WAYSA Soccer

Parents Code of Conduct
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Player Readiness
Link to Field Maps

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WAYSA recommends all parents read the Soccer Parents Code of Conduct . It supports the WAYSA coaches code of conduct, the MSYA coaches code of conduct and prepares you and your player to have a fun season together. Parents are highly influential in both positive and negative ways - the code of conduct is to focus on the positive and to minimize the negative. Following are 2 articles to put soccer and your player into perspective -- keep an open line of communication with your player.

Parents role in developing the player, the risks of too much soccer, and parental pressure to perform.

Article 1

Sport participation, and the desire to participate in sports, decline sharply and steadily between ages 10 and 18. At age 10, 45 percent of young people say they participate, or intend to be included in a non-school sports team. Among 18-year-olds, this figure drops to 26 percent. One survey of Argentinean parents in Buenos Aires (Frankl, 1993) indicates that when the level of competition and the emphasis on winning go up, less successful individuals tend to feel out of place and drop out. "Fun" is a pivotal reason for taking part in a sport, and when the fun is gone, sport activity is likely to be discontinued. Developing an understanding of what constitutes "fun" will be crucial in encouraging greater participation. Winning is far from being the major reason attracting young people to sport. While victory is the most publicized aspect of sports, it is not a leading motivator for participation. Having fun, sharing experience, improving skills, staying in shape and competing are among the most important benefits that youngsters derive from sport exercises. Not all athletes -- even successful ones -- have the same motivations for involvement. The most dedicated athletes, for example, are those most strongly motivated by the desire to improve their skills, while others are more influenced by outside approval or pressure.

Article 2

Being a teenager in addition to being wrapped up in the highly pressurized world of state or even regional competitive sports is hard enough. Piling up demands, expecting the youth to work harder and win more often, is one of the most fundamental mistakes a parent or a coach can make. Putting such a pressure on the child adds to the anxiety level and the already existing burden that is hampering the youth's progress and performance. Most of us, adults and youngsters alike, perform best under a certain level of positive stress. When parents and coaches accentuate the fun aspects of competitive soccer or any other sport, along with the innate value of playing the game, they help the child stay within the limits of the "positive stress zone." The more successful the adults are in these efforts, the more likely they are to see the youngster succeed in competitive sports and the more likely they are to see the child thrive outside the sport environment.

A survey of participants at the Omega Easter Bowl tennis tournament in Miami, Florida (Finn, 1987, USA Today, April 16), revealed that over 70 percent of the tennis parents were spending in excess of $5,000 per year on tennis practices and 31.3 percent spend well over $10,000 annually. Tuition for participation in soccer clubs, for example, has been steadily on the rise. It is not uncommon to be charged as much as $1,500.00 a season (travel and other expenses not included). These days the development of a top athletes in any sport requires a substantial financial commitment by parents. It is not surprising, therefore, that many parents view their child's port experience as a long term investment. Hundreds of colleges and many prestigious academic institutions are actively recruiting student athletes. A direct result is that a 10 or 13-year-old becomes responsible for a $5,000.00 or in today's reality in sports like tennis a $20,000 - $30,000 a year investment. The youngster is then expected to deliver, if not by winning then at least by putting extra effort and readiness to make personal sacrifices.

Participation in competitive sports is a life experience that should prove invaluable to the young athlete as a developing, maturing person. As the sport "experience turns into a financial investment with an expected return, the greater the likelihood it will get completely off track (Quin & Groppel, 1989, p. 279)." Al Rosen a former major league baseball player pointed out that parents should keep losing as well as winning in perspective. Parents should not get angry and irritable when their child doesn't play well and loses, and neither should parents get too excited when their child wins. "Most importantly, [parents] should never tie special privileges or rewards to winning. One of the most damaging practices of parents is to withdraw attention, love, or affection when their children lose. This kind of pressure can have significant short-term and long-term negative consequences for the athletes. [Children] quickly realize they are no longer competing to win the match, but rather to win the love and approval of their parents (Quin & Groppel, 1989, p. 280)."

