COLD WEATHER GUIDELINES

The effects of cold weather can impact health and safety during practices and games. The definition of “cold stress” varies across the United States, depending on how accustomed people are to cold weather. A player from Minnesota will have a much different threshold for cold than a player from Florida.

U.S. Soccer’s RECOGNIZE TO RECOVER program prepared this guide for coaches, referees and players for training or playing in colder climates. Additionally, it serves as a guide for match play and participant safety during extreme temperature conditions. The information provided is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation or the advice of your physician or other healthcare provider. For specific questions and concerns, please consult your health care provider or physician.

COLD WEATHER SAFETY TIPS

Stay Dry
Wet and damp conditions add to the risk of injury or illness during cold weather. Players, coaches and referees should recognize these factors and use additional caution to watch for potential cold injuries.

If players do get wet during training or play, remove wet or saturated clothing and replace it with dry clothing. This becomes more important if the individual will remain out of play or anticipates standing around for a prolonged period of time. A hat, gloves and extra pair of socks can also keep extremities dry in case of snow or rain.

Dress for the Cold
When temperatures drop and wind increases, the body loses heat more rapidly. It is important to dress appropriately when training or playing in cold weather. This also means to not overdress.

Layering clothing in a specific way (see box) is recommended and very effective. The layers can be added or removed based on body temperature and changing environmental conditions, such as temperature and wind. Allow players to wear additional clothing, like gloves, sweatshirts, sweat pants and/or hats or headbands. Also, avoid sweating before going outside because your body will cool too quickly.

Wind Chill
Pay attention to the wind chill temperature (WCT) Index. (see chart below) Even prolonged exposure in relatively mild temperatures can lead to frostbite. The National Weather Service wind chill chart can serve as a guide to safe play in cold weather.

Stay Hydrated
Cold weather often reduces our ability to recognize that we are becoming dehydrated. If you are thirsty you have already become dehydrated. Try putting warm or hot water in a water bottle so that your water doesn’t freeze when training for extended amounts of time outside.

Take Action
If someone is suffering from a cold-related illness, get him or her into a warm location as soon as possible. Identify a nearby warming location before the start of training or play.

During games provide blankets or other items for players to stay warm while they are on the bench and allow additional substitutions or warming breaks.

Step One - Determine Wind Chill Temperature

The effects of cold weather can impact health and safety during practices and games. The definition of “cold stress” varies across the United States, depending on how accustomed people are to cold weather. A player from Minnesota will have a much different threshold for cold than a player from Florida.

NOTE: This table was adapted from the NOAA and NWS. It is compiled from the following formula Wind Chill (ºF)= 35.74 + 0.6215T - 35.75(Vˆ0.16) + 0.4275T(Vˆ0.16) where, T= Air Temperature and V=Wind Speed (mph).

Step Two - Find Your Alert Level

Use this chart to determine the alert level at your location based on the wind chill temperature.

* In wet environments with colder conditions, the following situations are accelerated. Use additional caution to recognize potential cold injuries. (NOTE: These WCT guidelines were adapted from the NATA position statement: Environmental Cold Injuries by Cappaert et al. 2008.)

COMMON COLD RELATED ILLNESSES

HYPOTHERMIA

Hypothermia is the result of your internal body temperature dropping to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) or less. It can be fatal if not detected promptly and treated properly.

Hypothermia typically begins with feelings of intense cold, shivering and behavior which are more quiet and disengaged than normal. As the condition worsens, the individual seems confused, sleepy and may begin slurring speech. To begin treating hypothermia, start by warming the center of the individual’s body first. Make sure they are dry and cover them with layers of blankets, clothing, towels or whatever else is around to contain their body heat. Warm nonalcoholic beverages may also help increase body temperature. If hypothermia is suspected, get the on-site medical provider or call 911.

Recognize

·Shivering vigorously or suddenly not shivering

·Increased blood pressure

·Lethargy

·Impaired mental function

·Slurred speech

Recover

·Remove damp/wet clothing

·Apply heat to the trunk of the body, not limbs

·Provide warm fluids and food

·Avoid applying friction massage to tissues

WARNING:

Do not use a hot shower or bath to treat hypothermia because it could cause the individual to go into shock.

*If symptoms persist seek medical attention from a physician or Emergency department.

FROSTBITE

Frostbite is what happens when skin and tissue actually begins freezing. It can cause numbness, tingling or stinging in the affected area. The skin may also lose its natural color, turning pale or bluish. Frostbite can permanently damage body tissue, leading to the loss of an extremity in severe cases.

