To train players so they can Play anywhere in the country. To treat them so they will only wish to Play for Florida Fire Juniors.

Transcription

1 Our Mission: To train players so they can Play anywhere in the country. To treat them so they will only wish to Play for Florida Fire Juniors. Our Vision: Bring A First Team Mentality To Everything We Do FLORIDA FIRE JUNIORS TEAM MANAGER MANUAL P.O. Box Naples, FL FloridaFireJuniors.com Revised July, 2018 Ver 3.0

2 FLORIDA FIRE JUNIORS TEAM BINDER CHECKLIST Team Roster from GotSoccer Team Contact Information Be sure to get both parents/guardians info Team Plan/Calendar Team Budget Season Schedule FYSA Medical Releases completed & signed Player Passes Team Manager Manual Player Code of Conduct Dispute Resolution Policy Heads Up Concussion Info Sheet a a a a HELPFUL CONTACT INFO Key Areas Club Contact Phone Player registration, passes, rosters, substitution cards. Liz Wilroy, FFJ Registrar Registrar@FloridaFireJuniors.com Payment plans, banking, sponsorships, tourney registration, ref fees & volunteers Sports Engine, website, social media Field Assignment U12 & Below Melissa Winn, FFJ Bookkeeper Finance@FloridaFireJuniors.com Robyn Orndoff, FFJ Secretary robyno333@gmail.com Melissa Miller mm.floridafirejuniors@gmail.com ADOC, U13 & U Field Assignment U13 & Above SFUYSA game changes Rob Astramowicz Jack Togher, SFUYSA League Rep robastrafloridafire@gmail.com jacktogher.ffj@yahoo.com Director of Coaching Paul Williams DOC@FloridaFireJuniors.com Ast Director of Coaching Chris Cashion ADOC, U15-U chrismcashion@gmail.com Ast Director of Coaching David Pearson ADOC, U11 & U DOC@FloridaFireJuniors.com Pre-Academy or Academy Questions Andrew Sanford Academy ADOC Academy.floridafirejuniors@gmail.com General questions, suggestions, help Chris Doran, FFJ Ex Director cdoran@floridafirejuniors.com

3 Table of Contents I. Introduction A. Team Components B. Team Manager Responsibilities II. Communication A. Communication with the Team B. Helpful Contacts C. Specific Communication D. Conflict Resolution (Concerns from Team Member) III. Team Meeting IV. Team Roster V. Team Binder VI. Player Passes VII. Uniforms VIII. League Play A. League Registration, Schedules and League Representatives B. League Rosters C. Referee Fees D. Guest Players and Fees E. Partial Season Fees F. Scrimmage Requests IX. Tournament Registration X. Team responsibilities and guideline for Coaches Per Diem XI. Hotel Arrangements for Travel Teams XII. Team Treasury and Raising Funds XIII. Volunteer Requirement XIV. Team Photo XV. End of Season Team Party XVI. Additional Reference Information A. FYSA Website Access B. FYSA & GotSoccer C. Transfer and Release Process XVII. Lightning

4 I. INTRODUCTION Thank you for taking the time to volunteer to serve as a Team Manager. Team Managers perform a very important role in the successful management and running of the many teams that comprise Florida Fire Juniors (FFJ). The purpose of this manual is to provide Team Managers with an overview of the many areas of responsibility of team management and serve as a reference guide to help assist you in the running of your individual teams. Each team may elect to have one person perform the responsibilities of the Team Manager or multiple members may share them. A. Team Components There are many people that comprise a successful soccer team. 1. Coach: The Head Coach has been selected by FFJ as the primary individual responsible for the team. The Head Coach has to report to an internal board of directors (the parents), an external board (the club) and deals with competing enterprises (other teams) in a business association (leagues and tournaments). The Head Coach is responsible for decisions regarding player selection, assistants, team rules and playing time. The Head Coach is also responsible for team conduct and is the club s ambassador to others. A Head Coach may select one or two Assistant Coaches to help him/her fulfill roles and responsibilities for the team. Both the Head Coach and any Assistant Coaches are responsible for meeting the expectations of FYSA and FFJ with regard to conduct and qualifications. 2. Player: Each player that registers and agrees to play for a team affiliated with FFJ must abide by the FYSA Code of Ethics and the Player Agreement required to be executed upon registration with FFJ. This includes displaying good sportsmanship and proper respect toward others on the field. Each player needs to make a concerted effort to be at all practices and games with all appropriate playing equipment because each player is an important link of the team. 3. Parents: Parents provide an important role in contributing towards the success of an individual soccer team. Parents are also required to adhere to the FYSA Code of Ethics and Player Agreement executed upon registration of their player with FFJ. 4. Team Manager: The Team Manager is generally a parent of a player on the team who is willing to assume responsibility for the successful organization and management of the individual team. Team Managers can either elect to manage the team by themselves or enlist the assistance of other parents to help with the successful organization and management of the team.

5 B. Team Manager Responsibilities The Team Manager serves as the general manager for the team organization, coordinating all of the tasks that need to be done throughout the soccer season. Some important areas of responsibility of the team management are listed below. These responsibilities are discussed in more detail later: BEFORE THE SEASON BEGINS: Communicate as necessary, with various parties associated with the team, including the Coach, the Parents, the Players, the Assistant Director of Coaching and the Executive Director. Confirm that all players have a uniform. Collect any new players birth certificate copies and forward to the Registrar. Collect/confirm data from players: parents & players names, uniform number, parents home and cell numbers, and all addresses. Confirm with parents that contact information can be shared among team parents. contact info to parents on your team (of those who are willing to share their info). Make sure all families are comfortable with and/or text communication and will use it for last minute schedule changes. Note alternatives for families requesting calls or texts. Communicate with your coach and make your plan for the season training, tournaments, how you two would like to handle parent concerns, player injury assistance, who reports the score of your games, etc. Check GotSoccer.com and verify all players are showing up on your official roster (under Documents). Any players not listed need to be reported to the Registrar immediately. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with Gotsoccer.com, but do NOT change any information. If you need help navigating Got Soccer contact our registrar. Maintain a FFJ Medical Release Form for each player. These must be at each game & practice. Make a copy for every coach and yourself. (Med Release Forms no longer need to be notarized) Player passes: Registrar will contact you to give you your player passes and make arrangements for you to receive any new player s passes. It s handy to punch holes in the corner of the cards and keep them on a ring. Discuss whether you or your coach will hold onto the cards. Uniforms: When new players are added, be certain they visit soccer.com to get their uniform ordered. Set-up SportsEngine (FFJ preferred) or TeamSnap team communication app with coach and all parents. DURING THE SEASON: Early in week, ask coach who will opposing team s manager or coach to confirm next week s game time/date and to ask for/give directions to fields if necessary. Register for tournaments. It is expected that each team will play in a minimum of one tournament per season. Confirm that the tournament is an FYSA sanctioned tournament. Please confirm with your coach before registering for any tournament. parents/ players a link to directions for soccer fields the week before each game. Remind them what color jersey to wear (RED, RED, RED home / White, Red, White away) but always have the players bring both jerseys!

