Travel Soccer Rules

Section	0.0 Revision History
Detail	08March2000 Initial release 05June2000 Updated team application submittal requirements 05Nov2001 Added comments for further clarification of the rules. 01Jun2002 Further clarification of adult referee requirement 14Aug2003 New uniform selected 14Sep2005 Replacement Sock selected.
Comments	na

Section	1.0 Introduction
Detail	The travel soccer rules cover teams that are sponsored by CSA to play in leagues outside CSA’s recreational program. CSA Travel is a division of CSA club and will abide by CSA bylaws. The recreational portion of CSA is the main body of the club and it is through them that CSA is able to offer a travel program. The recreation portion of CSA pays a substantial dues to MSYSA that enable us to offer travel soccer. While they recreational portion of the club will not need to be involved in the daily logistics of travel, they do have the ability to influence its direction through the board of directors.
Comments	It is the responsibility of the travel team to seek clarification of any of these rules if the intent or application is somewhat ambiguous. Open communication is essential to ensure that everyone is aware of any issues as no set of written procedures can handle every conceivable aspect of the organization.

Section	2.0 Objective
Detail	A need existed to support the youth soccer community of Calvert and establish a program to allow our young players to develop skills and sportsmanship in a highly competitive environment. CSA’s response to this need is the affiliation of our club with Maryland State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA) and membership in competitive leagues.
Comments	Comment: The focus of our club is to ’develop’ the youth of Calvert County. We are a community based organization. If we primarily focus on position and standings and we fail to attain that status (ie Division 1) then we lose but if we strive to develop the children, we always win.

Section	3.0 Travel Soccer Organization
Detail	3.1 The Travel Soccer branch of CSA’s organization will abide by the existing bylaws with the definition of the general membership to be limited to the travel teams (one vote per team). Any substantial change in the Travel Rules will require the approval of the CSA board of directors. 3.2 The travel team commissioner must be a travel team leader (coach, assistant coach, manager, team adult referee) or the parent/guardian of a child registered for travel team play. 3.3 The commissioner of the travel team program may appoint league representatives as he/she deems necessary to properly represent CSA at league functions/meetings.
Comments	none

Section	4.0 Select Travel Membership
Detail	How to join CSA Travel
Comments	None

Section	4.1 Entry
Detail	Teams interested in joining CSA must be recommended by one of the existing travel team leaders (coach, assistant coach, manager) or the CSA board of directors (including any of the commissioners). The team must provide a written resume to the Travel Commissioner that must include at least the following: Brief background and history of the team including the team’s purpose and objective; Summary of team’s competitive strengths and qualifications of the coaches; The team’s access to practice facilities (and game fields); Provide details on how the team will meet each of the criteria set forth in Section 4. Acceptance of the nominated team will be accomplished through a majority vote at a board or general membership meeting.
Comments	Comment: We’ve received a few inquiries about how to handle changes in leadership of a travel team (i.e. new coach). First, the club must be informed (email is fine) of the situation and who is going to take over and the role that the present coach/leader is going to take. In essence, when the coaches ’vote in’ a team, they are voting in that person (their qualifications and commitment to CSA) to represent CSA in the community and abroad for that particular travel team. If that person is no longer in an active leadership role (or the role has changed) on the travel team, then we need that team to submit the qualifications (& how they meet our club rules) of the new person to the CSA club. We will then distribute that information to the travel coaches and see if any objections arise. If necessary, a meeting will be called to reconcile any issues. We would expect that in most instances that this process should not be a hindrance. The most important aspect that we want to address is open communications and an awareness of any issues.

Section	4.2 Coaching
Detail	The head coach must have a MSYSA ’F’ or ’E’ coaching certification before the end of their first season of the team. Within two and one half years, the head coach must obtain their MSYSA ’D’ license. It is highly recommended that all assistant coaches do the same.
Comments	Comment: Changes in coaching/leadership does not reset the clock on the coaching license requirement. The time begins from when the team is accepted into CSA. If circumstances or hardships do not allow for this to occur, then the team must notify the club and to develop an action plan to resolve this issue in a timely manner. Otherwise the team is not in good standing.

