Game Day Guide

A practical guide for parents and coaches on what to expect and what to bring.

Sportsmanship First

MTL Soccer is a recreational program — the priority is safety, learning, and fun, in that order. Especially at the younger ages, most kids are touching a soccer ball for the first time. They’re here to run around, make friends, and figure out which direction to kick.

• Cheer for effort, not just goals — “great hustle!” matters more than the score
• Encourage all the kids, not just your own — a kind word from the sideline goes a long way
• Let the coaches coach and the referees ref — they’re volunteers too
• Keep it positive — kids pick up on adult frustration faster than you’d think
• Win or lose, shake hands — we’re teaching life skills, not just soccer

For Parents

What Your Child Gets

The coach will provide a uniform for each player:

• Jersey
• Shorts
• Socks

Sizing can be a little tricky - socks may be overly large and if your child is small or large for their age let the coach know early so they can arrange the uniform lineup better.

The uniforms are the same as previous seasons — if you have the shorts, socks, and shin guards from last season you can wear those to eliminate the need to change at the field.

For Little Kickers and 1st/2nd Grade, the coach also provides shin guards. Older age groups are expected to have their own, but extra pairs may be available — ask your coach if you need one.

What You Need to Bring

• Cleats — recommended but not required; sneakers are fine
• Water bottle — staying hydrated is important, especially in warmer weather
• Soccer ball — the right size for your age group (see below)
• Weather-appropriate clothing — dress in layers for cooler days

The fields can be muddy after rain — bring extra shoes if needed for after the game

Ball Sizes by Age Group

Cold Weather

If your child is wearing a jacket while playing, it must be zipped up and worn underneath the uniform. We don’t want another child getting hit with the zipper. Hoods should be tucked into the back of the shirt to prevent another child from pulling on it.

What’s Not Allowed

• No baseball hats — the brim can hit other children during play
• No dogs on or around the field of play

Weather Cancellations

MTL decides on weather cancellations at the league level — individual coaches and teams cannot cancel games. MTL will try to email within 45 minutes of the session time.

Games are played in the rain. Thunder, lightning, and unsafe playing conditions will immediately end any game.

Parking

• Arrive early — parking is often challenging with hundreds of kids across programs.
• See the Field Locations page for parking details specific to each field.

TeamSnap

Please update your attendance for each session in TeamSnap. This helps your coach plan the lineup. See the Using TeamSnap guide for details.

Parent Conduct

• Do not ask coaches to switch your child’s team. Your child plays with the team they were assigned to.
• Do not go on the field unless you are a head coach or assistant coach. If you would like to help, let us know and we will let you know what is required.

Share Your Photos

Any pictures of the session you would like us to use on our Instagram / Facebook or website can be emailed to MTLsoccer@gmail.com.

Field Care

The town provides the fields — we are all responsible for cleaning up after ourselves. Please do not leave trash behind on the field.

For Coaches

See the Coach Guide for pre-season setup, team bag pickup, roster rules, uniform distribution, and the game day checklist.

Questions?

Email MTLsoccer@gmail.com with any questions about game day logistics.