Pittsburgh Dynamo Recreation LeagueFall 2015 Information for Parents/Guardians

www.pittsburghdynamo.org

WELCOME!

• Thank you for joining us this season!

• We hope that you and your child have a terrific season.

• These slides are a quick primer on Dynamo rec league.

• Please review the Parents’ Sideline Conduct Agreement.

DYNAMO’S MISSION

• Collaborate with families to offer a fun and child-centered soccer experience for youth in Pittsburgh’s East End

ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION

• Pittsburgh Dynamo Youth Soccer is run entirely by volunteers.

• Everyone helps.

• Please give your fellow Dynamo parents and volunteers the benefit of the doubt and pitch in to help.

Dynamo Basics

• THE SEASON

• PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT

• PRACTICE MAP

• GAME FIELDS

• AGE LEVELS AND GAME PLAN

Fall 2015 Season

• Practices begin Monday, August 31.

• Practice at Schenley Oval, one day per week, 5:30 - 6:30 PM.

• Games held each weekend from September 12/13 through October 31/November 1, 2015.

• Game schedule for October 3 and 17 TBA.

• On last weekend, games are kids versus parents. Dynamo-provided snack and prizes to follow.

• Game schedule posted to website.

PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT• BALL - correct size for age-level, marked with players’ name

• U5-U8 = size 3 ball, U9-U12 = size 4 ball, U13-U18 = size 5 ball

• SHIN GUARDS AND SOCCER SOCKS - required at both practices and matches

• SHOES - athletic shoes are required but cleats are unnecessary

• TEAM SHIRT - wear to all games, ask coach if shirt should be worn to practices

• WATER BOTTLE - must be brought to all practices and games

• NO JEWELRY OR HARD HAIR ACCESSORIES - referee inspects players before each match

• Until September 12, needed items can be purchased at Pittsburgh Soccer and Sports, 4205 Murray Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217, 412-421-1880 (Greenfield neighborhood)

SCHENLEY OVAL PRACTICE MAP

LINED GRASS FIELDS

AGE-LEVELS• U5 Co-ed

• 8/1/2010 - 7/31/20011

• U6 Co-ed

• 8/1/2009 - 7/31/2010

• U7/8 Boys’ and Girls’

• 8/1/2007 - 7/31/2009

• U9/10 Boys’ and Girls’

• 8/1/2005 - 7/31/2007

• U11/12 Boys’ and Girls’

• 8/1/2003 - 7/31/2005

• U13-18 Co-ed

• 8/1/1997 - 7/31/2003

AGE-LEVEL GAMES PLAN

* U13/18 may play 11v11 or whatever attendance supports.

Age Level

Game Format

Dual, side-by-

side games Ball Size

Roster(esti-

mated)Keeper

(GK)

Assigned Field Time

Field Size Refs

Goal Size

U5 3v3 No 3 6 No 45 min. 60‘x90’ Parent PopUp

U6 3v3 Yes 3 9 No 60 min. 60‘x90’ Yes PopUp

U7/8 4v4 Yes 3 12 No 60 min. 90‘x120’ Yes PopUp

U9/10 6v6 No 4 12 Yes 75 min. half turf, 135’ x 180’

Yes 6’x12’

U11/12 8v8 No 4 14 Yes 75 min. 150’x240’ Yes 7’x21’

U13/18 11v11 No 5 18 Yes 90 min. full turf Yes 8‘x24’

LAWS OF THE GAME - MICRO-SOCCER• Kick off - taken to start game, to

start second half, or after a goal is scored

• Throw In - taken after ball crosses touch line

• Corner Kick - taken after ball crosses goal line (no goal scored), last touched by defender

• Goal kick - taken after ball crosses goal line (no goal scored), last touched by attacker

*A goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect kick, kick off, throw in, or goal kick; the ball must be touched by another player prior to scoring. A goal can be scored directly from a corner kick.

