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September 11, 2026 • 5 Minute Read
The Parent Standard
The FCA Sports Parent Standard FCA Sports exists to provide a safe, positive, and Christ-centered environment where athletes can grow physically, mentally, relationally, and spiritually. Parents help set the tone. The way we encourage, communicate, and respond teaches our athletes what matters most. Our priorities are: Safety. Fun. Growth. Our Ultimate Foundation Represent Jesus in every word, every reaction, and every relationship. “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” — Colossians 3:17 Our Five Parent Pillars 1. Encourage Loudly. Never Tear Down. Our sidelines should be filled with joy, energy, and encouragement. Celebrate effort, teamwork, courage, and growth. Never use your voice to embarrass, criticize, or place unnecessary pressure on an athlete. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.” — Ephesians 4:29 2. Respect Everyone—Especially Under Pressure. Treat athletes, coaches, referees, FCA staff, opposing teams, and other parents with dignity. Competition never gives us permission to insult, intimidate, argue, or tear someone down. “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” — Romans 12:10 3. Let Coaches Coach and Referees Officiate. Encourage your athlete without coaching from the sideline. Allow coaches to lead and referees to make calls. Many FCA Sports referees are young people developing communication, confidence, command, and leadership skills. They will not make every call perfectly. Neither will our athletes or coaches. Parents may not yell at, argue with, insult, or approach a referee to dispute a call. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” — James 1:19 4. Protect the Athlete Experience. Our games belong to the athletes. Follow sideline boundaries, remain in designated spectator areas, and never allow adult emotions to take away an athlete’s safety, joy, or opportunity to grow. “Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” — Philippians 2:4 5. Keep the Mission Bigger Than the Score. We want to compete, improve, and pursue excellence—but winning is not the ultimate goal. Every game is an opportunity to help athletes grow and show families something different in the way FCA Sports competes and serves. “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31 Game-Day Expectations As an FCA Sports parent or guardian, I will: Bring a positive attitude. Encourage athletes from the sideline. Allow coaches to coach and referees to officiate. Treat everyone with dignity and respect. Use appropriate and positive language. Remain calm when I disagree with a decision. Communicate concerns directly and respectfully. Follow all facility and spectator boundaries. Place athlete safety and growth above the outcome of the game. Respecting Coaches Our coaches are volunteers who give their time to serve athletes and families. Parents should encourage without giving coaching instructions from the sideline. Multiple voices create confusion and unnecessary pressure for athletes. Questions should be discussed with the coach privately and at an appropriate time—not during the game or in front of athletes. Respecting Referees Parents and spectators may not: Yell at or argue with a referee. Make insulting or inappropriate comments. Question a referee’s character or integrity. Approach a referee to dispute a call. Encourage an athlete to disrespect an official. Questions involving rules, safety, or serious concerns should be brought calmly to the site coordinator or FCA staff. Respecting Opposing Families Competition should never become personal. Parents may not taunt, mock, intimidate, or argue with opposing athletes, coaches, or families. We can compete hard without tearing someone else down. Soccer Sideline Expectations Stay Away From the Goals Parents and spectators may not stand or sit beside or behind either goal. All spectators must remain in the designated viewing area along the sideline. This protects the athletes, gives referees a clear view, and prevents distractions behind the goal. Parent Side and Athlete Side For our older soccer divisions serving athletes ages 8–12: One side of the field is reserved for athletes and coaches. The opposite side is reserved for parents and spectators. Parents may not stand or gather on the athlete side. Spectators must stay away from team areas, corner areas, and both goals. This separation helps athletes focus, allows coaches to lead, and creates a safer and more organized environment. Communicating a Concern We want parents to communicate with us. Concerns should be handled calmly, directly, and at the appropriate time. Unless there is an immediate safety