Travel Policy

Travel Policy

Warminster Soccer Club’s Travel Policy

April 20, 2023 as amended

 

The intent of this policy is to present guidelines for the conduct of the Coaches, Players, and all Members of the Warminster Soccer Club Travel Program.  This policy is intended to supplement all existing rules of the game as established by FIFA and EPYSA.  Where there are current or future conflicts between the rules, laws, or guidelines of this organization and its policies, the rules, laws, and/or guidelines of FIFA and EPYSA will govern. All travel teams are governed by Warminster Soccer Club, and the WSC Board has final decision-making rights for all teams.

 

In order to keep this policy up to date revisions can be suggested/presented by any WSC member to the VP of Travel and must be approved by a majority vote of the travel coaches and then presented to the WSC Board for approval.

 

Travel Coaches

 

  • All new travel coaches are required to apply for their position through completion of the coaching application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by the VP of Travel and Director of Risk Management. This application can be found on the Home Page under the Forms section.

 

Coaching Licensing

 

  • All new coaches are encouraged to complete the U.S. Soccer Grassroots 4v4 Licenses at a minimum within their first year. WSC strongly encourages all coaches to complete all Grassroots Courses in pursuit of their “D” level license within 3 years of entering the program. The club will reimburse coaches for their licenses upon completion. Reimbursement for A-C level licenses will be provided one-year after completion providing the coach continues to be a member of WSC.

 

New Travel Teams

 

  • Each year new travel teams will be formed at the U9 age group. The selection of the coaches for these new teams will follow the same annual application process as stated in the Travel Coaches section of this policy.
  • Newly formed teams will be provided $500 start-up money on behalf of the club for purchasing of equipment and other team needs.

 

 

Recruiting

 

  • Recruiting between WSC Travel teams is strictly prohibited.
  • Recruiting between other neighboring soccer clubs is not permitted (per League rules), however if you are contacted by a parent from a neighboring club, you may provide information about WSC and the travel team they are inquiring about.
  • Travel coaches are permitted to recruit from the Intramural program. However, at no time shall recruiting be conducted directly with a child. Recruitment will consist of the Intramural VP giving the Travel VP, the fall game schedule for each age group for player review by each coach. The VP of Travel will then distribute the schedule to the appropriate Travel coach. The Travel coaches are encouraged to attend the games and note the player(s) names or numbers (team color, age division, or name of coach will also be helpful to identify the player(s) and forward all player information to the VP of Travel. The VP of Travel and the VP of Intramural will exchange information and be redistributed back to the Travel coach. The travel coach can then contact the parents of the selected player(s) directly.

 

Travel Team Tryouts

 

  • All travel team roster size limits will be at the discretion of the teams Head Coach.
  • All teams up through U16 will be required to hold annual open tryouts. Tryouts will be held and completed in the Spring, dates will vary year to year and will be published on the Club’s website by March 1st. All players trying out will be given an equal opportunity to compete for a roster spot.
  • At least (1) Independent evaluator is recommended to assist in player selection in the younger age groups up to and including U-12. It will be the responsibility of the coach to set up and schedule the evaluators for each age group during tryouts. Evaluators can be WSC board members or Coaches from other WSC travel teams.
  • There will be at a minimum (3) tryouts per team and players are strongly encouraged to attend as many tryouts as possible to increase the players’ chances of making a travel team.
  • All players trying out for a travel team must be registered with WSC prior to the tryouts.
  • All new and existing players must attend at least one tryout to be offered a spot on the team for the following season.
  • Coaches have the discretion to add players after tryouts have been completed if there is an available roster spot and as long as the no other travel policies conflict with adding the player.
  • The cutoff date for submission of rosters will be announced by the VP of Travel. After this cutoff date, the VP of Travel must approve any roster additions.
  • Any participant not being selected to the Travel team, who has attended all the tryouts, must be contacted by either phone or email by the Head Coach.

 

“Underage Rule”

 

“Underage player” is defined to include a player born in a year younger than the intended year for an age-group. I.E. – a 2015 birth year player desiring to play on a 2014 birth year team.

 

Players will be permitted to “play up” as an “underage player” with the following guidelines:

 U9, U10, U11, & U-12 Age Groups:

  • Each of these travel teams are permitted to roster up to two (2) underage players.
  • Approval of adding underage players and/or any exception to the max of 2, must be obtained by the VP of Travel prior to contact with the players family.

U-13 and up Age Groups

  • Each of these travel teams are permitted to roster an unlimited number of underage players.

