Pittsburgh Dynamo Recreation League Fall 2015 Information for Parents/Guardians www.pittsburghdynamo.org
WELCOME! Thank you for joining us this season! We hope that you and your child have a terrific season. These slides are a quick primer on Dynamo rec league. Please review the Parents Sideline Conduct Agreement.
DYNAMO S MISSION Collaborate with families to offer a fun and child-centered soccer experience for youth in Pittsburgh s East End
ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION Pittsburgh Dynamo Youth Soccer is run entirely by volunteers. Everyone helps. Please give your fellow Dynamo parents and volunteers the benefit of the doubt and pitch in to help.
Dynamo Basics THE SEASON PLAYERS EQUIPMENT PRACTICE MAP GAME FIELDS AGE LEVELS AND GAME PLAN
Fall 2015 Season Practices begin Monday, August 31. Practice at Schenley Oval, one day per week, 5:30-6:30 PM. Games held each weekend from September 12/13 through October 31/November 1, 2015. Game schedule for October 3 and 17 TBA. On last weekend, games are kids versus parents. Dynamoprovided snack and prizes to follow. Game schedule posted to website.
PLAYERS EQUIPMENT BALL - correct size for age-level, marked with players name U5-U8 = size 3 ball, U9-U12 = size 4 ball, U13-U18 = size 5 ball SHIN GUARDS AND SOCCER SOCKS - required at both practices and matches SHOES - athletic shoes are required but cleats are unnecessary TEAM SHIRT - wear to all games, ask coach if shirt should be worn to practices WATER BOTTLE - must be brought to all practices and games NO JEWELRY OR HARD HAIR ACCESSORIES - referee inspects players before each match Until September 12, needed items can be purchased at Pittsburgh Soccer and Sports, 4205 Murray Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217, 412-421-1880 (Greenfield neighborhood)
SCHENLEY OVAL PRACTICE MAP
LINED GRASS FIELDS
AGE-LEVELS U5 Co-ed U6 Co-ed 8/1/2010-7/31/20011 8/1/2009-7/31/2010 U7/8 Boys and Girls 8/1/2007-7/31/2009 U9/10 Boys and Girls 8/1/2005-7/31/2007 U11/12 Boys and Girls 8/1/2003-7/31/2005 U13-18 Co-ed 8/1/1997-7/31/2003
AGE-LEVEL GAMES PLAN Age Level Game Format Dual, side-byside games Ball Size Roster (estimated) Keeper (GK) Assigned Field Time U5 3v3 No 3 6 No 45 min. 60 x90 Parent PopUp Field Size Refs Goal Size U6 3v3 Yes 3 9 No 60 min. 60 x90 Yes PopUp U7/8 4v4 Yes 3 12 No 60 min. 90 x120 Yes PopUp U9/10 6v6 No 4 12 Yes 75 min. half turf, 135 x 180 Yes 6 x12 U11/12 8v8 No 4 14 Yes 75 min. 150 x240 Yes 7 x21 U13/18 11v11 No 5 18 Yes 90 min. full turf Yes 8 x24 * U13/18 may play 11v11 or whatever attendance supports.
LAWS OF THE GAME - MICRO-SOCCER MICRO-SOCCER U5 U6 U7/8 U9/10 U12 U18 Goalie NO NO NO YES YES YES Kick Off* YES YES YES YES YES YES Throw In* Corner Kick Goal Kick* NO YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES YES YES Fouls NO YES YES YES YES YES Direct Kick Penalty Kick NO;! Indirect only* NO;! Indirect except for corner kick* NO;! Indirect except for corner kick* YES YES YES NO NO NO YES YES YES Offside NO NO NO YES YES YES Slide Tackle Playing period** NO NO NO NO NO NO 4-8:00 quarters. Plan to play as many periods as assigned field time permits. 4-8:00 quarters. Plan to play as many periods as assigned field time permits. 4-10:00 quarters 2-25:00 halves 2-30:00 halves 2-35:00 halves Kick off - taken to start game, to start second half, or after a goal is scored Throw In - taken after ball crosses touch line Corner Kick - taken after ball crosses goal line (no goal scored), last touched by defender Goal kick - taken after ball crosses goal line (no goal scored), last touched by attacker *A goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect kick, kick off, throw in, or goal kick; the ball must be touched by another player prior to scoring. A goal can be scored directly from a corner kick. **Playing periods can be shortened on particularly hot days, when there are not enough players to make substitutions, or if, in the opinion of the referee, the players look spent. ***Games end on the hour. Teams are asked to leave the field as quickly as possible so that subsequent games can begin on schedule and maximize assigned field time.
EXPECTATIONS Be on time. Bring all required equipment. Players should wear team shirt for games. Some coaches prefer team shirt for practices as well. Attend practices and games. Notify coach ASAP if you cannot attend. Remain at your team s sideline during practices and games.
AT PRACTICES Coach volunteers have to keep things moving and be concerned with the team as a whole. Ask your coach whether, when, and how he or she would like you to step in if there are behavior or participation issues for your child. Untied shoes, tantrums, unsportsmanlike conduct. Please encourage your child to stay involved in the team s practice and not take extra water breaks or sit out portions of practice.
