There are a number of responsibilities that parents can take on to help their child’s team run smoothly. Consider stepping up to help. You will have a great time participating with your child.

Team Parent/Team Manager:
The Team Parent/Manager is the liaison between the coach and the parents. As directed by the coach, you help communicate important facts about game schedules and other team events. The Team Parent/Manager is usually responsible for making a schedule of parents who provide snacks for each game. Usually the assigned parent provides a snack for half-time and one for the end of the game. The snack can consist of sliced oranges, apples or bananas for half-time and a juice drink and snack for the end of the game. The team parent also coordinates the team party at the end of the season.

Assistant Coach:
While not mandatory, the Club’s assigned Head Coach may ask for an Assistant Coach to help with practices and games. The Assistant Coach takes direction from the Head Coach. Both the Head Coach and the Assistant Coach must be fingerprinted before they can step on to the field with the children for practices and games.

Parent Referee for U8s:
EGYSL asks that parents serve as volunteer referees for the younger age groups. At the level, there is no off-side and the objective for the referee is to keep the game going and to ensure that the children play in a safe manner. Parent referees can help the children with the game (throw in’s and goal keeper kicks) while on the field. It’s a fun way to be up and close during the game.

Score Keeper & Scores
The coach may wish to assign a parent to report the scores to the club score keeper each week. In some cases, the coach may wish to do it him or herself.

Scores are kept for the younger teams but they are not posted on the website. The major objective in recreational soccer is to allow the kids to have fun playing soccer. That means no running up the score on a weaker team. Parents should support a coach’s decision to pull players or to move stronger players from offense to defense or even to remove the very strong player for a while to allow the other team to experience the fun and excitement of scoring. Any time a team is leading by 4 points, adjustments should be made to allow the other team a chance to experience success as soccer players.

Game Day Officials:
For first games of the day, the home team is responsible for setting up the field. Game nets are usually dropped off at the field by a designated club representative and the home team sets up the nets and the corner flags. For the last game of the day, the home team is responsible for taking down and bagging the goal nets. A club representative usually picks up the nets at the end of the day.

Parents should have their children at the practice field on time for practices and games. The coach will designate an arrival time – usually 30 minutes -before games in order for the children to warm up before the game. Please respect your coach’s wishes and be on time.

Uniforms:
Uniforms are provided by the Club as part of your registration fees. At the end of the season, your child keeps the uniform.

Setting the Example
Parents must set a good example on the sidelines. Good sportsmanship is important for our kids, and we set the example for them. EGYSL has a Parent Ethics Agreement that all parents must sign and abide by. Violations of this Agreement may subject parents to a game suspension.

Playing Time
Every player who attends at least one practice during the week must be allowed by the coach to play at least half of the game. We call this the 50 percent rule. Remember this is recreational soccer. While winning is great, we don’t win at the expense of keeping some children from playing.

The Sideline
Parents must be at least 3 yards from the touch line (sideline). No one can stand or sit at the ends of the fields by the goals. The home team gets to pick which side to sit on. Please don’t make a big deal over opposing team parents sitting with you, and don’t force them to move. Always be courteous to visiting teams and parents. Remember this is all fun.