6 Always carry all parents cell phone numbers with you so you can contact them for last minute cancellations or emergencies. In the event a home game needs to be rescheduled during season (usually due to weather), contact the other manager to find a new date/time. Then the Field Assignor who will contact the Referee Assignor. Communicate information to your team. Create and Maintain a Team Binder With the Coach, manage Team Player Passes Distribute League Play information Register for Tournaments Facilitate Hotel Arrangements for Tournaments and Travel Maintain referee fees in appropriate denominations (Referees don t make change) Track and report team parent volunteer hours, to the Bookkeeper Melissa Winn Manage team sponsors/printing of jerseys or purchase of tent according to sponsorship level, purchase sponsor plaque to present before end of season, communicate all sponsor info to Bookkeeper Manage the Team Treasury/Fundraising Efforts & maintain team bank account in partnership with Bookkeeper Organize a Team Photo day Organize an End of Season Team Party FOR THE GAMES: Bring 3 game cards to each game: one for opposing coach, one for referee, and one for your coach. Or the correct SFU multi-color game card, Bring player cards to every game. This is mandatory and players without cards are ineligible to play. Pay referees before game begins. Help ensure that parents/guests on our sideline are respectful, positive, and display good sportsmanship. Remind parents on our sideline about Code of Conduct, if necessary. If you need help talking to a parent, ask your coach or the appropriate Director. Our teams, club, and community are judged by our actions let s represent all involved in a positive light. Our players are watching. AFTER THE GAMES: Call-in game scores (contact information on game card) immediately after game. Jack Togher receives scores for SFUYSA. Report other league scores with QR reader through phone. These responsibilities do not all need to be the sole responsibility of the Team Manager. The Coach and Team Manager can agree to split the responsibilities. Further, the Team Manager is encouraged to delegate certain duties to other parents not just to alleviate the burden of responsibility, but to share opportunities for others to contribute to the success of the team

7 throughout the season. Seasonal Year The seasonal year for FFJ officially runs from August 1 through July 31st of the following year. However, many events occur prior to the start of the official seasonal year. A general overview of the FFJ seasonal year is as follows: Coaching Assignments Tryouts Initial Registration Drive Pre-season meetings Team Meetings Fundraising through sponsorships Soccer Showcase (FFJ Picnic) League play Senior Teams Junior Teams FFJ Fall Tournament President/Commissioners Cup State Cup End of Season Banquet FFJ Annual General Meeting FFJ Spring Tournament Tournaments May Early May May/June June August-September July-September September August-October; February-May September-Dec.; Jan/Feb-April October February - May March - May May March April / May Vary II. COMMUNICATION One of the most important components of the successful team organization is clear, concise communication, on a platform that serves all team families. We recommend the Team Manager and Coach determine with families, what the primary and secondary communication platforms will be for the season ( , text, etc.). While several different apps for messaging/team info/results/scheduling are available in the soccer world, Florida Fire Juniors is moving to Sports Engine across all age groups. By the end of the 2018/19 season, we re requesting complete club compliance with this initiative.

8 Player registration, passes, rosters, substitution cards. Payment plans, banking, sponsorships, tourney registration, ref fees, Volunteer Coordinator SFUYSA game changes HELPFUL CONTACT INFO Key Areas Club Contact Phone Liz Wilroy, FFJ Registrar Sports Engine, website, social media Pre-Academy or Academy questions General questions, suggestions, help Field Assignment U12 & Below Field Assignment U13 & Above Melissa Winn, FFJ Bookkeeper Jack Togher, SFUYSA League Rep Robyn Orndoff, FFJ Secretary Andrew Sanford Academy ADOC Chris Doran, FFJ Ex Dir Melissa Miller Rob Astramowicz Specific Communication Club Registrar, Liz Wilroy The Club Registrar is responsible for the registration and verification of all players, player passes, rosters and uniform issues. Club Bookkeeper, Melissa Winn The Club Bookkeeper is responsible for all fee payments, financial aid payments, general/team bank accounts, sponsorships and the accounting of volunteer hours. Marketing Committee, Robyn Orndoff Robyn works to tell the Florida Fire Juniors Story on our website and social media platforms. If you want to share pictures/info about a fundraiser or

9 a team success story, please reach-out to her. As a matter of organizational structure, Team Managers should be able to get answers to all they need through the season from their Coach, the Registrar and the Bookkeeper. Should the Coach need input, he/she will work with his/her Assistant Director of Coaching. And if the ADOC needs assistance, he/she will speak with Director of Coaching, Paul Williams. The Executive Director can address organizational challenges and Committee-related responsibilities (marketing and promotion, for example) outside of what happens on the field. Conflict Resolution (Concerns from a Team Member): Occasionally a Team Parent may come to you with a team problem, usually of a sensitive nature, that they would like for you to discuss with the coach. Relay the information to the coach and perhaps help him/her come up with a workable solution for all involved. Respectful, cordial conversation among all parties, through or in-person conversation, to the extent that it doesn t interfere with practices, games or tournaments, will likely lead to a quicker and easier resolution. However, if a team member feels there s a concern that needs to be brought to the attention of the club, the member (parent or player) should be directed to the Dispute Resolution Policy available at FloridaFireJuniors.com. In short, the procedure for dispute resolution requires a series of step-by-step, in-person meetings, beginning with the coach, then the Director of Coaching and, if it comes to it, representatives from the Concerns Committee. Parent Reminder: We ask that coaches not be approached within 24 hours of a game or tournament. Further, we ask that should you need to address a problem with the coach, you adhere to a 48-hour Cooling off period before requesting a meeting by , with the coach. III. TEAM MEETING Once the Coach and Team Manager have come to a decision about how the team will operate over the coming seasonal year, the Team Manager should schedule an initial Team Meeting. The initial Team Meeting should cover but is not limited to, the following areas: A. Team Welcome B. Team Roster Distribution C. Review Team Registration Status/Deadlines with the team D. FYSA Code of Ethics & Player Agreement (Review) E. Coaches Coaching Philosophy F. Practice Schedule (Dates/Times/Locations) G. Game Schedule (if available)

