New Coach Registration +
All new coaches within DS Soccer Club (PreK–8th grade) must complete these steps mandated by the State of Massachusetts and US Soccer. All steps are required before you can coach.
1
Volunteer Registration
Go into the Dover Sherborn Soccer Registration site and log in. Next to your child's name (right side of page) there will be a volunteer button — click that button and follow instructions to register as a coach/assistant.
2
Mass Youth Soccer Adult Annual Registration
Every year you must complete a Mass Youth Soccer registration, including the background check (CORI/SORI). This takes about 15–30 minutes — you'll need a headshot (a camera selfie is fine), driver's license, addresses from the past 7 years, and your Social Security number.
3
SafeSport Abuse Prevention Training
- An Olympic community initiative to recognize, reduce, and respond to misconduct in sports.
- SafeSport training starts as a 1.5-hour core course; refresher courses (20 min) are then required annually. After your 3rd refresher, you'll retake the core training.
- Keep both hard and soft copies of your completed certificates.
- The same SafeSport training can be used for another youth sport.
4
Concussion Training
- New coaches must complete Concussion Training, valid for two years.
- Allow about 30–45 minutes to complete it.
- Download and print a copy of your course certificate when finished.
Returning Coach Registration +
All returning coaches within DS Soccer Club (PreK–8th grade) must complete these steps mandated by the State of Massachusetts and US Soccer. All steps are required before you can coach.
1
Volunteer Registration
Go into the Dover Sherborn Soccer Registration site and log in. Next to your child's name (right side of page) there will be a volunteer button — click that button and follow instructions to register as a coach/assistant.
2
Mass Youth Soccer Adult Annual Registration
Every year you must complete the Mass Youth Soccer registration for returning coaches, including the background check (CORI/SORI). You must re-register each year, but you'll use the same login details.
3
SafeSport Abuse Prevention Training
- Log in to the MYSA SafeSport Training site.
- Navigate to the "Certificates" section of the "My Account" page (top right corner).
- Follow the SafeSport site link in the middle of the page, copy/paste your access code, click the refresher training box, complete the lesson, and pass the test.
4
Concussion Training
- Concussion training is valid for two years.
- MassYouth provides instructions for returning coaches.
- Check your expiration date on the "Certificates" page of "My Account."
Handbook and Checklist +
Pre-Season
1
Within a week of rosters being released, send a welcome letter to your team covering:
- Season expectations — good sportsmanship, Code of Conduct, and BAYS Zero Tolerance (can reference www.dssoccer.net)
- No metal or plastic hair pins, necklaces, earrings, watches, or wristbands at games/practices (studs wrapped in a band-aid aren't allowed either)
- What players need: ball (U9–12 Size 4; U14 Size 5), cleats, shin-guards, and a water bottle
- A volunteer to organize oranges or popsicles for games
- Uniforms — players keep the same number for their DS Soccer career. If someone needs one, they go to the Natick Outdoor Store. Make sure everyone wears the complete, correct uniform to games.
- Field open/closed decisions are made with the Town's Recreation Department — have a plan for notifying your team quickly. Note: you do not cancel for rain alone; if fields are open, you play.
2
Once the field coordinator releases the field matrix, discuss with your assistant coach the best two days/times/locations for your schedule (consider club team conflicts too), and let the field coordinator know quickly — space fills fast.
3
First-time coaches: email Susan Cottrell a small photo for your coach's card.
4
Attend the mandatory pre-season coaches meeting, where you'll receive a new coach's card or an updating decal (bring your existing card).
5
At the coaches meeting, update your team gear with needed equipment and first aid items (or, if new, build a bag with balls, cones, pinnies, a pump, and first aid items).
6
Update your BAYS coaching record so your email, home phone, and cell phone are current.
7
Using the FINAL roster (with division and section), add player numbers, print, sign, and make copies — you'll need two per game.
During the Season
1
Always bring your coach's card and two rosters to every game — both are mandatory (without rosters, a game can only be played as a friendly). Tip: print 20 copies before game 1 and keep them in your car, along with your coach's card.
