What is House League Soccer?

House League Soccer provides players with opportunity to play for enjoyment, participation, to make friends and to develop a healthy life style.  House League is the perfect program for those who have never played or just enjoy getting out to have fun!

When will online registration be active?

We begin registration online and on Friday, January 14th, 2022 at 12pm, and will continue until all spots for each division and community are filled. 

Communities can close divisions at any time, so we encourage families to register as soon as possible so they can play in their preferred Community.

Will I be able to register in person like I've done in season's past prior to online registration?

For the 2022 season, all registrations will be taking place online as the Darlington Office and Bowmanville Indoor Facility is closed to the public for the foreseeable future. If you have any issues in regards to registration, we would recommend you complete the form on a computer (as there are many issues on mobile devices).

You can contact our Office Administrator, Jennifer Kanters via email at jennifer.darlington@rogers.com if you have issues completing registration.

What is the structure of House League Soccer?

Our House League has seven Community Clubs situated in Bowmanville, Courtice, Newcastle, Orono, Hampton, Tyrone and Burketon. At the older ages, we also have teams from Oshawa participating in our league for greater variety. Teams play in their allocated age division in either a Coed or All Girls division (depending on the parent’s preference at registration). Teams play once a week and practices are at the coach's discretion.

Note: For the 2022 Outdoor season, there will be a number of rule changes made. If you would like more information, please contact your local Community Club President or e-mail darlingtonsoccer@rogers.com and your message will be forwarded onward.

Are there boys and girls divisions?

We have two different divisions: Coed and All Girls. Both boys and girls can play in the Coed division. However, the All Girls divisions are exclusive to Bowmanville, Courtice and Newcastle due to sustainable number of players in these communities. 

It's important to note that the majority of girls play in the All Girls division and very few play Coed by the time players are U8. From U8 onward the Coed divisions in Bowmanville, Courtice and Newcastle are overwhelmingly boys (the Northern Communities of Hampton, Orono, Tyrone and Burketon feature more girls).

What is the format, fee and what days of the week do each age group play?

*Due to COVID protocols, divisional formats could change* 

See the the summary table below for all information.

*These divisions are run by Hampton, Burketon, Orono and Tyrone only. Age groups in the northern Clarington communities are merged due to the smaller pool of participants in those communities. 

**Starting the Outdoor 2018 season we will be allowing recreational teams with the Oshawa Kicks to participate in our league to allow for greater variety of opposition in our leagues. Fields will be in east Oshawa, close to the 401 where possible.  

In the case divisions have an odd amount of teams, there may be games on alternating days during the season to ensure all teams get their number of games in (i.e. Monday games would have additional game day on Wednesday, Tuesday games would have additional game on Thursday, and same for Wednesday and Thursday).

What is the regular start time for games?

The Interlock games for the Outdoor 2022 season will have a 6:30pm start time (unless the need for a double-header). To account for double headers, some games will be at 6:00pm and 7:00pm respectively. Games may be re-scheduled to an earlier time to account for rain-outs. Please keep a specific eye on the start time for each of your games.

Do you have anything for younger ages?

For the 2018 and 2019 birth years, our Club hosts a program called Micro & Mini 3v3 with registration taking place in late January 2022. 

How long is the House League Soccer season?

The 2022 Outdoor House League season will run for a 12-week season, which will take place starting on May 30th until August 18th, 2022.  There will also be playoffs for teams U12 and older which will take place from August 22nd to September 1st, 2022.

Where are the games played?

Click here for our Field Locations & Map page detailing all the fields we use in our program along with directions and a Google Map directory.

Do you accommodate requests to play with other children?

Our Club does not accommodate requests to play with other children whether it's for transportation purposes, friendships, etc.  Only requests for siblings in the same age group are accounted for.

I live in one community but would like my child to play for another. Is this allowed?

Yes. Whether it is to play with friends in the area, in an All-Girls league, or whatever the reason this is permitted. However, you cannot switch after your registration is complete.

What is your refund policy?

Due to the COVID-19 situation, we will be charging a $15 fee for anyone who requests a refund to cover all registration fees, refund fees and postage. This will also apply to each registration if the season is forced to cancel.

Do you require Volunteer Coaches?

Yes! The Club is always looking for Volunteer Coaches. When completing the online registration process for your children, you will at some point be prompted for volunteering to coach. Your information will then be forwarded to your communities volunteer group and will follow up with you. 

How do I get a tax receipt for this program?

Tax receipts for Outdoor 2016 and later will be available online in your SportsEngine account.

In terms of the key differences of the small-sided game over the eleven-aside game and the benefits of the 3v3, 4v4, 5v5 and 6v6 formats, please read the following very closely:

• Far more repeated touches of the ball by all players
• More touches throughout all areas of the pitch
• More passes attempted are in a forward direction in the Small Sided Game.
• More attacking 1 v1s, final third and penalty area entries
• More shots on goal and technical skills by goalkeepers
• Repeated decision making experience
• The ball is in play far more in the in the Small Sided Game
• Repeated experience of basic tactical situations
• More active participation is directly related to fun and enjoyment
• More active participation leads to an optimal fitness load
• Better success rate leads to better quality of play and player retention
• Better success rate leads to better self esteem and self confidence
• More individual responsibility – every player must attack and defend
• The game is easier to understand
• Freedom of expression – no positions in early stages
• Less perceived stress on the player when playing the small-sided game
• Less negative comments on the small-sided game
• 80% of children believe that they touched the ball more often in the small- sided game
• There was less perceived pressure from parents in the small-sided game
• It is apparent that children enjoyed all the game formats

Although a hockey example, please see the video below detailing the benefits and advantages of younger ages playing on a smaller and shorter surface. Many of these stats are consistent among a number of different team sports.