Attendance Policy:  It is the coach’s expectation that you will attend all training sessions unless there is an illness, school-related activity, or important family function. Practice is more important than games at this age, therefore it is essential that you attend practice with a positive attitude and demonstrate the proper amount of discipline and commitment to improving individual and team skills. If you are missing a practice or game, please let Your Coach/Trainer know ahead of time at least several hours prior.

Punctuality: Please arrive to practices 10 minutes early and start practicing by…juggling and passing with a teammate! We only have a short window of time to practice and would like to make the most of the time available.

Please plan to arrive NO LATER than the time set forth by the coach prior to game time. It is important to get sufficiently warmed up and prepared for a game and it is impossible for the player to do that if they are running on the field right before the game!

Playing Time: Each player will play at least 50% of the game. The coach will maintain this from game to game at the best of his/her ability. Skill level should not be a factor. Things happen from game to game. If a perceived lack of playing time is observed please communicate with the coach first and then the board if not resolved.

Starting Line Up: The starting line-up is based on attendance, effort and participation in practice, but all players should get to start at least one game if possible.

Side Line Behavior: We ask that the parents please represent your team and the organization in a professional manner.  In the spirit of this, there is absolutely NO Shouting from the sidelines unless it is to cheer positively for the team.  Please do not heckle the officials as it only hurts our teams in the long run. 

IMPORTANT: Please DO NOT COACH your child from the sidelines, CHEER FOR THEM.  We have had many instances where parent instructions have been the opposite of what the playing situation dictates so please allow the coach to do the coaching.  Do not comment on other players, from either team. If there is a problem a parent will be asked to leave the field, which nobody wants.

24 Hour Rule: Allow 24 hours before speaking to the coach after a game if there is something you are dissatisfied with.  This allows both parties a cool down period and time to reflect on the game and the situation. NO EXCEPTIONS.  Also, please keep in mind that ALL Coaches for CPYS are volunteers and many are brand new.

We expect all communication to be respectful between Coaches and Parents.

Communication:  The Coach is encouraged to communicate via email and if possible text messages so please check your emails frequently or consider downloading the Remind app to your smartphone.  There are a lot of players and many events to coordinate, so we ask that you please reply PROMPTLY to ALL requests. In the event of a last minute game or practice cancellation, you will receive a text as soon as we are aware of the change.  In addition you can check the Clubs website and Facebook page for updates on field closures.

1: Keep POSITIVE support, encouragement, cheer leading and general screaming and hollering to a MAXIMUM on the touchlines.

When the players are working hard, they need and deserve everyone's best POSITIVE encouragement and support. They need to know you're there and that their effort is appreciated. Most teams have a tough enough time developing a sense of teamwork and achievement at the same time the players are gaining experience and skill. They DO NOT need to hear YOUR anxiety piled on top of their own when the game is going poorly.

2: DO NOT CRITICIZE referees or players from either team for any reason.

If the referees really ARE doing poorly, they may get angry or offended by critical spectators and that may make things tougher for the team. If they are good at what they do, they will ignore you, or perhaps ask you to leave the field. Either situation is at best distracting and at worst reflects poorly on the team's overall sportsmanship. If there is an issue you bring it up with the board and not the fans, coach, ref or players.

3: Don't coach players from the touchlines, or for that matter while THEY are on the touchlines.

In most leagues, coaching from the sidelines is frowned on, and rightly so. Soccer is different from most sports in the US, because it is a game of the players. Coaches are supposed to intrude as little as possible. If you feel a child is not doing what should be done, tell the coaches, not the player. As parents occasionally discover, a player may be doing EXACTLY what the coaches have instructed. Either way, a parent can help a player's athletic development much better working together with the coaches, not independently.

4: Give the players, coaches and referees room to work.

Many organizations have rules which require that spectators on the touchlines stay in an area between the penalty boxes, and keep all parts of their bodies (even outstretched feet) at least 10 feet behind the touchline. Do not crowd the touchlines for any reason and stay away from the goal area to avoid interfering with those involved in the game. If necessary, gameplay will be halted until these areas are cleared. *NOTE: ONLY PLAYERS ARE ALLOWED IN BETWEEN FIELDS AND ON THE BENCHES! Please call for the Team Mom or one of the coaches if you need to speak with your child or give/get something to them.

5: Remember, IT'S ONLY A GAME.

Don't forget, YOUR attitude on the touchlines can affect the mood and success of the team. If the coaches think that your touchlines activity is hurting team performance in any way, they should promptly advise you, hopefully without ruffling any of your feathers. Be tolerant. Emotions run high during games, and feelings are easily hurt. Nevertheless, any spectator, whether parent, friend or player, who persists in inappropriate touchlines behavior after being warned by the coaches should be asked to leave the vicinity of the field. Coaches should not argue with parents. Bring all issues up with a board member so they can handle it appropriately.