U-6 Soccer League Rules - Amazon S3



Worthington Youth Boosters Soccer ProgramHandbookAddress:Worthington Youth BoostersP.O Box 703Worthington, Ohio 43085Contact: Michael Hendricks – Director of Soccerworthingtonsoccer@Tammy Bryant – WYB Executive Directorwybdirector@Gabe Martineau – Recreational Managerwybrecsoccer@Affiliated Organizations:Federation Internationale de Football AssociationUnited States Soccer FederationUnited States Youth Soccer AssociationOhio South Youth Soccer AssociationUS Club SoccerCentral Ohio Premier LeagueMid Ohio Select Soccer LeagueOhio Champion’s LeagueBuckeye Premier Youth Soccer LeagueUnited Soccer Coaches Association of AmericaRecreation Soccer Program HandbookContentsWelcomeWYB Soccer ProgramsCommissionersTeam CompositionAge VerificationRight of RefusalConflict ResolutionGuidelines for ParentsGeneral Rules for CoachesCoaching QualificationsCoach’s Code of ConductPlaying TimeGame ProtocolsLetting upRotating PositionsTeam PracticesRescheduled Recreation GamesWeather ProceduresBleeding and Bloodborne PathogensAttention to Medical ConcernsConcussionsReligious AccommodationsNames on UniformsPrivacy Disclosure and Web SitesAlternative Social MediaGoal Post DangersRisk ManagementNotice to VolunteersZero Tolerance Policy Against AbuseRefereesRules for Each Age GroupWELCOMEWorthington Youth Boosters (WYB) depends on the support of community volunteers for its programming. Without this support the children of Worthington would be unable to have as many opportunities to participate in sports. The WYB mission statement reads: To provide children who reside in the Worthington School District, an opportunity to build self esteem by enjoying organized sports programs which are rooted in the principals of participation, sportsmanship, and skill development.The WYB soccer program has over 1600 participants involved in its programs. WYB sponsors programs in soccer for participants age u-4 to u-19. WYB’s goal is to provide a comprehensive soccer offering programming to all Worthington residents. WYB believes this offering should include opportunities in recreation, middle tier, and select programs that will meet the varying competitive and financial needs of all Worthington residents.As such we are grateful to live in a community that provides parks and facilities to allow soccer to be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. We are also grateful for the many volunteers who work to maintain these facilities and programs, volunteers who work to run individual teams and the participants who compete in our programs. These volunteers and participants are our greatest asset.WYB SOCCER PROGRAMSRecreation programs are offered starting from ages U-4 through U-19. The “U” stands for under that particular age. WYB follows the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) guidelines in determining the age of its participants. This age matrix uses January 1 as the determining cutoff date.Most games are scheduled on weekends in the months of (fall) September and October, and (spring) April and May. The coach determines practice days and times. The commissioners and WYB office does not maintain this information.Registration for our recreation programs are done in multiple seasons. This is done to allow participants a chance to participate in other sports. Some upper level programming may require registrations on a full year basis. This is done to ensure participants remain on the same team for a seasonal year while avoiding the problem of forgetting to re-register. In addition to our recreational programs that offer limited or no travel, WYB Soccer also offers a competitive club program. (Worthington United 1994)You may hear club soccer referenced by various names such as “travel”, “competitive”, or “select”.However the defining characteristic is that a recreational league “assigns” players, and a coach “selects” players in a competitive program usually through a tryout process. COMMISSIONERSWYB Recreation Soccer appoints League Commissioners to run each age group program. This commissioner is in charge of registrations, forming teams, assigning coaches, scheduling games and referee coordination. They are also responsible for game disputes between teams, helping to set-up and maintain game sites, holding coaches meetings for handouts, league set-up and distributing seasonal medals. Basically, they are in charge of day to day functions of their age group and all questions and concerns should be addressed to them first.WYB Recreation Soccer reserves the right to modify league rules and combine age groups to maintain competitive balance and to comply with current trends of youth soccer. USSF has suggested that small sided games allow players more space and touches on the ball. WYB Recreation Soccer League Commissioners are tasked to review league rules and suggest new provisions. The WYB Soccer Director will determine any league rules that need modified. TEAM COMPOSITIONWYB Recreation Soccer forms recreational teams by assigning registered players within the community using coaching requests, school boundaries, special requests, and roster size.Specifically, per US Youth Soccer Policy on Players and Playing Rules, a recreation league has teams in which:The use of tryouts, invitations, recruiting, or any similar process to roster players on the basis of talent or ability is prohibited.The organization administering the league accepts as participants in the league any eligible youths (subject to reasonable terms on registration). A system of rostering players is used to establish a fair or balanced distribution of playing talent among all teams participating, andWYB Recreation separates teams by gender for most age groups. This is due to the large number of participants and as a convenient way to group teams. No player, (coach, volunteer, employee or referee), shall be discriminated against because of their race, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, or self-identified gender expression and identification as they present themselves in their daily lives.Birth dates are used to group participants; however, recreational leagues can use school grades to form the individual leagues. Upper recreational leagues will use birth dates using the USSF age matrix to field teams.WYB reserves the right to form teams and does not have to honor any special request listed on the participation form. This is to ensure teams competing in the league have an adequate roster size and to keep teams from recruiting to form stronger teams.AGE VERIFICATIONWYB Recreation Soccer reserves the right to verify the correct age of a participant and the school participants are enrolled. WYB Recreation Soccer may ask for a copy of the birth certificate, passport ID, or other official forms of identification. WYB Recreation Soccer may ask for address verification in the form of a utility bill from the parent’s home address. This information is not used for any other purpose than to verify birth age and residency and will be destroyed in a manner to maintain identity security.Any misrepresentation of a participant in regards to age or residency will result in the forfeiture of the participant’s fees that have already been paid and may be subject to future restrictions.RIGHT OF REFUSALWYB Soccer reserves the right to suspend or refuse any individual or family’s participation in any of its programs for any cause. Reasons may include any sort of litigation (or threat thereof), claims, persistent misconduct, delinquency, harassment, moral behavior, etc.Dispute ResolutionWYB Recreational Soccer created a Grievance Resolution Board for any member who wishes to appeal a ruling of the protocols of WYB Soccer contained within this handbook. This Grievance Resolution Board will make the final resolution on any appeal.GUIDELINES FOR PARENTSWYB Recreational Soccer provides a handbook for Parents on appropriate conduct. This handbook is available on the WYB Recreation Soccer website and should be distributed by your coach before your first season of play.Parents are expected to commit to transporting your child to and from all practices and games on time.Prepare your child appropriately for games and practices:Shin guards are required at all times covered by socks worn on the outside.Bring a soccer ball. Size 3 ball for U-4s through U-7 , Size 4 ball for U-8 through U-12 and Size 5 for U-13 on upShoes (Soccer cleats are not required but cleats should not have the front toe cleat and all cleats may not be sharp) Appropriate footwear will be as defined by the referee.Players have a choice of removing jewelry or not playing. This does not include any medical bracelets or necklaces but these must be worn in a way that will not cause injury to themselves or others.Headgear may be worn but must have a soft covering.