COACHES PACKET DOCUMENTS Please ensure you and all your volunteers are familiar with the following:

WWW.GRISWOLDSOCCER.ORG P.O Box 183 Jewett City, CT 06351 Coaches Newsletter PRESIDENT S MESSAGE I d like to welcome all the coaches to another great Griswold Soccer Club Season and to thank ALL the volunteers who make this club a success year after year. The success of this club would be impossible without you. I am looking forward to another safe and fun season! Ed Conn IMPORTANT 2013 DATES Practice Can Begin 8/1 Coaches Clinic (Sat Morning) 8/1 Equipment handout 8/1 EVO guided practices Start 8/10 Opening Ceremonies (Friday) 9/11 Opening Day 9/12 Picture Day 9/26 Columbus Day Sat Rec Games ON Family Day TBD Silent Sidelines 10/17 18 End of Season 10/29 OPENING CEREMONIES Opening Ceremonies this year is Friday, September 11th. Please notify an executive board member if you or someone on your team can help. We hope to improve on the successful night ceremony that we had last year. COACHES PACKET DOCUMENTS Please ensure you and all your volunteers are familiar with the following: GSC Mission Statement Silent Sidelines Rules of the Game Impact of Coaches Lightening Policy This year we will again focus helping our coaches improve by inviting EVO to run practice sessions for 8 weeks starting in August at the Voluntown main field U6 will run on Wednesdays U8 will run on Mondays U11/U14 will run on Tues and Thurs. All Volunteers are required to go online to fill out a background check through CJSA in order to participate as a coach or a team parent as well as for the Volunteer to be insured during the season. Background checks are valid for three years. Background checks are done at CJSA website. Look for the red box on their homepage. www.cjsa.org

RECREATION DIVISIONS Due to a now continual low player registration in the upper age groups the divisions for the 2014 season have been modified as follows: A U11 Division has been created with 4 teams. The U14 division was limited to 2 Co ed teams. Both divisions will compete with Rec teams in Montville and Norwich. U6 and U8 divisions will remain unchanged. PRACTICES The first day of practice is permitted August 1st. We are not able to practice prior to that date and all practices must be held at Griswold Soccer designated fields, for insurance reasons. Field space is at a premium so make sure that you use only the amount that is required for your team. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. FUNDRAISER NEWS The fundraiser for this year will be SpiritWare and Magnets that will be available at the concession stand. We will send more information in the coming weeks. REFEREE NEWS For safety and insurance purposes, no jewelry will be allowed on the field. Jewelry must be fully removed, not taped or covered. To verify sanctioned volunteer coaches, referees may check photo Id s prior to the start of each game. GOAL SAFETY NEWS Coaches, please be aware that it is imperative that the goals are inspected for damage and to make sure they are secured to the ground with sand bags, not bricks or concrete blocks. Coaches please warn all players and parents of the dangers of goal posts to include horseplay on or around goals, this includes goalies hanging from the posts. Please make sure that spectators watch the game in designated areas while providing positive feedback to ALL players. This is for everyone s safety and enjoyment of the game. Thank You. Issues with Rosters If you have any issues with your rosters and/or issue contacting parents please contact your division coordinator first. U6 Division Ramona Grey U8 Division Rick Silva U8 Showcase Game As a way to promote promotion to our travel programs we will hold a showcase event in U8 league. Kids from each team will be nominated by the coach and play in a showcase game later in the season. The game will be held on a Sunday later in the season. U10 invitational Travel practice Building on a successful session last year, we will again invite the U11 and older U8 Rec kids that have an interest in possibly moving to Travel to a U10 travel practice in the middle of the season, TBD

Griswold Mission Statement It is the mission of the Griswold Soccer Club to promote the game of Soccer in the town of Griswold and the surrounding communities. The program is designed for all skill levels, motivation and capability with an emphasis on acquisition of soccer skills to enable the realization of a player's development in the game. The Club strives to set standards of good sportsmanship, fair play, and training excellence while providing guidance, encouragement and support of player development and providing opportunities to those athletes who strive for further participation on travel, state, regional, national olympic development teams, collegiate and/or professional programs.

Impact of Coaches I HAVE COME TO A FRIGTHENING CONCLUSION I am the divisive element on the soccer field It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a coach, I possess tremendous power to make an athlete s life Miserable or Enjoyable. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor.hurt or heal. I can make my players hate or love the game. I can have My team work hard for me or We can work hard together to make Our team good. It is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de- escalated and an athlete humanized or dehumanized.

