First Grade Rules and Regulations

These rules apply to all age-levels:

1) Parents and fans can cheer positively…no negatives…no coaching from parents on the sidelines

2) Coaches can cheer positively…coaches may correct, but not by yelling and screaming negatives at a player.

3) Neither parents, fans, players or coaches are permitted to ridicule or intimidate the refs…the refs control the game…the coaches facilitate the play…the players play the game…the fans enjoy the game…and EVERYONE supports the players, the teams, coaches and the refs.

4) Parents and fans must observe the game on the sidelines opposite from the players and coaches.

5) Parents, fans, players and coaches are not permitted to observe the game from an end-line.

6) Players, coaches, parents, fans and refs must comply with the DYAA Code Of Conduct.

These rules apply to the 1st Grade League:

1) Objectives: have fun…become familiar with the ball…develop a desire to play with the ball…motivate the kids to play and learn more about soccer, teamwork and good sportsmanship…develop basic technique with throw-ins, stopping the ball with feet, thigh, chest…develop dribbling skills, changing directions, begin using both feet to dribble…teach passing…develop an initial sense of 2 lines of play.

2) Games will be on the mini-fields at Riverview Park. Use a size 3 ball. The game consists of four 8 minute quarters with a 3 minute break between quarters and a 5 minute half-time break.

3) Players on the field shall range from 4 – 5 aside with everyone playing…no substitutions unless the two opposing teams are way out of balance.

4) Tennis shoes or soft-cleated soccer shoes are recommended. Shin guards are highly recommended.

5) Coaches are on the field during the games…instructing, supporting and serving as the refs.

6) Coaches are NOT permitted to kick the ball, interfere with play, or even be close to the ball once the game begins (the coaches size can be an intimidating/inhibiting factor to the children).

7) To begin play, opponents must be 5 yards away during the kickoff. The ball must be played forward and can’t be touched by the initial kicker until first touched by another player. Re-start if necessary.

8) When one team kicks the ball out of bounds on a sideline or end-line, the other coach should select a player to throw the ball in using a soccer throw-in…do not look for perfection…let the kids have fun throwing it in over their heads.

9) To score, the ball must completely cross the line in the goal…do NOT keep score or emphasize the score…do NOT run up the score against your opponent.

10) Only flagrant fouls or uncontrolled charging of an opponent should be addressed. Players should be approached individually…the foul should be explained while another ball is thrown in by the coach and the play continues.

11) No free kicks, penalty kicks, goal kicks or corner kicks…no off-sides.

12) No goal keeper on defense…no “cherry-pickers” on offense. The coach should designate two lines of players – front line and back line. Players must play in both lines during each game, thus beginning to learn how to play more in positions (rather than all over the field as is customary in the PK/K league). Coaches may not load up a team to either run up a score or unfairly prevent the opponent from scoring. The mission is to keep the game moving, creating a free-flow style of play. Players should not be restricted from going to the ball UNLESS that player has been deliberately placed in a position because he/she had been dominating play and/or scoring too many goals at-will.

13) The rule is, indeed to have two lines. This does not, however, mean that the defense is supposed to stay back by the goal while the forwards advance and try to score. Both lines can and should advance down the field to try to score…and move back as their opponent re-gains control of the ball. That’s where the “players should not be restricted from going to the ball” comes in. It’s hard thing to teach a young child… but we want 1st graders to avoid ending up in a mass of players all kicking at the ball together (like the PK/K when we are just wanting kids to get a feel for being on the field and learning to develop some basic understandings of the game)…that’s why we begin to introduce the two lines…and begin to teach them to pass side to side, front to back, back to front…the 2 lines helps the player begin to see that soccer is a game of space…and passing…and teamwork.

14) The time indicated on your schedule is the time when your session begins on the mini fields. You will practice for 20 – 30 minutes…then divide up and play a game against your opponent for the remaining 30+ minutes of your session.

Copyright 2012 DYYA Soccer. All rights reserved.