( No hard-brimmed caps) Long pants are not acceptable except when very cold(under 50 degrees)Realize that coaches are volunteers and that they should be respected for the time they give to your child.While at the game:Watch from the side opposite the team. No spectators behind the goal area.Do not enter the field of play unless waved on by the referee in case of injury.Never argue with a referee, especially a youth referee. Shout encouraging positive comments.Pick up your trash.Maintain control of siblings of participants.No pets.Respect your opponent.If in the opinion of the referee or league official, a spectator is deemed to be unruly or not following the eight guidelines listed, they may be asked to leave the area before play resumes. League officials may suspend individual parents from attending subsequent events for not following the eight guidelines listed. Any parent asked to leave a game for unruly behavior by an official representative of WYB Soccer during a game will be suspended from WYB Recreation Soccer events for two games.GENERAL RULES FOR COACHESWYB Recreational Soccer realizes that our leagues would not be successful without the hard work and dedication of the volunteer titled COACH. The main emphasis of this volunteer is to ensure that participants have fun and are treated fairly with respect. Recreational Soccer is dedicated to the enjoyment and development of soccer skills. Sometimes that means winning a game should not be placed above a child’s welfare.COACHING QUALIFICATIONSHave an interest in working with a group of children toward learning the game of soccer, team bonding, and having fun.Follow the Coach’s Code of Conduct.Satisfactorily complete a risk management disclosure form.Satisfactorily complete the NFHS Concussion Course. Have a telephone number and/or email address for team members and League Commissioners.COACH’S CODE OF CONDUCTA coach’s first priority is to the health and safety of his players. Players will not be penalized for parental concerns regarding inclement weather.Coaches shall recognize that goals that are not securely anchored are the leading cause of death and injury in soccer and refrain from playing on them. Do not allow players to pull themselves up on the crossbar or move goals without anchoring them to the ground. Some goals are set-up with weights as an anchor.Coaches shall treat all participants with respect including players, parents, referees, opponents and league officials. Under no circumstance will physical force be permitted.Coaches shall demonstrate good sportsmanship and fair play at all times when involved with participants at an event.The use of profanity, alcohol or tobacco is prohibited at an event. Coaches will provide an atmosphere of fun for the participants while trying to develop an appreciation for the game of soccer. (Remember, most participants are there for the snacks after the game.)Coaches will ensure that each participant receives 50% playing time for an attended event unless there is good reason such as illness, injury, lateness, or disciplinary action. Coaches will ensure participants will experience different positions and start 50% of the games.Only players rostered to your team may participate unless players are being loaned to you by your opponent.PLAYING TIMEAll recreational soccer participants are guaranteed of participating one half of each game that is played unless they are injured, illness, by the player’s choice, or for disciplinary reasons.GAME PROTOCOLSExcept for Tots and Kindergarten, coaches are not allowed to be on the field during play of the game. Coaches must stay on their half of the field by their team bench. Coaches must stay at least 1 yard off of the sideline to allow referees adequate space to perform their job. Coaches must stay within their “tactical” area between the penalty box line and outside three yards to the halfway line.Coaches are permitted on the field in case of injury after the referee has waved them on to the field.Substitutes are to be at the half line of the field except for those leagues that play quarters.Coaches and teams are expected to be on the opposite side of the field from the parent’s side.A team may have a maximum of three coaches on the team sideline.It is encouraged to switch goals at the end of each half.Coaches are expected to have a ball that is in proper condition to be considered as a game ball.Coaches are expected to relay tactical information and encouragement to their players and not to berate their players or the opposing team players and coach.The use of artificial noisemakers, (horns, drums, tambourines, megaphones, etc.) is prohibited.Coaches are expected to line up and shake hands with the opposing team after the game. LETTING UPSometimes game scores can get out of a coach’s control. It is better to “let up” on an opponent than to run up the score. Rotate positional players and allow weaker players to play more in events such as this to benefit everyone on the field. No scores or league standings are kept in the recreational program, so running up a score is discouraged. When a team is up by 3 or more goals it is encouraged to “let up”.ROTATING POSITIONSWYB Recreation Soccer believes that all participants have a chance to play in all positions. Participants should not play in only one position for an entire season. However, Goalkeeping can be a position that is scary to younger children. Only require those participants that are willing to play this position.TEAM PRACTICESTeam practice times and days are at the discretion of the team coach. WYB Recreation Soccer will provide a list of sites where these practices are held. Coaches should be aware of any hazardous conditions that may arise (either weather or playing conditions) and hold practices accordingly. Participants should not be disciplined for missing practices due to school commitments, illnesses, religious or family obligations. RESCHEDULED RECREATIONAL GAMESWYB Recreation Soccer reserves the right to cancel any game. All efforts will be made to reschedule games cancelled due to weather or field conditions. Sometimes scheduling conflicts and weather do not allow WYB Recreation Soccer to play all games.WEATHER PROCEDURESWYB policies on weather are listed on the website.In the event of a storm. At the first sight of lightening and or sound of thunder, the official in charge will suspend play. Play will commence 30 minutes after the last lightening sight or sound of thunder. All participants shall clear the field and immediately seek safe shelter. Teams shall not remain on the field or continue to play or practice during a storm or inclement weather.In the event of wet ground. If the game is being played on a field owned or maintained by Worthington Parks and Recreation (WPRD), and WPRD has closed the fields, the game or practice is cancelled. Status for WPRD field closings can be found by calling (614) 766-7366 or looking at the website.If a game is played at a site other than a WPRD field within Worthington, please check the website. If the game site has not been listed as closed, it is up to the coaches and game officials to decide if the field conditions permit a safe environment for children to play or practice. Please use appropriate judgment in regards to all playing conditions. BLEEDING AND BLOODBORNE PATHOGENSA player who is bleeding or has blood on their uniform must leave the field of play. The player may not return to the field until the uniform is cleaned (rinsed off) and the bleeding has stopped. Any open wound must be covered with a bandage or gauze and tape.ATTENTION TO MEDICAL CONCERNSParticipation forms have medical information that parents fill out for their children. Please review these forms and ask parents if there are any other medical concerns for their children. This information is confidential and may be illegal to disseminate.Any concern that a coach may have on whether a child should participate should be communicated with the parent. Casts, splints and other medical devices must be padded and soft to keep players on both teams safe. Referees should be made aware of all such devices and the referee decision on participation is final.Coaches are exercised to use caution when treating any participant who is injured at an event. Remember that a coach may be held liable for improper treatment of an injured player. CONCUSSIONSAny head injury is serious. If a participant has taken a blow to the head and is in any distress, that player will be removed from the game or practice and not allowed to return until a Return to Participation form is received by WYB. Parents should be notified as to the cause of the removal immediately. All Coaches must pass a course on Concussion Training.If you suspect a participant may have a concussion, seek medical attention immediately.The use of “Headers” in practices or games is forbidden in the Recreation program.RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONSIn respect to certain religions, USSF has given permission for those bound by religious law to wear head coverings. These head coverings, usually a turban or yarmulke, provided the referee