10 H. Tournament Expectations/Schedules I. Equipment Requirements (Players/Coach/First Aid Kit) J. Assign Additional Duties to Parents K. Team Uniform Florida Fire Juniors Gear L. FFJ Events (Picnic/End of Season Banquet) M. Sponsorships to date, additional opportunities Sponsorship Form N. Additional Fund Raising Opportunities O. How to address concerns / disputes IV. TEAM ROSTER The Coach should provide the Team Manager with a list of all the players who made the team along with their phone numbers and addresses, if available. The Team Manager should call/contact all of the families where he/she doesn t have the information that s listed below. These families are usually the ones who are new to your soccer team. Don t forget to welcome them to the FFJ family! A. Player Name B. Player Address C. Player Phone Number D. Parent(s) Work Phone Number(s) E. Parent(s) Cell Phone Number(s) F. Address G. Jersey Number Once gathered, this information should be entered into a spreadsheet format. It is useful to share this team roster and contact information with all members of the team. You can have the team roster laminated (in various sizes) and distribute it to your team families for them to keep. The Team Roster should also contain the Coach s phone number and contact information and Team Manager s contact information, so parents and players have the ability to communicate with both. V. TEAM BINDER The Team Manager should maintain a 3 ring Team Binder, which contains the following information: 3-hole binder pouch to hold the following to ease in giving to referees prior to each game: Up to date roster Laminated player passes on a ring

11 Referee fees when applicable Encased in page protectors Medical Release Form for each player Roster (FYSA and League (SFU, US Club or FSPL) Signed Parent Code of Conduct Form Team Game Schedule Team Practice Schedule Field Maps Guest Player Forms Team Agenda for games (when travel is involved) Statistics Notification of Possible Head Injury Form FYSA signed Informed Consent about Concussions and Head Injuries Form o Copies of FYSA - Possible Concussion or Head injury Notification Form Monthly Financial Reconciliation o Team Treasury Information/Referee Monies/Team Monies This Team Binder should accompany the team to each soccer event. In most cases, the Player Passes, medical releases, rosters and referee fees need to be submitted to the tournament committees prior to participation in any tournament. NOTE: For Presidents, Commissioners and State cup, the FYSA tournament staff will have official copies of your roster - you do not need to bring them. These copies were made after the roster freeze date and are the ones they will use for the events. Under most conditions they will not use your Roster even if you do bring them but it never hurts to have a few copies runoff after the roster freeze date just in case. VI. PLAYER PASSES Registration for the season is completed online via GotSoccer. Registration instructions can be found on the Florida Fire Juniors web site (floridafirejuniors.com/registration). All players must register online and complete payment to be eligible to receive a player pass for the season. Once all players on a team have completed the registration process and been properly registered with FYSA, the Club Registrar will issue player passes for each player. The Player Pass is your player s passport to play. Players are not allowed to play in league play or tournaments without a valid player pass. If a pass is lost (or not retrieved back from the registration desk at a tournament which holds player passes for the duration of a tournament), it is the team s responsibility to pay for the cost of replacing the pass ($15). The Team Manager or Coach should ensure that Player Passes are

12 properly retrieved upon the completion of each league game (from the referee) or tournament. Player Passes are generally not required for scrimmages. The Club reserves the right to revoke any individual Player Pass for violation of the terms of the Player Agreement. Team Managers are required to return to the Club Registrar any player pass that has been revoked. Passes should remain with the team manager or coach and are not to be used for non-ffj events. The passes will be collected and given to the Registrar at the end of the season. For questions regarding Player Passes, contact the Club Registrar. VII. Uniforms Each player must purchase a uniform kit through Soccer.com. Upon completion of their registration, each player receives an from Soccer.com with information on how to order their uniform for the season. In general, the Club is on a two-year uniform cycle, requiring the purchase of a new uniform every TWO years. Basic required uniform items include two game jerseys (Home and Away), one game short and sock, one practice jersey, one practice short and sock. In addition, State Cup ( Premier ) teams require warm-ups and backpacks for travel to out-of-state events. Families at their own discretion may purchase other items. Home Game Kit: Red Jersey/Red Short/Red Socks Away Game Kit: White Jersey/Red Short/White Socks Practice Uniform: Blue Training Jersey/ Blue Short/ Blue Socks Players are required to wear the designated game and practice uniforms to all games and practices. VIII. LEAGUE PLAY Prior to the season the DOC and Coach determine the appropriate competitive level of play for the team and the league in which the team will play. A. League Registration and Schedules: The Club pays Fees associated with league registration. When league schedules are posted (between late-july and mid-september) on league websites, parents should note and communicate personal conflicts with the Team Manager. If a Coach and Team Manager decide to reschedule a game due to too many conflicts, the Florida Fire Juniors League Rep for the appropriate league, should be notified. Each league has restrictions on rescheduling of games. Games not played according to the schedule set forth by the league may be subject to forfeit. Each team needs to familiarize themselves with the rules of play of their respective league. Specific questions can be directed to the League Representative specified below:

