Location of Players, Coaches, and Spectators:
1.Teams (coaches and players)
The two teams will be positioned on one side of the field and all spectators will be located on the opposite side of the field across from their team. All coaches and substitutes must stay within their Technical Areas. All spectators must stay between the top of the penalty area, and at least three (3) yards behind the touchline. No one will be permitted behind the goal line.
2. Spectators:
Spectators must remain behind designated lines at the playing fields during game play, and may not stand at the ends of the field. Team players and Coaches must be on one side of the playing field and the spectators must be located on the opposite side. Only registered and approved adults may be on the team sideline.
3. Coaches on the Field:
Only during Mini Soccer (Kindergarten and younger) are coaches allowed on the field to help instruct the players. It is up to the referee to place the ball on the goal kick mark or in place for a corner kick.
Referee Reminders:
There is ZERO TOLERANCE toward referee abuse. To read more about the state of officiating in youth sports, and to help improve it, read the following articles:
“Verbal abuse from parents, coaches is causing a referee shortage in youth sports” (from Washington Post)
Referees – Be Part of the Solution (article from Red Fanzine May 2017)
"Competitive Balance" Rule (methods to avoid blow-out results):
Even though Age Group Coordinators make every attempt to balance the relative strength of teams in a particular age group, there are frequently cases where relatively weak teams play games against considerably stronger teams. Running up the score by a margin greater than five goals lessens the enjoyment of the game for the opposing team, and in an effort to promote good sportsmanship, Loudoun Soccer prohibits its coaches from “blowing-out” other teams in all age groups.
While Loudoun Soccer recognizes it is hard to keep the stronger team engaged in the game, it is much more important that they learn good sportsmanship. Please note that only at the Grades 1-4 age groups are more players added on the field when a “blow-out” occurs (see Law 3 Paragraph F in the Loudoun Soccer Modifications to FIFA Laws of the Game).
Advice to Loudoun Soccer Coaches:
There are several methods that coaches of stronger teams can employ when it appears that the game score is getting out of hand before the goal differential is 4:
- Have all players exclusively use their “weaker foot” for passing, ball control, and shooting
- Designate players who have not yet scored goals as the only ones who are allowed to shoot (other players have to feed them the ball).
- Place stronger players in primarily defensive positions and encourage them to pass to the weaker players.
- Set special conditions for their players before they are allowed to score (i.e., complete three to five passes before shooting).
- Limit the number of players in your offensive half of the field.
Referee Actions
Referees have been instructed to remind coaches of the “competitive balance” rule so they can make every attempt to prevent the situation from worsening. If a coach refuses to correct the problem then the Referee will note that fact in the Referee Game Report. The Referee Game Report will be submitted within 48 hours so that the assignors can contact the appropriate league officials who will take the necessary corrective action against the offending coach. During a potential “competitive balance” situation in Grades 1-4 matches, Referees will use the procedures in Law 3, Paragraph F to attempt to mitigate the “Blow-out.” Actions taken by a coach to avoid the blow out will still be a matter of record in the Referee’s game report. All Grades 5-8 and U16-U19 teams are expected to manage competitive imbalances. While enforcement is only possible on Loudoun fields, it is expected that all teams carry the spirit of good sportsmanship with them as they match with teams outside of Loudoun County.
Goals Must be Secured!
No games in the 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11 formats are to take place if a goal is not anchored or secured with sand bags.. Do not ever pressure a young referee into playing a game under these unsafe conditions. If you show up to a field where goals need securing, send a parent for a few bags of sand and put them on the back of the goal. Under no circumstances should parents stand on the goal to hold it down. You could also keep a hammer in your coach’s bag. Sometimes the goals are jarred loose during mowing. There is usually a piece of rebar that can be hammered back down to secure the goal.
Please remember this rule is to keep all of our players safe. We never want to have a child hurt or killed by a falling goal. If a game is cancelled due to the goals not being secured we will reschedule your game for a later date and time.