TRAVEL

(Sunday League)

BASA TRAVEL SOCCER GUIDELINES

June 12, 2010 

Travel soccer is a higher level of play than found in the in-house program.  BASA expects registered Travel teams to play in PA West Division that best benefits the players and team.

Parents should understand that registering a child for Travel soccer does not guarantee that they will be placed on a team.   Rosters will be developed using the registration criteria contained in these guidelines.

Attendance at all practices and games is expected.  Travel teams usually practice at least twice a week and play games on Sunday afternoons.  By registering, parents are committing their child to this schedule.

Definitions:

Board – the Blackhawk Area Soccer Association (BASA) Board of Directors.

Coaching Committee – the coaching committee consists of the Vice President, Coaching Director, Travel Coordinator and Referee Coordinator.

Excused Absence – a player may be excused from practices and games due to injury, illness, school related activities, or any other legitimate reason as defined by the coach and Board.

Good Standing – any soccer player who has no history of unexcused absences at practices and games in previous seasons or has shown no other behavior that was determined detrimental to the team.  A player must have one season of in-house soccer experience to determine good standing.

Moving Up – any soccer player who must, solely on the basis of their age, move to the next level of play.

PA West Divisions -   Competitive (Classic) = division 1, 2, 3 – may have try outs, no playing time limits

                                        Transitional = division 4 – club may have try outs and no playing time limits

                                        Recreational = division 5, 6 – no try outs allowed, playing time limits

Playing Season – August 1^st of one calendar year through July 31^st of the following year, includes Fall and Spring.

Playing Session – the period of play for either Fall or Spring not both.

Playing Up – any soccer player who based on experience, talent, ability and skill, or lack of players to roster a team in his/her age bracket who moves to an older age bracket.

Travel Players – a player who is rostered with PA West to play travel soccer.

Same Team – equals more than 50% of the original roster from the previous travel session

Registration Criteria:

The Board has determined that the following criteria will be used to roster travel teams.  Each criterion is dependent upon the player being in good standing and has registered by the last registration date posted for the upcoming session.

The one season of in-house soccer experience requirement may be waived by participating in a skill demonstration for the Coach and Coaching Committee, to determine that the player has the skills to compete at this level.

PA West Competitive (Classic) and Transitional Divisions:

Tryouts may be required if deemed necessary by the Board.

All players playing in Competitive (Classic) and Transitional divisions are not guaranteed equal playing time.

If there are enough players to roster more than one team for an age group, skill demonstrations may be held to determine which players to place on those teams.  The teams may be split according to skill, and when possible, will play in different skill appropriate divisions.

PA West Recreational Divisions:

All efforts will be made for all players playing in recreational divisions to play one half of each game except for absence, injury, illness or discipline problem

If there are enough players to roster more than one team for an age group, skill demonstrations may be held to determine which players to place on those teams.  The teams may be split according to skill, and when possible, will play in different skill appropriate divisions.

If there are not enough players to roster more than one team and there are too many players registered for one team according to PA West Youth Rules, the following criteria will determine the roster of a team:

1.      Coach’s children

2.      Assistant Coach’s children

3.      Players returning to the same team from the previous session or season

4.      Players moving up in age group having played travel the previous session or season.  Players with the most playing experience in travel then in-house will be given preference

5.      Players having the most in-house experience

6.      Players who have relocated to the Blackhawk area and have playing experience

7.      Players transferring from other clubs

8.      Date and time of registration

If an age group does not have enough players to roster a team, younger players using the same criteria listed above may be invited to play up until the roster is filled.

If a family has more than one child playing travel and it is determined that the younger child has the skills to play up with his/her sibling, the Board shall consider this request.

Rosters shall be determined as early as possible to give players who may not get onto a team, adequate time to find another club.

Players wishing to register for travel, U16 and below, who are rostered on other teams outside BASA that conflicts with the travel schedule must have the Coach’s and Boards approval to be rostered.

Attendance in all Divisions:

Attendance at all practices and games is expected.  Failure to attend practice or games for other than legitimate reasons as defined by the Coach and Board may result in lost playing time for disciplinary reasons.

Chronic absences from practices and games will be brought to the attention of the Board and may result in loss of good standing with the association which will have an impact on future travel registrations.

Playing Up:

A request may be made to the Board to allow a player to play up, if that player demonstrates the skill and ability to move to a higher age bracket or there is a lack of players to roster a team in their age bracket.  Parents must complete and sign a consent waiver and submit it to the Board. This request must be confirmed by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board.

Late Registration:

Players who register late will be placed on a team if there is room after everyone else is rostered including those players playing up.

Travel Coaches:

Anyone wishing to coach a travel team must submit their interest in writing to any member of the Board.  A coaching resume must accompany this request.  Such items must be received by the date established by the Board. All coaches are not guaranteed to keep their positions through both fall and spring seasons and may be replaced as recommend by the Coaching Committee.

Travel Uniforms:

If a travel team is to use a different uniform other than the BASA uniform, the uniforms must be approved by the board and be within the PA West uniform rules.

Travel Practice and Games: