Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the Stoneham Soccer Club shall consist of no more than nineteen officers elected at the General Meeting on the second Tuesday of May. The current positions
are:
- President *
- Vice President *
- Treasurer *
- Secretary *
- Registrar *
- CORI Officer
- League Commissioners (five to six)
- Travel Team Coordinator and Subcommittee
- Town Referee Coordinator
- Travel Referee Coordinator
- Field and Equipment Manager
- Web Master
- Uniform and Awards Coordinator
- Special Project Coordinator
- Player Development Coordinator and Subcommittee
[* Members of Executive Board]
An individual may hold more than one position on the Board if elected by the Board and agree to do so.
A Board Member may also serve as a Coach or as an Assistant Coach.
Elections
Elections are to be held at the regular General Meeting on the second Tuesday of May.
Nominations open on the first of April and close on the first Tuesday of May. Officers shall be elected for a one-year term and are eligible for re-election.
Should a vacancy occur during the year, the Board shall have the authority to appoint a replacement to fill the position vacated for the remainder of the term.
Board members are elected to positions on the Board of Directors by all present at the May meeting. Those elected will vote amongst them to determine specific positions on the Board.
Meetings
The Board of Directors will meet on the second Tuesday of every month. Meetings will begin promptly at 7:00 PM. Board meetings are generally held at the Stoneham Public Library and are open to the
public.
Anyone may attend a Board meeting to observe and/or offer comment, but only the Officers of the Board may make or vote on a motion.
A quorum is required for the Board to vote on an issue. Half of the current active Board members constitutes a quorum.
An issue may be voted on only after a motion has been made and seconded. Any member of the Board may make or second a motion with the exception of the President.
Each member of the Board, with the exception of the President, will have one and only one vote on a motion even though an individual may hold two positions on the Board. The President shall only
vote in the event of a deadlock on an issue.
A vote from a prior Board Meeting may be rescinded provided that all members of the Board have been notified of the intent to rescind by the Secretary, in advance; and the motion to rescind
receives a two-thirds majority vote.
Telephone votes will be taken by the Secretary when directed by the President. Results of telephone votes must be reported at the next regular meeting of the Board and recorded in the
minutes.
Members of the Board of Directors shall maintain regular attendance at meetings. Board members shall notify the Secretary in advance if unable to attend a meeting. Three unexcused absences from
regularly scheduled meetings will cause an individual to be declared inactive. Inactive members may be removed from the Board by a majority vote of all the active members.
Expenditures
Bank account signature cards shall bear three names: the President, the Vice President and the Treasurer.
Major expenditures require three written bids.
The Executive Board has the authority to spend up to $250.00 with at least three favorable votes. Expenditures by the Executive Board must be reported at the next regular meeting of the Board and
recorded in the minutes.
The Treasurer may spend up to $50.00 in petty cash without approval of the Board. Expenditures of petty cash must be reported at the next regular meeting of the Board and recorded in the
minutes.
Receipts are required for all expenditures.
Playing Seasons
The Fall soccer season will consist of seven games starting the first Sunday after Labor Day, field conditions permitting.
The Spring soccer season will consist of seven games starting not later than the last Sunday of April, field conditions permitting. No games will be scheduled for Memorial Day weekend.
Postponements
If all scheduled games on a given day are not played due to weather, field conditions, or for any other reason, the season will be extended by one week and the entire day will be rescheduled for
the week following the originally scheduled seventh games. All remaining games of the season will be played on the days as originally scheduled.
If some of the games scheduled for a given day are not played; the games shall be rescheduled individually by mutual agreement of the Commissioner and the two coaches. All remaining games of the
season will be played on the days originally scheduled.
Registration
Registration shall be announced each year by the Board.
Registration dates are published in the Stoneham Independent and on our website.
Board Members, Volunteers, Coaches, Assistant Coaches and Players must be duly registered.
Waiting List
After regular registration has ended, registrations for both seasons will be accepted onto a waiting list for a limited period of time.
Anyone registering for a waiting list will be charged a $25.00 late registration fee when they register at the waiting list dates set forth above.
