Fall Sports Game Day

Troy Farley • FCA Sports Leagues Director
September 11, 2026

4 Minute Read

Coaches,

Tomorrow is GAME DAY!

This is the day we get to step back a little and let the kids truly PLAY.

My challenge for every one of us tomorrow is simple:

BE THE THERMOSTAT.

Help me set the right temperature for your athletes and families.

See the opposing coach as a partner, not an opponent. Don’t overcoach. Let your players play. Let them make mistakes. Let them figure some things out.

Constantly being loud from the sideline does not mean good coaching is taking place.

Teach during the week. Encourage on Game Day. There will certainly be moments to coach, but give these kids room to compete, make decisions, make mistakes, and grow.

PRE-GAME ROUTINE

This applies to every team—younger soccer, older soccer, and flag football.

10 MINUTES BEFORE KICKOFF — COACH + REF MEETING

Meet with the opposing coach and referee.

For 4–7 Soccer, remember that the coaches are also the referees.

Take a minute to:

  • Greet and introduce yourselves.
  • Connect on any questions before the game.
  • Say a quick prayer for one another.
  • Remind yourselves that we're working together to create a great experience for these kids.
5 MINUTES BEFORE KICKOFF — FCA BREAK

Bring both teams and coaches together at center field.

As ONE group, do an FCA BREAK on 3!

Then both teams take a lap around the field, high-fiving the parents and families along the way.

FLAG FOOTBALL: Our cheer athletes will form a tunnel for you to run through after the FCA Break before beginning your lap around the field.

Once the lap is complete, LET'S PLAY!

POST-GAME ROUTINE

How we finish matters just as much as how we start.

  1. Celebrate the other team.
    Gather your team and on 1-2-3 yell the other team's name.
  2. Good Game Line.
    Both teams meet and go through the traditional post-game line.
  3. Circle Up + Pray.
    Bring both teams together and end the game in prayer.

We encourage an athlete to lead the prayer. Give them the opportunity! If no athlete wants to step up, one of the coaches can lead.

Win or lose, we leave the field together.

KNOW YOUR RULES

Please take a few minutes TODAY to review the rules for your sport and age division before tomorrow's first game.

These rules pages will remain LIVE throughout the season, so bookmark them and use them as a reference whenever you need them.

September 5, 2026
Soccer Rules
September 5, 2026
Flag Football Rules

WEEK 1 = LOTS OF GRACE

Coaches, this is Week 1 of games.

Please bring LOTS OF GRACE tomorrow.

  • Athletes are learning.
  • Parents are learning.
  • Coaches are learning.

And our young referees are learning too.

Please refrain from complaining about missed calls or calls you disagree with. Our referees are going to miss things. That's part of youth sports, especially in Week 1.

If you're frustrated with something that happens during a game, come to me. Let me handle it.

  • Don't let one call change your sideline.
  • Don't let frustration change your body language.
  • Don't let the temperature rise because something didn't go your way.

I'll say it one more time:

YOU ARE THE THERMOSTAT.

Your players and families will feed off your energy, your demeanor, and your response.

Tomorrow, let's set the temperature together.

Encourage. Celebrate. Compete. Have fun. Let them PLAY.

Let's have an incredible first Game Day!

Meet The Team

  • Troy Farley (509-430-7222) — FCA Sports League Director — tfarley@fca.org
  • Zach Lewison (641-590-4900) — Associate Director & Bethel Game Day Coordinator — zlewison@fca.org
  • Amber Lewis — Operations Coordinator — amberlewis@fca.org
  • Hannah Fiocchi — Volunteer Coordinator — hfiocchi@fca.org
  • Preston Jonas (509-619-2748) — Flag Football Game Day Coordinator — prestonjonas123@gmail.com

Win The Day,

Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director

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September 11, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
Fall Sports Game Day
Coaches, Tomorrow is GAME DAY! This is the day we get to step back a little and let the kids truly PLAY. My challenge for every one of us tomorrow is simple: BE THE THERMOSTAT. Help me set the right temperature for your athletes and families. See the opposing coach as a partner, not an opponent. Don’t overcoach. Let your players play. Let them make mistakes. Let them figure some things out. Constantly being loud from the sideline does not mean good coaching is taking place. Teach during the week. Encourage on Game Day. There will certainly be moments to coach, but give these kids room to compete, make decisions, make mistakes, and grow. PRE-GAME ROUTINE This applies to every team—younger soccer, older soccer, and flag football. 10 MINUTES BEFORE KICKOFF — COACH + REF MEETING Meet with the opposing coach and referee. For 4–7 Soccer, remember that the coaches are also the referees. Take a minute to: Greet and introduce yourselves. Connect on any questions before the game. Say a quick prayer for one another. Remind yourselves that we're working together to create a great experience for these kids. 5 MINUTES BEFORE KICKOFF — FCA BREAK Bring both teams and coaches together at center field. As ONE group, do an FCA BREAK on 3! Then both teams take a lap around the field, high-fiving the parents and families along the way. FLAG FOOTBALL: Our cheer athletes will form a tunnel for you to run through after the FCA Break before beginning your lap around the field. Once the lap is complete, LET'S PLAY! POST-GAME ROUTINE How we finish matters just as much as how we start. Celebrate the other team. Gather your team and on 1-2-3 yell the other team's name. Good Game Line. Both teams meet and go through the traditional post-game line. Circle Up + Pray. Bring both teams together and end the game in prayer. We encourage an athlete to lead the prayer. Give them the opportunity! If no athlete wants to step up, one of the coaches can lead. Win or lose, we leave the field together. KNOW YOUR RULES Please take a few minutes TODAY to review the rules for your sport and age division before tomorrow's first game. These rules pages will remain LIVE throughout the season, so bookmark them and use them as a reference whenever you need them.SOCCER RULESFLAG FOOTBALL RULES WEEK 1 = LOTS OF GRACE Coaches, this is Week 1 of games. Please bring LOTS OF GRACE tomorrow. Athletes are learning. Parents are learning. Coaches are learning. And our young referees are learning too. Please refrain from complaining about missed calls or calls you disagree with. Our referees are going to miss things. That's part of youth sports, especially in Week 1. If you're frustrated with something that happens during a game, come to me. Let me handle it. Don't let one call change your sideline. Don't let frustration change your body language. Don't let the temperature rise because something didn't go your way. I'll say it one more time: YOU ARE THE THERMOSTAT. Your players and families will feed off your energy, your demeanor, and your response. Tomorrow, let's set the temperature together. Encourage. Celebrate. Compete. Have fun. Let them PLAY. Let's have an incredible first Game Day! Meet The Team Troy Farley (509-430-7222) — FCA Sports League Director — tfarley@fca.org Zach Lewison (641-590-4900) — Associate Director & Bethel Game Day Coordinator — zlewison@fca.org Amber Lewis — Operations Coordinator — amberlewis@fca.org Hannah Fiocchi — Volunteer Coordinator — hfiocchi@fca.org Preston Jonas (509-619-2748) — Flag Football Game Day Coordinator — prestonjonas123@gmail.com Win The Day, Troy Farley FCA Sports Leagues Director

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Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director