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Leominster Youth Soccer

For Parents

Welcome Parents

Treatment of fields

Exemplary Spectator Behavior

Expectations of our Players

How can I help?

Snack Bar schedule

Soccer Basics

Bylaws and In Town Rules

Leominster Parents,

Welcome to Leominster Youth Soccer ( LYS ). We are glad you have decided to enroll your child in our soccer program. Keep the following thoughts in mind as you participate in or observe LYS games.

Remember that it is a game! The primary purpose of enrolling our children in soccer and other youth sports programs is so that they have an opportunity to play. There are other benefits: exercise, development of motor and social skills, learning to strive, learning to lose and not quit.

Whether you win or lose, trying your hardest and working to improve your skills and tactics produce pride and satisfaction, for most children the purpose of the game is pure play. Parents' and coaches' emphasis should be the same. Let the kids have fun at every practice and game. Instruction should only come from the coaches. When parents yell in directions from the sidelines it can confuse the players and may be counter to the strategy the coach planned for the game.

We do welcome enthusiasm, but there is a difference between yelling and cheering. So, be general in what you shout. Say, "Go!" instead of "Shoot!" or "Pass!" Let the player think for himself, it is an important part of the game. At the end of a play, you may then be more specific by saying "Great pass!" or "Great effort!" or "Great save!"

To ensure that your child is prepared to play soccer, LYS will provide the following:

	Coach
	Soccer balls for practice and games
	Properly equipped Soccer field for practice and games
	Referees for games
	Insurance via Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association

Parents are asked to provide the following:

	Soccer shoes
	Shin guards
	Jersey, shorts and socks (purchased from the league for uniformity)
	Water bottle for practices and games
	Transportation to and from practices and games
	Staffing the snack bar during home games

The philosophy of LYS is to allow each player to grow and develop to the best of their ability while having fun. At the beginning of the season the coach will tell you where and when your practice location(s) will be. For practice sessions, we ask that your child arrive on time and be ready to play, and that you be there at the end of practice to pick up your child. It is our goal to make the most of our practices and teach your child the skills they need to play in games.

For games, plan to arrive 30 minutes before the start time to allow for warm-up drills and any instructions the coach may have. There will be a referee officiating at the game. Parents must refrain from addressing the referee at any time during the game. In addition, parents must sit on the opposite side of the field from the teams, and we encourage you to cheer for both teams, remembering that these are young children playing to have fun. Our emphasis is on playing, learning and having fun, not on winning.

Each coach is a volunteer and must complete a CORI form (criminal background check) before they can work with children. In addition, many coaches have experience playing and coaching soccer and all are encouraged to attend coaching workshops and licensing clinics. In the event that you have a concern regarding your child’s coach or team, please address the issue directly with the coach and allow adequate time for resolution. If the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, please notify our in-town or travel directors.

At the end of matches, we hope to hear more players, coaches and parents thank the referees for a good game. No adult should ever berate a young referee. If you criticize the referees you are in the wrong, it is that simple.

Please instruct your children to stay off the goals, nets, and corner flags. Every year there are injuries in this country, sometimes fatal, due to kids climbing on soccer goals that topple over onto them. Please help us keep the players and others from climbing on the goals or nets at all times.

Treatment of fields

Please be aware of the time and care that it takes to maintain the soccer fields that we use. We have some very beautiful fields thanks to the very hard work of a few. We thank you for your cooperation in keeping our fields in the best condition possible. You can help by respecting our rules on field use:

	Trash cans are placed throughout the fields. Please use them. Plastic water/Sports Drink/Soda bottles are dangerous to children and wildlife, and make it difficult for field maintenance. Make sure all of your trash finds its way to the trash cans.
	No dogs at the fields. Dogs not only damage the grass but more importantly can be dangerous to small children. The most lovable pet may not be so lovable when confronted by another dog. For the safety and enjoyment of all of our players and spectators please refrain from bringing your pets to the fields.

Important Guidelines for Exemplary Spectator Behavior

The following points will be strongly enforced by all coaches during games. Please do not be offended if you are reminded of these guidelines:

	Please sit at least 3 feet from the sidelines. This allows room for proper play and throw ins. By keeping a distance from the sidelines it is also easier to keep small children from entering the field.
	Cheer on your child and the team, but DO NOT COACH THEM. A Player learns best by making his/her own playing decisions. Telling him/her when or how to move, pass, shoot or dribble, etc., is not appropriate and it does not help them to play better. Coaches spend time teaching skills and strategy during practice sessions and then let the players play on Game Day with occasional instructions from the sidelines and pointers at the bench during breaks.
	Good play by either team is reason to applaud. Sportsmanship means not only being a gracious winner, but also a graceful loser.
	Always support the Referee, even when you disagree with the call. Never speak to or about a referee except to alert he/she of an injury on the field. The Nashoba Valley Youth Soccer League (NVYSL) enforces a "ZERO TOLERANCE" policy towards spectator or coach dissent or abuse and it is the responsibility of the coach to control game spectators

Expectations of our Players

	Respect coaches
	Attend practices
	Commit to game days
	Work together as a team
	Demonstrate good sportsmanship
	Respect and support the referee
	Be good ambassadors for the town of Leominster .

How can I help

LYS is staffed entirely by volunteers. Many people put in a tremendous amount of their personal time so that your child can enjoy soccer. We always need more volunteers to assist us in many different ways so we can continue to run a successful youth soccer program. Please contact one of our Board members to find out how you can help out.

Snack bar schedule

We ask all parents to help running our Snack Bar during our home games. Your coach will give you the schedule at the beginning of the season.

