General
Is it true that games are never canceled due to bad weather?
How will I know if a game is cancelled?
What
is your Late Fee Policy?
Why do players at U8 and younger play on such small fields?
How can I change my registration info/email?
U9
I
enjoy coaching my 2nd Graders I never played soccer and
will I be able to coach at the U9 level?
How are the U9 teams
formed?
How do the coaches
and players ask about calls by the ref?
How does travel work
at the U9 level?
Why do we have to
rotate players in various positions?
Pre-K Soccer Options
What options are available to my younger soccer players?
Referee
What can I do if the referee is making bad calls?
Is it OK to question or yell at a referee?
Can a player speak to the referee?
When can a Coach speak to a referee?
Should a Coach consider becoming a Referee?
How old do I need to be to referee?
What is Referee Re-Certification?
What is an Assistant Referee?
Is it true that games are never canceled due to bad weather?
Conditions that require cancellation of an athletic or field activity:
1. No field will open until the spring thaw is complete.
2. A field is automatically closed if standing water is evident.
3. Footing is unsure and slippery.
4. Ground is water logged and "squishy".
5. Grass can be pulled out of the ground easily.
6. Lightning
7. Severe weather storms
8. If concerned or in doubt about canceling, call the Recreation Department 461-0070 after 4:00 PM weekdays, or weekends after 7:00 AM.
9. League Officials make their decisions if weather / field conditions change after the initial cancellation (i.e. the sun comes out and dries the fields). They must use good judgment. If in doubt do not play or practice.
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How will I know if a game is cancelled?
Check the website! This will be updated throughout the day so check back prior to your game. There are also 3 links from the home page of the website: Weekend Mites Field Status, Weekend Field Status and Weekday Field Status. Selecting these links will give information about the fields. If the fields are closed, the games to be played on those fields are cancelled.
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What is your Late Fee Policy?
Unfortunately, late fees seem to be the only choice we have to convey the need for timely registration, and it is a stated policy of the Westwood Youth Soccer (WYS) program that we just DO NOT waive the imposed late fee, as it would be impossible for us to determine fairly how to do that. Late fees are not waived for Board Members, Coaches, referees, or even town officials.
WYS goes through significant effort to make families aware of the almost 3 week long open registration period and the late fee policy. Our late fee is stated clearly on our website and in many of the reminder notices you received about our registration process.
• Multiple emails are sent directly to families in our database noting the registration dates.
• Coaches are asked to remind their team parents on the field and through emails about the registration dates.
• Soccer Registration flyers are included for multiple weeks in all the school District Bulletin
• Soccer registration sign boards are up in various high traffic places in town
• Soccer registration notices are placed in all of the local newspapers for several weeks.
It is VERY important for WYS to get an accurate player count by grade and gender as soon as possible. Within days after the end of the registration period, some team planning starts for the next season. Additionally we need fall registration data for the evaluation sessions held in the older grades. (Note: you MUST be registered for the next fall season to attend the session unless you are only planning to play in the spring season.
Even a few extra players can change the number of teams in an age group, and the number of players on the teams. We need to submit this information to the BAYS league initially 3 to 4 months before the start of a spring or fall season. We DO NOT want to see anyone left out because we set the number of teams based on the numbers we had, and then had no room left on a roster.
In the lower grades, we have been forced to charge late fees due to the high number of last minute signups. Getting lots of new players causes havoc with team formation even for these in-town programs.
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Why do players at U8 and younger play on such small fields?
The small-sided game format with no goalkeepers is endorsed by both the United States Soccer Federation and Massachusetts Youth Soccer (as well as most major European Federations). The small field format ensures that players are engaged and learning ball control more of the time. In essence, fewer players per ball in a tighter space equals more touches per player. This “constant game involvement” allows players to improve soccer skills by playing in a fun, creative and less competitively driven environment.
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How can I change my registration info/email?
You can update your information on Admin Sports located here: https://secure.adminsports.net/Westwoodmasoccer
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I
enjoy coaching my 2nd Graders I never played soccer and
will I be able to coach at the U9 level?
