(Albuquerque PSA)
(Revised
9/8/06)
(Do not lose these policies! You
will need to refer to them throughout the season.)
PSA
teaches soccer. We do so by having
trained paid instructors guide each player through skills events prior to each
game as well as coach both teams on the field during games throughout each
season (please see “Instructors/Referees” for more info).
PSA does not, however,
provide someone to facilitate weekday practices or a person to substitute
players during the games on weekends. We
rely on parent volunteers for this. These
parent volunteers are commonly referred to as “coach” although PSA does not
require parents to teach soccer to the children.
Every parent on a PSA team is equally responsible for finding a person to
facilitate team functions. If a
parent volunteer chooses to instruct the players of his or her team then PSA
will provide that “coach” with a written copy of the PSA format, a guide
including practice suggestions, to any parent that wishes to use it.
That parent will also be scheduled into one of our coaches’ orientation
sessions at no charge. These
sessions are scheduled prior to the beginning of every PSA season.
PSA administrators will demonstrate of all of the skills events that the
children will be doing throughout the season and open the floor to Q & A at
the end. PSA is the perfect
opportunity for parents with an interest in coaching to do so without the
pressure of having to be an expert in soccer.
Parents can easily learn along with their children.
Rest assured that each registered player in PSA will be taught solid
soccer skills each season by qualified staff.
It is possible that newly registered players be placed on a returning
team that already has a parent volunteer facilitator.
Volunteer
coaches in PSA are not paid and
shall not be considered
representatives of the league.
Anyone
may volunteer for the roll of “coach” for their respective team.
An older sibling, a grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, etc. may facilitate
your child’s team if they so choose. PSA
reserves the right to conduct a thorough background check of any and all coaches
without notice.
Coaches
are welcome on the field of
play during games. The reason for
this is that we want PSA games to be the highest possible quality of instruction
to the children. There are certain
restrictions however. Each team is
limited to a single person on the field to assist in coaching and that person
must not interfere with game play such as inadvertently standing in front of a
goal. PSA instructors may ask the
coach to stay off of the field if he or she interferes with the game.
PSA administrators have the final say in these matters, no exceptions.
Traditionally
the team rep. will organize the snack schedule, end of the season party, and/or
any “fun” awards. This is not
a requirement however. Each PSA team
must have at least one person to act as a communication link between the team
and the league office. There are
over 150 teams in PSA; it is not possible to contact every parent of every child
within the league when information needs to be distributed in a timely manner.
It is much faster and more efficient to have a PSA administrator contact
a single person from each team with important information.
That person will then in turn contact his or her team and relay this
information. This is what we ask of
a team representative. PSA does not
appoint anyone as a team rep. It is
up to parents to volunteer for this.
The
PSA
will not conduct weekday
practices. Any practice
that your team conducts is at your teams’ discretion.
This includes time, day (s) and location.
Every team in PSA
is authorized to use any and all public parks and schools in the city of
On
every game day (Saturday) each child will have two events to complete with his
or her team. These events are basic
skills drills. The events are
instructed by paid PSA
staff on the game field prior to your scheduled game.
These events will differ for each age group and change from week to week.
Each child shall receive prize coupons for participation in these events.
These coupons are redeemable at a prize table that is set up at the park
every week. There will be no extra
charge for prizes. Children not
participating in the skills events will not
be given coupons…no exceptions.
In
the case of bad weather please call PSA
at 888-8880. There will be an out
going message that states games are canceled if indeed they are.
If there is not an outgoing message canceling games then expect to play!
In the case of a rain out or cancellation for any other reason please
contact your coach or team representative directly for specific make up date and
time. PSA will attempt to make up all cancellations
due to weather.
Each team will be issued a team
number. This number is assigned to
the team only after it is formed, post registration.
It is up to each individual team to come up with your own team name
(scorpions, beavers, etc.). PSA
will not reference each team by name. All
scheduling, roster info, etc. will be tracked by team number not
by name. Know your team number!
PSA
will refund the registration fee only when all possible solutions to any problem
(s) have been exhausted, no sooner. PSA
reserves the right to declare a refund or further pursuit of a solution.
If you do not wish to participate in finding a solution to a problem then
you willfully forfeit your right to a refund.
If you register your child and for one reason or another do not attend
practices or games then it is up to you to notify PSA
directly in order to pursue a possible refund.
If the season is underway there will not be a full refund regardless of
your reason to withdraw.
Failure to find an acceptable person to facilitate team functions (coach
or team representative) does not
entitle you to a refund. No part of
the registration fee applies to parent volunteers or weekday practices.
There
is a $15 fee for any checks written to PSA that for one reason or another do not clear your financial
institution. If your check bounces
and payment arrangements are not made immediately then your child will be
removed from his or her team. If
full payment is not received within 30 days of the date on the check then the
matter will be turned over to the District Attorneys office and pursued as a
worthless check crime.
The
only required piece of equipment that your child will need is shin guards.
PSA highly recommends soccer cleats to be
worn at practices and games but does not require them.
All goals, balls, etc, at the PSA
games will be provided by PSA. The practice
that is run by a volunteer parent from your team will require, at minimum, one
soccer ball. The ball size for all
age groups up to 4th grade is size 3.
The ball size for 4th grade and higher is size 4.
You, the parent, are responsible for bringing water and sunblock for your
child. PSA
is not responsible for sun burn, dehydration, etc.
The
children are grouped into separate age divisions according to grade and sex.
