Policies - SCYSA

The goal of the Sunshine Coast Youth Soccer Association is to provide an opportunity for all children, aged six to seventeen, to play recreational soccer in a safe, supportive, sporting environment and at an affordable price.

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THE ASSOCIATION WILL STRIVE TO PROMOTE

A life-long love for the game
A safe playing environment
Development of all players to their maximum potential by providing positive opportunities for all participants
Gender equal opportunities to participate
Respect for fellow players, teams, game officials and for the laws of the game
Positive attitudes, constructive and reflective of good sportsmanship on and off the field
Equal playing time for those who fully participate in all aspects of the game, including practice
Above all: "FUN, FUN, FUN!"

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Sunshine Coast Youth Soccer Association holds its Annual General Meeting in the late winter or early spring of each year. All association members - parents and guardians of registered players, coaches and referees - are encouraged to attend, participate, and vote. At the AGM the directors will provide reports on the activities of the past year and plans for the upcoming season and beyond.

New directors are elected at the AGM. Each year we seek nominations for new directors who we hope will provide new perspectives for the board, have a willingness to share the work of the organization and who will offer us greater contact with the teams, parents and coaches. Returning directors provide continuity. We encourage anyone interested in being involved to come out to the AGM. If you need information please contact the SCYSA by email and one of the directors will call you. Specific details of the AGM can be found in the calendar of events.

SCYSA Constitution and Bylaws

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TEAM SELECTION

Children ages of 6 to 17 are eligible to play. All players must be properly registered and placed on a team by the registrar.
Only registered players are placed on teams.
Only registered players may play in scheduled games or practices.
It is the responsibility of the coach to ensure that their players are properly registered (the players on their official team list are the ones that are eligible to play and practice.)

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LEAGUE STRUCTURE - DIVISIONS

Division Pitch size # on field ideal # per team Length of Half Saturday Time Sunday Time Offside Throw in

U7 mini 3 6 15 9:30 no retake

U8 mini 4 7 20 9:30 no retake

U9 micro 7 10 25 1:00 no retake

U11B 3/4 8 12 30 2:30 partial retake

U11G 3/4 8 12 30 11:00 partial retake

U11/12 rep 3/4 8 12 30 partial

U13B full 11 15 35 12:35 Yes

U13G full 11 15 35 11:00 Yes

U14 rep full 11 15 35

U15B full 11 15 40 11:00 Yes

U15G full 11 15 40 12:35 Yes

U16 rep full 11 15 40

U18 rep full 11 15 45

U18B full 11 18 45 2:30 Yes

U18G full 11 18 45 2:30 Yes

Rep Teams: start at U11 and continue to U18. Each spring there are tryouts for rep teams; teams are added when there is sufficient talent and interest in a given division.

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VOLUNTEER DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

All adult volunteers working with youth for the SCYSA are required to complete a volunteer disclosure statement. Download Form A-B (PDF format); fill it out and sign it; and mail the completed/signed form to the SCYSA.

SCYSA mailing address: SCYSA, Box 215, Gibsons, V0N 1V0
This policy will be strictly enforced.

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RULES AND REGULATIONS

The SCYSA plays by international FIFA rules with the following exceptions:

Unlimited substitutions are allowed.
Duration of the game, size of ball and size of the field are varied to accommodate the age of the players.
For the U11 Division offside is in the offensive 1/3 of the field only. There is no offside for the U7, U8 or U9 divisions.
There is one retake on throw-ins for the 4 youngest divisions.

Who is eligible to play?

Children ages of 6 to 17 are eligible to play. All players must be properly registered and placed on a team by the registrar.
Only registered players (who are fully paid for) are placed on teams.
Only registered players may play in scheduled games or practices.
It is the responsibility of the coach to ensure that their players are properly registered (the players on their official team list are the ones that are eligible to play and practice.)

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Who is not eligible to play?

Children older or younger than those in our age range, unregistered players and anyone serving a suspension.

May players be moved up when teams are short of players?

When, at the start of a match, a house league team has less than a full side (i.e. 11 players for U13 to U18 teams), they may pick up a maximum of 3 registered players from a younger division of the same gender to field a team with a maximum of 13 players. The match would be played as regular house league game, with the final score being reported and entered into the standings. Since younger teams may have their own regular team match to play on a given day, a coach who knows they are going to be short players before a match must phone the coach of the team that they are going to draw from. The coach of any team that finds itself chronically short of players should inform the league; it would be preferable to add more players to a team than to regularly rely on players from younger divisions. Pick ups are intended to prevent a team from playing short; coaches may not pick up players to increase their substitution pool. In addition - Coaches bringing up players from lower age teams should make their opposition coach aware that they have done so.

What to do if an unregistered player is on the field?

Please report any teams with unregistered players to the association with full details including team name and division, date of game, field and if possible the name of the unregistered player(s). The report will be forwarded to the coordinator for the division in question and an investigation will occur. If it is decided that a team played with an unregistered player sanctions will follow.

Sanctions for teams who play with unregistered players:

Any team playing with unregistered players will receive a loss for all games in which that player participated, regardless of the score. (The score will be reported as a 1-0.) Unregistered players will not be allowed to play in any future games until they have properly registered and been placed on a team. The disciplinary committee shall sanction a player, who is unregistered and who subsequently commits a sending off offence during a game in which they are playing illegally. Any suspensions, which result from a red card received while unregistered, will be carried until the player is legally registered and placed on a team - the suspension will then be served.

