SAYSO
Coaches’
San Andreas Youth Soccer Organization
2002-2003 Season
Introduction …………………………………………………………………..2
Abbreviations …………………………………………………………………..3
CYSA Classes of Play, D2 Leagues of Play, Indoor, ODP …………………..4
Dealings with the State; CYSA Insurance …………………………………..5
Dealings with the District; Tournaments …………………………………...............6
Dealings with the Redwood League…………………………………………….....7
Donations………………………………………………………………………...8
Dealings with the RWL Registrar; Playing Class 1 …………………………..9
Player Passes ………………………………………………………………….10
Game Cards ………………………………………………………………….11
Dealings with Clubs; Paid Coaches ………………………………………….12
Referees for RWL Games ………………………………………………….13
League Games, Scrimmages, Friendlies, and Practice Games ……............…….14
Reporting League Game Scores; Keeping your own Record ………………….15
Coaching Etiquette; Play Anyway ………………………………………….16
What Cancels a Game After You Arrive ………………………………….17
Protests ………………………………………………………………….18
RWL Playing Conventions ………………………………………………….19
Smart Coaching ………………………………………………………….20
Soccer Safety/Risk Management ………………………………………….21
Unacceptable Coaching Behavior ………………………………………….22
Recruiting/Tryouts ………………………………………………………….23
Poaching ………………………………………………………………….24
Rule Changes; Differences; High School Play Prohibition ………………….25
Red Card Processing Procedures ………………………………………….26
INTRODUCTION
Purpose of the “Smart Book”
To help
you be the best coach you can be.
To help you to be administratively successful.
Where to obtain additional information
SAYSO
office
Links on SAYSO's website
Abbreviations
AYSO – American Youth Soccer Organization
C3PL – D2’s Class 3 Playing League
C4PL – D2’s Class 4 Playing League (same as RPL)
Comp – Competitive (Class 3)
CYSA – California Youth Soccer Association
D2 – District 2
DC – District Commissioner
DR – District Registrar
FDT – Foreign document translation
HLP - Home League President
HS – High School
RPL – D2’s Class 4 Playing League (same as C4PL)
SPL – State Premier League
USYS – United States Youth Soccer
Class 4: “rec” (equivalent to AYSO)
Class 3: “comp”
Class 2: “select” (not age-pure)
Class 1: “select” (theoretically age-pure)
Premier: Class 1, (U16 and U19 only)
(ODP): A separate, parallel play route
D2 LEAGUES OF PLAY
“0203” – District 2, League 3 (RWL)
District leagues (Abronzino, C3PL, C4PL, Spring)
ODP takes priority
Cannot stop player from trying out or playing ODP
Technically, ODP practices don’t
conflict
Teams WILL lose ODP players on ODP play days
Few
Receiving “Soccer Cal”
Applying to State Cup
Reporting injuries and filing insurance
claims
Applying to (some) coaching license
courses
Protesting district decisions
CYSA INSURANCE
Details of coverage (see CYSA Team Manual)
Amounts:
$2,000,000 (liability);
$300,000
(accident/injury – “excess policy”)
Duration:
12 months, until August 31
Activities covered
Games
Tournaments
Practices
Tryouts
“sponsored
activities”
Travel
to and from
Personnel covered
All
players
All
adult team officials; referees; volunteers
Who needs a “named certificate”?
How to get a “named certificate”
DEALINGS WITH THE DISTRICT
Applying to District Cup
Application does not have to go
through D2 tournament
coordinator
Applying to other tournaments
(goes through the D2 tournament
coordinator,
except for State and Association
Cups)
Traveling papers (through League
registrar)
Protesting league decisions
Application procedure
Application goes to D2 Tournament
Coordinator,
not sponsoring tournament
coordinator
Can only apply to one tournament per
date
DEALINGS WITH THE
RWL Officers
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Registrar
Scheduler
Referee Coordinator
Publicist
Coaching Director
Informational
Registration
Scheduling
Disciplinary, protests, appeals, forfeits, dispute resolution
League meetings
3rd Monday of each
month
Belmont Sports Complex, Belmont
7:00 p.m.
