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2010 Indoor News

The 2010 North Indoor Season is Just Around the Corner!

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It's Playoff Time!
 
The regular season is about to come to an end.  Each teams regular season standing will determine who they play in the playoffs.  In each playoff divisions the teams will be seeded by their regular season playoff.  The playoffs are a single elimination tournament.  The U16 and U19 teams will be divided into an upper and lower division for the playoffs.  All of our championship games will be held on Saturday, May 8th.
 
It is extremely important that teams get their scores in as soon as possible so that they can be posted, the final standings determined and the teams can be put into their playoff bracket.  
 
 
Playoff Reminders for the Coaches
 
Have your players arrive early.  The games must start on time or you will lose game time.  For the U16 and U19 teams you must get your players to the game early so that we can check the player passes of each player.  EACH PLAYER MUST REMEMBER THEIR TEAM SHIRT since our player passes that we keep reference players by number.  On player that is not registered to your team cannot play and the team will forfeit the game (the game can still be played for fun).  
 
Coaches should click the following link, fillout their playoff roster form and to read the playoff rules and procedures:
 
 
 
If we are able to announce your game, you will need to notify the announcer of the name of your goalie.  If you switch goalies during the game, please notify the announcer.  Each team will have the players names announced.  Your players should know who is starting the game before the announcements so that we can start the game immediately after the players names are announced.  When a player scores, remind them to tell the referee who scored and who got an assist so that it can be announced.  We need the coaches to fill-out and submit their roster, with player numbers prior to their games.
 
Coaches:  If your team will be unable to play your next game in the playoff bracket, please let your coordinator know before your last game so that we can notify your opponent that they will be moving on to the next game ever if they lose.  In other words, you still play your game but if you win the losing team will still move forward so that we do not have a forfeit for the next playoff game.   
 
 

 
Playoff Reminders for Everyone
 
The play during the playoffs always becomes more intense; however, everyone must remember that these are just games - there is no big trophy or accolade for the winners.  If sports is supposed to help our children learn values that they can use in life, lets use the playoffs as a time to learn some of those values.  Win with class and dignity.  Lose with grace.  Play hard but fair and always treat others with respect.  Whether you are a coach, a fan or a parent, you can all set the example for are children.  
 
Please click the following link for general playoff information:   2010 NIS Playoff Page
 
Championship Saturday - May 8th
 
All of our championship games will be held on Saturday, May 8th.  Even if your team does not make it to the finals, come to the arena and watch some fun and exciting soccer and be eligible for a number of prizes.  Every year local businesses donate prizes that we give away during our championship games.  During halftime of each championship game we have a shootout for the fans.  Any fan, young and old, can enter and have a chance to kick one of three balls into the net to win a prize.  It's fun to watch and even more fun to participate.  
 
I look forward to seeing everyone at the playoffs and I hope you have had a fun season and a fun playoff.  
 
 

Sportsmanship:  Easy to Talk About, Hard to Define!

Every year we recieve complaints about unsportsmanlike behavior.  Unfortunately, what constitutes unsportsmanlike behavior is difficult to define.  What is jubulent celebration to one team, is rubbing it in to the other.  What one team considerss playing hard to the end, is running up the score to the other.

 

Like most people, while I can't define a specific rule as to what is unsportsmanlike conduct, I know it when I see it.  Of course, this doesn't provide much of a solution because nobody sees all of the games and ten different people could see the same event and come to different conclusions.

 

So do we just give-up trying to to have players, coaches and fans act in a sportsmanlike manner?  I hope not but we have to realistic about what we can do.  First, some behavior is clearly over the line and referees have to power to issue red cards and kick players, coaches and/or fans out of the game and the building.  Every year, unfortunately, we will have one or two players, coaches and/or fans thrown out of a game.  The most common cause is abusive behavior towards referees, coaches or players.  In each instance the team who had a player, coach or fan thrown out protested stating that they did not believe the behavior crossed the line or that the penalty was too severe for the conduct.  I personally have had people swear at me, thrown things on the field,  make obscene gesture's, throw garage cans or continually yell and scream after repeated requests for them to stop.  None of these situations were pleasant to deal with, especially in the context of a youth soccer game and half of the people responsible were adults.

