2017 Youth Soccer League Handbook. Great Miami Valley YMCA

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1 2017 Youth Soccer League Handbook Great Miami Valley YMCA *Updated February, 2017

2 For more information, contact: ATRIUM FAMILY YMCA Karissa Steed, Senior Program Director EAST BUTLER FAMILY YMCA Samantha Starke, Sports Director FAIRFIELD FAMILY YMCA Alaphair Lammers, Senior Program Director FITTON FAMILY YMCA Andrew Flanagan, Director of Wellness and Sports MIDDLETOWN FAMILY YMCA Cara Roach, Membership and Program Director

3 About YMCA Youth Sports SEVEN PILLARS OF YMCA YOUTH SPORTS EVERYONE PLAYS no tryouts, no cuts teams are assigned by Y management equal practice and equal game times SAFETY FIRST injury prevention is preferable to treatment constant supervision necessary stop unsafe conditions immediately FAIR PLAY character development through sport adults set good examples youth show respect for each other, adults and the Y POSITIVE COMPETITION placing the interests of the children above winning a game learning to compete and cooperate in a competitive world FAMILY INVOLVEMENT appropriate parent involvement assist with games, practices, snacks, etc. SPORT FOR ALL - programs are offered to all children regardless of race, gender, religion or ability SPORT FOR FUN - sports are for kids, let s have fun! GOALS OF YMCA YOUTH SPORTS 1. Build self-esteem 2. Teach social skills, values and character development 3. Develop physical skills and fitness 4. Develop responsibility and decision-making skills 5. Build relationships with team mates and adults 6. Support or strengthen family life 7. Learn a sport 8. FUN! YMCA CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT The following core values are demonstrated and acknowledged through youth sports programs: Caring Respect Honest Responsibility GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA YOUTH SPORTS PLEDGE & POLICY Faith Being a Christian-principled organization, the Y requires teams to say the Youth Sports Pledge before each game. The purpose is to create unity and to build a sense of sportsmanship among participants athletes, coaches, parents and officials. The Y encourages spirited competition that maintains proper perspective, bringing out the best in all. All players, coaches, officials and Y sports staff are required to meet together to say or listen to the pledge before competition begins. The Pledge: Win or lose, I pledge before God to do my best, to be a team player, to respect my teammates, opponents and officials, and to improve myself in spirit, mind and body.

4 COACHES & OFFICIALS General League Information The Y is the world s largest volunteer organization. All youth sports teams are coached by parent volunteers. Without volunteer coaches, teams would not be able to function. If there are not enough parents willing or able to volunteer to coach teams, the Y will ask that two parents co-coach a team. VOLUNTEER APPLICATION AND VERIFICATION Safety first is one of the seven pillars of Y Youth Sports. All volunteers must apply and be verified through background screen before they will be assigned a team. To complete this requirement, all volunteers must complete a volunteer application, submit to a background screen (free of charge), and agree in writing to adhere to a Y Youth Sports Code of Conduct. PLANNING FOR YOUTH SPORTS ACTIVITIES - ESSENTIALS Keep the following essential points in mind as you plan Youth Sports activities: Purpose. This is the overall purpose of the particular practice what the coach should focus on for that practice. Tactics and skills. Tactics are what to do during the game (and when to do it), an understanding of the problems faced by each team during the game and how those problems can be solved. Skills are the physical skills traditionally taught. Game rules and traditions. Rules of the sport are taught as part of playing games and learning skills. Traditions are those unwritten rules that players follow to be courteous and safe. Fitness concepts. Important fitness concepts (in the form of brief activities presented in Fitness Circles) are in each practice plan. Character development concepts. The four core values caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility can all be related to many situations that arise while playing sports. Through the use of Team Circles, coaches teach character development values within each practice. Parent and family engagement. Family involvement is a characteristic unique to Youth Sports at the Y, offering volunteer opportunities, parent orientations, written staff-parent communication, and family events. TRAINING In addition to a coaches meeting, coaching in-services, and prior experience, volunteer coaches are expected to learn as much as they can about Y youth sports and how to coach within Y philosophies and expectations. Free online volunteer youth sports coaches training is provided by the Y-USA. The website, offers courses on the following: YMCA Youth Sports Programs YMCA Basketball* Parent Role in Youth Sports YMCA Soccer* Volunteers Make A Difference YMCA Baseball/Softball* Safety and Emergency Action YMCA Volleyball* Coaching YMCA Youth Sports YMCA Flag Football* Officiating YMCA Youth Sports Concussion Training *focus is on techniques, skills, and how to develop those skills each week.

