Coaches Responsibilities 

• No individual may function as a coach or assistant coach unless duly registered and insured by WYS.
  

• All Coaches and Assistant Coaches are required to complete a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) form to allow the state to process background checks for all volunteers working with children before they will be allowed to coach a team.  Please see the Adult Registration Page.

• Coaches are responsible for knowing the rules contained in the WYS Rules and the FIFA Laws of the Game that pertain to WYS.

• Coaches shall notify the League Grade Group Director if a new Assistant Coach is to be added so that the adult registration can be processed.  

• Coaches are responsible to make sure each player is accompanied by a  parent, guardian or other designated person at the end of each game or practice before one of the coaches can leave the field.  

• Coaches shall comment constructively to their players and maintain a  positive attitude toward his/her team, opposing teams and referees.  Coaches are also responsible for the conduct of their players, and their spectators.  

• Coaches are responsible that each player plays a minimum of one half (50%) of the game.  

• Coaches must adhere to the Mass Youth Code of Conduct Zero Tolerance rule. Yelling at or speaking to the referee in a disrespectful manner before, during or after the game is prohibited.  

• Coaches shall not harass the referee and shall not enter the playing field unless called onto the field by the referee. Protests shall be brought to the Grade Group Director after the game. 

• Coaches must take action to prevent scores from becoming excessive. A goal differential of more than 5 is considered excessive. Repeated incidents by a team will result in disciplinary action.  

• Coaches and players are encouraged to arrive at the field 30 minutes before the start of the game so as to not delay the start of the  game. The flags must be set up before play begins.  The referee may start the time as scheduled whether or not play actually begins and the game time may be reduced accordingly.  Subsequent games should not be delayed.  

• Coaches are responsible that each player has a complete uniform throughout the season. Any player not in full uniform will not be allowed to play.  

• Coaches are responsible that all jewelry worn by their players’ is removed; including necklaces, earrings and metal hair fasteners, etc.  No player is allowed to use a band-aid or a piece of tape to cover earrings or other visible body piercings. No exceptions.  

• Players are not allowed to play with a cast, hard plastic or metal splint, padded or unpadded.  

• Goalkeepers may wear a soft brimmed hat, but baseball type hats with hard brims are not allowed.  

• The Equipment Director is to be contacted for any uniform concerns such as new players, damaged uniforms, etc.  

• Coaches are responsible to keep track of all balls, cones, equipment  bag, medical kits, etc, distributed to them for their team by the  Equipment Director. When the coach leaves a team all equipment must be turned in to the Equipment Director.  

• Each team must use one side of the field for their bench positions, one team on one side of the midfield line and the opposing team on the other side of the midfield line. The parents must remain behind the opposite sideline of the teams until the Referee signals the end of the game. Substitutions must remain in the designated team bench area.  

• Coaches may coach or instruct from the team sideline. They may walk up and down the sideline between the midfield line and the 18 yard-line on their half of the field. Coaches are not allowed to coach or instruct from within the Penalty area or behind the goal line.  

• Each coach is expected to practice their team a reasonable amount of  time. Several practices prior to the beginning of a season, and one practice a week is reasonable. It is understood that during weeks of mid day games that fitting in a practice is difficult. WYS understands that coaches and players have a lot of demands on their time. However, the goal is to have a minimum of 1 practice per week for all teams. If a  coach is unable to get assistance from an assistant, parent, guardian, or  any volunteer adult, the coach should notify the Grade Group Director. A  solution with the goal of attaining a practice each week will be worked out. 

• Coaches are responsible for finding fields for practices. Certain fields at  the Joyce may be off limits for practice. Practice fields that are deemed off limit will be communicated before the season starts and during the season by the Field Director. This is essential in order to continue to improve the condition of the fields and properly host other towns.  Grade Group Directors will be notified of any known violations. 

• The coaches shall email the Grade Group Director on the day of the game to report  the game results. 

• Coaches are to contact their Grade Group Director for any concerns or issues of  any kind.