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Laguna Niguel Youth Soccer - AYSO Region 41 - Serving the Laguna Niguel Community Since 1973

Guideline for Spectators

Guidelines for Spectators

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Tips for Being a Supportive Parent

Your role, as parents or guardians, has a tremendous impact on your child’s experiences as he or she participates in sports.

AYSO Respect

Parent Code of Conduct

  • Do not force an unwilling child to participate in sports.
  • Remember children are involved in organized sports for their enjoyment, not yours. Teach your child to always play by the rules.
  • Teach your child that hard work and honest effort are often more important than a victory.
  • Help your child work toward skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game. Your child will then be a winner even in defeat.
  • Do not ridicule or yell at your child for making a mistake or for losing a game. Set a good example. Children learn best by example.
  • Applaud good plays by your team and by members of the opposing team.
  • Do not publicly question the referee’s judgment and never their honesty.
  • Recognize the value and importance of volunteer coaches, referees and officials and give them their due respect. Without them, there would be no AYSO soccer.
  • Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from youth sporting activities.

Conversations before the games

Tell your child you love him/her regardless of the outcome. Tell him or her “Go for it, give it your best shot and have fun!”

During the game

Understand that kids are over-stimulated during games. The Coach may be giving instructions, opponents and teammates are talking, the crowd is cheering, and the Referee is blowing the whistle. To a youth sports participant, the atmosphere is much like that of a fighter pilot with enemy jets racing all around. Do not yell instructions to your child during the game because it only adds to the confusion.

Sometimes the best thing you can do as a parent is to be quiet. Cheer and acknowledge good plays by both teams.

After the game

  • Thank the officials for doing a difficult job.
  • Thank the coaches for their efforts.
  • Thank your opponents for a good game.
  • Congratulate your child and his or her teammates for their efforts.
  • Compliment individual players on good plays they made in the game.

During the car ride home

  • Point out a good play your child made during the game.
  • Avoid criticizing or correcting mistakes.
  • Ask open-ended questions about how the game was played rather than how many points were scored. Here are examples of open-ended questions that might apply:
    • Did you have fun?
    • Did you give it your best effort?
    • What did you learn from the game?
    • What was the best play you made and how did it feel?

Remember: Coaches Coach. Referees Ref. Parents Cheer.

AYSO Region 41 Kids Zone

AYSO Kids Zone

AYSO Kids Zone

At AYSO, we want all players, coaches, families and volunteers to have fun. That’s where AYSO Kids Zone comes in. Kids Zone is a special program that encourages fans on the sidelines, and anyone else nearby, to use positive language, show good sportsmanship in their attitude and behavior, and to create a great experience for every player. Kids Zone is a reminder that the AYSO soccer fields are a safe, friendly, happy, place for children to play.

The Kids Zone Pledge

Regions 41 participate in the Kids Zone program. You will see signs posted near the fields as helpful reminders that no matter how intense the game can be, kids need cheerful support from the sidelines. Parents and spectators are asked to sign the pledge and agree to the following guidelines:

  1. Kids are No. 1
  2. Fun – not winning – is everything
  3. Fans only cheer, and only coaches coach
  4. No yelling in anger
  5. Respect the volunteer referees
  6. No swearing or abusive behavior
  7. No alcohol, tobacco or drugs
  8. No weapons
  9. Leave no trash behind
  10. Set a proper example of sportsmanship

We love your pets... BUT...

No Pets at Region 41 Events

We know your pet is a valued member of your family. But because others may have allergies or be sacred of animals, Region 41 does not allow pets at practices, game day venues, tournaments, or other Region 41 team events. This Policy is endorsed at the National level, is endorsed at the Section level, is endorsed at the Area level, is consistent with neighboring Regions, and is in keeping with our Insurance Policy which does not cover animal bites or related injuries.



Region 41 Respects The Whistle

Region 41 Respects The Whistle

Is it okay to challenge or harass the referee?

NO. NOT EVER.

Being vocally critical of the Referee is not allowed at AYSO games -it's not ok for coaches, spectators or players - for any reason - at any time. Referees are VOLUNTEERS who are doing their best to provide a fun and fair experience for our children, and they really don't need spectator assistance. Being a Referee means you are constantly making judgement calls - and it's 100% their call to make.

It is reasonable to want your child/team to have a great experience. It is not reasonable or helpful for you to 'assist' by shouting at the Referee during a game. It's upsetting to the players, other parents, the volunteer referee, and it DOES NOT HELP. Solution: the Referee Administrator welcomes a discussion of your concerns AFTER the game, in a private setting. Your concerns will be listened to and addressed.

ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY

In the past years, Region 41 has witnessed incidents where coaches and/or spectators questioned the calls of referees requiring referees to stop matches to deal with the situation. There have also unfortunately been incidents where after a game has ended, coaches and/or spectators confront referees or other volunteers over decisions made during the game. This is not acceptable and we must remind everyone that Region 41 has a long standing, zero-tolerance policy prohibiting such behavior.

Our zero-tolerance policy applies to all referees and AYSO volunteers and will be enforced as follows:

  1. If a coach or spectator questions the call of a referee, the referee may stop the match, retrieve the game ball, and invite the coach onto the field for a conversation.
  2. During this conversation the coach may be told 3 things:
    1. The purpose of the conversation is not to debate a call but to inform the coach that the behavior of the coach/spectator is unacceptable.
    2. The coach has 2 choices. He/she can go back to their coaching area and coach per AYSO philosophies or the coach/spectator can leave the playing facility.
    3. The coach/spectator will be sent off if the referee has to speak to them again during the match.
  3. If the referee is a youth referee, the youth referee may stop the match, retrieve the game ball, and find a board member to deal with the situation as described above.
  4. Any coach/spectator who is heard verbally abusing a referee will automatically be sent off by the referee (if an adult) or a board member (in the case of a youth referee). Verbal abuse includes foul and abusive language and comments with racial or sexual overtones.
  5. If the unacceptable behavior of the coach/spectator occurs after the game has ended it will still be reported by the referee and will be considered as a send off.
  6. Referees will report any occurrences where a coach/spectator is sent off and there will be an investigation to determine the subsequent penalty. The penalties are at the discretion of the Region and may include suspension from future games.
  7. The Region also reserves the right to investigate instances when abuse of a referee or volunteer is not reported by the referee or volunteer but is subsequently brought to our attention. The penalties are at the discretion of the Region and may include suspension from future games.

 

Before you decide to yell at a referee, check out this document with some information that might be helpful.

 

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