Section	4.3 Supplying Referees
Detail	As CSA sponsors teams to enter the more competitive travel leagues, these leagues rely upon the sponsoring clubs to supply qualified referees. In order to enhance our current roster of referees, each travel team must supply to CSA one adult that is a USSF certified referee that is available to referee at least one day per month (possible minimum of two games) for soccer games. Travel teams that are just joining CSA will be allowed to waive this requirement for the first season but must identify the individual who will become certified by the end of the first season. It is CSA’s expectation that each new team will actively pursue this requirement/need. The adult referee requirement is on a per team basis and the same adult referee cannot fulfill this obligation for another team.
Comments	One of the important criteria for selection that we, CSA, offered to WAGS and NCSL in order to obtain their affiliation was our supply of referees (USSF grade 8 or better) that are available to do the travel games. We cannot go back on that promise. Presently, we are not as successful as we should be and we end up with the same few refs over and over and several games are not covered. We may begin to lose home games if we don’t become proactive. Your listed adult referees names are given to the travel referee assignor. If you have other people that can officiate games, please let us know quickly. It is imperative that your adult referee obligation be honored and when the assignor calls, to make an honest effort to accept the assignment. We understand that some of your designated adult referees have several kids playing on different teams and everyone is running in different directions every Sunday. However, we still have to remedy the ref shortage situation. Those teams that presently don’t have an adult referee, we need the names of those that are ’actively pursing’ their certification (need the date/location of the course that they will be attending). That means taking the course out of county if necessary. We do schedule referee courses in Calvert when we receive enough interest/phone calls/reservations. It would behoove you to contact us, as others have done in the past, and ’volunteer’ to handle the logistics of making the course happen. You can also check the www.msysa.org and www.marylandsoccer.com for other referee courses. CSA needs your help. As an all volunteer organization, this is where you can get your parents involved. We really don’t have a choice if we want CSA to prosper. If your designated adult ref really hasn’t done any games (rec or travel) then your team is NOT meeting the intent of the requirement. Additionally, it won’t be much fun for that designated ref (or the teams) to suddenly have to officiate their first game and cut their teeth on a travel soccer level game. If your designated ref is not ready to accept assignments, please inform your team and CSA. We don’t want to put that person or the teams that are playing into an untenable situation. But that will also mean that your team is not meeting the ref requirement expectation and we need to know what you are going to do to alleviate the situation. If their certification has lapsed, we need to know that and what you are doing to rectify that situation. An adult referee cannot be named to fulfill the the requirement for more than one team. Failure of a team to fulfill this obligation will deem the team to not be in good standing.

Section	4.4 Good Standing
Detail	All travel teams must: be in good standing with and abide by the rules and regulations of United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) and MSYSA have all players registered with MSYSA be in good standing with and abide by the rules and regulations of their respective leagues be in good standing with and abide by the rules and regulations of CSA sign and abide by CSA’s code of conduct for all players, team leaders (coaches, assistant coaches and managers) at the beginning of each league year (typically August 1 to July 31) provide timely payment of any Club dues/fees represent CSA in a manner that the organization deems appropriate and whose conduct and actions are not detrimental to CSA Failure of any team to remain in Good Standing will be cause for CSA to no longer provide representation/affiliation for that team in their respective leagues. The team membership can be revoked according to the Bylaws. No refunds of any monies will be due (including but not limited to league fees, uniforms, equipment...)
Comments	None

