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Expectations and Responsibilities of a Travel Team Coach
The following will describe in detail what is expected of a Travel Team Coach in our Club. Any input you may have that will enhance our soccer program would be much appreciated!
First, you must be approved by our Executive Board. If you wish to coach a team, please call the Club President, or one of the other Board members. Check the "Contact Us" page for further information on Board Members. Once you are approved, you should seek to identify a candidate as your assistant coach. This person would help run practices, provide input, and fill in for you at games or practices if you are unable to attend. You should also recruit a Team Manager. This person should be fairly well organized, as the job would entail contacting team members, be a liaison to our uniform manager, fill out necessary paperwork, etc.
Teams
Each year, after registrations for Fall soccer (which take place in May), we conduct tryouts for our Travel teams. The tryouts are in June, and the teams that are formed will represent our Club in the Leagues with which we are associated. Our girls teams play in South Jersey Girls Soccer League, and our boys teams play in the South Jersey Soccer League. Although there is communication and cooperation between the two leagues, they are two separate and distinct organizations.
Once the tryouts are held, and the team is selected, you must notify the players and their parents. You should inform them that they are on the team, and give them an idea when and how often you plan to practice. You should also decide whether you want to participate in a team "summer camp". We offer this each year, typically in late July - early August. The camp would be run by a professional trainer, and is an excellent way to start your season. The camp is conducted in Woodstown, and the cost per player is reasonable.
Most Travel teams begin practice in August, although you may start earlier if you desire. Practices are usually 90 minutes, twice per week, but they can be longer or more often if you wish. Be careful not to conduct long training session for the younger players.
Rosters and Player Passes
To compete on a Travel Team, each player must be included on an official roster, and must have a validated player pass. Team packets, which are provided by New Jersey Youth Soccer, contain all the necessary forms for registering a team. Each player/parent must fill out a membership form, a medical release form, provide a small picture (for the player pass), and a copy of the player's birth certificate. Once the necessary paperwork is completed, the Coach/Team Manager must submit same the the District Commissioner in the following format:
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Staple Registration form to Birth Certificate, with Registration form on top.
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Player pass should be paper-clipped to Registration/Birth Certificate, with birth date side showing.
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Notarized Medical Release should be included in paper clip, after Birth Certificate.
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Team roster is to be completely filled out, with all parts intact.
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Coach's pass must be accompanied by a copy of coaching license.
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DO NOT forge any signatures, either player or parent.
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Place packet in bottom compartment of box at Sal's house
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Please don't expect Sal to process paperwork on weekend. Cutoff time is Thursday at 9PM. This is a New Jersey State rule.
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Do not wait until last minute to have passes approved. If you don't have a valid pass, player cannot play!
Our District Commissioner is Sal Raguseo. His phone number is 769.1059. Call our Club President for directions.
There are limits to the size of a roster. For all U9 and U10 teams, which play 8v8, the limit is 14. For all teams U11 and older, which play 11v11, the limit is 18. Additionally, once the roster is approved, all player changes must be submitted to the D.C. They are processed in the same way, but must also include an "Add/Drop" form, which can be obtained from our registrar, John Shimp. Any additions or deletions to your roster must be approved by the D.C. You may add as many players as you wish, but you cannot exceed the roster limits, as mentioned above. You may also transfer players to your team, but you are limited to a total of three transfers within a soccer year. A soccer year begins September 1st, and ends August 31st of the following year. A transferring player is defined as one who is transferring from one Travel team to another Travel team, regardless of whether that team belongs to our Club or another Club. On your roster forms there are 21 player slots for 11v11 teams, and 17 for 8v8 teams. Any additions or transfers during a soccer year may not exceed these numbers, and, as mentioned above, the number of active players may not exceed 18 for 11v11, or 14 for 8v8.
For example, an 11v11 team rosters 16 players in the Fall. During the soccer year, if their roster remains intact, only two additional players may be added, either through transfer from another team, addition of non-travel players, or a combination of the two. Continuing with the example, let's assume there are three rostered travel team players and two non-rostered players who want to join the team. The total of 21 players would take up all the slots on the roster form, which is legal, but since there can only be 18 active players, three of the original 16 must be officially dropped. The bottom line is, you may have no more than 18 active players for an 11v11 team, and no more than the 21 slots on the State roster form can be utilized. For 8v8 teams, the same principles apply, but the number of players must not exceed 14 active at any one time, and no more than the 17 State roster slots can be used.
