4-H Soccer Program

Benzie Area 4-H Youth Soccer Club

Our 4-H Soccer Program is a popular sporting event that has been a staple of Benzie County 4-H since 1980. In-person 4-H Soccer will return to Benzie and Lake Ann fields in Fall of 2026!!!! All 4-H youth, 4-H age 5 (will be 5 years old on or before January 1, 2027) thru youth grade 8 (4-H Age 13) are eligible to play 4-H soccer this Fall.

Benzie Area 4-H Soccer - Recreational: Fall Season (September - October) at Grace Memorial Park in Benzonia or Almira Township Park in Lake Ann.

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General Player Requirements
  1. A child must be 5 years old by January 1, 2027, to be eligible to play 4-H Fall Soccer. A child must be no older than grade 8 (4-H age 13) during the 2026-2027 school year. Soccer is a Michigan 4-H program and therefore, is required to follow the Michigan 4-H Participant Age Policy.
  2. The cost to play is $35 per child (if a new jersey is needed) or $20 per child (if a new jersey is NOT needed). Scholarships are available. A LATE FEE of $10 per player is applied if payment is not received by the first Saturday of practice (September 12).
  3. All players MUST have soccer cleats (no metal) and shin guards to practice and play. Tall socks, weather-appropriate sport attire, a soccer ball, and a water bottle are strongly recommended.
  4. Home field preference is used to determine team selection. A player’s “home field” is usually whichever field is closer to their residence/home address.
  5. Teams are assigned randomly. Age divisions are sorted by 4-H age, in keeping with the 4-H mission and policy of age-appropriate learning. 4-H Age is determined by the age of the child on January 1, 2027.
  6. ALL Adult Soccer Head, Assistant, and Substitute Coaches MUST be MSU Extension/4-H Gold Volunteers.

Recommended Apparel: Michigan Fall weather can be unpredictable year to year. We recommend that youth bring their own water bottle, tall athletic socks, weather appropriate sport clothing, and a soccer ball. The program does provide balls for practices however we do not currently own enough balls to provide one for every player. We encourage players to bring their own ball (with their name printed on it).

Ball Sizes by Age Division

U5 & U7 - Size 3

U9 - Size 4

U11 & U13 - Size 5

How to Register to Play & Cost & Payment Options

Cost to Play:

$35 per child and covers the cost of a team 4-H reversible jersey that can be reused year to year, 4-H soccer practice T-shirt in the color of their choice (Red, White, Purple, Gold, Navy Blue) and maintaining equipment.

$20 per child if the child does NOT need a new jersey, and the player will still receive a 4-H soccer practice T-shirt in the color of their choice (Red, White, Purple, Gold, Navy Blue).

Registration for the Fall Recreation Season (Sept.-Oct.) is open annually from June 1 to August 30. August 30th is the absolute LAST DAY we can accept enrollment forms from anyone!

4-H Online - Option 1

  1. Ensure your child is enrolled in 4-H Online as a member of Benzie County's Benzie Area Youth Soccer 4-H Club.
  2. After your child is enrolled as a 4-H Member, you will log back in and enroll for the season under the Events section: Benzie 4-H Youth Soccer - Fall 2026 Season
  3. Complete all of the required player information.
  4. Payments options for online registration are cash, check, or credit card. There is a 3% processing fee for the use of credit cards.

Helpful Tips for Online Soccer Enrollment

  • If your child is in Kindergarten, you will need to enroll them for this first year using paper forms due to online system limitations.
  • If you are paying by cash: Please place cash in an envelope with player's name(s) written legibly on the envelope.
  • If you are paying by check: Please make checks out to Benzie 4-H and include the player's name(s) in the memo line.
  • We cannot accept credit/debit cards as payment in our physical office, only cash or check.
  • Coach’s children's fees are waived. If you have been approved to coach, please select the "pay by cash/check" option during checkout. Your player's registration fee will be waived by 4-H staff after submission.

Paper Enrollments - Option 2

  1. Select the enrollment packed required from the fillable PDFs below.
  2. Complete the forms for EACH INDIVIDUAL YOUTH BEING REGISTERED TO PLAY for the season.
  3. Please clearly indicate on the cover page if your child needs a new jersey, their home field (please select only 1), and their practice T-shirt color choice (Red, White, Purple, Gold, Navy Blue).
  4. Save to your computer, and email the form as an attachment to BAYS 4-H at msue.benzie@msu.edu
  5. Payment can be submitted to the office through cash or check payments.
  • Registration Forms (PDF English)
  • Registration Forms (Spanish)
  • Registration Forms (Ukrainian)

Benzie 4-H Soccer Parents Information Center

Our fall soccer season starts Saturday, September 12th at the fields at Memorial Park in Benzonia (behind the Watson Chrysler-Jeep car dealer) or at Almira Township Park near Lake Ann. Practices will be on these fields on Saturdays and throughout the week as determined by the coach.

Practice Schedule for Saturday, September 12 & September 19

Coaches do NOT have to take the full 2 hour block, it is simply provided for team meet & greets, player/coach/parent introductions, snack scheduling for the season, introductory drills, and team building. Games begin Saturday, September 20 and are played ONLY on Saturdays thru October 25. If games are cancelled due to inclement weather, make up games are NOT scheduled.

Benzonia: Memorial Park Lake Ann: Almira Township Park
U5 (4-H Age 5): 10:00am - 12:00 Noon U5 (4-H Age 5): 10:00am - 12:00 Noon
U7 (4-H Age 6-7): 9:00am - 11:00am U7 (4-H Age 6-7): 9:00am - 11:00am
U9 (4-H Age 8-9): 11:00am - 1:00pm U9 (4-H Age 8-9): 11:00am - 1:00pm
U11/U13 (4-H Age 10-11/12-13): 10:00am - 12:00 Noon U11/U13 (4-H Age 10-11/12-13): 10:00am - 12:00 Noon

Benzie 4-H Soccer Volunteer Coaches Corner

Coaches are always needed! You do not need to be experienced to do this. We will show you how, help you get started, and pair you up with another adult to share the tasks if need be. It is an extremely rewarding experience to play this part and to see the progress of youth at all levels!

ALL Adult Soccer Head/Assistant Coaches MUST be MSU Extension/4-H screened Gold Volunteers AND Complete Concussion Training.

Find Soccer Rules and Resources and Volunteer Application Information Below!

Lesson Plans & Rule Sheets

Concussion Training Requirements

All Volunteer soccer coaches (head/assistant/fill-in) MUST complete the MSU Extension Volunteer Selection Process at the Gold Level BEFORE beginning their coaching duties. This process can take 6 to 8 weeks! If you intend to be cleared for the 2026 season, you must apply NOW!!!!

To learn more about our Volunteer Selection Process, click here.

To apply for a Volunteer Coaching position, click here.

Additional Coaching Resources

United States Soccer Federation (USSF)

With the goal and collaborative partnership between Benzie Central & NCCA Varsity Soccer programs and Benzie 4-H Soccer to create an effective and safe 4-H Youth Soccer to Varisty pathway, we utilize resources from United States Soccer Federation to provide our coaches with additional educational resources to improve their coaching skills and inform our partnership and program parameters to ensure a quality partnership and program for our players. The use of these resources by our Volunteer Coaches are optional and meant to support and inform the 4-H Soccer Program. 4-H Policies & Procedures take precedent in the management and execution of 4-H sanctioned programs.