General League Information

Below is general information regarding the MCSL league. For a specific topic please visit the links under the "League" menu.

MCSL Season and Game Schedules
Schedules are made available approximately one month prior to the start of the season. We will be working after the registration period closes to create teams and solidify schedules. Schedules will be released exclusively through the SportsEngine app. All teams playing in grades 2 and above will qualify and participate in playoffs following the conclusion of the regular season.

MCSL Practices

PreK/K teams do not have a practice during the week but have a combined practice and game on Saturdays mornings.

Grades 1 -4 practice twice a week for one hour

Grades 5+ practice twice a week for one and a half hours

MISA (Marin Inter-league Soccer Alliance) Schedules
MCSL is one of nine leagues participating in MISA grade 5/6, grade 7/8, grade 9/10 and grade 11/12. Scheduling these games requires all clubs to provide team counts and field times across Marin. Fields are shared with schools and other sports competing for use making it a challenge to accommodate all of the soccer games. Schedules will be posted on the MISA website.

COVID Guidelines

MCSL plays on Miller Creek School District fields and adheres to all local and district health guidelines for use. As COVID guidelines can change, we encourage you to both be flexible but to also adhere to whatever the given protocol is for use. Participant families who cannot follow guidelines will be asked to leave the field.

Excessive Heat Policy
Soccer activities (games/practices) are cancelled if temperatures meet or exceed 100 degrees; the league will send out a cancellation e-mail to coaches under these circumstances who will then distribute the news to their teams accordingly. If temperatures are between 90-99 degrees soccer activities may proceed but at the discretion of the coaches and extra water breaks will be offered. Parents are also encouraged to hold back their children at all times if any specific concerns are present (i.e. child extra sensitive to heat or conditions). If games are played on unusually hot days, referees have the authority to take breaks during the game as needed and/or shorten game time. Any player experiencing heat related issues can be substituted if necessary. Please make sure your child has more than enough water with them during the game.

Air Quality Policy
MCSL will cancel practices and games if the air quality index meets or exceeds 150 (as measured by PurpleAir.com). This communication will be sent out to coaches who will then distribute the news to their teams accordingly. While we might try to reschedule a game if missed, it isn’t always possible to do so. Other Marin leagues we play as part of MISA may or may not be canceling games at their location. We will do our best to share this information as quickly and efficiently as we can when situations like this arise.

Dogs/Animals Are Not Permitted at MCSL Games Practices or Events
Miller Creek Soccer League (MCSL) has a no animal policy for all games and practices. We ask all parents, guests and spectators to please leave your pets at home when you attend any MCSL event including practices, games, picture day, etc. This is for the safety of players and parents, and helps to protect all from liability issues, due to an incident with a pet. Officials/league representatives may suspend a game, until the animal is removed from the fields.

The only exception, as qualified by law, are REGISTERED 'SERVICE' ANIMALS. Within this policy, MCSL allows for parties with registered service dogs/animals, to bring them to the field. The service animal should be easily identifiable as so and a league official may ask you to provide information on what form of service the animal was trained to provide.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS are not permitted at games or practices. By law, emotional support animals DO NOT have to be accommodated in public facilities or privately owned stores, conveyances or other venues.

If you are found to have an animal on the sideline, a league official will ask you to remove it immediately. If the instruction is not followed, the game may be suspended. If the animal still remains on the sideline the party's ability to attend future events may be revoked.

Fields & Rain Out Policy
If we experience rain, the MCSL staff will assess field conditions daily and make a determination as to whether or not they are suitable for play. Field conditions will then immediately be posted on the website on our home page (here). We will make every effort to post field conditions with as much advance time as possible but rain can cause a same day cancellation. If a field is closed, there will be no use of the field for at least 48 hours.

If a field is shown as open and it is raining, please show up to the game..........the referees have the authority to close a field if it poses risk to player safety. The turf fields at Terra Linda High School and Miller Creek School do not get rained out. Please stay in contact with your coaches regarding games!!

Volunteers Needed!!!!!!....(as always)
MCSL cannot function without volunteers. Please consider volunteering right away. Please sign up to be a volunteer or click here to email our Volunteer Coordinator.

MCSL Heading Rules

Player Safety Policies

MILLER CREEK SOCCER LEAGUE
PLAYER SAFETY POLICY / HEADING OF THE SOCCER BALL

Over the past few years, there has been an increased awareness regarding head injury and the long term effect on the brain. While injuries may occur during the course of heading the soccer ball, MCSL is vested in creating a safe environment for our players. MCSL has adopted the following policy with respect to the education and action of heading the soccer ball.

Parental Approval Policy

Regardless of a player’s age, a parent may elect to forbid their player from heading the soccer ball. In all cases, a player’s playing time will not be impacted, and the coach will fully support the parents decision.