finds them to be soft, may be worn.NAMES ON UNIFORMSNames are permitted on the back of uniforms. Please be aware that some organizations have suggested that children addressed by their name are more susceptible to abduction. A team name or soccer nicknames may be more appropriate. Parental approval must be given to put names on all uniforms.PRIVACY DISCLOSURE AND WEB SITESThe name, address, phone number, or other pertinent information will not be publicly disclosed by WYB. Coaches names, phone numbers, and email addresses may appear on the website or be given to participants or families of participants. This coaches information may also be given to opponents or leagues that teams play.Coaches or Team Administrators may not use any information given to them by WYB to facilitate contact with a participant or family of the participant for their own personal gain. All information given to a coach or Team Administrator about a participant should remain confidential.ALTERNATIVE SOCIAL MEDIAWYB Soccer reserves the right to publish pictures or information about our program in?social?media. WYB Soccer own the rights to all such material and this material may be used for advertising or instructional purposes or any other purpose deemed by WYB Soccer to be appropriate.OVERVIEW Online, social media and other electronic communication tools such as text messaging have become a prevalent and effective means of personal and professional communication, and have fundamentally changed the way many people and organizations interact. This policy sets forth our expectations with respect to the use of online and social media, as well as other forms of electronic communications, by all Worthington Soccer coaches, players, parents, staff, volunteers and administrators. The term “social media” as used in this policy encompasses a wide array of online media and communications and their scope is constantly evolving. For purposes of this policy, the terms “online media” and “social media” refer to internal and external websites, blogs, online social networks (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), wikis, video and photo sharing sites (e.g., YouTube, SKYPE and Flickr, Instagram, Snapchat), and other forms of personal online publishing and discourse. Policies regarding text messaging, email and individual telephonic communications are also covered by these policies. Social media forums are typically public. Even when using social media for purely personal purposes, a person’s public expressions might affect their professional identity and the organizational interests of WYB SOCCER and our members. Accordingly, anyone participating in social media must ensure that their participation is consistent with WYB Soccer policies. That said; WYB Soccer fully respects the interest our employees, contractors and coaches may have in participating in online and social media on a personal basis. What our employees, contractors and coaches do outside of work on their own time is normally their own business. However, activities of WYB Soccer employees, contractors and coaches outside of work that affect the organization's reputation, the employee’s, contractor’s or coach’s job performance, the safety of our players, or other WYB Soccer personnel are within the scope of this policy. Both on and off the field, safety and youth protection should be a key focus. WYB Soccer is committed to be an advocate for youth and to keep children and their privacy safe, both online and off, and safety is always at the forefront of any considerations where social media usage is concerned. With these objectives in mind, all WYB Soccer staff, contractors, volunteers, administrators, and coaches must be familiar with and adhere to this policy, regardless of whether they personally use social media, and must share this policy with parents and players as appropriate. INTERNET AND COMMUNICATION POLICIES FOR COACHES All social media communications must be public, and all communications on or through them must be public. Being “public” means no private channels. For example, private Facebook groups, direct messaging or private invitations to personal Facebook pages, invite-only YouTube channels, or Twitter, direct messaging to individual players, and the like shall not be permitted between coaches and players. There should be no private messages and no one-on-one direct contact through Facebook messages, Twitter, direct messaging, Skype, chats, instant messaging (including but not limited to Google Messenger, AIM, and the like) or other similar messaging features provided through social media sites. This policy also applies to all activities, outings, excursions, or other meetings between an adult and a player. A coach may respond to a direct inquiry via text message or email from a player regarding logistics of practice times, cancellations, schedules, etc. Coaches and team representatives should only use text messages and email on issues that are soccer related and all communications should include a parent or guardian copied on the message where possible. Coaches and team representatives should avoid cell phone conversations with players to the greatest extent possible, and cell phone communications should only be used when absolutely necessary, and should only be soccer related. Staff members, contractors, volunteer coaches, etc. may not be "friends" on Facebook with a player other than a family member. If WYB Soccer affiliated personnel post content on any social media site (e.g., Facebook, blog, discussion board or comment) and it has something to do with work for WYB Soccer or subjects associated with the organization or any of its members, you should include a disclaimer in substantially the following form: "The postings on this site are my own, personal views and do not represent the views or positions of the Company, its customers, or personnel." When providing your contact information for personal business in social media, you should use your personal contact information (such as a personal email address), not your WYB Soccer contact information. You should only provide your personal contact information (e.g., personal email, phone number, home or work address, etc.) for soccer related business for all communications. Respect privacy and confidentiality obligations when posting photos or videos. Before you post online video or photos that include images of players, it is your responsibility to obtain consent from their parent or guardian. If you fail to do so and they subsequently object, it is your responsibility to promptly take down or otherwise edit the posting in order to protect their privacy. WYB Soccer will fully support those who wish to maintain their privacy in this regard. REPORTING, INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION OF SUSPICIOUS INTERNET AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS All suspicious internet and electronic communications should be reported to the Executive Operations Director, Michael Hendricks at worthingtonsoccer@. Any reports of inappropriate activity will be reported to the executive committee of the WYB Board of Directors, and to contractual partners that require such information. Reports of inappropriate activity may also be reported to law enforcement authorities and human services departments as appropriate. Pending the investigation of reported suspicious activity, the Executive Director may prohibit contact between a staff member, a coach, contractor or volunteer and all members of the club as deemed appropriate. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the Executive Director, acting on the advice of the WYB Executive Board, shall make a determination regarding future participation of the individuals involved in club activities. In the event of suspension or termination of a staff member, contractor, coach or volunteer the Executive Director shall provide a means of appeal of the decision as required by the WYB Soccer policies. All WYB personnel must comply with this policy. In the event WYB perceives any online communication activities by an employee, coach or volunteer as compromising the integrity of the organization or the safety of our members in any respect, WYB may request such communications to cease. Such communications may be reported to authorities if deemed appropriate by the Executive Director. Violations of this policy will result in corrective action including disciplinary action or dismissal when appropriate. INTERNET SAFETY FOR PLAYERS Do not give anyone online, not even your coach or other parent volunteers, your phone numbers at home or school, your parents’ workplaces, or the name or location of your school or home address unless you have your parents’ permission first. Never give your password to anyone but a parent or other adult in your family. Do not “friend” your coach on Facebook or other social media sites. Do not participate in “one on one” conversations via email text message, or