Parents as coaches: Many coaching careers get their beginning as a result of a parent who stepped forward to lead a team. This volunteer effort is integral to the success of a league and a community. In turn, leagues should provide training opportunities for these individuals as part of their commitment to children. A well prepared coach helps create a better environment in which an athlete can grow. Competitive and premier teams compete at a higher level of competition, thus require a higher level of training to be properly prepared. This state of preparation comes from coach/trainer education and licensing. The following are the requirements for each coach or trainer of Spirit United teams in age groups U11 or older.
- Minimum USSF and/or FYSA “E” license certification or the equivalent.
- Minimum 3 year experience as a coach of designated age group or approved equivalent.
- 3 positive letters of recommendation from existing or former teams and/or related organizations.
- Must advance to next level of licensing within two years of prior certification or within the established time frame of the licensing body. All certification beyond “E” license is the financial responsibility of the coach. Teams may charge coach or training fees to offset this expense and other required expenses.
- Coaches failing to comply with any of the above listed requirements will be required to go before a review board. At the boards discretion the coach will be put on a 6 month probation until which he/she complies with the requirements or forfeits his/her position as coach.
Minimum playing time: Our core value as a Christian league is to put the needs and interest of children first. We do this by mandating a minimum playing time for every game. All things being equal this should apply to teams at all levels of play. Children simply want to play whether they are recreational, competitive or premier. Competition with a primary focus on winning should never take priority over our commitment to children.
Every competitive and premier player on a team must be afforded a minimum playing time of 1/3 of every game (i.e. 20 minutes of a 60 minute game). Players arriving to a match after the first quarter of play will be afforded only ¼ of the remaining playing time. Criteria for a player who earns a starting position or plays additional minutes should be established by each coach at the beginning of the season. Parents and players should be made aware of these expectations prior to the first practice. The following are an example of one such criterion “The A Team”:
- Attendance faithfully attend practice = more playing time
- Attitude positive cooperation = more playing time
- Activity focused work ethic = more playing time
- Aptitude progressive development = more playing time
- A heart extreme effort & sportsmanship = more playing time
Appropriate placement of players: Exceptional athletes are sometimes registered to play on teams other than ones appropriate for their age. There are times went this is beneficial and times when is not. Issues dealing with emotionally and physical limitations, unsafe size differences and watering down of skills can affect teams adversely. Carpooling convenience does not represent a valid reason for adding a player to a competitive team. Only qualified athletes should be considered. Players with a desire to play up an age group must meet the following criteria.
- Minimum one year experience on competitive team in proper age group.
- Signed waiver from parents allowing he/she to play up.
- Signed compatibility evaluation from current or previous coach.
- Signed consent form the club Director of Coaching.
Rules regarding participation, movement and transferring of players: The transferring of players with-in the club during a seasonal year, transferring club-to-club during the year, dual registering with two clubs or being released during the year have the very serious potential of emotionally scaring kids, weakening the club and creating administrative challenges. ACYS is committed to protecting the integrity and well being of each child, team and Spirit Untied program.
Transferring with-in ACYS during a seasonal year – players will not be permitted to transfer within the club to a team of equal standing without mutual consent from the respective team coaches and a majority vote of the ACYS board. The ACYS board reserves the right to allow a transfer without mutual consent if deemed in the best interest of the child and family. All decisions are final.
Transferring club-to-club during the seasonal year - “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no”. Players will not be released from an ACYS team to another club during the seasonal year without the mutual consent of his/her coach and a majority vote of ACYS board. These incidents will be evaluated on an individual basis. Exceptions will be considered for families moving out of the area, mutual consent or in cases of dismissal for inappropriate actions. All decisions are final.
Dual registering with two clubs – Dual registered players will be permitted on an individual basis with the approval of the both club coaches and the majority vote of ACYS board. Dual registered players are not guaranteed any minimum playing time and must play for their primary team when conflicts do arise. If a player is caught playing for a secondary team during his/her primary team’s game time he will be suspended from play for a minimum of three games and reported to FYSA. If a player is guilty of a second infraction within the seasonal year he will be released from the ACYS team for a period of no less than one year.
Players being released – A player may only be released from a team within the seasonal year by mutual consent on the part of the coaches and the ACYS board. Exceptions will be considered on an individual basis for families moving out of the area, in cases of dismissal for inappropriate actions or violations of any stated ACYS rules or regulations.