13 Southwest Florida (SWFL) West Coast Boys & Girls Swflsoccer.net Paul Williams Soutwest Florida Rec Soccer (SWFLRS) Recreational - West Coast home.gotsoccer.com/rankings/event.aspx?eventid=53591 Paul Williams DOC@FloridaFireJuniors.com South Florida United (SFU) East Coast Boys & Girls SFUYSA.com Jack Togher jacktogher.ffj@yahoo.com Florida State Premier (FSPL) Boys & Girls Premier fysa.com/programs/florida-state-premier-league/ Paul Williams DOC@FloridaFireJuniors.com B. League Rosters: Vary by league but generally, SWFL, LCYS and FSPL allow use of the electronically generated roster from GotSoccer.com. SFU requires a unique roster which is provided to appropriate teams by the Club Registrar. C. Referee Fees: The referee payment terms for each league are set prior to the season. Referee Fees for league play are paid by FFJ. Each team pays a 50% share of total referee fees for each league game, except for the LCYS league, where the HOME team is responsible for full payment of the referees. Your league referee fees will be deposited into your team bank account by the bookkeeper. You ll then receive an with denomination requirements to make paying your referee/assistant referees accurately. LEAGUE/AGE GROUP TEAM SHARE REFEREE FEES (R-AR-AR) SFUYSA: 9U & 10U $40/team $36-$22-$22 SFUYSA: 11U & 12U $46/team $42-$25-$25 SFUYSA: 13U & 14U $55/team $50-$30-$30 SFUYSA: 15U+ $70/team $64-$38-$38

14 SWFL: 9U & 10U $17/team $34 (Referee Only) SWFL: 11U & 12U $40/team $40-$20-$20 SWFL: 13U $50/team $50-$25-$25 FSPL: 15U & 16U $60/team $60-$30-$30 FSPL: 17U, 18U, 19U $70/team $70-$35-$35 LEAGUE/AGE GROUP **HOME TEAM PAYS** REFEREE FEES (R-AR-AR) SWFLRS: 10U $22 $22 (Referee Only) SWFLRS: 12U $48 $24-$12-$12 SWFLRS: 15U SWFLRS: 19U $88 $44-$22-$22 D. Guest players and Fees: The use of guest players is governed by the terms of the individual leagues in which a team is playing or the specific rules of the tournament for which a team has applied. Guest Players are not permitted for Presidents/Commissioners Cup or State Cup competitions. Please Note: The Registrar must be informed of your Guest Player use by the prior Thursday, at Noon. Club Pass may be used intra-club (within FFJ) and Guest Players inter-club (from another club other than FFJ). If your team desires to make use of a Guest Player or Club Pass, all initial communication should go first to the DOC (doc@floridafirejuniors.com) and then the coach of the team from which you are requesting the guest or player pass. Initial Guest Player requests should NOT go through the player or parent. For most league play, Guest Players may be hand-written onto the league roster, with a notation of the team code for the Guest Player that he/she is primarily registered to. You must have your guest player forms at the event you are attending. For most Tournament Play, Intra-Club club pass Players can be added to a team s roster through an Event Roster, which can be obtained from the Club Registrar. These players do not typically require a separate Guest Player Form (club Pass). For Inter-Club Guest Players, a signed Guest Player Form must be obtained, which must be authorized by the DOC or the Club Registrar. The individual team is responsible for making sure they have the appropriate signed Guest Player Forms and player passes for the competition they wish to utilize the Guest Player for and that all rules for Guest Players have been met. For Guest Players that are asked to play and are not currently affiliated with any club and are not joining the club as a regular player, the player must register as a guest player using a registration link provided by the Club Registrar. The Club Registrar will issue the Player Pass for the Guest Player. Once the player has completed his Guest Play event, the Player Pass for this player must be returned to the Club Registrar. The fee for one-time guest players is $100. All passes must be returned after the event.

15 E. Partial Season Fees For players that request a partial season, the registration fee is calculated upon the number of months they plan on participating within the current season. They would also be rostered to the Guest Player roster: High School Presidents Cup: Season September to early May (approx 8 Months)* High School State Cup: Season August to early May (approx 9 Months)* Non-High School Presidents or Commissioners Cup: Season September to early May (approx 8 Months)* Academy: Season September to early May (approx 8 months)* *Denotes break in training for either High School and/or Winter Break F. Scrimmage Requests: Only the DOC contacts the County concerning scrimmage field availability. Any team or teams that circumvent this directive will be responsible for all costs incurred including but not limited to the cost of the field, the assignor fee (if used) and the referee fees. Scrimmages should be scheduled 2 weeks in advance. There will be a charge for ALL scrimmages that need to be assigned a field and referees. There is no charge for scrimmages on the day of your training ( In-training ) or for intra-club scrimmages. In-training scrimmages must be approved by DOC. In-house or FYSA opponent (home) scrimmages need to be scheduled with the DOC. Fees Breakdown: Field Rental (@ NCRP) $30 check payable to Collier County Parks & Rec. + Referee Fees, to include center official and potentially 2 assistant referees. Initial Request will be sent to DOC Paul Williams at doc@floridafirejuniors.com and corresponding ADOC. Include age group (i.e. 15UB), date(s) requested, teams playing (i.e. 15UB premier and 14UB premier) and your need for referees (1) center or (3) full referee crew. (See comments lower down) Once the county schedules the field, the field assignor will contact the referee assignor to arrange for the referees you have requested and you will be notified. In the event the County cannot accommodate your request you will be notified immediately so you can make other arrangements. Inter-club scrimmages on a non-training night/day require DOC approval and may involve additional referee/field fees. IX. TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION At the beginning of the season, the Coach should identify which tournaments the team is

