Registration Handout and Supplement
The Objective of Niceville Pal Soccer is to provide a wholesome environment for the development of players and the enjoyment of soccer, with sportsmanship and proper conduct by coaches, players, parents, and spectators. This is going to be an exciting year!
2007 Pal Soccer League
* This is the first of two informational handouts you will receive. Your team’s coach will have another for you at the first team meeting.
DATES THAT COACHES WILL CONTACT YOU:
- U16 and U19: August 21-25, 2007
- VIP, U6 and U8: August 21-25, 2007
- U10, U12 and U14: August 22-25, 2007
BEHAVIOR AND CONDUCT – All PAL Soccer players, coaches, parents and spectators are expected to show proper respect to others and to display good behavior and conduct at all PAL practices and games. Persons who violate this standard will be subject to disciplinary action by the PAL Board, up to and including suspension from PAL activities and being allowed at practice and game sites while being used by PAL.
PLAYER PARTICIPATION – PAL Rules require 50% playing time for each game, except for reasons of injury, illness, absence, discipline or lack of required equipment (e.g., shinguards). Players need to be at practices unless excused by the coach. Parents of players who participate in other activities must resolve any conflicts.
SAFETY AROUND SOCCER GOALS – Climbing, hanging or playing on soccer goals and nets is DANGEROUS. Coaches and parents: Please warn your players and children about this and stop anyone you see abusing the goals and jeopardizing him/herself.
SHINGUARDS – All players must wear protective shinguards covered entirely by socks during all practices and games. Shinguards need to be made of a suitable material and provide a reasonable degree of protection. Small, thin shinguards may be okay for young players, but parents should consider buying more substantial shinguards for older players (U12 and higher).
INSURANCE – PAL players during practices or games are covered by SAY Accidental Medical Insurance, which is secondary to the parent’s primary carrier. (If parents have no medical coverage, SAY insurance becomes primary.) The deductible is $100.
For reportable injuries, parents contact SAY at (800) 233-7291. Military parents who take their injured children to Eglin Hospital or a civilian facility under Tricare must still report the injury to SAY as Eglin will file for reimbursement from SAY’s carrier.
COACHES MUST BE REGISTERED – Anyone who coaches or assists on a recurring basis during practices or games must be registered on a PAL Coach Registration Form and an SAY Volunteer Application.
TEAM COORDINATORS – Must be registered on a SAY Volunteer Application.
COACHES’ SHIRTS – Only registered coaches wearing shirts identified with the current “PAL COACH” logo are allowed in the team areas during games. PAL provides team shirts for the head coach and up to two assistants for each U6 through U14 team and a shirt for only one coach for each U16 and U19 team.
COACHES’ CLINICS – July 28, August 11 and 18. Call 678-2182 or check the PAL website (www.nicevillepalsoccer.org) for times and locations.
MANDATORY COACHES’ MEETING – Coaches will receive team rosters and games/concession schedules and will choose practice days/times/locations by lottery.
- U16 and U19: Monday, August 20, 6:00 PM, Niceville Community Center
- VIP, U6 and U8: Monday, August 20, 7:00 PM, Niceville Community Center
- U10, U12 and U14: Tuesday, August 21, 6:00 PM, Niceville Community Center
PRACTICES – Start Monday, August 27 for U6 through U14. (See PAL Rules for allowed frequency/duration.) No practice areas scheduled for U16 and U19. Head coaches establish their teams’ practice days/times/locations, based on availability.
PRACTICE AREAS – Head coaches will schedule practice areas/times/location initially through the lottery at the coaches’ meetings. For changes, contact PAL Fields Assignor, Hoover Hodge, at 678-9730. Coaches and teams must stick to assigned times and areas.
PLAYING SEASONS
- U16 and U19: One or two games a week on Mondays (except Labor Day), Tuesdays, and Thursdays; August 27 to October 16.
- VIP and U6 through U14: One game each Saturday; September 8 to November 3, except there will be no matches on Saturday, October 20. (Age groups with an odd number of teams may have a weeknight game.)
GAME SCHEDULES – Game schedules will be available at the coaches’ meetings.
GAME SITES
- VIP, U6, U10 and U12: Games will be held at the Niceville Recreation Complex with some U10 or U12 games possibly at Morgan Sports Center in Destin.
