CATHOLIC YOUTH SPORTS

A common philosophy of CYS Youth Sports must be understood and practiced by all adult leaders, administration, coaches, parents and officials to avoid confusion, disagreement and confrontations. By understanding a common philosophy, everyone can work together to meet the needs of the youth involved.

Beyond the written rule there is a proper spirit in which to engage in competitive sports. Fair play and sportsmanship are the essence of CYS Youth Sports. Participation alone does not guarantee sportsmanlike attitudes and values such as honesty, fair play and citizenship. Coaches, parents and adult leaders must be role models and explain why these behaviors are appropriate.

Winning is an important objective in sports. To not seek victory is to be a dishonest competitor; but winning must not be the only objective. Adults must help athletes understand that there is more to sports than a win/loss record. Youth must be taught that success is found in striving for victory.

The most important concept is that if they give their maximum effort and strive for success, there are no losers. When winning is kept in perspective, the youth first and winning second, sports programs produce youth who feel good about themselves, respect others, accept responsibilities, strive for excellence, improve skills, have fun and look forward to future participation in sports.

Encourage athletes in a positive manner; use the appropriate language to support an athlete’s efforts.

Set an example of good conduct; maintain a wholesome and friendly rivalry between teams.

Give all athletes sufficient playing time.

Treat all with respect and dignity. Do not shout or make derogatory comments to athletes,

coaches, parents, spectators or the officials. Referees, officials and the Sports Director have the right to warn and, if necessary, remove a coach who consistently and/or repeatedly violates these standards.

Do not humiliate an opponent by severely outscoring a team.

Be humble in winning and gracious in defeat.

A friendly handshake or positive comment to the opposing coach will be exchanged after a sport event regardless of the outcome.

Treat opponents with respect and dignity.

Give only constructive criticism and positive encouragement to teammates.

Do not swear or argue about an official’s decision. Only designated athletes, such as a team captain, should question an official. Captains must be identified by a visual aid, preferably a captain’s band.

Play by the rules; play fair.

Behave with honesty, straightforwardness and a dignified attitude when others do not play fairly.

All teams at the conclusion of the sport event will exchange a handshake or cheer.

SCOREKEEPERS/TIMEKEEPERS/OTHER EVENT VOLUNTEERS

Scorekeepers, timekeepers and other event volunteers should conduct themselves in an impartial manner throughout the sport event. They should not be coaching the participants, yelling at the participants and/or officials, etc. They are encouraged to show appreciation for an exceptional play during the event.

Both teams and their coaches will meet at mid-field to

recite the “CYS Youth Sports Prayer”.

God, as we prepare to compete in this athletic contest,

we ask your help and blessing

that we may compete to the best of our abilities

and with a true spirit of sportsmanship

so that our efforts give greater glory to

You, our Creator.

We ask that you protect us from injury

and help us remember that

our opponents are our brothers and sisters

who are also under your guidance.

For this we pray, Amen.

Both teams and their coaches will meet at mid-field to

recite the “CYS Youth Sports Prayer”.

Lord, we thank you for the opportunity and challenge of this game.

You call us to compete well, finish the race and grow in our faith!

Help us to remember we can do all things through You, who gives us strength.

Amen.

A designated Field Marshall will be Centrally Located on the fields for the following:

1. Referees to report scores of games and turn in score cards
2. Reporting of injuries
3. Parents ability to file complaints
4. Any other administrative requirements.

A designated Field Marshall will be included in emails to the Coaches and Referees on a weekly basis.

Keeping our youth safe from injuries is critical and Job number 1!!!!!

Remain seated in the appropriate area during the sport event.

Make only positive comments to athletes, coaches, parents and officials. There is no place in CYS Youth Sports for booing and criticizing judgments made by the officials.

Parents should not interfere with their athlete’s coach. They must be willing to give responsibility for their athlete to the coach during practices and sport events.

Parents/spectators should not direct any comments or concerns to the game officials at any time. These should be directed through the coaches, who shall direct those comments to the CYS athletic director.

Imitation is the greatest forms of flattery; our youth will replicate the actions of the parents attitude towards sport, game or opposing player. Please stay positive and refrain from negativity.

In the U4 and U6 Divisions, it is highly recommended that the coach be on the field.All other divisions must be coached from the sideline.