concern: Allow the game or practice to finish. Avoid addressing the issue in front of athletes or other families. Speak privately with the coach, site coordinator, or FCA staff. Email the League Director Troy Farley @tfarley@fca.org Focus on facts, safety, and possible solutions. Allow FCA Sports time to gather information and respond. When emotions rise, pause, lower your voice, and remember who is watching. Accountability Behavior that does not meet the FCA Sports Parent Standard may result in: A reminder or warning A conversation with FCA staff Removal from the playing area Suspension from future games Removal from the league in serious or repeated situations Any behavior that threatens the safety of an athlete, coach, referee, staff member, or family will be addressed immediately. The Standard We Carry Encourage loudly. Respect everyone. Trust the leaders. Protect the athletes. Keep the mission bigger than the score. Above it all: Represent Jesus in every word, every reaction, and every relationship. Every game should finish with athletes feeling safe, coaches feeling supported, referees feeling respected, and families seeing something different in the way FCA Sports competes and serves. Meet The Team Troy Farley — FCA Sports League Director — tfarley@fca.org Zach Lewison — 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 — Flag Football Game Day Coordinator — prestonjonas123@gmail.com
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
September 6, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
Fall Soccer
FCA Coach's Corner | Week 3 Coaches, We are officially two weeks into the season! Thank you for the way you've jumped in, adjusted, learned your teams, and started building relationships with your athletes and families. We're getting into the rhythm now—and this is where the season really starts to take shape. THIS WEEK: STAY TEACHABLE Our Growth Mindset journey this season is: Learn → Trust → Serve → Teach While we're in Week 3 of our soccer season, we're in Week 2 of our Growth Mindset devotional, which means we're still focused on that first step: LEARN. This week, our athletes are learning that growth isn't about pretending to have everything figured out. It's about being honest enough to admit we still have room to grow and staying teachable when someone helps us get better. Here's the line I want us carrying into this week: “A closed heart stays stuck. A teachable heart keeps growing.” That's a great lesson for our athletes, but it's also a great reminder for us as coaches. Keep listening. Keep learning. Keep adjusting. We never stop learning, growing, and teaching. WEEK 2 GROWTH MINDSET HUDDLE Please continue making your Growth Mindset Huddle a priority at every practice. This week's Huddle focuses on progress over perfection. Our athletes don't have to pretend they have everything figured out. Neither do we. Help them understand that a teachable athlete: Listens. Learns. Takes coaching. Makes adjustments. Keeps growing. Don't let the Huddle become the thing you squeeze in if there's time. It's part of why we're here. Our mission: To see every coach, athlete, and FAMILY be in a growing relationship with Jesus and His Church. UNIFORMS Most of you have now received your team uniforms to hand out to your athletes. If you haven't received yours yet, you will be getting them this week. COACHES: If you have uniform needs—wrong sizes, missing uniforms, additional needs, etc.—and you have not already communicated those needs to me, I need you to TEXT ME ASAP. Troy: 509-430-7222 Please don't assume we know what your team is missing. Help us get ahead of it by communicating your needs as soon as possible. AGES 4–7: PLEASE SHUT THE TRAILER A quick but important reminder for our 4–7 divisions practicing at Bethel: The equipment trailer has been left open after the 5:30 final practice window. If you are one of the final teams practicing, please make sure the trailer is completely shut and secured before you leave each night. It takes just a minute and helps us tremendously. Thank you for helping us take care of our equipment and facilities. TEAM PHOTOS Rob Palmer, our FCA Sports photographer, will be reaching out directly to coaches to schedule your team photo time for the upcoming weeks. You do not need to contact Rob. Rob will contact YOU. Once your time is scheduled, please communicate that information clearly with your families. VOLUNTEER ONBOARDING If your FCA volunteer onboarding is still incomplete, please get this finished. Hannah is continuing to follow up with coaches who have outstanding steps. Please respond to her and help us get everyone across the finish line. This is an important part of providing a safe and prepared environment for every athlete and family. KEEP BUILDING We're two weeks in. The newness is starting to wear off, and that's actually when some of the best coaching begins. Keep learning names. Keep connecting with parents. Keep making practice fun. Keep Huddling. Keep encouraging. Keep pointing kids toward Jesus. And remember this week: A closed heart stays stuck. A teachable heart keeps growing. Let's model that for our athletes. MEET YOUR FCA SPORTS TEAM We're here to serve you throughout the season. If you have questions or need help, reach out. Troy Farley — Leagues Director
