Recreational Policies

LYS Club policy requires that all recreational players are allowed to play to their potential. Playing time should be allocated evenly unless extenuating circumstances require otherwise. Coaches are instructed to be fair and to balance playing time with the ability of each player. Playing time preference will be allocated to players that show up to practices and games and are on time.

Teams will be formed starting July 1st. The team requests of players who register prior to July 1st will be given priority over those registering later. Players who register after July 1st will still be placed on teams they request, unless that team is full and there are other teams that need players. In this case, players will be placed on these teams until they reach the minimum team size for their age group. Our complete team formation policy can be found below.

The team requests of players who register prior to July 1st will be given priority over those registering later. Players who register after July 1st will still be placed on teams they request, unless that team is full and there are other teams that need players. In this case, players will be placed on these teams until they reach the minimum team size for their age group. Also, returning players have priority over new players when requesting a team if they both register before July 1st. The primary goal of our club team formation policy is to form teams that have a mix of players with varied skills and abilities. This will be accomplished by forming teams at the U6 and U7 level around elementary schools, i.e., each school should have a random mix of players with varied skills and abilities. By forming teams in this manner we will adhere to national team formation guidelines which states: “A recreational team is one that is formed so that teams are balanced in terms of skills and abilities. The use of tryouts, invitation, recruiting or any like process to selectively form a team on the basis of talent or ability is prohibited.” Additional team formation goals are:

• Form teams with at least a minimum number of players needed for that age group.
• Allow players to stay with a team as the team progresses through the age groups.
• Allow all youth to participate so that everyone who wants to play can.

It will be the responsibility of team coordinators to form teams within their age group. This will be done based on the team formation process outlines below. Once teams have been formed, the club president will review and approve the teams and submit them to the club registrar for processing. The club registrar will register players to teams as submitted and then submit this information to PYSA with fees. The club registrar will also be responsible for obtaining and distributing player cards to all teams, adding and deleting players and providing team rosters to coaches upon request.

A. U6 & U7 Teams:

1. Teams will be formed to insure teams have players with varied skills and abilities.
2. Our club will form teams around elementary school attendance areas within our club, i.e., players from the same school will be placed on teams together. If the team cannot be formed from players from one school, then players from another school (at least two to insure they know someone) will be added to bring the team to the minimum number of players required.
3. Players will be allowed to pick one player to play with as long as that player picks them as well.

B. Continuing Teams:

1. Players will be allowed to stay with the same team from year-to-year if they chose to and the team has enough players to continue. Vista Soccer Club will automatically assign all returning players in the U8-U11 age groups to the same teams for which they played in the previous fall season until that team reaches its maximum roster size. As teams progress through the age groups (U8 to U11) some will need to be consolidated due to a natural decrease in players.
2. Players may also choose to play with another team and this will be allowed as long as all of the teams in that age group have roughly the same number of players.

C. Special Requests:

1. Our club will honor requests, if at all possible, for players requesting to play with one other player as long as both players request each other. Any other special requests to play with additional players may not be honored.
2. Our club will honor requests by players to not return to the team they played on the previous year if at all possible.
3. Our club will not guarantee placement on a specific team. Our belief is that teams need to be formed for the benefit of all players, which sometimes precludes individual requests. We believe that no matter what team a child is placed on that he or she will have an opportunity to play soccer in a fun and positive environment.

D. Procedure to allow as many players as possible to play

1. Our club will not close registration to players as long as there are teams who are not at their maximum number of players.
2. If there are not enough players within our club to form a team at an age group, or if there are too many players for one team, we will contact neighboring clubs to attempt to combine players to insure that all players have a chance to play.

Players are expected to honor their commitment to their team by attending practices and games. The coach must be informed of any practices and games that will be missed.

Players, parents, coaches and referees are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship and respect for others. Most referees for lower age groups are teenagers; some are parent volunteers. While the nature of the game is physical, dangerous play is prohibited. Parents are asked to allow the children to enjoy the game.

Parents and players who do not obey guidelines will be prohibited from participating by the referee or coach. Disciplinary action can take the form of a temporary suspension or (if necessary) expulsion from the program.

See the LYS guidelines for parent conduct.

For new teams, our club will form as many teams as possible with the minimum number of players for that age group. This will provide room for additional players to be added throughout the season if necessary. Coaches will be required to take additional players up to the maximum number of players listed below. Above this maximum number, players will be added at the coach’s discretion. Teams continuing from the previous year may be formed at the maximum level.

100% refund will be issued for all cancellations before the registration deadline.

A $25 fee will be issued for refunds between the end of registration and the start of the season.  This covers the cost of PYSA registration for the player.

No refunds are issued for cancellations after the season begins.