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Residency Requirements

Port Washington Soccer Club travel team rosters shall be open to all candidates meeting age and gender guidelines, regardless of hometown or school district affiliation. The club recognizes that in order to remain competitive and/or viable, some teams will need to reach outside Port Washington for players. Therefore, the Club requires that Port Washington residents predominate on each team only at the youngest age-group levels. For U10 and U11 travel teams, “local” players must comprise at least two-thirds of each team roster. A player who begins his or her travel career as a resident of Port Washington, or a member of its school district will always
be considered a “local” player, even if that player subsequently moves to another town or begins attending another school.

Similarly, the Club recommends that local players comprise at least fifty percent of all U12 and U13 rosters, and twenty-five percent of all rosters of teams U14 and older. Individual teams are able to petition the Club for exceptions to these recommendations, but must take into consideration that the Port Washington Soccer Club is a local organization, supported by local individuals and businesses, making good and abundant use of local facilities, and is therefore committed to offering local residents a competitive youth soccer program.

The Club takes no formal position on accepting/accommodating out-of-town players over local players, except insofar as it impacts the guidelines described above, although it is hoped that local players will be given every consideration by individual travel team coaches as he/she evaluates personnel.

Coaches’ Authority

Port Washington Soccer Club travel team coaches are encouraged to run their teams in the manner they deem appropriate to age, ability and commitment levels. Coaches are given a great degree of autonomy in determining the tone and tenor of their teams, but final authority on the operation of those teams rests with the Club.

The Port Washington Soccer Club wholeheartedly supports its coaches and trainers, while at the same time paying careful attention to note and comment from parents and players on the direction of a particular team or program. At all times, parents and players are encouraged to communicate their concerns directly (and, discreetly) to their coaches. If the coach is unable to address these concerns to parent and/or player satisfaction, parents and players are encouraged to reach out to the appropriate officers of the Club, specifically to the girls or boys travel
coordinators. Coaches, in turn, are encouraged to discuss relevant issues with their fellow coaches, and with the travel coordinators, in order to anticipate or forestall potential problems.

Port Washington Soccer Club travel team coaches are subject to a review by the Club every two years. The review process, to be conducted by the Club’s Travel Committee, will incorporate parent comments, on-field evaluation of games and practice sessions, and a formal interview session with the team’s entire coaching staff. Adherence to administrative and other Club responsibilities will also be considered. The Travel Committee will be assisted in the review process by impartial members of the Club board, and by youth soccer professionals from outside
the Club.

As a result of this review process, a head coach can be re-certified for another two-year period, re-certified for a probationary period, suspended for an indefinite period, or removed from the coaching ranks of the team under review. Such removal will likely have an effect on the head coach’s status with other teams within the Club.

The head-coach of each travel team operating under the auspices of the Port Washington Soccer Club shall determine its own practice and tournament schedules, relying on input from players and parents and established practice. Internal team policies, such as playing time, the establishment of fees and coaching philosophy, shall be expressly stated by each travel team coach to all players and parents at the beginning of each season. It is recommended that the coach conduct a team meeting with players and parents at the beginning of each season, to discuss these and other relevant matters.

Playing Time

The Port Washington Soccer Club takes the following position on the subject of playing time. All U10 and U11 players can expect to play at least forty-percent of each game, which on a fifty-minute clock works out to twenty minutes. The Club takes the position that younger players need meaningful playing time in each half of each game, in order to fully develop. The Club understands that in some game situations it won’t always be practicable to achieve that threshold for each player, but it is expected that every effort will be made to give each player his or her due. In some cases, if a player is “shortchanged” during one game, the coach will make a sincere
effort to make it up to that player with additional time in the following game(s).

For older players, (U12 and above), the Club supports its travel team coaches who treat playing time as a privilege to be earned rather than a right to be demanded. At the same time, the Club applauds coaches who make every effort to distribute playing time on a fair and equitable basis. The Club recognizes that both approaches have merit, provided that they are applied consistently, thoughtfully and respectfully, for the mutual benefit of the team and the individual player.

Try-out Procedures and Age-Group Conflicts

The PWSC will conduct try-outs on an age-group basis for teams entering their U10, U11, U12 and U13 years. In cases where there is more than one existing travel team in an age group, a single group try-out will be held for teams within that age group, allowing players the opportunity to seek the highest level of competition without penalty or fear of missing out on an opportunity to play for a lower-division team, and allowing coaches and Club coordinators to streamline the try-out and registration process. The coaches and trainers of those teams will together determine the scheduling and format of the try-out. For U14 and higher, try-outs can be conducted by a team independently, however, both teams in that age group will coordinate their try-out schedules so as not to conflict and to allow a player to try-out for the higher level team, without losing their opportunity to try-out for the lower division team.