The most commonly affected areas for frostbite include: nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes. Use body heat or warm (but not hot) water to begin warming the affected area.

Recognize

·Swelling/Edema

·Redness or mottled gray skin appearance

·Tingling or burning

·Blisters

·Numbness or loss of sensation

Recover

·Gradually rewarm affected area with warm water

WARNING:

·Do not rub or massage the frostbitten area. This may actually increase the damage.

·Do not use heating pads, heat lamps or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming since affected areas are  numb and can be easily burned

*If any of the symptoms persist for longer than a few hours, seek medical attention from emergency department or physician.

If you haven't ordered your practice shirts from https://dedhamyouthsoccer2023.itemorder.com/ Play It Again Sports please do so by Sunday! Orders will be placed on Monday. While you're at it, please look at the other Dedham Soccer merchandise and help support DYS and a local business!

Hello DYS Parents,

Only a few weeks until the start of the Spring season.  We are now over 1000+ players and over 140 coaches for the DYS Seasons. 

DYS held the coaches meeting this past Sunday where we picked up our soccer supplies, talked about the organizations goals and discussed all the new updates this season: Practice jerseys, Pizza Parties for Travel teams, New clinician session format (which we demonstrated).

Please Note: All parents should be contacted by your coach within the next 7 days.

For the Travel teams, they are potentially eligible for Presidents Cup, and MTOC playoffs (depending on grade and placements).  DYS has hired the Challenger coaches and they are looking forward to meeting our players in grades 2 thru 5 this season.

DYS is finalizing plans for End of Season Pizza Parties for EACH of the TRAVEL teams (grades 3 thru 12) to celebrate their season. 

Check out the Dick's sporting Goods Discount weekend info on dedhamsoccer.com for 3/31 thru 4/3

Please make sure everyone reads and understands the Zero Tolerance policies set forth by Mass. Youth Soccer listed on dedhamsoccer.com 

DYS is still working on the fields that we can use (we are going to be using Nobles School Field, DHS, and Northeastern Turf Field as some additional options for some teams this season (as Rustcraft will be undergoing maintenance by Parks and Rec this Spring.)   As always, please do your part to follow all the rules for the Dedham fields.  NO PETS except service animals, leave the fields in better shape then you found them by picking up trash, NO benches or seats ON the Gonzalez Turf Field (as they have been causing tears in the turf).

Programs:

Games:                (PreK thru Grade 8) will be Saturdays, April 8th thru June 10th (ish).  High School games will be April 23rd thru June 12th (pending playoffs).

Practices:            (Pending weather and field conditions) will start March 27th for Travel and April 3rd for Town

• TOWN (Grades K thru 2) Uniform jerseys provided to players that did not participate in the fall season or need a new size. Location will be Riverdale Elementary school and (Condon field for some grade 2 games this season) except Week 1 due to town election- we will send out info on location soon.
• TRAVEL PROGRAM:  We are starting a new program where members of Varsity Soccer Teams will be helping some of our Travel teams as assistant coaches.  The goal is to help bridge the travel and High School programs with enthusiasm, fun, and helping our volunteer coaching staff.. 
• PRE-K PROGRAM: This program meets once a week on Saturdays at the time you were registered for. The location will be Riverdale Elementary Fields (except week 1- April 8th due to election day).  Uniform jerseys and soccer balls provided to players that did not participate in the fall season.
• High School PROGRAM:  Practices will start a little later than Grades 3 thru 8. We will be hosting tryouts for grades 9 thru 10 with details to come in the next few weeks.  Uniform Jerseys provided to those that have not played or need a new size.              

Travel  Uniforms (grades 3 thru 8)

Deadline of March 8th to guarantee in time for the season is approaching for Travel Uniforms! Make sure yours fit!  https://www.challengerteamwear.com/store/dedhamys/index   Let me know if you need your son’s jersey number if new to the program or your child did not play last season.

DYS Online Store

*NEW THIS SEASON*: Practice Jerseys

They can be ordered online thru our local partner Play it Again Sports in Dedham and only cost $15 each.

https://dedhamyouthsoccer2023.itemorder.com/

Note that the sizes run a little big (especially for youth) so, PIA will have sample sizes in store later this week.  Dont forget to add your players number to the back.  These are 100% Polyester so they are great for practices.  These are NOT required for practices, but MANY of the parents/players have been asking for this. If you are in the town program, and have not got a jersey number- you can order any number you would like.

Please try to place your orders by March 24th.  Pick up can be in store for free or via shipping for a cost.