telephone with your coach for anything other than soccer related business. Do not participate in “one on one” conversations via Skype, Facebook or other social media sites with your coach. If your coach or any other adult sends or shows you email or any type of direct message/wall post or text message with images or words that make you feel uncomfortable, do not respond. Tell a parent or trusted adult about the message or what happened. Tell a parent or guardian about any calls or texts you receive from a coach that discuss anything other than soccer related issues. If your coach or any other adult tells you to keep what’s going on between the two of you secret, tell a parent or guardian immediately. Be careful to whom you talk to on the Internet. If someone starts talking about subjects that make you feel uncomfortable, tell a parent or guardian.Keep in mind that a person you don’t know who is trying to talk to you on the Internet could be an adult posing as a kid. Pay attention if someone tells you things that don’t fit together. If one time an online “friend” says he or she is 12, and another time says he or she is 14. That is a warning that this person is lying and may be an adult posing as a kid. Unless you talk to a parent about it first, never talk to anybody by phone or text message if you know that person only online. If someone asks you to call—even if it’s collect or a toll-free, 800 number—that’s a warning. That person can get your phone number this way, either from a phone bill or from caller ID. Never agree to meet someone, including a coach or WYB staff or volunteer, at any place off-line, unless you have a parent’s permission. INTERNET SAFETY FOR PARENTS Discuss internet safety, and the “Internet Safety for Players,” section above, with your children. Let your children know that their coach, and other adults, should not communicate with them without your explicit knowledge and approval. Review your child’s online and electronic communications as appropriate to minimize risk. Report any suspicious online or electronic communications to the club Executive Director as soon as possible. If appropriate, report any suspicious online or electronic communications to the appropriate authorities as soon as possible. REPORTING, INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION OF SUSPICIOUS INTERNET AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS All suspicious internet and electronic communications should be reported to the Executive Director, Michael Hendricks, worthingtonsoccer@. Any reports of inappropriate activity will be reported to the executive committee of the Board of Directors. Reports of inappropriate activity may also be reported to law enforcement authorities and human services departments as appropriate. Pending the investigation of reported suspicious activity, the Executive Director may prohibit contact between a staff member, a coach, contractor or volunteer and all members of the club as deemed appropriate. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the Executive Director, acting on the advice of the WYB Executive Board, shall make a determination regarding future participation of the individuals involved in club activities. In the event of suspension or termination of a staff member, contractor, coach or volunteer the Executive Director shall provide a means of appeal of the decision as required by the WYB Soccer polGOALPOST DANGERSWYB Recreation Soccer realizes that soccer goals are inherently dangerous. Goals are top heavy due to the horizontal crossbar and the length of the goal creating this imbalance. Recreation Soccer tries to ensure a safe environment for its participants. However, goals can be easily moved by mowing crews and by groups beyond our control. All coaches should inspect the goals that they are using for practices and games and ensure they are properly anchored. Recreation Soccer has been anchoring goals with pins and sandbags to keep the goals safe. Please make sure these devices are in place before playing or practicing on the goals. Please do not allow hanging on the goals, chin ups or moving of the goals. If inclement weather topples a goal, please cancel or suspend the game until playing conditions improve.An improperly anchored goal has already caused one death in central Ohio.REFEREESNever argue with a referee, especially a youth referee. WYB Recreation Soccer uses licensed referees whenever possible. To be a licensed referee, that referee must have completed a USSF course and passed a test on the RULES of the Game.WYB Recreation Soccer has given all game authority to our referees, our Senior Referees and the Director of Soccer referees. If there is any dispute about a call in a game, WYB Recreation Soccer will back the referee’s judgment. If there is a verbal confrontation with a youth referee that meets the WYB Director of Soccer criteria for removal or suspension of a coach or parent from the program, that coach or parent will be removed. Any adult using physical contact in anger with a referee will automatically result in the removal from the program. The authority of the referee extends from the time he/she enters the field vicinity until the time he/she exits the field vicinity.RISK MANAGEMENTWorthington Youth Boosters (WYB) shall strive to meet the requirements of Public Law 115-126 Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and SafeSport Authorization Act of 2017 (the “SafeSport Act”). WYB enacted as policy our Zero Tolerance of Abuse many years ago. Along with requiring background checks on all staff, coaches and other significant personnel, our goal has always been to provide a safe environment for our participants.With this new Federal Law, WYB has improved our Zero Tolerance Policy to reflect these new requirements. All WYB Directors, staff, including volunteer coaches, assistant coaches, and anyone who may have a supervisory position with our participants will be subjected to a background check and to pass a course offered by Abuse Prevention Services. This course teaches the many nuances and recognition of potential abuse to our participants in our policy including sexual abuse, physical abuse, verbal abuse, bullying, and hazing. With this recognition, our full staff will become mandatory reporters to the appropriate authorities whenever they recognize one of these abuses has occurred at our events. For the most part, that means reporting to the Franklin County Department of Family and Children’ s Services or local law enforcement. This is in compliance with the Federal Law.In addition to this course, WYB will strive to limit our staff from conducting one on one interactions with our participants in settings that may be viewed as inappropriate including dressing rooms, social media, office spaces or any other such area without being in view of another adult. WYB’s takes very seriously our mission to provide children who reside in the Worthington School District, an opportunity to build self-esteem by enjoying organized sports programs which are rooted in the principals of participation, sportsmanship, and skill development in the safest environment possible.NOTICE TO VOLUNTEERSA provision of recently passed legislation by the Ohio General Assembly requires organizations such as WYB to notify prospective and current volunteers who have or will have unsupervised access to children on a regular basis that they may, at any time, be subject to a records check. Unsupervised access means that the person in question has access to a child and either of the following applies: (1) No other person 18 years old or older is present in the same room with the child or (2) if outdoors, no other person 18 years or older is within a 30-yard radius of the child or has visual contact with the child.ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY AGAINST ABUSE WYB Recreation Soccer uses the policies and guidelines of Worthington Youth Boosters as their Zero Tolerance Policy Against Abuse.ZERO TOLERANCE ABUSE POLICY (Amended June 1, 2019) Worthington Youth Boosters is committed to providing a safe environment for its members and participants and to preventing abusive conduct in any form in compliance with Federal, State and Local Law. Every member of this organization is responsible for protecting our participants and ensuring their safety and well-being while involved in sponsored activities. To this end, we have established the following guidelines of behavior and procedures for our staff, volunteers, and participants. All members of this organization, as well as parents, spectators, and other invitees are expected to observe and adhere to this policy. 1. Abuse of any kind is not permitted within our organization. This means we do not tolerate physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse, or misconduct from our players, coaches, officials, volunteers, parents or spectators. 