If you desire to be on the Little Hatter wait list, call 404-351-4466 and leave us your name and address.

Our goal in the Little Hatter Program is to give each player the opportunity to develop a solid foundation of soccer skills. Small teams and small sided games are designed to ensure that every player participates fully in the game, touches the ball frequently and learns basic skills in the process. The teams are organized by the Tophat Placement Committee at the beginning of each season. At this level, no team standings are kept and keeping score in the games is discouraged.

Ages

Little Hatters teams are available for Under 5, Under 6, Under 7,  Under 8, and Under 9. Players can begin at age 4, during pre-kindergarten.

     •  Under 5 & 6 have 6 players per team and play 3V3.

     •  Under 7 & 8 have 8 players per team and play 4v4.

    •  Under 9 has 12 players per team and play 6v6.

Annual Schedule

Little Hatters play Fall and Spring soccer. Teams are assigned each season from returning players and new players from the wait list. The Little Hatter registration fees are due prior to each season, and includes the cost of a uniform, GYSA fee, trophies, concession tickets and picture package. Uniforms are ordered during the summer and uniform pickup is usually scheduled for the week after Labor Day.

Little Hatters play during September, October, and early November. After a winter break, play resumes during March, April, and May.

During the spring or early summer, Tophat also sponsors soccer camps, clinics, and other training.  Some of these training activities are appropriate for Little Hatter players.

Training During the Season

U5 through U9 teams practice once a week, at 4:00 PM for one hour. U-5 on Monday, U-6 on Tuesday, U-7 on Wednesday, U-8 on Thursday and U-9 on Friday.

Game Day

Little Hatters play small-sided matches at Tophat Field on Saturdays with special rules. Occasional make-up games are played on weekday nights.

"Small-sided" means that each team plays with fewer than 11 on the field at a time. Small-sided play allows each player to play the ball much more than in full-sided 11-a-side soccer. A player on a team with 3 players on the field will touch the ball nearly four times as often than with an 11-a-side team.  This allows players to learn faster and to enjoy the game more.

"Special rules" mean that the field of play, size of goals, the number of players on the field, the method of restarting play, other rules (no goalkeeper) differ from FIFA Laws of the Game. The youth modifications that Tophat uses have been widely adopted across Georgia and the United States because they are very beneficial for helping the players learn and enjoy the game.

Parent Support

Tophat Soccer Club depends on Little Hatters to provide a fun playing experience for players and families, and to teach soccer to young players who will become the core of Tophatter teams that go on to compete with the very best teams in the United States. Good learning and fun depend on game days being pleasant, positive, and spirited but not intimidating, negative, or confrontational. Tophat needs supportive parents who encourage all the players and praise good efforts and new learning.

Supportive parents will recognize that fun, participation, and learning are the priorities, and that winning matches is not a primary goal. To make matches fair and interesting for all players, Tophat field managers will from time to time move players from one team to another during Little Hatters Saturday games.  Parents will also notice field managers and Tophat staff coaches circulating during Little Hatter matches in order to ensure that the goals of the program are being supported by all.

How to Join

Call the Tophat hotline at 404-351-4466 and leave your name, address and ZIP code on the voice mail box. Wait list materials will be sent to you.

If you are selected for the Little Hatter program, registration paperwork will be sent to you. Complete the forms and send in your check by the deadline indicated. You will be notified when it is time to pick up a uniform and to start practices and games.

Costs

Registration fees cover the cost of maintaining the fields, the instructional program, uniforms, pictures, awards and payments to youth players who serve as referees during the matches.

Volunteers

Parents are strongly encouraged to participate with volunteer duties, and will be contacted when teams are formed.

Graduating to Tophatters

At the U10 year, players graduate to the Tophatter level and participate in their first selection process. These teams divide into Select and Club in-house teams. Players are sorted out onto these teams based on observation by members of the Tophat coaching staff. Each year thereafter, Tophat players have the opportunity to move between teams, depending on their ability and interest.