HDSC Rules, Policies and Procedures

(Updated 11/06)

SPONSORSHIPS

1.   Direct financial support for the Club and its teams through corporate sponsorship shall be sought and encouraged, subject to the following guidelines:

(a)   Sponsorship at the Club Level:

      Recognition of corporate sponsorships at the Club level, in amounts of at least $1000.00 p.a., shall include the identification of the sponsor with a particular Club program (ex. Tier I, Tier II, Mini, Senior, Winter). The sponsor's name would be promoted whenever possible, including prominence in the Club newsletters. If the funds are identified by the sponsor for support of a particular program, 15% of the sponsorship shall be applied to the general Club Operating Budget. If the sponsor does not identify a particular program, the entire sponsorship shall be applied to the general Club Operating budget.

(b)  Sponsorship at the Team Level:

(i) Individual Player Sponsorships: for amounts of $50.00 or more per player, the sponsored player(s) would wear a prominent embroidered patch on the upper arm of his/her shirt, displaying the name and/or logo of the sponsor, if requested by the sponsor.

(ii) Team Sponsorships: team sponsorships shall be at least $1000.00 p.a. Recognition shall comprise inclusion of the sponsor's name in the team name (ex. ‘Halifax Dunbrack Name U-? Boys/Girls' ) as well as display of the sponsor's name on the back of the shirt(s) of all players on the team, above the player's numbers, if requested by the sponsor. The sponsor's name on the shirts must be approved by the Executive prior to signing any agreement.

REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS

2.   The Club shall endeavour to provide funds for support of any player, but limited to the extent of the annual dues and required team uniform, who would otherwise be unable to join the Club for reason of financial hardship. Because of the sensitivity and appropriate confidentiality required in such cases, the administration of such funds shall be entrusted to the discretion and agreement of the Club President and Club Treasurer.

3.   Except for the provision of the preceding clause 2, no player shall be registered with HDSA without payment of the appropriate club registration fee. The levels of such fees will be based on the amounts due to HDSA at each playing level and Club operation costs. For players selected for Tier 1 teams, a supplemental fee will normally be required to cover the additional cost to the Club for support of Tier 1 teams. All fee levels will be approved annually by the incoming Board elected at the Annual General Meeting.

4.   A similar, but separate registration and fee structure shall be applied for players on teams participating in an indoor winter league.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Team Officials Code of Ethics:

6.   Team officials must act with integrity in performing all duties owed to players, the sport, fellow team officials and the public. Smoking or the consumption of alcoholic beverages, while performing official duties is NOT permitted.

7.   Coaches must strive to be well prepared and current in order that all their duties are fulfilled with competence.

8.   Coaches must act in the best interest of the athlete's development as a whole person.

9.   Team officials must accept both the letter and the spirit of the Rules of Soccer.

10. Team officials must accept the role of game officials in providing judgment to ensure that games are played fairly and according to the established rules.

11. Team officials must maintain the highest standards of personal conduct and support the principles of fair play.

Players Code of Ethics:

12. Players must participate with integrity by striving to win only by legitimate means.

13. Players must pledge to learn, understand and adhere to both the written Rules of Soccer and the accepted rules of fair play.

14. Players must adhere to the principle that violence and physical intimidation are harmful to the sport, and must undertake not to use such tactics in an attempt to gain an unfair advantage.

15. Players must understand that game officials, teammates, and opponents are all integral to the sport and are worthy of the player's respect.

16. Players will be responsible for maintaining self-control and will accept official's decisions without argument or protest, playing aggressively but without hostility, and behaving graciously both in triumph and in defeat.

PLAYERS FORUM

TEAM BANK ACCOUNTS AND BILLINGS

(b) All teams are required to submit a financial statement to the Club Treasurer on or before October 31st of each year.

SENIOR TEAMS

Composition

19. A Senior team shall normally comprise 16-18 players, based exclusively on ability and commitment of players. Players are expected to be present for all team practices and games during the pre-season and regular season periods. Players will be selected following properly scheduled and publicized try-outs.

Officials

20. All team officials shall be approved by the Executive.

21. Each team will be headed by a general manager, who will be responsible to the Program Director for the overall operation of the team, and for communications with players, scheduling of exhibition games, travel arrangements, organization of team practices, team finances and fundraising, and all other administrative matters.