While unfortunate, the occurrence of a lopsided score does not necessarily mean that a lack of sportsmanship took place. Representatives of CYS Youth Sports will use the online forms and communication with the involved coaches to review the circumstances and determine if any sanctions are warranted.

• 4+ GOAL VICTORY – Any game that is won by 4 or more goals in any division will be investigated and reviewed by the committee. It is expected that the winning and losing coach, in particular, will make themselves available for discussing the game so as to expedite the decision making process.
  • FORMS – Both the winning coach and the losing coach are required to submit a form which describes which measures were utilized to mitigate the talent differential between the teams. Forms must be submitted to the Sports Director via email as soon as possible. The Sports Director will personally contact each coach to understand the circumstances.
  • CONSEQUENCES – Disciplinary action toward the winning coach may result (suspension of the coach for the next game, or in the case of repeat violations, suspension for the remainder of the season).
    • NOTE: A coach who is suspended from coaching a team by CYS Sports Director is not eligible to be present as a fan for that CYS Youth Sports event.

• All players must wear shin guards. Any player without shin guards will not be allowed to play.
• Tennis shoes or rubber/plastic molded sole soccer shoes must be worn.  NO METAL.
• All athletes are required to wear issued uniforms.
• All athletes must have the CYS Youth Sports Emblem on their uniform.
• Chains, earrings, other jewelry, glitter, face paint or other inappropriate items may not be worn during competition.
• In cold weather, the player can wear sweatpants with no pockets. No pants.

“ALL PLAY” PARTICIPATION RULE

KICK OFF –

• The Home team listed on the schedule will kick-off.
• The visiting team listed on the schedule will select a side to defend first.
  • In Playoffs, the higher seeded team will decided whether to kick-off or defend.
• The start of play beginning each half & after a goal shall proceed with a kick-off.
• The ball shall be kicked while it is stationary on the ground in the center of the field of play.
• May be taken in any direction.
• A goal may not be scored directly from the kickoff.
• The ball is in play when it moves.

GOAL KICK –

• Results when the ball goes completely over the end line having last been touched by an attacking player.
• A member of the defensive team kicks the goal kick from the Goal Box line.
• All defenders must be behind the penalty line in U10, U13 and U18. In U8, all defenders must be at midfield. Defenders cannot cross the designated line until the ball is put into play

CORNER KICK –

• Results when the ball goes completely over the end line having last been touched by a defensive player.
• A member of the offensive team kicks the corner kick from a spot within a one yard arc of the corner of the field nearest where the ball left the field.
• A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick.

THROW IN –

• Results when the ball goes completely over the touch line (side line).
• The throw shall be taken from the point where the ball crossed the line by a player of the opposing team.

All dead ball kicks (kick-ins, free kicks, kick-offs) are indirect with exception to corner and penalty kicks.

FIVE YARD RULE: In all dead ball situations, defending players must stand at least five yards away from the ball. If the defensive player’s goal area is closer than five yards, the ball shall be placed five yards from the goal area in line with the place of the penalty.

SCORE AND TIME – The referee will keep the official score and time during the match.

SCORES – Should be submitted to the Field Marshalls Tent. All Standings will be published on the CYS Sports Website.

STANDINGS – During league play, a win will count for three points and a tie for one point.

Standings will be kept on the CYS Youth Sports Website.

TIEBREAKERS: Ties between two or more teams will be broken by; 1) head to head results between tied teams; 2) goal difference 3) Fewest goals against.

GOAL SCORING –

• A goal may be scored from a touch on the offensive half on the playing field.

GOAL –

• Scored when the entire ball completely goes over the goal line.

GOAL BOX –

• The goal box, ten feet wide by eight feet long, is directly in front of the goal.
• No player may touch the ball within the goal box, however any player may move through the goal box.
• Any part of the ball or player’s body on the line is considered in the goal box

THE PLAYER IS AN EXTENSION OF THE BOX.

GOAL BOX INFRACTION –

• Occurs if a defender touches the ball in the goal box, a penalty kick is awarded to the offensive team.
• If an offensive player touches the ball within the goal box, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team.
• If the ball comes to a complete stop in the goal box, regardless of which team touched it last, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team.
• Goal box does not apply in U5 and U7 Division.

GOAL PENALTY KICKS –

• Is a direct kick taken from the top of the center circle (15ft. line) on the offensive side of the midfield line with all other players behind the midfield line.
• If a goal is not scored, the defense obtains possession with a goal kick.
• Penalty kicks are not live balls.

