Parents

Parents on Sideline

Soccer Parents Overview

Thank you for visiting the Parent section of the Colorado Soccer Association (CSA) website. This section is designed to give parents the tools, resources, tips, and advice to help you and your youth player experience the best and most popular youth sport in the country.

Below are some Frequently Asked Questions regarding youth soccer in Colorado and the United States. Please explore these FAQs, as well as the topics and navigation under the Parents section of this website.



FAQs

Who is Colorado Soccer Association?
    Colorado Soccer Association (CSA) offers fun, safe, and healthy opportunities for all kids. When your youth player is registered with a CSA-sanctioned club, you become part of the larger soccer world. Registration with your sanctioned club means you are affiliated with CSA. CSA is affiliated and sanctioned by US Youth Soccer, which operates as the largest branch of the US Soccer Federation. The US Soccer Federation oversees youth, adult, amateur and professional soccer players in the United States and is sanctioned by FIFA, the world governing body of soccer. Youth Player Pathway
What age group is my player in?
    CSA, US Youth Soccer, and US Soccer operate using the birth year age groups. This means players are placed in an age group based upon the year they were born, not what grade they are in.

    Age groups followed by a "U" means younger than the age. For example, the 8U age group means 8 and under, meaning the players are younger than 8 in the Fall season or some will be turning 8 before the end of the Spring season. See the age chart below.

    Players can play up in an older age group, but CANNOT play down in a younger age group. Playing in an older age group is between you and the club you register with.

    As a member of US Youth Soccer, it is a requirement that each player have their date of birth verified. This means that a member of our staff must view a government-issued document with the player’s name and date of birth. Through this process, we can also verify if the player in question has to go through the International Clearance process.

    Click here to read more on DOB verification and International Clearance.

    Birth Year Matrix
When do soccer programs take place?
    The soccer season runs by what is referred to as seasonal year. The seasonal year runs from August 1st to July 31st.
    • The Fall season is typically played between mid-August and mid-November.
    • Between late-November and mid-February, camps and indoor soccer are played during the winter.
    • The Spring season is typically played from mid-February to late-May.
    • From late-May to late-July, Camps, tryouts, and other summer tournaments take place.
What is Recreational soccer versus Competitive soccer?
    Recreational is the level every player enters the sport at. The recreational level will prioritize on players having fun, getting playing time, and playing with friends over developing players.

    When a player is ready to move up to the next level, they may transition to the competitive program. Some clubs offer a pre-competitive program for certain age groups to help with the transition.

    Price, time commitment, travel, and playing time are major differences between Recreational and Competitive and the decision to move from Recreational to Competitive is one to be made between you, your player(s) and the club. Most clubs in Colorado offer both levels in their programming, so contact your club for more information on availability, registration, etc.
When do I register my player and when are tryouts?
    Please contact your club for specific dates, costs, and any other questions related to registration and tryouts. Registration windows differ based on if the program is recreational or competitive and your club.

    The recreational registration window for the Fall season is typically during the summer months. For the Spring season, the registration window is typically during the winter months.

    The competitive tryouts for the Fall season typically occur following Memorial Day, while Spring tryouts typically occur in late October. Registrations will occur in the weeks leading up to tryouts. Dates will vary by club, so please contact your club for more information.
How much does registration cost?
    Registration costs and any other fees differ by club. Please contact your club for more information.
When can I switch clubs?
    When you register your player with a club, there is a commitment tied to the contract. Each club runs differently and the registration agreement you completed upon registration may vary. The commitment made during the registration process may be for a season (Fall OR Spring) or the entire seasonal year (both Fall AND Spring). Please check with your club for any questions regarding your registration form and agreement.

    If you are registered with a club for an entire seasonal year, there is a window at the beginning of December in which a player can transfer clubs, regardless of the registration agreement. With this request. the current club is notified of the request and, as long as there are no outstanding financial obligations, the player will be released.

    Click here to read more about club releases and the transfer window.
What programs does CSA offer?
    CSA runs multiple leagues, tournaments, and player programs, making it easy for players of any ability to player soccer, regardless of geographic location.

    Clubs handle the player registration and form teams. Find a club near you by clicking the “Find a Club” option at the top of the page. Once teams are formed, they can be registered in one of our recreational leagues or competitive leagues.

    Outside of league play, we offer multiple tournaments during the season, both competitive and recreational, including State Cup, Presidents Cup, UCHealth Cup, and CSA Cup – Grand Junction. TOPSoccer is a player program that is run at multiple clubs that is designed to meet the needs of athletes 5 and older that have physical, cognitive, or developmental disabilities.

    Colorado Select is our expanded Olympic Development Program (ODP) that offers development and next-level identification opportunities to elite players and those who want to become elite.
What programs do clubs offer?
    Many clubs offer player registration for Fall and/or Spring, form teams, and those teams play in one of the leagues that CSA runs or another available league that the club is involved in. In addition to this, some clubs run camps and other programs throughout the year. Please contact your club for information on their programming.
Where can I find the rules and Laws of the Game?
    The rules vary by event. Please visit the event page or contact the event director/administrator regarding rules.