- U8, U14, U16 and U19: Games will be at Twin Oaks Park (Mullet Festival site) with some U8 or U14 games possibly at Morgan Sports Center in Destin.
END-OF-SEASON TOURNAMENT – Optional for PAL Soccer and Destin Recreation U8, U10, U12 and U14 teams, with separate divisions for boys’ and girls’ teams. To be held Monday, November 5 through Saturday, November 17.
TRANSPORTATION OF PLAYERS – Parents are responsible for getting their players to practices and games on time and picking them up within 15 minutes of the scheduled finish time.
TEAM ROSTERS TO HELP IN FORMING CARPOOLS – At the team meeting, your coach will provide for each player a team roster listing players’ names, addresses and phone numbers (except for unlisted) to help parents in arranging carpools.
CONCESSION STAND DUTY: – Concession stand proceeds support our program and help us keep registration fees low. Each team will be assigned one two-hour shift during the season. The concession stand will close if a team’s assigned workers do not show.
UNIFORMS – VIP and U6 through U14 players receive jerseys, black shorts and black socks. Jersey color will vary from team to team. U16 and U19 players receive only shirts and must supply their own shorts and socks. Team coordinators or coaches must pick up the uniforms from American Athletic Uniforms, 90 Eastview Avenue, Valparaiso. U16 and U19 shirts will be ready August 24; U6 - U14, by September 6. Team coordinators or coaches should first call AAU at 729-1205 to arrange pick-up.
FUNDRAISING – PAL teams/parents/players may not solicit, seek donations or do fundraising for the team or players. Also, sponsors are not to be solicited for additional funds or support, but any support offered by the sponsor may be accepted.
PAYING FOR SCORING GOALS – PAL Rules prohibit coaches’ paying players for goals. A monetary or material reward for goals or performance promotes individual play rather than teamwork and could jeopardize a player’s amateur status.
VOLUNTEERS – PAL’s success derives from our volunteers. We are a non-profit organization staffed solely by unpaid volunteers. Join us---any time and talent you can contribute will reap benefits for our children. Sign up at registration or call 678-2182.
2007 PAL SOCCER LEAGUE SEASON HANDOUT
(This is intended to supplement the informational handout you received at registration.)
PAL/SAY CODE OF ETHICS AND BEHAVIOR FOR PARENTS - All PAL Soccer players, coaches, parents and spectators are expected to show proper respect to others and to display good behavior and conduct at all PAL events and games. A parent signed a copy of the PAL/SAY Code of Ethics and Behavior at registration. Persons who violate this code will be subject to disciplinary action by the PAL Board, up to and including suspension from PAL activities and sites in use by PAL.
SAFETY AROUND SOCCER GOALS - Climbing, hanging or playing on soccer goals and nets is DANGEROUS. DO NOT DO OR ALLOW!
NO PETS AT PRACTICES OR GAMES - Besides the obvious hygiene concerns, pets can become excited around small children who are running and playing. The cheering and noise of enthusiastic spectators can further excite an animal. Also, the City of Niceville prohibits pets at the Niceville Recreation Complex and at Twin Oaks Park. The City of Destin has the same restriction for the Morgan Sports Center.
TREATMENT OF REFEREES
‑ We will not tolerate referee abuse, including verbal disrespect.
‑ Referees provide a valuable and needed service. They must make instant judgments on the run in a fast-moving situation and apply the Laws of the Game. Also, the referee does not see an incident from the same angle as the spectators or the coaches.
‑ Players, coaches, parents and spectators are expected to show respect to referees.
‑ Anyone with a complaint or adverse opinion about a referee must refrain from causing an incident or disturbance. Problems need to be resolved in a proper, mature manner. If you have a complaint or other concern, call PAL President, Howard Hill, 678-2182.
PLAYER PARTICIPATION - PAL Rules require 50% playing time for each game, except for reasons of injury, illness, absence, discipline or equipment discrepancies.
PLAYER EQUIPMENT - Players cannot wear watches or jewelry of any kind. Earrings and other body piercings are not allowed, even if covered with tape. Hard objects in the hair must be removed. Hair paint is not allowed. See pages 5 and 6 of PAL Rules.
