VOLUNTEERS
COACHES
Simply the MOST important person in our club, the Volunteer Coach keeps us all running (figuratively and literally!). Without these wonderful men and women, the kids don’t play and the club doesn’t exist- period. At the younger age groups (U6-U8), NO soccer or Coaching experience is required: we’ll give you all the tools you need! You just need to be willing to have fun with the kids! Volunteer Coaches get the benefit of picking their practice night, time, and location from our list of available fields. (Coaches must be 21 years or older) Visit Coaches Corner for more details!
REFEREES
Volunteer Refs are needed to help facilitate games. At U7 – U8, each team provides 1 ref for their 4 home games, and referee training is free and easy! Training is provided by LSC. From U9/up, each team provides 1 volunteer Linesman for every game (Center Ref is provided by the club).
Referee Shortage:
Although U9 and older games for Recreation, Academy, Copa Academy and Competitive games are on the Colorado Soccer Association Assignor Schedule, there is a referee shortage statewide. The state was in the process of rebuilding the referee pool after the loss of many referees due to the pressure of sideline behavior, then COVID hit, causing others to walk away.
Copa Academy and Competitive games started August 28, some games were not covered for one reason or another. ALL teams need to be prepared to have someone step up to officiate the game, if needed. If you are state certified, we will work with you and CSA to get you paid. If you are club certified we will pay those that complete the required paperwork at the end of the season.
For those that would like to help rebuild the referee pool and learn more about becoming a state certified referee, please visit Colorado Soccer Association Referee Pathway.
Each season LSC provides in-house training for U6-U8 Referees and U9 Linesman. We ask that each team send 2 folks to this training as many games may have a referee shortage in the older age groups.
GAME DURATION
U6 games – two 18-minute halves
U7 and U8 games – two 20-minute halves
U9 and U10 games – two 25-minute halves
U11 and U12 games – two 30-minute halves
U13 and U14 games – two 35-minute halves
U15 games – two 40-minute halves
Rules of Play can be found on Coaches Corner Page.
Plan on attending one of the club referee training sessions for your player's age group: PAST
TEAM PARENTS
These individuals help make the soccer experience as fun as it can be for everyone involved, and are the backbone of our Club. Sample duties of Team Parents include:
Organizing snacks for games and/or practices
Making a phone/email tree for ease of communication
Setting up Team Pictures, Awards, and End of Season Party
Helping the Coaching staff when they need it
We recommend that teams decide internally what level of outside activities/items they intend to pursue, as these costs can add up. However, a small “team fund” should provide adequate drinks and snacks, and might even provide low-cost awards. Want to know more? Visit www.usyouthsoccer.org/parents for more great Team Parent ideas!
RESOURCES
For an Info Sheet about Team Awards/Trophies from Crown Trophy, click here.
Visit the Official Photographer of LSC, YSPN Photography for info on team pictures.