BCYSA is a RECREATIONAL league. We want to provide a fun, safe and fair environment and we need everyone's help! While soccer is a competitive sport and all players, coaches and parents want to be on the winning team, this MUST NOT be the number one priority. Please keep this in mind when you are working with your teams in practice or when cheering during games.
In most cases, losing a game will not have a long lasting effect on any player. How we parents and coaches deal with it most likely will. Most of the time the kids are already over it before they get in the car after the games, and a lot of that has to do with what they hear from us adults. We want to encourage you to cheer in a positive way from the sideline, avoid arguing with other coaches or referees entirely and be supportive. There is nothing wrong with complimenting the winner.
Yes, a wrong call will be made in every game by any referee, not matter how old or how experienced. It's okay to point that out when it happens, but it shall not turn into ongoing taunting and arguing. Rarely does a wrong call affect the outcome of a game. And even if it does, it does not matter, because it is a recreational league and we want kids to have fun and improve their games.
Be a good role model, please!
We have many young referees, on whom we as a league and as players depend. Referees are a required part of a soccer game. Over the years, many young referees quit after one season because of how they were treated by coaches and parents. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! The league will stand behind the referees and support them, even if they make a mistake. Remember, most of them are young and all of them are learning continuously. Giving them a hard time will not make this easier. If anything, support them and help them to become better referees. Respect them for what they do.
Inclement Weather/Field Conditions:
If games are cancelled, you will be notified by the league through email. Do not make this determination on your own. You may be in the middle of a thunderstorm where you live, and Harders may be under blue sky. We hate having to send a team home without playing a game because the opponent did not show up.
Player's Equipment:
● Players may wear soccer cleats or just standard athletic shoes. Football cleats are not permitted.
● All players MUST wear shin guards. NO EXCEPTIONS.
● Players should wear the provided uniform. However, a regular shirt matching the color of the team's uniform may be permitted if absolutely necessary. Try to prevent this whenever possible.
● No jewelry or hard hair pieces shall be worn during the games. Examples are: earrings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, hair beads, bobby pins, barrettes, clips, etc. Covering earrings with bandages is not acceptable. Exceptions are medically or religiously required items. They shall be secured in a way where they are not presenting any safety hazards (choking, pulling, scratching, etc.).
● Long clothing is allowed as long as it is worn under the uniform.
● Players with orthodontic braces must wear a mouthguard during the entire game. NO EXCEPTIONS.
● No orthopedic cast are permitted.
● Prosthetics may be permitted with prior approval by the BCYSA board and as long as they do not present a hazard to any players
Bench/Spectators:
The team benches are reserved for players and a maximum of three registered coaches only. We ask spectators to find a spot on the opposite side of the field. Please do allow parents to stay behind the team benches or behind the goals.
Specific soccer rules:
Kickoffs may go in any direction.
Heading the ball deliberately for players in U12 and younger division, during practices and games, is strictly banned according to the new rule imposed by SAY. An indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team. However, a player may not be cautioned (yellow carded) or sent off (red carded) for any heading infractions. At BCYSA, due to the combined U12/U14 age division, this rule is implemented for all age groups up to and including U14, at least for this season. U19 is the only division excluded.
Offside is one of the hardest rules to understand and to properly call, especially if you are sitting somewhere on the sideline. Unless you are exactly lined up with the second to the last defender it is impossible to properly judge offside. We are training our referees to do just that. But it may not always be possible for a referee to keep up with the speed of the game. Regardless, chances are the referee has a better perspective than you do. In addition, just being in an offside position does not necessarily require an offside call. There is no offsides called in u4, u6, or u8 divisions!
Handling of the ball (handball) is another tricky offense to be called properly. First, the referee has to see it! If he or she does not see the ball being handled (maybe because of the perspective or someone blocking the view), handling shall not be called. Handling has to be deliberate. If a ball accidentally strikes a player's arm, it is not necessarily a handling offense. On top of that it is at the referee's discretion to decide if the handling incident affects the game. Bottom line, not every touch of the ball to a hand or arm must be called by a referee.
Not every foul or misconduct must result in stoppage of the game. It is the referee's judgment to call or not call a certain incident a foul. In some instances, the referee may allow play to go on, applying Advantage. For example, if your player gets tripped but the ball stays in your team's possession, play may go on.
With a few exceptions, BCYSA uses the rules provided by our parent organization SAY. Please check out the referee section at saysoccer.org.