5 VOLUNTEER COACH, ASSISTANT COACH, and/or OFFICIAL DUTIES Attend pre-season informational meeting(s), and any other subsequent trainings or meetings declared or deemed necessary Communications with team (welcome contact, practice schedules, cancellation, etc.) Plan and execute practices that adhere to Y Sports Pillars, Goals, and Character Development guidelines. Create and distribute snack schedule to parents. Teach, mentor and have fun! Additional training on concussions is also available, free of charge, at COMMUNICATION Please assure you provide current and accurate contact information to the Y, notifying your coach and Y management if your contact information changes at any time. The Y will also use Facebook (like us at Atrium Family Y, East Butler County Family Y, Fairfield Family Y, Fitton Family Y, Middletown Area Family Y) to provide information (promotions, photos, cancellations or postponements, etc.). The Y generally communicates about sports leagues through coaches. Team parents should direct any questions or concerns first to their coaches. Coaches will make further contact with Y management if needed. TEAM FORMATION Teams are formed in the following order: coach requests, friend requests, and remaining players. The Y can make no promise that all requests will be honored. Y Youth Sports welcomes children with special needs when reasonable accommodations can be made. Please identify any health concerns or special needs when registering for a sport league, so the director can make appropriate accommodations. Contact your youth sports director with questions or concerns. Team rosters are considered full at 12 players. Beyond this maximum, coaches and Y management staff may discuss and agree on the addition of players. New players will continue to be added to rosters below the maximum as necessary. Transfers and cancellations will similarly be communicated and discussed amongst coaches and Y management.

6 PRACTICES Coaches choose practice nights and times, based on locations and times made available through the Y. The Y will provide soccer balls, cones, and help with any other equipment requests for practices. Coaches will be responsible for any equipment issued, and for the return of the equipment to the Y. Practices may be held at the YMCA, area churches, community centers or schools. Practice schedules and locations are assigned after coaches are verified and teams are assigned. Cancelling practices (due to inclement weather, etc.) will be determined by team coaches. Notification of a cancellation is expected no later than one hour before practice, and should be communicated to the Y as well as to each team member. Make-up practices will be held only if possible, working with the established practice schedule of the league. GAMES Games will either be held on Saturdays at the Y, or other specified locations in the surrounding communities. In order to bring about the best possible experience for every athlete, our multiple branch locations run interleague play so there are multiple teams per age group. Some leagues will play on site at different branch locations, please contact the Sport Dept. lead at your home branch for more specifics. Cancelling games (due to inclement weather, etc.) will be determined by the Y. The call will be made no later than minutes before game time. The Y will contact all coaches to notify them of the cancellation, as well as place notice on the GMV YMCA Facebook and Home Web page. Coaches will then contact their team members to make notice of the cancellation. Make-up games may be scheduled by adding additional weeks to the season. If more than one game is missed, then games may be scheduled during the week in lieu of practices. Schedule will be set by the Y. TEAM PICTURES Team photos are a Y Youth Sports fundraiser. Contributions received from all photo purchases go directly to our annual campaign goals. Your support is appreciated! Pictures are taken by Lange Photographics. Purchases are mailed directly to player s homes. Any issues with photos should be communicated to Lange by calling Coaches and assistant coaches will each receive a free copy of their team photo.

7 ADULT BEHAVIOR At the YMCA, our mission is to serve the community. Youth sports help us to achieve that mission. Parents and volunteers are a key component of meeting that mission. In order for children to reap the benefits of the YMCA programs, parental cooperation and guidance are of the utmost importance. The following is a list of things coaches and parents can do to help children succeed in sport, and in life: Teach responsibility and caring by being there at practice and games Show respect for others by being on time Stress fair play and sportsmanship at home and on the field/court Face confrontations with an open mind and heart Settle disputes through deliberation instead of retaliation Treat coaches, officials and other parents as you would have them treat you or your child Show the importance of commitment by attending all scheduled events for the entire season Allow children to become athletically involved at their own pace Encourage understanding Become involved in activities yourself Allow children to be children Teach respect, show respect Have FUN Any inappropriate behavior will absolutely NOT be tolerated. Exhibiting inappropriate behavior may result in expulsion from a game or practice, and could further lead to exclusion (being banned) from all youth sports activities. Any break in appropriate behavior, will be handled by Y Staff only. TOBACCO POLICY As a leader in the community in Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility, the Y is officially against the use of tobacco products. All Y facilities and their community collaborators offering practice and/or game time and space are thus tobacco free. Please DO NOT smoke or use smokeless tobacco products at any practices or games. You will be asked to stop or leave should you not adhere to this policy. SNACKS - Please notify your coach immediately if your child has a food allergy Healthy snacks provide energy, replenish energy, and help reinforce life-long healthy eating habits. Parents will be assigned by their coaches to a snack schedule. To promote healthy eating habits, care and attention to snack ingredients and nutritional content is encouraged. The following is a list of more healthy snack and drink options: Water OR 100% juices Fruits or vegetables apples, grapes, bananas, oranges, raisins Carbs - popcorn, crackers, granola bars, pretzels

