Policies

Iron Valley United SC strives to operate in a fair and consistent manner regardless of age, gender, organizational affiliation, or personal influence.  All operations of the club, its board, and its membership will be governed strictly according to the club’s published policies, constitution, and by-laws.  Exceptions to published articles of governance will not be considered.

Travel Program Refund Policy

NO refunds shall be given after acceptance of a roster spot except in the event of injury/illness that prevents a player from participating in the program for which they are currently enrolled/registered.

Playing Up Policy

IVU requires that players play within their appropriate age group, as determined by EPYSA.  This policy applies to the U9-U19 travel age groups.    However, a player may play on a team in the age group one year above which he or she is qualified, provided that the player’s evaluation scores rank them such that he or she would qualify for the team AND they fall under one of the following limited circumstances:

  1. There are not enough registered players to create a team at the older age group. In these circumstances, players from a younger age group may be asked to tryout at the age group above their actual age.The younger players must be similar in level of ability to be placed in the older age group.This is only to be done if it will not severely impact the team at the younger age group.These decisions will be made by the Player Placement Committee.
  2. If there is not a team available in the player’s appropriate age, he/she may be evaluated for the age group above.  He/she must be evaluated against those players and selected for the team based on the categories that every player will evaluated on.
  3. If a player was playing up prior to January 2011, they will not be forced to play with their appropriate age team (unless they so choose), they will be forgiven under the grandfather clause.
  4. The Player Placement Committee may use its discretion to allow the evaluation of players in an older age group in the following incidences:
    • Parental Hardship:  Parents express a hardship in attending multiple practices/games with siblings, so having one child play up would alleviate the hardship
    • Best interest of the player:  If the player’s ability greatly exceeds the skill level for the age group in which they naturally fall, he/she may be provided the opportunity to play up one age group.
  5. Players that have been chosen to play up may do so for the duration of that year (fall and spring season).Exemptions to play up must be reconsidered, evaluated and approved by the Player Placement Committee on an annual basis.
  6. The Playing up in Age Policy may be used in an instance where a girl requests to play on a boy’s team.

 

Evaluation process for Playing Up

The parent(s) or guardian of the player who wishes to be considered for playing in the age group above their true age must submit in writing this request at least four weeks before the first scheduled tryout date.  This request must be sent to Director of Communications.  The Player Placement Committee will either grant or deny this request prior to the first tryout date.

U8-U19 players who have been approved for evaluation in an older age group may attend evaluations for the age group immediately above their actual age group.  If the player fails to meet the ‘play up’ criteria as defined above, then that player reverts back to their own age group.

All players trying out for a team in an older age group must also attend evaluations for their own age group. Failure for a player to do so would preclude that player from qualifying for the older age group.  Furthermore, that player would only be permitted to play on the lowest level team in their natural age group.  Any exceptions to this policy must be approved at the discretion of the Player Placement Committee

Secondary Player (Guest/Club Pass) Policy

Iron Valley United SC encourages the use of secondary (including club pass/guest) players as a means to enhance the soccer experience and development of its players.  IVU players are permitted to be used as secondary players on teams within the club or outside the club.  EPYSA laws state that all primary team events must take precedence over secondary team events.  These events include but are not limited to practices, league games, and tournament games.  Failure to adhere to precedence regulations will result in secondary player passes being revoked.  (NOTE: There is no rule that states that a primary team event must occur before secondary team event in order for a secondary to participate.)

A player is a primary player on only one team but, with the primary team’s coach concurrence, the player may be a secondary player with several different teams.

The addition of a secondary player to a team’s roster is good through the completion of the season for which it is applied. This allows a player to continue to play for their primary team while gaining more playing time and experience as a secondary player.

Secondary players are not eligible to play on any cup (indoor or outdoor) team.

The use of secondary players is at the discretion of the team’s head coach.  In instances where IVU teams elect to utilize Secondary Players, IVU members and coaches shall adhere to the following:

  1. Secondary passes may be issued when a team needs players to supplement their roster. Primary players will be the priority in terms of playing time, secondary players should not take away from the experience of the primary players.  Coaches must inform secondary players of their role on the team prior to receiving a commitment.
  2. When teams are seeking secondary players, coaches should consider giving an opportunity to IVU players before looking outside the club.  These players may come from alternate teams in the same age group or younger teams.