22. Each team will have a suitably qualified coach, who will be responsible for all aspects of the coaching of the team. The coach shall normally have a recognized coaching qualification and/or extensive and well recognized coaching experience.

Practices

23. Each Premier Division or Division 1 (or 'A') team would usually expect to practice at least twice each week in the pre-season and regular playing seasons. For Division 2 (or 'B') teams, practices will be arranged at the coach's discretion.

Player Development

24. Premier Division or Division 1 (or 'A') players are expected to participate and assist in youth player development programs within HDSC.

TIER I TEAMS

Composition

25. A Tier I team shall normally comprise of 16 to a maximum of 18 players. Before the start of the regular season, one player will be appointed team captain, by agreement of the team manager and coach. As well as being the on-field voice of the coach, and acting as a channel for communicating any general player concerns to the manager or coach, the role of captain is one of leadership, especially in terms of responsibility for player discipline in heated situations. The team captain is not necessarily the most skilled player on the team, but one who will always uphold the spirit of the game and command the respect of her/his peers.

26. The  composition of Tier I teams shall  be based exclusively on ability and commitment of players. A Tier I commitment would require players to be present for all team practices and games during the pre-season and regular season periods, except for a short defined vacation period understood well in advance, and except for bona fide medical reasons or injury. Ability will be assessed at properly scheduled and publicized try-outs, as outlined hereafter. Only one Tier I team shall normally be formed at each level, but in exceptional circumstances, the Executive Committee may approve the formation of a second Tier I team at a particular level.

Officials

27. All team officials shall be approved by the Executive.

28. Each team will be headed by a general manager, who will be responsible to the Program Director for the overall operation of the team, and for communications with players, scheduling of exhibition games, travel arrangements, organization of team practices, team finances and fundraising, and all other administrative matters. The general manager can also optionally assist with coaching, including acting as assistant coach during games, and in the absence of the coach at a game, the manager or his/her designate will act as team coach.

29. Each team will have a suitably qualified coach, who will be responsible for all aspects of the coaching of the team, including decisions on substitutions and strategy during games.  The  coach will  have  or be  working towards  a  recognized  coaching qualification. Extensive and well recognized coaching experience is considered an asset.

30. If appropriate, each team would also have one or two youthful player development assistants, who would assist the coach at practices, especially in demonstrating necessary skills and techniques, and who would be a role model in enhancing player motivation and team spirit. If the team manager is unable to assist in coaching, a player development assistant would also act as assistant coach at games. For U-14 teams, such assistants might well be Tier I U-16 or U-18 players. In circumstances where a youth player is acting in a coaching capacity proper adult supervision must also be in place.

Practices

31. Each Tier I team would usually expect to practice twice each week in the pre-season and regular playing seasons.

Playing Time

32. Playing time on Tier I teams will not necessarily be equal for all players. However, every effort must be made to ensure that all players receive a fair and reasonable amount of time. In close games, the coach would normally expect to be fielding the strongest team. The notions of a 'regular starting eleven' and of 'substitute players' will be acceptable. Players registering with the Club at Tier I must be made fully aware of and be in agreement with such policy.

Try-Out Procedure

33. A fair and open try-out shall be organized by the Youth Program Directors in collaboration with the Technical Director for each Tier I and Tier II competitive team for both summer and winter seasons of play.

34. The try-out for each season will include:

(a)  at least two sessions run by the Technical Director; assessment of technical ability, agility, fitness and commitment will be determined by a panel of three individuals, namely the Technical Director, the Team Coach, and a Club Member who has no connection or direct interest with the team or any player trying out, and approved by the Competitions and Development Committee,

(b)  a determination of the extent of family support and commitment to the player joining a Tier I team,

(c)  a determination of the expected absence of the player from practices and games owing to vacations or other commitments,

(d)  all players shall play at their appropriate age levels, unless recommended by the Technical Director to play at a higher level.

Following the tryouts, a group of players will be invited to stay with each Tier I team over the next few weeks. There is no guarantee at this stage of an eventual place on the team. Final team rosters will be determined by the team coach in consultation with and agreement of the Technical Director. In the event that the coach and Technical Director are unable to agree, the Executive Committee shall be ultimately responsible for implementing a mechanism to resolve the issue.