No registration will be accepted beyond the waiting list period except in the event of extreme or unusual circumstances.
The Registrar will make the determination as to whether the circumstances are unusual or extreme. The Registrar's decision is final.
Refunds
Refunds of registration fees will be issued to players who decide not to participate after registering up until the time that player team assignments are made. No refunds will be issued once a
player has been placed on a team.
Refunds of registration fees will be issued should a player be unable to play due to an unanticipated injury or serious illness without regard to team placement.
Refunds will also be issued should a player move out of town prior to the start of a season.
Team Assignments
Players are separated into age groups for team placement based upon date of birth. Players will not be permitted to play outside of his/her age group in the town leagues. A travel player may be
permitted to move up one age group with board approval.
Town team player assignments are made for the entire year. The town leagues run from Fall to Spring. Players who re-register for the Spring season will remain on the same team and have the same
coach as they had for the Fall season, unless movement of players is required to re-balance teams due to changes in registration numbers. Town team player assignments are balanced such that each
team has the same number of players. Siblings within the same age group will be placed on the same team.
Players are assigned to Clinic teams based primarily on the school attended. Players are assigned to upper age groups based upon a draft for the Fall season and by random assignment for the Spring
season to infill and balance the teams.
Annual Draft
The Stoneham Soccer Club holds a draft early each year for placement of players on teams for the Fall season. The draft is held for only the Under 8 and older age groups in the town league.
Only board members and coaching staffs are permitted to attend the draft. Players and others not registered as coaches or assistants prior to the draft are not to be present during the draft. The
order of player selection shall remain confidential after the draft. The draft is conducted as a round robin player selection based upon a random order.
Uniforms
The Stoneham Soccer Club uses reversible blue/white uniform jerseys, black shorts and black socks for all town teams. Each town player is responsible for purchasing his/her own complete uniform.
The Stoneham Soccer Club does not purchase town player's uniforms.
The uniforms are reusable from year to year with size being the primary consideration. Town Players are directed to Reading Shirt and Trophy on Main St. in Reading for individual uniform
purchases.
Travel teams use numbered uniforms purchased from Reading Shirt and Trophy on Main St. in Reading, consisting of white and royal blue shirts, shorts and socks.
Players are advised not to wait until the last minute to purchase uniforms. It is solely the players responsibility to provide the prescribed uniform. Players will not be allowed to participate in
games without the complete uniform (jersey, shorts and socks), shin pads and soccer cleats. Other cleats are not permitted.
Commitments
Players must commit to playing for the entire season. Players must play within their own age groups.
Referees must commit themselves for the entire season.
Coaches and Assistant Coaches must commit themselves for the entire season. It is preferred that Coaches will commit for both the Fall and Spring seasons. If Coaches cannot commit for both seasons
the Commissioner shall be notified as soon as possible so that a replacement Coach can be found.
Board Members must commit themselves for the entire year from July 1 to June 30.
Town League / Travel Team Precedence
Town league games are scheduled to be played on Sundays. Travel team games are scheduled to be played on Saturdays with a few
week night games possible.
Games always take precedence over practices. No player shall be penalized for failing to attend a practice if he or she is playing in a game on the same day as the missed practice.
Town league coaches and commissioners shall not schedule make up games on Saturdays. Travel team coaches and the travel coordinator shall not permit make up games to be scheduled on Sunday
mornings.
Conflicts between town league and travel team practices shall be worked out between the two coaches and the players involved. A player shall not be penalized if he or she is practicing regularly
with one team or another.
Problems arising between coaches or between coaches and players related to this section of the club by-laws shall be immediately brought to the attention of the age commissioner or travel
coordinator.
Travel Team Program (Please also see the Travel Program link for additional, detailed information)
The
Stoneham Soccer Club provides a travel team program which allows players a wider range of experience with the game of soccer. The purpose of the travel program is to further advance individual and
team skills while competing with neighboring communities. As in any inter-community competition, the incentive also includes a sense of community pride. Anyone who wishes may register to play on a
travel team, town team or both. It is the hope of the Stoneham Soccer Club that more town players will add to their playing experience by joining the travel team program.
