GAME LEADER PROGRAM 1

GAME LEADER PROGRAM 1

Game Leader Program The Ontario Soccer Association Welcome! The game leader program is an introduction to officiating in children's soccer games. The main role of a game leader is to keep the game moving while limiting stoppages and assisting players with all restarts,without blowing a whistle. Game leaders will be sensitive to the age of the children understanding that they are learning, showing patience and flexibility to ensure all players are involved and having fun. The game leader can be a club representative, coach, parent, player or a beginning or senior referee. Who has participated in the game leader instruction program The game leader should always be approachable and enthusiastic. Creating a positive, fun safe environment for children to play in will help in the children enjoy the experience and therefore be happy to return to participate more. The role of a typical game official has changed at these young ages from being the adult in the middle who blows a whistle when a law has been broken, to being a person who can communicate effectively and appropriately with children, can create a fun, positive learning environment and assist them in their understanding of the game. 2

The Game Leader should; Be enthusiastic and approachable Encourage all children to have fun Promote that all children have an opportunity to take restarts Ensure the field of play is safe Ensure the field is marked out using markers, cones or lines Ensure the ball is safe and the correct size for play. Check that the goals (when available) are safe and an appropriate size Use the ready, set, go prompt to encourage quick restarts to play Ask children to pass or dribble the ball into play from all restarts rather than the aimless big kick. Ensure the opposing team retreats to the halfway line for all goal line restarts Encourage team officials and parents to create a safe enjoyable and positive playing environment for all the children Provide encouragement and praise for both teams. This will facilitate players learning and having more fun De-emphasize winning and losing and the score in the game.. The player must be the centre of all that we do. 3

Five Foundations for the successful practice of soccer. A soccer game is an environment in which children must feel happy and valued. 1. The feeling of safety. 2. The feeling of being welcome. 3. The feeling of being a good player. 4. The feeling of belonging to the group. 5. The feeling of being important. From FIFA. Field of Play and Game Preparation Check playing area is safe (i.e. sprinkler heads, pot holes, sharp objects, sticks) walk the field before the children start playing. Mark out the pitch. Minimum size 25m x 30m. Maximum 30m x 36m. Step out the pitch dropping a cone every 10m, at half-way use a different colour cone or place a flag/pole. (retreat line) Check the goal is safe and the appropriate size, no larger than 5ft x 8ft, if not using pop up goals. Different colour cones or poles can be used to create goals. Check the number of players on the field is correct. Children are wearing appropriate and safe clothing Ball size 3 or 4 super light. Place balls around the field perimeter, for quicker restarts, more playing time. 4

Retreat Line To allow our young players to learn and gain confidence in how to play the ball out from the back and build an attack, as opposed to the goalkeeper kicking it aimlessly up the field, the concept of the retreat line has been introduced in grassroots soccer. To see young goalkeepers aimlessly boot the ball up the field in the hope that one of his or her teammates gets the ball is not effective in producing skilled, confident players who love to play. What would happen is as follows: when the goalkeeper has the ball at a goal kick or after making a save the opposing team members would retreat to the halfway line. Once all the opposing players have retreated to the line the goalkeeper can successfully throw or pass the ball to one of his/her teammates. The GK can also choose to dribble the ball or play quickly to a teammate before the retreat has taken place by the opposing players Once the teammate has received the ball the opposing players can then start to apply pressure to the player with the ball. This gives the player on the ball the time and space required to have a look, receive the ball and choose to dribble or pass to a teammate without being marked or under immediate pressure. In the 3v3, 4v4 or 5v5 game the retreat line will be the halfway line. As most temporary 3v3, 4v4 and 5v5 fields will not have a halfway line, corner flags at the side of the field can act as an indicator to the players where the halfway line is. If flags are not available 3 cones laid in line on each side of the field can indicate the retreat line. Note: Do not put cones on the field as players may trip or slide on them. In the 5v5 example diagram above the blue team GK has possession of the ball. The Red team have retreated into their own half. Once the GK plays the ball to a blue teammate the red team can enter the opposing teams half and attempt to win the ball 5

Players Safety Players should not wear anything that endangers themselves or any other players Basic equipment consists of shirt, shorts, socks, shin guards and appropriate footwear Jewellery is not permitted and cannot be taped over Sports hijabs/head scarves are permitted Medic alert bracelets and necklaces are permitted but must be fastened securely A game leader must be made aware that a player is wearing a medic alert bracelet A child is not a vase to be filled but rather a flame to be lit 6

