Important Information for Players

Congratulations, and welcome to Region 56 Soccer! Whether this is your first year in soccer or you are an experienced veteran player, you are promised a season of fun and excitement! It's important that you understand that your team will count on you to remember the following items:

• First, we expect that you will have fun this season and make lots of new friends, both on the team you join and on other teams.
• You should be at each practice and every game, arriving on time and properly equipped. Your teammates and your Coach count on you to be there and to be prepared. If you cannot be at a practice or a game, you must call your Coach in advance!
• For weekday practices, you must wear your shinguard, soccer shoes (or sneakers), and long socks to cover the shinguards.
• Bring a ball and a water bottle. If the weather is cold, bring a sweatshirt. Do not wear your uniform to practice.
• Climbing on soccer goals or nets is extremely dangerous and is prohibited.
• For games, you must wear your full uniform including shirt, shorts, and socks. Socks must be on the outside of the shinguards (not underneath and then pulled down over the top).
• Do not wear any jewelry to games or to practice.
  • Do not wear watches, necklaces, earrings, friendship bracelets or removable retainers.
  • Pierced earrings are dangerous and not acceptable under any conditions (even if tape or bandaids are used to cover the earring). Do not choose to get your ears pierced during soccer season, you will have to remove the studs if you want to play!
• If you wear glasses, you must also wear a retaining strap.
• If you wear hair clips, they must be soft (no hard metal or plastic). Long hair should be tied back with soft "scrunchies" or elastic bands.
• You may wear a knee brace or other type of support if your parents or doctor recommend it, but the brace must have no exposed metal or other hard surface that might be dangerous to you or to other players. The Referee may inspect a brace before each game and decide whether to allow it.
• If you have a hard cast, you may not play soccer until it is removed and your doctor allows you to play.
• The Referee will inspect your uniform and equipment before each game. Your shirt must be tucked into your shorts when you report for lineup. Remember that just because the last Referee allowed you to wear something unusual does not mean that the next Referee will do the same thing!
• You may not chew gum or eat anything while you are playing, except during the halftime break.
• Always show respect to your teammates, your opponents, your Coach and the Referee. The Laws of Soccer do not tolerate abuse of opponents, or arguing with the Referee. Accept that the Referee will sometimes make mistakes, just like you do.