Seymour Johnson Youth Sports: Soccer Bylaws

Seymour Johnson Youth League
YOUTH SPORTS SOCCER BYLAWS
YMCA, Seymour Johnson AFB, Eureka, St Mary’s, Spring Creek, WCDS, Northeast, Rosewood and Wayne Christian
Officials:
TO: All Coaches, Parents, and Youth Center StaffFROM: Youth Sports League Administrators
SUBJECT: 2012 Youth Soccer By-Laws 

 Player Participation and Awards  All players present for a game will play a minimum of 50 % of the game subject to the age group requirements listed below. Coaches may withhold players for disciplinary reasons but prior to that game the coach must notify the parents and opposing coach of the player(s) who will not participate and the reason. Failure to play all players the required amount of time will result in a warning for the first offense and coach termination for a second offense. NO EXCEPTIONS. Any player or coach receiving a red card will be immediately removed from the remainder of that game and will not be eligible to participate in the next game that his/her team plays. All yellow and red cards will be reported to the Youth Sports Directors or league administrator by the referees.  Uniform/Equipment  All players must wear matching team shirts. Shoes will be an approved type with molded rubber cleats. Sneakers are not recommended. Protective shin guards will be used by all players and are to be worn under socks. Players will need to provide shoes and shin guards. During inclement or colder weather, players may wear other appropriate athletic clothing as long as the shin guards are in place and the team shirt is worn on the outside. Hats with bills are prohibited and hooded sweatshirts discouraged. Soft (stocking type) hats, gloves or mittens are approved for cold weather wear.  Players will not be allowed to wear rings, watches, jewelry (including pierced earrings or posts) or any hard hair devices such as clips or barrettes. Athletic glasses guards and mouth protectors are encouraged.  Players may not play with a heavily bandaged injury, splint, or cast.  Practice Sessions  Practice sessions will not exceed sixty minutes in duration for age’s 5-10 yr olds to include “skill” sessions before or after practice. It is important to remember that parents as well as youth can become discouraged.    11-15 yr olds cannot exceed 90 minutes, two nights a week. Under no circumstances will a team practice with or scrimmage against a team from another age group.  Players must have at least one calendar week of practice before participating in competition.  Coaches will never leave a group of players unsupervised. A minimum of two adults must be present at all practices and games.  Coaches should arrive at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of any game or practice and remain at the game or practice site until all players have been picked up or have left for home. An adult coach, assistant, or parent shall be supervising the players at all times.  Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Products  Coaches in the vicinity of any playing or practice areas will not consume alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. Parents in the vicinity of playing or practice areas will not consume alcoholic beverages and their use of tobacco products is discouraged.  Conduct of Coaches  Coaches and parents will not indulge in physical or verbal abuse of players for any reason. Profanity will not be used in the presence of players during practice or games. Refrain from berating referee and players. First offense: warning; Second offense: goal awarded to other team; Third offense: ejection.  Jurisdiction of Referees  Referees are responsible for the conduct of the game for a period from ten minutes prior to the game until the game is completed and teams have started to depart the playing area or the referee becomes involved in a subsequent game.  The referee’s decision is final. On field team captains may ask about the nature of a referee’s call during stoppages of play to clear up understandings of the call (direct/indirect kick, corner/goal kick, etc.). Referees are not expected to hold lengthy discussions with players or coaches with cut into game time. Coaches who are dissatisfied with the quality of officiating should provide specifics to the Youth Sports Directors or administrators rather than debate with the referee(s).  Game Time/ Forfeit Time  Subject to age division time limits, all games will be a running clock, except the clock will stop for injuries; immediately for serious contact injuries, or at reversal of play for lesser injuries.  Each age group has rules governing minimum number of players to start with. In the event a team starts with the minimum number of players and subsequent players arrive after the start of the game, these players will be allowed in the game at the next break in play. At all times, both teams should have the same number of players on the field, unless injury or carding prevents that from happening.  Number of players on the Field & Ball Size 5-6 yr olds (4 on 4) with no goalie. Ball Size 3 (YMCA teams playing 6 on 6) 7-8 yr olds (9 on 9) max; (7 on 7) min, to start with goalie. Ball Size 4 9-10 yr olds (9 on 9) max; (7 on 7) min, to start with goalie Ball Size 4 11-12 yr olds (11 on11) max; (9 on 9) min, to start with goalie. Ball Size 5 13-15 yr olds (11 on 11) max and (9 on 9) to min to start with goalie. Ball Size 5  Field and Goal Recommendations for each age group  5-6 yr olds should be (20 yd by 30 yd.) with No Goalie box but a 3 yd arc in front of the goal. Goal approx. 6’x12’ 7-8 yr olds should be (50 yd by 70 yd) with only goalie boxes that should be (6 yd by 6 yd) and mid field line. Goal approx. 7’ x 14’ 9-10 yr olds should be (50 yd by 70 yd) with penalty box and goalie box. Goalie box should be (6 yd by 6 yd) and penalty box should be (9 yd by 9 yd) 11-12 yr olds should be (60 yd by 110 yd) with penalty box and goalie box. Goalie box should be (6 yd by 6 yd) and penalty box should be (12 yd by 12 yd). 13-15 yr olds should be (60 yd by 110) with penalty and goalie box. Goalie box should be (6 yd by 6 yd) with penalty box being (18 yd by 18 yd).  Additional Local League Rules  Number of players on the team is at organizations discretion, no limits. Playing time for 5-10 yr olds, 4 -10 minute quarters, with 2 minute break between 1st and 2nd quarter, 5 minute half time, and 2 minutes between 3rd and 4th qtr. Playing time for all other ages 11-15 yr olds is 2 -30min halves, with 5 minute break between halves. 5-6 yr olds NO referee and NO penalty kicks, games can end in tie. 7-8 yr olds 1 referee, but an experienced referee. NO penalty kicks games can end in a tie. 9-10 yr olds, 1 referee.   NO penalty kicks Games can end in a tie.11-15 yr olds. 2 referees. High school rules will be enforced games can end in a tie.Any player that gets carded will get a warning for the first offense. Second offense will result in benching for the rest of the quarter. Third offense the player will sit out the rest of the game. If a team cannot field the minimum number of players it will result in a forfeit, but coaches may agree to play to gain field experience.  If Wayne County Public Schools cancel after school activities because of weather then games and practice will be cancelled.