2026 Squirts - Little Reds Term 3 Information and registration

Start Date: Saturday 18th July (8 weeks)

Times: 8:00am - 9:00am (1st Slot) | 9:15am - 10:15am (2nd Slot)
Ages: U3-U5
Location: Albert Bishop Park

Term 3 marks the beginning of a new chapter for our early years program. Squirts is now Squirts - Little Reds, a name that reflects where your child is headed as part of the Virginia United FC Reds family. Same great Saturday mornings, same coaches, same love of the game - with a clearer pathway forward.

Welcome to Squirts - Little Reds, Virginia United FC's early years football program built to spark a lifelong love of the game. Here, every child gets to move, play, laugh, and grow. We are not just teaching football - we are building confident young people who are ready for a lifetime in sport.

Our program is structured around age-appropriate development levels designed to meet players where they are. Our coaches work closely with players and parents to make sure every child is genuinely challenged and genuinely enjoying themselves.

Level 1 - U3 (Age 3)

Goal: Fall in love with the game.
At this stage it is all about fun, familiarity, and building confidence. Sessions are warm and welcoming, designed to help little ones feel at home on the pitch with a ball at their feet.

Key focus areas: ball familiarity and movement, body awareness and balance, following simple instructions, social interaction and participation.

What players will explore: running, stopping, and moving with the ball, kicking and chasing in open space, basic direction and spatial awareness, playing alongside others in a fun and safe environment.

Level 2 - U4 (Age 4)

Goal: Develop ball confidence and introduce early decision-making.
Players at this level are growing fast and so are their skills. Sessions introduce more football-specific challenges while keeping the joyful, game-based environment they thrive in.

Key focus areas: ball control and speed, using different parts of the foot, vision and awareness, introduction to simple task challenges.

What players will learn: using small and big touches while moving, stopping the ball while on the run, dribbling through gates and into space, simple one-rule games that build decision-making.

Level 3 - U5 (Age 5) - Little Reds

Goal: Build team awareness and get ready for the next step.
U5 players are our Little Reds - the group who are ready for more. Sessions introduce simple team concepts, small-sided games, and the foundations of competitive football. U5 players who complete Term 3 will be well placed to move into our MiniRoos Ready program.

Key focus areas: team play and simple game structure, understanding our goal and their goal, small-sided games (2v2 and 3v3), confidence in a competitive environment.

What players will learn: playing as part of a team in structured small-sided games, basic spatial awareness and movement off the ball, following multi-step instructions, the beginnings of attacking and defending concepts.

Players who complete Level 3 are ready to take the next step into MiniRoos Ready, our dedicated bridge program into MiniRoos competition.