CARLISLE AREA YOUTH SOCCER
A Program of the Carlisle Family YMCA
 
 
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
 
 
MISSION: The purpose of Carlisle Area Youth Soccer is to provide the youth of the Carlisle Area with a comprehensive soccer program designed to help these children develop as individuals and as players and to teach them sufficient soccer skills so that those interested can compete at the interscholastic level and beyond.
         
VISION: To accomplish its mission, the Carlisle Area Youth Soccer Association will operate both recreational and travel soccer programs for as many age groups as possible. Through both the recreational and travel programs, the Association will endeavor to:
 

• Promote physical fitness;
• Teach age appropriate soccer skills and tactics; and
• Encourage the participants to compete at the highest level appropriate within the organization.

 
 
The purpose of this document is to provide a general framework for the operation of the recreational and travel programs in a way that is consistent with the Association’s mission and vision. It is impossible to anticipate every issue that may arise. The Executive Committee of the Association has the authority to resolve issues not addressed in these policies and procedures, using its best judgment, and to change this document as appropriate. The Association encourages parents and coaches to read the Association’s bylaws, which can be found on the YMCA’s website at www.carlislefamilyymca.org, and to read the additional materials regarding youth soccer on that website.
 

Section 1 – Policies and Procedures Applicable to
Recreational and Travel Programs
 
 
A. Health and Safety
 

1. Safety
   • The Association will provide all coaches with first aid kits.

• Annually, the Association will conduct first aid/CPR training, and all head and assistant coaches are strongly encouraged to participate.
• All head coaches must ensure that there is at least one parent or coach having a charged cell phone at every practice and game in which the team participates.
• In hot weather, coaches are required to
  • Stop practice for water breaks at frequent intervals; and
  • Instruct players that they may stop practicing at any time the player wishes to take a water break.

 
 

1. Weather
   • At the beginning of every season, coaches are required to explain the Association’s weather policy to the team parents.
   • In the event of lightning or thunderstorm, coaches are required to follow the guidelines that can be found on the National Weather Services website at www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov.  Excerpts from those guidelines can be on Attachment 1.
   • Coaches should exercise their judgment when deciding whether to cancel practice due to wet fields or rain.

 
 

1. Medical Release Forms

• Coaches are required to obtain signed medical releases from team parents or guardians on forms provided by the Association.
• Medical release forms should be in the possession of coaches and should be kept confidential.
• Under no circumstances, other than for authorization of medical care in an emergency, should coaches use or disclose the information contained in medical releases.
• Medical releases must be destroyed by coaches immediately following the end of the season.

 
 

1. Non-smoking environment

• Practice and game venues are non-smoking environments, and coaches are required to explain this policy to team parents at the beginning of each season.

 

B. Non-discrimination; Harassment
 

1. Coaches are prohibited from discriminating against or harassing players because of race, religion, sex, or ethnicity.

 

1. Coaches are prohibited from making sexual advances to players, displaying sexually explicit tattoos, using sexually explicit language during practices or games or engaging in any conduct during games or practices that could reasonably be considered sexually offensive.

 

1. Coaches are not permitted to be alone with any player other than the coach’s child, except in extraordinary circumstances.

 

1. Except in extraordinary circumstances, coaches should not give rides to any player other than the coach’s child, and coaches are required to explain this policy to team parents at the beginning of every season.

 

1. Coaches are expected to establish an atmosphere at practice and games that discourages team members and parents from engaging in verbal or physical harassment, abuse or bullying of team members or opponents.

 

1. To ensure that coaches do not have a history of abuse, coaches are required to cooperate with background and criminal record checks that the Association or, in the case of travel team coaches, CPYSL may require.

 
 
C. Conduct
 
1. Coaches and parents are required to sign and abide by the Association’s code of conduct, attached to these policies and procedures as Attachments 2 and 3.  A failure to abide by the code of conduct may result in discipline, up to and including exclusion from the recreational and travel programs.
 
2. Coaches are required to set examples of good sportsmanship, respect for referees and respect for opponents.
 
3. Coaches must use their best efforts to ensure appropriate conduct by team parents and players during practices and games, and they are expected to explain this policy to parents and players at the beginning of each season.
 