All coaches are invited
AGM (RWL) in January
Elections
Constitutional
changes
DONATIONS
Nonprofit status
CYSA – “is” but you can’t use it
RWL – “is” and you might be able
to use it
SAYSO – “is” and you can use it
“Donation” v. “Advertising Expenses”
Procedure for using SAYSO nonprofit
status
to solicit donations
- inform SAYSO
-
solicit
funds, payable to “SAYSO”
-
SAYSO
will issue a receipt, showing
Federal nonprofit number
- SAYSO will hold funds for you and reimburse you for receipted expenses up to amount of donation
REGISTRAR
SAYSO coaches deal only with the SAYSO
office
Only the SAYSO registrar interact with the RWL registrar
Activities
Source of forms
Adds, transfers, releases,
replacement passes
Requesting release to play class
1
Drop off and pick up point: SAYSO office
Turnaround is not instantaneous
Registration paper path
You, SAYSO registrar, RWL registrar, D2 registrar,
RWL registrar,
SAYSO registrar, you
(No, you can’t hand carry it around.)
Can’t deal directly with the RWL or District
registrars
DON’T (even try to) falsify player credentials
Must be requested
SAYSO will prepare written
request letter
RWL Information Form
When to request
PLAYER PASSES
Needed for all SAYSO players in RWL
No pass – no play – no exception
Laminated
Ringed together in the same sequence as your goldenrod
Signing the passes
- same as on the birth
certificate
- same as on the goldenrod
- same as on the front of pass
Okay to sign twice
If laminated, sign with Sharpie pen and cover with
transparent
tape.
GAME CARD
Serves as the referee’s record of the game
Verifies scores and outcomes for league winners
Records protests (before game)
Supports referee send-offs
Checks on referee performance (after you complain)
Determines who gets paid
How to fill out
Front
Back
Stamp and address (RWL games)
Use self-adhesive, preprinted rosters
What to do with completed game cards
Only referees should end up with
game cards.
But, coaches often do.
Mail to league referee
coordinator.
DEALINGS WITH SAYSO
Status of clubs (per CYSA)
Required SAYSO positions (for RWL purposes)
President
Club registrar
Club referee coordinator
Club field coordinator
What does for you
Representation at RWL monthly
meetings
Information
feed (deadlines)
Cashiering (no private
team checkbooks)
Paying coaches
Providing uniforms (home (white)
and away)
Reserving fields
Assigning game times
Assigning and paying referees
Checking your registration
forms
Laminating your passes
Offering coaching licensing
courses
Offering referee licensing
courses
REFEREES FOR SAYSO GAMES
Who gets (assigns) referees
Class 3 (U8-U10): SAYSO referee coordinator
Class
1 (U11-U16): SAYSO referee coordinator
Class 1 (U17-19): D2 referee coordinator
Qualifications of SAYSO referees
Certification – “USSF”
Not the team coach
Not related by blood or marriage
Uniformed
Insured
Minimum age: 16
“Club” linesman (may only call OOB)
Quantity of referees: 1 CR; 2 ARs
Referee Abuse/Assault (don’t even....)
-
Abuse (verbal)
or assault (physical
- Both get reported to SAYSO
-
physical
abuse/assault is prosecuted by state
LEAGUE GAMES,
SCRIMMAGES,
FRIENDLIES,
and PRACTICE GAMES
League games (on the schedule)
Friendlies and practice games (with player passes)
Scrimmages (without passes)
To play with/without referees
Red
cards issued in practice games are handled
the
same as regular league games
Mixed classes
Avoid “contamination”
Doesn’t hurt the class 1 team
Practicing together is permitted
Games outside of D2
Mixed organizations/affiliations: check with SAYSO
office
REPORTING
LEAGUE GAME SCORES
RWL scores reported via the web
How reported
Web: http://redwoodsoccer.org
Phone: (method not available)
Cricket Program and SAYSO PDP!
Phone: (650) 593-5161
Fax: (650) 593-9733
Email: info@sayso.org
Scores are verified by other team’s
report and by game cards
Keep your own record (placement and
W/L/T)
RWL does not maintain cumulative
record
Keep separate
League games
Tournaments
District Cup
COACHING ETIQUETTE
Games can be shifted if both
teams agree
Show respect to the other team
No “coachmanship”
Call at least a week in advance
Your club should have your
schedule in advance
Reasonable times
Not before 9:00 a.m.
Younger games earlier
Observe SAT dates (play mid-, late-afternoon)
Honor religious holidays
Accommodate reasonable
requests
Games CAN be made up after HS
season
Automatic reschedule
Weather
PLAY ANYWAY
“We don’t have enough players”
“We can’t play on the regularly
scheduled day”
“We don’t have a referee”
“We don’t have a field”
WHAT CANCELS
A GAME
AFTER YOU ARRIVE
FORFEIT
Insufficient number of players showing
up for a game
No coach at game
No player passes; no coach pass
No referee
RESCHEDULE
Lightning; fog; darkness
Other dangerous field conditions
LEAGUE ACTION REQUIRED
Abuse or attack (verbal or physical) on
any person
Cancellation by referee
Abandonment by either team
PROTESTS
Generally, play the game and
protest later
League (not referee or coach) awards
forfeits
What is protestable
League games only
2-man system
“Only
violations of the Constitution, By-laws, and Rules and Regulations, or the
misapplication of the “Laws of the Game”
shall be proper subjects for action.”
