When is a team a team?

        Well, your 'normal' soccer season ends, and your team is done for the year, you have played your season.
        This is both a 'yes' and 'no' answer.  Unless your league has specified otherwise in your league rules,
        a teams' player passes are good until Aug. 1, of the following year.  However, there are two caveats here;
        A league starts making up teams for the Fall season between late spring and early summer.  The normal
        practice is that once those players are 'rostered' to teams for fall play, they are on those teams, and
        not on their previous years' team.  Up until that point, they can still play as a previous year team.
       The second item concerns players wanting to play in the 'extra' season, like Bill Meyers (also called 'All
       Star season by some leagues'), or Jim Frazier season.  If a player elects to play on one of the teams in 
       either season, they cannot play for their previous team.  Essentially, a player can only play with, and be
       rostered to one team at a time.  If an entire recreational team elected to stay together, they would be only
       eligible for tournament playing, as their team could not typically move intact into one of the other seasons,
       which are governed by a tryout system.  This means that a recreational team may play in tournaments after
        their normal recreational 'season' ends.  You may apply for Div. 1 & Div. 3 tournaments, but there is a
        catch.  If you play in a division 1, or division 3 tournament, you remain at that classification for the
        remainder of the season (until Aug. 1, at which point your player passes expire).

        The hitch is that your team will have to do fund raisers to get money for tournament fees, or the parents
        agree to pay the fee(s), by all pitching in equally.  You could also seek to organize a small 'jamboree'
        with other teams that still want to play.  This would require league approval.  You would also have to
        ensure that you did not run afoul of CIF rules, which prohibit high school players from playing soccer
        during specific parts of the year, with other soccer teams.

Your first team meeting, CYSA recreation committee tool:

The CYSA Recreation Committee has put together a great document for coaches, which you can edit and hand out at your first coaches meeting.  It outlines a lot of items that should be covered and gives you the opportunity to input your own data.  This document is in Microsoft Power Point and may be found here.

Slide Tackling:

There are sometimes questions asked about slide tackling and rules regarding it.  The only issue with slide tackling is that it must be done properly.  Referees will call penalties for slide tackling that is not done properly and violate FIFA rules.  This is done to naturally enforce the rules, and for player safety.  In general, younger players do not typically slide tackle as they are doing well to just stay on their feet and keeping their balance.  For older teams, slide tackling, done properly, is a potent soccer tool.

‘But I got the ball ref’.  This is typically the statement when a player strikes the ball, but then takes a player down.  It does not matter if the player gets the ball, if they slide tackle with one leg up of the ground and the leg takes a player down.  Both legs have to be down when slide tackling and the cleats can never be up.

Bad tackle!   Card time!                                        Good tackle

Shoulder Charges:

Shoulder charging is another effective tool, to take the opponent off the ball.  Referees will call penalties for shoulder charges that are not shoulder to shoulder.  A proper shoulder charge cannot go into the back, or chest.  There is a fine distinction between a proper shoulder charge and a football like tackle, taken by an opponent running full blast and hitting an opponent, shoulder to shoulder.  Typically the referee will call the player for ‘charging’ at that point.

Some coaches do not teach should charges.  The end result is that a defender might run up to a player, and then run along side of a player down the field.  They are then hoping that the ball will be kicked far enough in front of the offensive player, so that they can take a swipe at it.  It doing this, they allow the offensive player the opportunity to continue down the field, with the ball.  If the offensive player can out run them, the defender is left behind.  The shoulder charge allows a player to disrupt the rhythm of a player, both in running and in ball handling.  It can allow other defenders time to swarm in, or to set up defensive positions at the goal.  The shoulder charge increases the players odds of getting a swipe at the ball, through making life harder for the offensive player.  Some offensive players cannot control the ball, while fighting off a shoulder charge and they lose the ball.  Players who have not practiced shoulder charges are at a total disadvantage when they play teams that practice shoulder charges.  They are not used to players 'being physical' with them.  This is a normal soccer play, as long as the shoulder charge is done properly (i.e. no use of hands).  Players must practice to get used to this tactical method, both for defending against it as an attacker, and in using it as a defensive player.  It goes without saying that shoulder charging is typically not taught to very young players.  These players are still learning the balancing of their bodies while playing and have enough issues in just kicking the ball, without falling down!  As a side note, a parent who has never seen a shoulder charge may believe that their child is being physically attacked.  The coach must educate the parent at this point.

