Managers Handbook

Big Lake Soccer AssociationSeptember 2009

Created by Danni Olson

Duties

• Keep and update all player passes with player pictures.

• Inform players of all schedules, practice and games.

• Handout and collect MYSA medical forms and any other paperwork outstanding.– Players may not take the field unless MYSA

medical release forms are submitted.

Managers Duties (cont.)

• Manager duty: – Snack chart – does your team want this every

practice game or both –discuss with team parents– Manager duties, weekly newsletter needs to go

out to each parent. These can be emailed. (Can get a parent volunteer to do this).

Player Paper Work

• Player paper work needed to be signed and handed in before playing– Medical release form– Player code of ethics– Parent code of ethics– Image release form

• See Attachments

• BLSA PARENT CODE OF CONDUCT• As a parent, you play a special role in contributing to the needs and development of youngsters.• Through your encouragement and good example, you can help assure that all the boys and girls learn good sportsmanship and self-discipline. In the BLSA Soccer Club,

young people learn to work together, to sacrifice for the good of the team, to enjoy winning and deal appropriately with defeat - all while becoming physically fit and healthy. Best of all, they have fun.

• Support You’re Child• Supporting your child by giving encouragement and showing interest in their team is very important.• Help your child work toward skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game. Teach your child that hard work and an honest effort are often more important

than victory - that way your child will always be a winner despite the outcome of the game!• Always Be Positive• Parents serve as role models for their children. Become aware of this and work to be a positive role model. Applaud good plays by your child's team as well as good

plays by the opposing team.• Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from youth sports activities.• Remember: Your Child Wants To Have Fun• Remember that your child is the one playing soccer, not you. It's very important to let children establish their own goals - to play the game for themselves. Take care

not to impose your own standards and goals on them.• Don't put too heavy a burden on your child to win games. Surveys reveal that 72% of children would rather play for a losing team than ride the bench for a winning

team.• Children play for the fun of playing.• Reinforce Positive Behavior• Positive reinforcement is the best way to help your child achieve their goals and their natural fear of failure. Nobody likes to make mistakes. If your child does make

one, remember its all part of learning, so encourage your child's efforts and point out the good things your child accomplished.• Don't Be a Sideline Coach or Referee• Coaches and referees are usually parents just like you. They volunteer their time to help make your child's youth soccer experience a positive one. They need your

support too.• That means refraining from coaching or refereeing from the sidelines or arguing with players or parents from opponent’s team. As a volunteer organization, there's

usually always an opportunity for you to take your interest in coaching or refereeing to the next level and become one yourself!• If you are not able to abide by the rules set forth by the BLSA soccer club, you may be subject to sanctions determined by the club. These sanctions may include, but

are not limited too the following:• Asked to leave sidelines for game by referee.• Suspension from sidelines for remaining games during the season, playoffs included.• Suspension from the club, and any club sanctioned activity, for an amount of time to be determined by the club and the board.•

Signature•• Parent(s)/Guardian Date•• Coach/Assistant Coach Date• PACT Training Session:• Date attended:• Location:• Attendance Verification Provided:

• BIG LAKE SOCCER ASSOCIATION• CODE OF ETHICS• I will be aware that I have a tremendous influence, for either good or ill, on the education of the student athlete and, thus, will never place the value is winning above

the value of instilling the highest ideals of character.• I will demonstrate the honor and dignity of the Big Lake Soccer Association at all times when I am in contact with student-athletes, officials, athletic directors, school

administrators, the Big Lake Soccer Association, the media, and the public.• I will take an active role in the prevention of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse.• I will master the contest rules and will teach them to my team members. I will not seek an advantage by circumvention of the spirit or letter of the rules.• I will exert my influence to enhance sportsmanship by spectators, athletes, and other coaches both directly and by working with members of the association and all

parties affiliated with the program.• I will respect and support contest officials, program directors, coaches, and all teams. I will not indulge in conduct that would incite players or spectators to rally

against the officials, program directors, coaches or teams. I believe public criticism of officials, players, program directors or coaches is unethical. I will meet and exchange greetings before and after the game to set the correct tone for the event.