In order to allow game play with other towns, the Stoneham Soccer Club is a member of the Middlesex Youth Soccer League. Half of each season's games are played away. Travel games are scheduled at
predetermined times on Saturdays. Travel teams generally practice one or two times a week.
Travel registration will take place in the Spring, and teams are formed for the following Fall and Spring seasons. One registration covers both the Fall and Spring seasons and commitment to both
seasons is required. The Fall season is a recreational/placement season and the following Spring season is competitive for league standings. During the Spring season, statistics are kept by
Middlesex Youth Soccer League and the competition is directed toward regional and state tournaments in June.
Stoneham Soccer Club provides travel teams for under 10, under 12, and under 14. Under 10 teams play 6v6 soccer so team rosters are limited to 12 players. Under 12 teams play 8v8 (beginning Fall
2006) and team rosters are limited to 14 players. Under 14 teams play 11v11 and may carry a roster of up to 18 players. Players registering for a travel team shall be assigned based upon player
evaluation, age, and availability of teams and coaches. Any player not assigned to a travel team and not already playing on a town team will be contacted by the travel coordinator to be offered the
option to play on a town team. If the player chooses not to play, they shall receive a refund of the registration fee. A travel player may be permitted to move up one age group with travel
committee and/or board approval.
Boys and girls under 16, 18 and 19 teams may be available during the spring seasons depending on availability of players. If interested please contact the Stoneham Soccer Club Travel Team
Coordinator.
Player Placement and Movement
Final player placement shall be based on tryout evaluation. In order to be placed, players must be registered and attend tryouts.
Please see the following links for more information:
Travel Team Responsibilities
Parents and Players are encouraged to read and adhere to the information in the following links.
V. Obligations and Responsibilities of Players
VI. Obligations and Responsibilities of Parents
Coaches are also encouraged to read and adhere to the information in the following link:
Game Misconduct
Referees shall control instances of coach and player misconduct by promptly issuing a yellow card for the first yellow card infraction during a game and a red card for the second yellow card
infraction by the same individual during a game. A red card shall be immediately issued for a red card infraction.
Players receiving a red card will immediately leave the field and are ineligible to play for the remainder of the game. Should a coach receive a red card he shall immediately leave the area.
Refusal of a coach to leave the playing field after receipt of a red card will result in termination of the game and a forfeit by the offending team regardless of the score at the time.
Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their fans during a game. Parents, legal guardians, relatives and friends of players who in any manner interfere with a game, the operation of a team or
the efficiency of a coach or referee will cause a yellow or red card to be issued to the team.
The card will be issued to a player if a specific player can be identified with the offending individual, otherwise the card(s) will be issued to the coach. A second card issued to a player or
coach due to fan misconduct will result in the ejection of the player or coach from the game.
Board action to control instances of misconduct will be initiated at the request of a Coach, Referee or member of the Board.
The first red card infraction will be cause for immediate removal of the offending individual from the field and a next game suspension.
The second red card infraction will require immediate removal of the offending individual from the field and suspension for the remainder of the season.
Hardship Eligibility
The Stoneham Soccer Club intends that no child be denied the opportunity to participate in the soccer program due to family financial problems. Portions of player registration fees may be waived if
special situations warrant such action.
Hardship registrations must be approved by the President or Vice President. Other Board Members, including the Registrar, do not have the authority to approve hardship registrations.
The full registration fee will be charged unless a lesser fee is pre-approved. A refund will be issued if a hardship case is approved after registration.
Solicitation
No printed material shall be distributed to players and/or players families without first being approved by the Board of Directors.
Business Hours
Soccer business is limited to between 7:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. Please do not contact Board members or coaches at home outside of these hours. Board members and coaches will
not accept calls and are under no obligation to return calls received outside of these hours. Board members and coaches are not to be contacted at their places of employment under any
circumstances. Board members and coaches are Volunteers. Please respect their privacy.