Some parents tend to live vicariously through their child's sport experience. Parent's ego confusion with the child's is evident in situations where the parents uses language such as "Who or where are we playing today?" or "We had a great game today!" The parent's ability to let go, allow the child to act independently and assume responsibility for both success and failure, on and off the field, is a crucial aspect of the youngster's growth and development as an athlete and as a human being. A child cannot drive to a remote playoff location. He/she can, however, find out against whom, where, and when he/she is competing. And, when a parent is asked about her/his child's performance, I suggest he/she replies with "Here, why don't you ask her/him; getting to watch her/him compete is always a pleasure for me."

Al Rosen also suggested the following questions as a reminder of the scope of parental responsibility and involvement in their child's sport: Can the parents give up their child? Can the parents admit their shortcomings? As Quin and Groppel (1989) point out, parenting in itself is a challenging task; coaching and parenting at the same time may be overwhelming for most parents. Once the parent has entrusted the child to a coach, however, the parent is expected to take a back seat, or even better yet, stay away and let the coach do the coaching. A parent that is actively involved in his child's training process is inadvertently undermining the coach's authority.

Quin and Groppel (1989) argue that when parents take notes or videotape their child sports activities, they "may think they are helping, but...these seemingly harmless practices often create more performance problems for their kids (pp. 280-281)." Parents that "never miss a practice or a game" create a level of commitment that is often much higher than what would be considered appropriate for a child. Remarkably successful athletes, such as, Mark Spitz, Michael Jordan, Pete Sampras, the Williams sisters to name a few, were very focused, and driven young athletes. They are the exception. Your and my children are "normal" and well adjusted despite the fact that they may not approach sports as some of us would have liked them to. Sport and competition for the vast majority of children, as numerous studies keep reminding us, is a time to feel competent, to have fun, and to be actively engaged. Most children do not perceive sports as an end in itself; as a career or a job. On the contrary, expressions, such as, "playful," "make believe," "non-threatening," best describe the average child's expectation from sports. It is therefore crucial that parents take the time to periodically ask the child about her/his aspirations and expectation from the sport experience. The sport parent should be carful to avoid the naive assumption that what he/she thinks is best for their child must naturally represent their child's wishes.

Suggestions:

REMEMBER THE "BIG TRUTHS" AND BEAR THEM IN MIND WHEN YOU TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN (AFTER A GAME, ASK ABOUT "FUN," "SKILL IMPROVEMENT," "LEARNING EXPERIENCES").

LOOK AT YOURSELF AS PART OF THE TEAM AND BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE COACH; AVOID SETTING UP A CONFLICT IN YOUR CHILD'S MIND BETWEEN HER OR HIS PARENTS AND COACHES. IF YOU WANT TO AFFECT THE COACHING, VOLUNTEER TO HELP.

DEVELOP PERSPECTIVE: REMEMBER WHAT YOU COULD DO AT YOUR CHILDREN'S AGES; DON'T JUDGE THEM BY WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW.

TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR CHILD WANTS FROM SPORTS - NOT ALL CHILDREN LOOK FOR THE SAME THINGS. DETERMINE IF HE OR SHE WANTS TO BE INVOLVED AT ALL.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What if it is raining? Who decides if a game is cancelled? You will be notified at least two hours before a game if its to be cancelled. Your coach will either call you or leave a message on the hotline if a game is cancelled. The coaches and the town/club representatives will make arrangements, if possible, to reschedule a game.

Where can I find the rules of soccer? Your coach is provided with a set of game rules each season. However other sources include local libraries and bookshops. The complete soccer FIFA rulebook can be downloaded and click here for WAYSA special 7v7 rules. The rules for the 7v7-sided games, for U10/U12, are different than full-sided soccer, 11v11 for WAYSA U14-U18G .

How are the team divisions determined? Based on the number of registered teams WAYSA will strive to make divisions of 8 or more teams. Based on the total number of teams in an age group, if the number is 15 or less, there will be only one division. The WAYSA divisions are not skill based, they are formed to maximize inter-town/club play and minimize in-house team play. Given WAYSA is a recreational league, all teams should be balanced with a range of skills, a mix of ages in the bracket resulting in all teams in a division should be similarly competitive.

What can I do if the referee is making bad calls? Is it OK to question or yell at a referee? No, you should discuss the situation with the coach of your team after the game. WAYSA has a coaches code-of-conduct policy that binds the coach & assistant coach to not confront the referee during play. Coaches are also responsible for spectators during the game, including the parents of players. Your actions to not support the Coach and the Parent's Code of Conduct can further result in your player's coach being reprimanded by the league. Complaints about a referee can be made to the WAYSA Referee Director, refdirector@waysa-soccer.org . The league is responsive, you can contact WAYSA directly for any issue or question.