Start and Restart of play The team that wins the toss shall decide which goal to attack. The other teams takes the kick off A drop ball will be awarded if there is an injury or interference from an outside agent. After a goal is scored the game restarts from the middle of the halfway line. With a kickoff to the opposing team. All players must be in their own half. Opponents must be a minimum of 3 metres away from the ball until it Is played A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick off, it must be touched by a teammate. Or another player. Ball in and out of Play The game leader will determine whether the ball is in or out of play, using best judgement with the field markings available. There are no throw ins. The ball is placed on the touch line and can be passed or dribbled in. Opposing players are to be a minimum of 3 metres away from the ball until it is in play. Game Leaders are to discourage big aimless kicks. No goals can be scored directly from a pass in. Ball crossing the goal line after either team has touched it Regardless of which team touched the ball last, a player from the team whose goal line the ball has crossed will place the ball 3m in front of the goal and pass or dribble the ball into play. No Corner kicks. Opponents will retreat to the half way line and can move to the ball once the ball is in play. The ball is in play once it has been kicked and moves or played and touched by another player. Scoring Goals A goal is scored when the entire ball passes over the goal line between the goalposts and under the cross bar. When goal posts are not available and cones are used for goals a goal is scored when the ball passes between the cones, without touching them, and below 1.5 meters (5 feet) No Offside at 3v3, 4v4 and 5v5 grassroots soccer 7

Practical Game Leaders should understand that most acts of handball, fouls or misconduct at this beginner level of play are caused by the children's lack of coordination, with no intent. Allowing the play to continue is preferable, with no stoppage. If you decide a deliberate or serious act of handball or foul/misconduct has occurred gently explain to the child that they have done something incorrect and that they should try to not do this again. Use it as a learning opportunity. Most importantly Remember the children are learning the game be flexible, understanding and patient. When you have a discussion with a child about a handball or foul use a gentle, encouraging and positive tone, understand that the child had no intent and they are learning the game. There are no direct free kicks or penalty kicks. All free kicks are indirect Report any serious misconduct or disciplinary action to the game or club host. Its important that all infringements be explained to the young players. The explanation that you provide should be friendly, simple, clear and concise to allow the young players to fully understand the information that you are passing along. This is part of the game education for the young players. 8

The table below shows the format of play, field dimensions, goal sizes etc for Under6, under 7 and under 8 players. The Game Leader should also keep track of the time of the game. If the weather turns bad and the safety of the players is put in potential jeopardy the game must be suspended until the weather improves or abandoned if the field id deemed unsafe to continue. If a player is injured, stop the game to allow the player to receive treatment. When a player is bleeding they must leave the field and cannot re-enter until the bleeding is stopped. Players Equipment the 4 S s Shoes - Shin Pads Shorts Socks 9

Fouls and Misconducts The game leader must attempt to explain to the children, in a friendly, calm, tone why there is an infringement. All Free kicks are indirect. All opponents must be a minimum of 3 metres from the ball before it is played. When the infringement occurs within 3 metres of the goal the ball is to be placed 2metres from the goal to allow opponents to be 3 metres from the ball as the indirect free kick is taken. There are no direct free kicks, therefore no penalty kicks. Tips Use your voice, play or ready, set, go command for restarts The Game Leader can carry spare soccer balls in their hand to enable quick restarts, therefore more playing time. When speaking with children get down to their level, when necessary, drop to one knee to speak with them. Use positive language and body movements. Smile...a lot! Encourage and praise all good play, from all players, on both teams.. Explain all decisions to the children, this is a time for them to learn and fall in love with the game. The children should view the game leader as someone who helps them to enjoy and learn the game. Having balls around the field perimeter prevents children from chasing wayward balls. Get the nearest ball and continue to play. The goalkeepers should put a different colour pinnie over their GK shirt. This will allow for quicker changes in the GK position during the game. All player substitutions are on the fly 10

Who can be a Game Leader? Game leaders can come from a variety of places. Team Coaches Beginning or Senior Referee Family Members Parents Club Official Older Player The requirements to be a game leader include; A minimum of 12 years of age. Complete the OSA Game Leader instruction Successfully complete the short quiz Love soccer and love working with children Game Leaders are assigned by the club once they have received the OSA Game Leader training and successfully completed the quiz. If both team coaches are trained as Game Leaders they can decide who will fulfill the role during the game. They can agree do it in a few different ways:- 1. One coach is the GL for the entire game 2. Each coach does one half of the game as the GL. 3. Each coach is the GL in one half of the field Notes: 11

Ontario Soccer Association 7601 Martin Grove Road Vaughan.L4L 9E4 Www.ontariosoccer.net 905-264-9390 For more information on the Game Leader Program. contact Gabriel Assis gassis@soccer.on.ca Kathleen McCarthy kmccarthy@soccer.on.ca Bobby Lennox blennox@soccer.on.ca For Information on LTPD visit http://www.ontariosoccer.net/ltpd/ltpdnews.aspx 12