Hampton-Varnville United: Coaches Clipboard

I have a question about formations, especially the back players.  I coach ...

Team Building Activities
By Eddie Henderson
Nevada State Technical Director

The purpose of this session is to give you, the ...

GOAL SAFETY

(CYSA) Board Takes Action Against Youth Coach
[Reprinted from the Alameda Journal, Tuesday, September 23, 2003, article written by Mike McGreehan; copyright ...

Tournament Practices Favor the Weak and Late
There are many, many good tournaments. If your club, association, or organization has procedures that combat the ...

Coaching Attitude
by: Victor Matheson

Editor’s Foreword: The article that follows could very well have gone straight into ...

HOW (NOT) TO TRAIN A GOALKEEPER
by John Ouellette
AYSO National Coach

One Saturday morning many years ago, when AYSO allowed coaching ...

The Fine Art of the Great Half-Time Pep Talk
by John Ouellette
AYSO National Coach

As a coach, we have all been there. Our team is playing a great ...

What Really Counts
by Larry Hughes

A few years ago I was refereeing a U-8 game in Phoenix. The playing field was right under ...

Positive Coaching:
A Behavior Checklist for Youth Sports Coaches

by Dr. Darrell J. Burnett

Youth Sports Coach Behavior ...

Tactics and Team Management
By Bruce Brownlee
USSF “C” License, Atlanta, GA

Bad Referee

Until many of our experienced ...



Sleeveless jerseys going out of style
FIFA recently advised the U.S. Soccer Federation that the previously announced decision regarding the elimination of sleeveless jerseys has been suspended until it can be reviewed in March. It is anticipated that the order will be rescinded at that time.

To sleeve or not to sleeve?
U.S. Soccer gives the 'OK' for sleeveless jerseys for now.

U.S. Soccer recently provided clarification regarding FIFA’s amending of the Laws of the Game to include the statement that "Jerseys must have sleeves" (Law 4, International FA Board Decision 1).

According to U.S. Soccer, the intent of the rule change is intended to deter player efforts to alter their jersey in any way.

U.S. Soccer also offered guidelines for enforcing this new rule, which include:

1. The sleeve must be recognizable as a genuine extension of the armhole of the uniform shirt being worn and able to perform the function of a sleeve commonly accepted in everyday wear.

2. Players may not alter their uniform by cutting off the sleeve or shortening it significantly.

3. Referees are asked to call player attention to these requirements if uniforms are altered, just as they would if shirts were not tucked in or socks not pulled up.

4. Details regarding jerseys which have no sleeves or shortened sleeves should be included in the referee's match report submitted to the competition authority. However, since this is not a safety issue, a team or an individual player must not be prevented from playing solely for this reason.

5. Finally, as a member of FIFA, we are obliged to follow their rule changes, however, we ask that you use common sense and good judgement on the application of this rule change.

Until U.S. Soccer has the opportunity to formally present the impact of this situation to the necessary officials, it is working with the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association as well as directly with FIFA on the sleeveless jersey subject. Until then, U.S. Soccer has taken the position that sleeveless jerseys are okay for now.