**Playing periods can be shortened on particularly hot days, when there are not enough players to make substitutions, or if, in the opinion of the referee, the players look spent.

***Games end on the hour. Teams are asked to leave the field as quickly as possible so that subsequent games can begin on schedule and maximize assigned field time.

MICRO-SOCCER

U5 U6 U7/8 U9/10 U12 U18

Goalie NO NO NO YES YES YES

Kick Off* YES YES YES YES YES YES

Throw In* NO YES YES YES YES YES

Corner Kick NO YES YES YES YES YES

Goal Kick* NO YES YES YES YES YES

Fouls NO YES YES YES YES YES

Direct Kick

NO; ! Indirect only*

NO; ! Indirect except

for corner kick*

NO; ! Indirect except

for corner kick*

YES YES YES

Penalty Kick NO NO NO YES YES YES

Offside NO NO NO YES YES YES

Slide Tackle NO NO NO NO NO NO

Playing period**

4 - 8:00 quarters. Plan to play as many

periods as

assigned field time permits.

4 - 8:00 quarters. Plan to play as many

periods as

assigned field time permits.

4 - 10:00 quarters

2 - 25:00 halves

2 - 30:00 halves

2 - 35:00 halves

EXPECTATIONS• Be on time.

• Bring all required equipment.

• Players should wear team shirt for games. Some coaches prefer team shirt for practices as well.

• Attend practices and games.

• Notify coach ASAP if you cannot attend.

• Remain at your team’s sideline during practices and games.

AT PRACTICES• Coach volunteers have to keep things moving and

be concerned with the team as a whole.

• Ask your coach whether, when, and how he or she would like you to step in if there are behavior or participation issues for your child.

• Untied shoes, tantrums, unsportsmanlike conduct.

• Please encourage your child to stay involved in the team’s practice and not take extra water breaks or sit out portions of practice.

AT GAMES

• Arrive 10-15 minutes before game.

• Do not stand with coaches and players during the game. Stand on opposite sideline at least two feet from boundary.

• No food, drink, or dogs on turf. No food or drink on track. Water is okay. City/park rules.

• Volunteer! Field set up, snacks, chase down balls and leave them at a sideline.

CANCELLATIONS• COACHES ARE EMPOWERED TO CANCEL PRACTICES

• at coaches’ discretion

• a coach or a team parent must contact all players

• cancel no later than 5 PM

• thunder/lightning within 30 minutes requires cancellation

• CANCELLATION OF GAMES IS RESERVED TO REC LEAGUE COMMISSIONERS

• only at commissioners’ discretion

• announced on website, Facebook page, Twitter @pghdynamosoccer

• thunder/lightning within 30 minutes requires cancellation

Dynamo Philosophy

• Goals

• General Tenets

• Parents Sideline Conduct Agreement

• Match Conduct

• Philosophy In Action

Pittsburgh Dynamo Goals

• Develop players’ fundamental soccer skills

• Impart knowledge of soccer’s rules

• Good sportsmanship

• Fun

Dynamo Philosophy General Tenets

• Recreation League - we play for fun, we don’t exclude based on ability

• We don’t define success as a win/loss record.

• Success is playing and learning the game.

• Your role as a Dynamo parent is to follow and reinforce this philosophy.

Parent Sideline Conduct Agreement

• I understand the fun of soccer is playing, not winning.

• I will support the team, not just my own child.

• I will let the players play.

• I will let the coaches coach.

• I will let the referees judge the game.

• I will be a supportive soccer parent.

• I understand that they are only kids and this is only a game.

• I will remain by the field during practices and games.

Dynamo Philosophy Match Conduct

• Neither coaches nor spectators may shout out instructions to players.

• Coaches, spectators, and players will refrain from criticizing referees and linesmen. They will recognize the referees’ authority and obey the rules.

• Each player plays at least 50% of each game. Players should be rotated among field positions once positions are introduced in their age level.