16 interested in attending and present it to the DOC for Approval. Any tournaments entered prior to this approval will be at the liability of the coach. Information regarding upcoming tournaments can come from a number of sources but a listing of FYSA sanctioned tournaments can be found at FYSA.com. Prior to the tournament registration deadline, the Team Manager is responsible for completing the registration process for the team, including submission of any required documents and payment of any applicable tournament fees. 2 Tournament Caveats: Florida Fire Juniors pays registration fees for Presidents/Commissioners Cup and State Cup. The participating team covers fees for other tournaments. Teams wishing to play in the following Florida Fire Juniors sponsored tournaments in fall and spring need only indicate their interest to our Bookkeeper. She will then register your team and transfer your tournament fee out of your team bank account. Collier County Columbus Cup Oct 6,7 North Collier Regional Park Sun Coast Invitational Nov 3,4 North Collier Regional Park Adidas Spring Classic April North Collier Regional Park Required registration information for most tournaments may include the following: 1. Team Name /Team Code *Make sure to use team name assigned on Got Soccer 2. Club Affiliation (Florida Fire Juniors) 3. Head Coach Contact Information 4. Team Contact Information (can be Coach or Team Manager) 5. Team Jersey Information (Home Color: Red; Away Color: White) Prior to the actual start of the tournament (either the night before or prior to the first game), physical registration must take place, including presenting the player passes, (NOTE: Most tournaments require the player passes be presented in roster order for check in.) rosters, medical releases, and any other required documentation i.e., waivers, etc. The Team Manager should ensure that he/she has read all the applicable registration requirements so they can be satisfied at the physical registration. It is also recommended that the Team Manager print out a copy of the Tournament Rules. Most tournaments in the State of Florida will allow the use of the electronic rosters generated from the secure portion of the FYSA website. Please see the FYSA Section below for more information regarding electronic rosters. Information regarding the tournament should be forwarded to all members of the team, including field location, game times, etc.

17 X. HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRAVEL TEAMS An important component of travel soccer is the need for teams to stay together at locations around the state of Florida as part of their travel schedule. For each overnight stay, the Team Managers provide the opportunity for parents and players to stay together at a central location. As part of this process the Team Managers should take the following into consideration: A. Make a concerted effort to choose a hotel with acceptable accommodations at a reasonable price (at the first parent meeting, get some guidance from your team parents as to an acceptable price and hotel rating). All families have limited budgets be sensitive to everyone s financial situation. B. Contact identified hotels before all away games and tournaments. Specifically ask for the group sales contact at the hotel since you will be interested in a discount hotel rate for a large group. C. Once an acceptable hotel/room rate combination has been identified, reserve a block of rooms for each of your players and coach(s) if necessary. Make sure you indicate what type of rooms you want rooms with double beds and hopefully non-smoking rooms. Information regarding cancellation policy, additional features (such as breakfast included) is also helpful to obtain. Do not reserve the rooms under your credit card number. Agree with the hotel on a deadline date by which each parent must call the hotel to provide their own personal credit card number or else they will forfeit their room reservation by the deadline date. D. Some hotels will require execution of a group sales contract, the terms of which can be negotiated but most hotels will allow you to reserve a block of rooms for a short period of time without providing a guarantee via credit card. E. As soon as the room block has been set-up, all parents with the hotel information, deadline dates & contact information so that they can make their individual reservations. F. Follow-up with the hotel prior to the expiration of the group block to make sure all of the players have made arrangements for overnight stay. Follow-up with any parents who do not appear to have made a reservation to confirm if they have made alternative plans. stay. G. Remind parents about appropriate behavior for your team players during their hotel H. Keep a record of all hotel information and confirmation information in the Team Binder. Most tournaments now require participating teams to stay at tournament designated hotel properties. Be aware and respectful of this requirement as tournament directors will ask for proof of your lodging choice. XI. Team responsibilities and guideline for Coaches Per Diem It is the team s responsibility to ensure adequate funding and resources are made available to their coach prior to any events where they will be traveling outside of the Collier/Lee county

18 area. It is the team Managers responsibility to communicate with the Coach In order to confirm the coaches travel expenses (room/gas/meal allowance, etc.). Guideline for Coaches, Per Diem is: $50 per day and 40 cents per mile which covers, wear and tear, insurance etc. only applicable for travel outside Lee and Collier County. The coach is expected to stay in the same hotel, or a hotel of comparable cost, as their team. It is expected that the team will reserve the room, secure payment methods with the motel/hotel on the coach s behalf before departure, and supply the coach with the confirmation number required at check-in. The team is not responsible for miscellaneous room charges such as inroom movies, etc. Per Diem is based on $10 breakfast, $15 Lunch, and $25 dinner; Per-diem is set at $50 per full day by the FFJ board of directors. Your coach should be able to tell you when he/she is leaving Naples and what per-diem will be for each day. Mileage calculations should be made based on round trip from Naples or the coach s home to the event, using MapQuest or Google Maps. When calculating mileage use shortest time. Additional costs such as road, bridge and tunnel tolls as well as parking fees will be reimbursed to the coach by the team provided receipts are submitted. The team manager and coach should determine a procedure to submit receipts for reimbursements. A reimbursement form is available online to use as needed. Once the Team Manager receives the reimbursement request they should without delay reimburse the coaches expenses. Please communicate closely with your coach on all away games, tournament schedules and events so that you can plan for travel expenses. If there are concerns please contact your DOC and/or ADOC. XII. TEAM TREASURY AND RAISING FUNDS A. Team Treasury: An important part of a Team s success is management of the Team Treasury, which allows each team to fund all the activities for their seasonal year, that are not covered by FFJ. Expenses that are typically incurred by individual teams include (but are not limited to) tournament expenses (other than Presidents/Commissioners/State Cup registration and referee fees), coach s travel expenses, scrimmage fees, and End of Season party expenses. Management of the Team Treasury can be accomplished by appointing a separate Team Treasurer if the Team Manager is uncomfortable assuming this role. Management of the Team Treasury includes the following: 1. Create a budget for your Team s finances for the seasonal year, including tournament fee expense projections, coach s travel expenses, etc. 2. Maintain your team account opened by the club. Please do not change any passwords or log-in information. You ll be provided with debit card and starter checks. If you need to do ACH to your coach for expenses, our Bookkeeper. 3. Keep a running ledger of money coming in and going out. Money coming in