tfarley@fca.org | 509-430-7222 Zach Lewison — Associate Director
zlewison@fca.org | 641-590-4900 Amber Lewis — Operations Coordinator
amberlewis@fca.org Hannah Fiocchi — Volunteer Coordinator
hfiocchi@fca.org Preston Jonas — Flag Football Coordinator
prestonjonas123@gmail.com You're not coaching alone. We're in this together. Have a great Week 3! Win The Day, Troy Farley
FCA Sports Tri-Cities
September 6, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
Parent Corner #30 | Winning Isn't the Point
Winning matters. There. I said it. Keep score - Compete - Practice hard Want the ball when the game is on the line. Learn how to win—and learn how to lose. I love competition. I don't want our athletes walking onto a field or court thinking the outcome doesn't matter. But winning can't be the point. Don't mistake that for weakness. Because when I zoom out and look at a life in sports—from a four-year-old playing their first season all the way to the rare athlete who gets paid to play—the actual games make up only a fraction of the journey. Think about everything else. Practices. Workouts. Film. Meetings. Road trips. Early mornings. Late nights. Conversations with coaches. Conversations with teammates. Sitting on the bench. Extra reps when nobody is watching. Injuries. Disappointment. Failure. Trying again. We spend far more time becoming than we ever spend competing on game day. So if winning the game is the ultimate goal... What are we doing with all that other time? Grow Where You're Planted A while back, I sat on a bucket with a local Tri-Cities coach named Craig Lukens for one of my Inning Intermissions conversations. Craig said something that has stayed with me: "Grow where you're planted." That's it. That's the point. Grow. Sports give our kids this incredible environment where growth gets put under pressure. Mental growth. Physical growth. Spiritual growth. Relational growth. It's why I believe sports can be so powerful. The practices that nobody cheers for matter. The conversation in the car matters. How you respond after getting benched matters. How you treat the official matters. How you encourage a teammate after their mistake matters. How you respond when the scoreboard doesn't go your way matters. Because all of it is growing something inside of you. The question is: What are you growing? Jesus Talked About Growth Too Jesus once described God's Kingdom using something incredibly small. A seed. "God's kingdom is like a mustard seed... It is the smallest of all seeds. But when it grows, it is one of the largest garden plants."
Matthew 13:31–32, ERV I love that picture. Because growth doesn't always look impressive while it's happening. Sometimes it's one practice. One conversation. One failure. One decision to get back up. One small seed. But give it time. God can do a lot with something that's willing to grow. Meet Ray Ray's team lost. And he hated losing. On the drive home, he barely said a word. Finally, Dad asked, "What did you learn today?" Ray looked confused. "We lost." "I know," Dad said. "I didn't ask what the scoreboard said." Ray thought for a second. "I probably could've encouraged Zach more after he dropped that pass." Dad nodded. "Anything else?" "I gave up on a play after I thought I was beat." Another nod. Then Ray understood. They hadn't won the game. But there were still places he could grow. Before getting out of the car, Dad looked at him. "Keep wanting to win, Ray." Then he smiled. "Just don't miss who you're becoming while you're trying." The End Game Parents, let's cheer. Let's compete. Let's celebrate wins. Let's let losses hurt. Sports should matter. But let's remember what we're actually preparing these kids for. Because eventually... The jerseys get turned in. The cleats get put away. The final whistle blows. Even for the professionals. And when that happens, the scoreboard doesn't come with them. The person they became does. That's the end game. Did they grow? Did they learn perseverance? Did they become a better teammate? Did they learn to lead? Did they learn how to fail without quitting? Did they learn how to win without making winning their identity? Did they discover more about who God created them to be? Because maybe the greatest victory sports can give our kids isn't something that appears in the standings. Maybe it's becoming the kind of person who can walk into whatever God has next for them and... Grow where they're planted. Winning matters. It just isn't the point. More than a league. It's a mission. Troy Farley FCA Sports Leagues Director
