Policies & Procedure Manual
This manual is intended to clarify the operating practices of the Tolland Soccer Club.
Unlike bylaws, these policies and procedures may be amended by a simple vote of the Tolland Soccer Club Board of Directors.
General Administration
Budget Process
Each January, the Board shall appoint a committee, including the Treasurer to compile a draft proposed budget for the following year. This group shall consider requests for new programs, capital expenditures, etc. as submitted by members of the Board of Directors.
Duties of Club Administrator
The Club may contract with an administrator for the purposes of assisting with the day to day operations of the club, including, but not limited to the duties of registering players and other volunteers with CJSA. Budget for position shall be approved, in advance through TSC Budget process.
Health & Safety
Injuries
All injuries requiring professional medical care must be reported within 48 hours of the first visit and/or incident to the Safety Director via the TSC website, Information necessary to complete this report is available there.
Concussions
The Tolland Soccer Club supports the Center for Disease Control recommendations on concussions. Any child who is suspected of sustaining a head injury will be immediately removed from training and/or competition. No child removed in this manner shall be allowed to return until s/he has been cleared by an appropriate medical professional. For more information, please visit.
It is the recommendation of the TSC Board that all TSC coaches participate in a concussion education program.
Travel Competition Program
Coach Selection: The Tolland Soccer Club Board of Directors (TSC BOD) strives to provide the best learning environment for kids throughout our club. To that end, we strongly suggest that anyone interested in coaching in our travel program contact the Travel Competition Team Director as early in the process as possible. Early notification allows the Travel Competition Team Director, in conjunction with the Technical Director, to encourage appropriate coaching instruction and evaluate the prospective coach in available settings. Coaches are strongly encouraged to comply with the recommended coaching licenses, as appear in the TSC Coaching Education Policy.
Current coaches should notify the Travel Competition Team Director of their desire to continue with the team by April 1st of the seasonal year. The Travel Competition Team Director, in conjunction with the Technical Director, shall evaluate all interested persons and present to the Board at or before its June meeting, the names of all head coaches recommended for the Fall Season.
Open positions and all assistant coach positions shall be filled subsequent to the June travel team tryouts and prior to the fall season. The Travel Competition Team Director, in conjunction with the Technical Director, shall again present recommendations to the TSC BOD for their approval.
At no time shall a coach oversee a TSC team match without prior Board approval and required CJSA background check. Any adults assisting with team practices shall also submit to mandatory CJSA background check. No individual shall assist with any team practice without the express approval of the TSC BOD.
Player Selection: The Tolland Soccer Club Travel Competition Team (s) will be primarily selected from registered Tolland Soccer Club players. Any guest players must be approved by the appropriate Travel Competition TeamDirector and according to CJSA governing rules. All sanctioned travel competition teams must be approved by the TSC BOD.
Tryouts will be held, by the end of June for the sanctioned age groups from U9 through U14. Should there be interest at U15 or beyond, the Travel Director may establish tryouts and coaches with the approval of the TSC BOD at the appropriate time of year. All existing club members will be notified of the scheduled tryouts through the TSC website, blast email system and other means, as available. Any player who will miss the scheduled tryout(s), for any reason, must notify the TSC Travel Director and Head Coach prior to the first scheduled tryout session. Candidates missing scheduled sessions may still tryout at the coach’s discretion via an independent evaluation prior to the official start of the season (i.e. first match).
To add players to an existing roster following the first match of any TSC sanctioned season, a separate tryout must be held and noticed through the same means as the original tryouts and include all interested parties.
Players selected for participation on a sanctioned travel team are on that team through a complete playing season, unless removed for disciplinary reasons or at the parents request. The playing season for Tolland Soccer Club runs from August 1 until June 30th the following year.
The roster for each Travel Competition Team shall comply with CJSA standards.
As of 2011, the following roster standards apply:
Levelborn on or afterGrade (As of September, 2012)
U98/1/033
U108/1/024
U118/1/015
U128/1/006
U138/1/997
U148/1/988
Policy on Age Appropriate v. Grade Appropriate Team Selection: Any player may tryout for any Travel Competition Team for which he/she is eligible by birthday (see chart above). Additionally, when developmentally appropriate, players are encouraged to look at trying out for teams where he/she fits both the age and grade standard. This encourages potential players to play with classmates and “age out” of the primary travel system after eighth grade.
