MISSION STATEMENT

It is the Mission of the CMA-Chatham Soccer Club to:

·        Provide every child the opportunity to play soccer regardless of family situation.

·        Teach fair play, leadership, teamwork, and citizenship.

·        Provide a positive environment that encourages working toward common goals and striving for excellence.

Vision

The vision of the CMA-Chatham Soccer Club is to develop youth soccer through recreational and competitive programs based on an integration of soccer players, parents, and coaches. The program will have a basic commitment to providing a positive “soccer club” environment where everyone works together to achieve our goals.

Welcome to Chatham Travel Soccer

Crellin/Morris – Chatham Soccer Club is pleased that you have decided to participate in our traveling soccer program.  We plan to make this a pleasurable experience for both parents and players.

Soccer is growing and evolving at a tremendous rate.  The number of children playing soccer in the United States is increasing, and the way the sport is played is constantly evolving.  We strive to grow with the new ideas and changes, and hope to provide our players with the best coaching available through an all volunteer program.

The Travel Program offers competitive soccer for young people in age groups from “Under 8” to “Under 19” playing, primarily, in the Capital District Youth Soccer League (“CDYSL”).   Our hope is to offer your sons and daughters an experience that will allow them to reach their full potential as both citizens of the community and members of our various travel teams.  We structure our program to give every player the opportunity to develop their potential by a higher level of commitment, training, and competition.

Parents involved with the program make up a very diverse group – some with no previous soccer experience to those that have played soccer in high school, college, and beyond. Many of our past soccer players have gone on to very successful high school, premier, and college soccer teams, and have played for other teams both in the U. S and other countries.    

There is a huge amount of work involved in carrying out all that needs to be done to make this a successful soccer program. We are open to your suggestions and welcome your participation.

Team Structure

Coaches – Team coaches have responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the team.  Coaches are responsible for teaching skills and style of play, assigning player positions,   discipline at practices and games, and substitutions at games. Our coaches are required to be licensed within one year after they begin coaching with a Chatham Soccer Club Travel team. The coach is the person to first contact if you have any problems. Keep in mind our coaches are all volunteers – please give them your support.

Assistant Coaches – We would like to have one assistant coach available for each team. The addition of an assistant coach allows the team to work in smaller groups and allows each player more time with individual work on the ball. Please consider this position as a parent – no experience is really needed.

Manager – Managers handle the administrative duties for the team – phone lists, tournament travel plans, collecting registration information, uniform orders and other assorted duties that help the coach with the administrative aspects of running the team. Please let the coach know if you are interested in this position.

Team Formation

The goal of the Club is to form as many teams as needed to provide young people the opportunity to play travel soccer.

Our Under 8 and Under 10 teams are formed depending on availability of coaches and players. These younger teams are mostly mixed teams (boys and girls) designed to introduce and develop players around team concepts. Older teams may be more established and player selections to these teams may vary according to needs of the teams.

The following is needed to form a viable team:

●          A coach - We are continually looking for coaches and provide training through many of the coaching courses available through the CDYSL.

●          Under 8 and Under 10 teams need at least 10 players. Under 12 and up need at least 14 players.  A team must have the minimum number of players registered by the team commitment date set by the CDYSL or the Club.

The Club will set a date and provide the opportunity for registration during a set period of time starting in June of each year, and will provide notice of the last date for registration.

The Club will establish a fee for registration. An additional fee shall be charged for each registration accepted after the close of registration. There will be no refunds after October 1 except for:

●          Inability to form a viable team.

●          Team selection cuts or an injury prior to the first game..

Evaluation for Team selection

Selections for each year’s travel teams begin in June. The first round of team selection each year is open to children who played on a Chatham Soccer Club Travel Team in the previous year, and all residents within the Chatham School District. Selection for a team one year, or residency in the Chatham School District, however, does not guarantee a player will be placed on the team the next year.

If team rosters are filled within an age group, the registrar shall keep an official waiting list in the event a roster spot opens. 

Late registrants will only be placed after all on-time registrants have been placed.  

If the teams are not filled from the initial registration pool, or if the Club determines that there may be enough interest for a second team in a particular age group (including having a coach for the second team), the Club will open selection to players from other areas who may be interested in playing on one of our travel teams. If more than one team is established within an age group, teams shall be filled to equal roster size.

