| Girls – Under 10 Travel (Coach Nate and Coach Colin) |
| Girls – Under 12 Travel (Coach Kit and Coach Caroline) |
| Girls – Under 14 Travel (Coach Rob and Coach Ahriel) |
| Boys – Under 10 Red Travel (Coach Todd) |
| Boys – Under 12 Travel (Coach Rich) |
| Boys – Under 14 (Coach Ngombe and Coach Lamine) |
A Message to NHYS coaches from the referee assignor.
I'd like to encourage a high level of communication between NHYS coaches and the referee assignor. So please contact me with any questions that you may have about officiating - all complaints, suggestions and feedback will be respectfully heard, evaluated and addressed in the most expedient manner possible.
Here are some guidelines for coaches to consider as we begin the Spring 2014 season:
1) Send me your Spring schedule as soon as possible in table format (preferably as an e-mail attachment), so I can start assigning referees for your matches. For all your home games, please confirm with me that the upcoming match is expected to be played at a particular date, time and field at least 3 days in advance. So, for example, you should send me an e-mail by Wednesday night confirming Saturday's match. My e-mail address is rwiegs@comcast.net
2) AS SOON AS YOU FIND OUT THAT YOU HAVE TO CANCEL OR POSTPONE A MATCH, PLEASE CALL ME AND SEND ME AN E-MAIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, again so I can relay that message to the assigned referees. Non-weather related cancellations should be sent to me prior to 24 hours before match time, otherwise we end up paying referees for cancelled games. If it's a weather related cancellation, I strongly suggest consulting Accuweather.com
and make a decision about whether to play the match at least 3-5 hours prior to game time. If the game is called off, please call me asap at 203-252-6219. If I don't pick up and you get my voicemail, please send me an e-mail asap to rwiegs@comcast.net Email is the second best way to reach me - but I do and will check my e-mails for cancellations.
3) Game prep: please remember to bring your own corner flags to matches, secure the goals and nets (with tape if necessary), and help remove debris from the field (loose branches, twigs, garbage, etc.) so that the field is in as good condition as possible. Securing goal posts is crucial to preventing catastrophic injury. There have been tragic cases of kids in youth soccer leagues having been knocked on the head by crossbars and getting killed. Goals that are secured into the ground with concrete (like East Shore Park #2) are not an issue, but all the others are - the goals must be secured with sandbags or heavy weighted bags at the rear. Referees will be instructed not to start the match until the goals have been determined to be safe.
4) Do we need to have a weekend of silent sidelines? or enforce a policy of low volume cheering by parents, coaches and spectators? My take on this after many years of playing, officiating and coaching is that silent sidelines is unnecessary so long as we encourage everyone to respect everyone else at matches. It is the responsibility of NHYS coaches to control themselves, their players and the parents. Referees should not have to experience ridicule or disrespectful commentary during matches. If there is a series of bad calls made by a referee, the coach can and should report that to me. I will also observe my referees to monitor their performance. After all these years of officiating, I can honestly concede that referees are not perfect - we try our best because we have only one set of eyes and ears. My advice to my players as a coach is: DO NOT RELY ON THE REFEREES TO WIN GAMES FOR YOU - try win the game by at least 2 goals in order to overcome what I refer to as the officiating error factor. Sometimes the calls will go your way, and sometimes not (especially a controversial off-sides call or a foul in or near the penalty area). Be prepared with the understanding that the officials are trying their best - but that they will occasionally make mistakes, as everyone does from time to time. Especially for the younger age groups, please understand that often younger referees are assigned and that they are still developing. By the way, I will assign referees who are at least 2 years older than the age group they are officiating (so a 14 year-old referee can do U10 and U12 matches but not U14 or older).
5) Players, coaches and spectators may be asked to leave the field if they are being disrespectful to others. Red-carded players' passes and team rosters are with-held after the match and the center referee is expected to fill out a game and supplemental report for games with ejections and/or any unusual occurrences.
6) Referees are paid by the club treasurer, David Simon at the end of each month - coaches do not pay the refs. I will be keeping a tally of all games officiated each month by each referee that I assign and then give a summary list to David.
7) Special situations and emergencies. In the case of an emergency or unusual occurrence, dial 911 immediately. Please realize that referees are not allowed to touch players, but should stop the game immediately for coaches and trainers to come onto the field right away. This is especially for head injuries and/or life threatening situations. Referees are expected to fill out game reports for emergencies and any unusual occurrences as well as expulsions (red carded players or coaches). This may be relevant to parents for health insurance purposes.
8) Last, NHYS would like to promote the development of youth referees - so please spread the word to your players and friends. NHYS will cover the cost of the introductory clinic and test (about $89). It's a great way to make some extra money and learn the finer points of the rules of the beautiful game! Having played varsity and semi-pro soccer, I thought I knew the rules of the game pretty well - but it wasn't until I became a certified referee that I could really appreciate and grasp the laws of the game.
Please forward this message on to your assistant coaches and team managers if necessary.
Again, please contact me with any relevant questions, comments or suggestions that you may have.
Thanks again and good luck this season,
Rich Wiegand
NHYS Referee Assignor
203-252-6219
rwiegs@comcast.net
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