Hand Ball

This often causes confusion on the part of spectators and new coaches.  A referee has to judge if the ball played the player, or did the player play the ball.  Typically if a ball is struck toward a player in such a manner that the player does not have time to react, a hand ball will not be called.

The picture to the right shows the worst case scenario where a ball hits a defenders hand.  There are a number of questions, from looking at the picture, if you are looking from the halfway line. 
 

Delayed OffSide

What is this animal?  This can cause a LOT of confusion for the sidelines.  Essentially what happens here is that a player was offside in the play, but the ball did not come to them.  They do not get flagged for offside due to not receiving the ball.  However, a defender, right in front of them receives the ball.  The offside player then attempts to tackle the ball from the defender.  The player can then be flagged, for taking advantage of an offside position.  Typically people will attempt to say that they player did not receive the ball, so how could they be called for being offside?  The issue is that they were offside and used their offside position to attempt to gain advantage (i.e. take the ball).  They cannot do that.

Obstruction / Impeding The Play Of An Opponent

A simple one.  Soccer is not football.  You play the ball, you cannot play the opponent.  A player must be within playing space of a ball (typically stated to be three feet), to have interaction with a player.  A player cannot attempt to block a player, by any means, while not within playing distance of the ball.  You cannot 'play' a player, when the ball is not within reach.

OffSide, the 'non-ball' factors

OffSide In General:

OffSide is a matter of angle.  Unless a player is visibly offside, with open space between them and opposing players, it is impossible to judge unless you are lined up with the players.  It is also a methodology of split second timing, per when the ball was played.  Spectators do not watch a game to determine offside.  They watch game play, not offside play, and this includes a coach.  Where a ball is being played is typically totally different from where offside would be judged.  When the game play is watched, and the scene quickly shifts to an offside determination, field position of everyone has changed by that point.  As an example, a ball is played up field and kicked down field.  Everyone is watching the area where the ball is played.  The forwards may be down the field, away from where the ball is being played.  No one is watching where the forwards are down field, except for the assistant referee, when the ball is kicked.  When the ball is kicked, all heads swivel to where the ball is going.  In that instance, all players have changed position, which the spectator will not have noticed, as they have been game watching.  The assistant referee has to know where the players were, when the ball was kicked.  Their positioning is that they must remain with the second to last defender, to properly judge if a played is lined up offside.

High Kick

What is a high kick and when is it called?  This is considered 'dangerous play'.  The kick will generally be called when a kick is made in the face of opponents, putting the safety of a player in jeopardy.  A player making a high kick, with no one nearby, would not be called.

What do you think about this situation?

Female players and their natural arm movements

This particular item can vary, from referee to referee, as to judgment calls.  Part of the reason is that 'intent' has to be judged when the player is being engaged, or is engaging another player.  Typically both players will be running with their arms out, as a normal practice.  The question becomes is one, or both players using their arm to impede the other player.  In the following picture, player # 4's arm is being grabbed by the trailing player, this is a penalty.  Notice though that for both players, all arms are extended from their sides while running.

Your call in the next picture. Do you think that player #21 is being held up by the arm, or is this 'incidental contact', while the player is trying to strip the ball?  This action is happening during a non-running situation, but may happen and end quickly.   

 

Another example of dynamic play, with arms involved.  During a match with female players, a referee is constantly judging intent, with regard to arm involvement.  Some are easily discernable, and some are not.  In this case, did the player in the red jersey try to lunge through an out-stretched arm, or was the arm being used to hold the player back.  Decide quickly, a coach is watching!

Touch Line

The assistant referee has to be able to see down the touch line at all times, to judge if the ball has gone out.  Players need the sideline to be clear, in order to play.  At game speeds, things can happen fast near the touch line.  Keep children away from it and keep all parties one yard back from the touch line.  Players may need to run over the touch line, to keep a ball from going out.  They cannot do this if people are in the way.  You can hurt your own team by either being in the referees way, blocking their line of sight, or preventing your player from being able to play the ball near the touch line.  You can also risk injuring a player or spectator, by having people too close to the touch line.