What should I do if my child is injured in play? Coaches are responsible for the players on the field, to assess the situation of an injured player, and determine if the player should be moved to the player side of the field. [For serious injuries, the player should remain in place and 911 called.] Referees are responsible to stop the game when an injury has occurred. As a parent, should remain on the sideline. When your player is moved to the player sideline, you should walk around the field, not across the field, to assess the injury and comfort the player.

What is the WAYSA league policy on jewelry?, mouthguards?, eyeglasses?, hair accessories? No jewelry - period: watches, rings, necklaces, earings, body piercings. Make the situation problem free for the coach and referee - collect the jewelry from your player before a game. Necklaces tucked under the shirt will be removed. Ears being taped for new piercings are not permitted; jewelry under the tape is removed. (If ear piercings so important, skip a few games until the ears are healed.) WAYSA does not require mouthguards, even if the player has braces. You, the parent, should encourage a mouthguard. A player may complain of the inability to breath, but persistence after a few games will result in the players comfort with a mouthguard. Eyeglasses are permitted: with any type of frame - plastic, metal, composite. Give consideration to soft contact lenses (1 day disposables), special prescription goggles or goggles that go over regular eyeglasses. Only soft hair accessories are permitted - elastics, cloth, and plastic are permitted; no metal, no hair pins, no large plastic hair clips. All of these recommendations are about your players safety and the other players safety.

What is the WAYSA league policy on players with casts (for broken limbs)? Hard casts are not permitted. Even if wrapped in a towel or an ace bandage. WAYSA is a recreational league: fun and safety come first; not the win/loss record. These items are permitted: knee braces, finger splints, leather wrist/ankle supports.

What steps should I take if I'm interested in becoming a coach? Express your interest to your town/club soccer club president/athletic director or coach coordinator 4-6 months ahead of a season starting. You should enroll in a youth soccer coach training class. [For U10/U12, take the F class ; for U14 and above, give consideration for a E class a season after completing your F class.] Read books (see your local library, local bookstores, Amazon.com, sports websites), view videos, watch the game on TV, read the rules of the game, and talk to other coaches. The experience is rewarding for the parent -- given the motivation is consistent with the WAYSA league: player development of all skills, recreational play, a cool head, and making the game/practices fun for everyone. See our coaches webpage.

What does WAYSA mean, it is a recreational league? The league does not have divisions based on skills. All teams are to be formed from a town/club's open enrollment process. Teams from previous season are not to be kept together. The league is oriented for the development of the player, not the team. All players wishing to play are found a team to play on, provided the player has met the town/club enrollment criteria for ages, cutoff dates, and being a resident/member of that town/club. Every team in every age bracket should strive to have a player in the game 50% or more of the total game time. U10/U12 games are small sided, 7v7 to increase individual player ball touches; U10/U12 games scores and standings are not kept; U10/U12 end of season tournament is random matching of teams.

Can my child play on more than one WAYSA team? Players can play on only one (1) WAYSA team per season. Players playing on 2 teams will be suspended and both town/clubs will be fined. A player can play on teams in non-WAYSA leagues, while playing for a WAYSA team. WAYSA players playing for a school club entered into the WAYSA league can not play for their town team entered in the WAYSA league.

What is WAYSA's policy on coed team for U18 and under? Coed teams are permitted in the league. Coed teams play in the boys division. WAYSA does not have a Coed division. Your town/club is responsible to determine if it will enter Coed teams into the league.

What time should I arrive for a game? 15-20 minutes before a game is recommended. This allows the player to remove jewelry, remove outer clothing, ensure shin pads are secure, ensure laces are tied, warm-up (stretching, some running, shooting on goal), checked by the referee, and placed into the game line-up and strategy. Allow extra driving time to fields you have never driven to before, just in case you make that wrong turn.

On game day, can my player play out of uniform? A player can not play without shin pads. Players, except goalies, need to be in team colors, with a numbered shirt.

