Good Slide: (opinion of referee)

1. Sliding to intercept a ball: for example, to save possession before going out (no opposing player is involved)

2. Sliding to intercept a ball to defend one's goal when a ball is volleyed, kicked on the ground or on the fly (again, when no opposing player is involved)

Bad Slide: (opinion of referee)

1. Defender slides to tackle away the ball involving an opposing player ...Ball or player contact made or not.

2. Slide made to reach ball and involving an opposing player

3. Slide made to intercept ball, going out of bounds or defending goal involving an opposing player

It's up to the referees on this and it's based not on making things a "Pain", it's to keep the players safe and out of "Pain"

Thanks...
Paul

Good Morning Players & Refs....
This will be a long email...And I apologize in advance, But please read this email carefully!

I have had lots of question since last night on a very important safety rule and the correct call... that I will try my best to clear up below.

The Definitions:

Tackle:
When a player wins the ball from an opponent by intercepting it without committing a foul.
(this is Legal in VR Adult soccer-obviously)

Slide Tackle:
a.) a tackle in soccer in which the defender slides on the ground and extends a leg in order to disrupt the play or get possession of the ball.
b.) an attempt to tackle the ball away from an opponent while sliding on the ground.
(This is Illegal in VR Adult Soccer)

The controversy:
The confusion (and exception to the rule) seems to be in the area of a player sliding or their feet leaving them in a manner (either intentionally or accidentally)
while said player was not in the process of tackling and the refs calling this as an infraction.
The key words are "NOT IN THE PROCESS OF TACKLING"
In this instance, this is not an infraction. (as long as a foul is not committed in the process)

The communication between myself and the refs may have been muddled in translation on the sliding part...causing a gray area here.
May the above definitions clear this up from here on.
And I apologize for any and all confusion related to this rule.

And once again, we always refer back to the golden rule....
(**) In the opinion of the referee, if the tackle endangers the safety of the opponent, it makes no difference if there is contact or not.

The Slide tackle as defined above will still result in a Yellow Card...and (2) yellow cards issued to the same player during a match will result in a sendoff (Red Card).
A Sendoff is defined as leaving the premises for the remainder of the match and also the next scheduled match.
Nobody wants this and I understand why the rule must be properly defined and I hope i have defined it clearly above...
If there are questions please ask me via email.

Playing Time
I realize we have a lot of competitive natured players who take winning very serious in this OPEN league...& that's OK, to a point....but lets don't get carried away here..
I have had complaints about playing time already, and honestly...WHY? There is no reason why this is an issue....
Managers, Please make sure that you are subbing your players accordingly...The (1) female rule is still in affect...and if you have no females, you play down (1)
Every attempt to get each player a half game's worth (25 minutes) of playing time should be made.
Everyone deserves to play;)

Extra Balls;)
We have accumulated quite a collection of balls in the woods...and I really regret it..My suggestions are to keep it low and accurate.
Other than that...please bring extra balls, Sorry.

Now to the referees themselves:
I will get on my soapbox for (1) minute...

And this is not in regards to the queries associated with the Slide tackling issue....Which was warranted (See Tactful Queries below)

My patience is wearing thin in regards to arguing with/complaining about my referees during and after a match...I will not tolerate it.
Yes, you are allowed to not agree with calls, & you may email me any complaints...But on the field...PLEASE DO NOT ARGUE WITH THE REFS...
THEY ARE AUTHORIZED TO CARD YOU and THEY WILL.

All my Refs are certified by the state of Georgia and are all "R8" black badges..They are well experienced and learned in the game and I have full confidence in them.
For the price you the players have paid and the amount I pay them...We are definitely getting our monies worth..

I don't have a plethora of referees banging my doors down to ref adult soccer...So if you are one of the players complaining and nit picking...please feel free to take the R9 beginners Ref course for $80 that
requires two days of class instruction...then spend at least (1) full season as an R9 in order to qualify to take the R8 Black Badge course which costs another $85 and two more days of state instruction....
Then add at least 4 seasons of experience as R8's...Then you will be even with my least qualified Referee.

Its quite a commitment level isn't it?...and All my refs have done this...so please don't complain...direct any tactful queries to me in email...
Other than that, please keep the mouths closed...Play the game and have fun.