Silent Sidelines A SOCCER STORY... A mother was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her teenage son. Suddenly the boy bursts into the kitchen. "Careful! Careful! Put in some more butter! Oh my goodness! You're cooking too many at once. TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter. Oh my! WHERE are we going to get MORE BUTTER? They're going to STICK! Careful!... CAREFUL! I said CAREFUL! You NEVER listen to me when you're cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you crazy? Have you lost your mind? Don't forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt. USE THE SALT! THE SALT!" The mother stared at him. "What's wrong with you? You think I don't now how to fry a couple of eggs?" The son calmly replied, "I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm trying to play soccer." Each Fall and Spring playing season CJSA sponsors a statewide Silent Sidelines weekend. The Spring Silent Sidelines weekend will be the third weekend of May and the Fall Silent Sidelines will be the third weekend of October. Coaches will be permitted to give players direction from the sidelines. Spectators will be directed to refrain from making any comments to players, coaches or referees, but will be permitted and are encouraged to applaud efforts by all players. The goals of Silent Sidelines Weekend are to: 1. develop our players to make decisions on the field without sideline intervention. 2. improve the players communication on the field by reducing the outside noise level. 3. support our youth referees by eliminating dissension from the sidelines. Visit CJSA's Silent Sidelines page for more information.

Griswold Soccer Club RULES OF THE GAME 2015 Games sanctioned by the Griswold Soccer Club shall be played in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game (LOTG) as published and modified by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) and the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA). Items below are modifications or clarifications to the FIFA LOTG as they apply to Griswold Soccer Club. Refer to the LOTG for the complete description of soccer law. **LOTG can be found at: http://www.ussoccer.com/referees/laws-of-the-game.aspx ** Law 1 The Field of Play GSC may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, change the size of the field for each age group. GSC Board shall be solely responsible for adjusting the dimensions of the field. Law 2 The Ball GSC will use a #3 soccer ball in age groups U6 & U8 GSC will use a #4 soccer ball in age groups U11 GSC will use a #5 soccer ball in age group U14 Law 3 The Number of Players (Subject to change by referee on field or BMOD) Age Group U6 Five (5) players (including Sweeper Keeper) Age Group U8 Six (6) Players (including a Goal Keeper) Age Group U11 Eight (8) Players (including a Goal Keeper) Age Group U14 Eleven (8) Players (including a Goal Keeper) Substitutions shall be unlimited except where specified otherwise in the rules and regulations for a particular competition. Substitutions may be made, with the consent of the referee, at any stoppage in play. The goalkeeper may be changed at any substitution, and the referee must be notified that a goal keeper change is taking place. Except for half-time and after a goal has been scored, substitutes wishing to enter the field must be at the halfway line prior to the substitution opportunity. Law 4 The Players Equipment with emphasis on the following Nothing on wrists or neck except med alert tags. No exposed metal in hair. 1 of 4

Color of jersey must be showing, jackets and sweatshirts may be worn under jersey Must have shin guards that are covered by socks Players must not use or wear anything which is dangerous to his/her self or another player (including ANY kind of jewelry). Toe cleats are allowed as long as they are not dangerous in the opinion of the referee There will be no alterations or additions to the uniforms Law 5 The Referee Law 6 The Assistant Referees Law 7 The Duration of the Match The age group determines the length of the game. There is a five (5) minute break between all halves. There is a two (2) minute break between all quarters in the U8 age group. Stoppage time will be added to each quarter/ half at the discretion of the referee. There is no over time in non-tournament games. 1. Age Group U6 4-5min quarters with running time 2. Age Group U8 4-10 minute quarters 3. Age Group U11 4-12 minute quarters 4. Age Group U14 2-35 minute halves Law 8 The Start and Restart of Play Law 9 The Ball In and Out of Play Law 10 The Method of Scoring Law 11 Offside The offside rule will not be enforced in the U8 and U11 age groups. Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct The Board of the Griswold Soccer Club recommends that any player receiving his/her first caution (yellow card) in any game be removed from play by the player s coach to allow the player to cool off &/or to come to an understanding of why he or she was cautioned. The cautioned player may be substituted for at the coach s discretion and may return to the game at the next legal substitution opportunity. If a player is shown a red card procedures will be followed per FIFA LOTG. The length of suspension from play will be decided by the GSC Board of Directors. 2 of 4

Slide Tackling will not be allowed under any circumstances in the U8 age group, even if no players are within playing distance. In the U11 and U14 sliding is allowed to keep ball in play but not to attack another player. Infractions: If no contact made with another player: Indirect Free Kick to opposing team If contact made with another player: Direct Free Kick to opposing team Excessive or reckless force to be dealt with per FIFA Law 12 *Cards will not be shown on the U8 field. Misconduct will result in time out of the game as determined by the coaches. Law 13 Free Kicks On all fields, opponents are only required to be at least the distance equal to the radius of the center circle away from the ball on all free kicks (subject to the special conditions of Law 8) due to field size. Law 14 The Penalty Kick There will be no penalty kicks on the U8 field. For infractions resulting in a penalty kick, a direct free kick will be taken just outside the penalty area with defenders allowed in the penalty area. Law 15 The Throw-in On the U8 and U11 field, a second throw-in shall be allowed (per restart) if the player commits a foul on the initial attempt. ** The second throw must be done by the same player.** If the player commits a foul on the second attempt, the opposing team receives the ball. Law 16 The Goal Kick Law 17 The Corner Kick Procedures to determine the winner of a match Regular season games will be allowed to end in a tie. For tournament games where a winner must be established there will be two 5 min halves played in full, followed by kicks from the penalty mark per FIFA LOTG. The Technical Area The Technical Area instructions per the LOTG shall be in force, the persons allowed in the TA are players, substitutes **a team mom/dad,** and up to 2 coaches, who must be on the GSC coaches list. At the discretion of the referee, parents may be in the TA during quarter/halftime breaks and other times as appropriate. 3 of 4