2. Physical and sexual abuse, including, but not limited to, striking, hitting, kicking, biting, indecent or wanton gesturing, lewd remarks, indecent exposure, unwanted physical contact, and any form of sexual contact or inappropriate touching, are strictly prohibited within our organization. 3. Emotional abuse or verbal abuse is prohibited. These include, but are not limited to, such forms of abuse as: bullying, hazing, insulting, threatening, mocking, demeaning behavior, or making abusive statements in regard to a person's race, gender, religion, nationality/ethnicity, sexual orientation, or age. 4. We are committed to providing a safe environment for our players, participants and staff. We do so by appointing all coaches, officials and volunteers, and anyone else affiliated within our organization, as protection advocates. Every member of this organization is responsible for reporting any cases of questionable conduct or alleged mistreatment toward our members by any coach, official, volunteer, player, parent, sibling, or spectator. Worthington Youth Boosters reserves the right to suspend and remove any person from representing our organization for any cause that may jeopardize this safe environment.5. Buddy System: We recommend that every activity sponsored by our program put a Buddy System in place. Each youth participant should be assigned a buddy during sponsored activities. No child should go anywhere - to the restrooms, locker rooms, or other location - without his or her buddy. 6. To further protect our youth participants, as well as our coaches, officials, and volunteers, we strongly advise that no adult person should be alone with a child or with any group of children during sponsored activities. In particular, we recommend that coaches and other adult members of this organization should not: Drive alone with a child participant in the car. Take a minor alone to the locker room, restrooms, changing room or any other private room.Provide one on one training or individual coaching without being in observance of another adult or minor’s guardian.If you must have a private conversation with a youth participant, do it within view of others, in the gym or on the field, instead of in a private setting. Coaches and other adult members of this organization should not socialize individually with the participants outside of sponsored activities.Any social media contact between a coach directly with a minor should be kept to a minimum and only with the consent of a parent. Social media contact will include texting, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and all other means of social media contact. All such contact should be limited from 8am to 8pm. Coaches should communicate on a team wide basis with members instead of a 1 on 1 setting.All activities should have a minimum of two adults present to limit the interaction between one adult and minors or any 1 on 1 contact. Any Form of Grooming is prohibited.When traveling overnight with youth participants, children should be paired up with other children of same gender and similar age group, with chaperones in separate but nearby rooms. If parental consent is granted in advance, youth participants may room with another family. We want to empower our children to trust their feelings and let them know that their concerns, fears, and hopes are important by listening to them. Open communication between children and parents, or between children and other adults in the organization may help detect early warning signs of abuse to surface. We encourage parents to become as active as possible in sponsored activities, games, practices, and other events. The more the parents are involved, the less likely it is for abusive situations to develop. 12. We will respond quickly to any and all allegations of abuse within this organization. This information will be communicated to the authorities for investigation and will be reviewed by the organization's directors within 24 hours of notification of an alleged abuse. Any person accused of abuse will be notified of such allegations promptly and will be suspended from the organization pending an investigation of the complaint if they are involved in a supervisory role within the organization. Regardless of criminal or civil guilt in the alleged abuse, the continued presence of the person could be detrimental to the reputation of the organization and could be harmful to the participants and organization. A person who is cleared of charges of abuse may apply to be reinstated within the organization. 13. We promote good sportsmanship throughout the organization and encourage qualities of mutual respect, courtesy, and tolerance in all participants, coaches, officials, and volunteers. We advocate building strong self-images among the youth participants. Children with a strong self-image may be less likely targets for abuse; similarly, they may be less likely to abuse or bully others around them.14. Any person reporting a suspicion of abuse will be confidentially protected by WYB to the best of our abilities, and there will be no retaliatory consequences to such an individual. Any person should report their suspicions of abuse to WYB and/or directly to the appropriate authority.15. WYB will be providing all adult members designated as being coaches, assistant coaches, administrators, team administrators, and Board members with training to prevent such abuses from happening and how to recognize such abuses as outlined in this policy. WYB will be offering mandatory training for these designated individuals on a yearly basis beginning on or before September 1, 2019.RULES FOR EACH AGE GROUPTots-U-4/U-5Kindergarten-U-5/U-61st Grade-U-72cd Grade-U-83rd Grade-U-94th Grade-U-105th/6th Grade-U-12Middle Tier-U-8 through U-13MSSA-U-14HSSA-U-19WORTHINGTON TOTSWYB Mission Statement:To provide an opportunity for children in the Worthington School District tobuild self-esteem by enjoying positive organized sports programs whichare rooted in the principles of participation, sportsmanship, and skilldevelopment.U4 Soccer FormatWYB Recreation Soccer offers year-round Worthington Tots leagues with one in the Fall, two sessions in the Winter, one in the Spring, and one in the Summer. The Fall league begins in September, Winter 1st session in November, Winter 2cd session in January, the Spring in April and the Summer in June. Both Fall and Spring seasons are 6/7 weeks in duration and are played on Saturday mornings at the Liberty/Sutter Elementary fields or Lazelle Woods Park. The Summer Session is 5 weeks in duration and is held at Liberty/Sutter Elementary School. Winter sessions may be held at any indoor facility that WYB Soccer leases. Games are scheduled for 1 hour. The first half-hour is dedicated toinstruction/practice with the coach followed by a 30 minute timed-scrimmage withanother team.The 30 minute scrimmage is played 3 on 3 without goalies or referees. Given the rostersizes and number of children present, coaches may play 4 on 4 to ensure every childreceives adequate playing time. Traditionally, each game consists of 4, 5 minutequarters with a 5 minute half-time. One coach per team is permitted to be on the fieldduring scrimmages to help instruct and encourage. Often times, a fifth quarter is played– time permitting. Again, coaches have the flexibility to make the determination.It is highly recommended that on-field coaches bend the rules and keep games moving.This may include kicking a ball back in-bounds, ignoring inadvertent use of hands, etc.Each new U5 participant will be provided with shin-guards, a #3 ball and WorthingtonYouth Booster Tee Shirt. New coaches will be provided with practice cones, yellow pennies(i.e. away pull-overs) and an athletic bag. Participation medals are also included forevery player.Parents have access to their coaches and league commissioners for additionalinformation.TeamsTeam rosters are set by meeting parents’ special requests, by elementary schoolattendance areas and by keeping kids with prior season’s coaches. Every effort is madeto cap rosters at 10 children.MAIN OBJECTIVE of U4, U6 SoccerFirst and foremost, soccer should be fun, especially in these age groups. Their majorobjective is to have fun. Even if you have not accomplished any of your technicalobjectives at the end of the season, ensure that all of your U4, U6 players have had lotsof fun. If you take the fun out of soccer in this age group, you may run the risk of takingsome of these youngsters out of the sport completely.Inject humor and variety into your practices where possible. Make all of yourgames/practices fun experiences for them. Make them feel like winners regardless of thegame score or how they do at practice. Only this approach will strengthen your players’desire to come back to soccer the next season, and this should be your first andforemost objective in the U4, U6 age group, bring them back again!!Learning some technical skills and how to compete in a fair and friendly manner shouldbe your secondary objectives.TECHNICAL SKILLSAlthough U4 and U6 