If the referees or the league itself is not satisfactory to you, Cobb & West Metro have adult leagues and will gladly allow more players at a substantially higher price & commute.
I will refund anyone at a prorated capacity, minus shirt price...But you will no longer be allowed to participate in VR Adult Soccer again.

(Stepping off Soap Box)

Managers, please print and distribute this email to all your players,
I will work on the Website during lunch to update standings & stats...should be done by tonight;)

Thank you all!

Paul Hale
VRAS

Great games last night, We narrowly missed another storm...luckily.

Sportsmanship has been fantastic, and the Ref crew has done a great job, thank you all.

A Young bystander was hurt during our games last night (By me no less)

I understand that the families want to sit with the players...and I do want it to be a Loose, Family affair for sure...

But for safety sake, I ask from here forward that the benches be reserved for the Players playing in the current game only and that the family & spectators be seated
behind the Player benches.

Spectators are also allowed to sit or stand on the left side of the field...

Exception:
If teams are waiting for games...I ask that warmups take place on the vacant fields nearest the concession stand (to the right of our field).
This includes children playing/practicing. No ball play should take place on the left side of the fields due to size of area constraints.

Managers please pass this to all your players.

Looking Forward to next weeks games, thanks again,

Paul Hale

We have updated the Website with all players to include Standings, Scores, Schedules & Stats
(Special thanks to Nic Marino for keying in lots of info)
Feel Free to visit the site to stay up w/ the competition.
http://vras.redzoneleagues.com

As was experienced Sunday evening, We had a Strong T-storm come through...lasting 30 mins or so, and then it leveled to nothing.
So I'm proud to say all games were played with only a 30 minute delay.

So the lesson here is, We'll it's Georgia & It's Summer, so always show up to fields for your game unless otherwise notified not to.

Another note:
Each team is responsible for bringing an "ample" supply of balls to their games, Both Home team and Visitor team..
We are backed to the wood line and it's not an issue of "if we lose the game ball...It's when we lose the ball".

This situation is optimum obviously...Netting in the back would be a god send...We tried to put Goals back there to Bloch the wild kicks...But they didn't help a whole lot.
It's city property and our little league can't pay for such a luxury...so it's out of our control. I think once all the players have adjusted to the small fields again and realize it's
More about placement than pure power kicks...It will get better....In the mean time ...bring your Balls.
(I'm just glad we have lights).

More News:
Some news for the Future....
At this time...I am scaling down the schedule for the League to Summer Only. We had a successful fall league of 2010
But the Spring 2011 League fell flat...never got off the ground.
This is due to the fact that over half the league is somehow affiliated with Youth soccer.
And obviously the Fall & Spring Soccer Seasons conflict badly with an Adult Soccer Season...
Field availability is a prime issue also.

But this I feel is a Good deal for the League, In the summer, we will have field availability with no question...and all can adjust there schedules to play on an annual basis.
By word of Mouth and maybe soon some advertisement, Maybe some divisions can be engineered to cater to lets say 35 & up, Ladies only, 18-34, etc.
But we will grow only with your help...
Keep Spreading the word.

Also starting this season, I have recruited management help...These fellow players I consider trusted Soccer enthusiasts and will serve the league well.

League Management:
Paul Hale
Nic Marino
Greg Fuller

We will form a Triad type management of the League.
I will continue to Coordinate/Direct and Nic & Greg will be Co-Directors.
Greg manages the White team, While Nic is on the Red team, as well as myself.
All League decisions in the future will be made by this body and will be independent of any Rec. dept/Association

Team Managers will always have a say on the Rules and regs of the league...and in the future I hope to have a meeting of the designated managers
Along with the directors prior to start of season to discuss teams, rules etc.

Also looking toward the future....we hope to build a relationship with Temple Rec. dept...and in the possible future, if our Villa Rica Relationship runs dry.
We may transfer to Temple.

Thanks to all for Clean games and good sportsmanship thus far.

Sincerely,
Paul Hale
VRAS

This is our 3rd season at VR and we have grown from 4 teams to 7.
(We started Summer of 2010)
52 players, to 83 players.
All by word of mouth & Email.

Our first games are this Sunday June 26th starting @ 6:30.
This website will be up and Running throughout this season.
I will post scores & stats on Mondays.
The standing at the end of the season will seed the end of season tournament.

I cant keep up with "Assists" and "GK stats"...The refs will tally the Goals and who made them and Hand them to me after each game via the Game day roster sheets.

Thanks!
Paul