Can my player play up or down in age groups? Maybe, given the following: 1) your club/town is your representation to the league. They determine if there is room on a town/club team and there is a logical reason for the request; 2) The town/club rep brings a waiver form to the WAYSA board meeting before the season, when they are due, and states the case -- most typical is a birthdate missing a cut-off bracket by a few days, a players skill (less or more), or a players physical circumstances; 3) WAYSA board votes in favor of the waiver. There is no appeals process for a waiver being voted No. WAYSA will keep in mind the players options when voting No, ensuring there is an opportunity to play and develop.

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Player Readiness

Nutrition
Sleep
Uniform and Equipment
Practice
Skill Development

Nutrition

The sport of soccer is very demanding on the players due to the fast and active nature of the game. Players require a mix of speed, agility, and stamina to maintain the same level of competition for the 60+ minutes of play.

Soccer is primarily an anaerobic sport - one that requires bursts of energy for short periods of time. There is no sustained activity over a period of time as in aerobic sports or exercise.

Anaerobic sport or exercise therefore cannot rely on energy stored as fat in the body - there is insufficient time for the body to convert this stored energy (fat) back into a usable energy form. Instead, the body relies on readily available sources of energy to sustain a player during these strenuous periods. Carbohydrates and fiber consumed in the period leading up to a game or practice provides this ready source of energy.

Prior to a game or practice session, please observe the following guidelines:
Eat fresh or dried fruits, vegetable sticks, yogurt, low fat granola bars, rice or pasta, pretzels (low sodium), cereal, crackers, breads/bagels, etc. Avoid high fat foods - hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, potato chips, etc. Avoid sweets - lollipops, candies, treats, etc. Avoid soda’s - drink water, milk, fruit juice, or other non-carbonated drinks Avoid eating a large meal within 1 hour of a game or practice session - instead rely on small snacks if your child is hungry. If your child drinks Gatorade, please dilute the drink with 30-50% water as undiluted Gatorade can cause nausea in children of this age during strenuous activity. Remember, an inappropriate mix of foods moving around in your child’s stomach can make you child feel nauseous, queasy, sick, or lethargic. In addition to healthy eating, a good nights sleep and rest before a game also helps prepare you child for the rigor of the game.

Sleep

Given soccer is a challenging sport requiring stamina, enough sleep and rest is important. Be mindful that WAYSA games, first game of the day start at 9AM. Factor in time to prepare and eat a good breakfast, drive time to the field, and arriving 15-20 minutes before the game -- would require both the player and the parent have a good night's rest. coaches should be mindful of practices being held the day before a game should be focused more on strategy drills rather than endurance drills, to maximize a player's energy level for the game the next day.

Uniform and Equipment

On game day, the required parts of the uniform are shin guards with socks covering the entire guard and a numbered shirt reflecting the team colors (for field players).

Players are encouraged to wear shorts for maximum mobility and ball handling. Players are encouraged to have soccer cleats to improve footing on the field -- on slick wet grass and on the dirt patches -- reducing the chances of lost footing, sprained ankles while increasing player movement, acceleration on slick grass, and accuracy of ball control. Goalies are encouraged to have long sleeve, padded shirt and long pants to reduce cuts and scrapes while aggressively defending the goal. Goalie gloves are a players choice -- some goalies love them (keeps hands warm on cold days and reduces sting on the rocket shots) and others hate them (goalie can't feel the ball and the glove lost its grippiness....allowing balls to pass through the hands and many times into the net).

Practice

Team practices are important -- for team cohesiveness, friendships, and common skill development. Every attempt should be made to support the coaches schedule. Arrive 10-15 minutes ahead of the practice start time, to get limber, get ready with your shoes and shin pads, and to begin to focus mentally on what you need to work on for your own development. Same as game day, always have shin pads and no jewelry.

Skill Development

Individual practice is possible at home and informal practice with your neighbors, brothers/sisters, and parents. Go to the local library or visit our useful links including Kids First Soccer, to find resources, drills, and techniques.

Aside from the WAYSA season, there are opportunities to play during the winter in indoor leagues and in the spring outdoors. Ask your coaches, watch the local newspapers, call the YMCA, look in the Baystater publication. In the summer, there are local and remote soccer camps, skill clinics, and tournaments. You need to decide how much of the sport is adequate to be involved in, what other sports your players is engaged in and interested in, how much time and expense you can dedicate to the interests. When you find out no coach is running a team after the WAYSA season, this is an opportunity for you to step forward and become a coach. There is usually enough players in the town/club to go forward into the next round of play.

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Link to Maps both regular season and tournament play.