If unsure about the appropriate playing level, parents may have players try out for more than one travel team. Parents must notify the club at registration, should the player be attending more than one tryout.
A parent may petition for his/her child to play in a higher age bracket. The Travel Competition Team Director, in consultation with the affected coaches and Training & Development Director, shall act upon such request. The full Tolland Soccer Club Board of Directors, whose decision is final, will hear any appeals.
Tryouts Process: Practice plans for all TSC travel tryouts will be established by the Travel Competition Team Director, in conjunction with the Technical Director. Tryouts will utilize primarily small-sided situations and physical testing to determine the roster.
Each age group tryout shall be directed by an individual coach who ultimately will decide the composition of the team(s) at that age group. He/she shall receive input from independent evaluators, assigned by TSC, including, but not limited to written evaluation forms from the tryout. No player is guaranteed a roster spot based on a prior year’s participation. A coach may consider a returning player’s playing ability, commitment and/or behavior when selecting a squad.
Once a head coach has been approved by the TSC BOD, that individual will generally be the responsible party for the tryout in that age bracket. In cases where multiple teams are a possibility, the TSC Board shall only appoint one lead head coach prior to the tryouts. In cases where no such coach has been approved, the Travel Director shall assign a designee.
Participation in a TSC travel tryout presumes acceptance of position on travel team, if offered. Due to the complicated process of forming multiple travel teams, a decision not to accept may impact large numbers of other children. If there is any chance that a roster spot will not be accepted, parents are urged to let coach know at the tryout.
Multiple Teams at Age Group: At our younger ages, it is often the case that we have enough travel level players for more than one Travel Competition team. In these cases, the Travel Competition Team Director shall appoint a single individual as the lead coach for that age group. The lead coach will oversee and coordinate training and team selection throughout the year. Players may move between squads, as allowed by CJSA rules.
Through U-10, every effort will be made to create team of equivalent strength competitively. Beginning at U-11, if competitive opportunities are available, the TSC Board may form teams based on level of play, as long as they do not have to compete in the same division or against mutual opponents.
District Selection: While affiliated with the Northeast District of the CT Junior Soccer Association, the Tolland Soccer Club currently chooses to participate in both the Northeast and North Central Districts in order to provide the greatest range of developmental opportunities for our players. Generally, our U9 & U10 Squads participate in the Northeast District and U11 and older squads move to the North Central District.
This division is, however, only a guideline and may be adjusted by the Tolland Travel Competition Director with the approval of the TSC BOD.
Tournament Policy: Each travel team participant can expect to play in two tournaments, including the Cape Cod Challenge Cup, during the course of the seasonal year at the expense of the Tolland Soccer Club. Each team coach, in conjunction with the Travel Competition Team Director, shall decide on the appropriate tournaments for a given team.
Currently, the only club-wide tournament is the Cape Cod Challenge Cup in Sandwich, MA held over Memorial Day weekend. While players are not required to attend the tournament, it has become an exceptional event that many of the kids look forward to each year. Hotel accommodations are negotiated by the club, although no family is required to use the negotiated lodging.
Teams may play in additional tournaments, at the discretion of the coach and the Travel Competition Team Director. The registration cost of such additional tournaments shall be borne by those players who participate in such events.
Premier v. Travel: Many of the youth in our club choose to play Premier or Developmental Premier in addition to their Tolland Soccer Club playing experience. Conflicts are going to arise, but the Club and coaching staff will work to minimize them wherever possible. Prior to U-12, Premier games and practices should not take precedence over TSC games and practices. At U-12 and above, it is expected that Premier does take precedence, however it does not need to replace TSC opportunities. Clear and early communication between coaches, parents and players can help alleviate potential concerns as our kids look to balance their schedules.
Uniforms: Travel Competition Team uniform costs will be borne by individual players. Uniforms and supplemental materials will be ordered centrally through the club. All players participating at Travel tryouts should get fitted for appropriate gear to facilitate ordering should they make the squad.
Replacement uniforms and accessories may be purchased directly through the Tolland Soccer Club website and its online provider, Team Sports by visiting
Recreation Soccer
Registration
The spring and fall are separate seasons, for the purposes of recreation soccer. Youth wishing to play in both seasons must register for the fall season prior to the TSC August 1st deadline and for the spring season by the TSC April 1st deadline. Players participating in both recreation seasons, in a seasonal year, shall be granted a reduction in their spring registration fee.
