•  All coaches, players and spectators should be along the SIDELINES during games, not at the endlines.

•  In the Junior and Senior Divisions, parents and spectators should be on one sideline, with coaches and players on the opposite sideline (see the map on the reverse side.)

•  Coaches, parents, and players should NOT be DIRECTING play or YELLING from the sidelines. Coaches should communicate with their players while the players are resting on the sidelines, not during the game/scrimmage.  This coaching from the sidelines is distracting to all on the playing field.

•  The REFEREE (or Coach acting as Referee) will control the field of play with the appropriate calls; assistant coaches and/or parents may help with the out of bounds, but the referee has the final say.

•  No SLIDE TACKLING;  if slide tackling occurs, it will result in a direct kick for the other team.

•  All players should receive EQUAL playing time;  Goalkeeping duties should be shared by at least FOUR players in one game.

•  FUN and GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP are the guiding principles of Hingham Youth Soccer.

Equipment

• All players must wear shin guards, completely covered by soccer socks, during practice and game time in order to be allowed to participate.
• Players may wear soccer cleats or sneakers.  Soccer cleats are preferred because they provide better traction, but they are not required.
• Each player should bring a size 3 ball to all games (one will be given to them by HYS at the start of the fall season).
• Each player should bring a water bottle to all games. 

Practice

Fun and activity are the key considerations at this age.  Development of the basic skills of kicking, passing, and dribbling should be presented in fun small-sided games and situations.  The first half of the allotted time each game day should be used for practice.

Some key things to keep in mind when running a practice for kindergartners and first graders:

• All players should have a ball and any time spent sitting and listening or waiting in line should be kept to a minimum. 
• The kids should be kept active as much as possible to hold their attention and keep them having fun. 
• Activities should involve fun group games like sharks and minnows, small scrimmage type games designed to work on a specific skill such as dribbling or passing, or skills development drills involving pairing off with partners. 

Games

The game format will be 4 vs 4 with no goalie and no referee.  Below is a list of the rules and guidelines that should be followed by all coaches and explained to players and parents.

• Games are for fun. No score is kept.
• Field Setup - Coaches must mark the playing field boundaries with orange disks and/or cones and mark the goals with large orange cones, which will be provided to the coaches at the beginning of the fall season (there are no painted lines or fixed goals on the fields).  Field size is determined by the coaches based on player age and size.  Suggested field size for Kindergarteners is roughly 70 feet long and 40 feet wide with 10-foot wide goals, and First Graders 100 feet long and 70 feet wide with 10-foot wide goals.
• Out of Bounds - Field boundaries as marked by the disks are loosely observed and coaches should encourage players to move play back on to the field when it goes out of bounds.  Coaches should GENTLY direct the ball back in bounds to neutral territory when possible.  If the ball goes too far out of bounds, the coach should stop play, order all players back on to the field, then have one player on the team that deserves possession KICK the ball back in to play.
• Coaches on the Field - Only one coach needs to be on the field during the game to facilitate restarts and keep play moving.
• Restarts after Goals are Scored - When goals are scored, play should stop, both teams should return to their side of the field, and possession should be given at the middle of the field to the team that was scored on.
• Hand Balls - There is no penalty for a player touching the ball with their hands.  Coaches should simply remind the player not to touch the ball and continue play.
• Playing Time – All players should be given an equal amount of playing time each game unless they do not want to for some reason.  Rotate players often, at least every few minutes, so that no one gets too tired or too bored.
• Rough Play - Rough play such as shoving and slide tackling is not allowed and players who do such things should be reminded of this by their coach and, if necessary, removed temporarily from the game.
• Inclement Weather – Games will be played in the rain unless it is extremely heavy.  Only thunder and/or lightning will delay or cancel games.  The games should be delayed for 20 minutes after each flash of lightning to insure player safety.

EQUIPMENT 

• All players must wear shin guards completely covered by soccer socks.
• All players should wear their team shirt, shorts and socks.  Coaches will have some soccer balls; however, it is recommended that each player bring a soccer ball.
• Players may wear soccer cleats or sneakers.  Soccer cleats are preferred because they provide better traction, but they are not required.
• Each player should bring a water bottle to all games and practices.
• A size 4 soccer ball is used at the age.

FIELDS 

• JUNIORS (2nd graders) play at Union Street Fields
• SENIORS (3rd and 4th graders) play at Union Street Fields
• All fields are lined, marking the sidelines, end lines, goalkeeper’s box, and mid-field line.

GAMES/PRACTICES

• All games and scrimmages are for fun.  No scores or standings are kept by HYS.

FALL SEASON 

• GAMES are held on SATURDAYS.
• Each Senior team will have one weekday practice, determined by your coach
• Junior teams may have a fall practice; practice time will be determined by the coach.
• Saturday sessions:  The first 15-20 minutes of the session should involve an individual team warm-up, focusing on the various skills of the game, such as dribbling, passing, goalkeeping, ball control, shooting.   Saturday games consist of four 12-minute quarters, or two 25-minute halves, with a five minute break at half-time.
• One coach should act as the referee, with the other coaches assisting on the sideline (off the field) with the sidelines/out of bounds balls.

