The members of the Lower State Youth Soccer Association (LSYSA), as a league, believe we have a responsibility to inform coaches, parents and spectators with regards to what we deem as acceptable game day conduct.  As such, we offer the following points for you to consider which we hope will serve as a guide to you in, and for the future of, the sport of soccer.

·         First and foremost, please remember that this is a GAME being played by CHILDREN for THEIR enjoyment.  This is not the FIFA World Cup and, while we all should embrace the competitive spirit, whether a team wins or loses a match is truly of minimal consequence here.  The importance of fun, exercise, education and teamwork should be regarded above all else.

·         Children learn by example.  We all must strive to set the best example possible for their sake.  In a competitive environment, such as with our sport, it is only natural that emotions prevail and that, unchecked, these displays of enthusiasm can lead to confrontations of various sorts.  We, as adults, must not allow our unbridled passions to negatively impact the game and the children.

·         LSYSA deeply encourages the respect for authority.  During the course of a match, the coaches and the officials are authority figures in the eyes of the children.  To openly disparage their efforts, directly in front of the children, negates this aspect and undermines those values which we, as adults, should be attempting to instill within them.

·         Coaches are the leaders during game time as well as being responsible for following league rules and regulations.  Spectators should resist the temptation to instruct the children during the course of a match.  Very often this serves more to confuse than to assist since conflicting information is typically received by the players who, especially those of younger ages, may not be able to process the varied commands in order to achieve the desired results.

·         Referees are the guardians of fair play and safety during game time.  Studies have indicated that a referee will make a decision regarding play, on average, once every six (6) seconds.  Thus, during the course of a 60-minute youth match, for example, approximately 600 decisions are enacted.  In addition, many of the rulings made will necessitate a degree of judgment be utilized on the part of the referee, with few obvious, clear-cut situations occurring.  In light of this, to expect a referee to achieve perfection is unrealistic and we should bear this in mind when judging his or her performance.

·         LSYSA utilizes only USSF-certified referees as we believe only these individuals are qualified to monitor fair play and safety.  As a recreational league, however, we tend to attract a greater percentage of younger and less experienced referees to our matches than to those matches in other, more competitive leagues.  Our league is, in effect, a starting point for many wishing to participate in this aspect of the sport.  This is a fact we should recognize and accept.  To berate a referee, especially one new to the vocation, does everyone a disservice as this often results in that person leaving the ranks and, as such, not progressing towards becoming the experienced and proficient official we all desire to have present at our matches.  LSYSA works closely with the referee community and, upon notification of a problematical situation which might have been created by referee ineptitude, is able to suggest that individual receive additional training.