4. Consistent with principles of good sportsmanship, coaches are encouraged to follow the guidelines for high-scoring games attached to these policies and procedures as Attachment 4.
 

D. Discipline
 
1. Coaches may use short time-outs to discipline team members but may not suspend team members or remove them from rosters. Coaches should consult with the Association’s Executive Committee regarding serious disciplinary matters.
 
2. The Executive Committee has the authority to remove a coach for significant violations of these policies and procedures or for conduct that affects the reputation of the YMCA, the Association or the coach’s ability to be effective. Except in extreme circumstances that justify immediate removal, the Executive Committee will meet with a coach to discuss and attempt a resolution of policy deviations prior to removal.
 
 
E. Communications with the Executive Committee
 
       Parents and coaches are encouraged to communicate with each other regarding playing time, coaching, practice structure and attendance, fan and player conduct and similar issues. If parents and coaches are unable to resolve disputes, they are encouraged to communicate with the Association’s Executive Committee, either in writing to the Soccer Program Supervisor of the YMCA or by email to jgondwe@carlislefamilyymca.org.  Written and emailed communications will be delivered to the Executive Committee for a response. Parents and coaches may also meet with the Executive Committee at one of its regularly scheduled meetings.
 

Section 2 – Policies and Procedures Applicable to the
Recreational Program
 
 
A. Goals of the Recreational Program
 
1. To provide playing opportunities for youth who are too young, do not choose or are unable to play in the travel program.
 
2. To teach fundamental soccer skills in a nurturing, fun environment.
 
 
B. Playing Time
 
1. Each player is entitled to play at least half of every game.
 
2. Coaches must consult with the Executive Committee before deciding to reduce a team member’s playing time to less than half the game.
 
3. Coaches should strive for equal playing time for all team members.
 
 
C. Drafting
 
It is the Association’s goal to make the teams in each age group as equal as
possible and to prevent any single team from having a significant competitive advantage.  To accomplish this goal, the Association will conduct a draft in accordance with the following:

• Players will be evaluated in an hour-long evaluation managed by the Association and volunteer evaluators;
• Evaluators will assign A, B or C grades to a variety of skill categories for each player (A being the best);
• Following the evaluation, coaches and the Soccer Program Supervisor will meet at the YMCA and, on the basis of the evaluations, will assign an A, B or C to each player;
• Player names will be placed in the appropriate A, B or C basket, and coaches will randomly select their team members from the baskets. It is the Association’s goal that each team has the same number of A, B and C players.
• It is not the Association’s goal to keep any recreational team intact from one season to the next, and the drafting process will not be used for that reason;
• The Soccer Program Supervisor and the Executive Committee have the authority to reject any request that a player be placed with a particular coach, and it is the Association’s policy not to honor such requests except in unusual circumstances.

 
 
 
D. Rules
 
The rules for recreational play are attached to these Policies and Procedures as Attachment 5.
 
 
E. Coaching Standards and Expectations
 
1. Recreational soccer is intended to provide beginning coaches, as well as beginning players, with opportunities to learn the game of soccer. Consequently, the Association encourages adults who do not have soccer experience, but who have a desire to learn, to become involved in the beginning age group levels of recreational soccer.
 
2. The Soccer Program Supervisor will assist coaches throughout the season by request, although may not be available to attend practices due to training schedule.  Coaches are encouraged to reach out to the SP Supervisor as much as needed.
 

Section 3 – Policies and Procedures Applicable to the
Travel Program
 
 
A. Goals
 
1. To field as many teams as practical, for play at the highest possible competitive levels in the Central Pennsylvania Youth Soccer League.
 
2. To prepare youth for interscholastic play by:

• Using knowledgeable coaches and providing periodic training opportunities to the coaches;
• Ensuring that the players are learning a high level of skills; and
• Involving high school coaches in the program.

 
 
B. Tryouts and Team Selection
 
1. Tryouts and team selection will be organized and managed by YMCA staff, with the support of the Association’s Executive Committee.
 