September 5, 2026 • 7 Minute Read
Fall Sports Referee Standard
FCA Sports Referees FCA Sports referees do more than enforce the rules. They help create a safe, positive, and competitive environment where athletes, coaches, and families can grow. Our goal is to prepare every referee to lead with confidence, protect the athletes, communicate clearly, and represent FCA well at every game. More Than a Game FCA Sports is about more than competition. We want athletes to grow: Physically Mentally Relationally Spiritually Referees help set the tone for the entire game. Every call, conversation, and interaction is an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and represent Jesus well. Our three game-day priorities are: Safety. Fun. Growth. Professionalism and Leadership Serving as an FCA Sports referee is a job, and professionalism is expected. Throughout the season, referees will have opportunities to develop valuable skills, including: Clear communication Confidence and command Decision-making Conflict management Personal responsibility Leadership under pressure These skills will serve referees both on and off the field. Creating a Positive Athlete Experience Every athlete should feel seen, valued, and encouraged during an FCA Sports game. Referees can help create that experience by: Greeting athletes and coaches before the game Using positive and respectful language Giving clear, calm instructions Listening before reacting Correcting athletes without embarrassing them Remaining present and approachable Leading with confidence without becoming confrontational Fall Sports Locations Referees may be assigned to one of four FCA Sports locations: Bethel: Soccer Reata: Soccer Columbia: Soccer Calvary: Flag Football Field assignments, schedules, parking information, and additional site instructions will be communicated with each assignment. Site leadership includes: Bethel: Zach Lewison Calvary: Preston Jonas Referees should check in with the site coordinator immediately upon arrival. Referee Arrival Times Please arrive on time and ready to help with setup. Bethel: 8:15 AM or 11:00 AM, depending on the assigned shift Reata: 8:15 AM Columbia: 8:15 AM Calvary: 8:00 AM Arriving at the listed time is part of the assignment. Referees should not arrive immediately before their first game. Before the Game Before officiating, every referee should: Check in with the site coordinator Confirm the field assignment and game schedule Help complete the required field setup Inspect the playing area for safety concerns Check the game equipment Meet the coaches Review any age-specific or division-specific rules Ask questions about any rule that is unclear Athlete safety should always be addressed before play begins. Field Setup Responsibilities Bethel Soccer Referees assigned to Bethel may be responsible for a complete field setup, including: Corner flags Field number flags Game balls Cones Yard signs Reata and Columbia Soccer These locations operate using a “Show and Go” setup. Referees should still: Confirm that the field is ready Inspect goals and equipment Check for hazards Report any concerns to the site coordinator Calvary Flag Football Referees assigned to Calvary may assist with: Yard markers Pylons Footballs Athlete flag belts Game-Day Timeline To keep games running on time, referees should follow this schedule: 10 Minutes Before the Game Meet with both coaches Confirm the division and game format Review any important age-specific rules Address questions before play begins 5 Minutes Before the Game Connect with the athletes Offer high fives and encouragement Check equipment Prepare both teams for the opening play Game Time Start the game on time Keep the game moving Communicate time and game situations clearly Do not sacrifice athlete safety to stay on schedule During the Game Referees are expected to: Communicate calls clearly and respectfully Use confident signals and instructions Remain calm and professional Work together as a referee team Apply the rules fairly and consistently Keep the game moving at a steady pace Watch for unsafe play Treat athletes, coaches, parents, and other officials with respect Referees should be firm, fair, consistent, and approachable. After the Game At the conclusion of every game: Confirm that the substitution periods were handled correctly Bring the teams together