players may have very close birthdays, their physical and mentalmaturity will vary considerably. Coaches will need to identify activities whichaccommodate these differences whenever possible.Team play, passing, positioning are alien concepts to U4s, U6s. Don’t get upset if theydon’t pass and hot potato (just kick). Passing will hardly ever be the first choice of thisage group, in fact, once they get the ball they may never give it back. Let them dribbleand play with the ball as much as they want.Try to identify drills that the players enjoy the most and grasp without a lot of difficulty.? In general, concentrate on the following.? Basic dribbling, foot skills? Starting and stopping with the ball? Passing (inside, outside)? Turning with the ball (may be difficult for this age group due to short legs)? Which is our/their field/goal? Kicking (Inside/instep kicks are preferred, but toe kicks are perfectly fine inthese age groups. Connection with the ball is most important. Try punts also)TYPICAL PRACTICE SESSIONAll kids under 6 have a very short attention span. Rules should be very simple anddemonstration very brief and clear. Don’t have long spiels, don’t have long set ups. Getinto the drill/game ASAP.? Start with a brief warm up with or without the ball. Have them race to a fixed lineand back. Roll the ball with their feet forwards, backwards, side to side. Throw itup and catch it again etc. Avoid having them wait in line. (5-10 minutes, plus a3 minute water break)? Passing drill (in pairs) 3 – 5 minutes? Dribbling Drill (5-10 minutes, plus a 3 minute water break)? Shots on goal (5 minutes)? Play 2 vs.2, 3 vs.3, or 4 vs.4 games. (15 – 20 minutes with water breaks)? Be creative, play with 4 goals or 2 balls, with or without boundaries. Ensureevery player has a chance to shoot on goal as frequently as possiblePRACTICE GAMES1 - Keep Your Yard Clean (Quick Reaction, Kicking, Passing)Each player starts with a ball. Each team tries to keep their side of the field “free” of ballsby kicking their ball over to the other side. Stop when players start losing focus or oneside wins. Repeat as required.Field size: Two adjacent rectangular fields of 7mx10m each, separated by a “free zone”of 7x3m.Variations:1 Use hands (like a throw in) to throw the balls2 Punt the ball2 - Go – Stop. Also called Green Light – Red Light (Dribbling and Stopping)Each player has a ball and they are lined up facing the coach, in a row about 2-3 yardsapart from each other. The coach turns around and calls out “Go”. The players startdribbling towards the coach. When the coach turns around, calls “Stop”, players mustfreeze with the ball under their foot. If the coach catches a player or a ball still moving,the players must take 3 steps back. The first player to cross the coach’s line becomesthe “coach”.Field size: 25 – 30 yards long.3 - In and out of the square (Dribbling)Players are standing outside of the square. At the coach’s call they dribble into thesquare and stop. Coach gives commands like: stop, go, turn left, turn right.Field size: 7x7yds.Variations:? Two squares with equal number of balls /players in each. On command, theyleave their ball and switch squares to find a new one.? Start as above, but switch squares by taking their balls with them. (Dribble)? Each player with a ball inside a square. On command, “Knockout”, players tryto kick other players’ balls out of the square, but, must keep their ball inside.? Use 4 adjacent squares. All players start in one square with ball. Coach calls asquare number (1, 2, 3 or 4) and players dribble their ball into that square.4 - PassingPassing in pairs. Players are paired five yards apart and facing each other. They passback and forth using any part of the foot. The objective is to be able to pass with theinside and outside of the foot in a (if possible) controlled fashion. Demonstrate eachtechnique. Emphasize stopping the ball with the inside of their foot first.5 - Dribble Through Cones (Dribbling and Shooting)Set up a course of gates (1 yd wide) spaced about 5-6 yds apart with turns and bends.Last gate should be approximately 7 yards from the goal. Have players dribble througheach gate and finish the course with a shot on goal.6 - CRABS (Dribbling, Close Control and Shielding)Players start at one end of the rectangular practice field with their soccer balls (facingthe coach). Coach starts as crab sitting in the center of the field with legs forward facingthe players. On command, players try to dribble past Crab to the other end of the field.They must stop the ball on the end line. Crab moves on his/her hands and feet to kickthe ball away from the players. The player whose ball is kicked becomes crab. Whenevery player has reached the end line, and crabs are ready, the game starts in the otherdirection. Last one standing on the end line is the winner.Field size: 15x7 yd.COACHING POINTS? Each session should be geared around touching the ball as many times aspossible. Always maximize contact with the ball in each planned activity.? U4s U6s will not pass the ball. Passing is a rare commodity in these agesgroups.? Don’t try positional play, it won’t work. About ten (10) seconds into the game orscrimmage, every player will be within 1-3 yards of the ball.? Players might / will cry. Be prepared to tie at least 2-3 shoe laces during eachgame / practice.? Praise each player as often as possible. Be generous with your praises. Don’tcriticize; only give examples of bad play and good play.? They will chase the ball until they drop! They are easily fatigued, but they willrecover quickly. Give frequent water breaks. Some players will be moreinterested in Soil Mechanics (digging dirt, picking grass) during games/breaks.Treats after a game, practice and half time (when possible) are neverunderappreciated.? Eye-foot, eye-hand coordination is not fully developed in this age group. Theymay not remember their side (what goal they are attacking) and what the fieldlines mean. Have patience and laugh with them. Try to enjoy yourself. If youlaugh and enjoy the game with them, they will as well.? Try to involve the parents. It is a must!!! The parents are still the mostsignificant people for a U4 and U6 player. Have a brief meeting with the parentsin the beginning of the season to explain your plans, objectives, policies, yourexpectations from them, how they are supposed to cheer etc.Remembering a few basic rules – keeping a ball at their feet at all times while avoidinglines in practice, using fun games, having realistic expectations of what they’re capableof grasping at this developmental stage and having enough fun to bring them back while introducingsportsmanship – will help ensure you and your kids have a worthwhile experience inWorthington Youth Boosters Recreation Soccer Tots Program!KINDERGARTEN – U-6Worthington Youth BoostersU-6 Soccer League RulesDress:All children are required to wear shin guards. Shin guards are to be completely covered by socks at all times. Player jerseys must be tucked in during play. Referees will check equipment and dress prior to each match. No watches, earrings, bracelets, rings or necklaces are to be worn at any time. All cleats must be rubber without a front toe cleat.Match Length:All matches will be four (4) quarters of eight (8) minutes each. Two (2) minutes will be allowed between quarters with five (5) minutes for half-time. The game clock will continuously run unless stopped for a MAJOR injury. All participants shall play at least 50% of available match time.Match Format:All matches will have a format of four players vs. four players (4v4) but due to roster size 5v5 is acceptable. A size 3 ball shall be used for all matches and will be supplied by the home team.Players and coaches will be on one side of the field and parents / fans shall be on the other side. No parents, coaches or fans will be allowed on the end lines of the field.Goalkeepers:There will be no goalkeepers in this division.Substitutions:Players may be substituted only at the change of quarter, or in the case of injury.Injuries:All players will sit down when a player is injured on the field. The referee will stop the match, but not the match clock. At that point, the coach may enter the field of play to attend the player. If play is stopped, the injured player may leave the field or stay on at the coach’s discretion. In the case of a major injury and the referee has stopped the match clock, play will be restarted by an indirect free kick for the team in possession of the ball at the time play was stopped.Referees:Each on field coach will also be the referee for this age group. On field coaches should exercise good judgment when making calls. The benefit of any play should be given to the participants. Many children have balance issues at this age and may initiate contact accidently. Try to keep the flow of the game moving at all times.There will be Senior Referees at the game locations to monitor all games. Any disputes should be brought to the Senior Referee’s