The Club requires that higher-division teams within each age group notify accepted players and complete their roster no later than 48 hours after the completion of the final posted try-out. Accepted players shall not be obligated to play for a higher-division team, but they are expected to indicate their intention to the higher-division coach prior to the age group try-out. Lower-division teams will follow, in order, and announce their selections and complete their rosters no later than 48 hours after the higher-division team has been posted and/or notified.

In cases where there are two or more travel teams playing in the same division in the same age group, the team with the stronger record shall be considered the higher-division team for that try-out period.

In cases where there are two or more travel teams playing in the same age group, coaches from those teams must together submit try-out dates and locations to the Club secretary by League Week 6 of the Spring LIJSL season; these dates are expected to fall within 3-5 days of the earliest allowable dates as set forth by the LIJSL and/or PWSC, in order to complete the player notification process in a timely fashion.

In cases where there is only one travel team playing in a given age group, coaches from those teams must submit try-out dates and locations to the Club secretary by LeagueWeek 7 of the Spring LIJSL season; these dates are expected to fall within 3-5 days of the earliest allowable dates as set forth by the LIJSL and/or PWSC.

In cases where a higher-division team is unable to field the minimum number of players to register for the coming season, owing to a disinterest or unwillingness on the part of lower-division players and parents to play “up” on the higher-division team, or to play for a particular coach, the higher-division team will be forced to fold and the Club will make every effort to place “orphaned” players on the rosters of returning teams within the Club. Under this scenario, the lower-division coach will continue to run his/her team.

In cases where a lower-division team is unable to field the minimum number of players required to register for the coming season, while higher-division teams remain viable, the Club will make every effort to place “orphaned” players on the rosters of returning teams within the Club. Under this scenario, the higher-division coach will continue to run his/her team. 

In cases where a new player inquires about opportunities in town, the Club will advise said player of all age-appropriate teams, supplying names and contact information for each coach/team and indicating which teams play in the higher division. The name and contact information of said player will be shared in turn with all age-appropriate coaches, beginning with the coach of the higher-division team. Where there is more than one age-appropriate team to consider, players and parents shall always be able to choose which team they consider
appropriate to their particular circumstance.

In cases where a coach recruits a new player from outside the Club, he/she will not be required to direct said player to the higher-division team in his/her age group. Indeed, the lower-division coach might have a sporting and moral obligation to inform said player of other, more competitive opportunities within the Club, but there are no Club guidelines or policies requiring him/her to do so.

Wherever possible, the Club recognizes its obligation to weigh the best interests of the individual player against the best interests of the team, and to weigh these against the best interests of the Club. A successful travel program seeks to include as many local players as possible, while at the same time offering the highest-level of competition to spur individual player development and nurture a sustaining interest in the sport.

Ideally, there will be enough interest to support two teams in each age group – one to follow a more competitive, disciplined approach, and one to pursue a more relaxed spirit of inclusion. However, in age groups where there is only enough interest to support one team, the philosophy of the coach awarded responsibility for that team shall prevail.

Formation of New Teams

Prospective coaches looking to field a new team in age groups U11 and older must make formal application to the heads of the competition and travel committees and to the gender-appropriate travel coordinator. Such application must be accompanied by a petition signed by parents of no less than 16 players not currently rostered on any PWSC travel team, indicating their child’s date of birth and expressed interest in playing on the proposed new team. The prospective coach would then submit to an interview with representatives from the competition and travel committees, and members of the PWSC executive board, to determine his/her qualifications and/or suitability to act as coach, and to assess the need for a new team within the proposed age group and any impact the formation of a new team might have on existing travel teams within
the Club.

In cases where a team has folded, abandoned its schedule or otherwise ceased to function and is looking to reformulate for the coming season, these same guidelines shall apply. New teams as described in this section shall be required to carry at least 16 players on their rosters in their inaugural season.

Eligibility

All age and gender appropriate players are eligible to try-out for each travel team in the Port Washington Soccer Club. Players with fall birthdates who might be considered “young” for a particular LIJSL age group team comprised mostly of players in his/her school grade shall be considered age-appropriate.

Players seeking to join a particular LIJSL age group team comprised mostly of players in the grade above his/her school grade shall be considered “playing up.” Parents of these players will be required to send a letter to the gender-appropriate travel coordinator, indicating their wareness that the player falls under the intended age range and addressing some of the attendant concerns. 

Players seeking to play up by two age-group classifications must make formal application to the Club in order to do so. Failure to do so at least two weeks prior to the posted tryout date for the older team will disqualify that player from consideration for the coming season. As part of the formal application, parents of these players will be required to send a letter to the gender-appropriate travel coordinator, indicating their awareness that the player falls two years short of the intended age range and addressing some of the attendant concerns. Parents and players might also be asked to meet with the travel coordinator or other officers of the Club to discuss any
relevant issues. The recruiting/soliciting coach might also be asked to offer insight and opinion, along with the player’s most recent PWSC coach, if applicable. The final decision, whether to allow “playing up” by two years, shall rest with the Club. 