for the postgame circle Pray with the athletes and coaches Report injuries or unusual incidents Report major conduct concerns Reset the field promptly for the next game Begin cleanup if it is the final game of the day Field Cleanup Referees may be asked to help collect and return: Game balls Corner flags Field number flags Yard signs Cones Yard markers Pylons Athlete flags Trash Lost-and-found items Everyone is responsible for leaving the facility better than we found it. Scheduling and Weekly Assignments Zach Lewison will communicate with referees regarding available weekly assignments at all four locations. Referees can contact Zach at zlewison@fca.org with scheduling questions. Please remember: Weekly assignments are not promised or guaranteed. The number of available games may change each week. If you do not receive a message, there may not be an available slot that week. Coach and staff feedback will help determine future assignments. Communication, reliability, professionalism, and conduct will also affect scheduling decisions. Approximate weekly referee openings include: Bethel: 6 Reata: 2 Columbia: 2 Calvary: 2 The 24-Hour Rule Referees must respond to an assignment offer within 24 hours. If no response is received within that time, the assignment may be offered to another referee. Once an assignment is accepted, FCA Sports and the participating teams are counting on that referee to be there. If an emergency or unavoidable conflict prevents a referee from working an accepted assignment, the referee must communicate with FCA Sports immediately. Do not wait until game day if the conflict is already known. Referee Pay The referee pay structure is: $25 per game $100 for a three-game assignment Referees must submit their payment information through Databasics every Monday. Payment options include: Direct deposit Check Direct-deposit payments are generally processed by the end of the week. Payments are processed through National FCA. New referees must complete all required digital paperwork before payment can be issued. No payment will be processed until the required paperwork is complete. Referee Uniform and Equipment FCA Sports will provide referee jerseys and whistles. Referees are responsible for these items throughout the season and must return them at the end of the season. The cost of equipment that is not returned may be deducted from the referee’s pay. Referees should arrive wearing the required uniform and bring all assigned equipment to every game. Referee Expectations Every FCA Sports referee is expected to: Arrive early and prepared Wear the required referee uniform Know the rules for the assigned sport and division Treat everyone respectfully Remain calm under pressure Communicate confidently without being confrontational Avoid arguing with coaches or spectators Never use inappropriate language Keep phones put away while officiating Stay engaged throughout the entire assignment Ask the site coordinator for help before a situation escalates Remember that athlete safety is more important than keeping the game moving Handling Difficult Situations When a coach, parent, or athlete becomes upset: Stay calm. State the call clearly. Set a respectful boundary. Contact the site coordinator if the situation continues. Referees should not argue with coaches or spectators. Explain the call briefly, remain professional, and return attention to the game. If a situation begins to feel unsafe or unmanageable, pause the game and involve the site coordinator. Know the Rules Referees should review the rules for their assigned sport before accepting games. Soccer Rules HERE Important soccer topics include: Game length and substitutions Offside rules by division Fouls and restarts Handball Slide tackling Heading restrictions Coach and spectator conduct Review the FCA Sports Soccer Rules Flag Football Rules HERE Important flag football topics include: Game length and possession Starting play and the line of scrimmage Flag guarding Rushing and blitzing Running restrictions Passing requirements Blocking and contact Interceptions and turnovers Scoring Penalties and enforcement Score-management rules Coach and spectator conduct Age-specific modifications Review the FCA Sports Flag Football Rules Never Guess at an FCA-Specific Rule If you are uncertain about a rule: Pause the game if necessary Ask the lead referee Consult the site coordinator Confirm the correct ruling before continuing It is always better to ask than to guess. Final Referee Reminder Protect the athletes. Communicate clearly. Stay consistent. Represent FCA well. Every game should finish with athletes feeling safe, coaches feeling respected, and families seeing something different in the way FCA Sports serves.
