Travel Rules & Guidelines

East Fishkill Soccer Club

Travel Rules (Revised June 2006)

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, Register, two coaches, and the President or Vice President or Treasurer of the EFSC.  Travel program directors vote only in case of a tie.

The TPD, Secretary, Treasurer, and Registrar will all have 2 year terms of office.  Coaches representatives will be elected annually.

Budget:

The treasurer shall propose a budget to the TPC annually in June.  The Travel Program Committee shall review the budget and forward it to the EFSC Board of Directors for approval.

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 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

Uniform selection must comply with the following:

• Every travel player regardless of age or gender will wear the same uniform unless an exception has been granted by the TPC PRIOR to the purchase of the uniforms
• The primary colors of the EFSC travel program will be Royal Blue with White
• Alternate shirts shall be white with blue numbers

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 15th 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.  Preferences shall be given to the incumbent coach, unless a coaching change promises significant benefits for the players.  If no application for coaching a particular team has been filed with the selection committee by May 1st, a team tryout will be held with the TPD or his appointee serving in place of the coach on the player selection committee.

Consideration 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.  Notifications will be sent by the secretary no later than March 30.  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 to 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 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 one (1) player above the age appropriate 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, suspensions, or dismissal from 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 EFSC.

Player Selection:

Tryouts for all teams shall conform to the following:

Tryouts are open to all interested players within their proper age group and in accordance with regulations regarding residency of candidates.  Date and places of tryouts shall be published by May 10th.  Initial roster tryouts shall be held in May and/or June to meet EHYSL registration deadlines.  Public notification of tryouts shall be via club website and other local media.  The TPC secretary is responsible for the publication of tryout dates.  There shall be a minimum of four (4) tryout dates.  In order to be considered all players must attend at least one (1) tryout or file an “intent to tryout” in writing at least 24 hours prior to the final tryout 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.

Consideration for Selecting Players:

Attendance sheets are to be filled out listing each candidate’s name, phone number, and attendance record.  Every attempt will be made to place acceptable candidates on a team as close to their skill level as possible.  Each coach will submit the attendance record and a list of players who made his or her team 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 defined as any player who is a resident of East Fishkill
• “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, Phillipstown, LaGrange, Fishkill, and Wappingers Falls.
• “Out of Town” players are those who are neither greater East Fishkill residents nor home grown players. 
• The maximum number of “out of town” players on a team cannot exceed the limits in the table below without the express permission of the TPC:

U8: Zero	U12: Three	U16: Unlimited
U9: Zero	U13: Four	U17: Unlimited
U10: Zero	U14: Five	U18: Unlimited
U11: Two	U15: Six	U19: Unlimited

If any team is currently over its quota of out of town players 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 town players if their family moves out of the greater East Fishkill area.  For players of equivalent skill, preference will be given to “home grown” players.

Player Notification:

Team rosters shall be filed with the TPD by June 11th.  Team coaches will have the responsibility of notifying all participants as to selection or rejection prior to roster submittal.

Player Registration:

Registration of all players in EFSC is to be handled by the registrar.  A minimum roster of 2 players over the minimum age appropriate player limit is required to register without prior approval of the TPC

Vacancies:

In anticipation of filling vacancies, a waiting list of alternate players from tryouts 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 tryouts.

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 tryouts 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.  The player must have played or attended a tryout with the age appropriate team.
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 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
7. A request to play up should be filed with the TPC by May 15th to allow proper player evaluation.  TPC appointed coach representatives will assess the player at one or more tryouts.

Once a player is granted permission to “play up” by the TPC, he or she may remain on the team as long as they continue to make the team through the tryout process in future seasons.  This exemption does not apply to players (U-13 and younger) who will be evaluated each year.

Borrowing Players:

If a team is short players for a tournament, they may borrow players from other teams as outlined in the East Hudson Youth Soccer League rules distributed to each coach at the beginning of the season.

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 (2) times during the course of the year the coach must meet with the parents and provide a copy of the latest report of the teams finances that shall be made available by the team treasurer.

Team Funds:

The team parents shall approve any team expenditures that are greater than $100.00.  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 and 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.

• 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.

Club Meetings:

Travel coaches meetings will be held monthly.  Travel coaches are expected to attend at least 50% of these meetings.  When a coach is absent a representative must be identified who is empowered t represent the team and vote on any issues that arise. Failure to comply may result in fines or other action by the TPC.

Month	Travel Program Activities Calendar
January
February	Select Coaches Review Committee
March	Spring Practice Field Selection Advertise coaching positions; applications due March 15th Coach notifications March 30th
April	Player Evaluation Committee selected
May	Memorial Day Tournament Tryout schedule published by May 10th Request to play up submitted by May 15th
June	All player registration information to registrar by June 10th Report MDT financial statement
July
August	Fall Practice Field Selection
September	Election of Travel Program Officers Distribution of Team Supplies Start of “fiscal year” – MDT & registration funds credited to team accounts Draft travel budget from the treasurer
October
November	Indoor Gym Practice Time Selection Selection of MDT Director
December	Memorial Day Tournament Team Representative Due Memorial Day Tournament Committee Confirmed

Forms:

All forms necessary for the activities discussed in this document are available on the EFSC (efsc.net) or EHYSL (ehysl.org) websites

Amendments:

The travel program rules and guidelines may be amended by a vote of two thirds (2/3rds) of the registered travel coaches. Previous season coaches represent single season teams in older age groups.