What
both teams agreed to BEFORE game
Unqualified
referee AFTER game begins
Bad
(judgment) calls made by referee
Trifles
(e.g., no corner flags)
Cost of filing a protest ($50)
(Returned
if you are successful)
How to do it
Protest before the game
starts
Write on game card
Notify RWL within 5 days
What can be tolerated if both coaches agree
Number
of referees
Length
of game
Conflicting
team colors
Missing corner flags or net
Bad or nonexistent lines
Incorrect field dimensions
Conflicting GK colors
Condition of field (unless
unsafe)
Rain or weather
SAYSO PLAYING CONVENTIONS
(SAYSO does not have specific written rules or
requirements for these)
RWL does not require
-
banner
or flag
-
pins
or patches
-
ceremonial
pennants
-
exchange
(friendship) gifts
No RWL requirements as to uniforms
Jewelry (referee judgment)
Religious medallions generally permitted
(Don’t ask to tape.)
Fingernail nonsense
“Doo rags” (referee judgment)
Goalkeeper may wear a (safe) hat
Prescription glasses may be worn
Sunglasses permitted only if
prescription
Tennis shoes permitted
Casts, air splints, metal splints, and
unpadded braces not permitted
Padded knee braces are permitted
Helmets and headgear not permitted
Blood on player requires clean-up
Running up the score permitted
Slide tackles per FIFA
Substitution after yellow card required
Both team benches on same side of field
It is coach’s responsibility to control spectators
(referee will stop the game and ask the coach
to
come to the spectator side)
(for the good of the game and players)
Read the CYSA Team Manual
It’s for fun for most of these players, no matter
how important it may be to you
Establish explicit game behavior
expectations
for spectators, players, parents, and coaches
(Referees may not be yelled
at.)
Establish communications
Use an answering machine
Train your players to take
the initiative to call in
Have at least two team officials
Be professional
Be on time
Be as reliable as you want your players to be
Have a dedicated team coaching bag
Carry a team roster in your coaching bag
Carry a medical kit in your coaching bag
Carry stamped, addressed envelopes to give to referee
for red
cards
Carry file, stud wrenches
Learn some basic trainer skills
CPR
Treatment of bruises and sprains
Treatment for shin splints
Taping ankles, etc.
Carry your own (net), corner flags, and
roll of duct tape
Have an alternate uniform or carry pinneys
Soccer Safety/Risk
Management
Learn goal safety
Encourage use of proper protective equipment
Do not teach or permit dangerous play
Do not permit dangerous play comments
Bring medical release forms to every event
Have a copy of family medical card,
with name of hospital
preferred for each player
Carry a medical kit
Carry a cell phone
Don’t leave a player alone after
practice or game
Don’t put players names on jerseys when
young
Don’t overrule a doctor’s or parent’s
request
Don’t play doctor
Head trauma = no play
Don’t let an injured player play (and don’t request)
Don’t issue medication (without a release)
Always leave the decision to play up to the parent
Require a written release to return to play
Rule 18 (Common sense)
UNACCEPTABLE
COACHING BEHAVIOR
Touching
Verbal or physical abuse
Teaching or suggesting cheating or injurious techniques
Making unreasonable, untrue, or unkept
promises
Cheating
“Gamesmanship”
“Trash talking”, “taunting”, unkind
comments
“Get in the game.”
“ We’re playing down to their
level.”
“You can beat that girl – she’s
slow.”
Playing a suspended player
Playing before waiting period (7 days)
Switching players/uniforms/etc.
Recruiting violations
Pressuring a player with
nonvarsity status
Poaching
RECRUITING
D2 tryouts website
How you can do it
On your own
SAYSO tryouts
RWL does not have organized
tryouts
When you can do it
Disallowed: promises as recruitment incentives
Scholarships
varsity play
ODP
foreign travel
promise of playing positions
starting
playing time
SAYSO scholarships may be mentioned but not offered
Recruit for “next” year.
Don’t approach the player, and don’t use agents.
Communicate openly with the other coach.
Don’t provide the transfer form.