• I will not exert pressure on faculty members to give student-athletes special consideration.• I will demonstrate respectable behavior before, during and following competitions at home events or while away at other communities and discourage others from

behaving inappropriately.• My signature below confirms my agreement to the above-stated “Code of Ethics”. As a coach/assistant coach/parent involved in the Big Lake Soccer Association

program, I agree to maintain and demonstrate good sportsmanship to all players, coaches, spectators, and members of the Big Lake Soccer Association. I acknowledge that disrespectful behavior such as taunting or criticism of players, coaches, and game officials is unacceptable at any level. I understand that should this behavior be demonstrated (on or off the field), the Program Director/BLSA Board Members will remove the offending player(s), coaches or spectators from participation until such a time that the BLSA Soccer board can be assured no further problems will occur.

• FIFA Player Code of Conduct•

Play the game for the game's sake. • Be generous when you win. • Be graceful when you lose. • Be fair always no matter what the cost. • Obey the laws of the game. • Work for the good of your team. • Accept the decisions of the officials with good grace. • Believe in the honesty of your opponents. • Conduct yourself with honor and dignity.

•• Parent(s)/Guardian Date•• Participant Date•• Coach/Assistant Coach Date

Players Passes

• Player pass must have current photo and be signed by player.

• Get individual photo for player pass – ask parent for this photo

• Teams can snap pictures at team meetings.• Player pass must be laminated, this is the manager’s

responsibility.

Player Passes (cont.)

• MYSA creates the player pass. They will be distributed to the team managers at the team manager meeting.

• MYSA has a team manager meeting, which all mangers must attend.

Game Schedules

• Game schedules will be release approximately a week before games begin.– Create a calendar and inform players and parents

of games and practices and tournaments.• Home games: All players should arrive one half hour

before game begins.• Away games: All players should arrive one half hour

before game begins.

Game Wear

• Uniforms: girls need to have a tank top and spandex bike shorts or under armor, under their uniforms in case the uniform needs to be changed.

• Boys need to have spandex bike shorts or under armor under their uniforms in case uniform needs to be changed.

• Player must have approved soccer cleats– No metal cleats or spikes on soccer shoes

Game Wear (Cont.)

Managers duty: Must contact opponent team to find out uniform color for the game. It is Always the home teams responsibility. If the uniforms are the same color, the home team must change uniforms.– Check soccer website for opposing team to see if

pictures of opposing teams jerseys.

Jamboree and Tournaments

• The manager needs to:• Know the registration deadlines • It is managers/coach/parents responsibility to

get the team signed up for the Jamboree and/or tournaments.

• Club will cut check, providing all monies have been turned in.

End of Season Party

• Manager should deligate a parent to coordinate date for end of season party.

• Manager responsibility to remind team parents to help volunteer with party

• This is not paid for by the soccer association.• Manager should work with Parent Volunteer

coordination.– You can find a volunteer to do this and it counts

toward volunteer hours

Game Roster

• Manager Responsibility :Game roster (unless coach insists on having responsibility).

• Game roster can be accessed at:– www.mnyouthsoccer.org– Members/services– Manager– Team Managers– forms

Competitive Match report• Scroll down to Rosters• Competitive Match Report– Type able– Can be SAVED– Hint: fill out all player names, registration (ID numbers,

player pass number), Jersey number– Changes needed, in the upper box: date played, master

game number, opponent, field code.– Hint do all games at once, print each game off before

starting new game information. Put in personal printed game folder.

– ID number is on the player pass.

Competitive Match Report (cont.)

• Home game match reports:• Make sure an adult, either manager, coach or

assistant coach must sign the match report.– Must happen Before the referee check in the

players.

Home Team Responsibility

• Home game team always hands the referee a envelope with postage to be addressed to MYSA. Referee will mail both rosters to MYSA after the game.

• Addresses for the MYSA envelope:– MYSA– Match Reports– 11577 Oncore Circle– Minnetonka, MN 55343

Home Team Responsibility (cont.)

• Return address on the envelope– BLSA– P.O. Box 391– Big Lake MN 55309

– We are only responsible for the envelope for your teams HOME games.

– Club will provide envelopes and postage.

Referee Check In At Games

• Player must not wear (must be removed during game):– Jewelry– Watches– No metal hair accessories

– Player must have: – Correct jersey and jersey color on– Shin guards– Socks pulled over shin guards

Referee Check In (cont)

– If the manager believes player is still coming but is not on the field yet, please inform the referee to not cross them off the roster.

