Empire Soccer Club

 

Issued 11/9/2011

 

1.1.1.        The Recreational program usually begins in mid to late August with practices prior to the first game in September. There may also be a Spring Recreational program running during February to May.

1.1.2.        The last game of the season is usually on the weekend prior to Thanksgiving.

1.1.3.        The League will provide playing rules for each Division.

1.2.1.        The following playing format will be used in each Division:

·           Division U 11 to U18: 11 vs 11 with a Goal Keeper

·           Division U10:  9 vs 9 including a Goal Keeper

·           Division U8:  8 vs 8 including a Goal Keeper

            Divisions U7:  7 vs 7 including Goal Keeper

·           Division U6:  4 vs 4 No Goal Keeper

·           Division Pee Wee:  4 vs 4 No Goal Keeper

1.3.1.        To provide the proper teaching environment and maximize playing time, the maximum number of players per team will be as follows:

·           Division U11 – U18 – up to 18 players

·           Division U10 – up to 11 players

·           Division U8 – up to 10 players

            Division U7– up to 10 players

·           Division U6 – up to 7 players

1.3.2.        Everybody Plays – Minimum Playing times for each player by Division are as follows:

·           Division U11 – U18 – at least 3 quarters

·           Division U10 – at least 3 quarters

·           Division U8 – at least 3 quarters

·           Division U6 – at least 2 quarters

·           Division Pee Wee – at least 2 quarters

1.3.3.        The League Coordinator will assign a coach to each team. Placement of the players will be done with every effort to distribute the players according to fairness of play in an attempt to balance the teams.

1.3.4.        All player trades are the responsibility of the Division Coordinator. After players are assigned to teams and notified, trades can only occur with the agreement of the two players involved, both Coaches and the Division Coordinator.

1.4.1.        To be a coach, one needs to have the required coaching license and pass risk management as determined by the League. 

1.4.2.        Coaches are required to attend an orientation session sometime in Spring or Fall prior the start of the season

1.4.3.        Coaches are not to hold practices before the approved start date.

1.4.4.        Each coach is responsible for developing his/her safety plan for the team.

 

1.5.1.        The Team Parent plays a vital role in the running of the team. Each Team Parent will attend a team parent meeting prior to the start of league play.

1.6.1.        It is the intention of the League to use best efforts to field enough teams for all registered children to have an opportunity to play soccer; however, in the event that more players register than can be accommodated by teams formed, a wait list will be developed for each Division. As players quit or move out of the Division, players from the wait list are moved into the appropriate teams following the order of registration and as determined by the Division Coordinator. The only time that the order of registration may not be followed in moving players out of the wait list is if the parent of that child is willing to coach and the team needs a coach.

1.7.1.        The Recreational Program Coordinator will develop and maintain the master schedule for all the teams’ practices. The practice slots will be provided to each Division Coordinator who in turn assigns it to the teams in coordination with the coaches.

1.7.2.        Coaches cannot switch practice time and venue without permission from the Recreational Program Coordinator.

1.7.3.        Each team is provided with one practice session per week for U5 and U6 and two 1 hour practice session for all others. 

1.7.4.        If a coach desires additional practice sessions for, a request must be made to the Recreational Program Coordinator. Such request will only be granted if space is available, and will be processed on a first-come first-serve basis.

1.7.6.        Players will not be allowed to miss practices and only play at the games. If a player misses practices on a regular basis, that player’s playing time will be reduced by the Coach without penalty and if the absenteeism continues may be dropped from the team. The League does not accept requests for practice times from any player. Practice times will be scheduled between 3:30 PM and 9:30 PM on a weekdays.

1.7.7.        Team Parents and Coaches are responsible to ensure that all players are picked up after practice and should stay with them until that happens.

1.7.8.        Dogs are not allowed at practices. The only exceptions to this rule are guide dogs and/or “Canine Companion”.

1.7.9.        Players should not go unaccompanied to the restroom.

1.8.1.        Each coach will be provided with an equipment bag containing materials to support the training sessions.

1.8.2.        The coach is responsible for the bag.

1.8.3.        Each player will be provided with a team jersey, shorts and socks. Each player is required to wear the uniform at the games. During games, at a minimum, each player is required to wear the provided jersey and must  wear shoes, socks, shin guards, and shorts. Socks must be worn completely over the shin guards at all times. Shirts must be worn tucked inside the shorts.

1.8.4.        Players are not allowed to wear jewelry of any kind, including watches. Studs may not be taped or covered with a “Band-aid”. The only exception to this rule is a Medical Bracelet or Medical Necklace.

1.8.5.        Players are not allowed to wear casts, unless they are padded. Exposed splints or braces with metal or plastic shunts may not be worn unless padded and approved by the officiating referee. Doctor’s permission does not constitute a valid reason for exception to this rule. The Referee’s decision is final.

1.8.6.        Players are not allowed to wear hair ornaments or holders that, in the opinion of the referee, can present a danger to the player or his/her opponents.