19 should be from fundraising and sponsorship revenue. Money going out would be the tournament registration fees, coaches reimbursements, etc. 4. Provide the team with a periodic accounting of all monies in the Team Treasury. B. Raising Funds: In order to cover the ongoing expenses of the Team for the seasonal year, each team needs to identify how the expenses of the team will be funded: 1. Pay as Your Go Approach: Each parent would contribute their proportional share of Team Expenses for each event/obligation as they are incurred. This approach is very equitable but involves a lot of money collection and follow-up on the part of the Team Treasurer. 2. Sponsorship Opportunities: FFJ offers various levels of sponsorship opportunities for individuals and companies wishing to make a tax-deductible donation to FFJ. Team Managers should promote the team s participation in the sponsorship opportunities by distributing sponsorship forms to your team families as soon as you receive them. Completed Sponsorship Forms need to be turned in to the Bookkeeper or mailed to the FFJ PO Box. Sponsorship funds can be deposited into the team account. The Team Manager then fulfills the sponsorship commitment, whether it s having a sponsor banner printed, or collecting practice jerseys to print logos on sleeves/back. Expenses incurred in the fulfillment of the sponsor commitment are the responsibility of the team. 3. Fundraising: Teams may elect to participate in any fundraising opportunities offered by FFJ or pursue their own individual fundraising efforts. Ideas for fundraisers are unlimited but teams are encouraged to fully research any fundraisers that they participate in and contact the Executive Director for any questions pertaining to hosting an event. Use of the FFJ logo in any fundraising efforts is subject to approval of the Executive Director. Once your team has identified the fundraisers it would like to participate in, the Team Manager should: a. Notify the team families with the expectations of the fundraising event including: the date, time, expected attendance, expected fundraising dollar amount per player. Encourage all players to participate in the fund raising event to equally allocate the burden. b. On the fundraiser day, make sure the players are all participating and the money is being handled responsibly. c. Once the money has been collected, have two people count the money and give the funds to the Team Treasurer. Make sure payment is given for any services rendered. The Team Treasurer needs to account which players participated and distribute the profit earned among those players unless another agreement was previously made. The Club Picnic (September) and the annual Calendar Raffle (November) are two significant opportunities to raise funds for your team. The picnic is a gathering of all club members and families for 3-4 hours of games, food and fun at North Collier Regional Park. You may run a fundraiser for the captured audience of soccer lovers that day! And the Calendar Raffle is a simple way to sell chances for valuable prizes (details coming in October).

20 XIII. VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENT Each club member is required to participate in the minimum of 5 hours of volunteer work at posted Florida Fire Juniors events or in a committee. Financial Aid athletes are required to complete 5 hours + 4 hours of volunteer support to fulfill their 9 hours required. We ask that you track your team s volunteer participation throughout the season and forward any s from the Bookkeeper out to your team members. Club members may choose to opt out of volunteering by paying $50 to the club. Financial aid recipients can opt out of the initial 5 hours but must fulfill the remaining 4 hours of Volunteer service. You may request a list of completed Volunteer Hours from the Bookkeeper at any time by providing a copy of your team roster. XIV. TEAM PHOTO AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Once all members of the team have received their uniforms, schedule a time to take a team photo (before a game, at the Annual Club Picnic or before a training session). Ideally, the team photo should include every member of the team and coaching staff (team in Red Home Uniform and Coach in Black coaching gear). Forward a copy of this photo via to FFJ for website team pages. the team photo to cdoran@floridafirejuniors.com. The team photo can also be used for your sponsorship plaques. The Team Manager should also provide periodic updates to the Club regarding team accomplishments in tournaments and league play that may be added to the web site to help promote your team and provide public relations opportunities. All news worthy items can be sent to admin@floridafirejuniors.com. XV. END OF SEASON TEAM PARTY As soon as practicable upon the completion of your season, the Team Manager should schedule an End of the Season Party for all of your team families to honor your players, coaches and parents. This event brings finality to the season and gives everyone an opportunity to thank all those who worked so hard during the season. You could hold the end of the year party in conjunction with/or separate from the annual End of Season Celebration sponsored by the Club (May). CELEBRATE THE SEASON!!!! XVI. ADDITIONAL REFERENCE INFORMATION A. Florida Youth Soccer Association ( FYSA ) Access: The web site for FYSA is This site contains important information regarding soccer events in Florida, schedules and deadlines, contact information, codes of conduct, Presidents/Commissioners

21 Cup and State Cup competitions, field locations, other FYSA clubs and much more. FYSA has transitioned the registration of players and team information to GotSoccer, starting with the Seasonal Year. Each coach, assistant coach, team official/manager needs to register online via GotSoccer for the seasonal year. Contact the Club Registrar to obtain a link to the registration portal. As part of this registration, each individual will also be required to complete a background check and comply with other requirements of FYSA. Only persons having completed the FYSA background check in GotSoccer can be added to a team roster as a team official. B. Florida Youth Soccer Association & GotSoccer All information regarding teams and players was merged into an online database ( beginning with the seasonal year. Each coach/team official needs to complete a background check in GotSoccer prior to being added as a team official to a specific roster. In addition, each team in GotSoccer will have a Team Account, which will allow them to register for GotSoccer Tournaments. If you need assistance with user names or passwords for either your Coach/Team Official Account or Team Account in GotSoccer, please contact your Club Registrar (registrar@floridafirejuniors.com). C. Transfer/Release Process If your Team receives a request from a player who has previously registered with Florida Fire Juniors to transfer to another club or leave the Club, the following steps need to be taken prior to any transfer/release being approved: 1. All Player Releases and Transfers must be submitted in writing by the Player requesting the Release or Transfer. 2. Forward the written request for a Release or Transfer to the Director of Coaching (doc@floridafirejuniors.com) and the Club Registrar (registrar@floridafirejuniors.com). 3. The Director of Coaching will evaluate the request and attempt to resolve any issues or disputes that may be the cause of the request 4. The Club will work to resolve any Club or Team commitments needed to be completed by the Player. 5. Transfer/Releases will be processed by the Club Registrar once the written approval of the Director of Coaching has been obtained. The process is subject to a $250 fee. XVII. Lightning A good lightning safety motto is: If you can see it (lightning), flee it; if you can hear it (thunder), clear it. Collier county and many other Counties in Florida has safety rules to follow when playing on their fields. If your team is currently at the fields and lighting occurs please move players off the field immediately. Appropriate safe shelters include fully enclosed metal vehicles with the windows up and a sturdy enclosed building (players may wait at the concession area building). Observe a 30-minute rule following last lightning strike before going back on the field.