attention. Slide Tackles:There will be no slide tackles in this division.Goal Kicks:All goal kicks will be taken from the top of the penalty box. Opponents must be at least six (6) yards away from the ball.Free Kicks / Penalty Kicks:All free kicks shall be indirect and no goal will be allowed unless the ball is touched by a player of either team. There are no penalty kicks in this division. Opponents must be at least six (6) yards away from the ball.Throw Ins / Corner Kicks:When a throw-in is used, a second throw-in must be allowed if a player commits a foul on the initial throw-in. The referee shall demonstrate to the player the proper technique to be used before allowing a re-throw.There are no corner kicks in this division. Throw-ins will be substituted.Offside:Offside does not exist in this division. Coaches are encouraged to teach “positioning” at this level.Coaches:Coaches are role models and, therefore, responsible for the actions of their players and players parents. There may be no more than three (3) coaches on the team sidelines during matches. Coaches must stay behind the touch (side) line and may not pass the midline. One (1) coach may be on the field to “encourage” the players during the match, as true instruction should be handled at practice, allowing the match to be FUN!1st GRADE – U-7Worthington Youth BoostersU-7 Soccer League RulesDress:All children are required to wear shin guards. Shin guards are to be completely covered by socks at all times. Player jerseys must be tucked in during play. Referees will check equipment and dress prior to each match. No watches, earrings, bracelets, rings or necklaces are to be worn at any time. All cleats must be rubber.Match LengthAll matches will be four (4) quarters of ten (10) minutes each. Two (2) minutes will be allowed between quarters with five (5) minutes for half-time. The game clock will continuously run unless stopped for a MAJOR injury. All participants shall play at least 50% of available match time.Match Format:All matches will have a format of six players vs. six players (6v6). This will consist of six (6) field players and a goalkeeper. A size 3 ball shall be used for all matches and will be supplied by the home team.Players and coaches will be on one side of the field and parents / fans shall be on the other side. No parents, coaches or fans will be allowed on the end lines of the field.Goalkeepers:Goalkeepers must wear a jersey of a different color than the competing teams. A goalkeeper is allowed six (6) seconds within the penalty box before punting or throwing the ball. Coaches are encouraged to include keepers in defensive strategies.Substitutions:Players may be substituted only at the change of quarter, or in the case of injury.Injuries:All players will sit down when a player is injured on the field. The referee will stop the match, but not the match clock. At that point, the coach may enter the field of play to attend the player. If play is stopped, the injured player may leave the field or stay on at the coach’s discretion. In the case of a major injury and the referee has stopped the match clock, play will be restarted by an indirect free kick for the team in possession of the ball at the time play was stopped.Referees:There will be three (3) referees scheduled per match. Should a referee not show up, a mutually agreeable parent or older sibling may be substituted as a side line referee. Match time will be kept by the center referee.The decisions of the referee shall be final. Under no circumstances shall a coach, player or referee engage in an argument with a referee. Judgment calls are just that…referee judgment. Please contact the league commissioner if you have any issues with the officiating of any match including tardiness, absenteeism, lack of game control and lack of game knowledge. In addition, should you find an exceptional referee, please bring this to the attention of the league commissioner as well.Slide Tackles:There will be no slide tackles in this division.Goal Kicks:All goal kicks will be taken anywhere within the area of the penalty box.Free Kicks / Penalty Kicks:All free kicks shall be indirect and no goal will be allowed unless the ball is touched by a player of either team. There are no penalty kicks in this division.Throw Ins / Corner Kicks:When a throw-in is used, a second throw-in must be allowed if a player commits a foul on the initial throw-in. The referee shall demonstrate to the player the proper technique to be used before allowing a re-throw.Corner kicks shall be taken and opponents shall stay six (6) yards away from the ball.Offside:Offside does not exist in this division. Coaches are encouraged to teach “positioning” at this level.Coaches:Coaches are role models and, therefore, responsible for the actions of their players and players parents. There may be no more than three (3) coaches on the team sidelines during matches. Coaches must stay behind the touch (side) line and may not pass the midline.2nd GRADE – U-8Worthington Youth BoostersU-8 Soccer League RulesDress:All children are required to wear shin guards. Shin guards are to be completely covered by socks at all times. Player jerseys must be tucked in during play. Referees will check equipment and dress prior to each match. No watches, earrings, bracelets, rings or necklaces are to be worn at any time. All cleats must be rubber without a front toe cleat.Match Length:All matches will be 50 minutes long with halves of 25 minutes with Ten (10) minutes for half-time. The game clock will continuously run unless stopped for a MAJOR injury. All participants shall play at least 50% of available match time. Teams will switch sides after half-time.Match Format:All matches will have a format of six players vs. six players (6v6). This will consist of five (5) field players and a goalkeeper. A size 4 ball shall be used for all matches and will be supplied by the home team.Players and coaches will be on one side of the field and parents / fans shall be on the other side. No parents, coaches or fans will be allowed on the end lines of the field.Goalkeepers:Goalkeepers must wear a jersey of a different color than the competing teams. A goalkeeper is allowed six (6) seconds within the penalty box before punting or throwing the ball. Coaches are encouraged to include keepers in defensive strategies.Substitutions:Players may be substituted only at throw ins and goal kicks and all other times referees have a stoppage and will permit it. Either team may substitute. No substitutions will be permitted in the last two minutes of each half or game unless already at the halfway line.Injuries:All players will sit down when a player is injured on the field. The referee will stop the match, but not the match clock. At that point, the coach may be summoned to enter the field of play to attend the player. If play is stopped, the injured player may leave the field or stay on at the coach’s discretion. In the case of a major injury and the referee has stopped the match clock, play will be restarted by an indirect free kick for the team in possession of the ball at the time play was stopped.Referees:There will be three (3) referees scheduled per match. Should a referee not show up, a mutually agreeable parent or older sibling may be substituted as a side line referee. Match time will be kept by the center referee.The decisions of the referee shall be final. Under no circumstances shall a coach, player or referee engage in an argument with a referee. Judgment calls are just that…referee judgment. Please contact the league commissioner if you have any issues with the officiating of any match including tardiness, absenteeism, lack of game control and lack of game knowledge. In addition, should you find an exceptional referee, please bring this to the attention of the league commissioner as well.Slide Tackles:There will be no slide tackles in this division.Goal Kicks:All goal kicks will be taken from anywhere within the goal box. Opponents must be at least eight (8) yards away from the spot the kick is taken.Free Kicks / Penalty Kicks:All free kicks shall conform to FIFA standards. Penalty kicks will be taken from a spot 8 yd from goal. Opponents must be at least eight (8) yards away from the ball.Throw Ins / Corner Kicks:When a throw-in is used, a second throw-in must be allowed if a player commits a foul on the initial throw-in. The referee shall demonstrate to the player the proper technique to be used before allowing a re-throw. A subsequent illegal throw-in will result in a turn over.Corner kicks shall be taken and opponents shall stay eight (8) yards away from the ball.Offside:Offside does not exist in this division. Coaches are encouraged to teach “positioning” at this level and the rules regarding offside during practices.Coaches:Coaches are role models and, therefore, responsible for the actions of their players and players parents. There may be no more than three (3) coaches on the team sidelines during