CJSA, SWD and WSA Zero Tolerance Policy
Wilton Soccer Parents, Coaches, Managers and Players,
As we begin the Fall Season, we want to remind you of WSA’s Code of Conduct that all members of our club have agreed to uphold in all respects as part of their registration and participation in our programs. Please re-read the WSA Code of Conduct carefully and share with your players as well.
In addition, all are required to read carefully, the below renewed policy from the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) with respect to zero tolerance for unsporting behavior at all CJSA/WSA matches. The policy seeks to further enhance the environments around youth soccer games by eliminating issues with respect to sideline behavior.
CJSA and the CT Referee Program has given specific instructions to referees regarding the Zero Tolerance policy.
ANY unsporting behavior from spectators will lead to being asked to leave the field, and the game will be suspended indefinitely if they do not comply. Coaches will be subject to Caution (Yellow Card) and/or Send-off (Red Card) if they engage in unsporting behavior or refuse to deal with spectator issues. Any of these issues will also be subject to further action taken by either WSA, CJSA, or both.
Wilton Soccer Association fully supports the Zero Tolerance policy below, and will support our referees in making sure we are Giving the Game Back to the KIDS.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH OF YOU AND ALL OF US TO REPRESENT WILTON SOCCER, OUR PLAYERS AND YOURSELVES IN A MANNER WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF. THE GAME IS FOR THE KIDS, LET IT BE THAT.
Give the Game Back to the KIDS
In an effort to eliminate violent and inappropriate behavior in the youth game environment, the Connecticut State Referee Program has asked CJSA for help at the association, league, and club levels to implement a “Give the Game Back to the KIDS” initiative.
In the youth game environment, referees are advised that dissent is a comment, or compilation of comments that is/are personal (Hey Ref…), disruptive to the game, and public in delivery (meaning someone heard it). Because there are thousands of forms of dissent, it’s easiest to say “We can’t describe it, but we all know it when we hear or see it”. At its most basic level, dissent is expressing an opinion that is different from an official position.
Below are a few examples of dissent. This is not an all-encompassing list, and are just a few of the many examples available:
Hey Ref: that was a foul; that was a handball; call it both ways; what are you watching; that’s not a penalty; etc.
Repeatedly questioning calls regardless of the tone of voice, a sarcastic clap or thumbs up, waiving the arms up and down in a ‘what was that’ motion.
Trying to become part of the referee’s decision-making process from the technical area.
Coaches with legitimate questions should politely ask the referee if it’s okay to approach and ask a question.
Spectators should NEVER address a referee with any comments and absolutely should NEVER ccross the field boundary lines to, or at any time, approach a referee before, during, or after the match.
With this in mind, the CSRP is instructing all referees to use the following protocols:
ZERO TOLERANCE - Referee Protocols
Spectator Misbehavior
Stop the game, bring the coaches to the center circle, ask them to identify the person, and have the COACH have the person(s) leave. If the coach does not comply, or if the person does not leave, referees will not restart and abandon the game. Referee(s) should leave the field, contact their assignor, and report the situation in the game report or the referee abuse app. REFEREES DO NOT AND WILL NOT ENGAGE WITH SPECTATORS DIRECTLY.
Coach Misbehavior
At the first sign of Coach dissent, referees will not talk to the coach. Referees will show the caution (yellow card). If the dissent continues, referees will not talk to the coach - they will show the caution; since it’s the second yellow card, it will be followed by a send-off (red card). If the coach does not leave, do not restart the game and abandon the game. Referee(s) should leave the field, contact their assignor, and report the situation in the game report or the referee abuse app.
The above protocols are not administered arbitrarily, they are taken directly from the book from which referees receive their training.
“Whether decisions are right or wrong, the ‘spirit’ of the game requires that referees’ decisions must always be respected. All those in authority, especially coaches and team captains, have a clear responsibility to the game to respect the match officials and their decisions” – 2024/2025 Laws of the Game, page 11
In support of this initiative, the SWD District (WSA’s League) Discipline Committee as of now:
Requires that any game that is halted for issues regarding Spectators, will automatically be placed under Silent Sidelines protocol for the remainder of the match. As part of the conversation with spectators when the match is halted, BOTH COACHES must inform the spectators that Silent Sidelines is now in force. This is the coaches responsibility, not the referees.
