Role of Parent

Through the support, assistance and positive influence of parents, the right environment will be created for MiniRoos to flourish.

With your help, MiniRoos will provide your child with the opportunity to enjoy their football experience and develop into the best player they can be. Parents should be active in:

• encouraging children to enjoy the game
• focussing on children’s efforts and performance, regardless of whether they win or lose
• encouraging children to play by the rules of the game
• showing children to have respect for other players and officials
• ensuring equal opportunities for all players
• calm and positive sideline support
• noting good performance and skills

Role of Game Leader

Under 4-7 age groups

The main role of the Game Leader is to keep the game moving fluently, limit stoppages and assist players with all match re-starts. Most importantly, they must make every effort to create an environment that ensures that all players have fun and have maximum involvement. Because the children are learning the game at this level, it is important to be flexible and patient.

Some helpful game tips for a Game Leader:

• Encourage different children to take re-starts.
• Discourage players from permanently over-guarding the goal.
• Use a “Ready, Set, Go” prompt to encourage quick decisions when restarting play.
• Encourage children to dribble or pass the ball into play from all restarts rather than a big kick.
• Ensure the opposing team is back to the half way line for all goal line restarts.

Role of Instructing Referee

Under 8-11 age groups

The main role of the Instructing Referee is to control the game to ensure it is played fluently. The Instructing Referee should instruct players on how to behave and enforce the rules, with minimal blowing of the whistle. They should also assist players with learning aspects of the game such as what a foul is and what a free kick is.

Some helpful game tips for an Instructing Referee:

• Discourage players from permanently standing in blatant offside positions and instruct them to move into onside positions
• Assist players with aspects of the game which they are unsure of e.g. how to conduct a throw in
• In the Under 10 & 11 age groups, children should be made aware of the offside rule during training and be encouraged to adopt this philosophy during the game at all times