Prior to January 1, teams shall be filled to the maximum roster size allowed by CDYSL unless a team is playing in State Cup.  After January 1, late registrants may be placed with age appropriate travel teams after consultation between the travel committee and the coach of the team where placement would be appropriate. 

If the Club is unable to establish a team (or establish additional teams within an age group) by the determined registration date, the Club will try to establish other soccer opportunities such as “Rec-Plus” teams.   Rec-Plus teams compete in inter- and intra-club type activities, such as indoor soccer games at facilities in the Capital District or at soccer tournaments, but do not compete in the CDYSL outdoor spring season.

Player requests to move up - Players will be placed on teams based on their age group as established by CDYSL.  SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1CDYSL determines a child’s “placement age” based on that child’s age on the first day (August 1) of the playing season (e.g.  A child who turned 12 on July 31, 2007 is considered “12"  for CDYSL purposes, whereas a child who turned 12 on August 2, 2007 is considered “11" for CDYSL purposes).  Generally,  SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1CDYSL separates teams into age groups comprised of two (2) year spans in the ages of the children in each division.  Players may request a “move up” to a travel team one age group older than their CDYSL placement age.   Such a request shall be in writing and included in the registration materials.  

Move ups will be granted only if:

●          The player requesting the move up has the physical ability to compete at the requested age group.

●          There is an open spot at the age level requested (a move up can not trigger a tryout).

●          The move up will not jeopardize the viability of the age-appropriate team.

●          The first priority for move ups shall be for players moving to an age group that includes the majority of players in their school grade.

●          Move up requests are good for only one season additional move ups must be requested in writing each season.

Team Placement - All team placements are final.  The soccer committee will consider extraordinary requests for transfers to a different age group if a transfer request is made, in writing, to the soccer committee with in 30 days of a player being notified of a team placement.  Transfers will not be allowed if it would affect the viability of a team or if it is found that a coach has recruited a player.

Coach Selections and Guidelines – Coaches for travel soccer will be selected by the soccer committee and serve at the pleasure of the Club. All coaches will be required to attain a license as required by CDYSL. All coaches are expected to attend two Club meetings per season for the purpose of organizing their travel team. 

Coaches are not permitted to recruit players for their team unless previously approved by the Club.  No coach, assistant coach or team manager shall promise the placement of a player on a roster unless previously approved by the Club.

Player Commitment and Practices -   Coaches shall hold a team meeting prior to the start of the indoor season to discuss team goals, plans and playing and practice expectations.  Coaches, after consultation with the players and parents, shall establish a reasonable practice schedule. Players are expected to meet the commitments of their team, including regular attendance at practices. Playing indoor soccer is not mandatory for travel players but it is strongly encouraged for all players. 

We understand that both families and players have many demands on their time; however, it is important that every effort be made to regularly attend practice sessions. Soccer is a team sport, and every member of the team plays an important roll once the game begins.  As soccer teams compete at higher levels, the need for the team to work as a unit becomes paramount. All team members rely on each other during games.  However, if a player does not attend practices or does not work hard during practice sessions, the team may suffer as a result.

Players unable to meet the commitments of the team, or who are involved in inappropriate or disruptive behavior, may be asked to leave the team after a parent or guardian and the player have received one written warning from the coach. A coach shall only issue a written warning to player after first consulting with the soccer committee.

The will to win is not as important as preparing to win. If you have a problem attending practices please let your coach know as soon as possible.

Playing Time - For U8, U9 and U10 teams, a reasonable attempt will be made to provide each player with playing time for at least one half of each game. For all other teams, coaches shall determine playing time based on each player’s skills, attitude, punctuality, game/practice performance, and the needs of the team. 

Games – Soccer is a game that is played in all weather conditions. The exception to this is the threat of lightning or if the fields have been closed.  The home team is responsible for notifying the visiting coach of any game cancellations. Parents and players should contact their coach if they have any doubts that a game will be played.

Volunteers - The Crellin Morris/Chatham Soccer Club is a volunteer organization that depends on the help of parents and families to get things done. If you have a soccer background or a desire to help out, please contact you son or daughter’s team coach.