Travel Program Rules and Guidelines

Program Objectives:

• To instill the essential elements of sportsmanship among the players, coaches, and parents.
• To teach the techniques and rules of soccer.
• To provide physical conditioning.
• To provide an enjoyable and educational athletic activity for all participants. We want to improve and develop all the players on our roster.
• To provide a higher level of competition for the more skilled members of EFSC and to provide the opportunity to compete in tournaments.

Program Committee:

The travel program committee (TPC) shall consist of the Travel Program Director (TPD), the Secretary, Treasurer, two coaches, and the President or Vice President or Treasurer of the EFSC.

Budget:

The Travel Program Committee shall propose a budget annually which shall be approved by the EFSC Board of Directors.

Official Rules:

F.I.F.A. "Laws of the Game", with modifications under rules and regulations in the East Hudson Youth Soccer League’s "Constitution and By-laws".

Equipment:

Proper soccer attire is required, consisting of uniform shirt and shorts, socks, shin guards and footwear. These shall not be provided by EFSC and are the responsibility of the player. The TPC may approve a change in the uniforms worn by its travel players after it has:

• Solicited bids from no less than 2 vendors including several prices and styles
• Notified all travel coaches when the presentation of this material will take place.
• Taken an informal vote of the coaches in attendance at this meeting as to their uniform preference.

• Every travel player regardless of age or gender will wear the same uniform unless an exception has been granted by the TPC PRIOR to purchasing the uniforms.
• The primary colors of the EFSC travel program will be Royal Blue with White.
• Alternate shirts do not have to be identical for each team and may be purchased on a team by team basis.

Travel Coach Selection:

A travel coach selection committee shall be formed by the TPD presenting a list of five (5) names to the EFSC president. The EFSC president may approve the list or change up to two (2) of the names.

The secretary shall advertise all coaching positions two weeks prior to the March 15 deadline for submission of coaching applications. Advertising shall be on the club web site and in local media. Coaching application forms shall be available through the Intramural Program Director (IPD) and the Travel Program Director (TPD) upon request. Preference shall be given to the incumbent coach, unless a coaching change promises significant benefits for the players. If no application for coaching of a particular team has been filed with the selection committee by May 1st, a team try-out will be held with the TPD or his appointee serving in place of the coach on the player selection committee.

Considerations in Coach Selection:

Previous playing and/or coaching experience, education (license, etc.), records of teams coached, player parent recommendations, stability (resignations, dismissals, etc.), character (honesty, ethics, morals, sportsmanship, etc.), availability (time, geographic location, etc.).

Appointment Notification:

The TPD shall notify in writing within one (1) week following a decision by the selection committee as to appointment or rejection of all applicants. All coaches selected shall abide by the rules and regulations of the EFSC.

Travel Coach Resignation:

In the event that a coach resigns, an acting coach shall be appointed by the TPD. The Travel Program Committee (TPC) must approve the reinstatement, or permanent replacement of a coach.

Dismissals:

When any coach, player, or parent is found to be in violation of the rules, regulations, or by-laws of EFSC, or commits any major misconduct detrimental to the coaches, players, or EFSC, they are subject to suspension or dismissal from EFSC. Flagrant violations may result in immediate suspension by the TPD, pending a decision by the TPC. TPC decision is final pending any appeal in writing within seven (7) days to the EFSC board of directors. Attempts by parents or players of a particular team to remove the team coach must be made in writing and shall be presented at the TPC hearing where the coach may defend himself.

Any coach wishing to dismiss any player must bring the complaint to the TPC. The TPC will investigate the situation and make a final decision. A coach may dismiss no player during the season due to player performance. Any coach, player, or parent not in good standing financially with either intramural or travel programs is subject to suspension or dismissal from the EFSC and will not be re-registered by either program until they are in good standing with EFSC.

Team Dismissal:

Any team whose roster of active players falls 2 players below the age appropriate field player limit will be reviewed by the TPC. Any team not fulfilling its work obligations, committee participation, or financial commitments is subject to non-participation fees, suspension, or dismissal from the EFSC Travel Program. Any unused treasury or property shall remain the property of the travel program of the EFSC (see Team Funds below for special circumstances).

Poaching:

Any coach found guilty of enticing a player registered with another club, within or outside our league, to register with his team shall be dismissed from the EFSC.

Player Selection:

Try-outs for all teams shall conform to the following:

Try-outs are open to all interested players within their proper age group and in accordance with regulations regarding residency of candidates. Date and places for try-outs shall be published at least two (2) weeks in advance. Initial roster try-outs shall be held in May and/or June to meet EHYSL registration deadlines. Public notification of try-outs shall be via club web site and other local media. The TPC is responsible for the publication of try-out dates. There shall be a minimum of four (4) try-out dates. In order to be considered all players must attend at least one try-out or file an "intent to try-out" in writing at least 24 hours prior to the final try-out date with the TPD. Hardships will be considered individually by the TPC.

Player selection committee for each team shall consist of a minimum of the coach, or coaches. In the case of a new team, or a new coach a representative or representatives will be named by the TPD. Committee people (other than the coach or coaches) shall not have a child that is a candidate for that team.

Considerations for Selecting Players:

Standard forms to will be handed out to all selection committees to be filled out listing each candidate’s name, phone number, attendance record, and scores. Every attempt will be made to place acceptable candidates on a team as close to their skill level as possible. Each coach will submit a list of the players who made his or her team, along with a list of those who did not, to the TPD.

Though no half-game rule exists, travel team coaches have a moral obligation to play each player a reasonable amount of time over the course of the entire season.

