Warren United Soccer Club

Player and Parent Guideline

 

This document is a rules guideline for players and their parents on the rules and procedures of the Warren United Soccer Club. It is a condensed version of our bylaws. Some of the items below pertain to the coaches but may have an impact on the player. 

  1.   Purpose of the Club

To foster and promote the game of soccer among the children of the surrounding area.

2) To provide soccer coaching and training to the children of the surrounding area.

3) To promote good sportsmanship among all participants regardless of race, color, or creed.

4) To foster, promote, and insure sportsmanlike conduct at all times, on and off the playing field, by all members, parents, coaches, and other persons associated with the Club.

5) To raise funds by various means as deemed proper to support any of the objectives of the Club.

This is a Travel Soccer Program

The purpose of the Travel Soccer Program is to offer children of our surrounding area a higher level of competition than is offered by the Recreation Soccer Program.  Each player expressing an interest in the Travel Program will be given an equal opportunity to make a Travel Team in her respective age group and the best players available will be selected to represent the Club.  An important goal of the Club is to allow every player the opportunity to reach the highest level of soccer proficiency that he/she is capable of achieving.

Players Age Group

  All Club Travel Teams shall be made up of players of the same age groups according to NJSYSA1, USYSA2 and USSF3 rulings.  Under normal circumstances Travel Teams in all divisions shall be comprised of players in single year age group (August 1 through July 31) except Division I where multiple years are permissible.  Players should play in the correct age group provided a Travel Team exists in that particular age group.  When a new Travel Team is being formed and there is a player that wishes to play on an older Travel Team, that player is obligated to try out for the Travel Team in his or her age group unless approved by the board to play up prier to the tryout.  However, if a younger player has "played-up" for one outdoor season or more, this rule does not apply.  Additionally, should a player leave a Travel Team, for whatever reason, after "playing-up" one or more consecutive seasons and wishes to return to playing Travel Soccer for the Club, he or she must now try out for the team in their own age group (assuming a team in their age group exists). Any player wishing to play out of their age group must be voted on and approved by the board prier to starting practice or playing for an older team. Requests for a player to play out of their age group must be presented to the club by a coach or board member, not a parent. It is recommended that the coaches involved in the issue agree on the move before it is brought to the table for a discussion and vote. Players will not be allowed to play in an age group younger than their age qualifications. 

Once a Travel Team is formed in a particular age group, the coach of that Travel Team has the right of first refusal to any player in that age group wishing to play Travel Soccer.  Also, a Travel Team coach reserves the right to waive a player.

Tryouts

  Each team is required to hold at least one (1) tryout per soccer season. A team participating in the fall season is not required to hold a 2nd tryout for the spring season. Coaches make the all decisions on how many players shall participate on the team. (So long as they stay within the club guidelines stated in the next section.) Coaches reserve the right to not accept a player to their team.

Number of Travel Team Players and Playing Time

  Travel Teams in the U9 and U10 age groups will have on its roster a minimum of ten (10) "carded" players and a maximum of fourteen (14) "carded" players.  The recommended number of "carded" players in these age groups is twelve (12).

Travel Teams in the U11 to U16 age groups will have on its roster a minimum of twelve (12) and a maximum of eighteen (18) "carded" players.  The recommended number of "carded" players in these age groups is fourteen (15).

  Travel Teams in the U17 to U19 age groups (Division 1) will have on its roster a minimum of twelve (12) and a maximum of twenty-two (22) "carded" players.  Only eighteen (18) players may represent the team on game day. The recommended number of "carded" players in these age groups is sixteen (16).

There is no minimum or maximum amount of playing time for Travel Team players.  The coaches determine playing time and positions.

Uniforms

  Beginning November 1, 2001 all Warren United Soccer Club players shall purchase and maintain their own uniforms. Uniforms will conform to club standards.   The primary uniform colors for the club will be as follows. (Royal Blue, White and Black) for shirts, shorts, and socks.  Each individual team will determine design, style and customizing of the uniform.  The club logo must be worn on the uniform.

If an established Travel Team changes uniform styles or new players join the team for the new season. The entire team must switch to the new uniforms when re-ordering.  Teams can not have mixed styles between old and new players.

Travel Team Tournaments

The club will pay for one tournament per season per team. Any additional tournaments a team wishes to attend must be covered by the parent. Fundraising may be done to cover these costs.

Club Code of Ethics

  Soccer belongs to the players of the Club and provides physical and emotional satisfaction for the players.  All members, coaches and assistants who are involved in the Club must understand this and put the welfare of the game and the players before their own personal rewards.

A Soccer Club is only as good as its members and the conduct they exhibit.  Soccer coaches and assistants must be asked to maintain the trust and confidence placed in them by the players, parents, and the Club.  Coaches and assistants who are unwilling to comply with the principles of the Club's "Code of Ethics" will not be allowed to coach and or assist.

This "Code of Ethics" has been developed to clarify and distinguish ethical and approved behavior from those practices that are detrimental.  The Code's secondary purpose is to promote the game of soccer by stressing the proper demeanor expected of coaches and assistants in their dealings with players, parents, officials, and the public.  There can be no success of this "Code of Ethics" without the consent and support of those for whom it was established...the Soccer Coach.

The Coaches Responsibly to the Players

  1) The coach and assistant must never place the value of winning over the safety and welfare of the players.  Winning should be the result of preparation and discipline with emphasis placed on societal ideals and character traits.