1.8.7.        The referee’s decision is final concerning issues of field and equipment safety.

1.9.1.        The majority of the games will take place on Saturdays. The remaining games will take place on Friday evenings and on Sundays when rain or other circumstances necessitate.

1.9.2.        The schedule for all the games will be developed taking into account that some coaches train more than one team. Every attempt will be made to avoid conflicts for coaches with multiple teams.

1.9.3.        The League does not guarantee game times for any player. Game times can occur anytime between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays and 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM on Fridays.

1.9.4.        If a team is short of players to play a given game, every attempt will be made by the coaches to share players, or utilize other players registered with the Recreational program of the League in the same Division to allow a game to take place.

1.9.5.        All substitutes, coaches, parents, and other spectators, must remain off the field and in the area designated by the referee at all times. No one is to be in the vicinity of the goal area or goal line. Coaches and/or players and/or Parents are not to enter the field unless authorized by the referee, including in situations where assistance to an injured player is required.

1.9.6.        Dogs are not allowed at practices. The only exceptions to this rule are guide dogs and/or “Canine Companion”.

1.9.7.        The coaches must have in their possession the players’ medical release forms at all the games.

1.9.8.        Coaches and players must arrive at the field of play at least 15 minutes before the game is scheduled to start.

1.10.1.      The League will attempt to provide a referee for each Recreational game U8 Division and above.

1.10.2.      If the referee is absent, the coaches are responsible for either refereeing the game or appointing someone in attendance to do so.

1.11.1.      The League will encourage and facilitate the participation of Recreational Program teams in local tournaments that are sanctioned by CalSouth.

1.11.2.      The teams will be responsible for all costs associated with such participation.

1.11.3.      Any group of players from the recreational program cannot use the name of, or the uniforms from, the Empire Soccer Club unless a CalSouth approved and licensed coach from the Recreational League is coaching the team. Any Empire Soccer Club recreational team or group of players must only enter CalSouth sanctioned tournaments.

 

2.1.1.        Registration will take place in the spring and summer for the fall season and in the fall and winter for the spring season.

2.1.2.        The League will announce the registration dates on the League website, in a notice mailed to all the League members from the previous year and in flyers sent to all the community schools that allow such flyers to be distributed.

2.1.3.        The Executive Board will set the registration fee.

2.1.4.        All new players are required to submit proof of age in the form of an original birth certificate or other forms approved by CalSouth (Check with Registrar for other CalSouth accepted proof of age documents) with the registration form. All players registering in Divisions U11-U18 must include a picture with the registration form.

2.1.5.        The order of Registration will be recorded to resolve any limitations in the number of players that can play in each Division.

2.1.6.        The League does not guarantee any practice times or team placement.

2.1.7.        Special requests to move up a Division may be submitted in writing each season for that upcoming season. The Recreational Program Coordinator will make the final decision on all requests to move up a Division.

2.1.8.        Volunteer forms for coaches, assistant coaches, team parents and sponsors will be collected as part of and at the same time as Player registration.

2.1.9.        The Division age limits are based on your age at July 31^st of that year.

2.1.10.      No Player Cards shall be issued to players until registered with the League, proof of age is confirmed and all fees are current.

2.1.11.      Cancellation Policy – Recreational Players

·         Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to the League Registrar, Miros Cerda.

 

·         Cancellation requests submitted on the final day of registration or prior to this day receive 90% of the League registration fee. Within the first 7 days after final registration - 50% of the League registration fee.  After 8 days succeeding final registration - No refund (unless there is a player on the waitlist, if so, after the waitlisted player pays the registration fee and the departing player returns all equipment provided by the League, the refund will be 50% of the league registration fee).

·         Exceptions to the rules above for Recreational players [DEFINITION: REC SEASON begins on the date of the team’s first practice and ends on the date of the last game.]: If a player suffers a properly documented season-ending injury, a refund will be provided after a prorated amount from the REC SEASON is calculated based on the date of the injury. If the League removes a player from the Program, a refund will be provided after a prorated amount from the REC SEASON is calculated based on the date of decision.

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·           No scholarships shall be awarded for team fees; only for League fees.

·           No coach shall promise a scholarship or any monetary incentives to any prospective player without the Board’s approval. 

·           Requests for scholarships must be submitted in writing no later than July 15^th accompanied by the applicant’s 1040 Tax form from the previous year. 

·           The Executive Board shall approve all scholarship awards through recommendation of the Recreational Program Director within the monetary limits of the budget. The Executive Board shall hold all scholarship awards confidential.

 

1.2.1.        The individual teams pay all tournament entry fees.

1.2.2.        Payment of coaching fees is as determined in the coaches’ contract.

1.2.3.        Individual teams are responsible for the cost of a hotel room for the coach when the team attends a tournament that is more than 75 miles and it is reasonably necessary that the coach stay overnight.