Residency of Candidates:

• "Home grown" is defines as any player having played one full year or more in the EFSC intramural program.
• "Greater East Fishkill resident" is defined as any player residing in East Fishkill itself, and the towns directly on its borders being Kent, Beekman, Pawling, Philipstown, LaGrange, Fishkill, and Wappingers Falls.
• "Out of town" players are those who are neither greater East Fishkill residents nor home grown players.

If any team is currently over it’s quota of out-of-towners, by the formula, it will not be required to release any players. However, it may not add any new players who are not "greater East Fishkill residents", or "home grown players". Players who have played for our club for a period of one year or more (either travel or intramural) shall not be considered out-of-towners if their family moves out of the greater EF area.

Player Notification:

Team rosters shall be filed with the TPD by June 15th. Team coaches will have the responsibility of notifying all participants as to selection or rejection by July 1st.

Player Registration:

Registration of all players in EFSC is to be handled by the registrar.

Player Responsibility:

The coach is responsible for explaining player, parent, coach and club responsibilities to all travel team players and parents.

Player Resignation:

Any player dropping from any travel team after being registered with the EHYSL must fill out a drop form and shall receive no refund of registration fees. If he desires, his name will be given to the EFSC registrar to be put on a waiting list to fill intramural vacancies.

Vacancies:

In anticipation of filling vacancies, a waiting list of alternate players will be kept by the TPD and a copy sent to the IPD. The list consists of the next five candidates not selected during the initial try-outs. If the travel team roster drops below the registered number of players during the playing season, the coach may draw from the alternate player list to fill the vacancy. If the alternate player list becomes depleted, then special try-outs may be held at the direction of the TPD.

Any coach desiring to add players after the initial team selection and registration (during winter break between the fall and spring seasons), shall submit his request in writing to the TPD, stating the number of players desired and the names of any candidates not on the alternate player list. The IPC shall be notified and all coaches urged to send any interested players to a special try-out. The selection committee for special try-outs shall be persons involved with the initial try-out and also the IPD and TPD.

Age Groupings:

All teams shall be formed of a single year of birth whenever possible. Where this is not practical, the age groupings shall be determined by the TPC. If no team exists for any given age group, a player may try out for the next older team.

Any team having less than 13 candidates at initial try-outs will be reviewed by the TPC as to the feasibility of forming that team. Teams shall be registered in the proper age category in the EHYSL, unless registered elsewhere by the TPC.

It is the philosophy of the travel program that the greatest number of players shall be best served by playing on age appropriate teams. It is also recognized that exceptions may be appropriate in specific cases. A player may petition the TPC to play up with a written request from the player's parents. Exceptions may be granted by the TPC on a case by case basis taking into account the following guidelines:

1. The skill level of the player. This shall be determined by soliciting the opinion of the age appropriate coach, the coach of the older team, and in any other manner which the TPC deems necessary, including a tryout before coaches designated by the TPC.
2. The emotional and physical maturity of the player.
3. The impact on the age appropriate team if the player is granted permission to play on the older team. The opinion of the age appropriate coach will be solicited by the TPC.
4. The impact on the older team, including whether or not age appropriate active players will be cut from the team due to the younger player being allowed to play on the older team. This consideration shall be of less importance on any team which is U15 and older.
5. Whether the player has previously played in the East Fishkill Soccer Club Travel Program or the player is a new player to the program.
6. Any other consideration the TPC deems relevant to the fair determination of the application.

Borrowing Players:

If a team is short players for a tournament, they may borrow players from other EFSC travel teams with the permission of the TPD. This must not impact the other team’s participation in any tournaments they may enter themselves. The choice of player must be agreed upon by both coaches involved.

All new players selected for next year for existing teams, cannot play prior to September 1st unless the current active roster of available players falls below 14 players. With the permission of the TPD, players may be added to bring the roster to 14 players.

Team Policy:

Teams may implement non-participation fees for players whose parents cannot or will not provide assistance to the team in other ways. Fundraising in the name of an individual team may be granted by the TPC.

Team Meetings:

At least two times during the course of the year the coach shall provide the parents with a copy of the latest report of the team’s finances that shall be made available by the team treasurer.

Team Funds:

The team parents shall approve any team expenditures that are greater than $50.00. There shall be no reimbursement unless the expenditure was approved ahead of time and a copy of the bill is submitted to the travel team treasurer. Team funds shall be used strictly for the benefit of the team players and may not be used to defray the expenses of the parents.

Travel program gym time charges are to be allocated according to an equal charge against all travel team accounts in a given year.

All profits from the Memorial Day Tournament remain with the team that participated in the tournament with the following exceptions:

• If a player from a team that is dismissed or disbands joins another team in the EFSC travel program, that players fraction of the remaining treasury (including team tournament profits) follows the player to the new team.
• If a new travel team is formed that contains players from an existing team, the players fraction of the Memorial Day Tournament profits from the previous year will follow the player to the new team.

All Memorial Day Tournament Journal advertisements remain with the team the player was on when playing in the tournament. The one exception to this rule is if the advertisement is from a "family" business. In that case the advertisement will follow the player to any team they play on in the EFSC travel program.

All Memorial Day Tournament Journal advertisement profits remain with the team the player was on when playing in the tournament.

Exceptions:

The TPC may be petitioned to grant exceptions to the rules in this document. The TPC has the option of approving the request, denying the request, or requiring that the request be treated as an "amendment" to the travel rules and guidelines.

Amendments:

The travel program rules and guidelines may be amended by a vote of two thirds of the registered travel coaches.