8 EQUIPMENT/UNIFORMS The Y will provide soccer balls, goals, cones, for practices and games, but you may provide your own soccer ball for your child. A team shirt for each player and coach will be provided, players will provide their own shin guards (MANDATORY), athletic shoes, shorts and/or pants. MENTORING & SPORTSMANSHIP Good sportsmanship begins with coaches and parents. Players will watch and copy coach behaviors. Coaches must reinforce appropriate attitudes. Taunting or humiliation of an opponent is never acceptable. Should this occur, immediately pull the child(ren) aside, stopping play if necessary, to explain the behavior modification required. Never embarrass the child by speaking in a loud or humiliating tone. Speaking to parents may also be necessary. Always praise children for their effort. In Y sports leagues, youth should experience and learn about every position and the required skills needed to become a complete player (fundamentals, learning and developing skills in all aspects of the sport). Care must be taken not to place a child in a position permanently based on physical appearance or limited skill. Allow and encourage them to try all positions and teach all skills to all players on the team. SOCCER POSITIONS Following are the basic positions for each team: Goalkeeper. The Goalkeeper's job is to defend his team's goal and he usually stays close to his goal. You can identify the Goalie because he wears a different colored shirt or a vest over his shirt. Except for "Throw-Ins" and to pick up the ball in "Re-Start" situations, the Goalie is the only player who can legally use his hands. Fullbacks Fullbacks play closest to their goal (which is the goal their Goalkeeper defends). Along with the Goalkeeper, they have the primary job of stopping the opponents from scoring. To a degree, every player should be a "defender" when the opponent has the ball. Usually have 2 or 3 fullbacks. Midfielders The Midfielders play between the Fullbacks and the Forwards. They are often in the "Middle Third" of the field. There can be "Offensive Midfielders" who play closer to the Forwards and "Defensive Midfielders" (also called "Stoppers") who play closer to the Fullbacks, as described below. Usually have 2 to 4 midfielders. Forwards Forwards play closer to the opponent's goal, which is the goal guarded by the opposing Goalkeeper. The Forwards are the primary scorers, although Midfielders sometimes score and at older ages Fullbacks even occasionally score. Usually have 1 to 3 forwards.

9 Great Miami Valley YMCA Youth Soccer Standards Ball Players: Field Age: Size: Size: Itty Bitty 3 6 vs 6 50x100 4&5 3 7 vs 7 60x110 6&7 3 7 vs 7 75x120 8& vs x vs x230 Fouls and Misconduct The following are infractions and result in a free kick for the opposing team: Slide tackling Grabbing and holding another player's shirt Intentional tripping, pushing or shoving Handballs; A handball" occurs when a player intentionally makes contact with the ball using any part of the hand or arm from the top of the shoulder to the tips of the fingers. Unintentional contact with the hand or arm (i.e., "ball to hand") is not a foul. Soccer Rules Itty Bitty (3yrs) Age Group (co-ed) Score will not be kept and there will be no standings. Everyone is a winner! All players must play at least half of the time during game play (exceptions include injuries, and player refusal, which is common in the younger age groups). Coaches are allowed on the field to help instruct, but may not in any way interfere with the scrimmage. Teams will be given a game schedule. The times listed are the scheduled start time for a practice and scrimmage (60 minutes total). There is NO weeknight practice for the Itty Bitty age group. The first half of the allotted time every game-day will be used for practice. During the scrimmage the following rules will be used: No parents are allowed on the field during game play. Parents may assist on the field during the practice portion, but once the game starts, parents are not permitted in the field of play. A 6v6 format will be used during games to allow for maximum touches on the ball and a better learning experience for the kids. Subs should be made after every goal scored by either team to keep a constant rotation and so no one sits for very long.