Soccer basics

Who is involved in a Soccer Match?

Referee:

The referee controls the game. Sees that the game is played according to the laws of soccer. Only judges what he sees. Keeps the official time and is concerned with the safety of the players. The referee’s authority extends from the moment of arrival until the moment of departure.

Treat the referee with respect - no lip. Accept the decisions. Play continues until the referee signals. A signal may be a whistle or a hand gesture. If you want to talk to the referee, do it before the game, during halftime or after the game, NOT during the game.

Hand signals a referee might use:

	Points to corner of field: Corner Kick
	Points to penalty spot: Penalty Kick
	Points to goal area: Goal Kick
	Points to goal line with one arm: Direct Free Kick
	Points to goal line with one arm, with the other arm pointing up: Indirect Free Kick
	Points to center of the field: Goal/Kickoff

Players: Play the game. Have FUN, and stop if the referee signals.

Coaches: Coach the game. Have FUN, arrange for substitutions, control the spectators and provide encouragement to the players.

Parents: Watch the game. Have FUN; encourage the players of both teams.

Where do the players play and what do they do?

Offense: Sets up scoring opportunities like give-and-go or wall pass; has accurate, powerful feet for shots.

Midfield: Controls midfield; starts and supports attacks on goal. Drops back to help defense when possession changes.

Defense: Stays between ball and goal; controls or marks attackers; clears ball from defensive area to a more forward player.

Goal Keeper: Stops shots; helps direct the defense; starts attacks by throwing or kicking ball; sets up players for defensive walls and corner kicks.

How should the ball be played?

Kickoffs: Player moves ball over center line; rolls forward; second player must touch ball before first player may retouch; may then pass back to midfield for support or start attack.

In-bounds: A ball is in-bounds until it completely crosses over either the touchline or the goal line. If any part of the ball is over any part of the line, the ball is in play.

Throw-in: Ball crosses touchline (sideline); throw-in is awarded to other team. Both feet must be touching ground, on or behind touchline. Both hands start behind the head. Throw-in is one continuous motion over the head with both hands.

Goal Kick: Ball crosses goal line, last touched by offense; ball is kicked by defending team from within goal area. Ball must exit penalty area before being touched by another player.

Corner Kick: Ball crosses goal line, last touched by defense; ball is kicked by the offensive team from inside corner marking.

Drop Ball: Restarts game, usually after an injury. Between one player from each team. The referee drops the ball. The ball is in play when it hits the ground.

How are free kicks and when are they awarded?

Indirect Free Kick: Off-sides, dangerous play, obstruction, prevents goalkeeper from releasing ball from hands, ball held past 6 seconds by goalkeeper, goalkeeper touching ball with hands when deliberately kicked to him by a teammate or directly from a throw-in from a teammate, goalkeeper time wasting. On the kick to restart, the ball must touch another player before scoring a goal. The kick is taken at point of the violation (except if committed in goal area), and the defense must be at least 10 yards away.

Direct Free Kick: Intentionally kicks or attempts to kick, trips or attempts to trip, strikes or attempts to strike, jumps at, charges, pushes an opponent, tackles an opponent making contact with the opponent before touching the ball, holds, spits at an opponent, or handles (using any part of the arm from the shoulder to the fingertips) the ball deliberately. The kick to restart can go directly into the goal without touching another player. It is taken at the point of violation with the defense at least 10 yards away. The defense may set up a wall if the kick is within striking range of the goal but the referee does not have to hold up the game while the defense sets up the wall.

Penalty Kick: A direct free kick infraction (a foul) committed in the penalty area. The goalie is positioned on goal line; the ball on penalty spot. The goalie may not move off the goal line until the ball is kicked and all other players, except the goalie and kicker, are outside the penalty area (in 6v6 play, all players must be beyond mid-field).

What are yellow and red cards and when are cards given?

Yellow Card: Caution issued for unsporting behavior, dissent (by word or action), persistent repeated infringements of the laws of the game, delay of restart, failure to respect required distance with a corner kick or free kick, entering or re- entering the field of play without permission, leaving the field of play without permission.

Red Card: Ejection from game (send-off) for serious foul play, violent conduct, spitting at an opponent or any other person, denying an opponent a goal or goal scoring opportunity by handling the ball, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving toward the goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick, using offensive, insulting, or abusive language, or receiving a second caution in the same match.

What is off-side?

It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.

A player is in an offside position if:

S/he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent

A player is not in an offside position if:

	S/he is in his own half of the field of play or
	S/he is level with the second last opponent or
	S/he is level with the last two opponents

Offence:

A player in an offside position is only penalized if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his/her team, s/he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:

	interfering with play or
	interfering with an opponent or
	gaining an advantage by being in that position

No Offence:

There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from:

	a goal kick or
	a throw-in or
	a corner kick

Infringements/Sanctions

For any offside offence, the referee awards an indirect free kick to the opposing team to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.

Decisions of the International F.A. Board

Decision 1

In the definition of offside position, “nearer to his opponents’ goal line” means that any part of his head, body or feet is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent. The arms are not included in this definition.

Decision 2

The definitions of elements of involvement in active play are as follows:

	Interfering with play means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate.
	Interfering with an opponent means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.
	Gaining an advantage by being in that position means playing a ball that rebounds to him off a post or the crossbar having been in an offside position or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having been in an offside position.

The off-side rule is not used in 6v6 play.

Bylaws and In Town Rules

View the NVYSL Bylaws (PDF).

In Town teams follow the rules for the U10, 6v6 travel team (see the bylaws) with a few differences. To view these differences, see the In Town Rules.