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The most common questions from those new to the game

1. How do I sign up?
2. What do I need to buy?
3. What is "recreational" soccer?
4. What's the most common mistake in technique that young players make?
5. What's the most common mistake in strategy that young players make? 
6. What is the offsides rule? When is a player offsides?

How do I sign up?

Listen for announcements in school, or go by the Rockingham County Recreation Department at 40 E. Gay St., Harrisonburg. The phone number there is 564-3160.

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What do I need to buy?

Youth soccer doesn't have to be expensive. All you really have to buy is a pair of shin guards. All the local sporting goods stores will know what you are looking for if you tell them you want "soccer shin guards." They must be worn for safety reasons at all times when practicing and playing. It's all right to play in any kind of athletic shoes or sneakers, but soccer shoes really are better because (1) they have cleats that help grip the turf and (2) their inside surfaces are straighter than those of running shoes, providing for easier controlled kicks off that surface. You will be issued a soccer jersey by your coach without further charge. Any shorts can be used -- and any long pants, during colder weather.

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What is "recreational" soccer?

The word "recreational" means that the emphasis is on participation, learning and fun as opposed to winning at any cost. This shows up several ways: (1) Although we keep score and declare winners, there are no league standings and there is no official league championship. (2) Coaches are encouraged to substitute throughout the games, so that everyone on the team gets significant playing time. (In a league with an emphasis on winning, the most skilled players get the most playing time and some team members get very little playing time at all.) (3) Coaches switch players around anytime there's a lead of three or more goals to reduce the incidence of runaway games. Some of our recreational players, of course, become quite skilled and later go on to more competitive leagues, travel teams, and high school soccer.

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What's the most common mistake in technique that young players make?

Without a doubt, it's kicking the ball with the toe. In soccer, kids need to work hard on kicking with the inside of the foot, with the ankle locked firmly. Why is this hard? Because at first, kids can get more distance if they just kick with their toes. But to get accuracy they'll need to kick with the inside of the foot. Also: The non-kicking foot should be pointed straight in the direction the player wants the ball to go.

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What's the most common mistake in strategy that young players make?

Without a doubt, it's kicking the ball out in front of the goal on defense. The "red zone" in front of the goal is where most scoring occurs from. Young defensive players, seeing a crowd of players to the outside and a relatively open inside, are often inclined to try to kick the ball all the way across -- but they just don't have enough leg strength to get the ball that far, so it winds up in front of the goal. "When in doubt, kick it out."

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What is the offsides rule? When is a player offsides?

The brief (oversimplified) version: If a player runs around all defenders, gets in front of the goalkeeper, and receives a kick from a teammate farther away from the goal, that player is offsides. To avoid being offsides, don't run behind the "last defender other than the goalie."

The long version (warning: hard to understand):

"A player is in an offside position if he is nearer to his opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent unless:

1. he is in his own half of the field of play, or
2. he is level with the second last opponent or two last opponents.

A player shall only be declared offside and penalized for being in an offside position, if, at the moment the ball touches, or is played by, one of his teammates, he is, in the opinion of the referee:

1. interfering with play or with an opponent, or
2. gaining an advantage by being in that position.

A player shall not be declared offside by the referee

1. merely because of his being in an offside position, or
2. if he receives the ball direct from a goal-kick, a corner-kick, a throw-in, or when it has been dropped by a referee.

If a player is declared offside, the referee shall award an indirect free kick, which shall be taken by a player of the opposing team from the place where the infringement occurred, unless the offense is committed by a player in the opponent’s goal area, in which case the free-kick shall be taken from any point within the goal area."

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