The Merrimack Valley Soccer League is there for the kids of Central New Hampshire. We are a group of 22 towns, schools and recreation leagues, providing scheduled games for all ages. That means over 1,300 kids, 86 teams, 818 games and about a dozen season-ending tournaments. They love it!
Breaking News
Will There Be A 2020 Soccer Season??
We sure hope so!!!
We have no way of knowing here in April what May, June, July and August may hold for New Hampshire and the Merrimack Valley. MVSL leadership will have their first regularly scheduled Directors Meeting (virtually) on June 15th. Hopefully by June there will be strong indications of when the COVID-19 crisis will be in decline and when social gathering can happen again. Until then, please follow the guidance of leaders.
We sure hope so!!!
We have no way of knowing here in April what May, June, July and August may hold for New Hampshire and the Merrimack Valley. MVSL leadership will have their first regularly scheduled Directors Meeting (virtually) on June 15th. Hopefully by June there will be strong indications of when the COVID-19 crisis will be in decline and when social gathering can happen again. Until then, please follow the guidance of leaders.
- Stay home!
- Wash your hands!
- Cover your cough!
- Keep your distance!
Protect Your Family from EEE & West Nile Virus
With confirmed cases of infected mosquitoes in New Hampshire, it is important to protect your children (and yourself) from EEE and West Nile Virus. Check out guidance from NH Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention on our Helpful Information tab.
With confirmed cases of infected mosquitoes in New Hampshire, it is important to protect your children (and yourself) from EEE and West Nile Virus. Check out guidance from NH Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention on our Helpful Information tab.
Concussion in Youth Sports
The safety of the MVSL athletes is paramount. MVSL has placed the following limitations on heading the ball:
The safety of the MVSL athletes is paramount. MVSL has placed the following limitations on heading the ball:
- 3/4 Level - No heading is allowed.
- 5/6 Level - Limited heading during practices. Players should do no more than 15-20 headers per week.
- 7/8 Level - Limited heading during practices. Players should do no more than 15-20 headers per week.
Lightning Safety
There is NO safe place out-of-doors during a lightning storm. If you can hear thunder, you are within lightning's reach. When a lightning flash is followed within 30 seconds by the clap of thunder, the storm is within 6 miles of you and within striking distance to objects(and people) in the area. Immediately seek shelter within a sturdy building or enclosed vehicle until at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard. It is the steel roof and frame of a car that protects you, not the rubber tires, which would have to be a mile thick to save you. A baseball dugout or open-sided picnic shelter is NOT adequate shelter!
Visit NOAA or this guidance for additional information.
There is NO safe place out-of-doors during a lightning storm. If you can hear thunder, you are within lightning's reach. When a lightning flash is followed within 30 seconds by the clap of thunder, the storm is within 6 miles of you and within striking distance to objects(and people) in the area. Immediately seek shelter within a sturdy building or enclosed vehicle until at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard. It is the steel roof and frame of a car that protects you, not the rubber tires, which would have to be a mile thick to save you. A baseball dugout or open-sided picnic shelter is NOT adequate shelter!
Visit NOAA or this guidance for additional information.
Ten Steps to Abolish Sexual Abuse in Sports
Let's keep our children safe. Stay involved in their games and practices. Do not allow them to be alone with adults. Talk to your children and stay alert for warning signs. Don't send your child to practice and games -- Take them!
Check out Ten Steps to Abolish Sexual Abuse in Sports for additional guidelines. You can find additional information on our Helpful Information tab.
Zero tolerance is the only way.
Let's keep our children safe. Stay involved in their games and practices. Do not allow them to be alone with adults. Talk to your children and stay alert for warning signs. Don't send your child to practice and games -- Take them!
Check out Ten Steps to Abolish Sexual Abuse in Sports for additional guidelines. You can find additional information on our Helpful Information tab.
Zero tolerance is the only way.
Safe Warm-Up Routines
Remember when we all stood in a circle on the soccer field and did basic stretching exercises before the match? Now we learn that is probably the worst thing to do, second only to actually starting a match without any warm-up at all. That's why you see baseball, football and soccer pros doing dynamic warm-ups before their games. According to coachup.com, "It's very important that no player ever participates in any exercises or games without warming up properly. It is also extremely important that no player ever stretches before they warm up; this is a common practice and can result in a number of injuries."
Check out their full guidelines at coachup.com's Warming-Up To Prevent Injuries.
Or check out Eight Soccer Coaching Warmups For Kids at footy4kids.co.uk.
Remember when we all stood in a circle on the soccer field and did basic stretching exercises before the match? Now we learn that is probably the worst thing to do, second only to actually starting a match without any warm-up at all. That's why you see baseball, football and soccer pros doing dynamic warm-ups before their games. According to coachup.com, "It's very important that no player ever participates in any exercises or games without warming up properly. It is also extremely important that no player ever stretches before they warm up; this is a common practice and can result in a number of injuries."
Check out their full guidelines at coachup.com's Warming-Up To Prevent Injuries.
Or check out Eight Soccer Coaching Warmups For Kids at footy4kids.co.uk.
