Coach Checklist

1. ASAP, ask an assistant coach, team manager and assistant manager to officially apply for Coach Passes (league picture ID card). Plan to have at least 2 adults with coach passes every game.

2. Have each player and adult personally sign their individual Pass before you have Passes laminated on both sides.

3. Suggestion: Organize player and coach passes by punching a small hole in the corner of each laminated card and keep them on a metal ring.

4. Get a dozen official Game Cards (used for CYSA Game and Referee Report) from your registrar or the Blue Barn at Catalfo Fields.

5. Remember to have your roster (aka, game card) printed out and ready for the referee at the beginning of the game. For instructions go to the page Rosters & Game Cards

1. ASAP, notify opposing coach, referee, referee assignor Jerry Nelson,jertheluddite@netzero.net), and appropriate league official if your team will not be able to play at the scheduled location and time.

2. Home team coach should prepare the Game Card so that it is ready for the visiting team to fill in or attach their roster to the card at the field.

3. Have parents help players remember to remove all jewelry, watches, or improper equipment or bandages, While a doctor’s written permission might help, the referee is the final judge of equipment safety.

4. Have parents help players remember shin guards, alternate colored jersey, and appropriate cleats (baseball cleats with front toe cleat are not allowed).

5. “No Pass, no play.” Double check that you have packed the official Passes for players and coaches and the players’ Medical Release forms in the green envelopes.

6. Pack two different colored, distinctly marked, goal keeper shirts that will likely not be similar to either team’s jersey colors.

7. Pack 6 to 8 tent stakes and a hammer in case the goal posts or net need to be better secured for safety. Also, pack a couple of small orange or yellow cones or disks in case a broken sprinkler head or other dangerous field condition needs be marked.

Pre-Game

1. Coaches inspect the field, flags, and goal posts for safety.

2. Home Coach provides visiting Coach with game card for completion of roster information and signature.

3. Home coach must have team change shirt color if both teams show up in the same or similar colors.

4. Goalie shirt colors should be distinguishable from all other players’ shirt colors on both teams and from the referees.

5. In the absence of a neutral, licensed Referee, the two team coaches should agree on which coach or team official will act as, or share in acting as, the official referee for the game, That person(s) should act as closely as possible according to the conduct expected of league-assigned referees, including team and field inspections, game card management, communications, and spectator behavior.

6. Coach attends referee’s inspection of team and assists Referee with roster and player pass comparisons.

7. Coach identifies team captain to the referee for the coin toss and instructs team captain on preferred field position depending on the coin toss outcome.

8. Remember to check that your players are not wearing jewelry. No tapped earrings please.

During the Game

1. Team manager should continually remind coaches, parents., players, and spectators to remain 3 feet back from touch line, all to one side of the half line, away from the corners and goal area.

2. Maintain positive behavior. No one yells at referee or disputes calls or distracts referee with questions about time, etc.

3. Coaches can yell “Substitution” or “Injury” to the referee. Better still, let the AR (if present) on your side know when you want to substitute and the AR will signal the referee. In either case, have your substitutes ready and waiting at the halfway line prior to asking for a substitution.

After the Game

1. Return flags (if any) to referee and receive game ball.

2. Get Player Passes from Referee, and the Referee gives winning team coach (home coach if a tie) the Signed Game Card to mall in during the next 48 hours.

3. Teams must leave the field once the scheduled game is over, forfeited, or cancelled. Unscheduled practices, games, or scrimmages are not allowed even if the next time slot is open or time remains in the current slot.

4. Clean up any trash in the area, even if you are not sure it is yours.