Where do I find the season's Schedule?

Schedules do change during the year, so the best source is the league website.  Buffalo and Western New York Junior Soccer League schedules can be found by clicking here.

Where do I find directions to the next game?

Field directions are listed on the BWNYJSL website  according the club your team is playing against.  Pushing here will take you to that link.  We do not maintain a list on our website because fields can change during the season based on weather and field conditions.  We recommend that you check the schedule and field directions prior to the game.  Remember to arrive at the field early and ready to play.  Your coach will tell you how early to arrive (generally 30 minutes).  Plan for traffic, it doesn't do any justice to your child's hard work in practice for them to enter a game without hearing the coach's advice and warm-ups.

Why are the scores not listed for U-10 games?

U-10 play is strictly non-competitive in our area.  This is the recommendation of US Youth Soccer.  U-10 players (like all youth soccer players) should concentrate more on learning skills and having fun then winning a game or division.  This same philosphy carries into any tournaments held in our area.

My son's the goal keeper, why can't I stand behind the goal and talk to him?

The keeper has enough on their mind while playing that they can't afford to be distracted by someone talking to them from behind the net.  Its also potentially dangerous to the keeper by distracting them from the task at hand and the people on the field.  Also, you should leave the coaching to the coach.

Why did (or didn't) the referee call that?

There are many reasons a referee may or may not make a call.  In a very short period of time (less then a second) the referee is thinking about a multitude of things to decide if a call is necessary and what the correct call is.
   Did the player commit an offense?
   Did the offense affect the game?
   Was the foul careless or reckless?
   If I make the call, am I giving the team that committed the foul an advantage?
You also have to remember that the referee is on the field, with the players, watching the plays from a much better perspective, and trying to use his calls to manage the players but not affect the out come of the game.

The referee made the wrong call!

Before you offer your critique of the referee keep some things in mind.  If it was your child on the field, would you want other adults yelling at him/her?  The referee is trying their best. At younger age groups they are learning how to referee just like your child is learning the game.  Quite frequently the referee has made the correct call and the person questioning them does not understand the laws of the game well enough to know why.

The ball hit his hand, why didn't the referee call "Hand Ball"?

There are a couple things to remember here.  First the foul is "Handling the Ball" not "Hand Ball".  It is not a foul for the ball to touch someones hand (arm).  It is a foul for someones hand to touch the ball.  What's the difference?  Intent.  The foul is called when a player delibrately brings their hand to the ball.  The referee will also take into account the proximty of the kick.  If one players kicks the ball directly at another player from a close position, and that player's natural reaction is to bring their hand up to protect their face, the referee probably will not call "Handling".

The assistant referee had their flag up and the center referee did not make the call.  Why did he ignore the assistant?

The assistant referee only advises the center referee about 'potential' calls.  The center referee is responsible to make all calls during the game.  Most likely he/she has a reason for waving down the AR's flag and allowing play to continue.  The center referee may have seen something that would negate the call that is being recommended, or has decided that it is trifiling (too small to affect the outcome of the game), or applying the advantage rule.

What does it mean when the referee signals "advantage" and tells the players to play on?

The referee has decided that a foul was committed, but it is not in the best interest of the fouled team for him to make the call.  For example, if a defender attempts to trip an attacking player who has the ball, but the attacker manages to maintain control of the ball and break away from the defender, it is in the attackers best interest for the referee to not stop play in order to give him a ball he already has.

I played soccer, shouldn't I help the coach by giving players advice from the other side of the field?

Please leave the coaching to the coach.  He is watching the field and will provide advice to the players when he/she feels it is necessary.  The coach will often let the players make mistakes on the field and discuss it afterward.  Soccer is a thinking game and the only way to teach the players to think, is to let them do it on the field and learn from their successes as well as mistakes.  Please don't put your child in the position of having to decide do they follow the coaches directions or your directions while they are on the field.  Spectators should simply be cheering everyone (yes even the other team) on.  Both teams deserve the support of all the spectators when they are playing hard.  A good save is a good save, even if its the other team that made it.  A great play on goal is great, no matter which team makes the play.  Its all about the "love of the game"