GAME Management

Ensure players are wearing appropriate uniforms and safety equipment prior to games.  Referees 7U and up will check and must be allowed to do so prior to the start of the game.

Arrive at games early to warm-up players and communicate plan for the game.

Manage games to ensure each player receives required playing time, and is exposed to different positions throughout the season.

Reserve coaching points to when players come off field or at half-time.

Expect fair and clean play, and respectful behavior from your players.

Display modesty in victory and graciousness in defeat.  Congratulate opponents on a game well played regardless of outcome.

Recognize mistakes as learning opportunities, and provide feedback in a calm and encouraging manner to both individuals and the team as a whole.

Accept calls made by referees gracefully.

Uniforms consist of the appropriate club jersey, shorts, socks that completely cover shin guards.  Teams will wear blue jerseys for home games, and navy or white jerseys (pennies for 5U-8U) for away games.  Goalkeepers must wear a different color than other field players.

Players should wear properly fitting shin guards.  Shin guards should cover most of the area between the ankle and knee.  They should fit snugly and be at least 2″ below the knee.

Players should wear soccer cleats.  On soccer cleats, there is never a single cleat at the very front tip.  Soccer cleats typically have two front cleats that are spread apart.  Cleats with replaceable studs that are worn, pointed, or have exposed shafts are not permitted and must be rejected upon inspection.

No body jewelry including earrings, rings, belly rings, bracelets, watches, and necklaces should be worn.  If it can come off, it should come off.  Religious items (jewelry) mandated by a person’s faith may be worn, but only if they are well padded and the referee deems it to be safe.  Medical-alert bracelets or necklaces (usually identified as jewelry) may be worn, but only if they are well padded and the referee deems them to be safe.  (This must be done in a way that still allows the safety information to be visible.)

No hair pieces, such as barrettes, bobby pins, hair beads and the like.

A player can wear glasses to play soccer as long as the glasses are designated “sport glasses” that are more robust and less likely to be damaged during competitive play.  Contact lenses are also acceptable.

Arm casts, hand casts, and finger splints may be permitted if they are sufficiently padded.

A full knee brace is permitted if it is completely padded, usually with materials provided by the manufacturer, and there are no exposed metal parts or sharp edges.

Headgear, for both field players and goalkeepers, is permitted, as long as it is soft and clearly designed for protection.

Mouthguards are permitted, but they must be made of a soft, pliable material.  Mouthguards are encouraged for youth with braces on their teeth.

Gloves and undergarments, such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, compression shorts, slide pants, tights or thermal underwear, are permitted as optional equipment.  For undergarments for 9U & up, it is recommended that if any portion of these items is exposed (visible; not covered entirely by the mandatory equipment), it should match the corresponding color of the shirt, shorts or socks as indicated above.

Hats or head covers may be worn if there is a need to stay warm. If worn, head covers must: be black or the same main color as jersey, not be attached to the shirt, not be dangerous to the player wearing it (e.g., opening/closing mechanism around the neck), and not have any parts extending out from surface (e.g., bill of a cap).