Aberdeen/Matawan Soccer Club
AMSC Travel Rules and Regulations
Revision: 1.01.08
Any concerns or disputes should be brought to the AMSC Board.
All decisions made by the Board are final.
I. Purpose
The mission of theTravel Soccer Program is to provide the best possible vehicle for the players to compete at a higher level. To accomplish this mission, we seek to:
• Provide a high quality competitive soccer program for Boys/Girls growing up inthe Aberdeen/Matawan Area
• Create an environment where every player is provided the opportunity to be thebesthe/she can be
• Use the game of soccer to teach life lessons that will make children better
people as well as better soccer players.
II. Structure
The Travel Program will field soccer teams from age 8-19. All teams will be under the direction of the Travel Commissioner who reports to the Board of Directors. U-8 to U-10 Teams will have a maximum roster of 14 players, while U-11 to U-14 teams will have a maximum of 18 players.
III. Positions
The following positions have been established to provide leadership and direction for the
Travel Program:
- Travel coordinator
The travel soccer program will be managed by a Travel Coordinator who will be
responsible to the AMSC Board of Directors on all matters relating to this division. Thecoordinator will make day-to-day decisions and communicate with the league contacts on behalf of the club.
B. Coaches
Coaching assignments will be made by the Travel Coordinator along with the director of coaching, subject to the approval ofthe AMSC Board of Directors. All coaches must have at least a USSF “F” license (orequivalent) or higher and be Kidsafe certified by the State every two years. All coaches serveat the will of the ‘Board of Directors for a period of one year (Falland Spring). Coaching assignments will be made on the candidate’s ability to prove that heor she has:
• A solid understanding of the game as a player and/or coach
• A proven track record of success coaching kids
• Agrees with the goals, rules and philosophy of the AMSC and league affiliates
• The ability to serve as a proper role model for the players
The travel head coach or any of its assistants must attend at least one of the MNJYSA mandatory meetings each season.
The travel head coach or any of its assistants must attend all AMSC mandatory travel meetings.
AMSC Coaches Code of Ethics
Coaching a team of young athletes for an AMSC affiliated club is a high privilege that carries with it great responsibility. A coach should always demonstrate the highest ethical character and should serve as a role model for the players on his or her team. A coach must always remember the influence that he orshe has over young athletes. The game is for the players. If at any time AMSC shall determine that a coach has failed to fulfill these expectations and standards, that shall be cause to discipline, suspend, or remove the coach.
1. Soccer is the players’ game. The paramount concern of coaches is the holistic development, welfare, enjoyment and safety of their players. A coach should never place winning above character or good treatment of athletes. While striving to win, a coach should deal honestly and fairly with players with regard to team selection and playing time, while remaining free to make decisions based on the best interests of the team as a whole.
2. Coaches bear responsibility for teaching their players to strive for success while playing fairly with the highest levels of sportsmanship, observing the laws and the spirit of the game.
3. Coaches shall treat officials with respect and dignity, and shall teach their players to do the same.
4. Our opponents are worthy of being treated with respect. Coaches will model such respect for opponents and expect their players to do likewise.
5. In both victory and defeat, the behavior of a coach shall model grace, dignity and composure.
6. Coaches shall adhere to the highest standards and the regulations of the institutions they represent: clubs,AMSC, MNYSA, US Youth Soccer Association, and US Soccer Federation. The position of head coach assumes knowledge of the rules of the game, of registration and rostering requirements, of tournament rules and other requirements of AMSC and affiliated clubs and organizations. The coach is responsible for compliance with all rules.
7. Coaches shall model inclusive behavior, actively supporting cultural diversity while opposing all types of discrimination, including, but not limited to, racism and sexism, at all levels of soccer.
8. Coaches should take a role in educating their players about sports nutrition and fitness and about prevention of drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse. The coach should avoid the use of alcohol or tobacco products when in contact with players or at other times while in official capacity as coach.
9. Coaches shall refrain from all manner of personal abuse and harassment of others, whether verbal, physical, emotional or sexual, and shall oppose such abuse and harassment at all levels of soccer.
10. Coaches shall respect the declared affiliations of all players, and shall adhere to all guidelines and regulations on recruiting established by their clubs, leagues and AMSC.
11. Coaches shall seek to honor those who uphold the highest standards and principles of soccer and shall use appropriate protocol to oppose and eliminate all behavior that brings disrepute to the sport-violence, abuse, dishonesty, disrespect and violations of the laws of the game and rules governing competition.
