U8 and Older:

We see healthy competition as a good thing and want you to take an active role in teaching the players how to be good winners and good losers.

For the older age groups the 4 goal differential should be observed. Teams should not go up by more than 4 goals. If a team is having a lot of offensive success, there should be adjustments made to have the team play outside their comfort zone:

• restrict certain players to 2 or 3 touches,
• make a rule that you can only take a shot off of a cross,
• have your team pass a certain amount of times before attempting a shot,
• restrict players to only being able to take a 1 touch shot,
• Or instruct all of your players that all shots have to be taken from outside the penalty box.

Modifications like these help the dominant teams grow while decreasing their offensive success so that a game isn’t demoralizing. Please encourage highly skilled players/teams to play with these restrictions in practice sometimes so they improve and are ready to use them in games.

Be a Good Role Model:

You teach your players about sportsmanship through your actions during a game more than by what you tell them after a game. The world of sports is not always fair. Bad calls and bad bounces are all a part of the game. They work for you sometimes and against you other times. Please be a model of good sportsmanship whether you are on the winning or losing side of the match.

There may be times when a coach makes adjustments and restricts players appropriately but his team continues to score. However, if you feel that your opposing team ran up the score without making appropriate modifications please let us know.

Thank you again for your time and effort. We are really looking forward to a great Fall season.