Coaching Selection Process – Recreation Soccer
The Recreation Director shall, in conjunction with age group coordinators, present to the Board at or before our August meeting, the names of all recreation coaches for the Fall season for approval. Similarly, names will be presented at or before our April meeting for the Spring season. Preference will be given to coaches who have taken the CJSA Youth Coaching Module.
U6 & U8 Program Development
The youngest Recreation programs, U6 and U8, shall be organized according to US Youth Soccer Association Guidelines. All sessions will include developmentally appropriate instruction followed by informal small-sided games (3v3 (U6) and 4v4 (U8)). No goalkeeping shall be allowed in either division.
Individual sessions shall be led by central instructor(s). Small groups within each session shall be facilitated by parents. All instructors shall have completed the US Soccer Youth Module and may be compensated by Tolland Soccer Club for these sessions.
Honors & Awards
TOM GRAY AWARD
The Tom Gray award shall be awarded annually to the 8th grade boy and 8th grade girl from the Tolland Soccer Club who possess a keen interest in the game, and demonstrate a strong ethic of sportsmanship and teamwork. The winners should consistently show high levels of positive attitude and respect to themselves and their teammates, while elevating the play of their teammates to a higher level. The Tom Gray Award shall include a monetary award to be applied to the soccer camp of the winner’s choice.
Other factors that are relevant to the nomination and selection for this award are: being an unselfish player; making the most of their abilities and skills; playing recreational soccer; playing outside the TSC (premier, district, school, soccer), being a referee, assisting in TSC activities such as being a TOPS buddy, coaching a younger age group, helping during opening day, or maintaining the fields or equipment; or any other relevant factor.
RAY MARKUNAS PLAY WITH PRIDE AWARD
The Ray Markunas Play With Pride Award shall be awarded annually to the 8th grade boy and 8th grade girl from the Tolland Soccer Club who play recreational soccer, possess a keen interest in the game, and demonstrate a strong ethic of sportsmanship and teamwork. The winners should consistently show high levels of positive attitude and respect to themselves and their teammates, while elevating the play of their teammates to a higher level. Players registered with a Tolland Soccer Club travel team during the current year are not eligible for this award.
Other factors that are relevant to the nomination and selection for this award are: being an unselfish player; making the most of their abilities and skills; playing on other soccer teams (in TSC or outside TSC); being a referee, assisting in TSC activities such as being a TOPS buddy, coaching a younger age group, helping during opening day, or maintaining the fields or equipment; or any other relevant factor.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Volunteer of the Year Award shall be awarded annually to an individual(s) who serve the club in a manner which is exemplary and beyond expectation.
Zero Tolerance
Every person responsible for a team and each and every spectator and player will respect the authority of the referee. This respect is essential to the proper play of the game, the development of our players and the retention of quality, experienced referees. Failure to respect the authority of the referee sets a bad example for everyone else, especially the players and can rapidly lead into a hostile, negative environment where playing the game of soccer is no longer the focus of the activity. This is entirely inconsistent with the sportsmanship goals that the Tolland Soccer Club encourages. This prohibition, its exceptions, and the penalties for violating it are as follows:
A . Persons Responsible for a Team: With the exception of responding to a communication initiated by a referee, making a substitution, or pointing out an emergency safety issue during the play of a match, the persons responsible for a team should not say anything to a referee. Nor should they do anything that conveys in any way any criticism of the referee. Coaches may as questions before the start of play or direct questions properly through their captains, but may not approach the referees at halftime or at the end of the match.
*Coaches, who have concerns about referee's officiating, may express those concerns orally or in writing to the Tolland Soccer Club's Referee Assigner.Coaches may not express those concerns to the referee.
The Tolland Soccer Club's policy regarding infractions of this rule is as follows:
- The first instance of reasonably low key dissent is to be acknowledged with a verbal warning.
- The second instance will result in the coach's dismissal from the field. Coaches are not to be issued a card of any kind.
- Any coach dismissed from a match will issued an immediate suspension from all coaching activities for minimum of one (1) week, which shall include at least one (1) game.
- Any subsequent offense shall result in an indefinite suspension and disciplinary action handed down from the Tolland Soccer Club's Disciplinary Board.
Coaching Education Policy
The Tolland Soccer Club Board of Directors is committed to continuously improving the quality of coaching in our club. Recognizing that the quality of the interaction between coaches and their players has a great impact on both the enjoyment and development of TSC players, we will invest in programs to enhance member coaching skills and have a positive impact on our youth.