NOTE: Do not solicit another player to transfer to your team during the soccer year, whether that player is a Woodstown player or not. This act is known as POACHING, and is strictly forbidden. Any violation of the poaching rule carries severe fines, and coaching suspensions. The fines are your responsibility, and will not be paid by the Club.
All players rostered for the Fall season are considered to be on your roster for the Spring season as well. There are no tryouts in the Spring. You may not "cut" a player in the same soccer year if they have a desire to play. To do so would be a violation of both State and National soccer regulations. If, however, they choose not to play in the Spring season, you may officially "drop" them from your roster if needed. You are not required to do so unless necessary.
Be advised that the SJ Boys League has a "sit" rule governing transferred players. Any player transferring to a Travel team from another Soccer Club during the soccer year must sit out for a total of five league games. The SJ Girls League has a three game sit rule. Remember, regardless of whether a player will be subject to a "sit" rule or not, poaching is NOT ALLOWED.
Games
League games begin the weekend following Labor Day weekend. Girls teams play on Saturday afternoon (except U15-U19, which play on Sunday), and Boys teams play on Sunday afternoon. The schedule is determined by the Leagues, and are distributed at mandatory coaches meetings, which take place prior to each Fall and Spring season. The schedule typically consists of five "home" and five "away" games per season. Travel time for games can range from 20 minutes to 1 hour. You should have your team at the field at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled start. The coach should bring all team player passes, pink roster, and notarized medical release forms for each player to every game. Additionally, the medical release forms should be with the coach at each practice, in the event of a need for emergency medical attention.
During the week prior to a game, the visiting coach should call the home coach to verify field location, game time, and uniform color. If there is a color conflict, the burden of change is on the home team. When you receive team uniforms from our Uniform Coordinator a white, numbered, "alternate" shirt will be provided for each player. If you are the home team, and you do not hear from your opponent by the end of the week, you should make the call to verify the game.
When you arrive at the field, the referee will inspect each player, making sure the player has the necessary uniform, with a number, shin guards and proper footwear. All jewelry, including watches, rings, earrings necklaces, bracelets, etc, is forbidden. The referee will also make sure each player has a valid player pass, which, as mentioned above, must be brought to each game by the coach. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of game, and a fine by the League.
As a coach, you are expected to be familiar with the rules of the game. You should also know the duration of the game, which varies according to age. You are absolutely expected to conduct yourself in a sportsmanlike manner. This applies to your conduct with referees, opposing coaches, players and parents. You are also responsible for the behavior of the parents of your players. Set the tone early. Do not tolerate unruly behavior, no matter what the reason.
When the game is concluded, you and your team are expected to shake the hands of your opponents. You must also pay the referee. Each team pays one-half the referee fees. The fees vary according to age of players, and the schedule of fees is available in the packet you receive prior to the season. Some referees require payment before the game, some after.
South Jersey Soccer League (Boys) - Policy Guidelines for 8v8 Teams
As of May 8, 2003, the South Jersey Soccer League has adopted a new policy regarding the publicizing of 8v8 games for Boys Travel teams. If you coach a U9 or U10 Boys team, please familiarize yourself with these guidelines, which are available at www.sjsl.org.
Paid Trainers & Coaches
The use of paid trainers and coaches has grown exponentially in recent years in the soccer community. We encourage, but do not require, the use of paid trainers. Monies are allocated to each Travel team to be used for Trainers and/or Tournaments. We do not have a "Club Trainer", so if you need advice in securing a professional trainer, contact the Club President, or anyone else who may be able to advise you.
Be aware that there are new rules from New Jersey Youth Soccer, governing the use of paid trainers. Effective with the Fall 2003 seasonal year, ALL non-volunteer trainers and coaches MUST provide a certificate of insurance, naming NJYS (New Jersey Youth Soccer) as an additional named insured on their policy, or purchase NJYS liability coverage, at the cost of $200 per trainer. This is for PAID TRAINERS & COACHES ONLY, and does not affect the status of our unpaid volunteer coaches.
Further, each paid trainer or coach must secure a NJYS Non-Volunteer Pass, which are issued only at the NJYS office. A Non-volunteer Membership Form must be completed, and a copy of their coaching license must be provided.
Do not violate this rule! Any violation would be looked upon by NJYS as insurance fraud, and will void our State insurance protection. If you or your team is paying anyone to train or coach children who are members of the Woodstown Soccer Club, the above rules must be adhered to. This applies to ANY & EVERY person who receives money for training.
Please inform the Club President of any trainers you use, or intend to use, so that we will be certain that proper documentation has been secured. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!! |