Treat Schedules
Each team can consider creating a treat schedule. Kids love a little treat after a game. Make sure to let your team knows if your child has an allergy to certain treats. Treat schedules are optional.
Uniforms
Players without an official Fargo Soccer Club uniform will not be allowed to play. The HOME team wears a green top. The AWAY team wears a white top. If a game is listed as, for example, "Vikings @ Packers", then the Vikings wear white and the Packers wear green. If the game is listed as, for example, "Bison vs. Gophers", then the Bison wear green and the Gophers wear white. Players can opt for different socks or shorts but the FSC jersey is mandatory; no exceptions.
Equipment
For each practice and game, have your player wear shin guards, bring a water bottle and their soccer ball. Uniforms are recommended at all times.
Weather Cancelation Policy
In the event of bad weather, the club will cancel events (games, practices). In some cases, that decision is made by the Fargo Park District, then communicated by the club. The communication of the decision to cancel will first be posted on the club website and then to each team affected by the decision. Regardless of any decision by the Park District or the club, parents always have the option to skip a practice or game based on weather. The club will use both email and text messaging to communicate cancelations. Parents MUST have email and text communicatons turned on in their child's profile in order to be informed via email or text. In addition to email and text, the affected practice or game will be shown as canceled on the club/team website.
Generally, the club will cancel events if the temperature is too cold, heavy rain, snow or high winds. Some decisions will be based on the age of the players on teams.
If a coach needs to cancel a practice, that decision needs to be communicated to the club so that notice can be sent to the team. A coach can also communicate this decision to the team.
Coaches Needed
We are still in great need of head coaches for some of our teams. Please contact Matt Noah at either 701-866-1949 or matt@fargosoccer.org. Call or email f you would like to volunteer or if you have questions. Those parents who serve as a head coach for a team for the entire season will earn a free season of Fall or Spring soccer for one of their children.
Referees
Recreational soccer in the Fargo Soccer Club is refereed by a coach for each team.
2021 Fall Recreational Coaching Handbook
The club has published a 28 page handbook useful for our coaches and players' parents. The Fall handbook is thes same ast the Spring handbook. It outlines rules, policies and guidelines for the season. Download the Coach Handbook.
2021 Spring Recreational Soccer Guidelines
Playing Formations
Teams playing on the smaller fields 1-6:
Teams should play 3v3 with no goalkeepers unless at least one team has 7 or 8 players, then play 4v4 with no goalkeepers.
Remember, if the teams are unbalanced coaches can opt to lend/borrow players with the other team to create balance.
We play with no goalkeepers so that kids can experience the joy of scoring and so that everyone is running; not standing by the goal.
Out-of-bounds: Don't restart play for pre-k unless the ball is 5-10 feet of out bounds. Otherwise, the game will slow down a lot.
For kindergartners and first grade, keep the boundaries to about 5 feet.
All other teams play with strict out-of-bounds rules.
Restarts: When the ball crosses a sideline, the team who did not cause the restart throws the ball in to play, 2 hands over the head, both feet on the ground.
When the ball crosses an end line, there is either a goal kick or a corner kick.
Corner Kick: Defensive team caused the restart so the Offensive team places the ball in the closest corner and kicks the ball in to play.
Goal Kick: Offensive team caused the restart to the Defensive team places the ball 3 feet in front of their goal and kicks the ball in to play.
Restarting the play from a foul or a handball, the ball is placed at the location of the foul/handball and the other team has an indirect free kick.
Games and Practice Locations: Check your location (field number) BEFORE you head to the field. Look at the field maps on the club website for reference.
Parking: Be careful in the Kennedy parking lot at all times. There are alot of excited, short people with questionable judgment running around. Your parking problem pales in comparison to striking a child.
Remember - HAVE FUN! These are the 'good old days.'
