep that in mind, they are doing exactly what they should be doing. Some players are daredevils, the first to volunteer, the first to fall down and get dirty. Others need to watch a little bit in order to feel comfortable. We'll certainly help you coax your player out of his or her shell, but it's really up to them. Your job is to get them to the fields and give it a try. Don't worry - nearly every child out there has a soccer player in them and will start participating within the first couple weeks.
Q: How can you expect to control a group of kids at one time?
A: We play soccer related games that are fun. We involve parents as the next age group up our league uses volunteer coaches, majority of them being parents of 3 & 4. We offer free on-line training and hands on training with kids prior to the season. A soccer staff member is assigned to a team during the program to assist. The first few weeks will seam disorganized as coaches and players get to know each other. By the end of the season you will see the difference your team has achieved.
Q: Will my child learn real soccer?
A: Of course they won't learn real soccer! Very few children have the "big picture" skills necessary to play soccer. We consider the kids to be playing "at" soccer until they turn 6. Here are some examples of activities participants will do during their season: 1) warming up activities and fun exercises without the ball, 2) some basics soccer activities such as kicking and stopping the ball, and 3) dribbling with the ball from goal to goal. Each player will have their own ball - trying to score on MOM or DAD. At this age passing and playing together is not what the young player wants to do. They also play ball games like green light/red light, sharks and minnows, and others. Many brief water breaks will give the participants plenty of opportunities to rest and socialize with their parents/guardians or fellow new friends.
Q: What is your refund policy?
A: Refunds are given. There is a $25 non-refundable administration fee to help cover the cost that are accrued once a child registers for the program. Refunds must be requested prior to April 1st for Spring sessions and October 1st for the Fall sessions.
Itty Bitty Introduction Program
Must be 2 years old by June 1st 2026 for Summer 2026 session.
Must be 2 years old by September 1st 2026 for Fall 2026 session.
Must be 2 years old by March 1st 2027 for Spring 2027 session.
2 & 3 year (some turning 4 during the season) new to soccer. This is an introduction program with 10 kids per group. They meet one day a week, in their uniform and on a soccer fields just like the big kids. The difference is they do not play against another team but have enough kids to scrimmage. Young players must adapt to a sport. Most common things we see and hear "they took my ball", "they kicked me", "they pushed me". This can all be an intimidating experience. We feel scrimmages are better than games. Example: You are four years old and it is the 3rd day you have ever played soccer. Coach yells go and you have the ball, look up and 5 kids are running at you to take that ball away. Our Itty Bitty program helps players adjust to interacting with others, sharing, working as a group, kicking the ball....but most of all having fun. Scrimmaging with your teammates is a lot less abrasive.
U5 & U6 Division's Must be 4 years old on August 1st 2026 for the Fall 2026 League.
4 & 5 year old's new or returning to soccer. Some experience playing any sport as a group. Ample playground time would also count as group experience. 4U & 5U Division's meet one day a week for practice. 30 min to 45 min depending on your coach and then play a game on Saturday mornings.
CLICK HERE FOR A GUIDE FOR NEW PARENTS TO SOCCER
Presented by US Youth Soccer Association