Girls seeking to play on boys teams must make similar application, beginning with a letter from the parents to both the boys and girls travel coordinators indicating same. Such application might also require a meeting with the travel coordinator or other officers of the Club to discuss any relevant issues. The final decision, whether to allow a female player to roster with a boys travel team, shall rest with the Club.

Players seeking to play up by more than two age-group classifications will generally not be permitted to do so. The only anticipated exception to this rule will be made at the High School level. A U15 player, for example, might be permitted to roster on a U19 team if it can be demonstrated that the player has the physical and emotional maturity to compete at that level, or if that player has already completed at least one season of high school soccer at the varsity level.

Younger boys and girls who have completed or are currently completing a season of high school soccer at the junior varsity level will be permitted to roster on U17 teams; younger boys and girls who have completed or are currently completing a season of high school soccer at the varsity level will be permitted to roster on U19 teams.

It is common practice for coaches to invite “guest” players to tournaments, and it is expected that Club teams follow the same age-group guidelines as described above in extending such invitations. Also, it is necessary for the soliciting/recruiting coach to first receive permission from the player’s coach before extending such an invitation.

Coaching Certification/Requirements

Travel team coaches are expected to meet the training and certification requirements detailed in the Port Washington Soccer Club by-laws. Coaches of younger teams (U13 and younger) are required to pass the “C” coaching course, offered through the Long Island Junior Soccer League, before the end of their first season as a travel team coach. Coaches of older teams (U14 and older) are required to pass the “B” coaching course, offered through the Long Island Junior Soccer League, before the beginning of the U14 season. (Note that successful completion of the “C” course is required for acceptance into the “B” course.) The only exception to this rule will be
for coaches of new travel teams, or for new coaches of existing travel teams, who will have one season to achieve compliance. 

It is recommended that all members of a travel team’s coaching “staff,” including but not limited to the head coach, assistant coaches, team manager and professional trainer, achieve their respective “C” and “B” licenses, but it is only required of the head coach. 

The Port Washington Soccer Club recognizes that many of its coaches hire professional trainers to run practices and games, and that many of these trainers have additional qualifications beyond these “C” and “B” coaching licenses. Some trainers and coaches might hold licenses that supersede these course designations, and others might have so many years of playing and coaching experience that such licenses offer no real indication of their true abilities and expertise. For those trainers and coaches, the “C” and “B” licenses are indeed a positive, but
officers of the Club and gender-appropriate travel coordinators can waive these requirements based on relevant experience. 

On a regular basis, the Port Washington Soccer Club will offer seminars and refresher courses to coaches, on topics such as defensive strategies and set-plays. These seminars and refresher courses will be designed to assist Club coaches but will be open to parents of players as well. Attendance at these sessions will be mandatory for at least one member of each team’s coaching staff. Overall attendance by the head coach will be taken into consideration during the review process described in the above paragraphs. 

Trainer Requirements

The Port Washington Soccer Club supports and encourages the use of professional trainers. Teams may only hire trainers that have been approved by the Competition Committee. To obtain such approval, each trainer must submit a resume, including highest coaching license obtained, and proof of liability insurance (NSCAA membership is sufficient. In addition, each trainer must also be approved by Eastern NY Soccer (pursuant to its standard risk management review.) All Club trainers will be held to the same conduct and age group license standards as Club coaches, except that all Club trainers must have a “C” license prior to being hired.

No individual may train more than four teams within the Club without the written approval of the Club. In order to obtain such permission, a trainer must submit a weekly schedule showing how he or she will manage both team practices and games. If a team does not have a licensed coach, but instead utilizes a manager, then the trainer must have a contract guaranteeing attendance at all games.

All trainers should have a cellular phone and a first aid kit on the field during training sessions. He or she should be in possession of a list of home, emergency, parent cell phone numbers for all players, which should be provided by the team coach or manager.

At no time shall a trainer leave players alone after a practice/game. Another parent or responsible adult known either to the trainer or the players must be present in order for the trainer to leave. It is recommended that an additional adult, other than the trainer, be present during training sessions for U10 and U11 players.

Travel Team Websites

The Port Washington Soccer Club maintains a digital presence through its website and domain names. The main website and domain name is PWSOCCER.COM. It is expected that variants of this name along with the variants of the Club name are not to be used by any group affiliated with the Club, without the written consent of the Port Washington Soccer Club. For teams wanting their own website, the PWSOCCER.COM Club website, as of March 31, 2009, will have a facility to allow each team a separate and distinct presence on the Club website. Given this feature, the Club does not permit any team or program within the Club to have a separate website or other digital identity, other than the one provided by the Club’s official website.