For twelve years now our Sunday morning pick-up game has been a lot of fun for a lot of us.

The game started out as a way for CYSA soccer coaches to play the game ourselves. It is our belief that playing soccer makes people better coaches who are more understanding of player errors. At some point, the game morphed to include older teens and others.

This season, the feel and tone of the pick-up game feels a bit different than it has in the past. People are dragging a bit, everyone seems to only want to play offense, people are not coming properly prepared to play with two shirts, we’re starting later and later, and clearly there have been too many instances of people not respecting each other or the game.

A few points to consider:

• Although a game for coaches, we greatly discourage coaching during the pick-up game.
• Give other people a chance to play up. Take your turn playing defense. It is an opportunity to play positions different than you might normally play. It is a safe place to try stuff out.
• When communicating with each other, be respectful. It is okay to be intense. It is not okay to be rude.
• If a disagreement is starting to build between you and someone else, consider moving to a different part of the field. If you’re playing up, perhaps that is the time to move back to defense.
• Play hard, but realize that all of us are going to make mistakes. Soccer is a game of mistakes.
• Try to show up on-time, prepared, and willing to switch sides to balance the teams. A fairly balanced pick-up game is more fun for everybody.

Anyone who was at the game Sunday saw a situation escalate that never should have happened and saw people unwilling to deescalate it. In future, anyone (and everyone) who would be “red carded” will be asked to call it a day and come back next week. If you’re involved in an incident that gets out of hand, we’ll ask you to leave and come back on a future Sunday when you can be cool. So, be cool and don’t let things get out of hand.

We particularly hope to see all the adults this coming Sunday. Please try to arrive by 8:45 for a 9:00 AM kick-off. The weather is supposed to be perfect. Let’s have some fun.

Lawrence and Bruce