22 CONCUSSION Information Sheet This sheet has information to help protect your children or teens from concussion or other serious brain injury. Use this information at your children s or teens games and practices to learn how to spot a concussion and what to do if a concussion occurs. What Is a Concussion? A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury or TBI caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth. This fast movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging the brain cells. How Can I Help Keep My Children or Teens Safe? Sports are a great way for children and teens to stay healthy and can help them do well in school. To help lower your children s or teens chances of getting a concussion or other serious brain injury, you should: Help create a culture of safety for the team. Work with their coach to teach ways to lower the chances of getting a concussion. Talk with your children or teens about concussion and ask if they have concerns about reporting a concussion. Talk with them about their concerns; emphasize the importance of reporting concussions and taking time to recover from one. Ensure that they follow their coach s rules for safety and the rules of the sport. Tell your children or teens that you expect them to practice good sportsmanship at all times. When appropriate for the sport or activity, teach your children or teens that they must wear a helmet to lower the chances of the most serious types of brain or head injury. However, there is no concussion-proof helmet. So, even with a helmet, it is important for children and teens to avoid hits to the head. Plan ahead. What do you want your child or teen to know about concussion? How Can I Spot a Possible Concussion? Children and teens who show or report one or more of the signs and symptoms listed below or simply say they just don t feel right after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body may have a concussion or other serious brain injury. Signs Observed by Parents or Coaches Appears dazed or stunned. Forgets an instruction, is confused about an assignment or position, or is unsure of the game, score, or opponent. Moves clumsily. Answers questions slowly. Loses consciousness (even briefly). Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes. Can t recall events prior to or after a hit or fall. Symptoms Reported by Children and Teens Headache or pressure in head. Nausea or vomiting. Balance problems or dizziness, or double or blurry vision. Bothered by light or noise. Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy. Confusion, or concentration or memory problems. Just not feeling right, or feeling down. Talk with your children and teens about concussion. Tell them to report their concussion symptoms to you and their coach right away. Some children and teens think concussions aren t serious or worry that if they report a concussion they will lose their position on the team or look weak. Be sure to remind them that it s better to miss one game than the whole season. To learn more, go to

23 Concussions affect each child and teen differently. While most children and teens with a concussion feel better within a couple of weeks, some will have symptoms for months or longer. Talk with your children s or teens health care provider if their concussion symptoms do not go away or if they get worse after they return to their regular activities. What Are Some More Serious Danger Signs to Look Out For? In rare cases, a dangerous collection of blood (hematoma) may form on the brain after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body and can squeeze the brain against the skull. Call or take your child or teen to the emergency department right away if, after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, he or she has one or more of these danger signs: One pupil larger than the other. Drowsiness or inability to wake up. A headache that gets worse and does not go away. Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination. Repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching). Unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation. Loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out). Even a brief loss of consciousness should be taken seriously. Children and teens who continue to play while having concussion symptoms or who return to play too soon while the brain is still healing have a greater chance of getting another concussion. A repeat concussion that occurs while the brain is still healing from the first injury can be very serious and can affect a child or teen for a lifetime. It can even be fatal. What Should I Do If My Child or Teen Has a Possible Concussion? As a parent, if you think your child or teen may have a concussion, you should: 1. Remove your child or teen from play. 2. Keep your child or teen out of play the day of the injury. Your child or teen should be seen by a health care provider and only return to play with permission from a health care provider who is experienced in evaluating for concussion. 3. Ask your child s or teen s health care provider for written instructions on helping your child or teen return to school. You can give the instructions to your child s or teen s school nurse and teacher(s) and return-to-play instructions to the coach and/or athletic trainer. Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself. Only a health care provider should assess a child or teen for a possible concussion. Concussion signs and symptoms often show up soon after the injury. But you may not know how serious the concussion is at first, and some symptoms may not show up for hours or days. The brain needs time to heal after a concussion. A child s or teen s return to school and sports should be a gradual process that is carefully managed and monitored by a health care provider. To learn more, go to You can also download the CDC HEADS UP app to get concussion information at your fingertips. Just scan the QR code pictured at left with your smartphone. Revised 5/2015 Discuss the risks of concussion and other serious brain injury with your child or teen and have each person sign below. Detach the section below and keep this information sheet to use at your children s or teens games and practices to help protect them from concussion or other serious brain injury. I learned about concussion and talked with my parent or coach about what to do if I have a concussion or other serious brain injury. Athlete Name Printed: Date: Athlete Signature: I have read this fact sheet for parents on concussion with my child or teen and talked about what to do if they have a concussion or other serious brain injury. Parent or Legal Guardian Name Printed: Date: Parent or Legal Guardian Signature:

24 Dispute Resolution Policy When should you use this Process? The dispute resolution process has been established to allow for an objective and transparent means to address parent/player concerns or issues. Examples of situations which might arise include concerns over playing time, position assignments, coaching style, disciplinary actions, etc. The process is not intended to be used for simple communication and information sharing, which may continue to be handled through or in-person to the extent it does not interfere with practices, games or tournaments. Process: 1) *Member/parent to approach coach first with issue. Appointment for a face to face meeting to be requested by , concerns@floridafirejuniors.com also Cc: the Director of Coaching (DOC). Absolutely NO discussion of issues by by either coach or parent. 2) If issue remains unresolved after parent/coach face to face meeting, member/parent to schedule meeting in person with their DOC by . 3) If unresolved, parent member brings issue/grievance to "Member Relations Committee". Committee to be composed of two board members, the DOO, DOC, a coach and a selected parent volunteer. Committee will meet monthly. Committee reserves the right to investigate and discuss matters before rendering any plan of action, but will work to deliver rapid resolution. Decisions of the Member Relations Committee are final and binding. *Absolutely NO approaching Coaches with issues/concerns within 24hrs of a game or tournament. A 48hr "cooling off period" required before requesting a meeting by with the coach after any game or tournament. Communication: To our players and parents: As you know, one of the primary missions of our club is player development. For this to occur optimally and on pace, we need our coaches and technical staff to be dedicating as much time as possible to player facing activities. Still, disagreements and misunderstandings will occur. With these two givens in mind. The Club committed to a new, structured process that will allow coaches to remain focused on technical development while at the same time allowing for our members to have their concerns addressed in a fair and timely manner. Your understanding and adherence to the process is mission critical for the Club. To our coaches and staff: We know that your interests and passion are in the development of your players. We ask that you each commit to this new process as well in two ways: 1) Adhere to the process and decline discussions/meetings with players/parents 24hrs before and 48hrs after games/tournaments even if you feel you have the capacity. Honor the process. 2) Respond in a timely manner (goal is within a week) to any meeting requests by a parent/player with a concern. Our willingness and ability to abide by the process will help us in our efforts to deliver a superior Club experience to all; Players, Parents, Coaches and Staff.

