Welcome, Parents!

We’re excited to welcome you and your child to the Alden Soccer Club family! This page is designed as a resource for parents to stay informed and connected throughout the season.

Thank you for trusting us with your player’s growth and development. Our experienced coaches are dedicated to creating a positive, fun, and supportive environment, focusing on skill-building, teamwork, and a love for the game.

We can’t wait for another exciting season of learning, playing, and making memories together!

Alden Soccer Club

Zero Tolerance Policy for Parents

At Alden Soccer Club, we are committed to creating a safe, positive, and respectful environment for all players, coaches, referees, and families. Soccer is a game meant to teach teamwork, sportsmanship, and personal growth.

Our Expectations for Parents

As a parent or guardian, you play a key role in supporting your child and the team. To ensure a positive experience for everyone, any inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated, including but not limited to:

  • Yelling at or threatening referees, coaches, players, or other parents

  • Arguing or disputing calls on the field

  • Using abusive or offensive language

  • Interfering with practices, games, or team activities

  • Harassment, intimidation, or physical confrontations

Consequences

Alden Soccer Club follows US Soccer and BWNYJSL guidelines regarding misconduct. Violations of this policy may result in:

  1. Immediate removal from the sidelines or event

  2. Suspension from attending future practices or games

  3. Possible permanent dismissal from club activities

Our Goal

We want all families to feel safe and supported while their children enjoy the game. Our coaches and referees are here to teach, guide, and foster a positive soccer experience, and we ask that parents do the same.

By supporting this zero-tolerance policy, you are helping create a positive, respectful environment where players can focus on learning, developing skills, and having fun.

Basic Soccer Rules

No Hands

Players may not intentionally use their hands or arms to touch the ball—from fingers to shoulders. Accidental contact that doesn’t give an advantage is not a handball.

Goalkeepers:
Goalkeepers cannot pick up a ball passed directly to them by a teammate (the “back-pass” rule). If they do, an indirect free kick is awarded from the spot of the handball.

Throw-Ins

When the ball crosses a sideline, a throw-in is awarded. Proper technique requires:

  • Both feet on the ground

  • Both hands throwing the ball over the head

Corner Kicks & Goal Kicks

  • Corner Kick: Awarded when the defensive team kicks the ball over their own goal line. Taken from the corner closest to where the ball went out.

  • Goal Kick: Awarded when the offensive team kicks the ball over the goal line. Taken from anywhere inside the goal area. The ball must leave the penalty area before being touched by another player.

Fouls

A foul occurs when a player: kicks, trips, jumps at, charges, strikes, pushes, holds, or spits on an opponent.
Fair shoulder-to-shoulder contact while competing for the ball is allowed. A good rule of thumb: “If it looks like a foul, it probably is.”

Direct & Indirect Free Kicks

  • Direct Kick: Can score directly on goal. Usually awarded for contact fouls or handballs.

  • Indirect Kick: Must touch another player before a goal can be scored. The referee signals this by holding one arm straight up until the ball is touched.

Penalty Kick

A penalty kick is a direct kick awarded for a foul or handball inside the defending team’s penalty area.

  • Ball placed on the penalty spot

  • All players outside the penalty area and arc

  • Goalkeeper must have both feet on the goal line until the ball is kicked

  • If the ball rebounds off the keeper or goal, it is live and in play

Two-Touch Rule

A player cannot touch the ball twice in a row when putting it in play. This applies to:

  • Kick-offs

  • Direct and indirect free kicks

  • Throw-ins

Offsides

A player cannot be offside on:

  • Corner kicks

  • Goal kicks

  • Throw-ins

A player is in an offside position if they are closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last defender and are involved in active play.