12. The head coach must take the appropriate steps to minimize running up the score in games that his team clearly dominates. Any score that goes over a six goal differential is absolutely unacceptable.
Safety
• Coaches must make sure the fields are safe and free of glass and other foreign objects and the goal posts are anchored.
• Coaches must make sure that players are equipped with shinguards and cleats and are free of jewelry and any metal and objects that might be harmful to others.
• All practices, games and other activities must have at least 2 adults present within sight of the players.
• Coaches must ensure all players have left with or are with a parent (or parent's designee) before the coach leaves. No player should be left alone with any other person except their own parent or parent's designee.
• Coaches should keep phone numbers of parents and first aid, police and fire department at all times during games and practices.
• Any injury that occurred during a game or practice which result in unconsciousness, an inability to continue play, or that may require medical treatment, must be reported by the coach to the AMSC board.
AMSC will follow the rules established by MNJYSA, USYSA, USSF and FIFA. Modified rules will be observed when instituted for any particular division stated by MNJYSA.
Seasonal Playing Year
The AMSCTravel Playing Year will be from:
September (Fall) through June (Spring) of the following year as set fourth by Mid New Jersey Youth Soccer.
Travel Playing Seasons are defined as:
Fall - September thru November, and Spring-March thru June.
Age Divisions
AMSC follows the Mid New Jersey Youth Soccer handbook age division guidelines.
Proof of Age
Player must present 2 copies of birth certificate. AMSC will follow rules set fourth by Mid New Jersey Youth Soccer age guidelines.
Sportsmanship
It is the responsibility of all players, coaches, parents, and league administrators in the AMSC travel program to provide a positive environment for players to play soccer. It is our duty to the creation and maintenance of a positive soccer environment as a top primary, with the outcome of any game being secondary.
Teams
Note: “The team” will be composed of a coach, assistant coaches and player(s).
AMSC encourages that a team being formed have all players of the same age criteria and requirements.
New Team(s)-
The formation of a new team must be presented to the AMSC Board prior to the formation of the team. Upon approval by the Board the team will be in accordance with rules set by Mid New Jersey Youth Soccer. Team(s) being formed should meet the age requirement set forth by MNJYSA. The players' age should be as of the August 1st cut-off date before the beginning of the travelseason. See table on web link -
The coach may request names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses, from the AMSL Board, for his age group to contact the potential players for a tryout. An open tryout must be scheduled. (See tryout section)
U-8 teams only, are formed for the Spring. All other teams are formed for the Fall.
AMSC will submit a Team Registration Form for each team that it is registering in a season toMid New Jersey Youth Soccer.
Team and strength will be required from the travel coach for registration and flight placement.
Travel Try-out
AMSC will plan and sanction travel tryouts in the late-Spring timeframe each year for the coming Travel Playing Year. Each team U14 and below must participate in this tryout. U-8 teams will have their tryout in late Fall prior to their first season in the Spring.
AMSC will place advertisements when and where tryout will be held for current and new travel teams. There will be two assigned AMSC try-out dates.
The Board will meet with all head coaches at the beginning of the spring travel season to select dates for these tryouts.
AnAMSC board member must be present at the tryout.
All players must be rated by the coach during the tryout and a copy presented to the Travel coordinator.
Note: Ratings are for board use and review only.
A coach can request to hold a separate try-out date but must comply with the posted evaluation dates set by AMSC.
Player Transfer or Requesting to Play up or down to Another Team
Players are only permitted to transfer to another team before the Travel Playing Year has started. Transfer between teams within a single Travel Playing Year requires the written permission of both coaches.
Players are encouraged to play within their age group. If there is no travel team formed within their age group the player may tryout for the next age group. If the player makes the team he/she would be playing “up”.
If a team is formed in the future in his/her age group the player(s) that are playing “up” must transfer to the team that is of his/her age group, unless the player(s) is one of the top five players (full sided) or top three players (small sided)in the older age group. This will be determined by three AMSC Board Members.
Players are not permitted to play up without written request to the AMSC board.
In order for Players to transfer during the Travel Playing Year, they must first be released from their present team.
A MNJYSA release form and the old player pass MUST be provided to the Travel commissioner.
If a player requests or requires a transfer to another team, that player must give one (1) month advanced notification to the team coach he/she is requesting to leave and join.
