Welcome to Lorain County Soccer League (LCSL)!

We’re excited to kick off another season of recreational soccer! As a community-focused league, we strive to foster a positive, respectful, and fun environment for our players, coaches, referees, and families. Please take a moment to review the important information below so we can all work together to create a great experience on and off the field.

Referee Abuse Prevention (RAP) Policy

Effective March 1, 2025, the US Soccer Referee Abuse Prevention (RAP) policy is in full effect.
Full policy details are available on the US Soccer RAP webpage.

Policy Highlights:

• Zero tolerance for referee abuse.
• Penalties may apply to spectators, coaches, and players.
• Examples and penalty summaries are outlined online.

Sideline Culture & Expectations

• Parents must stay 6 feet back from the sidelines during games.
• No dogs are permitted at LCSL games – for safety and player focus.
• All referee calls are final. No arguing or heckling will be tolerated.
• LCSL is a recreational league. Let the kids play and have fun.

• Let players play. Let referees ref. Be role models for respectful behavior.
• Negative sideline pressure is one of the top reasons young players and referees leave the game.
• Mistakes will happen—please help us build a positive atmosphere and walk away when frustrated.
• Our game has no place for disrespect.
• Let’s set a positive example—your encouragement matters.

Interested in Becoming a Referee?

Join the Firelands Soccer Referee Association (FSRA), which has proudly staffed LCSL games for over a decade.

Visit https://fsrainc.com/ for more information.

Next LCSL Meeting

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 – 7:30 p.m. at Oberlin Depot (240 S Main St, Oberlin)

Important Notes for Coaches, Referees, and Spectators

Referees may arrive up to 10 minutes after the scheduled start time and still be considered on time (especially at Edison).

Player passes must be checked for all players U9 and up. Coaches should prompt this if the referee does not.

Offside rules apply starting at U9, using the build-out line to the goal line.

Check schedules and field closures before leaving for a game.

• Weekday games: closures posted by 5 PM
• Saturday games: closures posted by 8 AM
  
  

Field status link is posted at the top of the league webpage.

Referee No-Show Protocol

If a referee does not show up: Coaches should notify their community’s LCSL Representative and President. The board member will then contact the Referee Assignor for follow-up.