FALLS SOCCER CLUB YOUTH SOCCER TRAVEL POLICY
PURPOSE
1. Recognize that travel play is a desired level of competition by many players and coaches at the U-8 through
U-18 level.
2. Coach selection, Travel team formation and play require a process and a set of guidelines to help ensure
quality coaching, equitable team formation, issue resolution and follow through on the goals and objectives
of FSC.
PHILOSOPHY
 Travel experience should be positive and enjoyable to FSC players and coaches.
 The team formation process shall give equal consideration to all players in the age group within reasonable
boundaries.
ADMINISTRATION
 Travel will be administered by the Travel Director. The Travel Director shall oversee all Travel teams (i.e.,
team formation process, coach selection, player notifications, etc.)
 Disputes resulting from participation in Travel shall be arbitrated by the FSC Board of Directors.
 A team will be in either “good” or “bad” standing status within the club
 The Travel Director will notify the team, via email, if they are at risk of their status changing to “bad”
o A team in a “bad” standing status will be called to meet with the board
 The board has full discretion to assign repercussions or requirements of team including
but not limited to:
 Loss of training sessions
 Requiring teams to pay referee fees
 Requiring teams to pay league registration fees
o Failure to comply to board requirements could result in dissolution of a
team
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COACH SELECTION
 The Travel Director will notify all intramural and Travel coaches via email, website announcements of the
FSC Travel Policy.
 Coaches must submit the FSC Coach application each Fall Season which will cover the Fall and following
Spring season
 Any person wishing to coach a travel team (existing or new) must submit a FSC Coach application which
will include the following information:
o The age group and gender they are interested in coaching.
o Coaching experience
o Training/certification achieved
o The dates of the tryouts (if held separately then club wide travel tryouts).
 In the event multiple coaches for a specific age group occurs beyond the necessary requirement and a
decision can’t be made to choose the coach, the following items may be used to select the coach:
o License level (Minimum Required E License)
o FSC involvement
 Any prior or current involvement with the club for coaches of new teams will receive
priority
 Current coaches of a team who wish to coach multiple teams will yield to new coaches
unless significant reason not to
o Majority parent vote
o Important - The utilization of the criteria for coach selection is not restricted to following the
order as listed – but rather to be used as a guide to assist the FSC Board in their selection
TEAM FORMATION
 Teams will initially be formed for the Fall season
 Two tryouts are to be held for the Fall season.
o These tryouts may take place during FSC tryouts, or separately if approved by the board
 Minimum roster size shall be determined by applicable league rules.
 Tryouts are for the Fall season and the following Spring season
o Coaches may discipline players during any season
 Coaches must first issue a warning via email to the family and copy the Travel Director
 After the warning is issued, and subsequent actions may result in discipline from the
coach including suspension and up to removal from team
o Coaches may cut a player after the Fall season, but reimburse the family ½ the registration fee
 If a Coach wishes to cut a player prior to the completion of the Fall season they must be
granted approval from the board and reimburse the family a prorated amount of
registration fees
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FINANCIAL
 Travel teams are required to have a Treasurer
o The Treasurer and Coach or Assistant Coach must be on the bank account
 The team must provide copies of the bank statement by the Monthly general membership meeting
 Any fines or penalties assessed to the team must be paid as required during any time frame stipulated by the
league and/or the club
o Failure to pay any fines/penalties as required will result in the team status to be in bad standing
with the club
o In the Parent code of conduct for Travel parents must sign off that they understand they are liable
for any penalties/fees of the travel team
 Due by August meeting:
o 65% of registration fee
o Uniform fee for new players
o Volunteer fee for Fall season
 Due by October meeting
o Remainder balance of registration fee
o Uniform fee for new players
o Volunteer fee for Spring season
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GENERAL
 Coaches will promote a positive atmosphere and will conduct themselves in a professional manner at all
times
 Each Travel team must have a representative at the Monthly General Membership meeting or may be fined
by the club
 At least 1 coach on a Travel team must have an “E” license through the EPYSA
o If a coach has experience which they feel is equal to, or more advanced, than the EPYSA “E”
license they may request an exception from the Travel Director
 If there is already an established team at FSC, which has players playing “up” out of their age division, and
a team forms that is in their appropriate age division, the players family has the sole choice as to what team
they would like to play in
 During tryouts if a player is not already on a travel team at FSC then they must tryout for any team
(whether an established team or a possible new team) that falls within their respective age bracket
o If a player from an appropriate age division does not make the travel team in their age division,
they have the right to tryout for a team above their current age bracket
 In the case there is already a travel team in an age bracket, this team will have first right to choose any
player for their team
 If there are multiple teams in an age bracket, the team in the higher division of ICSL will have the right to
choose players from players in their respective age division for their team during official club tryouts
(which all FSC travel players are required to participate)
o If a parent strongly prefers their child to play on a different team they may request the Travel
Director to approve an exception
 Coaches are responsible for all administrative duties related to the team they select including applications,
fees, player notification, registration, age verification, patches, transportation, etc.
 The Travel Director may require the Travel Teams to participate in 1 fundraiser specifically for the Travel
division of FSC
 Travel teams must have appropriate volunteer representation at any tournaments held at FSC
o The Travel Director may stipulate each teams requirement of participation per tournament
 Failure to meet the Travel Directors stipulation will result in the team being placed in
“bad” status within FSC
 Teams must adhere to the complete uniform selections of the club (including socks)
o Tournaments are the only exception
 FSC has sole authority to name and/or replace any coach of any team at Falls Soccer Club
o The Board may at any time, by majority vote, replace a coach of any team
 Travel teams up through U15 must utilize trainers of FSC
 Travel teams U16 and older may request the board to authorize approval to terminate use of trainers
 Deliberate and/or serious disregard of this policy by any coach may jeopardize further involvement with
FSC.
 Coaches of travel teams at FSC do not have the authority to disband a team
o If the coach of an established team wishes to disband a team they must notify the board
o The coach must call a meeting of the team and the board to request approval to disband
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Any situation not covered by this policy should be brought to the attention of the Travel Director for resolution by
the FSC board.
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