matches. Coaches must stay behind the touch (side) line and may not pass the midline.3rd Grade / 4th Grade – U-9 / U-10Worthington Youth BoostersU-9/10 Soccer League RulesDress:All children are required to wear shin guards. Shin guards are to be completely covered by socks at all times. Player jerseys must be tucked in during play. Referees will check equipment and dress prior to each match. No watches, earrings, bracelets, rings or necklaces are to be worn at any time. All cleats must be rubber without a front toe cleat.Match Length:All matches will be two (2) halves of twenty five (25) minutes each. Ten (10) minutes will be allowed for half-time. The game clock will continuously run unless stopped for a MAJOR injury. All participants shall play at least 50% of available time.Match Format:All matches will have a format of six players vs. six players (6v6). This will consist of five (5) field players and a goalkeeper. A size 4 ball shall be used for all matches and will be supplied by the home team.Players and coaches will be on one side of the field and parents / fans shall be on the other side. No parents, coaches or fans will be allowed on the end lines of the field.Goalkeepers:Goalkeepers must wear a jersey of a different color than the competing teams. A goalkeeper is allowed six (6) seconds within the penalty box before punting or throwing the ball. Coaches are encouraged to include keepers in defensive strategies.Substitutions:Players may be substituted after a goal by either team, prior to a goal kick by either team or prior to their own throw-in. Substitutes must report to the midline to be whistled in by the referee.Injuries:The referee will not stop play for an injury if one team has the advantage unless the player is in danger of further injury or the injury is major. A major injury will stop play immediately with the clock stopped and the coach may enter the field at once. Otherwise, with minor injuries, the teams will play on until a dead ball situation or the injured players team has control of the ball. If play is stopped, the injured player may leave the field or stay on at the coach’s discretion. In the case of a major injury and the referee has stopped the match clock, play will be restarted by an indirect free kick for the team in possession of the ball at the time play was stopped.Referees:There will be three (3) referees scheduled per match. Should a referee not show up, a mutually agreeable parent or older sibling may be substituted as a side line referee. Match time will be kept by the center referee.The decisions of the referee shall be final. Under no circumstances shall a coach, player or referee engage in an argument with a referee. Judgment calls are just that…referee judgment. Please contact the league commissioner if you have any issues with the officiating of any match including tardiness, absenteeism, lack of game control and lack of game knowledge. In addition, should you find an exceptional referee, please bring this to the attention of the league commissioner as well.Slide Tackles:There will be no slide tackles in this division.Goal Kicks:All goal kicks will be taken from the top of the goal box or the six-yard line. Opponents must be outside the Penalty Area.Free Kicks / Penalty Kicks:All free kicks shall conform to FIFA rules. Penalty kicks will be allowed and will conform to FIFA rules. Opponents must be at least eight (8) yards away from the ball.Throw Ins / Corner Kicks:Throw-ins shall conform to FIFA rules with hands extending behind the head. Rotation of the ball will not cause a turnover. No foot lift is allowed. Corner kicks shall be taken and opponents shall stay eight (8) yards away from the ball.Offside:Offside will be called in this division in accordance with FIFA rules.Coaches:Coaches are role models and, therefore, responsible for the actions of their players and players parents. There may be no more than three (3) coaches on the team sidelines during matches. Coaches must stay behind the touch (side) line and may not pass the midline.5th GRADE / 6th GRADE – U-11 / U-13 Worthington Youth BoostersU-11/13 Soccer League RulesDress:All children are required to wear shin guards. Shin guards are to be completely covered by socks at all times. Player jerseys must be tucked in during play. Referees will check equipment and dress prior to each match. No watches, earrings, bracelets, rings or necklaces are to be worn at any time. All cleats must be rubber without a front toe cleat.Match Length:All matches will be two (2) halves of thirty (30) minutes each. Ten (10) minutes will be allowed for half-time. The game clock will continuously run unless stopped for a MAJOR injury. All participants shall play at least 50% of available time.Match Format:All matches will have a format of eight players vs. eight players (8v8). This will consist of seven (7) field players and a goalkeeper. A size 4 ball shall be used for all matches and will be supplied by the home team.Players and coaches will be on one side of the field and parents / fans shall be on the other side. No parents, coaches or fans will be allowed on the end lines of the field.Goalkeepers:Goalkeepers must wear a jersey of a different color than the competing teams. A goalkeeper is allowed six (6) seconds within the penalty box before punting or throwing the ball. Coaches are encouraged to include keepers in defensive strategies.Substitutions:Players may be substituted after a goal by either team, prior to a goal kick by either team or prior to their own throw-in. Substitutes must report to the midline to be whistled in by the referee.Injuries:The referee will not stop play for an injury if one team has the advantage unless the player is in danger of further injury or the injury is major. A major injury will stop play immediately with the clock stopped and the coach may enter the field at once. Otherwise, with minor injuries, the teams will play on until a dead ball situation or the injured players team has control of the ball. If play is stopped, the injured player may leave the field or stay on at the coach’s discretion. In the case of a major injury and the referee has stopped the match clock, play will be restarted by an indirect free kick for the team in possession of the ball at the time play was stopped.Referees:There will be three (3) referees scheduled per match. Should a referee not show up, a mutually agreeable parent or older sibling may be substituted as a side line referee. Match time will be kept by the center referee.The decisions of the referee shall be final. Under no circumstances shall a coach, player or referee engage in an argument with a referee. Judgment calls are just that…referee judgment. Please contact the league commissioner if you have any issues with the officiating of any match including tardiness, absenteeism, lack of game control and lack of game knowledge. In addition, should you find an exceptional referee, please bring this to the attention of the league commissioner as well.Slide Tackles:There are legal slide tackles in this division.Goal Kicks:All goal kicks will be taken from the top of the goal box or the six-yard line. Opponents must be outside the Penalty Area while the kick is taken.Free Kicks / Penalty Kicks:All free kicks shall conform to FIFA rules. Penalty kicks will be allowed and will conform to FIFA rules. Opponents must be at least ten (10) yards away from the ball.Throw Ins / Corner Kicks:Throw-ins shall conform to FIFA rules with hands extending behind the head. Rotation of the ball will not cause a turnover. No foot lift is allowed. Corner kicks shall be taken and opponents shall stay ten (10) yards away from the ball.Offside:Offside will be called in this division in accordance with FIFA rules.Coaches:Coaches are role models and, therefore, responsible for the actions of their players and players parents. There may be no more than three (3) coaches on the team sidelines during matches. Coaches must stay behind the touch (side) line and may not pass the midline.Worthington United Premier SOCCERWorthington United Premier is a higher level of WYB Recreation Soccer. This level may include pre-formed teams and will have Parent Coaches. These teams will play in leagues outside of WYB Soccer control. Our goal is to provide limited professional trainings to this group if possible. Participants will be placed on teams if and only if roster size permits. There will be limited travel to surrounding communities in the leagues these teams play. WYB reserves the right to add additional players to any preformed team roster due to this being a Recreational Based program.Many of the leagues require Age Verification to play in appropriate divisions within the league. Instead of a grade based program this is strictly an aged-based program with no over age players playing in a division. OCLMSSAHSSAFor OCL, MSSA, and HSSA all pertinent league rules will apply. ................
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