Determine the best fields for your practices and games. Associations should contact Parks and Recreation Departments, schools, churches, and even neighborhood sites regarding availability.It is recommended fields should be reserved six months prior to the start of the each season.

NCYSA Field Liability

Prior to using the fields for any activity, NCYSA liability certificates must be completed for each field. Each year associations must update their active fields with NCYSA. It is also important to review local protocol with regards to field usage and liability. A field liability form can foundhere.

NCYSA Contact: Dottie Worsham

NCYSA requires the liability certificates one month prior to the start of the each season.

Field Design

Arranging your fields to accommodate different age groups demands for field size can be difficult. The examples below can help with the layout.

U6 Field Designs 

U8 Field Designs 

U10 Field Designs 

U12 Field Designs

Field Schedules

Determine practice field schedules and game field schedules as soon as teams are created. It may be necessary to coordinate schedules with other programs in your association. It is also important to determine dates and times for any end of the season festivals or coaching education events.

• Things to consider:
• Parking availability
• Security
• Restrooms: permanent vs. portable
  • Requirements/policies regarding numbers
• Emergency vehicle accessibility/routes
• Available hours of sunlight/time of year
• Sample Field Schedule

Field maintenance (may vary based on location)

Depending on who owns the fields, your organization may or may not be responsible for maintaining the fields. Field maintenance encompasses many things including fertilization, mowing, and watering. In addition associations must assign practice and game day responsibilities such as lining the fields, securing the goals, numbering the fields and also checking the fields for hazards before each contest. Field officers can be a great way to ensure that some of these responsibilities are handled on game days. Things to consider:

• Who is responsible for cleaning up during/after events?

• Trash cans: All teams should be good stewards with regards to leaving fields in respectable conditions after all practices and games.

• Bathrooms

• Who will coordinate to ensure that field maintenance does not conflict with practice times?

• Communicate with maintenance staff

• Coordinate sprinkler systems

Field Closing

A system must be in place to deal with field changes or field closings. Association must decide who is responsible for making the decisions and how players, parents, coaches, and referees are made aware of any changes. A link on the website is a great way to keep people posted and setting a time for posting closings is important. Some clubs also use a phone system or have specific officers responsible for contacting coaches and referees.

Field lighting

Every association may have a different option for providing lights for their fields. Whether renting portable lights or using permanent lights, it is important to learn when those contracts must be made.It isrecommended confirming lights during one season for the next.

Concessions

Concessions stands are a great way to generate revenue. Each association may have different options for concessions at the field. Determine what facilities there are for concessions and who is responsible for running them.Concession returns can be divided among teams and used as fundraisers.