Revised May 2012

Madisonville Youth Boosters Competitive League Soccer Policies

The purpose of Madisonville Youth Boosters Competitive League Soccer (MYB-CLS) is to support the development of high level soccer for players at the U-11, U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16 and U-17 age levels. MYB-CLS is designed to provide individual and team training opportunities for players. MYB-CLS will organize and direct players in a competitive soccer program and provide the best structure, environment and coaching staff available in order to enhance the players, the teams and the leagues development. The League will make every effort to play at the highest level possible. The MYB Competitive League Soccer program is devoted to the development of youth soccer.

Administration
Madisonville Youth Boosters Competitive League Soccer falls under the organizational guidelines of the Madisonville Youth Boosters Association. Those guidelines can be found at: http://www.coquillerecreation.com/Default.aspx?id=11. The administrative hierarchy for MYB-CLS is as follows: Soccer Director Appointed by the Recreation District 14 Board Competitive League Soccer Director Appointed by the Soccer Director Boys Competitive League Coordinator Appointed by the CLSD Girls Competitive League Coordinator Appointed by the CLSD Recreational League Soccer Director Appointed by the Soccer Director The MYB Coaching Committee shall be composed of the following positions: MYB Soccer Director, Competitive League Soccer Director, Recreational League Soccer Director, Boys Competitive League Coordinator and Girls Competitive League Coordinator. Those interested in serving in one of the above listed positions should submit their name to the Soccer Director for consideration.

Team Formation
Team formation must be completed prior to July 15th or open registration for recreational teams whichever comes first. This allows players that are not selected for the Competitive League Soccer Program the opportunity to play at the recreational level. MYB-CLS will attempt to form at least one Competitive League Soccer team per age group, U-11 to U-17, players permitting. Separate boys and girls teams will be formed. All players that wish to be considered for placement on a Competitive League Soccer team must have an MYB registration form signed by a parent, show proof of residency

and must provide a copy of his/her birth certificate . This includes players who do not attend a club administered tryout. Coaches holding separate tryouts will be required to turn in completed registration forms and copies of the proof of residence and birth certificate to the Competitive League Soccer Director for all players. Minimum and maximum roster size for CLS teams is set per Louisiana Soccer Association (LSA) guidelines and varies by age group. All rosters must be approved by the Competitive League Soccer Director.

Tryout Guidelines
The Madisonville Youth Boosters Competitive League Soccer program has standardized tryouts which have been approved by the Soccer Director and the Competitive League Soccer Director (CLSD). Any changes to the standard tryout format must be approved by the Director and CLSD. It is highly recommended that potential players attend all tryout days to allow for maximum evaluation opportunity; however, it is required that potential players attend at least one day of try-outs. Player selection will be based upon performance at try-outs, performance during previous years play, player evaluations from previous coaches and previous practice and game attendance, attitude, coach-ability and work rate. Play-up Policy The MYB-CLS does not endorse playing up. Players who chose to playup will find themselves competing against players who are a year older in age, grade, mental maturity and physical size. MYB-CLS strongly encourages parents to keep children in their age group based on the age cut-offs as directed by the Louisiana Soccer Association. There are certain circumstances that MYB-CLS would allow a player to play up: 1. The players skill and dedication justifies the placement on an older team. 2. An older team does not have enough players to field a team. 3. Any other circumstances deemed appropriate by the MYB Coaching Committee. For a player to play-up, certain criteria must be met: 1. The MYB Coaching Committee must unanimously approve the request. 2. The player must attend tryouts for both age groups. This is to give the Coaching Committee the opportunity to see the player interacting with each age group. 3. A player will NOT be approved to play up if they displace (cause someone to be cut due to roster limitations ) a player who is already on the approved roster at the higher age group, as long as the older player can reasonably compete at that age level. 4. A player cannot play-up if they have already been placed on a team at a lower age group. Under no circumstances will a player under the age of 9 be allowed to play on a Competitive League Soccer team (per LSA policy). Under some circumstances a player may be allowed to play-up more than one year, but not more than two, with the approval of the MYB Coaching Committee.

Coaching Staff
The Coaching Committee, with the approval of the Soccer Director, will designate a coach for each Competitive Soccer team. If there are multiple candidates interested in coaching a particular age group, the selection of coach will be based on several factors including but not limited to, coaching history which will include coaching license level, number of years coaching with MYB, total number of years coaching and any past disciplinary actions or complaints. When two teams in the same age group are merging to form one team in the same age group or the next higher age group (i.e. two U11 teams merge to form one U12 team), the Coaching Committee, with the approval of the Soccer Director, will designate a coach for that team. If there are multiple candidates interested in coaching the merged team, the selection of the coach will be based on several factors including but not limited to, coaching history which will include coaching license level, number of years coaching with MYB, total number of years coaching and any past disciplinary actions or complaints. All Competitive League Soccer coaches will be required to have at minimum an E License Certification. Coaches that currently have no certification will have one year to obtain their E License Certification in order to continue coaching at the Competitive League Soccer level. Coaches will select Assistant Coaches based on the guidelines for coaching. Each Competitive League team must have a team manager, selected by the coach (see handout for Team Manager Responsibilities). Teams may elect to have a Trainer on the sidelines during competition; however, the trainer is prohibited from any coaching functions. As MYB is an all volunteer club, Competitive League team coaches and assistants are prohibited from requesting/receiving any type of monetary salary for their services.