SPRING SEASON 

• GAMES are held on SATURDAYS.
• Both Juniors and Seniors will have ONE WEEKDAY PRACTICE.
• Saturday sessions:  The first 15-20 minutes of the session should involve an individual team warm-up, focusing on the various skills of the game, such as dribbling, passing, goalkeeping, ball control, shooting.   Saturday games consist of four 12-minute quarters, or two 25-minute halves, with a five minute break at half-time.
• In the Junior Division, one coach should be the field ref, with the other coaches/assistant coaches assisting (not on the field of play) with the out-of-bounds calls.  HYS attempts to have youth referees handle the games in the Senior Division, but coaches are also needed to referee the game.

GUIDELINES / RULES OF THE GAME FOR JUNIORS and SENIORS

1. Juniors play 6 versus 6 (5 field players and one goalie)
2. Seniors play 7 versus 7 (6 field players and one goalie).
3. Basic Rules: PLAY THE BALL, NOT THE PERSON.  NO SLIDE TACKLING, NO PUSHING, NO TRIPPING, NO HOLDING, NO PLAYING THE BALL WHILE ON THE GROUND, NO HANDS (except goalie in the goalie box).  These fouls will result in an indirect kick or direct kick for the other team.
4. Substitution Times: Players may enter the game at these times:  (a) goal kicks; (b) your own throw-in; (c) after a score; (d) at start of a quarter or half; (e) when a player is removed because of an injury.
5. No coaches should be on the field during game time.  Coaches and resting players should be at least one yard back from the sidelines.  [Note:  The coach acting as referee should be the only adult on the field of play.]
6. Both teams should be on the same side of the field, at midfield, not along the endlines.
7. Spectators should be on the sidelines, not on end lines or near the goals.
8. Every player must play at least 50% of game.  Coaches should strive to provide equal time for all players.
9. Rotate players as goalkeepers, preferably having a player as a keeper for no more than the equivalent of a quarter of the game (i.e. 4 different goalies per game).
10. Rotate players through defensive and offensive positions, regardless of their preference and/or your preference.
11. Coaching or directing play from the sidelines (as a coach or spectator) is not necessary; it is DISTRACTING to the players.  Feedback to the players should be POSITIVE and ENCOURAGING, while they are not in the game.
12. At the end of the game, both teams (players and coaches) should line up at mid-field to shake hands and say “good game.”

SOCCER TERMS

1. KICK-OFF - When:  (a) At the start of the game; (b) At the start of the second half; or (c) After a goal is scored.  The ball must be passed forward, one rotation, and then touched by another player, for the ball to be in play.
   a) Kicking Team: Players may be positioned anywhere on their side of field up to the mid-field line.  The ball is kicked from the mid-point of mid-field line.
   b) Defending Team: Players may be positioned anywhere on their side of the field up to the mid-field line, but outside of the center circle (roughly 4-6 yards away from kicking team).
2. GOAL KICK - When an offensive player touches the ball over the defensive end line, the defensive team is awarded possession of the ball.  The ball is then kicked by a defensive player from the penalty area, usually from one of the corners furthest from the goal.  Any defensive player may make the kick.  Opposing players must stand at least 8 yards from the ball.
3. CORNER KICK - When a defensive player touches the ball over the defensive end line, the offensive team is awarded possession of the ball.  The ball is then kicked by an offensive player from the corner formed by the sideline and defensive end line.  Any offensive player may make the kick. Opposing players must stand at least 8 yards from the ball.
4. THROW-IN - When a player from one team causes a ball to move outside one of the sidelines, possession is awarded to the opposing team.  The ball is then thrown in by an opposing team player from outside the sideline.  The player must use both hands and must deliver the ball from behind and over.  Both of the player's feet must remain on the ground during the throw in. his/her head
5. FOULS include: Pushing, holding, tripping, slide tackling, playing the ball while on the ground, obstruction, and.  Fouls or intentional handballs result in a DIRECT KICK at the point of the infraction.  Playing the ball while on the ground and obstruction result in an INDIRECT KICK, meaning that one other player, other than the kicker, must touch the ball before it can enter the goal.  A DIRECT KICK may go directly into the net.  intentionally kicking another player
6. INTENTIONAL HANDBALLS:  No Penalty kicks are awarded in the Junior and Senior divisions.  Rather, a direct kick is awarded just outside of the penalty box where the handball occurred.
7. Absolutely no verbal abuse will be tolerated by the referee.  Any player or coach who engages in unsportsman-like behavior will be asked to leave the game and field.

FIELD GUIDE FOR COACHES, PLAYERS AND SPECTATORS

TEAM # 1                                 TEAM #2

                      field of play
 

                    SPECTATORS