AT GAMES Arrive 10-15 minutes before game. Do not stand with coaches and players during the game. Stand on opposite sideline at least two feet from boundary. No food, drink, or dogs on turf. No food or drink on track. Water is okay. City/park rules. Volunteer! Field set up, snacks, chase down balls and leave them at a sideline.
CANCELLATIONS COACHES ARE EMPOWERED TO CANCEL PRACTICES at coaches discretion a coach or a team parent must contact all players cancel no later than 5 PM thunder/lightning within 30 minutes requires cancellation CANCELLATION OF GAMES IS RESERVED TO REC LEAGUE COMMISSIONERS only at commissioners discretion announced on website, Facebook page, Twitter @pghdynamosoccer thunder/lightning within 30 minutes requires cancellation
Dynamo Philosophy Goals General Tenets Parents Sideline Conduct Agreement Match Conduct Philosophy In Action
Pittsburgh Dynamo Goals Develop players fundamental soccer skills Impart knowledge of soccer s rules Good sportsmanship Fun
Dynamo Philosophy General Tenets Recreation League - we play for fun, we don t exclude based on ability We don t define success as a win/loss record. Success is playing and learning the game. Your role as a Dynamo parent is to follow and reinforce this philosophy.
Parent Sideline Conduct Agreement I understand the fun of soccer is playing, not winning. I will support the team, not just my own child. I will let the players play. I will let the coaches coach. I will let the referees judge the game. I will be a supportive soccer parent. I understand that they are only kids and this is only a game. I will remain by the field during practices and games.
Dynamo Philosophy Match Conduct Neither coaches nor spectators may shout out instructions to players. Coaches, spectators, and players will refrain from criticizing referees and linesmen. They will recognize the referees authority and obey the rules. Each player plays at least 50% of each game. Players should be rotated among field positions once positions are introduced in their age level. All coaches and players are to shake hands after each match, saying good game. Good sportsmanship is key to Dynamo s philosophy. Consult the Pittsburgh Dynamo Recreation League Handbook on Dynamo s website for more information.
Dynamo Philosophy in Action No official score-keeping. Spectators cannot call out a particular child s name. Dynamo encourages general, positive cheers for the team, such as, Go, Blue! or Great kick, Orange! Dynamo directs coaches and referees to stop a game, if necessary, when a parent calling out from the sidelines is distracting or upsetting the kids.
Dynamo Philosophy Why these rules? Dynamo wants to get as many kids as possible playing soccer and keep them in the game as long as we can. We think that a child-centered experience is the way to accomplish our mission. These rules are designed to minimize excessive involvement of parental egos in what should, after all, be a child-focused activity. We view these rules as essential to maintaining the positive atmosphere that is fundamental to the league and its philosophy. Soccer is currently the number one participatory sport in the U.S. But by age thirteen, 65 percent of kids stop playing sports. By age sixteen, it s 85 percent. Dynamo s rules are intended to keep soccer fun.
LEAGUE VOLUNTEER Board member League Commissioner Age-Level Commissioner Equipment Manager
TEAM VOLUNTEER Team Parent Field Set Up Parent Referee (U5)
VOLUNTEERS TEAM PARENT Assigned to most teams - otherwise, coach can ask for a volunteer Main role is organizing volunteers for snack schedule and possibly field set up, may also assist coach with communications Coach should consult with team parent to divide responsibilities, set expectations/roles FIELD SET UP Coach or team parent can organize volunteers, email set up instructions or link to website DYNAMO ENCOURAGES AND EXPECTS VOLUNTEERISM FROM PLAYERS PARENTS! Helping with field set up, chasing stray balls, herding young players
GAME DAY FIELD SET UP If you are not a coach, you re a field set up volunteer. Your team s volunteers are responsible for team set up when yours is the first game of the day in your assigned space for your age-level. Your team s volunteers are responsible for removing goals and possibly cones from the field when the following game is played by another age-level. Your team s volunteers are responsible for storing cones and pop-up goals in equipment boxes when you play the last game of the day. Field dimensions in Dynamo handbook on website and on a laminated cheat sheet in the coaches bag.
PLAYER REGISTRATIONS Fall 2015 57 teams 581 players 141 coaches
ADMINISTRATIVE ROSTERS prepared and distributed by age-level commissioners defer to age-level commissioners regarding team assignments ROSTER CHANGES/TEAM RE-ASSIGNMENTS contact age-level commissioner, not coaches
DYNAMO WEBSITE
STAY INFORMED
RISK MANAGEMENT PA West Soccer Association ZERO TOLERANCE RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY Stay with your child at practices and at games. If you re uncomfortable with something you witness, contact a commissioner.
HEALTH AND SAFETY Place weights on all goals Falling goals killed four children in the U.S. in 2012. Never use any portable metal goal without using sandbags to prevent the goal from tipping in any direction If you see a kid climbing on a goal, please remind them to stop. Do not use stakes in the turf field Return metal goals to fence after last game of day Concussions - Soccer IS a contact sport. First Aid Kits in Equipment Bags Coaches do not provide or administer medicine to any player. Coaches can provide the kit to a parent. Remove aspirin from sealed first aid kits in any equipment bag.
Have a terrific Fall 2015 season! recreation@pittsburghdynamo.org Thanks to Kris Knieriem, Dynamo parent and board member, and her team at Blender, Inc., for creating Dynamo s logo.