Player Selection
The head coach for each Competitive League Soccer team will select players for his/her roster. Players for teams that currently have no assigned head coach will be selected by a group of Competitive League coaches designated by the Competitive League Soccer Director. Coaches will have the ability to add players up to their roster maximum throughout the season. LSA freezes all Competitive League Soccer rosters two weeks prior to the start of the state tournament in the spring season. There is NO guarantee that every player that attends tryouts will be placed on a Competitive League team. Coaches will not be required to add players as long as their team meets the LSA minimum roster size requirements.

Playing Time
MYB strongly encourages that playing time be maximized for all players. Coaches will take playing time into consideration when deciding on team roster sizes and will be responsible for developing their players through game situations. There is no minimum playing time enforced at the Competitive League Soccer level through LSA or MYB. It is expected that coaches will use their best judgment given particular game situations and will ensure that players are getting regular time over the course of the season.

Uniforms
In order to promote club unity and brand recognition for MYB-CLS, all teams will have the same uniforms. Primary uniform colors will be green and white with an alternate color of navy blue. Each player will receive two (2) jerseys, one (1) pair of shorts, and two (2) pairs of socks. Lost or damaged gear issued by the Club will be replaced at the parents cost. - Teams may elect to purchase a third Kit or Away uniform, this is strictly optional and it will not replace the standard club-issued uniform as the teams primary game outfit. - Teams electing to purchase practice shirts must ensure that they are navy blue in color and display the tri-color MYB Club logo on the front. - Teams electing to purchase warm-up pants or jackets must ensure that they are either green or black in color. All goal keepers on Competitive League teams participating in the State Cup must have a jersey with their number on it to use while in goal. It is the Head Coachs responsibility to ensure that all players adhere to the uniform policy. Mismatching of Club socks or other alterations to the approved uniform will not be tolerated.

Parents
Competitive League Soccer requires a commitment from both the players and their parents. Parents are responsible for timely paying of fees related to CLS, ensuring that their child arrives at all practices and competitions on time, appropriately fed and well-rested, and pitching in to help out when needed. Parents are expected to volunteer at some point in the season to assist their teams or the Club in some way. MYB-CLS cannot function effectively without volunteer assistance. Parents are encouraged to assist the Club by agreeing to sponsor their team or helping to solicit sponsorships to help off-set expenses.

Parents as spectators are expected to comport themselves during games and with respect to their childrens coaches and teammates in a manner consistent with the stated mission of MYBCLS. Negative or belligerent attitudes or comments during or around games will not be tolerated, even if such comments are directed at their own children since they also have an impact upon other players, their parents and the coaches. Parents will also refrain from dissenting with the rulings of the referees and be aware that their behavior may result in sanctions against the team even though the players and/or coaches are personally blameless. Parental coaching of players from the sideline (beyond encouragement or praise) is counterproductive and strongly discouraged by the Club. Parents who are unhappy with the coach or coaching methods being used must express themselves to MYB-CLS through proper channels, and will not be permitted to express disparaging remarks to or about coaches in the presence of other players, parents or spectators. Parents should direct any concerns to the team manager, coach, Competitive League Coordinator, Competitive League Director or Soccer Director. Parents or spectators who disregard this policy with respect to their own behavior and demeanor may be banned from attending practices and games as directed by the Board. The failure to respect and abide by such rulings, when imposed, may then result in the suspension or expulsion of their child from the team for the sake of the other team members, parents and spectators.

Fees
Competitive Soccer teams will register for the full year (fall and spring) during the fall registration period. Players and parents will be required to sign a letter of commitment for the year upon acceptance to a Competitive team. Each player will pay a $275 registration fee. Players living Out of District are required to pay an extra $50.00 fee per family per sport. Checks will be made payable to: Rec. District 14, and will be paid in full by 15 July. Players joining teams in the spring season will pay a $200 registration fee. Players living Out of District are required to pay an extra $50.00 fee per family per sport. Registration fees are non-refundable. Coaches/Managers will collect their teams registration forms and fees, along with the letter of commitment and copy of the players birth certificate. These will be handed over to the Competitive Soccer League Director for processing.

Players
MYB-CLS was established to provide the community with the opportunity to participate in highly competitive soccer. Just as MYB-CLS has committed to serving the needs of the players, there must be a reciprocal commitment by the players to their coach and their team.

Player Standing The head coach of each team will determine a players standing. Good Standing the player attends and actively participates in required practices, Competitive League games and tournaments and exhibits behavior consistent with the mission of MYB-CLS and the LSA rules and regulations. Not in Good Standing the player does not actively participate and/or has excessive absences from required practices, Competitive League games and tournaments. The player exhibits any behavior not in keeping with the mission of MYB-CLS and the LSA rules and regulations. Commitment Letter Each Competitive League player will sign a Competitive League Soccer Commitment Letter upon being placed on a team. The letter confirms that the player is committed to that team for one year, that they cannot transfer to another CLS team and that if they chose to withdraw they can only participate on a recreational team or a Premier team. Additionally, if a player wishes to withdraw from a team for the spring season, they must state their intention to leave by 1 December of that year. Guest Player Participation MYB-CSL encourages players to experience higher level soccer by guest playing on other teams. In order to participate as a guest player, the player must be in good standing on his/her regular team and have completed the Guest Player Participation portion of the Competitive League Soccer Commitment Letter; players who request to play-up (on a higher age team) as a guest player must receive the consent of the competitive league soccer director. Player Removal Players may be removed from a teams rosters at the discretion of the Head Coach/Competitive League Director. Players may be removed for not fulfilling their responsibilities including but not limited to 1) excessive unexcused absence from practice and games, 2) non-payment of fees in a reasonable manner, and 3) any behavior not in keeping with MYB-CLS and LSA rules and regulations. The Competitive League Director will make every effort to contact the parents and to clarify and resolve the situation prior to removal of a player from the team roster.