Team and Player Accounts

35. Each Tier I team will establish a bank account in the team's name to be administered by the general manager. All team bank accounts are required to have two signing officers at all times. All monies received and all expenses paid by the team shall be processed through the team bank account. The general manager shall also keep records for the individual players on the team showing the amounts fund-raised and/or contributed and expenditures made on behalf of the player. A monthly report shall be submitted to the Club Treasurer. In the event that a player does not balance his/her account with the team at the end of the season,  the general manager will be responsible for direct billing of the player's family to clear the account, and no player with an account that is not settled shall be eligible to register with the Club for a further winter or summer season. At the end of each summer or winter season, the team bank account shall be closed, and any cash balance shall be remitted to the Club, together with an account showing how the balance is apportioned between the individual players. Such credits shall remain attached to the individual players until the start of the next winter or summer season, and shall then be made available to the HDSC team on which the player next registers. If a player moves to another club, or if a player does not play with HDSC within 12 months, such attaching sums shall become available to HDSC for normal operating expenses. Under no circumstances, shall any individual player balance accrued by fund-raising be made available as a direct cash payment to the player.

TIER II TEAMS

Composition

36. A Tier II team shall normally comprise 15-19 players. Designation of a player as a team captain shall be optional; if there is no named team captain, a player shall be selected to represent the team on the Players Council.

37. Whenever HDSA operates Tier II leagues with Divisions of different levels of ability, and there are sufficient players to form two or more Tier II teams, the Program Director will approve the composition of a team, selected as far as possible from players in their first year of a particular level, and taking account of the Tier I tryouts, that will play in the higher level HDSA Division. Such a team would be regarded as the core of the Tier I team for the following season. Another team(s) might also be formed to play in the higher Division.

38. When two or more teams are being formed at the Tier II B level of play, the composition of the teams will be determined with the approval of the Competitions and Development Committee such that the teams are of similar strength. Any expressed interest in particular players from a previous team staying together shall be accommodated as far as possible, but this shall be secondary to concept of team equality.

39. The level of commitment expected from players on Tier II teams is not as high as that for Tier I. In addition to absence of players from practices and games owing to illness or injury, it is expected that other interests and commitments will cause players to be absent occasionally, and that absence for vacation time might be more extended than in Tier I, but shouldn't exceed three regular season games.

Officials

40. All team officials shall be approved by the Executive.

41. Each team shall have a manager and suitably qualified coach, one of whom will head the team and be responsible to the Program Director for the overall operation of the team. The division of coaching and management duties shall be determined by agreement of the individuals concerned. Some teams may also wish to identify an assistant coach.

Practices

42. Tier II teams are expected to hold a practice once a week in the pre-season and regular playing season. Additional practices might occur for some teams.

Playing Times

43. Every effort shall be made over the course of the season to ensure that playing time on Tier II teams is equitable. Players who are consistently absent from practices and games (unless due to illness, injury or vacation), may play less. All teams will be expected to participate in at least one tournament during the season.

Player Development

44. Players in their first year of a particular age group (U-14, U-16, U-18) who contemplate playing at the Tier I level in the following season shall be provided the opportunity for participation in a skill development program. As well as additional practice/coaching sessions (organized by the Boys and Girls Program Directors), this might also include the possibility of exhibition games.

MINI SOCCER

U-10 Teams

45. Each team shall normally comprise 10-14 players and either one or two coaches, depending on interest and commitment. Coaches shall be recommended by the Program Director and the Mini Program Technical Director, as approved by the Board. The Program Director shall be responsible for ensuring teams are of similar strength. All teams will participate in the HDSA 7-aside leagues, and it is expected that each team will participate in at least one Mini-Festival during the playing season.

U-6 and U-8 Programs

46. The organization and operation of the U-6 and U-8 programs shall be managed exclusively by the Program Director. The emphasis will be on fun and player development. However, in-house league play (5-aside with goalkeeper) will be offered for U-8 players, with the possibility of occasional games with teams from other clubs. For U-6 players, a 4-aside format (without goalkeeper) will be encouraged. All players shall expect to participate in at least one 1-hour session each week in the regular season.