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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.
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, insurance, 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 appropriate behavior during every game.
- Negative sideline pressure is one of the top reasons young players and referees leave the game.
- Mistakes by players and referees 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 POSTIVE 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.
Upcoming LCSL Board Meetings & Important Dates
- October 14, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. — LCSL Board Meeting
Main agenda item: Fall Classic Tournament Schedule - October 17, 2026 — Fall Classic Tournament
- November 18, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. — LCSL Board Meeting
- December 2026 — No LCSL Board Meeting
- January 2027 — No LCSL Board Meeting
Important Spring 2027 Dates for Community Boards & Registrars
- Prior to Opening Community Registration:
Registrar Reminder: Before opening registration within your community, contact Rachael Hyster, LCSL Registrar, to review the registration format. - March 14, 2027 — Team Commitment Forms Due
- March 22 or 23, 2027 — Divisional Meeting
Final date pending confirmation. - During Coach and Player Approval/Roster Building:
Registrar Reminder: Please notify Rachael Hyster as players and coaches are ready for approval in Roster Builder. Do not wait until the submission deadline (April 2) to provide information along the way. - April 2, 2027 — Coach/Player Roster Deadline
- Schedules Released — TBD
- April 17, 2027 — First Games
- June 12, 2027 — Spring Classic Tournament
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).
Team rosters must be validated by the referee prior to the start of the game. 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 4 PM
- Saturday games: closures posted by 8 AM
Field status link is posted at the top of the league webpage.
Length of Games, by Division:
U7: four 10-minute quarters
U8: 20-minute halves
U9 and U10: 25-minute halves
U11 and U12: 30-minute halves
U14 and U15: 35-minute halves
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.
New (effective Spring 2026): "Laws of the Game"