If need be your child may be placed on a co-ed team rather than all male
or female. Also if need be some
divisions may be combined for better scheduling.
Pre-K
& Kindergarten: The
length of each game is 35 minutes (Two 15 min. halves with a 5 min. halftime).
There are 3 players per team (6 total) on the field at a time.
There are no goalkeepers* (goalies) in this age group.
All teams in this division are coed. Rosters in this age group are a
maximum of seven (7) munchkins.
1st
grade: Game
length for this age group is 47 minutes (20 min. halves with a 7 min. halftime).
There are 4 players per team (8 total) on the field at a time.
There shall be one goalkeeper* playing in the game per team, who shall be
counted as one of the 4. Rosters in
this age group are a maximum of eight (8) munchkins.
2nd
& 3rd grades: Game
length for this age group is 47 minutes (20 min. halves with a 7 min. halftime).
There are 5 players per team (10 total) on the field at a time.
There shall be one goalkeeper* playing in the game per team, who shall be
counted as one of the 5. Rosters in
this age group are a maximum of ten (10) munchkins.
4th
grade: This
age group plays 60 minutes (25 min. halves with a 10 min. halftime).
There are 6 players per team (12 total) on the field at a time.
There will be one goalkeeper* playing in the game per team.
The goalkeeper counts as one of the 6.
Rosters in this age group are a maximum of twelve (12) munchkins.
5th
grade and above: Games in this
division are 60 minutes (25 min. halves
with a 10 min. halftime). There are6
players per team (12 total) on the field at a time.
There will be one goalkeeper* playing in the game per team.
The goalkeeper counts as one of the 6.
Rosters in this age group are a maximum of twelve (12) munchkins.
*Goalkeeper:
A player in a defensive position who is allowed to pick up the ball with
his/her hands within the penalty box. This
is the only player on the field who is permitted to do so.
Also referred to as a “goalie”.
It
is traditional to bring orange slices for half time, drinks (soda, juice, etc)
and snacks for after the game. If
you wish to do such then it is up to you and your team to make a schedule for
which family brings which refreshments on which days.
The task of organizing the snack schedule usually falls upon the team
rep. and sometimes the coach but it is the shared responsibility of the entire
team to complete the snack schedule. PSA
assumes no responsibility for this schedule.
The
substituting of players is done freely. The
ball does not have to be out of bounds to sub.
You (team parent, coach, whomever) do not
have to get the permission of the referee to make a substitution.
PSA
requires all team members that show up for a game have an equal amount of
playing opportunity. The “coach”
or team rep. will monitor the amount of time played on any given day or a person
designated to do such on your team. PSA will not keep track of individual
playing time. There are, however,
exceptions to this rule. For
example, on one Saturday little Johnny may have stayed up too late the night
before and is not quite up to playing a whole lot.
On another Saturday little Johnny may have eaten more than
his share of Wheaties and could win the World Cup single-handed.
These kinds of things must be considered when making the substitutions.
The only way to find out
which little Johnny we have out
on this game day is to observe him. The
children will let you know what they are up for on any particular day by his or
her behavior. No coach will be
reprimanded by PSA
in regards to time allowed to each child unless there is serious unfairness.
PSA
will not keep score of any game at any time or standings on wins/losses.
Soccer is a naturally competitive sport and we intend to keep it that
way, however, we do not need to add the pressures of winning just yet.
PSA
is an instructional league. If you
or your team wishes to keep score then you may do so at your own discretion.
It
is very easy for adults to get sucked into the competitiveness of the game and
become win/loss oriented. Most kids
can walk off of the field after a game having lost by 5 goals or more and be in
high spirits. They still had fun.
They still learned something. It
is the parents who inadvertently teach their children by looking or acting
“down” after a loss that teaches kids that winning is the only thing that
matters. As these kids age and get
more experienced other avenues of competition will open for them.
There are other, much more competitive leagues that revolve around
winning. There are many tournaments
scheduled throughout the year through various organizations.
PSA does not wish to eliminate competition;
rather we wish to keep it in its place. PSA
is an instructional league that produces competitive players.
As a league, the children who have learned the sport of soccer through PSA are at a much higher playing level than children having
played with any other league within the same age range in the state of
A)
Control - One of the most common
complaints of other leagues is that the parents get out of control like
yelling at the referee, being extremely over bearing on their own or
someone else’s child, and threatening other children and/or parents.
Surprisingly, this happens often…but not here.
Not at a PSA game!
ANY
overly negative behavior by anyone will be dealt with promptly and effectively.
No one person shall be granted the right to ruin any other persons
experience with PSA. This
matter is taken very seriously and will be handled as such.
If you see any behavior that you would consider inappropriate please
bring it to the attention of the site manager at your game field.
If you feel yourself getting upset or over excited, then please have a
walk around the park or finish watching the game from your car.
If you are ejected from PSA please remember that your child will not be ejected unless
he or she is the guilty party. There
will be absolutely NO
refunds due to you not being able to control yourself in public.
B) Parking – Parking at the PSA field locations has become a
heated issue between PSA parents, PSA administrators and the City of
Believe
in your child. Watch the progression
rather than the moment. Be honest
with him or her. If they have a
lousy game then tell them so, then follow with praising how much they have
learned and point out the things he or she did well.
Shout your enthusiasm louder than any negative criticism.
Remember that these children are still learning.
Remember that they will have a lot of fun as long as our behavior allows
them to. Remember soccer is a game.