2) The Laws of Soccer were written to insure a continuous flow of action and the safety of the players.  Coaches and assistants must always play within these rules and never seek unfair advantage by teaching deliberate un-sportsman like behavior to their players.  Coaches and assistants have a responsibility not to tolerate these types of behavior from their players regardless of the situation.

3) Medical problems are not the responsibility of coaches and or assistants.  The appropriate person should handle the diagnosis and treatment of injuries.

4) Under no circumstances should a coach or assistant authorize the use of drugs.

Club Fundraising  (We have never done this but if we did this is the guideline)

Participation by players in Club sponsored fund-raising events/ activities is mandatory.  All teams and coaches will be expected to take an active part in such events.  Each particular fund-raising activity will be presented to the Club Members prior to the start of the season.  Coaches and assistants will then provide the fund-raising information to the parents of his/ her team. 

  All Travel Teams must participate in all Club sponsored fund-raisers.

  All monies earned on the clubs behalf during a club fundraiser shall be turned over to the club treasure at the next available opportunity. The treasurer shall keep a record of all fundraising monies submitted. This record shall be available for club members to view at regularly scheduled club meetings or by special request.

  Club fundraising money shall be used for the following items.

    a)     Reduce club registration fee for all members

    b)     Reduce Professional training fee for all members

     c)     To help purchase equipment

To purchase specially items (shirts, hats, bags ect so long as there is enough to purchase items for all club members)

Individual Travel Team Fund-Raisers

Any Travel Team desiring to conduct an individual team fund-raiser must submit the details of such an activity to the Board for consideration and approval.  The Board shall not withhold approval, providing that the fund-raiser does not conflict with any Club sponsored event.  The Travel Team's proposed fund-raiser must be legal, ethical, and one that does not tend to jeopardize or damage the good name of the Warren United Soccer Club. 

If a Travel Team decides to conduct its own fund-raiser, and the Board has approved that fund-raiser, that Travel Team will provide the Treasurer a detailed financial report of said activity.  Failure to provide such a report will preclude that Travel Team from conducting additional fund-raising activities in the future.

Teams conducting a fundraiser that involves items purchased by the club for such fundraiser shall reimburse the club the price of the items as they are sold. Any items purchased for the fundraiser must be pre-approved at a regular monthly meeting by the attending members. The board reserves the right to reject any proposed purchase of items if it is deemed either morally or financially inappropriate.

Each coach holding a team fundraiser shall be responsible for collecting monies from his players. He will also be required to submit a detailed breakdown of monies to the club treasure. This breakdown shall consist of the following.

    a)     Total monies collected to date

    b)     What the fundraiser is for

    c)     Number of items sold (if applicable)

    d)     Breakdown item cost (due club) vs. earned monies (credited to team)

Each new submission to the treasurer for a team fundraiser should also include the previously earned amounts that were submitted at earlier meetings. The sheet should be presented in duplicate. One copy will be the treasure’s copy and one copy for the team’s copy for their records. Once the amounts are agreed upon between the treasurers and coach each shall sign both copies. Any disputes should be reported to the board for discussion and resolution.

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCE shall the players or parents take it on their own to hold a individual team fundraiser without informing their coach! All fundraisers must go through the teams coach and be approved by the club. Parents and player are welcome to organize a fundraiser for the team so long as the coach is informed and kept updated. The coach will then submit the request and report to the club.

Parent Representative

(This is not mandatory but recommended) If you are interested please let your coach know.

Each team shall appoint (1) parent to act as a Parent Representative. The team shall also appoint (1) Parent Representative Alternate. The responsibilities and abilities of said Parent Representative and Parent Representative Alternative shall be as follows.

1) To attend Warren United monthly meeting as a voice of the parents for which they represent.

 2) Parent Rep will be given the right to vote on specific club matters.

 3) They will not be able to vote on matters involving disciplinary actions against a coach or board member. Board members only shall vote on this action only.

 4) Parent Reps should be someone who is willing to help out in club matters and events.

 5) They should be willing to represent and report on the teams interest over their own or their child’s.

 6) They should be an Internet user. This will ensure that they receive any club updates sent out by the club Secretary.

 7) Any updates should be passed on to the other parents of the team to help keep them informed. Parent Rep Alternates shall   perform any duties of the Parent Rep in the event of their absence.

Returning from Injury

1) This policy is premised on the understanding that it is the sole responsibility of the parents or legal guardian of the player to inform the club of injury or pre-existing condition prior to any participation in practice or games.

2) This policy applies to any player injured during the season, or with a pre-existing condition sufficient to require treatment by a physician, who wishes to return to participation in practices and games.  The following steps must be taken:

3) Inform the coach that treatment was required.

4) Present the teams coach with a note signed from the attending physician or medical group clearing them to participate. The note must also be signed by the player’s parents expressing their agreement so long as the player is under 18 years of age.

5) Any player whose injury lasted longer than the season in which the injury occurred or with a pre-existing condition must do the following:

Must obtain a note from the physician once declared healthy and stating specifically that the player is cleared to participate in competitive soccer. The note must be presented to the coach prior to the 1st practice of the following season or at the following    year’s tryout. The note must also be signed by the player’s parents expressing their agreement so long as the player is under 18  years of age.

6) Players over 18 years of age must follow all the above rules with the exception of requiring the parent’s signature on the physicians note to return.

7) The coach has final authority to remove the player from practice or game field on an emergent basis if they feel the player is at risk as a result of injury or pre-existing condition.