Information for Coaches & Referees

Metro PAL Youth Soccer League

Official Coaches Training Schedule

All coaches must be Metro PAL trained and issued a Metro PAL Coaches License before they will be assigned a team. This training is MANDATORY! This is an annual training process. Please see the schedule below for training sessions.

All coaches will also submit to a Livescan background check before the season coaches’ license will be issued. The Livescan background check process will be conducted for free at each of the coaches’ clinics or by going to the Santa Clara Sherriff’s facility on 55 W. Younger Ave. SJ for a $10 fee.

Coaches Clinics:

7/11 @ San Jose-PAL Stadium, TAB Bldg 9a-12 noon,

7/25 @ Santa Clara Univ., Leavey Center. 9a-12 noon,

8/8 @ Milpitas- Zanker Elementary School 9a-12 noon.

Metro PAL Youth Soccer League

Official Referee Training Schedule

All referees must be Metro PAL trained and issued a Metro PAL Referee License before they will be assigned games. This training is MANDATORY and is an annual training process. Please see the schedule below for training sessions.

Referee Clinics:

Senior Referee Clinic (>3 years experience)

6/16 @ San Jose PAL Stadium, TAB Bldg. 6p-9p.

Regular Clinics (3 years or less experience)

7/15&16 @ Santa Clara Police Dept, 6p-9p

*8/4 & 5, @ MP Police Department 6p-9p.

*8/8 @ San Jose PAL Stadium, TAB Bldg. 9a-3p.

*Date Changes

List of Teams & Coaches

Soccer Practice Fields

Click here for the addresses of the fields.

Paperwork for Coaches

California State Law and P.A.L. regulations require that coaches be officially cleared to coach. All prospective coaches must fill out the San Jose Police Activities League Adult Registration Form and be fingerprinted (Livescan).

Primary coaches must submit the registration form and completed livescan report to the San Jose P.A.L. Office. Assistant coaches can submit their information (a copy of the completed livescan report, the Adult Registration Form and a photo) to the Rosegarden PAL Soccer Commissioner, who will issue the assistant coach's card.

These forms can be found on the Forms page. Submit these forms by June for the quickest results. Remember: no forms, no coaching.

P.A.L. Soccer Field Laws

Players & Coaches:

Player/coach's cards are required at check-in for every game.
Players must be in complete league-issued uniform (shirt, shorts, socks) or will not play.
Shirts must be tucked in at the start of the game and each quarter/half.
Shin guards must be worn inside the player's socks.
No jewelry is permitted. No bandages or tape over earrings. A Medic-Alert is allowed if taped to the body.
No orthopedic casts of any kind (hard or soft) are permitted on the field of play.
The coach's area extends 10 yards either side of the midfield line.
Spectators are not permitted within 20 yards of corner flags along the sideline or anywhere behind the goal line.
No coach or spectator may enter the field of play at any time without a signal from the referee.
Referee calls are final. Dissent in action or word by a player, coach or spectator could result in a caution (yellow card) or ejection (red card).
Substitutions are to be made at midfield and only after the substituted player leaves the field.

U-6 & U-8 Play:

Number of players: maximum 7; minimum 5.
Size 3 ball.
U-6 - four 8 minute quarters.
U-8 - four 10 minute quarters.
All free kicks are indirect.
No penalty kicks.
Throw-in fouls: repeat of throw-in is allowed once only.
No offside penalties (except for "camping at goal").
Substitution is permitted only at quarter breaks and for an injured player.
No sliding.
U-8 - any player given a yellow card must leave the field until the next legal substitution.
U8 - any player, coach, or spectator given a red card (ejected) must leave the field.
A player may be suspended based on the referee's report.
The mercy rule is applied.

U-10 Play:

Number of players: maximum 9; minimum 7.
Size 4 ball.
Two 25-minute periods.
All free kicks are indirect.
No penalty kicks.
Substitution is permitted on own throw-in, any goal kick, before kick-off and for an injured player.
No repeat for a bad throw-in.
FIFA offside rules apply.
Sliding O.K. if done properly.
A player given a yellow card must leave the field until the next legal substitution.
Any player, coach, or spectator given a red card (ejected) must leave the field.
A player may be suspended based on the referee's report.
The mercy rule is applied.

U-12 & Up Play:

Number of players: maximum 11; minimum 7.
U-12: Size 4 ball.
U-14 & Up: Size 5 ball.
U-12 - Two 30 minute halves.
U-14 & U15 - Two 35 minute halves.
U-16 & Up - Two 40 minute halves.
Substitution is permitted on own throw-in, any goal kick, before kick-off and for an injured player.
All other FIFA / League rules apply.
A player given a yellow card must leave the field until the next legal substitution.
Any player, coach, or spectator given a red card (ejected) must leave the field.
A player may be suspended based on the referee's report.

For More Information

If you have questions about coaching, contact Senior Coach Frank Nunez, coach coordinator for Rosegarden P.A.L. Soccer, by phone at 408-286-3760 or by e-mail at fpnunez@sbcglobal.net.