 

What can we do?  The following are my suggestions:

1.  We need to continually change the rules to help referees control the game to avoid problems;

2.  We need the coaches to help their players act more sportsmanlike;

3.  We need parents and coaches to set a good example.

 

Over the last three years we have changed the rules more times and more significantly than we have done in the prior 12 years combined.  We have taken "intent" out of many of the calls, we have added new penalties to be called around the boards if a play is dangerous because of the presence of the boards and we have increased the harshness of the penalties (penalty times increased to 3 minutes and a red cards result in an automatic additional two game suspension).  We will continue to listen to the coaches and referees and make changes where we believe that the change will help avoid some of these issues.

 

I believe that the coaches have the most impact on sportsmanship issues.  While a referee can make a call, the fact is, a coach does not have to rely on a referee to make a call - if a player is out of control, acting unsportsmanlike, take them out of the game.  Remember, the referees are watching all of the players on the field and have to physically keep up with the play.  They simply are not going to see or hear everything that happens during a game.  Players want to play, if playing time is taken away - whether by a referee or a coach - their behavior will change.  When a team gets a safe lead, there are a number of things a coach can do that allows his/her team to play hard without running up the score.  Put the best players on defense, have the best players try to set up players who don't score very often, have players only shoot with their non-dominate foot or by a header.  In other words, you can keep the score down while at the same time allowing your players to play harder and actually improve their play.  Generally, if the coaches look at the game from the perspective of the other team and be aware of actions that will come across as "rub-it-in" or unsportsmanlike and talk to their players about it we will eliminate a lot of problems.

 

The final area that would improve sportsmanship is the example set by the adults.  Every year I will have someone complain about the behavior of another team yet they, themselves, spent the entire game screaming at the referees.  Why is it okay for a coach or a fan to scream at a referee but it is unsportsmanlike for a player to do so?  Everyone says that these games are just for fun yet one team is playing like it is a world cup game and the team that lost is screaming because they lost.  I personally don't believe you have to win the game in order to have fun.  I've played and coached for many years in a number of sports and so of my fondest memories were on teams that weren't very good and many of the best teams I have been associated with are remembered for wanting the season to end as soon as possible.  The best games for both teams are the hard fought closely contested games and not the blowouts.  Frankly, blowouts are boring for even the team that wins.  

Whether teams win or lose, the most important question is did the players have a good time.  I've seen too many games where the parents and coach are more upset about the game than the players themselves, where parents and coaches yell and confront the referees or have angry exchanges with the other team - is this really the example that we want to send to our children?

 

If everyone would remember that these are just games, that whether the game was won or lost will be soon forgotten but if the players learn how to handle winning and losing with class and sportsmanship that will stay with them forever.

 

Steve Nash    

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Click to View Standings, Rosters, Schedules and Other Team and League Information

NO Children, Non-Players or Non-Coaches in Players Bench

Only players and coaches are allowed in the player bench area.  The referees have been instructed to have non-players and non-coaches leave the bench area.  If they do not leave when asked, a penalty will be imposed on the team  This rule is imposed by the arena and supported by NIS.  Quite simply, it is not safe to have extra people on the bench , especially children.

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Only Registered Players Can Play - How to Add a Player After Registration is Closed   

Once the season has started and everyone should have their team shirts.  Teams at the U16 and U19 leagues can add players without league permission but must register the player through the league.  No player can play until they have turned in their signed registration form and registration fee.

Players  will not be allowed to play without their team shirt.   This includes goalies and players who forgot their team shirt.  If a player loses their team shirt their coach must contact the league.  Any player who plays without being registered will be banned from the league for the 2009 season.  Any player who allows another to use their team shirt will also be banned and the team will forfeit all of their games (they will be allowed to play the games). 

The teams at the U10, U12 and U14 levels cannot add a player without league approval.  The league will consider team standings, team sizes and the league ratios of age, boys and girls. 


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Rules, Rules and More Rules!
 
Actually the new rules were imposed for the 2009 season will continue in 2010.  You will see more 2 minute penalties, less discretionary calls and the referee's have the authority to impose a 5 minute major penalty on players.  The rules will be enforced more like in a hockey game.  We do not want to see more penalties called during games; however, these leagues are designed to be fun games and we want to make sure that the players safety is paramount.  We do not call the game the same as the outdoor game because the game is quicker, is on a hard surface and there are boards all of which can create safety issues.  We also do not have the same rules as other indoor soccer leagues because we chose to emphasis player safety.  Hopefully, this will help control the game and players so that play does not get out of hand.  The new rules can be viewed on the Referee/Rules page of this website.  Please read the rules!