Home / BAYS Coaching Guidance
Travel soccer through Boston Area Youth Soccer (BAYS) follows specific expectations for pre-game, game day, and post-game responsibilities. This guide reflects current policies—including the Mass Youth Soccer Respect the Call Initiative and BAYS Guest Player Policy—to support a smooth and respectful game experience.
🔷 Pre-Game Day Actions
- If you are the home team, email the opposing coach to confirm:
- Game time and location.
- Reminder that no pets are allowed at Foxboro fields.
- Ask what uniform color they plan to wear. Notify your team accordingly.
- Coaches should have two sets of Pinnies with them for uniform conflicts. The home team always needs to change if an issue.
- Confirm game attendance with your own players and share away game addresses when needed.
- Before kickoff, per Mass Youth Soccer policy, both teams will:
- Walk together to the spectator sideline.
- A coach or player will read the "Respect the Call" sportsmanship message, reminding families to support the game positively and refrain from negative comments toward referees or players.
🟡 Game Day Actions
- Bring two signed copies of your official BAYS roster:
- One for the referee.
- One for the opposing coach.
- Redline (cross out) any players who will not be playing.
- Uniform numbers should be listed. Add them manually if missing.
- ✅ Guest players are now permitted under the updated BAYS policy:
- They must be registered, age-eligible, and appear on your guest player pool roster.
- You may write in eligible guest players using their full name and jersey number in the designated section. Follow all guest player protocols.
- Ensure all sideline adults (maximum 3) are credentialed and approved by MYSA.
- Credentials must be visible at check-in.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes early for warm-up.
- If you’re the home team, verify that:
- Goals are properly placed and weighted with sandbags.
- Corner flags are installed correctly.
- You have three game-ready balls and a ball pump available.
🔻 Post-Game Responsibilities
- If you are the last home game of the day:
- Store corner flags properly.
- Move goals off the field, if needed.
- Home team is responsible for submitting the final score to their BAYS Section Captain by the end of the day.
🔁 Cancellations & Rescheduling
Games can be rescheduled by mutual agreement of both coaches. Here's how to handle it:
- Notify the opposing coach and agree on up to three possible reschedule dates.
Once confirmed, send the following to the Referee Assignor:
Original Game Info:
- BAYS Game #
- Original date & location
- Team vs. Team
Proposed Game Info:
- BAYS Game #
- New date & location
- Team vs. Team
- If rescheduling for a weekday, notify the Fields Director to check for practice conflicts.
- BAYS games take priority over practices for field use.
❗ If a home game is canceled or moved, it is the coach's responsibility to notify the Referee Assignor so they can remove the ref from the schedule.
🌧 Weather & Field Closures
Only the Town of Foxboro (via field status alerts) or the assigned referee within 2 hours of game time can officially cancel a match due to weather.
⚠️ Be prepared to play in all weather conditions unless a field is deemed unsafe.