• All coaches and players are to shake hands after each match, saying “good game.” Good sportsmanship is key to Dynamo’s philosophy.

• Consult the Pittsburgh Dynamo Recreation League Handbook on Dynamo’s website for more information.

Dynamo Philosophy in Action

• No official score-keeping.

• Spectators cannot call out a particular child’s name. Dynamo encourages general, positive cheers for the team, such as, “Go, Blue!” or “Great kick, Orange!”

• Dynamo directs coaches and referees to stop a game, if necessary, when a parent calling out from the sidelines is distracting or upsetting the kids.

Dynamo Philosophy Why these rules?

• Dynamo wants to get as many kids as possible playing soccer and keep them in the game as long as we can. We think that a child-centered experience is the way to accomplish our mission.

• These rules are designed to minimize excessive involvement of parental egos in what should, after all, be a child-focused activity.

• We view these rules as essential to maintaining the positive atmosphere that is fundamental to the league and its philosophy.

• Soccer is currently the number one participatory sport in the U.S. But by age thirteen, 65 percent of kids stop playing sports. By age sixteen, it’s 85 percent. Dynamo’s rules are intended to keep soccer fun.

LEAGUE VOLUNTEER

• Board member

• League Commissioner

• Age-Level Commissioner

• Equipment Manager

TEAM VOLUNTEER

• Team Parent

• Field Set Up

• Parent Referee (U5)

VOLUNTEERS• TEAM PARENT

• Assigned to most teams - otherwise, coach can ask for a volunteer

• Main role is organizing volunteers for snack schedule and possibly field set up, may also assist coach with communications

• Coach should consult with team parent to divide responsibilities, set expectations/roles

• FIELD SET UP

• Coach or team parent can organize volunteers, email set up instructions or link to website

• DYNAMO ENCOURAGES AND EXPECTS VOLUNTEERISM FROM PLAYERS’ PARENTS!

• Helping with field set up, chasing stray balls, herding young players

GAME DAY FIELD SET UP

• If you are not a coach, you’re a field set up volunteer.

• Your team’s volunteers are responsible for team set up when yours is the first game of the day in your assigned space for your age-level.

• Your team’s volunteers are responsible for removing goals and possibly cones from the field when the following game is played by another age-level.

• Your team’s volunteers are responsible for storing cones and pop-up goals in equipment boxes when you play the last game of the day.

• Field dimensions in Dynamo handbook on website and on a laminated “cheat sheet” in the coaches’ bag.

PLAYER REGISTRATIONS

• Fall 2015

• 57 teams

• 581 players

• 141 coaches

ADMINISTRATIVE

• ROSTERS

• prepared and distributed by age-level commissioners

• defer to age-level commissioners regarding team assignments

• ROSTER CHANGES/TEAM RE-ASSIGNMENTS

• contact age-level commissioner, not coaches

DYNAMO WEBSITE

STAY INFORMED

RISK MANAGEMENT

• PA West Soccer Association

• ZERO TOLERANCE RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY

• Stay with your child at practices and at games.

• If you’re uncomfortable with something you witness, contact a commissioner.

HEALTH AND SAFETY• Place weights on all goals

• Falling goals killed four children in the U.S. in 2012.

• Never use any portable metal goal without using sandbags to prevent the goal from tipping in any direction

• If you see a kid climbing on a goal, please remind them to stop.

• Do not use stakes in the turf field

• Return metal goals to fence after last game of day

• Concussions - Soccer IS a contact sport.

• First Aid Kits in Equipment Bags

• Coaches do not provide or administer medicine to any player. Coaches can provide the kit to a parent.

• Remove aspirin from sealed first aid kits in any equipment bag.

Have a terrific Fall 2015 season!recreation@pittsburghdynamo.org

Thanks to Kris Knieriem, Dynamo parent and board member, and her team at Blender, Inc., for creating Dynamo’s logo.