Yes you can coach at the U9
level however, you will have to work with MYSA coaches during the
practice sessions to receive necessary drills to improve ball skills at
this level. Your players are expected to complete accurate throw-ins;
pass the ball to their players successfully; and create offensive and
defensive plays successfully. Information is on WYS website under
Links; research on Utube English Football; American soccer; etc
to get ideas for ball skills.
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How
are the U9 teams formed?
Coach evaluate their 2nd
Grade team and submit to the U9 Coordinator; Spreadsheet is generated
with players receiving the same numeric level are placed together; WYS
committee is formed to review the players and coaches (who have submitted
Online Coach Application). Based on the number of players signed up for
the next session- try to have 10-12 players per team- coaches are selected,
then notified to meet to draft the teams for the next season.
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How
do the coaches and players ask about calls by the ref?
Players on the field can always
ask the ref to explain his/her call. The coach and players on the sideline
cannot. Spectators cannot speak or comment to the ref.
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How
does travel work at the U9 level?
The fall season is always
in-town with refs on field. The Spring season the players travel to another
town to learn better soccer skills and interacting with other players
outside of their environment.
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Why
do we have to rotate players in various positions?
By U12 level all players
should know how to play every position in a soccer game including
Goalie. To achieve this, it is imperative that every position is played
by everyone. Offensive players should played Defense and vice versa.
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What
can I do if the referee is making bad calls?
If you are a Coach you should
fill out the referee evaluation form and make specific comments about
referee performance. You can also talk quietly to your team to teach them
to adjust to the situation, which includes adjusting to that particular
referee.
If you are a Spectator you
need to hold your tongue while at the game. The BAYS Zero Tolerance Rules
Applies - No audible comments to the referee or about the referees calls.
You can speak with the coach later - but he/she is probably already quite
aware.
Consider this a time to be a role model of good behavior.
If you think the matter is
particularly important - contact the Referee Coordinator
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Is
it OK to question or yell at a referee?
No. Our BAYS League operates
with a Zero Tolerance Rule - No audible comments to the referee or about
the referee's calls. Westwood Youth Soccer strongly supports this rule.
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Can
a player speak to the referee?
Yes. The BAYS Zero Tolerance
Rule applies to coaches and spectators, but not players.
Instead, players are governed by the rules of soccer. These include a
rule prohibiting dissent against a referee's call. A player may speak
to a referee - but use caution !
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When can a Coach speak to a referee?
Coaches meet with the referee
before the game. This is a good time to review rules such as offsides
and the length of each half.
During the game coaches can
ask for substitutions and point out if a player is down with an injury.
That's all.
After a game a handshake and
a "Thank You" or "Good Game" is appropriate. Nothing
else. Do not start discussing the game or giving the referee advice. If
you made a mistake during the game, do not apologize after - that just
starts a conversation you shouldn't have.
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Should
a Coach consider becoming a Referee?
Yes ! We need more mature,
experienced people to referee. You can learn some soccer, be involved
and contribute back to the game.
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How old do I need to be to referee?
The Massref minimum age is
12 years old. Westwood recommends Spring of 7th grade.
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What
is Referee Re-Certification?
Every Referee must take a
re-certification course each year, usually between November and January.
Passage of this course is indicated by a new badge which is valid for
the shown calendar year.
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What is
an Assistant Referee?
An Assistant Referee is a
referee who works along half of one sideline, indicating offsides, out-of-bounds
and fouls to the center referee who makes the calls.
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What options are available to my younger soccer players?
Here's the list of places in the area that offer preschool programs for younger children.
Mini-Athletes, Westwood Rec, & MyGym offer generalized sports and fitness classes geared towards the pre-school population.
Fore
Kicks, Dedham Health & Athletic Club, Totplex, & NESA all offer
soccer specific clinics or camps for this age group.
Mini-Athletes, Norwood
http://www.mini-athletes.com/
Westwood Recreation Dept, Westwood
http://www.westwood-ma.gov/index.cfm?pid=10163
My Gym, Westwood
http://www.my-gym.com/
Totplex, Canton
http://www.totplex.com/
NESA, Westwood
http://www.nesacademy.com/
Fore Kicks Lil'Kickers Programs, Norfolk
http://www.forekicks.com/