2
If fields are open, play the game. If you need to reschedule due to field closure, availability, or player count:
- Notify the opposing coach
- Notify the field coordinator and referee coordinator by email
- Try to agree on a new date/time using a practice slot; if you can't, ask the field coordinator for options
- Set the new date/time and notify the field and referee coordinators by email
3
If a referee isn't present 10 minutes before a game, call the referee coordinator.
4
Weekly tasks:
- If you're the home team, email the opposing coach about field location and share contact details as a courtesy/emergency backup
- Send the final score to your pre-assigned section head
- Send your team a quick reminder of upcoming practices/games (a game recap, home-practice reminder, or equipment reminder are nice additions)
5
Past the season's halfway point, start thinking about player evaluations — these get emailed out near the end of the season.
6
Before kickoff, walk through a quick pre-match check with the referee and opposing coach — confirm rules like retreat-line on goal kicks, offsides, punting, and substitution rules. It takes about 45 seconds and gets everyone on the same page before the whistle.
7
Submit your player evaluation forms on or before the deadline.
How to Reschedule a Makeup Game +
Rescheduling BAYS Home Games
It is the responsibility of the home team to supply a date, field, and referees for the reschedule. To find an agreeable date, the home team coach should work with the opposing team's coach as described below.
To reschedule a game, the home team head coach is responsible for:
- Working with the opposing team's coach to find an agreeable date, and
- Communicating with the DSSC fields coordinator and referee assignor to secure a home field and referee(s) for the new date.
Your rescheduled game will not be updated in BAYS without both a field and referee(s) assigned.
Steps to Follow
1
Try as hard as possible to play the game at the originally scheduled time. The league allows fewer players than field size (e.g., 6 for a 7v7 game, or 7 for a 9v9 game) — refer to the BAYS Game Rule Summary Chart for your team. Tactical reschedules just because one or two good players are absent aren't allowed. Playing without subs? Ask the referee to break the game into quarters for extra water breaks. Down players (e.g., 8 for a 9v9 game)? Ask the opposing coach to match your numbers for a competitive match.
2
If a home game must be rescheduled, email [email protected] as soon as possible to let the field coordinator and referee assignor know the game will move to a time TBD.
3
Check the schedule for possible reschedule times. The home team must provide at least 3 possible makeup dates. Saturday doubleheaders and Sundays are options; midweek makeups are hard due to referee availability and daylight in fall, or field availability in spring.
4
Email [email protected] with: (a) your team name/grade/boys or girls, (b) the game number (from your BAYS.org schedule), and (c) your makeup options. The field scheduler and referee assignor will confirm availability for each option.
5
Connect with the opposing coach by phone or email and relay the cleared makeup dates/times. BAYS rules typically require the rescheduled game be played within 3 weeks; beyond that, the BAYS Division Director decides whether it counts in standings or as a forfeit.
6
Once a date/time is agreed, email [email protected] with the final request.
7
A field, then a referee, will be assigned. The game changes in BAYS.org, and you'll get a BAYS email confirming the makeup date.
Lopsided Game Management +
It is DSSC's expectation that you keep the goal differential to no more than 5 goals in any game, as clearly stated in BAYS guidelines. The best way to do this is to make a plan ahead of time.
We've unfortunately recorded some very lopsided scores in BAYS in the past. Remember: our players are young, and teaching sportsmanship matters far more than racking up goals.
If your team is quickly up 3 or 4 goals, game management starts immediately — fast response is critical.
BAYS would like to see goal differentials of no more than +5. Beyond that is considered poor sportsmanship and a lack of respect for your opponent. It is the coach's responsibility to manage the scoring and stay within the suggested differential.
BAYS Respect: Lopsided Game Management Strategies →
Excessive score differentials also affect standings. The point value of a win declines as the goal differential grows, to discourage running up the score:
| Result | Points |
|---|---|
| Win — goal differential +7 or less | 3 points |
| Win — goal differential +8 | 2 points |
| Win — goal differential +9 | 1 point |
| Win — goal differential +10 or greater | 0 points |
| Tie | 1 point |
| Loss | 0 points |
| Win by forfeit | 3 points |
| Loss by forfeit | −1 point |