Website and FB Updates  

Please join DYS FB page and visit www.dedhamsoccer.com  for up to date messages, notes, about the DYS program.  We will be adding more material about the teams, coaches, history in the upcoming months.  Do you have any suggestions for the website?

DYS Upcoming Events

• DYS Night at the REVS- April 29th- SAVE THE DATE

Every player will get a FREE Ticket to claim for the game- you should have received a free ticket from the New England Revolution- any questions- please check DYS FB for contact info

• End of year Town Soccer Picnic @Nobles- Saturday June 10th or 11th.. finalizing date with Nobles soon…

Do you have any suggestions, comments, concerns, would you like to volunteer to help?  Email me at [email protected]

DEDHAM SOCCER on 3…!

Paul Yandrisevits

Dedham Soccer President

March 23, 2023

We've added the Uniforms link to the Travel drop down.  You can click here to get right to the ordering page. 

The samples of the Practice Tshirts have arrived today (March 20, 2023) at Play It Again Sports!  Details here. 

Revs Night FREE ticket link and codes went live yesterday, 3/16.  All families should receive an email from the Revs

All families will need is the ticket link and that their email is their code. 

Dedham Night at the Revs
Saturday, April 29 – 7:30 PM
New England Revolution vs. FC Cincinnati
Gillette Stadium

CLICK HERE REDEEM YOUR PLAYER’S TICKET - www.nerevsgroups.com/DedhamYS                              
To redeem your player's ticket, use the email used to register your youth soccer player(s)

FAQ

WHAT IF I HAVE MULTIPLE CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM, BUT MY CODE ONLY REDEEMS ONE TICKET?

• If you have multiple children that play in the club, your code should allow you to redeem a free ticket for each of your children.

• If you are not able to redeem for all the players in your family, please reach out to our Revs Rep Kyle Lindsay @ [email protected] ASAP!

HOW DOES THE SEATING WORK?

• Through the link above you can choose to sit wherever you want in the stadium!

WHERE ARE OTHER FAMILIES SITTING? HOW WOULD YOU RECOMMEND I NAVIGATE SITTING WITH THEM?

• A good way to do this is to purchase tickets at the same time (after practice, after a game, etc) as the families you wish to sit next to and select seats next to each other.
• Alternatively, anyone in the organization can always use the “WHO’S GOING” feature that will show you were families in your club chose to sit.

• Lastly you should recommend that parents/players share their purchases via text/email/social to the group within the group!

CAN I USE ANOTHER PLAYERS/FAMILY’S CODE? WHAT IF THEY ARE NOT USING IT?

• No - This free player code is solely for your own registered player(s) – It may not be shared or be used by anyone else, even if they are not going.

• Please remember these codes are ONLY for the players and the tickets will be associated with a youth player name on entry to Gillette!

I HAVE A DIFFERENT QUESTION, WHO SHOULD I REACH OUT TO?

• Any other questions, please reach out to Revs Rep Kyle Lindsay @ [email protected]

Hello Soccer Families,

DYS is getting ready for the Spring 2023 season to start in a few weeks...

NEW this year... Practice Jerseys

They can be ordered online thru our local partner Play it Again Sports in Dedham and only cost $15 each.

https://dedhamyouthsoccer2023.itemorder.com/

Note that the sizes run a little big (especially for youth) so, PIA will have sample sizes in store starting this Friday.

Dont forget to add your players number to the back.  These are 100% Polyester so they are great for practices.  These are NOT required for practices, but MANY of the parents/players have been asking for this.

Please try to place your orders by March 24th.  Pick up can be in store for free or via shipping for a cost.

Feb 28, 2023

The Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association Board of Directors recently approved the implementation of Codes of Conduct for Coaches, Parents, Players and Referees and a Zero Tolerance Policy by unanimous consent.  

The Mass Youth Soccer Codes of Conduct and Zero Tolerance Policy were developed over a number of months of consultation and collaboration with League and Member Organization leaders, Massachusetts State Referee Committee and other State Associations utilizing best practices from other Leagues, States and US Soccer appropriate for our programs.  

The adoption of the Codes of Conduct and Zero Tolerance Policy linked below is a requirement for all member organizations effective February 1.  

Codes of Conduct are located on the Safe Soccer section of the Mass Youth Soccer website. https://www.mayouthsoccer.org/codes-of-conduct/  

·Zero Tolerance Policy 

·Player's Code of Conduct 

·Coach's Code of Conduct 

·Parent's / Guardian's / Spectator's Code of Conduct 

·Soccer Official's Code of Conduct