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Travel Team Selection and Registration
Eligibility
Children are eligible to tryout if they are between 8 and 18 years of age and reside in the Town of New Castle or are eligible to go to school in Chappaqua. All youths (and their families) who try out and are selected for Club teams become Club members upon payment of Club dues.
Tryouts
The Club’s Guidelines for Selecting Players and Coaches (a copy of which is included in this Handbook) sets forth the basis for the tryout procedure and selection process. As set forth in these Guidelines, the selection of players for teams is based on a number of factors including ability, aggressiveness, agility, attendance record, attitude, ball handling, “coachability,” commitment, field sense, hustle, physical maturity, potential for improvement, skill, speed, sportsmanship and teamwork. Independent evaluators, as well as coaches familiar with the players, conduct the selection process.
Tryouts are held during the three week period following Memorial Day for teams that will play the following Fall and Spring. Such tryouts are open to all eligible children.
Age Divisions
The WYSL and ENYYSA conform to the age categories established by the United States Youth Soccer Association, which are as follows for Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 seasons:
Under 15 (U-15) Entering 9th Grade in September 2009, born before August 1995 or 8/1/94 to 7/31/95
Under 14 (U-14) Entering 8th Grade in September 2009, born before August 1996 or 8/1/95 to 7/31/96
Under 13 (U-13) Entering 7th Grade in September 2009, born before August 1997 or 8/1/96 to 7/31/97
Under 12 (U-12) Entering 6th Grade in September 2009, born before August 1998 or 8/1/97 to 7/31/98
Under 11 (U-11) Entering 5th Grade in September 2009, born before August 1999 or 8/1/98 to 7/31/99
Under 10 (U-10) Entering 4th Grade in September 2009, born before August 2000 or 8/1/99 to 7/31/00
Although these are the age groups set up by WYSL, the Club’s teams are selected on a “grade appropriate basis” (as long as players are not too old), but players can tryout on an age appropriate basis.
Travel teams play in divisions designated by age and ability. Teams play in divisions of one year increments (i.e. U-10, U-11, etc.). In each age category, the leagues will generally attempt to seed the strongest teams in Division 1, the next strongest in Division 2, and so on. Each permits strong Division 1 teams to play up one year, based upon their record and with board approval. High school-age teams are seeded primarily by ability rather than by age in divisions that may include more than one “soccer year.”
Team Size
Teams playing in U-10 divisions play an 8v8 format, where the maximum roster size permitted by WYSL is 14 players. Teams playing in U-11 divisions play in a 9v9 format where the maximum roster size is 16 players. All Club teams in U-12 and older divisions play in an 11v11 format where the maximum roster size permitted by WYSL is 18 players. The Board recommends and encourages that maximum roster size for these teams be attained, balancing the interests of playing time and safety.
Number of Teams
WYSL rules permit the Club and other member clubs to enter two boys and girls teams for each age category U-12 and older (11v11 play), and three boys and girls teams in the U-10 and U-11 age categories which engage in small-sided play. The Club may apply for permission to enter additional teams. Such application will be subject to satisfaction of certain criteria, including, without limitation, field availability, certified referees and a review of those teams’ competitiveness. It is the policy of the Club and both leagues that the best players be selected for the “A” team, and the next best be selected for the “B” team.
Registration
Registration of each team is effected by the Club. Each player on a Club team is simultaneously registered with the WYSL, as well as ENYYSA and the United States Youth Soccer Association, which registration is evidenced by a picture ID card which is retained by the coach and required to be shown to the referee before each game. Registration fees for each team are paid by the players on the team to the Club, and are forwarded by the Club to the respective league. As part of the registration process, parents must sign a Player Registration Form and a Medical Release Form that includes customary consent for medical treatment and legal disclaimers. By signing these forms, parents agree to abide by the rules of the various organizations, including rules governing player and parental behavior at games. Commencing with the Fall 2005 season, each player and parent is required to review the CYSC Code of Conduct for Coaches and Parents, set forth below, and acknowledge its adoption through execution of an acceptance form. Violations of the Code of Conduct by a player or parent may subject such player or parent to disciplinary action.