Education and Action of Heading of the Soccer Ball Policy (All Ages participating in PrK/K, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3/4, Grade 5/6)

Players participating in the MCSL fall recreational league at the TK-6th grade level are PROHIBITED from heading the soccer ball. Coaches shall not run drills or encourage their players to head the ball, at practice or otherwise. Coaches at these grade levels shall educate their players and parents that intentionally heading the soccer ball is prohibited.

Education and Action of Heading of the Soccer Ball Policy (All Ages participating in Grade 7/8, Grade 9/10, Grade 11/12)

At the discretion of the player’s parents or guardian, a player may use his/her head to make contact and re-direct the soccer ball. Coaches may elect to educate their players on the proper technique to make contact and re-direct the soccer ball with a players head, with the permission of the player's parents or guardian.

Proper teaching technique for heading is posted on our coaching central page.

MISA rules including heading protocol can be viewed here.

Spotting a Concussion

Spotting a Concussion — even without a direct head trauma

If a child has a substantial fall, where the head and neck are dramatically whiplashed, please look out for the following signs of a mild to moderate concussion:

Physical Symptoms: (could include 1 or more)

Headaches (including face, nose, ear — depending on direction of fall)
Fatigue
Visual problems
Balance problems
Dizziness
Sensitivity to noise or light
Nausea/Vomiting*
Numbness or tingling*
Neck pain*
* These can be a sign of more serious trauma and require immediate medical attention. Always err on the side of caution and get it checked out.

Thinking:

Feeling mentally foggy
Problems concentrating
Problems remembering
Feeling more slowed down

Emotional:

Irritability
Sadness
Feeling more emotional
Nervousness

Sleep:

Drowsiness
Sleeping more or less than usual
Trouble falling asleep

There are many options for head protection. A simple web search provides lots of styles and price points to choose from — headband style to full coverage helmets.

MCSL's Policy On Running Up The Score

MCSL makes every attempt to make sure that teams are evenly matched. Kids get discouraged when they are repeatedly on the losing end of games where the score is not even remotely close.

A goal differential of greater than +5 (5-0, 6-1, 7-2, etc.) is generally viewed as ‘running up the score’ and is not acceptable. In these instances, the coaches of each team should take the following steps

Recognize early – Generally you can tell early on in the game if your team is going to dominate. Start doing the things necessary to avoid an excessive goal differential early on in the game, don’t wait until you hit 5 goals before you do anything.
- Stop your best Scorers from Scoring – Tell them not to take shots and only pass the ball to others. Passing is a more important part of Recreational soccer than scoring.
- Put your non-scorers up front – Take advantage of this time to allow some of your other players to try to get a goal.
- Switch your goalie – Put in someone that normally doesn’t play goal to give them the experience. Don’t just put in your back-up, second best keeper – put in someone else. Nothing erases a goal differential and boasts the opposing team's morale like a couple of goals.
- Set a number of passes before a shot – Tell you players they must have a set number of passes or touches before anyone can take a shot and you’ve got to start over at 1 every time the opposing team touches the ball. This is a very good practice drill/tool to use also. Teaches the players to pass the ball around, forward and back, and switching the field. But, please don't chant out the number from the sidelines as this is sometimes demeaning to the opposing team.
- Anticipate that last second goal – Many times I hear “we were keeping the differential at 5 goals, until little Johnny, who never ever scores, scored a goal right at the end of the game. I didn’t want to stop him from getting his first goal!! Am I in trouble for a 6 goal differential?” The answer to this is – YES. As a coach, you should have anticipated this and not strive to maintain the 5 goal differential.
Coaches on the losing side of a game where the goal differential is greater than 5 are encouraged to report the facts of such as loss to the Board.
The Board, in its discretion, may require the winning coach to provide an explanation as to how and why the goal differential of the game was greater than +5.
- If the board is not satisfied with the explanation of the winning coach, it may warn and/or discipline the offending coach.
- Coaches who repeatedly run up the score to unacceptable levels as determined by the Board will no longer be allowed to coach in the Miller Creek Soccer League.

Code of Conduct

Players Code of Conduct

I will…

Play the game for the enjoyment of it.
Be gracious when I win; be graceful when I lose.
Listen to my coach and be a team player.
Obey the rules and accept the referee’s decisions.
Appreciate the efforts of my teammates and opponents.

Coaches Code of Conduct

I will….

Educate myself about the game of soccer.
Obey the rules and policies of MCSL and CYSA.
Be a positive role model for my players, their parents and other spectators.
Teach sound skills, fair tactics and discourage unsporting behavior.
Remain calm, instructive and positive while coaching.
Allow younger players to experience different positions.
Respect my opponents and the referee and accept his/her decisions.
Value player development and participation over winning.
Help players achieve their personal goals and reach their full potential.
Work cooperatively with other members of MCSL.
Remember that the game is played for fun and that it is for the kids!

Parents Code of Conduct