POACHING
(CYSA Specific Rule 4:06:06) “Any team which, through
its responsible officials, officers, or representatives, attempts to
induce a registered player … to leave his/her team before the end of the current
seasonal year shall be deemed to have committed an offense for poaching…”
Prosecution
Punishment
(90 days suspension, D2)
Player “ownership”
Using the official player registration
form for tryouts
Use Spring play
Changing your mind about a player
DIFFERENCES
CYSA rules differ from AYSO rules
Substitutions
at quarters
Limits
on number or frequency of substitutions
Minimum
playing times
CYSA rules differ from HS rules
CYSA: No substitution on corners
CYSA: Throw-in that never goes in is taken over.
CYSA rules differ from FIFA rules
No
“fair charging” of GK in penalty area
No
alcoholic
sponsorships
California
Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Rule #600
Applies
to indoor and outdoor matches
November
15-March 15 “during HS season for soccer”
- effectively, after having played first HS game
- does not affect “freshman” games that do not
have an actual HS league
- varsity and JV
- may resume after playing last HS game
CYSA
does not schedule games after November 15
PROCEDURE
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
If the information you seek is not in the FAQ, call the SAYSO office at (650) 593-5161.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE GETS A RED CARD?
When a player or coach receives a red card, the person's player pass is confiscated by the referee. “Some time” later (hopefully, by the next day), the referee mails the player’s pass, along with a Send-Off Report (an explanation of what happened and why the red card was given), to “somebody”. That “somebody” should be the Referee Coordinator for the event.
The Referee Coordinator determines the period of suspension and other appropriate consequences, holds the player pass until the suspension is served, and then mails it to the player's home league president (HLP). The coach may retrieve the pass from the HLP or his designee. That’s the process in its simplest form. But, it doesn’t always work well.
WHO IS THE REFEREE COORDINATOR FOR THE REDWOOD LEAGUE?
For games involving teams registered in the Redwood Junior Soccer League (RWL), the Referee Coordinator for the 2001-2002 season is Michael Lindeburg, 1604 Fairway Drive, Belmont, CA 94002, (650) 593-5161. Referees should mail the player pass and Send-Off Report promptly to this address. (This is the same address to which game cards should be mailed after RWL games.)
See below for processing of red cards received in tournaments and other leagues.
RED CARD
CONSEQUENCE CHECKLIST
The period of suspension and other consequences will be determined by the RWL Referee Coordinator, based on CYSA guidelines, historical data, and common sense. They will be listed on a “Red Card Consequence Checklist” and mailed to the person who got the red card. The checklist is accompanied by a letter of explanation. When the person is a youth, the letter and checklist are mailed “To the Parents of…” The letter and checklist are not mailed to the team manager or coach unless that adult actually received the red card.
The “Red Card Consequence Checklist” is printed on card stock so that it will last through a few weeks or handling. To satisfy the suspensions, the person who got the red card takes the checklist to games and asks the referee to verify (by the referee signing the checklist) that the player is sitting out the game. When the required number of suspensions have been served and all other consequences (if any) have been satisfied, the card is mailed back to the Referee Coordinator. The checklist is pre-addressed and can be mailed without an envelope.
SO, YOU GOT A RED CARD AT AN AWAY TOURNAMENT?
This is probably the worst scenario, because the return path of the player pass can really get muddled. If the red card was given at a tournament, the game referee will give the player pass to the Tournament Referee Coordinator, who will give it to the Tournament Director. That’s 3 people handling the player pass already. At the end of the tournament, the Tournament Director should mail the player pass to the District 2 Commissioner, although it might get sent to the District 2 Assistant Commissioner or the District 2 Referee Coordinator. District 2 should mail the player pass back to the RWL Referee Coordinator, but it might get sent to the RWL President or any other RWL officer. Theoretically, it ends up with the RWL Referee Coordinator.
GOT A RED CARD IN ABRONZINO PLAY?
If the red card was received during Abronzino play, the send-off report and player pass are sent to the Abronzino Referee Coordinator. For the 2000-2001 playing season, that the Referee Coordinator is
Dave Morton
[Fax] 408-782-0557
17165 Copper Hill Drive
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
This is the address which you should place on your “emergency envelope”. (See below.)
Eventually, everything is forwarded to the RWL Referee Coordinator (or, other RWL officer) for administration of the suspensions.
GOT A RED CARD IN SPRING LEAGUE PLAY?
If the red card was received during Spring League play, the send-off report and player pass are sent to the Spring League Referee Coordinator. For the 2002-2003 playing season, that the Referee Coordinator is
(Unknown - Check the D2 Spring League website)
This is the address which you should place on your “emergency envelope”. (See below.)
Eventually, everything is forwarded to the RWL Referee Coordinator (or, other RWL officer) for administration of the suspensions.