Dues and Expenses
Each player on a travel team pays membership dues to the Club-- $185 for the 2009-2010 season. The CYSC sponsors high school age teams for girls and boys in the Spring when these players are not playing interscholastic soccer--with dues being $100 for the 2009-2010 season. Players are also responsible for paying their share of their team’s expenses including tournament entry fees, uniforms, fees for professional trainers and indoor gym time. Financial aid is available from the CYSC in cases where a family might otherwise have difficulty paying for travel team costs. Persons interested in seeking financial aid should visit the CYSC website, www.chappaquasoccer.org, for details.
Club Programs for Players
WYSL Games
Teams play in the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL – wyslsoccer.org). Generally, there is a 10 game season during the fall and a 10 game season during the spring. In some cases teams only play 9 games during a season based on the number of teams in a specific division.
WYSL games are scheduled on Sundays. During the Fall, games are scheduled beginning after Labor Day and ending the Sunday before Thanksgiving (except Columbus Day Weekend), and during the Spring, beginning in early April and continuing through Father’s Day (except Easter Sunday, Memorial Day Weekend, and, sometimes, Passover).
The WYSL coach’s handbook is available on the WYSL website.
Practices
Travel soccer is intended to be a lot of fun, but it is competitive, with an emphasis on each player becoming the best player that he or she can become and each team becoming the best it can become. This requires a significant time commitment from both the players and the coaches. Travel soccer places a greater emphasis on competition than Chappaqua AYSO recreation play.
During the Spring and Fall, teams generally practice two days a week, for ninety (90) minutes per practice. During the Winter most teams practice indoors in gyms or indoor facilities rented by the team or Club and, if determined by the team, participate in indoor leagues or tournaments. Team members are expected to attend these practices regularly. Travel teams also participate from time to time in scrimmages with other teams, either informally as part of a practice or on a more formal basis.
All teams are trained in a program run by the Club’s Director of Coaching and use professional coaches or trainers to assist the parent coaches in teaching soccer skills and, in the case of U-12 and higher to coach at games. All professional coaches and trainers used by CYSC teams must register with, and receive security clearance by the Recreation Department. Such background clearance includes an investigation of any predatory convictions regarding youth.
The Club encourages each Head Coach to consult with the Director of Coaching regarding his or her team’s training requirements and trainers being utilized. This better ensures that those working with CYSC players have the experience and background information required to meet CYSC program goals. Payment agreements are made by each team and are the sole responsibility of the team.
Tournaments
There are tournaments that teams are encouraged to participate in on Labor Day, Columbus Day and Memorial Day. A list of tournaments can be found on the WYSL website. All teams will be informed well in advance to make sure they will have enough players. Most tournaments permit 3 guest players. All teams are encouraged to sign up for tournaments and should attend at least 1 tournament during the school year.
Club teams have played in outdoor tournaments at Beekman (NY), East Fishkill (NY), Iona College (NY), LaGrange (NY), Parsippany (NJ), Poughkeepsie (NY), Somers (NY), SUNY Purchase (NY), Yorktown (NY) and Yonkers (NY), and numerous other locations.
Club teams also participate in indoor tournaments during the Winter. These tournaments are usually one-day tournaments held in college or high school gymnasiums or other indoor athletic facilities. Club teams have participated in indoor tournaments held at the Sports Underdome in Mount Vernon, Rockland Community College (NY), Vassar College (NY), Nassau Community College (NY), the Soccer Coliseum in Teaneck (NJ), and numerous other nearby locations. Tournament registration fees are paid by the team directly to the tournament sponsor.
Coaches expect their players to be available for tournament play. Once a team has registered and been accepted to play in a tournament, the team must attend the tournament, regardless of the circumstances, unless notified that the tournament has been cancelled or postponed.
State Cup Tournament
The New York State Championship (the “State Cup Tournament”) is held each Spring for ENYYSA teams including CYSC teams. Teams in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association region, roughly from Albany south to New York City and east to Long Island, can play throughout the region in major (“Open”) or minor (“Challenge”) divisions in a single elimination tournament. CYSC has entered several teams in the past and hosted several tournament games.
Because of the increasing popularity of soccer and the growth in the number of teams entering the State Cup Tournament, as well as a growing field shortage situation, the tournament organizers schedule the initial rounds of play for the U-11 and U-12 divisions in the Fall. Play for these age groups carries over with the semi-finals and finals in the Spring. Older divisions’ State Cup games are scheduled entirely in the Spring.