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Abandoned and Terminated Games:

If a game is abandoned because a team has an insufficient number of players to meet the requirements of the Law, or if a team does not appear or leaves before completion of the game the game will be considered having been played and won by the team that showed up with sufficient players. If a team provides proper notification to the other team and referee that they will not be able to field a team for a game, the game shall be considered cancelled and should be rescheduled (if possible).

If the referee, because of bad weather or darkness terminates a game, a winner will be declared if at least ¾ of the game has been played. If the game is terminated before this point the game will be abandoned; if possible it will be replayed - if it cannot be replayed it will be considered a 'tie'. If all games for a division are cancelled on the same day due to weather, no points will be awarded.

If a game is terminated by the referee for any serious infringements of the Laws, or because of interference by spectators or team officials:

If the opposing team (non-offending team) is ahead at the time of the termination they shall be declared the winner;
If the team committing the offence is ahead at the time of the termination - the game shall be considered a tie.

Cancelled and rescheduled games:
The schedule does not have any 'blank' spaces to allow for make-up games due to cancelations. If the fields are closed do to weather the games missed will not be rescheduled. If a team cancels a game and wishes to make it up, they may try and find an available field at a suitable alternate time. The league will pay for the referee, but the cost of any field rental will have to be covered by the teams involved in the make up game.

If games are cancelled due to field closures the games will be struck from the schedule and not played at all. The schedule will not be adjusted because of closures.

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RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE PARENT:

Please register your child before the deadline and ensure all information is correct.
Make certain payment has been made or a subsidy form has been filled out and returned to the SCYSA.
Help out by volunteering to coach, line fields, manage equipment, join the executive, find more volunteers or other fun tasks. This is a volunteer run organization. Without enough help, the kids don’t play.
Check the website regularly - every Friday evening. Changes to the schedule may happen frequently during poor weather. The SCYSA has an excellent website full of essential and useful information. Make a habit of checking it often.
Check your email and reply to messages from your coach or manager. This saves many phone calls.
Parents are responsible to get their children to games or practices on time as specified by coach; if a child cannot attend a game or practice, you need to inform the coach ahead of time.
Be on time to pick up your child following games and practices. Coaches volunteer much time to coach and should not have to wait for parents to show up late.
Inform the coach if your child is to get a ride home with someone else or to walk home.
Inform the coach of any medical conditions that they should be aware of.
Ensure the player arrives at practices and games and is ready to go on time and with appropriate gear.

Full kit (uniform) must be worn for games. Socks are to be worn over shin guards;
Proper footwear must worn. Cleats for games; cleats and/or gym shoes for practice;
No jewellery;
You provide soccer cleats and shin guards; the SCYSA provides a jersey, shorts and socks;
A $50 deposit cheque made payable to “SCYSA” and dated April 15, 2010 is required before you receive the jersey. Jerseys and shorts are not for sale and must be returned; players keep the socks;
Jerseys are to worn for league games only;
In cold weather dress your child in layers so it is easy to take clothes on or off;
If a child must wear leggings in cold weather, please choose appropriate material; baggy pants and jeans do not allow the children to run freely and get heavy with rain. Cotton hoodies and sweats also get very heavy with rain;
Drinking water should be brought to all games and practice. Put a name on the bottle;

Games are on rain or shine. Check the website on Fridays for field closures.
Help the coach; they are volunteering their time. Every coach should have a volunteer parent team manager to help with the deposit cheques, equipment hand out, phoning, and arranging oranges.
Model good sportsmanship - show respect for all players, coaches, game officials and the laws of the game.
Let the coach do the coaching.
Do not question, or in any way harass, game officials. Many referees are youngsters and referees of any age may be new to this difficult job. Mistakes will be made.
Be encouraging and enthusiastic towards all players and acknowledge the good plays of ALL players, on both teams.
Come out to games and practices - the coaches and players love the extra encouragement and support
Be willing to work with the coach if there are discipline problems on the team.
Discuss any difficulties with the manager or coach.
Encourage your children to practice and play at home and school. Play with them.
Remember, soccer should be fun!
Above all, let your child be what he or she is ... a child

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RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE PLAYER:

Arrive at games and practices on time (explain to Mom and Dad) with all of the appropriate gear
Perform up to your potential - be ready to try your best
Listen to the coach and try to learn new skills. Practices go most smoothly when everyone respects the coach and the other team members.
Keep a positive attitude towards your team members - remember this is a "team sport"
Maintain a positive and polite attitude towards your team mates, your coach, the opposing teams and referees

PROBLEM SOLVING PROCEEDURE:

Please keep in mind that this is a volunteer organization and everyone is working toward a positive soccer experience for all players and members. The association recommends that you take the following steps to resolve any conflict or difficult issue that may occur during the soccer season. Please act maturely and respectfully, and try to see both sides.

Try to address the issue at the team level with the coaches and manager. Failing a resolution...
Discuss your concerns with the Area Rep to try to solve the problem. Failing that...
Contact the president of the association by sending an email to coastsoccer@gmail.com. He/She will review the issue and the previous attempts to resolve it, and will then provide advice on how to proceed. He/She may recommend a resolution or intervene, as appropriate.

Having followed this procedure without satisfaction, you may ask the SCYSA board to address your concerns at its next scheduled meeting by providing a letter that outlines your concerns and the steps taken toward finding a resolution to the problem. They will advise you of their final decision.

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