Have a great Spring season and keep an eye out for an important survey I'll be kicking your way in March!!

Table of Contents

1. Editor’s Corner Kick
2. The Laws of The Game – H.S. Soccer
3. Soccer Game: Give and Go for U6-U8
4. Help for Parents – Learn Soccer the Easy Way
5. eBay Soccer, Anyone?

1. Editor’s Corner Kick

Ready for the Spring season?

The weather is slowly warming in the great state of Arkansas but still not quite fast enough for me. I hate being cold. I would rather sweat buckets any day than to be cold and miserable. But, hey, that’s just me.

Soccer around here can’t compete with the “baseball god” so the Spring season must be played before baseball starts. Thus cold, damp weather is inevitable. I suspect the same problem is true in many other areas of the United States. (but probably not in other countries)

I’m excited to be refereeing high school soccer this Spring. For those who aren’t aware of it, U.S. high school soccer rules differ a bit from standard FIFA rules. I have highlighted a few differences in the rules section below.

Finally, for those with a burning desire to learn I have made some pages on the history of soccer and on United States Soccer history. You can check it out here.

2. The Laws of The Game – H.S. Soccer

High school soccer in Arkansas is regulated by the National Federation of State High School Associations. You can check them out at http://www.nfhs.org .

The NFHS has their own soccer rule book. For the most part, the rules are the same. In case you decide to watch a high school game, I have highlighted some of the major differences between the NFHS rules and the FIFA rules below.

When to Allow Substitutions

NFHS allows the kicking team to sub on a corner kick, and also allows the team without possession of the ball to substitute on a throw-in if the team with the ball makes a substitution. FIFA rules do not allow either of these substitutions.

Replacing a Person “Sent Off”

In FIFA a player who has been “sent off” (shown a red card) can only be replaced if the red card is prior to the kickoff.

In NFHS the player can be replaced if the red card was due to taunting, excessive celebration, or a second yellow card. They can also be replaced if the red card occurs prior to the kickoff or between the first and second half.

Result of a Caution

In NFHS when a player is cautioned (shown a yellow card), that person must leave the field. A substitute can be provided for the player if desired. In FIFA the player cautioned can continue to play.

The Coach

In NFHS the coach can be cautioned (yellow card) or disqualified (red card) and told to leave the field. In FIFA only players and substitutes can be carded.

For a more complete discussion of soccer rules (the FIFA version) visit the Soccer Rule Page.

If you really want to learn the rules yourself you should try the two-hour audio download of youth soccer expert Karl Dewazien explaining the Laws of The Game. Check out my review and you will see why I can recommend this without qualification!

3. Soccer Game: Give and Go for U6-U8

Here is a game that has several good teaching points for getting the “spectators” on your team more active. This should work well at the U-6 to U-8 level. I wouldn’t run this exercise too long, maybe 5-10 minutes.

Give and Go

Originally posted on the SOCCER-COACH-L Website at http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~dgraham/manual/Pages/Very_Young/u6_games.html :

Give and go This one is good for getting the kids to move after they make a pass. It is appropriate for kids a little older, who pass the ball but like to stop and really admire their better passes. Everyone spaces themselves around the center circle. Give the ball to one person and they call out someone's name and pass to them. They then run to the receiver's position in the circle. The receiver upon hearing their name called steps forward to receive the pass and yells "I got it!" The sequence is then repeated. Several things are accomplished besides getting them used to movement. The "I got it!" yell addresses the problem of nobody playing the ball in a game because they thought the other was going to play it. We all learn each other's names quickly.

Invariably, someone is always left out so start a countdown from 10 to 0 and they have to figure out who has been left out (the left out person should be quiet). They start yelling among themselves to figure out who it is and this fosters communication on the field. (It's pretty humorous too).

After a few practices, they get it down so they look pretty sharp. Then you toss in another ball. They love it! Now they have to think a bit because people are moving and two are busy with the other ball.

More soccer drill resources can be found on the Soccer Drill Page.

4. Help for Parents – Learn Soccer the Easy Way

Are you still struggling to learn the game?

Still don’t understand the basic rules?

Are you guessing about the proper techniques for passing and shooting a soccer ball?

Don’t know how to teach the kids to play in different areas of the field?

I have a godsend for you - The Clueless Parents 3-Pack. It will cover all of these basics and much, much more. Do yourself a favor and CHECK IT OUT!

5. eBay Soccer, Anyone?

A final note.

Call it a heads up, if you will.

I have been buying and selling on eBay for many years. I would be shocked and amazed if you or someone you know well weren’t using it as well.

As eBay continues to grow in popularity, more and more merchants are turning to eBay either to sell their normal products or to move surplus inventory.

Good news for soccer parents. A bunch of soccer merchandise is starting to show up on eBay. I did a search early last year and couldn’t find much of anything. Today there are 10,947 items in the soccer category.

Need some soccer equipment? Look in the eBay! Soccer category first.

Until next time.

Randy