WYSL and State ODP Teams
Each summer, WYSL forms league-wide select teams in the U-12, U-13 and U-l4 age categories to play in summer tournaments. Tryouts are held in the Fall, and players selected practice together once or twice a week, in January-June, and then participate in indoor (Winter) and outdoor (Summer) tournaments. WYSL ODP Select players must continue to play on their club teams.
Players from the Club have also tried out for and been selected to participate on the ENYYSA Olympic Development Program (“ODP”) team. Players selected to be on these teams practice together once a week, and participate in ODP summer camps and tournaments. State ODP players must continue to play on their club teams, but cannot play on a WYSL ODP Select Team as those
schedules generally conflict.
WYSL Sportsmanship Awards
WYSL has dedicated itself to not only improving the level of soccer, but also, encouraging play at the highest sportsmanship level. In that regard, at each league game, the referee rates the “sporting conduct” of the players, parents and coaches of each team.
The team in each Division with the highest average sporting conduct points per game will receive patches evidencing Sportsmanship Awards and will be entitled to wear these patches on their uniform jerseys. The sporting scores are posted weekly on the WYSL website.
Silent Sunday
WYSL has introduced the concept of having one game designated as “Silent Sunday”. On Silent Sunday, spectators and coaches have been asked to refrain from shouting directions to their children, and the spirit of the day would be to “just let the kids play.” While it is unclear whether this will be mandated by the respective leagues on a yearly basis, in light of the positive feedback received, CYSC asks all parents and other fans to observe the policies and spirit of Silent Sunday on a regular basis. Recognizing a player’s positive contribution to a team’s effort builds a player’s self-esteem and encourages players to push their skill level. Conversely, public criticism often discourages a player from taking the risks needed to excel.
Minimum Playing Time
The WYSL does not have a rule requiring a minimum playing time. However, the Club has adopted a minimum playing time policy for its teams. For teams playing in Division 2 or below, every child who regularly attends practice will be permitted to play 50% of each subsequent game. For teams playing in Division 1, each player must play at least 25% of the game. Notwithstanding such guidelines, coaches will be free to manage an individual player’s time in accordance with the player’s attendance at practice, skill and the status of the game. The Club further recommends that weaker players should receive significantly greater playing time in one-sided games so that cumulative playing time will be more even over the course of the season.
Club Programs for Coaches
Coach Selection
The Club’s Guidelines for Selecting Players and Coaches (a copy of which is included in this Handbook) sets forth the basis for the selection process for coaches. All coaching candidates are required to submit to the Club a Coaching Application (a copy of which is available on the Club’s website) and, if requested by the Board, submit to interviews. All coaches serve at the pleasure of, and can be removed at any time by, the Board. Additionally, all coaching candidates are required to submit a security clearance application to the Recreation Department. Any applicant not meeting the criteria established by the Recreation Department shall be so informed by the Recreation Department and their names shall be deemed withdrawn from consideration.
Coaching Education
All coaches of travel teams within WYSL must receive WYSL coaching certification or the New York State equivalent “F” license. The WYSL offers two hour Coach Orientation Courses and eight hour Coach Certification Courses each year. New coaches of fall travel teams are issued a temporary coaching pass which is good only for the fall season. All coaches of travel teams must also be registered with, and have a valid picture ID card from, the WYSL.
Director of Coaching
The Club believes overall training of players and that the selection of coaches and trainers is critical to the success of the Club. As a result, the Club has appointed a Director of Coaching, someone with years of experience in the sport and coaching of soccer. Each applicant and trainer must be considered by the Director of Coaching and a committee selected by the Board prior to appointment or hiring.
Code of Conduct for Coaches and Parents
As noted above, the Club has adopted its Code of Conduct for Coaches and Parents providing, among other things, that it is the responsibility of the Coach to emphasize the proper ideals of, and to lead by example in demonstrating sportsmanship, ethical conduct and fair play.
Coach Evaluations
To receive direct feedback from parents and players, the Club asks each registered player to complete a Coach Evaluation Form each season which is available on the Club’s website. Coaches and trainers are evaluated on a number of items including, but not limited to, their ability to teach skills effectively, employ positive coaching principles and treat each child fairly. The Club places great emphasis on these evaluations in determining the ongoing and future roles of coaches and trainers. The Coaching Selection Committee reviews and discusses each of the completed evaluations.