25 Florida Fire Juniors Code of Player Conduct FYSA Code of ethics It is understood that all registered FFJ athletes are under the auspices of Florida Youth soccer association (FYSA). Accordingly they are bound by the FYSA code of ethics. I will encourage good sportsmanship from fellow players, coaches, officials and parents at all times. I will remember that soccer is an opportunity to learn and have fun. I deserve to play in an environment that is free of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol; and expect everyone to refrain from their use at all soccer games. I will do the best I can each day, remembering that all players have talents and weaknesses the same as I do. I will treat my coaches, other players and coaches, game officials, other administrators, and fans with respect at all times; regardless of race, sex, creed, or abilities, and I will expect to be treated accordingly. I will concentrate on playing soccer. Always giving my best effort. I will play by the rules at all times. I will at all times control my temper, resisting the temptation of retaliation. I will always exercise self-control. My conduct during competition towards play of the game and all officials shall be in accordance with appropriate behavior and in accordance with FIFA s Laws of the Game, and in adherence to FYSA rules. While traveling, I shall conduct myself so as to bring credit to myself and my team. I shall not possess, consume or distribute before, during or after any game or at any other time at the field and/or game complex alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs or unauthorized prescription drugs. I will never use abusive or insulting language. I will treat everyone with dignity. In addition to the above FYSA Code of ethics The FFJ stipulates and defines further player responsibilities as relater to Bulling, social media and Sexual misconduct. While participating in Florida Fire Juniors (FFJ) activities the rights and responsibilities of each individual are known and respected. Implicit in these rights is the responsibility of respecting the rights of others. FFJ activities cannot take place unless there is an atmosphere of respect, order and discipline with the most desirable or favorable conditions for the Athlete, the team, and/or the Club. The Code is in force while the athlete is traveling to and from FFJ activities, including, but not necessarily limited to, club-sponsored events, out of state tournaments, athletic functions, and other activities where coaches, other club employees and parents have jurisdiction over the athletes. Additionally, the President and FFJ board of directors has the authority to take administrative action when an athlete s

26 misconduct away from FFJ activities is having, or could have, a detrimental effect on other athletes within FFJ programs. The term parents includes legal guardians or other persons standing in loco parentis (such as a grandparent or stepparent with whom the child lives, or a person who is legally responsible for the welfare of the child). ATHLETES RESPONSIBILITIES The following offenses, without limitation, are listed in the Code to ensure that athletes are aware of their responsibilities and possible sanctions should they be found in violation. This is not an exclusive list. Acts of violence, bullying, cyber, electronic, physical, verbal, written, or sexual harassment; defined as purposeful and persistent annoyance or disturbance of another athletes or FFJ employee. Players are not allowed to communicate negatively about the FFJ or FFJ employees or the players in the program via Twitter, Facebook, Text, or through other social media. ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATIONS: Athletes shall not bully. Bullying" is defined as systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more athletes or FFJ employees. It is further defined as unwanted and repeated written, verbal, or physical behavior, including any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, by an athlete or adult, that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment; cause discomfort or humiliation; or unreasonably interfere with the individual s team or club performance or participation; and may involve but is not limited to: teasing, social exclusion, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, theft, sexual/religious/racial harassment, public humiliation, or destruction of property. Any athlete who willfully sends any , text message, instant message, phone message, or posts to any social networking website (e.g. Facebook, instagram, twiter) with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or to bully another athlete or FFJ employee. In addition Sexual misconduct consisting of sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or inappropriate oral, written, electronic, (texting or sending pictures), or physical contact or conduct of a sexual nature, which creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive or abusive environment, or physically threatens an individual, or behavior which interferes with the athletes right to participate in FFJ programs or activities. Any athlete who engages in such the above misconduct shall be subject to disciplinary action including, but not limited to, suspension or expulsion, in accordance with FFJ policy.

27 Authority: The DOC will be responsible for issuance of warnings, suspensions, and expulsions. Depending on the severity of the offence the DOC may request an vote from the Board of Directors. As athletes progress through FFJ teams and activities, it is reasonable to assume that an increase in age and maturity carries with it a greater responsibility for one's actions. Differences in age and maturity shall determine in part the type of disciplinary action to be taken in cases of player conduct. The procedures outlined in the FFJ Code of Player Conduct apply to all athletes within the FFJ and further reinforces the FYSA Code of ethics. Good order and discipline are best thought of as being positive, not negative; and helping an athlete to adjust, rather than to punish; of turning unacceptable conduct into acceptable conduct. It is also the presence of a friendly yet businesslike atmosphere in which the athlete and FFJ employees work cooperatively toward mutually recognized and accepted goals. Consequences for serious offenses include one or more of the following disciplinary actions: First violation will be a warning and playing time sanction of one game suspension, 2nd violation depending on the severity 1 to 2 week team suspension from playing or practicing, 3rd violation 4 week suspension from playing or practicing, 4th violation: 1 year ban or expulsion from team play, no refunds for serious offenses. In cases of offenses that may result in a warning, suspension, or expulsion, a brief and informal hearing will be held with the DOC and AODC responsible for the athlete s team. The athlete and parents or guardian will receive specific notice of the rule violation, the names of the witness (es), a brief summary of the facts supporting the charge(s), and the opportunity to refute the charges and tell the athlete's side of the story. FFJ WANTS TO INSURE THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF ALL PLAYERS. In rare instances disciplinary actions may be initiated by FFJ against any athlete found guilty of a felony or a delinquent act which would be a felony if committed by an adult, the DOC shall have the authority to initiate informal hearing to determine if a recommendation for expulsion shall be made to the FFJ Board of directors.