2018 Policy Updates
Weather Cancellations
It is estimated WMYSA pays approximately $12,000 annually to the referee associations in order to assign match officials to our games. While these costs are figured into the fee we charge clubs, it does not include rescheduling. This past fall season, Mother nature was not very cooperative with us. As a result, the rescheduling of games cost WMYSA an additional $1,434.
To offset this moving forward we have established a new process. When games are canceled due to weather; the teams have two options. First, they can leave the game as not played and no fee will be assessed. If they agree to reschedule the game, then a $15 fee will be split by the two teams and assessed as $7.50/team to reschedule. It should be noted that a game can only be cancelled due to weather by the game official or the league. This is not a decision two coaches can make. If two coaches cancel a game on their own it is subject to associated forfeiture fees.
Venue Changes
This past Fall we also experienced a number of venue changes. This was due to field conditions and overbooking due to premier, etc. If a venue change occurs due to the league determines it is not playable, there will be no fee. If the club/venue management change the field venues after the required date, a $15 fee will be charged to the home team.
Risk Management
The renewal of risk management has become problematic. If a risk management card expires during the season, GotSoccer automatically pulls that coach/manager from the roster. The problem is that many teams are printing game day sheets at the beginning of the season; not just prior to the game as required. As a result, the coach whose risk management card has expired still shows on the sheet. Please note, if risk management has expired they are not allowed on the bench nor should they be participating in practices etc. Adults are responsible for monitoring their own risk management. The card has an expiration date and they receive reminder emails from the state office.
The new policy states if Coach/Manager’s Risk Management approval expires during the season and is not properly renewed with the coach/manager relinked to the team for games, then the following fines will be imposed: first game $25; second game $50 and third offense will result in a Disciplinary Hearing.
Bench Rules
Rule’s that were in place for the Fall 2017 season specifies the following. During the game, only carded players and coaches/managers (up to 3) are allowed to be on the team bench touchline/sideline. Anyone in this bench area must be listed as a member on the Teams Official Roster. The only exception is the allowed (three) pass players which must possess their current primary team card and be listed on the Game Report Sheet.
Unfortunately, we have experienced an increase in coaches and parent not on the team roster sitting on the bench. Sometimes its because the coach was not available. This is a violation of WMYSA rules. Until recently we just issued a warning. This has not proven to be affective.
What we are now doing is
Score Reporting
The winning team is still responsible for reporting games scores. In the event of a tie game, the home team is responsible for reporting the score. This has not changed. What has changed is that in the event no score is reported, it will now be left as unreported. WMYSA will not go in and record it for those teams. Game reports are mailed in by the referees. Sometimes we get them within a few days, other times it can take as long as several months later, if not at all. This can make the recording of scores by WMYSA problematic. To encourage teams to report their own scores, after ten days without being reported, we have tried such things as fining teams and most recently recording those scores as a 0-0 tie. Both efforts resulted in someone being upset with us. If it is non unreported it will be viewed as if it had never been played. Those teams will show one game less for each game that went unreported.
It is estimated WMYSA pays approximately $12,000 annually to the referee associations in order to assign match officials to our games. While these costs are figured into the fee we charge clubs, it does not include rescheduling. This past fall season, Mother nature was not very cooperative with us. As a result, the rescheduling of games cost WMYSA an additional $1,434.
To offset this moving forward we have established a new process. When games are canceled due to weather; the teams have two options. First, they can leave the game as not played and no fee will be assessed. If they agree to reschedule the game, then a $15 fee will be split by the two teams and assessed as $7.50/team to reschedule. It should be noted that a game can only be cancelled due to weather by the game official or the league. This is not a decision two coaches can make. If two coaches cancel a game on their own it is subject to associated forfeiture fees.
Venue Changes
This past Fall we also experienced a number of venue changes. This was due to field conditions and overbooking due to premier, etc. If a venue change occurs due to the league determines it is not playable, there will be no fee. If the club/venue management change the field venues after the required date, a $15 fee will be charged to the home team.
Risk Management
The renewal of risk management has become problematic. If a risk management card expires during the season, GotSoccer automatically pulls that coach/manager from the roster. The problem is that many teams are printing game day sheets at the beginning of the season; not just prior to the game as required. As a result, the coach whose risk management card has expired still shows on the sheet. Please note, if risk management has expired they are not allowed on the bench nor should they be participating in practices etc. Adults are responsible for monitoring their own risk management. The card has an expiration date and they receive reminder emails from the state office.
The new policy states if Coach/Manager’s Risk Management approval expires during the season and is not properly renewed with the coach/manager relinked to the team for games, then the following fines will be imposed: first game $25; second game $50 and third offense will result in a Disciplinary Hearing.
Bench Rules
Rule’s that were in place for the Fall 2017 season specifies the following. During the game, only carded players and coaches/managers (up to 3) are allowed to be on the team bench touchline/sideline. Anyone in this bench area must be listed as a member on the Teams Official Roster. The only exception is the allowed (three) pass players which must possess their current primary team card and be listed on the Game Report Sheet.
Unfortunately, we have experienced an increase in coaches and parent not on the team roster sitting on the bench. Sometimes its because the coach was not available. This is a violation of WMYSA rules. Until recently we just issued a warning. This has not proven to be affective.
What we are now doing is
- Expanded the club official card from one to two. These officials can sit on any team bench as long as they do not exceed the maximum limit of three.
- Unregistered Coaches/Managers on Bench during games shall now be a fine of $25 for the first offense to the head coach listed on the roster; a fine of $50 for the second offense to the head coach listed on the roster and the third offense will result in a Disciplinary Hearing.
Score Reporting
The winning team is still responsible for reporting games scores. In the event of a tie game, the home team is responsible for reporting the score. This has not changed. What has changed is that in the event no score is reported, it will now be left as unreported. WMYSA will not go in and record it for those teams. Game reports are mailed in by the referees. Sometimes we get them within a few days, other times it can take as long as several months later, if not at all. This can make the recording of scores by WMYSA problematic. To encourage teams to report their own scores, after ten days without being reported, we have tried such things as fining teams and most recently recording those scores as a 0-0 tie. Both efforts resulted in someone being upset with us. If it is non unreported it will be viewed as if it had never been played. Those teams will show one game less for each game that went unreported.