    The Laws of the Game are the laws written by IFAB and put into place by FIFA and is the basis for how the game is played worldwide. There are modifications made to these laws for each event as the FIFA World Cup runs completely different to the 9U age group of Front Range League.

    Click here to read the rules and modified Laws of the Game for events run by CSA.
What safety protocols are in place for CSA events?
    Safety is one of the priorities for all players and referees.

    All coaches and referees are required to complete a background check, the Center for Disease Control Concussion test, and Safe Sport, which is focused to end all forms of abuse in sports.

    All rostered managers are required to complete a background check and Safe Sport.

    On top of the coaches and referees being educated in concussion awareness, CSA has adopted the USYS Concussion Protocol. Click here to view the USYS Concussion Protocol. Individual clubs may have their own modifications to this policy.

    The weather policy is also something that is utilized at CSA events. If lightning is detected within ten (10) miles of the site, all activities are suspended for 30 minutes. The 30 minute clock restarts each time there is a lightning strike within the ten-mile radius. Once 30 minutes has elapsed since the last strike within 10 miles, activities may resume. Individual clubs may have their own modifications to this lightning policy.
How should I behave on the sidelines at my player’s game?
    Many clubs have a code of conduct, which dictates how the spectators should behave at games. The majority of them share a common theme: Treat all individuals on the field- referees, coaches, parents, players- with respect.

    Click “Parent Expectations & Code of Conduct” at the top of the page to read more.
How can I become a referee or coach?
    CSA and all clubs are always looking out for new referees and clubs can always utilize volunteer coaches.

    If you are interested in becoming a referee, please click here.

    If you are interested in becoming a coach, you can contact your club. If you wish to gain more knowledge on coaching and take a free introductory course, please click here.

Find a Club Near You

To enable the search function, please click the full screen button in the top-right corner of the map. From there, you can click the search button and type in your address, zip code, or landmark to see clubs in your area.

Parents Expectations

Negative spectator sideline behavior can have a detrimental effect on players, referees, coaches, and other spectators. During any youth game you will see a parent sideline with a variety of different approaches on how to cheer on their young and developing athlete. While all parents want to see their player succeed, it can be very tricky to find a point where you are giving your player encouragement and support and not overstepping your role as a parent on the team.

As soccer is a very passionate sport and many times the passion of the moment can overtake sound logic, here are tips that can help keep things in perspective in the moment:

  • Allow players to play, referees to officiate, and coaches to coach. The spectators role is to watch and cheer their players. Negative comments towards opposing players, referees, or your own players ruins the game for all involved.
  • Avoid coaching from the sideline. Coaching instruction comes from the bench on the opposite side of the field. A spectator’s job is to cheer and watch.
  • Never comment on, talk to, or scream at the referees. Most referees in Colorado are young and impressionable and are learning just as the players are. The referees have no stake in a youth game are doing the best job that they can. Your comments and conduct towards a referee bogs the game down and doesn’t help anyone.

Code of Conduct

Click here for the Spectator Code of Conduct. This serves as a general overview of how spectators should conduct themselves on the sideline of a soccer game.

Your club may have a club-specific code of conduct in addition to the one we have provided, so please contact them for additional information.

Resources & Rules for your Players

Below are links to take you to different areas of our website that contain all the information you need regarding your player(s), rules for CSA events, and our policies and protocols. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Click here to meet the CSA staff and retrieve contact information.

Click here to see an overview of youth players, which includes DOB verification, International Clearance, filing an insurance claim, and getting released from a club.

Click here to view the rules and modified Laws of the Game for CSA events.

Click here to view our bylaws and policies.

Soccer Parenting Partnership

Soccer Parenting Association

COLORADO SOCCER ASSOCIATION AND THE SOCCER PARENTING ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO IMPROVE SIDELINE BEHAVIOR AND PROVIDE EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE TO YOUTH SOCCER CLUBS AND PARENTS

Colorado Soccer Association (CSA) and the Soccer Parenting Association announce a partnership agreement to improve youth soccer in Colorado by providing parents and clubs with complimentary and discounted access to the Soccer Parent Resource Center – a youth soccer parent and coach education platform. Additionally, CSA will be a Sideline Project Partner, and will encourage all parents, coaches, referees, spectators, and caregivers to join The Sideline Project movement at take The Sideline Project Pledge.

“I am extremely excited to partner with the Soccer Parenting Association. It will be in the best interest of every player to have more collaborative, confident and level-headed coaches and parents on the fields. Soccer will become more enjoyable for everyone, and that will really grow the game here in Colorado.”, said Nate Shotts, CEO of Colorado Soccer Association”

Providing a positive youth sporting experience where all children feel inspired, develop important life skills, and establish healthy habits they will take with them for life must be a top priority for all youth sport organizations.

“The investment CSA is making towards positively affecting the lives of soccer players, families and dedicated coaches in Colorado is commendable. We are proud to work with Colorado Soccer Association and are encouraged by their commitment to improving the youth soccer landscape in the state.” said Skye Eddy, Founder of the Soccer Parenting Association.