St. Teresa Parish
Youth Athletic Association
Soccer
1634 Victory Blvd – Staten Island – NY - 10314

Rules, Terms and Conditions
This document was last updated June1st, 2006

Please read carefully the following terms and conditions. Signature of the soccer registration form implies full acceptance of the following terms and conditions.

Organization - St Teresa Soccer Club (The Club) is a not for profit, recreational, athletic program organized for the benefit of our children and managed by the Youth Athletic Association (YAA) of the St. Teresa Parish (the Parish) in Staten Island, a Roman Catholic Church. The Club is a member of the Staten Island Soccer League (SISL) in Staten Island NY, and a member of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). The club membership to the SISL is renewed on an annual basis. The Club shares with these organizations their principles, values and goals and abides to their bylaws and rules.

Club Mission – In line with the St. Teresa YAA mission, the Club main goal is to help families in Staten Island raising their children to be devoted Christians, brilliant students and honest and responsible citizen through the organization and funding of soccer and soccer related activities.

Club Activities – Throughout the year the Club organizes and/or participates to different activities both indoor and outdoor, to which all children and their parents/guardian registered in the program are expected to actively participate. These activities include, but are not limited to:

Soccer league - Organized by the SISL. See below for more details
Soccer Tournaments (both indoor and outdoor). – Specific tournaments are defined during the year and are usually played from September to June.
Soccer practices – Teams usually practice at least once a week (weather permitting and at the discretion of individual coaches). Practice place and time are defined by the coaches.
Opening day, Closing day, Communion breakfast, and other fundraiser events – Details for these events will be communicated during the year.

Participation eligibility - The Club is open to all children of St. Teresa Parish, School and CCD program based on age limits set by the SISL (usually children 4 years to 14 years old). Children from other parishes and/or schools will be accepted on an individual basis if there is available room on the soccer program. 

Players group age placement - The Club places players by age group in accordance to the ENYYSA and SISL guidelines. The age group is determined by the player’s age (not school grade) the first day of August proceeding the seasonal year. Therefore, two players can be the same school grade, but in different age groups for soccer. In rare cases, and due to exceptional circumstances, a player could be placed in a different age group (however always in an higher age group). This is never done based on player’s ability or at coach request. Likewise a player affiliation with a team is not irrevocable and in rare cases a player may be moved from one team to another. When any of these events occurs it is done for the good of the player and the Club. All decisions are made by the Club and are final.

SISL league – SISL organizes a yearly league to which the Club participates. A typical soccer league is divided in two seasons: Fall (from September to November) and Spring (from April to June). Games are divided by age groups according to League rules. The following age groups are currently set: Under 6, Under 7, Under 8, Under 10, Under 12, Under 14. Team’s roster and players on the field (max and minimum size) for each game vary depending on the age group.  The Under 6 and Under 7 SISL programs are not competitive (no score is kept). Weather permitting, during each season the players will play at least 8 official games. The majority of the games are played at Miller Field during the weekend, however, due to space and scheduling constrains, during each season, games will also be plaid during the week (usually after 5 pm) and/or at places other than Miller field.  The league usually follow the “rules of the Game” set by the FIFA (the international body governing soccer), however some “house rules” apply. For a complete list of rules adopted by the SISL please contact the SISL at www.siysl.org .

2006/07 Season placements - For the Fall 2006/Spring 2007 season the following age group division applies:

Age group	Born after	and before
Under 14	July 31, 1992	August 1, 1994
Under 12	July 31, 1994	August 1, 1996
Under 10	July 31, 1996	August 1, 1998
Under 8	July 31, 1998	August 1, 1999
Under 7	July 31, 1999	August 1, 2000
Under 6	July 31, 2000	August 1, 2002

Equipment – Each soccer player is required to have at minimum a full uniform consisting of: a shirt, shorts, socks, spiked soccer shoes (sneakers for indoor), shin guards, as well as a ball (size 3 for U 6, 7 and 8, Size 4 for U10 and 12, size 5 for U 14), a water bottle.  St. Teresa uniform is custom made and must be ordered via the Club. Please contact the Club for details. Absolutely no jewelry of any kind should be wear at games and/or practices.