– If you have double numbers on your team use tape and put a 1 in front or behind the double number.

– Leave tape in coaches bag.

Game Score Keeping

Referee is NOT responsible for keeping score of game.

Manager/parent coordinator will be responsible to hand stat sheet out to a parent to keep stats and score during each game.

• See Attachments

Weather

• Games will be played in the rain– Referee will call the game for thunder and lighting– There will be a twenty minute waiting period,

game will resume if weather passes.• Everyone should Show UP to game.• Warm weather rule: If temperatures are

extremely hot warm weather rules apply.– More water breaks will be given during the game– See Attachments

MYSA Weather Guidelines[Updated: 03/04/2009]

Approved by Executive Committee with the authority of the Youth Council 05/08/02Amended July 14, 2002Weather conditions

• MYSA Weather Guidelines• [Updated: 03/04/2009] • Approved by Executive Committee with the authority of the Youth Council 05/08/02

Amended July 14, 2002Weather conditions are the responsibility of the game officials, coaches, tournament directors and club administrators. All should be aware of the potential dangers posed by different weather conditions and work together to keep the players and other participants as safe as possible. If the weather conditions warrant, game officials and coaches should discuss before the game starts what the procedures will be to insure the safety of the players. Tournament directors should monitor weather conditions including the warnings and watches issued by the National Weather Service. In the event of sudden changes, the tournament directors should have a means of sending warnings to the site officials. A weather plan should be provided to the participating teams to allow a clear understanding of shelter locations, evacuation plans and how the weather will affect tournament results. Club administrators should perform similar functions for league play.Technology has improved the monitoring capability for all concerned. Weather radios are relatively inexpensive and provide virtually instant information on alerts, watches and warnings. Lightning detectors can take the guesswork out of how far away lightning is. Cell phones and two-way radios can meet communication requirements to implement weather plans.

• Preliminary ConcernsIt is strongly recommended that clubs purchase weather radios and have them available for on site monitoring. Lightning detectors are recommended also. Coaches may wish to consider obtaining their own weather radios .Rec Plus and competitive league play obviously involves travel. Conditions in one location may be very different from another, especially the further apart the two locations are. The coaches are responsible for keeping informed of the weather conditions at home, along their route to the game and at the game site. The coaches are also responsible for communications with the opposing coach and their own team in the event of inclement weather. Discussions between the coaches must provide for common sense to prevail. The Competitive Representative must be informed of any games affected by inclement weather.Tournament directors should provide participating teams with the weather guidelines for the tournament. Some things to consider are:

How are games affected? Is a game complete at the half? Half plus 1 minute? Will subsequent games be shortened? Are refunds available in the event games are cancelled for weather? How will standings be determined if some teams' games are cancelled and no time is

available to make them up?

Severe StormsSevere storms can produce high winds, hail, heavy rain, lightning and/or tornados. If a severe storm approaches

the playing area, the safety of the players is the number one priority of coaches and referees and may require that the game be suspended while shelter is sought. In the event the game is suspended ALL participants MUST clear the field immediately and move into their cars or other permanent shelter.High winds can create problems by dust and debris being in the air or blowing over objects. Hail can cause injury. Heavy rain can create hazardous field conditions or lead to flash flooding. Lightning is discussed separately. Tornados are obvious dangers of any severe storm. Use common sense and seek shelter as appropriate.

Lightning (Remember the Rule of 30/30)Lightning is the second leading cause of storm related deaths (flooding is first). Lightning can strike up to 10 miles outside of a thunderstorm, literally a bolt from the blue. The danger from lightning can persist for 20-30 minutes or more after a thunderstorm has passed. The National Weather Service does not issue watches or warnings for lightning by itself. However the National Weather Service does advise that if you see a lightning bolt and hear the thunder in 30 seconds or less, you must seek shelter and wait 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activity.If a person can hear thunder, or see lightning, the danger already is present. A clear, sunny sky overhead with storm clouds nearby can still be dangerous.Referees and Coaches should adhere to the following guidelines:

If lightning is within 5 miles, the game(s) should be suspended and shelter sought. A lightning detector can identify the distance accurately but may not be available. A rough guideline is to measure the time between the lightning flash and hearing the corresponding thunder. If it is 30 seconds or less, seek shelter. It may not be possible to determine which lightning strike generated which roll of thunder. A simple rule: If you can hear it, clear it!