Silent Sidelines- The guidelines are simple. Spectators are to be quiet, talking in a normal tone to the person next to them. What is to be avoided are comments that can be heard by players, referees or opponents. Applause is permitted and encouraged.
When a match is halted for any reason, this does not signal the start of any debate or discussion. Coaches and Spectators are expected to comply and act immediately.
Finally …
WSA is reinforcing this zero tolerance policy as follows -
Should a WSA coach or spectator, or other member, receive or be the cause of a caution card, they AND their player may be suspended for the next match at least, and possibly longer at the sole discretion of the WSA Coaching Director, President and/or Board.
Coaches or spectators receiving card(s) may also be subject to multi-game or season long bans from sidelines and games at the sole discretion of WSA.
Should you have any questions in regards to how the referees will be handling dissent please email info@ctreferee.net
Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA)
www.cjsa.org
TeamSnap & More
We are rolling out invitations to the TeamSnap mobile app for all teams. A few notes to be mindful of as you accept invite and digest information in the app:
Re-read the important updates shared a few weeks ago HERE - uniforms, pre season camp, Labor Day tourney info, WSA merch sale and much more.
Update your profile information in the TeamSnap app. It is critical your contact info is accurate in the app. If you think you received an invite in error or are not sure if you received the correct invite, please email info@wiltonsoccer.info
Schedules are subject to change up until season begins, but we do our very best to avoid this if we can. Practice days most likely will not change, practice times and fields could change for a few teams based on field availability and coach constraints. We have done our best to align practices for all teams in an age group at the same day, time and location. We have also situated practices to take advantage of school buses and after school access wherever possible.
Rosters are subject to adjustment up until the season begins. WSA reserves right to make any adjustments to each age group and each team to optimize playing time, team experience or otherwise for the benefit of the program and teams overall. We appreciate your understanding on this matter.
Team Managers NEEDED! Team Managers coordinate game schedules, communicate important info among WSA, players/parents and coaches, set Parent on Duty schedules for practices and more. Teams can not function without a volunteer Team Manager. We will host a Manager training session prior to the season in coming weeks. No experience required to be a manager. Team Managers from last cycle have been enthusiastically re-hired (thank you!). The below teams all require a volunteer to step up to manage the team. If you would like to volunteer please email david.nuttall@wiltonsoccer.info
2016 Boys Real
2016 Boys United
2016 Boys Wolves
2014 Boys White
2013 Boys White
2016 Girls Spirit
2015 Girls Reign
2014 Girls White
Coach Assignments are still being finalized and will be added to TeamSnap ahead of first practices.
Note the important dates on your team calendar and indicate availability for each throughout the season. Click into each event, indicate your player’s availability by clicking Yes or No. This is critical information for our managers and coaches. Indicate availability at least one week in advance.
Indicate availability ASAP for the Labor Day tournament in South Salem, NY. Boys play on Sat, Aug 31 and Girls play on Sunday, Sept 1. If you do not indicate your player as available for the tourney by Aug 7th, we will assume they are NOT participating. If team’s do not show enough available players, we will NOT register those teams for the event.
Sunday league game schedules will not be posted until the end of August when the league produces them. There are nearly 500 teams in our league across the age groups and the process to set schedules takes time.
WHS Varsity Games and Ball Boy/Girl duties. We will be adding the WHS Girls and Boys varsity games to respective WSA schedules in TeamSnap. Watching varsity games is a great way for players to see the next level and get excited about their future in the game, playing for their hometown. In addition to watching games whenever they can, each of our WSA teams will be assigned a varsity home game (or two) to serve as ball boys/girls for those games. Teams must supply 4-6 players to serve in this role for their assigned games. This is a fun and important responsibility! The ball boy/girl assignments will also be added to TeamSnap.