Commencing in 2003, the Recreation Department adopted a program, the Positive Coaching Alliance, to enhance the ability of our coaches and trainers to deliver a “positive” experience and better educate players. In such regard, the Recreation Department selected the National Youth Sports Coaches Association, to provide such services and instructions to coaches and trainers.
Each of the Club’s coaches and trainers are required to take the two-day NYSCA program and renew memberships on an annual basis.
Club Programs for Referees
As the number of soccer players increases in Chappaqua, there is a need for a greater number of referees. The Club publicizes the referee certification courses that are offered. A number of high school and middle school student-athletes have attended these courses and become certified to serve at WYSL games. The Club has adopted a program to reimburse applicants for costs incurred. This can be a great leadership experience for the teenage soccer player who loves the game and is ready for a leadership challenge and opportunity. Information on upcoming courses is available at www.chappaquasoccer.org or from the Club’s Referee Coordinator.
Club Programs for Parents and Families
Club Handbook
The Club publishes this Handbook and provides a copy to every registered player to provide each family with a detailed summary of all of the Club’s activities. Questions about the Club and its programs should be initially directed to the player’s coach, although, if he or she is unable to answer, the question then can be directed to any member of the Board of Directors.
Website
CYSC uses its website, www.chappaquasoccer.org, to post information with respect to the Club, its teams, field directions, weekly scores and standings (where posted), coach and referee certification courses, tryouts, tournament information, Club and League forms, recommended readings and other information with respect to soccer events and activities.
Parental Volunteers
The CYSC is run by parents who volunteer to serve as Officers, Directors, Coaches and Committee Members. Non-coaching parents have made major contributions to the Club’s activities by assisting in many administrative and supporting functions.
Parents who have an interest in volunteering to serve in a non-coaching capacity should contact the Club President or any member of the Board.
Grievance Procedures
All complaints must be in writing, addressed to the President of the Club and must identify the party making the complaint. Parents are encouraged to talk over their problems directly with the coach in the first instance. Coaches should be aware of a problem before complaints are made to the Board. The Club President may assign additional Board Members to look into grievances that are submitted.
Weather
For information on field closures due to rain, please check the Club’s website,
www.chappaquasoccer.org.
Community Activities
Cooperation with the Recreation Department
The Club has extensive interaction with the Recreation Department and has made ongoing efforts to improve New Castle programs in soccer and other Recreation sports. Positive outcomes from these discussions have included the co-sponsoring of workshops run by the Positive Coaching Alliance, the adoption of the Recreation Department Code of Conduct, a new mission statement and improvements in the coach selection, evaluation and training procedures.
CYSC has an ongoing policy of supporting the Chappaqua soccer program. Equipment purchased by the Club, including sets of goals, are used by the Club, Chappaqua AYSO and the scholastic programs.
Cooperation with the Board of Education
CYSC strives to operate in cooperation with the Chappaqua Board of Education. Coaches of the relevant age teams are expected to schedule their practices to avoid conflicts with important school activities. The Club coordinates its field schedules to avoid conflicts with high school athletic teams, and school programs teams use soccer goals and nets which have been purchased by the Club.
The CYSC has also implemented numerous suggestions made by Board of Education employees such as the use of orange field paint for soccer markings to avoid confusion with white lacrosse and field hockey markings on the same field.
Passback Program
Beginning in 2002, CYSC initiated a program to collect used soccer equipment for donation. Volunteers have collected uniforms, balls, cones, outgrown cleats and shin guards and other soccer items, enough to equip numerous youth soccer teams. Such goods have been shipped throughout the world and the Club continues to receive notes of gratitude from clubs that the Club has outfitted. For information concerning the Passback Program, please check the Club’s website, www.chappaquasoccer.org.
Soccer Camps
Each year, the Club sponsors multi-day soccer camps for its players. The Club expects to continue to sponsor these highly successful camps.
Preseason Training Camp
Preseason training camp will be held during the week before Labor Day and runs from Monday through Friday. The camp runs for 3 hours each day and are done in the morning, afternoon and evenings. You will have the same time slot each day.
The camp is optional, but encouraged.
The cost is $150 for the week if a player registers by July 10th and is $200 for the week if a player registers between July 11th and July 31st. The cut off date for online registration for the preseason camp is July 31st. If there is sufficient room a player may register after July 31st by emailing preseason camp coordinator. The cost will be $250 for late registrations (August 1st and later). However, there is no assurance that space will be available for late registrations.