C3PL
If the red card was received during C3PL play, the send-off report and player pass are sent to theC3PL Referee Coordinator. Eventually, everything is forwarded to the RWL Referee Coordinator (or, other RWL officer) for administration of the suspensions.
C4PL (Recreational League)
If the red card was received during C4PL play, the send-off report and player pass are sent to the C4PL Referee Coordinator. Eventually, everything is forwarded to the RWL Referee Coordinator (or, other RWL officer) for administration of the suspensions.
GOT A RED CARD IN A PRACTICE GAME?
If the red card was received during a practice game (scrimmage or friendly), the send-off report and player pass might be sent to just about anybody, but should be sent to the RWL Referee Coordinator. For the 2002-2003 playing season, that the Referee Coordinator is
(Unknown - Check the RWL website)
This is the address which you should place on your “emergency envelope”. (See below.)
Eventually, everything is forwarded to the RWL Referee Coordinator (or, other RWL officer) for administration of the suspensions.
HOW ARE SUSPENSIONS AND CONSEQUENCES ARRIVED AT?
It’s an art, not a science. The CYSA Coaching Manual contains MINIMUM suspensions. Most leagues (Abronzino, Premier, etc.) publish additional guidelines. There are long-standing precedents. Whether or not the consequences correspond to the minimum often depends on what is written by the referee on the Send-Off Report. It doesn’t “pay” to alienate the referee or tournament director.
IF YOU ARE A REPEAT OFFENDER
All leagues share their red card histories with District 2, which may issue additional penalties. (Okay, it doesn’t happen often.) If you are a repeat offender, the number of suspensions you serve will be increased (typically doubled). In the case of repeating repeaters, you may lose the right to play for the remainder of the season or for an entire 12-month period.
IF A COACH GETS A RED CARD
If a coach or other team official gets a red card, the procedure is exactly the same, although the consequences will be tailored to an adult. Typically, the number of suspensions is greater for a coach than for a player committing the same infraction.
For coaches, assistant coaches, trainers, and managers, “suspended” means that the team loses the benefit of your services during the suspension period, including any active participation in (1) weekly practices, (2) pre-game warm-ups, or (3) pre-game, half-time, or post-game strategy/evaluation sessions. You may NOT sign game cards prior to games. You may NOT check your team in at tournaments.
If you, as a suspended team official, are also a parent, you ARE permitted to observe your child in the role of a spectator. To avoid any mistaken observations, it is recommended that suspended players and coaches bring a chair and remain quietly seated at all times during games.
CAN AN ENTIRE TEAM GET A RED CARD?
It is unlikely that a referee would find it necessary to give a red card to an entire team.
DO TEAMS ACCUMULATE RED CARDS?
Teams accumulate red cards. A coach will be asked to appear before the appropriate disciplinary committee when a team has accumulated 3 or more red cards.
CAN A SPECTATOR GET A RED CARD?
Only individuals with CYSA passes (players and team officials) can get a red card. If a spectator (child or adult) is not controlled by the team officials, then the referee may either (1) abandon the game, or (2) issue a yellow or red card to a team official. It is the team officials’ responsibility to control spectators.
CAN SUSPENSIONS AND CONSEQUENCES BE APPEALED?
Yes, we “know” that the red card was undeserved. And, that this is the first card he/she has ever received. And, that the referee was biased, incompetent, blind, and obnoxious. And, that everyone saw it differently. And, that the referee never moved from the center-circle. And, that even the coach on the other team came over to tell you that the call was wrong. And, that the referee was the father of one of the players on the other team.
Theoretically, you can appeal the decision of anybody in CYSA. From a practical standpoint, there isn’t much sense in appealing a few suspensions, because the appeal process can take a month or more. All the while, someone is CYSA has the player pass, and nobody is going anywhere. Whatever the reason, appeals should be limited to longer suspensions (e.g., a coach receiving a year-long suspension).
WHERE TO PICK UP A PLAYER PASS
Once the individual has served all game suspensions and satisfied all other consequences, the RWL Referee Coordinator will send the player pass to the RWL President (or his designee.) Typically, such player passes are made available at regular monthly RWL meetings. Coaches wishing to have player passes mailed to them may provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Referee Coordinator.
OH, WHAT A MESS!
From the description of the process, it should be obvious that it might be a very long time before a player pass is returned, especially for tournaments outside of District 2. The passes are often mailed to the wrong persons. Passes spend a lot of time in the mail. And, some passes become “lost” forever. Referee Coordinators (and other people within the process) will not let you expedi