The Jr. Dance Clinic is a fundraiser for the Dexter Dance Team Program. Boys and girls (Grades K-6) will learn basic dance techniques and a short routine taught by the DHS Varsity Dance Team, under the supervision of the Head Coach. The Jr. Dance clinics are offered twice a year; one during football season in the fall and one during basketball season in the winter. The fall clinic includes two practices and a performance at halftime of a DHS home football game on Friday, September 18th at Al Ritt Field. The games begin at 7pm. Jr. Dance clinic attendees wear their clinic t-shirts to the game which gives them free admission at the game. Family members pay regular admission. Important: T-shirts will be ordered at 8:00am on Tuesday, September 1st. Any registrations after that time will not receive a shirt.

Professional coaching coordinated by Michigan Thunder FC Director of Academy, Sean Myint Little Bolts ages 3-5. Our Little Bolts program aims to develop soccer specific skills such as basic motor skills, balance, coordination, foot-eye coordination, and ball skills. Little Bolts build strong fundamental foundations for physical skills, teamwork and inspires confidence at a young age in a successful atmosphere where learning is fun. It also gives the players the opportunity to play soccer, learn new skills and have an enjoyable sporting experience all while making new friends. A professional coaching staff will deliver this high-energy experience. Our goal is to provide a perfect introduction to the game of soccer while focusing on independence and enhancing your child’s overall growth and well being. You will see happy, confident children who are eager to learn and come back for more. Five year olds have the option of registering for Little Bolts or Strikers. If you're unsure as to which program is best for your participant, we suggest you register for Little Bolts and talk with the coaches at the conclusion of the first practice. Strikers ages 5 -10. Our Thunder Strikers program is designed to support and guide emerging young soccer players and parents into a formalized, structured and developmental soccer environment. The goal is to provide technical training for ALL players who have a strong desire to develop their technical skill level, increase their knowledge and foster a love for the game of soccer. The training will focus on developing technical skills including first touch, dribbling, passing, receiving, shooting and attacking moves. The Thunder Strikers program places a strong emphasis on teamwork, sportsmanship and the skills that are vital components of competitive soccer and transferable skills to life. Choose from weeknight training sessions with in-house games on Saturdays between 10am and noon (Clarification: as of right now, the official start time is 10AM, and end time is 11AM. In the event that there is a need to extend to Noon, Coach Sean and our office will communicate with you as soon as we make that decision. For right now, plan for players to be there from 10AM-11AM) Important note regarding the playground: The playground behind Bates is completely off limits to soccer families as it is reserved by Dexter's Childcare program. Please keep both players and their siblings away from the playground so that childcare staff do not confuse their students with yours in the event of emergency. What to Bring: Wear shin guards, sneakers or soccer shoes (during outdoor season), bring a water bottle and a size 3 or 4 soccer ball to all sessions. Soccer Shirts: You have the option of purchasing a Michigan Thunder FC t-shirt. MI Thunder partners with DCE to coordinate our youth soccer program. Youth soccer participants are often invited to support the DHS soccer programs on Senior Night or on other special occasions. Wearing the MI Thunder soccer shirt gets the student into the game at no charge. Please order a shirt separately below in the section titled 7002-F26 Soccer Shirt. The Deadline to register for a shirt is Monday, August 31 at 8:00 AM. Soccer shirt registration will close at this time. Check the box next to your phone number in your Arux profile so you may receive text messages. Most Common Questions Is my child ready to transition from Little Bolts to Strikers? The primary difference between Little Bolts and Strikers is attention span. Strikers sessions run a full hour and involve more structured drills, skill development, and small-sided game play. Families are encouraged to consider whether their child is ready to stay engaged and focused for the entire session. Is my child too old or too young for the program? Readiness depends on a combination of age, experience, and developmental stage rather than age alone. Placement decisions are based on the child’s ability to participate successfully in the activities and expectations of the program. If you are uncertain which program is the best fit, please reach out to Coach Sean at seanmyint@gmail.com.