It is the coaches responsibility to keep everyone one yard back from the touch line.  The referee should not have to ask folks to keep one yard back, which is the rule.  Another thing that you should be aware of, you can be sanctioned by the referee for the behavior of your parents.  If you have a loud/aggressive parent, that is shouting at the referee or opposing players, talk to them before the referee talks to you.  You can be ejected for not controlling your sidelines.  Also, it is a belief amount some parents that they are not subject to league penalties, only the coaches.  This is inaccurate in per CYSA rules.  A parent can be sent to the league disciplinary committee.  The end result would be that they would miss some of their players future games.  A coach can also get into difficulty by refusing to identify an unruly parent, as they are held accountable for the behavior of their parents.

Soccer Formations (what does this term mean?)

You may here a coach say that they play a 4-4-2, 3-3-4, or other numerical formation term.  What does this mean to a novice coach--tactics.  The formations that a team may use serve a tactical purpose on the soccer field.  As an example the 4-4-2 means that there are three formation scenarios, with four (4) players in the first scheme, four (4) players in the next line scheme, and three (3) players in the last line scheme.  It does not necessarily mean that the players are lined up in a straight line, across the field, as shown in the examples below:

Ok, now comes the next question for a coach.  How do I learn, or teach formations?  Well, it takes, research, and patience on your part.  This will not come over night to your players, and you must constantly practice this.  I have listed some sites below that can help you in this.

Learning to recognize when to use certain positions can potentially help in your game, for achieving specific results.  As a side benefit, it can throw an opposing coach off balance, as your players shift into a different game pattern.  This can greatly benefit you in the second half of a game, when a coach has spoken to their team at half-time, on 'adjusting' to your play from the first half of the game.  The key is that your players must have practice these positions and understand their roles.  This will not happen over night.

The strategies can also have names, such as the 'bunker defense', which essentially tightens up the defense capacity of a team, to hold off attacks.  The Women's National team used this against China, in the 1999 world cup, to win the world cup.  This victory helped to start the formation of WUSA, the women's soccer league.

Sweats

When it gets cold, it is allowed for players to wear long pants/tops, provided that they are under their uniforms.  Do not be surprised to find some variations in this.  Some referees do not care, as long as the sweats are under the uniform.  Some referees might specify that the sweats all be the same color, under the uniform.

Throw-ins'

Teams get a lot of throw-ins during a game.  Players should learn how to throw the ball in properly, but teams should also learn the 'strategy' of throw-ins.  Teams should practice on 'set plays' for throw-ins.  Who goes where, sideline, or in-field throw-in, using the opposing player, using your own player's back to make a wall pass back to the thrower, etc.  Everyone should know their spots, giving the thrower ample targets.  Identifying those players that can make long throw-ins is also a must, so everyone must practice throwing the ball in (if you depend on just one player to do all throw-ins, and that player is unavailable for a game, you have an issue).  This is one of the strategy areas of a soccer game that often goes over-looked.

Penalty Kicks

If you are a team that goes to tournaments, you must practice this vital aspect.  The players must practice this in the same manner that other soccer skills are practiced.  You must be able to identify your solid kickers and have them on the field, if you are going into a shoot-out situation.  The players must practice their shots from the penalty mark to goal, and the goal keeper must practice blocking shots.  The players will be more at ease when they have practiced these situations and be less jittery.  If you are awarded a penalty kick during a game, a player is also better prepared to attempt this shot, when they have practiced.  Don't forget your goalie, when you practice penalty kicks, as opposing goalies typically like to be one of the shooters, in shoot-out situations. 

Game Strategy

Develop a playing style that covers the entire field area, through accurate passing and running.  You will be more effective in getting down field.  Do not develop a method of playing, which involves going to the same player, on the same side of the field, every time you head down field.  This is one dimensional playing.  It also allows the defenders to key in on the side of the field and the offensive lead player.  I saw a game once in which a coach always went down the right side of the field, attempting to get the ball to the same player every time.  It took a short while for the opposing time to notice this.  They swamped the one side of the field with defenders, keying in on the one player.   No adjustments were made at half time.  This coach never made it past midfield, for the majority of the entire game.  If you play the 'offside trap', a critical element is that all defenders must move up the field together, in a perfect line across the field.  Any defender hanging back will disrupt the offside trap 'line'.  If you have to yell at your line to move up, you are also notifying the opposing team to move up.  It is more effective if your defense moves up, quietly, as a unit, without being told.  This can often catch an offensive player 'napping'.  This is a defensive routine that must be practiced, until it becomes a natural part of play.