Club officers and coaches – All Officers, coaches, assistant coaches, and other personnel of the Club are volunteers that sacrifice their personal time for our kids and receive no compensation for their work. They deserve our gratitude, respect, appreciation and cooperation. All coaches have to be certified by the SISL (Minimum License F), have to attend a VIRTUS course and have to have their background checked by the Archdioceses of NY and the East New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).

Players, Parents and Guardians participation - Signing up to the soccer program the players and their parents/guardians have made a commitment.  Consequently full participation in all activities of the program and abiding to basic rules is expected.  Such activities will include, but is not limited to:

• Practice sessions
• Official games
• Club activities (such as Opening Day, Communion breakfast, etc.)
• Parish activities (such as Annual Mass, YAA meetings, Parish/YAA fundraising, etc.)
• SISL activities (such as indoors tournaments, Year book, etc.).

Additionally it is understood that:

• A SISL official game always takes precedence over other practice sessions for any other sport. At the sole discretion of the coaches, players that consistently and/or without justification skip practices and/or games may not be allowed to play in subsequent games.
• If for whatever reason a player can not participate to practices and/or games, the coach must be notified as early as possible.
• Please note: if a team does not reach the minimum number of players for any given game (based on the age group), the game will be forfeited (i.e. the Club team will lose the game) and the Club has to pay a fine to the SISL. In order to avoid unnecessary expenses and to encourage participation, parents/guardians of the players that are missing such games will be charge the amount of the fine to be paid divided in equal parts among the missing participants.
• Proper attire is required at all times for both practice and games. This includes full uniform (Club shirt (for games only), black short, shin guards (always mandatory), sleets, socks), a soccer ball (for practice only), water or other drinks (please no carbonated drinks) and absolutely no jewelry. Players that do not conform to these rules may not be allowed to practice by the coach or play the games by the referees.
• Games and practice day/time are communicated by the coaches. It is however players and parents/guardians responsibility to find out if a game will be played, when and where. It is expected that players show up on time at practice and games. For official games it is required that players are at the field at least 15 minutes before the game starts. Cancellations and/or postponements (for inclement weather, forfeit, etc.) are also communicated by the coaches as soon as possible. Players, parents and/or guardians must always assume that games are on unless a phone call canceling the game is received. Status of games can also be found on the web at the site www.siysl.org or at www.sportsequip.com clicking on the SISL icon.

Parental/Guardian Support – In registering their child(ren) with the Club, Parents and/or Guardians agree to actively participate to the initiatives related to the program in which their child(ren) participates and to do their share according to Club needs. At registration time parent/guardians are asked to volunteer for at least one of such activity. Parents/guardian may choose to opt out from actively participate to these initiatives paying an additional fee as determined by the Club at registration time.

Registration dates and penalties – In order to participate in the program children must be registered. Full year registration dates are usually announced by mid Spring and extend to the end of June. Registration for Spring season are announced in January and must be completed by end of February. On an exception basis, and as determined by the Club and the SISL, registration are accepted past these period provided that a “late registration fee” is paid (details will made available on the registration form).  In order to register players must submit to the Club:

• A complete a registration form
• A copy of their birth certificate (or equivalent official document showing DOB)
• A  “passport style” picture for the ID card (ID card not required for U6 and U7)
• Pay the registration fee (and the “late fee” and “Opt out fee” if necessary).

Registration are accepted based on the “Participation Eligibility” guidelines above and are at the sole discretion of the Club. Registration fees and documentation can be sent to:
St. Teresa Soccer – c/o Carmine Manfredi – 57 Peru St. Staten Island NY 10314

Fees – Fees are set on a yearly base, and are payable at registration time. Discounts are given to families that have multiple children in the program. For 2006/07 full season (fall and spring) the following fees apply: 1 player $ 95.00 - 2 players $ 175.00 - 3 players $ 250.00.
Participation to indoor tournaments may require the payment of additional fees.