10 Coaches should strive to ensure one continuous 20 minute game each week with subs after every goal scored by either team. The goalie position can be manned, but the person playing that position is NOT allowed the use of hands (safety purposes). On a goal kick, the opposing team should retreat to midfield. There will not be any throw-ins. Balls that are played out of bounds will placed on the sideline where they left the field and be played back in with a kick. The offside rule will not be in effect. Soccer Rules 4&5 Age Group (co-ed) Score will not be kept and there will be no standings. All players must play at least half of the time during game play (exceptions include injuries, and player refusal, which is common in the younger age groups). Coaches are allowed on the field to help instruct, but may not in any way interfere with the scrimmage. Teams will be given a game schedule. The times listed are the scheduled start time for a game (1 hour total). There will be one- 60 minute weeknight practice provided each week Game Play: Officials will be provided; coaches are expected to help oversee the game in a cooperative manner. Coaches should strive to ensure 4 equal time periods so that equal playing time exists and there is sufficient rest. We will play 4 quarters that will last 8 minutes. A 7 v 7 format will be used. The goalie position will be used for the entire season. Goal kicks and corner kicks will be in effect. On a goal kick, the opposing team should retreat to midfield. Throw-ins will occur during the entire season. They will be corrected, more than once if necessary. The offside rule will not be in effect. Soccer Rules 6&7 Age Group (co-ed) Score will be kept but there will be no standings. Coaches should teach and enforce sportsmanship. (Ex: Do not run up the score, instruct players to say good game instead of we won! ) There will be no overtime if the score is tied at the end of regulation. All players must play at least half of the time during game play (exceptions include injuries, and player refusal, which is common in the younger age groups). Coaches are NOT allowed on the field and must stay near the sideline and not in any way interfere with the game. Coaches will be asked to move back, and play will be stopped if the rule is not followed

11 Game Play: Games will consist of four 8-minute quarters. A 7 v 7 format will be used. A goalie will be used in this age group. The YMCA is responsible for providing a jersey that is a different color than theirs and the opposing team. No player may play goalie for more than half of the game Half time will be no more than 5 minutes Quarter breaks will only last long enough to substitute and rotate players in and out. All free kicks will be indirect. Goal kicks and corner kicks will be in effect. On a goal kick, the opposing team should retreat to midfield. Illegal throw-ins will be corrected once, if it is incorrect again, it will result in the other team s ball. The offside rule will not be in effect. There will be no penalty kicks awarded. A foul in the goal box simply results in a free kick from the goal box line. On a dead ball, the referee will perform a drop-ball. Soccer Rules 8 & 9 Age Group Score will be kept but there will be no standings. Coaches should teach and enforce sportsmanship. (Ex: Do not run up the score, instruct players to say good game instead of we won! ) There will be no overtime if the score is tied at the end of regulation. All players must play at least half of the time during game play (exceptions include injuries, and player refusal, which is common in the younger age groups). Coaches are NOT ALLOWED on the field during game play, but may walk up and down their sideline to help instruct. Coaches must remain on team designated sideline, gameplay will be stopped and rule enforced this is not followed. Teams will be co-ed pending number of participants. If there are enough participants, teams will be split into Girls and Boys teams. Game Play: Games will consist of four 10-minute quarters. A 10 v 10 format will be used. (If rosters are small, teams may play with less). A goalie will be used in this age group. The YMCA is responsible for providing a jersey that is a different color than theirs and the opposing team. No player may play goalie for more than half of the game Half time will be no more than 5 minutes Quarter breaks will only last long enough to substitute and rotate players in and out. Substitutions can be made on any dead ball. The official must be alerted before substitutions. All free kicks will be indirect with the exception of penalty kicks. In order for a goal to be scored on an indirect kick, the ball must touch another player before going into the net.

12 On a penalty kick, all players must be outside of the penalty box. The ball does not have to touch another player in order to score. On free kicks, players on the defensive team must retreat (10) yards from the spot of the ball. On a goal kick, the opposing team must retreat ten (10) yards back from the goal box. All illegal throw-ins will result in a throw-in for the other team. The offside rule will be in effect the entire season. On a dead ball, the referee will perform a drop-ball. Soccer Rules Coed Age Group Score will be kept but there will be no standings. Coaches should teach and enforce sportsmanship. (Ex: Do not run up the score, instruct players to say good game instead of we won! ) There will be no overtime if the score is tied at the end of regulation. All players must play at least half of the time during game play (exceptions include injuries, and player refusal). Coaches are NOT ALLOWED on the field during game play, but may walk up and down their sideline to help instruct. Coaches must remain on team designated sideline, gameplay will be stopped and rule enforced this is not followed. Teams will be co-ed pending number of participants. If there are enough participants, teams will be split into Girls and Boys teams. Game Play: Games will consist of 4-12 minute quarters 11 v 11 format will be used. (If rosters are small, teams may play with less). Substitutions can be made on any dead ball. The official must be alerted before substitutions. A goalie will be used in this age group. The YMCA is responsible for providing a jersey that is a different color than theirs and the opposing team. No player may play goalie for more than half of the game Half time will be no more than 5 minutes All free kicks will be indirect with the exception of penalty kicks. In order for a goal to be scored on an indirect kick, the ball must touch another player before going into the net. On a penalty kick, all players must be outside of the penalty box. The ball does not have to touch another player in order to score. On free kicks, players on the defensive team must retreat (10) yards from the spot of the ball On a goal kick, the opposing team must retreat ten (10) yards back from the goal box. All Illegal throw-ins will result in a throw-in for the other team. The offside rule will be in effect the entire season. On a dead ball, the referee will perform a drop-ball.