ROANE COUNTY AYSO REGION 727

Parent's Role

Support Your Child

Supporting your child by giving encouragement and showing interest in his/her team is very important. Help your child work toward skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game. Teach your child that hard work and an honest effort are more important than victory - that way your child will always be a winner despite the outcome of the game! Always Be Positive Parents serve as role models for their children. Become aware of this and work to be a positive role model. Applaud good plays by your child's team as well as good plays by the opposing team. Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from youth sports activities.

Remember: Your Child Wants To Have Fun

Remember that your child is the one playing soccer, not you. It's very important to let children establish their own goals - to play the game for themselves. Take care not to impose your own standards and goals on them. Don't put too heavy a burden on your child to win games. Surveys reveal that 72% of children would rather play for a losing team than ride the bench for a winning team. Children play for the fun of playing.

Reinforce Positive Behavior

Positive reinforcement is the best way to help your child achieve his/her goals and overcome his/her natural fear of failure. Nobody likes to make mistakes. If your child does make one, remember its all part of learning. So encourage your child's efforts and point out the good things your child accomplished.

Don't Be a Sideline Coach or Referee

Coaches and referees are usually parents just like you. They volunteer their times to help make your child’s youth soccer experience a positive one. They need your support too. That means refraining from coaching or refereeing from the sidelines. Your "instructions," if even heard by the children, are more often confusing and distracting rather than helpful. If you really need to coach or referee, remember that as a volunteer organization, there's always an opportunity for you to take your interest in coaching or refereeing to the next level and to become one yourself!

Equipment Needed

Uniform

Players cannot participate in any game or practice unless they are wearing shin guards covered by socks. The shin guard goes UNDER the socks, not over them.
Players cannot practice or participate in any game or practice with any type of cast or splint.

Players cannot wear anything which is dangerous to either themselves or other players, including, but not limited to any jewelry (necklaces, earrings, watches and bracelets) or bands of any kind (including Live strong bands and their progeny), hats with hard brims, or hair bands, barrettes or beads with metal or plastic. Please note that there is no exception for someone who has recently had his or her ears pierced - even with the supposed "cure all" of a band-aid over the new earrings.

For practices, players should wear any soccer outfit (don't forget the shin guards) and bring a water bottle. For games, players must wear the team uniform.

If it is cold or windy, dress accordingly and have layers under the uniform. Have an extra layer to add during half time and after the game.

Eyeglasses are allowed, just be sure that they are made of shatterproof glass or plastic.

All players will be checked before the game by the referee and will not be allowed to play if they do not adhere to the rules regarding uniforms and equipment. Please remember that these measures are necessary for the safety and protection of your child and the other players on the field.

Soccer Balls

Children are required to provide their own age appropriate sized soccer ball for practice.

U12 and up - Size 5