NORTH CAROLINA YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION

PROPOSED MOTION (Please PRINT.)

I move to reinstate the "off-side" rule for U10 Challenge Soccer.  I recognize that the off-side rule is complex, but it is part of the game and should be included in fundamental teaching of the game.  With out the off-side rule it encourages children and coaches to promote "cherry-picking" in order to score goals.  I coach a U10 Challenge team comprised of 75% U9 or younger.  They know that they can not pass the last defender (before the goal keeper) without the ball or they have to wait till the ball goes past that defender before they can go after it.  We have spent very little time teaching this concept, contrary to what I have heard other coaches describe.  The "spirit" of enforcing the off-side rule should be to discourage "cherry- picking" and to teach the game as it is supposed to be played.  The complexities of the off-side rule should be integrated in higher U-divisions.  For example, in U10, the questionable, "did the player cross the plane before his teammates struck the ball" should not be the issue, unless it is obvious that the player was beyond the defender BEFORE the ball was struck.

Challenge level soccer is more competitive than recreation level soccer, but the focus in any level of your soccer should always be on teaching the game, having fun and providing the best possible soccer experience.  The higher skill and more competitive nature of Challenge soccer should demand that off-side be called at all levels of Challenge play.

DATE:    04/OCT/2007                                                                         MOVED BY (Print name.): Tom Cantaffa

                                                                                                                                                   President, Oxford Soccer Club

                                                                                                                                                   U10 Challenge Coach

FORUM (Circle one):           Challenge C.        Classic C.               Recreation C.        Board of Directors               Executive Bd.

This motion (check one):

                ____   REPLACES an existing NCYSA rule or by-law.  Specify the rule or by-law: ______________________________

                __X__   MODIFIES an existing NCYSA rule or by-law.  Specify the rule or by-law: _______________________________

                ____  is a proposed NEW rule or by-law for NCYSA.

                ____  is a proposed AMENDMENT of a motion currently being considered.

Do not write below the line.  This space is reserved for use by the secretary of the meeting.

                Motion was seconded by (Print name.): ____________________________________________

                _______  Motion was amended.  Amendment is attached.

                _______  MOTION:            PASSED                FAILED                 TABLED

                                                                Signature of the secretary for this meeting: __________________________________