Equipment consists of a jersey each with a number on the back, shorts, shin guards, socks, and cleats. Shin guards must be worn (properly covered with socks) when a player is on the playing field. In a case where the visiting team and the home team have similar colored jerseys, the home team must change to a markedly different jersey color. Pinnies worn over a numbered uniform shirt are acceptable.

Goalkeepers must wear colors which distinguish them from other players, from each other, and from the referee. Articles that may constitute a danger to the wearer or any other player must be removed, i.e. jewelry, earrings, watches, barrettes, chains, belts, head coverings with any visor or protrusions, etc.

Players will have shirts tucked in. Players who enter the field but fail to have proper equipment or who have duplicate jersey numbers will be sent to the touchline until the next stoppage in play (while their team plays short-handed) and may rejoin their team after being inspected by the referee.

Players with plaster casts or hard splints, even if padded, cannot play in games or practice — even with the permission of a parent, or medical approval. Players with orthopedic braces that have exposed or uncapped metal parts are also not allowed to play.

Cal North USYS Concussion Policy
Concussion Recognition Tool
Cal North Concussion/Head Injury Protocol

All players must participate a minimum of 50% of the total playing time. The coach does have authority not to play a player 50% of the game if they have not participated in enough practices.

Question: What summer-time weather conditions will prompt me, as a coach, to make changes to my practice routine?

Answer: There is no one right answer and Rancho Cordova Youth Soccer Club (RCSC) encourages each of our coaches to use their own best judgment. With that in mind, RCSC offers the following suggestions and ideas on how to evaluate and respond to hot and/or unhealthy air days.

Temperature: If the ambient outside air temperature is greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (100°F) at the time of practice as measured on www.weather.com (typing in Rancho Cordova, CA) coaches are encouraged to modify or cancel their practice.

Suggested modifications if practice is not cancelled:

• Limit running and focus on stretching and ball control skills that can be done in the shade.
• Have more frequent water breaks, and encourage the kids to get water at any point in practice that they feel thirsty (this is a good call on any day).
• Move practice to a home and watch a soccer training video or recorded (or live) soccer game, talk about the skills, passing, teamwork, etc..
• Move practice to a home with a pool, focus on ball handling skills for a short duration and use a swimming pool to cross exercise the kids – not to mention having a very fun practice.
• Bring water balloons to practice and break half way through for some water balloon fun. Helps the kids cool off and makes it a practice they will talk about for a while.
• In all cases, keep a close eye on the kids and make sure they do not show any signs of heat-related illness.
• If the temperature is greater than 105 ° F leading up to practice time, we recommend cancelling practice.

Air Quality: The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a measure of the ground level ozone. For the Sacramento region, the air quality forecast can be checked the day before practice at www.sparetheair.com. We strongly advise that you check the AQI in the afternoon the days of your practices and sign up for air alerts via email at www.sparetheair.com. Ground level ozone can irritate and damage the lungs. Ozone levels are typically higher in the Sacramento region in the afternoon and early evening hours and people of all ages who exercise or work vigorously outdoors (soccer practice) are considered a “sensitive group” as they will have a higher level of exposure to ozone than people who are less active outdoors. Typically, the air quality in our portion of the greater Sacramento area diminishes significantly during the late afternoon/early evening time period (right at soccer practice time).

It is recommended that you take precautions (see the list above for hot days) if the AQI is forecasted to be greater than 127 (unhealthy for sensitive groups) and strongly recommended that you cancel practice if it is forecasted to be greater than 150 (unhealthy for all groups).

Remember that soccer is an all weather sport. CRPD almost never closes our fields due to rain. In the rare event that this would happen in the future, we will put a message on our website and get an email out to you.

Other Clubs playing on school or park fields may be governed by other guidelines. If you are visiting a non-Rancho team, be sure that you’re in touch with the host coach to ensure there are no last minute cancellations. (Folsom is famous for this). Opposing coach contact info is found in Teamsidelines.

Referees do have the authority to stop a game due to weather (and other reasons), but normally only do so when lightning is present.

Little boys and girls love a muddy field, as well as the older ones – good luck! 🙂

The Rancho Cordova Soccer Club uses the PAKU App to check the Air Quality. Paku is the best app for checking PurpleAir. View sensors on a map, filter by indoor or outdoor sensors, and choose from AQAndU or US EPA conversions.

Paku also shows the average AQI over the last few minutes, hours, day and week, and lets you choose to see these data points on the map as well.

The air quality index for ozone and/or particulate matter measurements and weather conditions will potentially affect our soccer practice and game schedules.  The board of directors expects all clubs and teams to adhere to Folsom Lake Soccer League air quality and weather policy to ensure youth player’s safety at all times.  Each Club has the ability to adopt a stricter air quality and weather policy, if desired.

The League recognizes the parent is the final decision maker for their youth player’s safety.  There is to be no retaliation by the League, Club, or coach towards the player based on the parent’s decision to play at practices or games based on air quality and weather conditions.

GAMES

Air quality index for games

• At 201 or greater AQI Ozone or PMI levels, all outdoor games should be cancelled.
• At 101-200 AQI Ozone or PMI levels, all outdoor games should add rest breaks and increase substitutions to lower breathing rates.
• The HOME league and/or club is responsible for cancelling games within 90 minutes of game start time.

Weather conditions for games

• At 108 degrees or higher, all outdoor games should be cancelled.
• At 100-107 degrees or higher, all outdoor games should add rest breaks and increase substitutions to lower exertion rates.
• If lightning is in visual range, all outdoor games are suspended until game officials have instructed play can continue.
• If fields have been closed by the City, all outdoor games on natural grass are cancelled.
• The HOME league and/or club is responsible for cancelling games within 90 minutes of game start time.

PRACTICES

Air quality index for practices

• At 201 or greater AQI Ozone or PMI levels, all outdoor practices should be cancelled.
• At 151-200 AQI Ozone or PMI levels, any outdoor U9-U19 practice should decrease intensity and duration. Add rest breaks or substitutions to lower breathing rates.
• At 151-200 AQI Ozone or PMI levels, any outdoor U5-U8 practice should be cancelled.
• At 101-150 AQI Ozone or PMI levels, any outdoor U5-U8 practice should decrease intensity and duration. Add rest breaks or substitutions to lower breathing rates.
• The HOME league, club, or head coach is responsible for cancelling practices within 30 minutes of start time.

Weather conditions for practices

• At 105 degrees or higher, all outdoor practices should be cancelled.
• At 100-104 degrees, any outdoor U9-U19 practice should decrease intensity and duration. Add rest breaks or substitutions to lower exertion rates.
• At 102 degrees or greater, any outdoor U5-U8 practice should be cancelled.
• At 95-101 degrees, any outdoor U5-U8 practice should decrease intensity and duration. Add rest breaks or substitutions to lower exertion rates.
• If lightning is in visual range, all outdoor practices are suspended until the head coach has given instruction play can continue.
• If fields have been closed by the City, all outdoor practices on natural grass are cancelled.
• The HOME league, club, or head coach is responsible for cancelling practices within 30 minutes of start time.