Humboldt Parks & Recreation Department
Indoor Soccer Handbook 2017
Humboldt Parks & Recreation Department
29 5th Street South
Humboldt, IA 50548
Phone: 515-332-5447 Fax: 515-332-1453
Program Philosophy:
Welcome to the Humboldt Parks & Recreation Department Indoor Soccer program. We are pleased that you have decided to coach, referee or participate as a parent or player in the program. The program is designed to teach kids the fundamentals of the game and have fun as a group and individually. It is intended to provide physical activity encouraging fitness and teach sportsmanship as well as the fundamentals of the game.
The Humboldt Parks & Recreation Department has the following basic objectives which relate to all sports programming:
1. PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY – Encourage and provide opportunity to improve physical and mental well-being and fitness.
2. FUN – We want to allow the kids to have fun and enjoy playing soccer. The program should be rewarding and enjoyable, with smiles, laughter and good feelings shared all around.
3. PARTICPATION – Youth soccer is a participation activity. We need to allow players as close to equal playing time as possible.
4. PUTTING WINNING IN PERSPECTIVE – As one goal among others and developing attitudes towards sports which broaden “winning” to include enjoyment, making friends, and learning new skills.
5. SPORTSMANSHIP – Developing attitudes about the opposing team and the official which recognize as indispensable partners in the pleasure of participation. What a referee says goes!
6. SAFETY FIRST – We must all strive to make our program as safe as possible for the young participants and all involved.
7. SOUND MORAL STANDARDS – Program leaders need to set a good example in sound moral conduct for the young participants of the program. Coaches must never use profanity in their work with the children. Conversely coaches should not tolerate profanity from team members.
8. FUNDAMENTALS AND SKILLS – Time and emphasis should be placed on proper technique and basic fundamentals rather that trying to use complex offensive and defensive plays.
This program is designed to encourage parents and other interested persons to participate in various leadership roles such as coaching, officiating, and developing skills in the kids. The goal is to promote the program philosophy of “Athletes First, Winning Second.”
The program emphasis is on the experience and the physical fitness which sports participation encourages. The emphasis is on creating an environment in which each child may have fun and grow and develop his/her capabilities at their own pace.
COACHING GUIDELINES:
As a coach, you must be tuned in to believe in the basic concepts and goals of Parks & Recreation Department Youth Sports Program including:
1. PARTICIPATION – EVERYONE plays as close to equal time as possible
2. FUN – for everyone involved
3. FITNESS – key goal of any program
4. SKILLS – Always emphasize basic fundamentals
5. FAIR PLAY – stress sportsmanship
6. TEAMWORK – togetherness gets the job done
7. FAMILY – Everyone can get involved
8. VOLUNTEERISM – the backbone of our programs
League Structure:
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
The program is open to boys and girls in grades 1-8. Leagues are divided by grades: 1st-2nd; 3rd-4th; etc. All grades except 1st and 2nd grade will be coed.
PROGRAM DATES:
The indoor soccer program starts February 23th and runs through March 25th. All games will be played at the Alpha Gym (Old Middle School). There is the possibility that we may increase the season one more week.
3rd and 4th grade will play on Thursday nights.
5th-8th will play on Friday nights.
1st and 2nd grade will play on Saturday mornings.
Check the Parks & Recreation tab on our website for the list of teams and schedule.
PROGRAM LENGTH/PRACTICIES:
Each team will play about one game per week, (some grades have an odd amount of teams so this will create some double-headers). Each week, games will begin with 15 minutes of fundamentals. These brief fundamental sessions will give the coaches time to help each player work on skills. After the session, the game will begin. If you would like additional practices for your team, I can try to schedule an Alpha Gym time. Keep in mind that open times are very scarce and hard to come by.
GAME LENGTH/TIME OUTS:
Games will be 2 12 minute halves each for 1st – 4th grade and 2 15 minute halves for 5th & 6th grade. The clock will continue to run except for Official’s time. Halftime will be 2 minutes long.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
There will be free substitutions of players in indoor soccer. Players may switch on the go or at the whistle.
TEAM SIZE:
Each team will field six players at one time.