Shelter should be in larger, enclosed structures. Smaller, open structures, tents, trees, isolated areas, etc, should be avoided. Cars, with windows rolled up, or buses can provide good shelter. Avoid contact with metal or other conducting materials to the outside surfaces. Do not stay in open, unprotected areas.

Games should not be restarted for at least 30 minutes after the last roll of thunder is heard. Tournaments should inform participating teams of notification and evacuation plans and shelters near the

playing sites.

Heat is a problem when it prevents the body from cooling itself. The hotter the body gets, the more likely it is to increase fatigue levels, develop cramps, and increase the possibility of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The hotter and more humid the weather, the faster these problems can develop. Temperatures as low as 65 degrees, with a relative humidity of 100%, can be serious.A heat index chart should be given to every coach and referee. Games need to be adjusted as the heat index rises:

Mandatory water breaks Go to quarters Shorten the games Provide training to coaches to teach the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Club administrators and tournament officials are responsible for monitoring the heat index (by weather radio, online or the Weather Channel) and keeping the participating teams and game officials informed of the heat index. Coaches are encouraged to also monitor the conditions.

Hot Weather GuidelinesThe following are recommended minimum guidelines when there is a possibility of

dangerous high heat index:Heat IndexRecommended Guidelines Up to 89° Normal Play90° - 99°Mandatory 2-

minute water breaks per half with running time.Each half shortened by 5 minutes.100° - 105° Mandatory 2-minute water breaks per half with running time.Each half shortened by 10 minutes.105°+Suspend play.

Please check the USA Today web site for additional information in regards to how temperature and humidity combine to make it feel hotter.Other Links:

Minnesota Weather Roundup (updated hourly by the National Weather Service)

ColdFor fall play, cold becomes a factor. Players should be allowed to dress in appropriate clothing. Field conditions will be affected by freezing rain, sleet and snow. The ground may become frozen and be unsafe for play.

Cold Weather GuidelinesTemperature means either ambient (still air) or wind chill index. Check weather radio

frequently for temperature and weather conditions. Cold IndexRecommended Guidelines 46° and higherNo Change 45° and lower Allowable Additional Clothing:Layered beneath uniform (for example)

- long sleeves- long Pants- additional socks Gloves or mittens Stocking caps without straps Sweat pants or shirts [MYSA Rule 7.4.1.f] In the case of extremely cold weather, may be worn underneath the uniform, provided the entire team uses the same color sweats Jacketsmay be worn under the uniform so that referees can see the player's number in the event of a card being issued.

Clothing NOT Allowed:Hooded sweatshirts- hoods and strings present possibility of being grabbed Ear muffs (headbands OK)plastic or metal part crossing top of head presents potential hazard ScarvesIsadora Duncan Syndrome

40° and lowerShorten games 5 min/half 35° and lowerSuspend games

Absences from Games/Practice

It is important the parent inform the manager if your player will not be attending game.The team will be fined if there are not enough players on the field.– Example if game/match is played with six players,

six players must be on the field or the BLSA is fined.

– Frequent violation fines will be passed on to parents.

Background Checks

• ALL managers, coaches, assistant coaches, anyone with contact with minors on the field must be background checked.

• MANAGER is not responsible to make sure everyone has the background check completed.

• No adult pass unless you have been Background checked.

Background Check Instructions

• WWW.mnyouthsoccer.org– Log in

Look on the right side of screenLook for the words QUICK LINKS in redScroll down to background checkClick on Background check

Instructions- national backgroundPlease read the PDF instructions before beginning the background check.

Background Check Inst. (cont.)

• Scroll to bottom click on “True Background screening”

• Someone from the BLSA will give you password and further instructions.

Parent Responsibility

• Provide photo of player for player pass• Parent responsibility- need to inform manager

of any practices or games your child will NOT be attending. Manager needs to make this clear to parents on the first practice.

• Home games: All players should arrive one half hour before game begins.

• Away games: All players should arrive one half hour before game begins.

Volunteer Hours

• Parent volunteer hour form:• Example of volunteer hours– Keep stats/score– Send out weekly team newsletter– See Attachments