If available, a team’s trainer will assist at the preseason camp and teams will train together. Coaches are not required to attend the preseason camp, but should try and attend at least one of the sessions.
Facilities and Equipment
Fields
Home games are played on fields supplied by the Town of New Castle and the Chappaqua School District, pursuant to permits obtained by the Club. The Club assumes the responsibility for the layout and lining of certain fields at its own expense.
WYSL requires that Sunday field time be provided for each CYSC team registered. The Club uses fields of different sizes, so that children in the various age divisions can be scheduled on an appropriate size field (i.e., smaller fields for younger teams playing 8v8). If the Club’s access to fields is restricted, the number of teams it registers may have to be reduced.
Because the Club is responsible for the condition of fields and goals, CYSC coaches and parents are required to do field and goal maintenance not provided by the Town, particularly after a rain.
In certain cases, if field conditions dictate, the Club voluntarily “pulls” fields and cancels or moves games to another available field. League rules require that any such decision be made by the Club before 8:00 a.m. on the particular Sunday morning. Information with respect to field closures can be obtained from the team’s coach or on the Club’s website at www.chappaquasoccer.org. In
the event that a “critical mass” of towns or clubs “pull” fields on a particular Sunday, WYSL may elect to postpone or cancel all games scheduled for such day.
Presentation of Fields
While there may appear to be plenty of field space in our community, there are numerous requests for field use from HGHS teams, recreation soccer, softball, lacrosse, field hockey and other sports, Little League baseball, adult groups and other activities, and we find there is a “field shortage” which is most acute on weekends. Under these circumstances, it is imperative that every coach, parent and player takes action to maintain and preserve all of our fields.
When practicing after a rainfall, teams should avoid wet and soft areas. Players, drills and cones should be moved to firmer soil. Warm-ups and practices should be conducted along the sidelines away from heavily worn areas such as the goalmouths and center circle.
After each game and practice, coaches and parents should ask the players to pick up water bottles and other litter. If each member of the Club makes just a modest effort, we will collectively leave the fields in useable condition.
Equipment
The Club has donated two sets of regulation, 8x24 foot movable soccer goals and three sets of 7x21 foot moveable goals which are used for 8v8 play. These goals have been placed on school and town fields and are used by school and recreation teams as well as CYSC teams.
The Club has also purchased other soccer equipment such as field lining machines and field paint, outdoor corner flags for use by CYSC teams. All teams have been furnished with a commercial first aid kit. The Club makes large volume purchases of CYSC patches for distribution to teams participating in tournaments where it is often customary for players to exchange patches with players on other teams.
Indoor Gym Time
The Club and individual teams schedule indoor gym time during the Winter, and has master rental agreements with certain local facilities, enabling gym time to be available to each CYSC team. The Club provides to the operator of each such facility its insurance certificate covering all Club teams, and each team pays the facility or the Club for the cost of the time reserved by such team. Some teams also participate in winter indoor leagues and tournaments.
Uniforms
All CYSC teams are required to purchase their uniforms through the Club. All CYSC teams wear the same uniforms as this allows the Club to make bulk purchases at favorable prices and to obtain identical replacement uniforms and uniforms for new players. More importantly, uniform uniforms enhance the image of the Club and the goal of improving the solidarity of all players within the Club. Each uniform also must bear the Club patch. The Club also requires each player to purchase a reversal practice jersey to be worn at every practice session. The Club anticipates that all teams will replace their uniforms approximately every two-three years.
Safety
The Club is pre-occupied with concerns over the safety of its players. In this regard, the Club provides substantial game-day field maintenance to ensure the fields are safe for play, encourages its coaches to engage in proper pregame warm-ups and stretching, stresses sportsmanship to avoid dangerous play and fights and provides all teams with a commercial first aid
Club Guidelines for Selecting Players and Coaches
Purpose
The purpose of these guidelines is to establish a framework for the selection of players for and coaches of CYSC teams, in a fair and consistent manner.
Supervisory Authority
The tryouts will be conducted in the manner approved by the Board. The authority of the coordinator shall be subject in all respects to the Board. The Board will designate two or more Independent Evaluators (i.e., someone who has no children involved) to be in attendance for all tryouts, and the coordinator and the coaches shall be responsible to such Independent Evaluator(s). Such Independent Evaluator(s) are assigned to provide impartial judgment.
