Field marshals

* On-field includes GK where applicable. 2nd Grade is the only group with formal check-ins, referees, and offside.

• A watch (any kind) to track game times.
• Dress presentable. Joggers + zip-up jacket = great. Pajama pants = parents won't listen to you.
• Dress for the weather. Wear TOO many layers — you can take them off.

• Spectators: Outside the field, behind the red line.
• Team setup: Two big teams split into four small teams on two halves. Teams sit back-to-back in the middle of their half, play in corner quadrants. Coaches do NOT cross to talk to co-coach.
• Player check-in: Introduce yourself + ref to the coach. Line players on a white line.
• Cleats: No toe studs (baseball/football). Wk #1 = warn. Wk #2+ = switch to tennis shoes or cut stud.
• Jewelry: No bracelets/necklaces (give to parents). New piercings OK with stud + band-aid. No dangly earrings.
• Tell coach to "be ready to start on time."
• Start on time: Be persistent — "We need to start!" Set your watch. Ref calls half/game after 20 min.
• Halftime = 3 min. Send ref out after 1 minute to blow whistle and get second half going.

• If a parent/coach says something: Listen. Acknowledge. Don't solve it unless you're 100% sure.
• If unsure: let them be heard, then get your supervisor and radio Tom.
• 2nd Grade: Your ref is probably new. Give constructive advice at half and after the game.

• Walk your fields constantly.
• Keep moving, eyes up, check every field.
• Make sure kids aren't climbing on big goals.
• Help people find where to go.

• Lean or sit on the golf cart.
• Play on your phone.
• Dress unprofessionally.
• Guess at answers you're not sure about.

• No snacks/treats on the turf. Ask people to move to concrete or grass.
• Flip small goals: tall side down, short side up.
• Pick up cones from your fields.
• Big trash goes in field garbage bins.
• Lost items (hoodies, shoes, bottles) go NEXT TO the trash bins on the field where found.
• Saturday 1st Grade: Tom will tell you 11v11 or 9v9. If 9v9, leave big goals in the middle. If 11v11, move them to the ends.
• Meet Tom at center of Field #1 with your cones.
• Check out with Tom before you leave. Return all items: pinnies, whistles, etc.

• Format: Teams are coed. Each team divides into three equal groups and plays on three fields simultaneously. Two 16-minute halves, 3-minute halftime. Switch sides at half.
• No goalkeepers. All players participate fully.
• Referees: One assistant coach (adult) per team referees each game per field. Head coach floats between fields. One volunteer parent keeps time per game.
• Playing time: Minimum 50% per half. Subs as needed — team does NOT need possession to sub.
• Kick-off: Ball kicked forward from center. Kicker can't touch again until another player plays it. Opponents 3 yards away.
• All restarts are INDIRECT. A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-off, goal kick, corner kick, or free kick — a second player must touch it first.
• No penalty kicks. No direct kicks at all.
• Throw-ins: Players get a second try if their first throw-in is illegal (coach should explain). After that, possession switches.
• Goal kicks: Taken from anywhere along the goal line. Opponents 3 yards away.
• Fouls: Only intentional handball and intentional tripping are called. Unintentional trips are expected at this age.
• No offside.
• No score is kept. Zero tolerance for negative behavior toward officials or coaches.

• Format: Teams formed by gender (not coed). Otherwise identical structure to Pre-K: three fields, two 16-minute halves, 3-minute halftime.
• All other rules are the same as Pre-K — no goalkeepers, all restarts indirect, no offside, no penalty kicks, no score kept, opponents 3 yards away on all restarts.

• Format: Teams formed by gender. Teams divide into two equal groups and play on two fields. Two 18-minute halves, 3-minute halftime.
• No goalkeepers. All players participate fully.
• Referees: One assistant coach (adult) per team referees each game. One volunteer parent keeps time per game.
• Playing time: Minimum 50% per half. Subs as needed — don't need possession to sub.
• All restarts are INDIRECT. No direct kicks, no penalty kicks.
• Opponents must be 5 yards away on all restarts (increased from 3 yards in Pre-K/K).
• Throw-ins: Second try allowed on first foul. After that, possession switches.
• Goal kicks: Taken from anywhere along the goal line.
• Fouls: Intentional handball and intentional tripping only.
• No offside. No score kept. Zero tolerance enforced.

• Format: Teams formed by gender. 4 field players + 1 goalkeeper. Two 20-minute halves, continuous running clock, 3-minute halftime. Ref signals start/stop.
• Goalkeepers: All players should rotate through GK. GK wears contrasting jersey (scrimmage vest is fine). Hands only inside the marked goal area — outside that, they're a field player.
• Playing time: Minimum 50% per half. Subs allowed at any stoppage with ref's permission (throw-ins, goal kicks, after goals). Don't need possession.
• USSF referees officiate. If a club ref is unavailable, coaches officiate.
• Parents sit on the OPPOSITE side of the field from players and coaches.
• All restarts are INDIRECT. No direct kicks, no penalty kicks.
• Opponents must be 5 yards away on all restarts.
• OFFSIDE IS ENFORCED at 2nd Grade. A player is offside if they are ahead of the second-to-last defender when the ball is played to them. No offside on goal kicks, throw-ins, or corners. Infringement = indirect free kick.
• Throw-ins: Second try allowed on first foul, then possession switches.
• Goal kicks: Taken from within the goal area (not from anywhere on the goal line like younger ages).
• Corner kicks: Taken from inside the arc at the nearest corner flag.
• Fouls: FIFA rules apply — intentional handball, tripping, pushing, holding, etc.
• Equipment check (your job!): No toe-stud cleats (baseball/football). No jewelry. New ear piercings OK with stud + band-aid.
• No score kept. Zero tolerance. Questions/concerns go to coach, ref, or field marshal — not during the game.

• SBV maintains zero tolerance for negative behavior or speech toward referees, coaches, or officials. This can result in removal from the field or suspension of the game.
• The focus is on game experience, not results. Scores are not kept.
• Parents, fans, players, coaches, and referees are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship at all times.
• 24 Hour Rule: If a parent is upset, SBV recommends they wait 24 hours before discussing the issue. Concerns should go to the coach first, then to the SBV Administrator or Director of Recreation.
• Discipline process: 1st offense = meeting with all parties. 2nd = two-week suspension. 3rd = suspension for the rest of the season.