Coaches are to report any add or drops of players during the course of the travel season.
Playing “up” does not apply to any teams that were formed prior to 2002.
Non-Resident Players
Any player whose Primary Residence is within the geographic boarders of the Township of Aberdeen and Matawan and whose residence is assessed by the Tax Assessors office or has a zip code of 07747 is considered a resident. This definition pertains to all players who wish to play Travel Soccer for AMSC.
At least 50% of the roster must consist of resident players.
If there is a need to bring more than the maximum Non-Resident players onto a team, the Coach will notify the Travel coordinator who will bring the issue to the AMSC Board for a vote on a potential waiver of this requirement.
Requirements for Two NEW Teams in same Age/Gender Group
There must be at least 30 eligible players for full-sided or 22 players in small-sided to have more than one team per age group.
There will be “A” and “B” coaches, not A and B teams.
The Board will select the core players (10 for full-sided, 8 for small-sided) and assign them to the “A coaches team“. The evaluation will be done during tryout dates by board members. Core players selected by the members must play on the “A” coach’s team if they are to play travel soccer for AMSC.
In the case that a player that was placed on the “A” coach’s team, requests to play for the
“B” coach’s team. The following must proceed:
1)A request must be made in writing to the travel coordinator.
2)The “B” coach must have an open spot for that player.
3)The “A” coach must be notified of the request.
4)Both coaches must agree on the move.
The travel teams will be selected from the try-out rosters only. No Try-out, No Play.
The “A” coach decides how many players he/she wants to carry on the team and selects the remainder of the eligible players. The “A” coach cannot elect to carry more than one half of the available pool of players without the prior agreement of the “B” coach. (ie. 14 players to choose from-max can elect is 7)
The “B” coach selects his/her roster from the remaining pool of players.
If any “A” coach selected player(s) elects to play on the “B” coach team after the final rosters for the two teams have been selected, the AMSC Board, along with the “A” coach, will select from the eligible pool of players to fill out the “A” coach roster.
Note: If the head coach holds a separate try-out, AnAMSC board member must be present to evaluate the player and see if that player is eligible to participate in the AMSC travel program. A copy of the rating must be presented to the travel coordinator for that player to be eligible for travel.
Disciplinary: Player / Travel Coach
Coach
A travel head coach or assistant coaches may be removed for not following the rules orguidelines set forth in this document. Conduct in a manner that is deemed unsporting by the AMSC Board will be addressed severely. A disciplinary hearing with the coach present will be set to determine the outcome.
Unsporting behavior shall include, but not be limited to: smoking, alcohol beverages, loud or obscene language during games or practices or abusive behavior towards players, referees, or fans.
In cases where, MNJYSA measures include a fine, the coach may be liable for payment of the fine (as determined by an AMSC disciplinary hearing).
Player
No coach shall cut a carded player off a travel team if a player is a discipline problem or doesn't attend practices or games. The Coach should present a case for board review.
Any Coach who needs to suspend a player MUST get the approval of the AMSC board prior to notifying the child's parents and the child. If a coach violates this procedure, he or she could be suspended from the league pending review from the AMSC board.
A Coach may discipline a player by not allowing the player to play in a game. If a coach seeks to discipline a player, the coach must first seek and receive approval from the Travel commissioner at least one (1) day prior to the game in which the player is to sit out or otherwise serve his or her penalty. The player's parents MUST also be notified at least one day prior to the day of the game.
Registration Process Player
All fees are due 4 weeks prior to the beginning of the travel season. This includes both uniform cost and AMSC registration fees.
All players must register on-line at . No pay no play.
TheCoach is responsible for collecting Fees if the player did not use a credit card. No Cash should be accepted.
Registration Process:
The following materials must be presented to the Travel commissioner for team registration.
1. Completed Team roster, Coach and Player Registration Forms
2. Completed and signed Player Passes. Coaches must obtain a 1" X 1" recent
Photograph (photocopies or Polaroid’s are not acceptable) of the player and glue it (do not staple or tape) in the appropriate space on the back of the card.
3. Completed and signed Coaches Passes. Coaches must obtain a 1" X 1" recent
Photograph (photocopies or Polaroid’s are not acceptable) of the coach and glue it (do not staple or tape) in the appropriate space on the back of the card.
4. Completed and signed USYS Membership forms for players.
Proof of age – 2 copies of birth certificate.
5. Completed and notarized Medical Release Forms for each player.