Coaches shall be responsible for ensuring the following CJSA rules pertaining to minimum playing time are observed. (CJSA) 1277 Recreational League means an intra-club league in which: 1. the use of tryouts, invitations, recruiting or any like process to roster players selectively to any team on the basis of talent or ability is prohibited; AND 2. the club administering the league accepts as participants in the league and all eligible youths (subject to reasonable terms of registration); AND 3. a system of rostering players is employed for the purpose of creating a fair or balanced distribution of playing talent among all teams participating; AND, 4. league rules require that each player play at least one-half (1/2) of each game except for reasons of injury, illness or discipline. 5114 Recreational/Recreational Plus League Play. In all recreational/recreational plus league play, whether travel or in-house, each player shall play at least one-half (1/2 of each game except for reasons of injury, illness, or discipline*. *Discipline refers only to a player being sent off by the referee. 4 of 4

Griswold Soccer Club (GSC) Severe Weather & Lighting Policy SECTION I. PURPOSE If you can see it (lighting) flee it; if you can hear it (thunder), clear it Griswold Soccer Club is dedicated to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all our children to learn and play the game of soccer. In order to provide a safe soccer experience for all participants, the Griswold Soccer Club (GSC) establishers the following Severe Weather & lighting Policy Generally, Severe Weather means heavy thunderstorms accompanied by lighting and/or dangerous high winds. Light or medium rain showers, in the absence of thunder or lighting, dose not usually constitute server weather. SECTION II. IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY For all Team Practices, the coach/assistant coach present shall be responsible for implantation of this policy. For all game day activity, the President of the GSC Board of Directors (the Board), or his/her designee, shall be responsible for implementing this policy. SECTION III. POLICY To ensure the safety of al participants in the Griswold Soccer Club, the Board of Directors may decide to Cancel, Postpone, or Terminate any or all games on a given day due to the threat or presence of severe weather and/or adverse field conditions. Following any weather delay, the Board may shorten the time of remaining games in order to reestablish a workable game day schedule. Prior to Game Day, a designated member of the Board shall be responsible for monitoring weather conditions. When conditions for severe weather and/or lighting exist, the monitor shall confer with the remainder of the Board to determine if games should be continued, postponed, or cancelled. Throughout Game Day, the Head Referee and/or designated Board members shall monitor weather conditions for signs of approaching servere weaterh or lightning. Visible lighting may be sufficient reason to suspend games in progress. For team practices, the responsible adult (Coach/Asst. Coach) shall insure weather conditions are appropriate for practice and take actions consistent with this policy. Last printed 7/17/2014 10:54:00 AM

The Flash-to-Bang method: [time from flash to thunder]/[5 sec per mile]=[distance to strike] is a method to determine the proximity of lighting to the field. By the time the count is to 30 seconds (6 miles) games should already be suspended and participants removed from the field in shelter. Referees have the authority to suspend or terminate play in any individual game due to severe weather and/or adverse field conditions, if in their sole judgment continued play may be hazardous to the safety of participants and/or officials. Referees shall notify the duty Board member of any suspensions/terminations. Shelter is defined as: 1. Inside any substantial, frequently inhabited building 2. Inside a fully enclosed vehicle with a metal roof and windows closed (convertibles & golf carts do not comply) The following are specifically NOT safe locations: 1. Pavilions 2. Concessions tent/shed 3. Portables toilets 4. Outside of building entranceways (under eaves or overhangs) 5. Under trees 6. On the field 7. Non-substantial or portable structures Participants may return to the field and games may continue when the Board has determined that at least 15-30 minutes has elapsed since the last visible lighting or audible thunder has been observed and the field conditions are suitable for play. The Board shall determine the course of play for the remainder of the day. If play in any game is cancelled, suspended, or terminated due to severe weather or adverse field conditions, the game s re-start, completion or final score will be determined solely by the Board. Following any widespread weather delay, the Board reserves the right to shorten the time of remaining games in order to re-establish a workable game day schedule SECTION IV. REFERENCES Walsh, K.M., et al, National Athletic Trainers Association Position Statement: Lighting Safety for Athletics and Recreation. Journal of Athletic Training, 35(4):471-477, 2000. NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports, NCAA Guideline, 1d, Lightning Safety. 1997, revised 2001 Last printed 7/17/2014 10:54:00 AM