High School Rules vs. FIFA Rules

Stated simply, read the FIFA rules.  The rules that exist for high school games do not necessarily apply to CYSA/FIFA governed games.  Many coaches get hung up on high school rules and get upset at the referee, figuring that the referee does not know the rules.  The reality is that they are mixing high school rules, which may not apply in CYSA games.  It is the coaches responsibility to learn the rules, for themselves, and for teaching their players.  A player that is tired, and expects to get substituted on a corner kick, because their coach has instructed them that this can happen, might get upset when it gets nixed by the referee.  Substitutions on corner kicks is allowed in high school play, but not in CYSA/FIFA play.  A typical example is allowing substitutions on corner kicks.  This does not apply at CYSA games.  A coach should ensure that themselves and their players are aware of the differences between the rules, if they are high school players.

Jewelry

Simple answer, get rid of it.  The wearing of jewelry is not permitted in CYSA games.  The taping over of pierced ear rings is no longer acceptable.  They must be removed.  This also includes any metal items in the hair, such as bobby pins and hair clips.  This is to protect the player from injury while doing headers.  Coaches should have all such items removed prior to the referee checking their team in.

The 'fun' aspect

Remember that soccer should be fun for the kids, not just a battle for win/lose.  Encourage the kids, no matter what happens.  Form parent arches for either win or lose, to show that it is effort that counts.  The players should not be chastised after losing a game.  Instead, emphasis should be used to point out what the team needs to work on, as a team.  Talk about what the other team did that was better, and what your team needs to do to reach that same level. 

Wearing of casts/splints/etc.

PIM 04-1 Player Equipment (effective September 12, 2004) All players, parents, coaches, and referees are required to act as a reasonable person concerning player safety, including protecting players from wearing any equipment or device that is dangerous to the player wearing the equipment or device or to any other player. Dangerous equipment and devices include but are not limited to orthopedic casts, air-splints or metal splints. Players wearing any dangerous equipment or device including orthopedic casts, air-splints or metal splints, shall not be eligible to participate in any game, practice, tryout or training session.

Assistant Referees:

The assistant referee is a part of a referee team.  They have full FIFA law powers, except for the actual booking/ejecting a party.  In these two cases, they must ask the center referee to do such.  This is important as many spectators say things within hearing range of an assistant referee, believing that the assistant referee can do nothing about it.  If the assistant so desires, they may pass the issue to the center referee, and ask that the matter be handled.  The center referee is in 'charge' of the game.  The center referee may ask the assistant referee to help call fouls that the center referee did not see.  The assistant referees primary role is to call the direction of ball throw-ins', when the ball goes out, to judge offside, verify goals, and assist with fouls (dependent on center referee instructions to do so).  The center referee may over-ride any decision of the assistant referee, on any matter, if they do not agree with the assistant's decision.  The center referee may discuss an issue with the assistant referee, but they make the final decision.  It is also critically important that coaches keep all people (including themselves) a minimum of 1 yard back from the touch line, at all times.  The assistant referee must have a clear line of sight down the side of the field.  This allows the assistant referee to determine when a ball is out of play, and see fouls that the center referee may be shielded from, by other players.  At some fields there may be a flag erected past the touch line which indicates that no party is to be between this flag and the touchline.  Some coaches mistakenly believe that this only applies to spectators, not to them.

Before and after games

It can be critical for both coaches, players, and parents, to be aware that the referee crew is in charge of the field from the beginning, through the end of the game.  This is important, especially at the end of a game.  Some believe that when the game is over, they can say what they want to the opposing teams, and referees.  This is totally incorrect.  Players can be carded/ejected for any improper behavior prior to, and after games.  Essentially, any activity that occurs on the field/sidelines is under the jurisdiction of the referee, whether the game has begun/ended, or not.  Since coaches are responsible for their parents behavior, a hot headed parent can get the coach in trouble by 'going off' on the referees after a game.  The same applies to coaches, who some times feel like expressing their displeasure on what they felt were 'bad calls' during the game.  It is not a good idea to approach a referee if you are even remotely upset.  This can be translated into the referee as 'dissent', which is an actionable item.  Body language and tone of voice can also make a referee think that they are being threatened.  This is especially true when an adult chastises a youth referee.

Coaches should be aware that District VIII policy towards referees states the following: