New to Soccer? Don’t Worry — We’ve Got Your Back.
Learning to play shouldn't feel like you're trying out for the Premier League.
We know joining a league when you’re just getting started can feel intimidating. Maybe you’ve never kicked a ball before. Maybe you have, but it went straight into a tree. Either way, if you’re signing up for a P5 New to Soccer league here at NYC Footy, you’re in good company — and more importantly, you’re in good hands.
Here’s how NYC Footy protects our P5 New to Soccer beginner experience so you can have fun, come back for more, and encourage others looking for a safe space to come talk to NYC Footy.
1. Our Refs Are Real Ones
Our referees receive continuous training and are here to make P5 games run correctly.
We take referee operations seriously here at NYC Footy, and a world without proper referee training and rule enforcement is one where safe and entertaining soccer matches can’t exist.
Our referees are trained not just to know the rules, but to manage games in a way that keeps the pace friendly, the tone respectful, and the slide tackles nonexistent (seriously, no slide tackles). If someone’s playing a little too hard for a league where new players are just trying to figure out how to pass, our refs step in.
They're not just refs — they’re vibe protectors.
2. We Know Who Signs Up Where
Anyone can claim to be a beginner. But if someone shows up to a P5 New to Soccer match dribbling like Messi, we notice.
We have a skill assessment and monitoring process in place to make sure players are slotted into the right league. If a player is clearly in the wrong division — too advanced, too aggressive, or maybe just too much — we’ll reach out and help move them to the level that’s a better fit.
3. When Something Feels Off, You Can Tell Us. And Your Secret is Safe.
We believe in fair play and understand that competitions can tend to unleash an unfiltered side of human nature that we don’t see anywhere else. So if something weird happens on the field — a player acting out, an unsafe play, or something that just didn’t sit right — you’ve got a way to flag it.
We’ve got an Incident Report Form that you can fill out anytime, but soon after an incident occurs is typically best for memory purposes. It helps us follow up quickly and make sure the right conversations happen. It’s not snitching. It’s caring about the community and helping us take the appropriate action.
Our P5 leagues are designed to break down social walls for those new to soccer.
P5 Isn’t Just a League — It’s a Mindset.
It’s for the players who want to learn the game, get active, meet new people, and maybe fall in love with soccer for the first time. That’s a big deal to us. So we’ll keep protecting that vibe, week in and week out.
Because here at NYC Footy, no matter your skill level, there’s always room for one more.
Want a hand finding the right league for your first season? Hit us up — or browse our League Finder and see what fits.