• If a player in U4, U6, U8 and U10 head a ball, the referee is required to stop play and reward the opposing team with an indirect kick.
• Heading is only allowed in the U13 and U18 Divisions.
• This rule is designated to safeguard our youth.

OTHER RULES

Handball in front of the goal – If a hand ball occurs intentionally in front of the goal and the ball would have crossed the goal line, a goal is counted and the offending player will be given a yellow card.

All rule infringements –

• As outlined in Law 12 of the Laws of Soccer, such as tripping, pushing, or hand balls Hand ball where a goal would be scored is handled above)will result in an indirect free kick.
• The on-field official/referee has sole discretion in determining whether or not an infraction has occurred.

The on-field official/referee has the right to caution or eject a player (see Player Cautioning/Ejection) as a result of a rule infringement which, in the opinion of the official, merits such action.

• As outlined in Law 12 of the Laws of Soccer, such as tripping, pushing, or hand balls Hand ball where a goal would be scored is handled above)will result in an indirect free kick.
• The on-field official/referee has sole discretion in determining whether or not an infraction has occurred.
• The on-field official/referee has the right to caution or eject a player (see Player Cautioning/Ejection) as a result of a rule infringement which, in the opinion of the official, merits such action.

Goals cannot be scored directly off an indirect free kick; the ball must be touched by another player from either team before it crosses the goal line. Goals also cannot be scored directly from a goal kick, throw in, or kick off. If the ball goes completely across the goal line without being touched by a player other than the initial kicker on one of these set plays then the result is a goal kick for the opposing team.

NO OFFSIDES

SLIDE TACKLING  –

• Not allowed for any age division.
• Penalty for this infraction will be a caution on the first offense.
• The second offense will result in being ejected from the game.

Keeping our youth safe from injuries is critical.

PLAYER CAUTION/EJECTION (YELLOW/RED CARD) –

• Referees have the right to caution and/or eject a player from the game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident that warrants cautioning the player or sending the player off.

• • RED CARD suspension = Rest of game PLUS next game. Sports Director may length suspension or eject player for rest of season.
  • YELLOW = Player is being warned about continuous rules infractions. 2 yellow cards will equal a Red card and automatic ejection.
  • Ejection – if a player is given a red card or two yellow cards, the team with the ejected player must play short for the remainder of the game.

PLAYOFFS –

• In the Divisions U18, U13, U10 and U8 there will be CYS postseason playoff tournaments.
• Team qualification will be determined by points acquired during the season.
• The highest ranked team will play the lowest ranked team or brackets will be created by the Sports Director.

PLAYOFF OVERTIME: TEAMS WILL HAVE A 10 MINUTE OVERTIME PERIOD WITH MANDATORY SUBSTITUTION AT THE 5 MINUTE MARK. IF STILL TIED THERE WILL BE A “GOLDEN GOAL” OVERTIME PERIOD.

The Soccer Committee has the right to change the playoff format based on the number of teams participating.

I have read the CYS Youth Sports Philosophy, Code of Conduct and Rules and agree to be governed by these policies, procedures, regulations, and rules. I am fully aware of my responsibilities as outlined in the CYS Youth Sports Philosophy, Code of Conduct and Rules.

I will strive to behave in manner consistent with CYS Youth Sports philosophy:

A common philosophy of CYS Youth Sports must be understood and practiced by all adult leaders, administration, coaches, parents and officials to avoid confusion, disagreement and confrontations. By understanding a common philosophy, everyone can work together to meet the needs of the youth involved.

Beyond the written rule there is a proper spirit in which to engage in competitive sports. Fair play and sportsmanship are the essence of CYS Youth Sports. Participation alone does not guarantee sportsmanlike attitudes and values such as honesty, fair play and citizenship. Coaches, parents and adult leaders must be role models and explain why these behaviors are appropriate.

Winning is an important objective in sports. To not seek victory is to be a dishonest competitor; but winning must not be the only objective. Adults must help athletes understand that there is more to sports than a win/loss record. Youth must be taught that success is found in striving for victory.

The most important concept is that if they give their maximum effort and strive for success, there are no losers. When winning is kept in perspective, the youth first and winning second, sports programs produce youth who feel good about themselves, respect others, accept responsibilities, strive for excellence, improve skills, have fun and look forward to future participation in sports.