SAY Soccer Rulebook, which we invite you to review on the SAY Soccer national website (
saysoccer.org). These rules (and there are many) are designed to ensure some fundamentals:
a. All players, regardless of their ability, get equal playing time (at least half a game)
b. All teams are formed in a blind draw (no stacking, no skill based levels, (e.g. A Team and B Teams)
c. Sportsmanship is paramount (player control, keep the score in check, no non-roster players)
The SAY Soccer national website is also full of great information for coaches and parents.
Teams and Coaches
The teams shall be on one side of the field between the center line and the penalty box line. Each team on one end. Coaches may only coach between the center line and their penalty box line.The parents will be on the other side of the field. Parents and spectators are not allowed to sit behind the goal or the end line. They must stay 18 yards behind the end line during the game. This rule will be strictly enforced. The coaches are responsible for the parents behavior at all times during the game. If a parent is out of line and the referee asks the coach to deal with the parent, the coach is responsible to ask the parent to leave if necessary.
**COACHES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL PLAYERS AND PARENTS BEHAVIOR.**
**PLEASE KEEP OUR FIELDS CLEAN -- PICK UP YOUR TRASH**
Referees
At the passers and wings levels keep in mind, the Referees are in training. It takes many seasons to become a good referee. We have a lot of young Referees quit due to abusive parents and coaches.
** DO NOT CRITICIZE THE REFEREES. DO NOT LET PARENTS CRITICIZE THE REFEREES.**
At the strikers level, we try to place the experienced referees. Still a lot of them are still kids so let them do their job. Every time you critique a referee you disrupt their concentration. Refereeing is a tough task with people yelling criticisms.
**CONTROL YOURSELF AND YOUR PARENTS. REMEMBER THIS GAME IS FOR THE KIDS TO HAVE FUN.**
Rain Procedures Rain Procedures:
Soccer is played in the rain.
Soccer is played in the rain on already saturated fields.
Soccer is NOT played in lightning. (see lightning below)If your traveling, don't assume it is raining in the place your going.
Lightning During game (straight from SAY rulebook)
2. In the event of a storm, play must be stopped and suspended until the danger has passed using the following minimum criteria:
2a. A 30-second or less time between the sighting of a lighting flash to the hearing of the associated thunder shall be reason to stop and suspend a game, and
2b. play shall not be resumed prior to 30-minutes after the last sighting of lightning or the last sound of thunder heard.