SHINGUARDS - All players must wear protective shinguards covered entirely by socks during all practices and games. Shinguards must be made of a suitable material and must provide a sufficient degree of protection.
“TIMES TWO” REQUIREMENT - SAY requires that no less than two adults be assigned to be present at all team functions (e.g., games, practices, parties). The adults can be coaches or parents. The purpose is two-fold: to protect the children as well as to provide protection for volunteers in case of misunderstandings.
COACHES COACH; PARENTS CHEER
‑ Coaching: Giving instructions or directions.
‑ Cheering: Giving positive encouragement.
‑ Parents and spectators who yell directions to the players during the game may distract and confuse them. Let the coaches do the coaching.
ALL PLAYERS ARE OUR KIDS - No matter what color uniform the players wear, they are all our kids and deserve being treated with love and respect by everyone.
CHEER THE TEAM, NOT THE PLAYER - Helps build teamwork and team spirit.
REWARDS FOR GOALS - Rewarding a player for scoring teaches individual play rather than teamwork and recognizes only one small aspect of the game. Soccer is a team sport.
TROPHIES/AWARDS - Optional; up to each team to provide, if desired.
SCORES AND RECORDS - Because PAL is a recreational, developmental program, we do not maintain records of games or standings during the regular season.
SPONSORS’ PLAQUES - PAL will have sponsors’ plaques available near the end of the season. Persons wishing to present them may pick up and sign for them at the concession stands.
PUBLICITY - Except for the optional end-of-season tournament, PAL does not record scores or maintain team standings and does not publicize game results or season records. Persons who submit for publication articles citing PAL rec team scores or records violate the spirit of our recreation program.
CONCESSION STAND DUTY - All concession stand proceeds go into our program and help reduce registration fees. No one is paid or compensated for working or managing our concession stands. Each team will be assigned a two-hour shift.
ROSTERED COACHES AND PLAYERS - Only coaches and players rostered to the teams on the field will be allowed in the technical areas (teams’ bench areas) during games. As part of the pre-game procedure, the referee will verify the coaches and players on the PAL rosters.
INJURED PLAYER:
‑ Injured players should go down on a knee to signal the referee. Referees will assess the severity of a player’s injury and the game situation to determine whether to stop play or to allow it to continue. The referee may decide to not stop play immediately even when a player has an apparent injury.
‑ If a player in possession of the ball becomes aware of an injured player down on the field, the sportsmanlike action is to kick the ball across the touchline (sideline) to stop play so the injured player may be attended to immediately. (This is not meant to preclude a team with a scoring opportunity from continuing the attack.) When play resumes, the player from the team awarded the throw-in will intentionally throw the ball in to a player from the other team and allow regaining of possession without hindrance.
‑ If an injured player is attended to on the field, he/she must come off the field for further evaluation and treatment. The player who came off for medical attention may be substituted on the next legal substitution. If the team with the injured player has no substitutes, the referee may allow a reasonable time for the injured player to be treated and return to play, if possible.
CLEAN-UP, FOR ALL TEAMS - Clean up your team area after the game and pick up any litter you see around the fields.
CLEAN-UP, FOR ALL SPECTATORS – Help keep our facilities clean by placing trash in receptacles and by picking up litter you see around the spectator areas or the fields.
CANCELLATIONS - Canceled or incomplete games will be rescheduled, unless the volume of rematches will affect practice field availability or other scheduled games.
UNIFORMS - Should be ready by Thursday, September 6. Team Coordinators first must call American Athletic Uniforms, 729-1205, to arrange pick-up. (AAU is located at 90 Eastview Avenue, Valparaiso.) Uniforms must be inventoried for correct quantities and sizes at pick-up; discrepancies must be rectified before leaving AAU.
END-OF-SEASON TOURNAMENT - November 5 -17. Open to U8, U10, U12 and U14 teams. Coach must enter team by entry cutoff date, October 13.
PAL WEBSITE – Check out www.nicevillepalsoccer.org. You’ll find game schedules, PAL Board members’ names and phone numbers and other valuable information.
Contact
Questions or comments regarding this site or Niceville PAL Soccer League?
ContactHoward Hill.