2. Tryouts for the upcoming fall and spring seasons will be conducted during May. If vacancies arise after the fall season, the Executive Committee, after consulting a team’s coach, may conduct tryouts for players who want to join a travel team roster for the spring season.
 
3. The Executive Committee will decide, based on pre-season signups, the age groups for which tryouts will be held.
 
4. The tryout for each age group will be based on the following procedures:

• The Executive Committee will establish the dates and times for the tryouts, which will last 1-1.5 hours for each age group.
• The Program Supervisor will coordinate the drills and games for the tryouts with input from the Executive Committee.  Evaluators are required to give clear instructions for each drill or game.
• Volunteer evaluators selected by the Program Supervisor will evaluate each participant using a scoring system developed by the Executive Committee. The Program Supervisor will select the evaluators based on coaching and/or playing experience and knowledge of the game.
• Coaches will not serve as evaluators for their own age groups.
• Each participant is strongly encouraged to attend all tryout sessions.
• Tryouts will not be held open for players who are unable to attend the scheduled tryouts, except in extraordinary circumstances as determined by the Executive Committee.

 
5. The Executive Committee will select the travel teams in June, in accordance with the following procedure:

• The Program Supervisor will collate the evaluators’ scores.
• Team selection will be based primarily on the collated scores and, in the Executive Committee’s discretion, on the input of the team’s past and present coaches.
• Roster sizes will not exceed the limits imposed by CPYSL.  Other factors used in determining roster sizes include the coach’s preference, playing time and maximizing participation.

 
6. Subject to CPYSL’s maximum age limitations, players may try out for the team of their choice, subject to Executive Committee approval.
 
7. If a player chooses to try out for more than one team, he or she must attend the tryout sessions for both teams. Except in unusual circumstances, however, the Executive Committee will only permit a player to be rostered on one team.
 
8. After being selected for and rostering with a travel team for a fall season, a player is entitled to remain on the team’s roster for the next spring season. However, coaches are not permitted to ensure any player that he or she will be selected for a fall roster.
 
9. Because the Association makes “cuts,” accepting a roster spot on a traveling team constitutes a commitment by that player and the player’s parents to regular attendance at the team’s practices and games.
 
10. The Association’s Registrar, an employee of the YMCA, will be responsible for enrollment of teams in the CPYSL.
 
 
C. Coaches
 
1. Coaches are strongly encouraged to develop their soccer knowledge by attending the semi-annual coaches’ meetings, attending the team session of the YMCA sponsored summer soccer camp and inviting those high school coaches who have volunteered their assistance to participate in team practices.
 
2. The Association may reimburse fees for approved coaching license courses.
 
3. Coaches are required to comply with the Coaches Guidelines published by the CPYSL on www.cpysl.net.  Coaches are expected to present complaints to CPYSL through the YMCA staff.
 
4. The Association Registrar will inform coaches of upcoming training events.

D. Affiliation with CPYSL
 
1. The travel program will be affiliated with CPYSL.
 
2. Coaches, team parents, players and the Executive Committee will comply with the policies, rules and regulations of CPYSL, and the Association Registrar will manage compliance.
 
 
E. Out of Season Sessions and Tournaments
 
1. Participation in out of season sessions and tournaments is at the discretion of the team coach; however, coaches are strongly encouraged to enroll their teams in at least one tournament each fall and spring season.
 
2. Coaches who enroll their teams in winter indoor sessions are required to invite all members of the current roster to participate in the sessions, unless an exception to this policy is approved by the Executive Committee for highly competitive indoor tournaments.
 
3. Teams will bear the cost of tournament patches.
 
 
F. Playing Time
 
The goal of the travel program is to foster a higher quality of soccer play for players (and parents) willing to commit to a more dedicated practice schedule, intense training session, and higher level within a competitive environment. Travel team players will receive appropriate playing time (in the coaches’ judgment) throughout the season based on skill, attitude, improvement, practice ethic, and ability in game situations.  Coaches have full support from the Executive Committee when determining suitable playing time for each child. Travel coaches are encouraged to communicate their expectations to the players and parents prior to the beginning of the season.