2009 Mandatory Coaches Training
The following motion was approved unanimously by the Winton Valley SAY Board on January 22, 2009:

The Winton Valley Board moves that all Winton Valley coaches are required to attend pre-season coaches training hosted by or approved by the Winton-Valley SAY Area. Coaches who fail to attend the prescribed training would be prohibited from participation the Winton Valley post-season activity (tournament or other representation).

Winton Valley SAY Coaches Agreement
Download the Winton Valley SAY Coaches Agreement by clicking here.  

SAY Soccer Risk Management Process Overview
SAY maintains a very comprehensive set of policies and recommendations for the management of volunteers within the districts.  Two key elements are the Volunteer Screening Process and the Times Two Rule.  Click here for a full review of the process.  

Volunteer Screening Process and Application
This link contains the overview of the Volunteer Application process and explanation of SAY's Volunteer Review Policy (see the PDF's linked at the bottom of the page).

SAY Minimum Participation Rule
Player required (minimal) playing time SAY rules state that each player must play minimum of 2 quarters or equivalent playing time per each game attended. In other words, a player must play at least half the game. Any coach found to be in violation of this role must forfeit the game in which the violation occurred. This rule is in effect during the regular season as well as the tournament.

Running up the Score

At times, the talent and/or the age distribution of one team exceeds that of another. As a result, the level of play may be tilted toward the team with the greater talent and/or size differential.  Winton Valley SAY is asking that effort to minimize the differential in the score when this occurs.  As an example, aggressive efforts to continue scoring when a team has a a lead of greater than five goals before half time could be considered "running up the score" and is also considered unsporting conduct on the part of the coach. Coaches should be aware of the fact that they might be called out by a Winton Valley SAY referee if it is apparent that they are not doing enough to throttle back the scoring.  Coaches should work to throttle their team's scoring by doing a one or more of the following:

• Move more talented players to defensive positions (and correspondingly, move weaker players into offensive positions)

• Require that the team must complete 3 or more passes on the offensive end before they can go on goal; the coach could designate a reward (ice cream for the entire team) if they can complete 10 consecutive passes. Make it sufficiently challenging that they will be challenged to complete it, and will in turn give the losing team an opportunity to play, and disrupt the effort. 

• Stipulate that any player who has already scored can not score again.

• If scoring continues, consider restricting the number of players on the offensive end of the field (e.g. no more than 3).

In summary, at its essence, SAY Soccer is about having fun - - for both teams.  Losing is a real part of the sport, no doubt, but consistently losing 6, 8, or 10-0 does little to motivate teams to play better, nor does it help grow the sport of soccer. Coaches of recreational teams have a responsibility to work for some sense of balance in the level of play when it is apparent that their team is head and shoulders above the level of play of the competition.   If a coach seeks to dominate other teams in the manner described above, the district has a responsibility to intercede.  Opportunities to pursue select or club soccer should be recommended by the district, where the competitive level sought by the coach might be more readily available.