Safety

Monitor

Program

A Direct Kick to Safety

Safety Monitor Contract

It takes a Village

See a team where the players are doing unsportsmanship like behaviors on the field? See an FYSA volunteer or parent not quite with the program? See where referees are being verbally abuse for a call they made? Concerned that your own child is not having a great experience? We care. You do your part as a FYSA Safety Monitor and tell us about it, now, while there is still time for us to help reinforce the correct behavior.

The FYSA Safety Monitor program has been developed to assist in eliminating spectator and referee abuse by continuing to uphold and maintain the expected positive behaviors by participants during the games.

Participants = Players, Coaches, Referees, Parents, Family members, and Friends

FYSA has made the Safety Monitor role mandatory; each team must designate one parent or parents to take on this role for the session. It is recommended that the chosen Safety Monitor have a basic knowledge of the rules of soccer. In most cases, the uneducated parent and coach does not understand the rules and are vocalizing their frustrations on the referee or players.

As a Safety Monitor volunteer you are an integral part of the FYSA Youth Leagues and Games. Talk to the parents at the beginning of the season and explain the Safety Monitor role to them. It is important that everyone's expectations are in sync and that all show respect and patience toward others involved in the game.

The Field Monitor is there to maintain peace and harmony at all FYSA League Games.Ask the question, "Is the behavior I'm seeing good for the kids?'" The Safety Monitor is expected to remind parents to keep their comments to themselves and refrain from vocalizing their complaints during the game. The Safety Monitor has the authority to intervene where a problem or potential problem is occurring.

Expected Participants Behaviors

Encourage participants to have fun and do their best.
Sporting behavior before, during, and after the game.
Good role models; show how to deal with conflicts and disagreements in an appropriate way.
Safe behavior and conditions are maintained at the game locations at all times.
Constructive criticism: treating our referees with respect while mentoring them.
Respecting the game of soccer.
Asking appropriate questions about the Laws of the Game and mechanics of the game before and after the game.
Let the kids play; this is their time to shine.

Safety Monitor Responsibilities

Your presence is need at all games or your alternate must attend.
Visible 'presence 'on the games.
Safety Monitor watches for any potential issues or individual confrontation that may arise.
Educate parents or coaches to rules of the game.
Encourage parents and coaches to observe positive behaviors
Serve as a mentor to referees; reminding parents that the referee's calls are final.
Do not explain "bad calls "or get into defending the referee calls.
Monitor the soccer setting for any adverse conditions that may exist, especially related to potential for physical or psychological harm to players; equipment, apparel, facility and teammates. Report these problems so they can be eliminated.
Engaging in appropriate behavior towards others, if coaches, parents, spectators or players are engaging in violations of the fair play rule; be a POSITIVE VOICE encourage them to follow the FYSA rules and to promote positive sportsmanship behavior on the soccer field.
Deal with, and act on, inappropriate comments, gestures and/or general unsporting behavior directed at referees, players or any other individual by your teams' spectators or coaches but please avoid getting into a confrontation.
No foul or abusive language allowed on the sideline or the field.
Be available and assist, if necessary in case of injury or emergency.
Make sure the complex is policed for trash and receptacles emptied.
Direct people out of goalie area; please inform your parents or assistants that this is illegal.
No smoking in the gym area or on the complex anywhere inside the fenced complex.
No parking in "no parking areas" (i.e. handicap designated areas, no parking "signs" along the field fence,access road) and no pets allowed on the complex.
By all means, watch your child's game, but please be mindful of what is happening around you.

What ifs

When a participants has a concern or asks a question that is beyond Safety Monitor 's knowledge, please refer the participants to an Referee Official or the FYSA office
If spectators are misbehaving, the Safety Monitor would warn them. If someone is still hostile after being asked to calm down, please gather as much information but do not put yourself in a dangerous position. You can report the incident to the FYSA office by email, phone or in person.
The Safety Monitor is there to support any official's decision to remove a coach or participant from the field due to poor sportsmanship and failure to follow the FYSA Code of Ethics. Further discipline may be applied if the FYSA Code of Ethics or at Risk Management policy has been violated.
The Safety Monitor is not expected to put themselves in a situation which may compromise their safety; instead refer the participants to a Referee Official or the FYSA office at 456-3976 or at fysa@mosquitonet.com, or 911 if the situation calls for it.

Teams Expectations

Each team must provide a Safety Monitor for the season.
The team's repasenative must sign the FYSA Safety Monitor program agreement and turn into FYSA before the first league game.
Your presence is need at all games or your alternate must attend.
The team's repasenative can not be a spouse of the coach.
The team should have one/two alternate incase the assigned monitor is not available.

Benefits

Help improve the fun of the game for everyone.
Contribute to your kids' soccer experience in a meaningful way.
Be a positive influence to the soccer participants and to the game of youth soccer.