 

Secondary Players

 

A travel team may carry a secondary player(s) with the following conditions:

  • The standard limitation for secondary players is a max of 5 per team. All league rules must be followed with regards to rostering a secondary player.
  • Team roster must be identified prior to the addition of a secondary player.
  • Secondary players may only be added if a roster spot exists.
  • Teams are not permitted to drop a primary player in order to add a secondary player.
  • All secondary players must be registered with WSC and pay WSC registration fees.

 

Travel Uniforms

 

  • Travel uniform fees are included in the Travel Registration Fee. Coaches are responsible for making sure each player orders the correct sizes and that all players place order by the established deadline.
  • Each travel team is required to have both Dark and White uniform kits, the registration fee covers one new kit per player per year. Any extra uniforms and or accessories are at the cost of the individual team.
  • Each team may use their own team logo for apparel and/or alternate uniforms but must submit this request to the Travel VP for approval.

 

Fund Raising

 

  • The Board must approve all fundraisers. Coaches must submit fundraising requests in writing to the VP of Travel. Requests must include specifics of the fundraiser (i.e., description of event, dates, place, times, etc.).
  • When advertising for team fundraisers in papers, flyers, etc., the travel team must represent that the fundraiser is strictly for their team (i.e., Warminster Wave Boy’s U12 Travel Team Bowling Party). At no time will a Travel team advertise as the Warminster Soccer Club.

 

Field Use

 

  • Field time will be coordinated through the Vice President of Travel.
  • If a field is wet, DO NOT USE IT!!! William Tennent H.S., Parks & Recreation, and the WSC VP of Travel will determine whether a field is playable. Playing/practicing on an “unplayable” field may result in lost practice time.
  • The goal mouths (18-yard area) at Log College and Munro Park “A” “B”, “F”, and Warminster Community Park (MCP) “H” are for games only. Goals on the side of the fields are to be used for practice. Use of the goal mouths for anything other than games may result in lost practice time.

 

Correspondence

 

  • All official correspondence (petitions, protests, etc.) with ICSL and EPYSA must go through the VP of Travel. Do not contact these leagues or organizations directly without prior approval.

 

Grievance Committee

 

  • A Grievance Committee will be setup consisting of coaches within the Travel Program, as well as the VP of Travel to handle travel coaches or players who violate the articles of the WSC Policy.
  • The Grievance Committee will consist of coaches from U11, U13 & U15 Boys and Girls travel teams.

 

Refreshment Stand at Munro Park

  • Travel teams have authority to operate the refreshment stand at Munro Park with prior approval through the VP of Travel.
  • Teams operating the snack stand will be expected to leave the facility as they found and will be fully responsible for any damage caused by or as a result of their use.

 

Al Perlini Memorial Travel Tournament

 

  • The Al Perlini tournament committee will be led by the Perlini Tournament Director as voted by the WSC Board of Directors.
  • The format for the Fall Tournament will be (4) four teams to host the annual Tournament. Two boy team representatives and two girl team representatives.
  • The (4) four teams will each serve in this capacity for two consecutive years. Teams may not delegate or decline this responsibility to another person or team unless given permission by the VP of Travel.
  • The teams hosting the tournament must have at a minimum two certified and independent athletic trainers available at all times at each tournament hosting site.
  • All tournament hosting sites must have a current and operable AED device available at the athletic trainer tent at all times.
  • All trash is to be collected by the last day of the tournament and put into dumpsters in front of each site. Teams must check with Parks & WREC for details.
  • All WSC Travel team’s registration fee will be waived and will be required to supply a Field Marshal for their field of play for the day.
  • The Perlini committee will approve any and all changes to the format and rules of the tournament from the previous year and the VP of Travel must be consulted regarding any recommended changes.
  • The Perlini Committee has the responsibility to see that the event is operated in accordance with the policies set forth by the WSC and the Perlini Committee.
  • After all expenses are paid, tournament revenue will be split as follows: 1/3 of net revenue goes to back to Warminster Soccer Club, the remaining 2/3s is split evenly between the (4) four host teams.

 

Policy Violations

 

Any violation of this Policy will be considered a serious offence and the WSC Board of Directors will take appropriate disciplinary actions. All coaches are expected to follow all ICSL, EPYSA, or the rules of any other league a team is playing in. WSC has a zero-tolerance policy for cheating and violated league rules. All coaches represent Warminster Soccer club on and off the soccer field. Violations are taken extremely seriously, the WSC board has the right to remove any coach who violates league rules, WSC by-laws, and travel policies.