Approval of Tryout Structure
Before the first tryout of a particular age group, the structure of the tryouts, including the number of days, the balance between drills and scrimmages and the number of Independent Evaluators who will be present at the tryouts shall be determined.
For U-10 teams, tryout stations and scrimmage format should be standardized. After approval of the structure of such tryouts, each CYSC coach should be advised as to the nature of the tryouts.
Coaches for U-11 and older teams shall be entitled to observe the tryouts.
Unless circumstances require otherwise, no coaches for U-10 teams shall be appointed until after the tryout and selection process has been completed. Accordingly, only Independent Evaluators shall be involved in the U-10 tryout and selection process.
Announcement of Tryout Schedule; Correspondence
The time and place for the tryouts shall be announced with sufficient lead time so parents involved in the selection process and youngsters can plan to attend. All tryout correspondence shall be approved in advance by the President or a designee.
Open Tryouts
An effort should be made to insure that all youngsters interested in participating have been informed. It is the policy of the CYSC to have open tryouts annually.
Number of Tryouts
The number of tryouts should be approved by the Board. For U-10 through U-12 teams, there should be a minimum of two tryouts. A single tryout may be sufficient for older teams, depending on the number of interested players.
Player Evaluation
In age groups where tryout stations are used, each Independent Evaluator is asked to record the level of performance of each player at his or her station. All of the numerical evaluations of each player should be recorded in a roster format with columns of data, so that each child’s performance at the tryout stations can be conveniently reviewed. All participants will have numbered pinnies. The Independent Evaluators will use these numbers and will not have the names of the participants. A list of all the players and the respective pinny number will be prepared and provided to the tryout coordinator. Copies of the recorded tryout evaluations (raw data) will be furnished to the Board or its designee as soon as practical after each tryout.
Goalie Tryouts
A player can specifically try out for goalie. If the player makes the team as a goalie at the U10 and U11 levels the player is required to play 50% of the game in goal and at the U12 and higher levels is required to play the entire game in goal. Each coach will have the discretion to play a goalie in goal for a shorter period of time.
Role of Tryouts
A child’s ability to show how he or she plays soccer or to display discrete soccer skills at a tryout will necessarily be limited by the duration and format of tryouts.
Nevertheless, tryouts are considered an important element of the selection process, by providing an opportunity to compare the children against each other in several controlled environments and situations.
Tryout Procedure
The process and evaluation formulas must be submitted to and approved by the Board or its designee(s) prior to the first tryout. After the first day of tryouts, the coordinator should collate and organize all of the raw scores for each player. Any modifications to the tryout rating formula, and the setting of ranges and other parameters, must be approved by the Board or its designee(s).
Selection Meeting Attendance
No coaches will be involved in the team selection process at the U10 level, although player evaluations from the AYSO extra coaches will be used by the tryout coordinator, in conjunction with the tryout results to assist in forming teams. At the higher levels, there will be a team selection meeting shortly after the conclusion of tryouts. The meeting will be run by the age group coordinator and only one coach from each prior year’s team is permitted to attend, along with an independent board member.
Player Selection Process Decisions
All efforts should be made to assure that children of coaches are not favored; and without limiting such effort, a coach should leave the meeting when his or her child is discussed. In all tryouts, the selection of teams shall be subject to the final approval of the Board. The independent Board representative shall bring to the attention of the Board any player selection decision that such person believes to be capricious, unreasonable or prejudicial, in which case, the team will not be considered to have been selected until the issue shall be resolved. The Board shall also have the authority to change the ranking of any player, to add or remove a player from a team or otherwise.
Selection Criteria
Selection of players for travel teams should be made at a meeting after the last tryout, based on factors which include ability, agility, aggressiveness, attendance record, attitude, ball handling, “coachability,” commitment, field sense, hustle, physical maturity, potential for improvement, skill, speed, sportsmanship and teamwork. Input could come from, among other sources, the recommendations of Chappaqua AYSO and CYSC coaches, the coordinator, the Board representative and other Independent Evaluators, personal observations
of recreation and CYSC coaches at games and practices and the CYSC tryouts.
The relative importance of these sources will vary from the younger age categories (when knowledge of the ability of and familiarity with other players is low) to the older age categories (when such knowledge and familiarity is higher).
Selection of a player should never be done because of the friendship of two players or parents, because a player’s parent is a CYSC coach or because the player was on the team the prior year.