Important Info Ahead of the Fall 2024 Season
Hi WSA families!
The fall 2024 soccer season is quickly approaching.
Please read below IMPORTANT INFO carefully and in its entirety. Please take actions as noted.
WSA Code of Conduct: WSA has memorialized a Code of Conduct HERE. Your player's participation in the program binds your player, you and your family to this Code. Please review and share with your player. Our commitment and respect for the game, our teams, our teammates and each other will make for the best possible experience for all. Please also watch the videos below this message/on this page!
Uniforms: Please review info about uniforms and ordering process HERE. In the coming days, you will receive an email from "MyUniform" /Soccer & Rugby prompting you to place your uniform orders. Uniforms are same as last season, so our returning players do not need to order a new kit, but may order replacement components as/if needed. Our new players must order a full uniform kit. The deadline to order uniform and components is August 3rd. Please also note that WSA members receive a discount at Soccer & Rugby on all in store purchases of non-uniform related gear, we recommend taking advantage of this in coming weeks!
Wilton Soccer Dustbowl Merch Flash Sale- deadline to order merch is July 26th! Based on overwhelming demand for a beta sale of Dustbowl hats we did this past spring, we have assembled an awesome selection of Wilton Soccer merch from our friends at Dustbowl, the lifestyle brand born on the ball field and founded by Wilton alums and friends of WSA. Fill out this FORM with your orders ASAP! Deadline to indicate orders is July 26th and min quantities in each product must be met to place the eventual batch orders. We will request payment after we receive orders/hit our minimums.
Pick Up Soccer and Pre Season Camp (more info/ register HERE). We have 3 more weeks of Pick Up Soccer on Tuesday evenings and Pre Season Camp is schedule for Aug 19-22 and 24th (no camp on Aug 23rd due to "Meet the Teacher Day" for schools). These dates and the times of pre season camp may shift slightly once we get school schedules. Pre Season Camp is recommended (but is optional) and is a separate fee.
TeamSnap mobile app In coming days, you will receive an invite to join your team on TeamSnap. This is the single source for all of the most important information for your team and where you should communicate (chat, email and post). Please look for the email invite, accept, update/re download the app as needed and follow prompts to update your contact/profile information. TeamSnap contains your team roster, prelim season schedule and messaging features for the entire team to stay in sync. WSA and Team Managers will update schedules in TeamSnap throughout the season. Parents should update their player's availability for each WSA event in TeamSnap. If you were associated with a team last year, please hide/remove your prior season's team(s) from the mobile app by clicking on the drop down menu at very top of the app (next to the team name) and then select “See All Teams” then, “Edit”… click on new team for Fall 2024 and click on the minus (-) sign to hide/remove an old team from prior season(s). The new teams are not yet populated in the app, but will be soon!
Practice Schedule: First practices are the week of August 26th. TeamSnap, when released, will contain a prelim day/time/location for your team's practices each week. As reminder, WSA Boys teams typically practice on Mon and Thurs and WSA Girls teams practice on Weds and Fri, with a few exceptions due to coach and field considerations. Wherever possible, we try to situate practices immediately after school and take advantage of buses to fields.
Practice Attire: Players should wear WSA practice attire (avail in uniform shop) to all practices. For all soccer events, all players will need a pumped up soccer ball, shin guard under socks, soccer cleats and a water bottle. Players are responsible for all of their gear.
Team Parent Meetings hosted by WSA Coaches in advance of season will be added to TeamSnap schedules. These will likely be scheduled during your child’s first week of practice and will be held at the fields. It is required that at least one parent attend this meeting.
Parents on Duty ("POD"): PODs attend duration of assigned practices to support coaches and/or players in event of emergency or other situation where another adult may be needed. Each player's family (one parent only needed) will have POD duties a couple of times during the season for their team. POD duties will be assigned by Team Managers in TeamSnap for each event - please check to see if you are on duty. If you can not serve as POD on your assigned day, please swap with a teammate as needed among yourselves.
