In-Season Player Movement Policy
To All Coaches, Parents and Players (Recreational and Travel)
The intent of the policy is to formally define and communicate a policy which addresses in-season player movement requests. This is for movement within programs (Rec team 1 to Rec team 2 or Travel team 1 to Travel team 2) or between the Travel and Recreational soccer programs. Upon agreement by both programs (Travel and Recreation) and the EFSC Main Board, all future in-season requests will need to follow this policy.
One goal of EFSC is to advance our players and provide them with a good experience. Having said that, in-season moves, if not handled properly, can create roster problems for teams. The goal of this policy is to address roster viability which has not been a consideration in the past when coaches, players or parents have requested a player move. In-season player transfer requests can and should be accommodated if, the timeframe of the request is proper (to be discussed later) and the player movement would not cause a roster viability issue.
Effective starting the Fall 2022/Spring 2023 season, a player cannot move between teams (rec to travel, travel to rec, rec to rec or travel to travel) once that player has registered and been placed on a roster. In season, as defined by this policy, corresponds to when a player has been placed on a roster. It is not determined by when the season starts (first practice or game). All players that desire to transfer from Rec to Travel are notified of travel tryouts during the spring season. Should a player register for one program but later decide to switch to the other program, that change will not be approved for the fall season once that player has been placed on a roster.
For Recreational soccer only – EFSC does its best to accommodate parent requests for practice nights, etc. at the time of player placement on a team, Such requests cannot always be accommodated. Prior to the start of the fall season, a parent can request an accommodation, but it will be done at the discretion of the Division Leader / IPC Leads (IPD and/or LDT). Once the first practice or game has occurred, player movement requests will not be considered until the winter recess.
As some players register to only play spring soccer, the club will consider requests for in-season player movement prior to start of the spring season so long as these requests are properly communicated within the timeline as defined by this policy. During the winter recess, after last game played (typically mid-November) and February 28th of the following year, coaches, parents, or players may submit player movement requests. Any request received after February 28th will not be accommodated for the upcoming spring season. This timeline provides all parties involved ample time to consider a player movement request. It allows the Intramural Registrar and IPC Leads to determine if the request can be accommodated, either given the existing roster size or by backfilling open roster slots with new registrants from the waiting list.
Reasons permitted to request an in-season team transfer:
- Player wants to move from Rec to Travel soccer
- Player wants to move from Travel to Rec soccer
- Player wants to move from Co-Ed to Girls Only
- Player wants to move from Girls Only to Co-Ed
- Parent/Player has an accommodation issue which could cause a conflict with practice night
- Parent/Player has an issue with coach or player on current team that requires the player change teams
- Any reason not listed must be reviewed by the IPC and/or TPC
Reason that in-season requests will not be accommodated:
- Request has been made outside of the in-season player movement window
- Request was made within the in-season player movement window but accommodating the move would create a roster viability issue
- Player wants to play with his/her friend who is on another team
Process to request in-season movement:
To request an in-season player move, a coach, parent, or player must first formally notify the relevant program Registrar via email and submit a player movement request form. Email/Request form details can be found on www.efsc.net Upon receipt of an in-season player movement request, the relevant program Registrar will notify the Director and Division Leader (if appropriate) within their respective program. The relevant program Registrar will also notify corresponding program Registrar should the request be made to move between the intramural and travel programs.
The appropriate individual(s) will assess the request. The request will be approved if it is submitted with the in-season player movement window and if it can be accommodated without creating a roster issue. Should a request not be approved, it is the responsibility of the individual or group not approving the request to notify all parties concerned and provide an explanation for why the request was not approved/accommodated.
Please address any questions regarding the in-season player movement policy to the Registrar for the program to which the player is currently registered.
Player Movement Request Form Please Click Here