Multiple Teams
The number of teams that the CYSC may form for travel soccer is determined by the Board. It is the policy of the respective leagues to seed teams according to ability. For teams chosen by ability, after an “A” team is chosen, a “B” team will be chosen and then a “C” team. Prior to selection of any team (or an announcement concerning the likelihood of selection), approval must be obtained from the Board.
Informing Players of Decisions
All players who tried out will be contacted at such time as shall be determined by the Board, usually the evening after the final game of the season, by e-mail.
Special consideration should be made to promptly and sensitively advise players who have not been selected or have been dropped from teams. Delivering this message is difficult for both the individual making and receiving such message. Though this news is disappointing for the player, it is a regrettable part of the process. Whenever possible, observable strengths and weaknesses should be shared so that, going forward, players may work on identified skills in other settings. In appropriate circumstances, a player’s former and new coach should coordinate their selection calls, and consider the possible involvement of and advance notice to the parents of such player.
Selection of Coaches
Each year anyone who wants to coach needs to submit a coaching application to the CYSC coaching committee. The application is on the CYSC website and must be submitted prior to the completion of the tryouts.
Coaches are not chosen until after the teams are selected.
At the end of the spring season the players will be asked to evaluate the coaches and the trainers on a confidential basis. These evaluations will be taken into account when the CYSC coaching committee determines who will coach the following season and the general feedback from these evaluations will be shared, if necessary, with the coaches on an individual basis.
Coaches may be asked to meet with the coach selection committee in person.
Evaluation of Coaches; Board Approval
There is no assurance that if you coach one year you will again be appointed as the coach the following year. The committee will take into account the evaluations, the soccer knowledge and experience of the coach, how many players from the team decided not to continue playing in the program, the team’s WYSL sportsmanship ratings for the prior year and any other factors that the committee determines are relevant.
Organization of Teams
Each team will have 1 head coach and 1 or 2 assistant coaches. Only 2 coaches are permitted on the sidelines during a game. Each coach is required to register on the CYSC website and complete a background check with the Town of New Castle (submit the Volunteer Consent Form on the New Castle Rec. Dept. website) and a WYSL Risk Management form (see risk management on the left side of the WYSL website). Both the background check and the risk management forms must be done every two years.
At the U12 level and higher the head coach will be a non-parent professional. The head coach will be responsible for running the practices, creating the weekly line ups and the final coaching decisions during the games. All assistant coaches will be responsible for assisting during the practices and during the games to help the head coach with all issues that arise in connection with the players, parents and game officials.
Comments; Relief from Guidelines
Comments concerning coaches or these Guidelines should be directed to any member of the Board. The foregoing statements are “guidelines” and not strict rules to be followed in every instance. Departures may be necessary under a variety of circumstances but advance permission must be obtained from the Board.
Code of Conduct
In 2005, and consistent with the adoption of the Gold Medal Standards by the Recreation Department, CYSC endorsed a Code of Conduct for each coach, assistant coach, trainer, player and parent. Any person determined to have violated the Code of Conduct and, thus, the spirit of the Club, subjects themselves to not only the spotlight of unsportsmanlike or inappropriate behavior, but disciplinary action of the Club.
It is the responsibility of each Coach, Assistant Coach, and Trainer to:
1. Realize that the purpose of youth soccer is to promote the physical, mental, moral, social and emotional well-being of the individual players.
2. Emphasize the proper ideals of, and lead by example in demonstrating sportsmanship, ethical conduct and fair play.
3. Remember that children play for fun and enjoyment. Always place the emotional and physical well being of players ahead of any personal desire to win. Never ridicule or yell at children for making mistakes or losing a game.
4. Show cordial courtesy to visiting teams and officials.
5. Respect the property of communities that you are visiting.
6. Respect the integrity and judgment of the referee.
7. Achieve a thorough understanding and acceptance of the rules of the game, the CYSC and the soccer organizations we are affiliated with.
8. Show respect for all players, coaches, fans and officials regardless of race, sex, creed or ability.
9. Remember that children need adult role models they can respect. Be generous with your praise when it is deserved and set a good example.
10. Treat each player as an individual, remembering there may be a large spread of physical and emotional development of members of the same team.
11. To the extent practicable, follow the advice of a physician or parent when determining when an injured player is ready to play again.
12. Make a commitment to educate yourself on positive coaching principles and the principles of growth and development of children.
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