Tournaments: Majority of WSA teams will play a tournament on Labor Day and Columbus Day weekends. Labor Day tournament is John Jay Tournament in South Salem, NY. Boys teams will play Saturday, Aug 31. Girls teams will play Sunday, Sep 1. Please reserve the day (games usually consume either the morning or the afternoon with full schedules not released until Aug 17 or thereabouts). New teams (2016/U9s) may play an in-town jamboree instead of the Labor Day tournament (decisions/details to be finalized soon). These prelim dates/tourneys will be in TeamSnap schedules, please indicate your availability ASAP for Labor Day when the app is released to you. When TeamSnap becomes available to you all, we will need all players to confirm their availability for Labor Day tourney asap.
League Game Schedules: first league games are Sun, Sept 8th and continue through early November. Dates/opponents/home or away info wont be available from our league until end of August (1-2 weeks before the season) as the divisions for all 400+ teams across Fairfield County are assembled and aligned. Game times and fields are confirmed weekly by your team Managers and WSA once the schedule of dates/opponents is released. You can count on a game each Sunday between 12 noon and 6 PM. WSA players are expected to prioritize practices and games as their primary sport in the fall season. Any anticipated conflicts should be communicated to your team Manager early and often.
Field Set Up Day (Aug 25): Volunteers needed to assist in field set up for the season (moving goals back into place, securing nets and sandbags, etc). Field Set Up Day will be Aug 25th from 8-10AM. This will also be opportunity for Team Managers to refresh or pick up their Manager bags and corner flags for season.
Team Managers Needed! All teams must have a volunteer parent team manager (ideally two per team). Team Managers coordinate game schedules, communicate with parents and coaches and ensure the team runs smoothly each season. If you were a prior manager, you have been automatically re-assigned to manage again (thanks!). New teams need a parent to step up to manage. Please email david.nuttall@wiltonsoccer.info if you are able to volunteer to manage your team.
If you have questions on any of the above, please email Coach Dave at david.nuttall@wiltonsoccer.info.
Thank you! WSA Team
Tryout / Team Formation Update
As previously shared, we plan to release updates on each age group on a rolling basis starting with our oldest age groups and progressing to youngest.
We will begin to send updates beginning today and continuing into next week, balancing end of season considerations for currently active players/teams and everyone’s desire for the update/information as soon as practical.
Players invited to a given team will receive an email requesting acceptance of a roster position. Please be attentive to these emails and accept your offered roster spot as soon as possible so we may complete this process efficiently. Roster positions are confirmed by way of completion of registration and payment.
Efficient acceptances benefit all our players and teams, as well as the volunteers seeking to complete the process for each group.
Reminders:
We had a record number of players register for and participate in tryouts
Each age group is unique in terms of number of players, depth of the player pool, and other considerations such as relative age and grade within a birth year
We consider closely how to best set up each age group and the adjacent age groups for success for not only this coming year, but the years that will follow as well (roster sizes expand every two years to match field format)
Team Formation Principles:
Place as many players as possible to maximize positive development and quality of teams
Consider competitiveness of each team in context of the leagues/divisions available for play
Place players on teams where they are challenged to grow, but also where they can build confidence
Consider selectively utilizing combined age group teams when it can help to optimize participation and competitiveness for more
Recognize that some players are best fit for our recreational programs, rather than competitive teams - while that is a difficult message to convey, it is always made with the player’s best interests in mind. We have a place for every player to participate and we have seen many players make future teams on their 2nd, 3rd or more tries. Every player’s entry point and soccer journey is different.
Age Group Considerations
Below is representative. Actual number of teams in each birth year and number of players per team will be different based on specifics of each age group.
U9 (2016), U10 (2015)
7x7 game format (small field)
Roster size of up to 12 players
2-4 teams per birth year per gender
2017s will be included to “play up” if 1) space available on rosters, AND 2) they are ready for the physical/competitive level and are socially/developmentally ready to be among older children for practices and games - it is most important their first more competitive soccer experience is a positive one
U11 (2014), U12 (2013)
9x9 game format (medium field)
Roster size of 14-16 players
1-3 teams per birth year per gender
U13 (2012), U15 (2011/2010)
11x11 game format (full size field)
Roster size of 16-20 players
1-2 team per birth year or age group per gender
For reminders about the program, please visit the WSA Info Session Presentation and the relevant program pages on this website.