Section	4.5 Club Uniform
Detail	All teams are required to wear the club uniform in order to provide our teams with a sense of unity and belonging to the Calvert community. There will be one style for both boys and girls. CSA colors will honor the county’s namesake, George Calvert, who was the first Lord Baltimore and the colonial proprietors of Maryland in 1622. The Calvert family colors are Black and Gold. Any changes to this rule and/or the style of uniform will require the approval the travel teams and the CSA board of directors as the travel organization represents CSA in the soccer community. The recommended alternate jersey will be the reverse colors. New teams that become associated with CSA may petition the travel soccer commissioner to waive this requirement for a one season (fall or spring) in order to help recoup any existing uniform investment.
Comments	The primary uniform for Calvert Soccer Association is: Diadora Morro Jersey Black/Gold (~$50); Diadora Morro Short Black/Gold (~$30); Diadora Azzuri Sock Black/Gold stripe (~$9). The alternate jersey is the Diadora Morro Jersey White/Black. At this time, Diadora does not produce an alternate jersey that is the reverse colors of the primary jersery. At such a time that Diadora produces a jersey in the Morro line that is the reverse of the primary jersey or mostly gold, the travel commissioner can authorize its use (as the travel coaches have already approved the concept). Each team is REQUIRED to have both jerseys (or two out of the three if the Diadora line expands as mentioned above). The use of ’pinnies’ or T shirts or ... is not acceptable as an alternate jersey and is in violation of the uniform requirement. The CSA logo (depicting the patch) will be silkscreened on the front of the jersey in the middle of the shirt (gold silkscreen on the primary (black) jersey, black silkscreen on the alternate (white or gold) jersey. Player numbers and name will follow the same color scheme as the logo. Player names are optional and their usage is at the discretion of each individual team. No other designs or logos or advertising or ... are to appear on the uniform, including the socks, other than the CSA logo, number, and optional player name. If you have a sponsor or team design, you can put this on the bags or balls. All teams are required to be outfitted in the club uniform by the start of the Fall 2004 season. The only exception is any team that will be u18 in the Fall of 2004. These teams consist mostly of high school seniors and this is probably their last year of travel soccer. It is preferred that you have all screening work (player names, numbering, and CSA logo) done by Bay Engraving for consistency. Both Bay Engraving and Soccer Plus have the CSA logo artwork and know where it is to be positioned on the front of the jersey. The screening can take 1-2 weeks depending on backlog. The uniform is available from many sources such as Soccer Plus and online/catalog companies: Eurosport www.soccer.com , Soccerplus, www.soccerdepot.net ...). Most sizes are in stock or can be dropped shipped in less than a week. If a color conflict should arise with a referee colors (at this time, yellow is the primary ref color), it is recommended that all teams carry a different colored pinnie to provide to the referee to avoid confusion on the field. Diadora was selected as they have a history of not only providing quality uniforms but also maintaining the lines for many years. As opposed to other major vendors that carry a style for two to three years. The coaches deemed that this was an important aspect in the selection process. When a new uniform is chosen and approved by the travel teams and the CSA board, ALL teams must be outfitted in the new uniform by the beginning of the Fall season. The only exemption will be for the eldest teams (u18, U19) that are playing in their last year. If any item is unclear, the team must contact the travel commissioner for clarification before proceeding.

Section	4.6 Fees
Detail	A $75 fee per team per season payable to CSA is required to help defer the costs of field maintenance and administrative expenses. All other costs shall be borne by the team (including but not limited to uniforms, equipment, ...). Each travel team will be responsible for their own costs for registering players with MSYSA. All league fees are the responsibility of each team, even though CSA may be the issuer of payment to those leagues. Any tournaments or other functions that each travel team desires to enter will be the responsibility of that team.
Comments	Spring season club fees will include the CSA raffle fundraiser. This should not pose a hardship on the teams since the tickets can be sold or kept by the team. U9-10 Club fee $75 plus $200 ( $200 worth of raffle tickets) U11-U19 Club fee $75 plus $300 ( $300 worth of raffle tickets) Full payment of all monies are due at the first spring season and first fall season meeting.