Reimbursements – Once players have registered, if parents/guardians decide to withdraw their child(dren) from the program they may receive reimbursements of their fees according to the following schedule:

• Full reimbursement if withdrawn before July 15 (for full year) or March 1^st. (if registered for the spring season only)
• 50% reimbursement if withdrawn before Labor Day (full year) or March 15 (if registered for the spring season only)
• No reimbursement if withdrawn after Labor Day (full year) or March 15 (if registered for the spring season only).

Parental/Guardian/Game Spectators behavioral pledge – While enrolled in the program and when participating in the Club’s activities all participants represent St. Teresa, and as such we expect from everybody the highest level of participation, integrity and behavior. We expect all participants, including parents, guardians, relatives and occasional games spectators to obey all rules and behave in a civil and Christian manner. Parents, guardian and invited guest present to events to which St. Teresa Soccer teams participate accept all the rules of the program set for by the Club and/or any program to which he adheres to, and to treat all participants in such programs, including but not limited to, players, coaches, referees, opponents, parents and Officials with respect.  Failure to do so, including unacceptable behavior, can lead, at the sole discretion of the Club, to sanctions and/or dismissal from the program for the players, parents, guardians or guests.

Players pictures release – During the soccer season the players may be photographed in groups or individually. These pictures may be used by the Club and or the SISL and may appear in year books, SISL and/or Parish web sites. Parent/guardians that do not wish to have their children to participate in any of the photo opportunities must notify the Club in writing at the time of registration. This opt out however, does not applies to the players individual picture used for the ID cards (i.e. the ID picture is mandatory for children in the U8 age group and above).

Privacy – As part of the registration process the Club and the SISL collects personal information related to the players and their parents/guardians including copies of the player’s birth certificates, current postal address, email address, home phone number, emergency contacts and emergency phone numbers. Great care is used in handling this information with confidentiality. It will not be released to third parties and will be used only for the soccer registration process and related activities. The Club however may share some of this information with other entities that are part of the Parish and it may used to inform Parents/Guardians about other Parish activities. A copy of the player birth certificate provided is passed to, and kept by the SISL. Parents/Guardians may request the restitution of the copies of the birth certificates once a player leaves the Club.

Waiver – Signature of the registration form signifies that Parents and/or guardians certify that their child(ren) is/are in good health and physical conditions, they have received a positive affirmative statement from a doctor certifying that their child(ren) is/are capable of handling soccer and their child(ren) has/have their permission to participate in the Club soccer program. In case of accident or injury in connection with this program the Parish and its representatives are held harmless and are not responsible and the Parents and/or Guardians waive any right to sue the Parish and/or their representatives. In case of injury during games, practices or other events in which the player participates, absent Parents and/or Guardian give permission to the Club and/or SISL representative to sick and/or administer first aid to the players.

Distribution and Revision of this document – The latest copy of this document is posted at St. Teresa ball field on Victory Blvd, in Conran Hall (St. Teresa Gym) and is posted on the St. Teresa web site on the Soccer page. A copy of this document can be downloaded form the web at the address http://www.saintteresasi.org/styaa/soccer/STYAASoccer.htm or can be requested via email at soccer@saintteresasi.org or in writing by sending a pre-paid postage, self addressed envelop to :St. Teresa Soccer c/o Carmine Manfredi 57 Peru St. Staten Island NY 10314.

In order to accommodate the Participants, Parish, Club and other needs, this document is revised periodically and without warning by the Club. Major updates will be communicated to parents/guardians verbally by the coaches at games and practices and posted on our website. Participants are strongly urged to check the website ( www.saintteressi.org/styaa/soccer ) regularly for any update and/or for additional messages.

If you have any comments, questions or wish to receive additional information please contact Carmine Manfredi at (718) 494-5744 or St. Teresa Soccer via email at soccer@saintteresasi.org .