Thank you,
The WSA Team
Wilton Soccer 2024/2025 Travel Tryout Update
Thank you for registering for WSA's 2024/2025 Travel Soccer Tryouts. Please review below closely and complete actions as appropriate.
Tryout Update: Tryout registrations +30% vs. last year (for the 3rd year in a row!) For those not yet signed up, registration link will be open for a few more days. Link to register is HERE
Travel Info Session - LINK to slides we shared live earlier this week
Tryout Schedule - LINK for the tryout schedule and tryout day reminders
Tryout Conflicts, Injuries or Change of Plans? - If your player is injured, has an unavoidable conflict, or no longer plans to tryout, you must let us know in advance of tryout dates by completing this FORM
Summer Soccer! - lots of awesome summer soccer offerings HERE, sign up soon!
Questions: If you have questions about the program or tryouts, please review the FAQ, and if that does not cover it, please email info@wiltonsoccer.info
Thank you!
the WSA team
Spring 2024!
March 22, 2024
Hi team!
Spring season is here. A few important updates as we launch into another season.
Team practices begin March 22nd for selected teams and week of March 25th for all. There are NO practices on March 29th.
Log back into your TeamSnap, find your squad, update your contact info and check your schedules. All practice and game details will be posted in TeamSnap. Games will be loaded as soon as we receive schedules from league.
Confirm your player’s availability for each practice and game in TeamSnap at the beginning of each week (or sooner) if you can.
Check assigned Parent on Duty (“POD”) responsibilities. Every team must supply a POD for every practice to ensure coaches have another adult on site to support if needed. Team Managers are coordinating POD duties.
Buses to Hurlbutt/Ambler practices (IMPORTANT): For players taking bus to practices, 1) must be entered as such in School Dismissal Manager; 2) for WSA to retain this privilege, players must be calm and respectful on the bus, towards driver and other student riders at all times - please remind your players!; 3) PODs must greet the bus at the field / entrance to Ambler upon arrival (one POD for each team that has players on the bus). PODs must arrive early and be waiting for bus to arrive or bus driver will not allow players off. PODs direct/walk players safely up to the field and ask them to get prepared for practice in orderly fashion.
First League games are Sunday, April 7th. League schedules are still being finalized and should be published this coming week. Please be patient as Team Managers have not yet received game schedules from League. Once they do, they must coordinate with opponents to finalize times/places. First game’s details likely won’t be final until 3-5 days before that first game date. Games are intended to be between 12 noon and 6PM on Sundays, unless mutually agreed by teams otherwise, so please plan accordingly for that.
For overview of our League (CJSA Southwest District) and related information on the season, please click link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xUtWZYbBHHU_nwD_JNI8Y4WGAKztbdh_JZELssrVE6g/edit
NOTE: League schedule will have games on the two Sundays surrounding Wilton Public Schools’ Spring Break (Sunday, Apr 14, Sunday, Apr 21). Please inform your manager ASAP if you plan to be away either or both of these Sundays. We will need to ensure we have sufficient players for these games, or request to reschedule.
Spring season is a busy one with many of our players participating in multiple sports and activities. The WSA team will do its very best to navigate conflicts. For that to be possible it is imperative that you communicate clearly, early and often with your team manager about prospective conflicts.
Players must do their very best to uphold their commitment to the team, the success of any team relies upon the presence of its players.
For our new teams and players, if you have any specific questions about the upcoming season, please email david.nuttall@wiltonsoccer.info
Thinking ahead (already!), in coming weeks we will be opening registration for tryouts for the next cycle (Fall 2024/Spring 2025). Please register ASAP when it goes live. We will provide a full rundown on this process when registration opens.