BEGINNING OF THE GAME:
The game will begin with a kick from center circle by the team that wins the pre-game coin toss. From then on the kick from center will alternate. A tie will be considered a tie at the end of play. There is no overtime in indoor soccer.
REFEREES:
1. The referee has jurisdiction from the time he/she enters the field of play until he/she signals the end of the game.
2. The referee shall enforce the laws of the game, but shall refrain from stopping the game for an infraction.
3. The referee can stop the game for infringement of the rules by blowing the whistle.
4. The referee can suspend or terminate the game whenever he/she feels it is necessary (example: interference by a spectator)
5. The referee can caution a player and eject any player guilty of violent conduct or serious foul play, using foul or abusive language, or persistent infringement of the rules.
6. A coin toss will determine who will have possession of the ball to start the game.
7. A goal cannot be directly scored on the kickoff.
8. A ball is out of play when it has crossed the goal-line or touch-line whether on the ground or in the air. (Different rules will apply for 1st and 2nd graders)
INDOOR SOCCER RULES:
1. At the opening kick-off, the defensive team must start in their defensive zone until the ball is kicked. They must be 10 feet from the ball.
2. Any hand contact with the ball or personal roughing foul results in an indirect free kick from the spot of the foul. The defensive players must be at least 10 feet from the ball on any free kick.
KICK IN:
1. A kick-in is awarded if the ball is passed completely over a touch-line (sideline), either on the ground or in the air.
2. The ball is kicked in at the place where it crossed the line by player of the opposing team.
3. A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-in.
4. If the kick-in is improper, a kick-in from the same place is awarded to the opposing team.
5. The ball is in play immediately upon entering the field of play but may not be touched by the kicker before being touched by another player.
GOAL THROW:
1. A goal throw is awarded to the defending team if the ball passes completely over its goal-line, outside the goal, after having last been touched by a player of the attacking team.
2. A goal throw must be touched by another player before crossing the half line.
3. All opposing players must be outside the penalty area.
4. The ball must travel outside the penalty area before being in play and may not be played by the thrower a second time before being touched by another player.
5. A goal cannot be scored direct from a goal throw.
1. Corner kicks are to be taken without interference from the defending team since they result from offensive pressure by attacking them.
INCLEMENT WEATHER:
Check the city’s website www.cityofhumboldt.org or listen to KHBT (97.7) for cancellations due to inclement weather to see if the games are cancelled. Contact Chris 515-368-3270 or Bernie 515-890-1704.
SOCCER POSITIONS:
FORWARDS (2) – This position is the key to your offensive attack. The center forward puts the ball into play by kicking to one of the other players. Their job is to keep the ball at the offensive end of the field.
HALFBACKS (2) – Basically, a defensive position but they can help out on offense to form a power play. Play at the mid-field area when the ball is at the other end. Their job would be to stop the ball from crossing over the center line and getting it back to their forwards.
FULLBACK (1) – Their job is to not let the opponents score. They must block shots, and take the ball away.
GOALIE (1) – Their job is to block the goal and not let the other team score. 1st & 2nd Grade No Goalie – a player may stay back to defend goal, but may not pick up the ball.
SOCCER METHODS:
For beginning players, the coach’s primary objective should be to provide an atmosphere in which the players will learn to enjoy soccer. This objective applies equally well to teenage players to very young players, although the methods to achieve this objective will obviously differ.
A secondary objective is for the coach to teach the players the necessary skills for full enjoyment of the game. Elementary techniques such as kicking and dribbling the ball should be demonstrated. The coach must always remember that beginning players learn most from doing, not from watching or listening. Demonstrations at the beginning of practice session should be short and to the point so that the maximum time possible is spent playing.
HERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES FOR TEACHING A SPECIFIC SKILL:
1. Introduce the technique under match conditions.
2. Demonstrate the technique
3. Briefly explain the key teaching points
4. Organize into groups
5. Practice the fundamentals
Focus on training for fun, development of individual skills, development of group tactics, and coaching under game-related conditions.
Please remember we are guests in the Alpha Gym. Make sure you and your team picks up all trash, and throw it out in the proper garbage cans in the gym and locker rooms. Please keep the gym neat and orderly as we found it to begin with. Thank you!
THANKS FOR REGISTERING WITH HUMBOLDT PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND HAVE FUN!
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