Secondary players from outside the club are subject to the full annual registration fee defined for the current soccer year.  The registration fee WILL NOT be prorated in the event a secondary player from outside the club chooses to join a team mid-year.

Lightning Policy

  • When thunder is heard, or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen, the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning. Suspend play IMMEDIATELY and take shelter.
  • Thirty-minute rule. Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30-thirty minutes after the last thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play.
  • Any subsequent thunder or lightning after the beginning of the 30-thirty minute count, reset the clock and another 30-thirty minute count should begin.

Travel Evaluation and Placement Policy

Team Evaluations 

Evaluations for the fall season will be held each spring following fall registration to evaluate current players as well as new players entering the club.  Evaluations will occur in each age group from U9-U16 where there are enough players to form a team.

Evaluations will be conducted for the purpose of evaluating players and forming teams of players with similar ability.  Rosters will not be automatically filled to capacity; players that do not meet the minimum standard of ability associated with a given team may not be selected for the team, regardless of prior season placement.

Evaluations will be coordinated by the Technical Director of Coaching unless it would involve a team he/she may be coaching.

Evaluation Procedure

  1. All players wishing to play for Iron Valley United must register for tryouts on the club website and pay the registration fee on or before the published deadline.
  2. All registered players will be notified of the tryout information (date/time/location) by the Communications Director.  This information will also be available on the club website.
  3. The TDOC will employ outside evaluators where deemed necessary/appropriate to provide feedback on players ability in a standardized form.
  4. A form will be set up and used consistently for all tryouts.  Each evaluator must score the player on each aspect of the tryout listed on the form.  The TDOC will collect forms immediately following the evaluation session.
  5. The TDOC will tally the scores and propose team placement. The Player Placement Committee consisting of the President, Vice President of Travel, Director at Large, evaluators, and the TDOC will meet to review and approve final placement of players on teams.  This will occur within two weeks of the final tryout session.
  6. Players will be notified via email of their placement within three weeks of the final tryout session.
  7. It is understood that Iron Valley United Coaches may not be involved in team placement, parents of current or evaluated IVU players will NOT be involved with the evaluation process.
  8. Registrants will incur a non-refundable fee associated with tryout expenses.  Should the player not be placed by the club or choose not to be placed, all but the non-refundable fee will be reimbursed.
  9. The coach of the team for which the evaluations are being conducted can observe the session, but must not take part in them in any manner including speaking to the evaluators, players or parents at the time of the tryouts.
  10. This policy strives to give each and every player an even chance to make a team without prejudice or the appearance of unfair practices during the tryouts.

Injuries

A player must be evaluated to be placed on a primary team unless the player is injured such that she/he cannot participate in an evaluation. If the TDOC is contacted about such a circumstance prior to the date of the applicable skill assessment, the player will by necessity be assessed on the basis of observations from prior coaches/trainers and prior experience.  If no prior observations exist, an evaluation may need to be scheduled.

Conflict with Evaluation Dates

Player’s should make every effort to attend all evaluation sessions for their age group. However, in circumstances where a conflict prevents this from occurring, an email should be sent to dir_communications@lvalleysoccer.org in advance of evaluation session. The email should contain the following information: 1) Player Name; 2) Age Group; 3) Evaluation Session Date to be Missed. If a player cannot attend any of the scheduled evaluation sessions, an alternate evaluation may be offered at the discretion of the TDOC if notification and valid excuse is provided by player’s parent/guardian prior to the scheduled date of the evaluation.  If notification is not provided to the TDOC until after the scheduled evaluation date, an individual evaluation will not be permitted and the player cannot be placed on a primary team.  Not attending skill assessments in the hopes of being placed on a particular team is strictly prohibited.

Player Placement 

When there are sufficient available registered players, players will be evaluated with their age appropriate team as designated by EPYSA.  Refer to the “Playing up” Policy for special considerations and exceptions.  The general philosophy of team selection is to form teams based on skill level. The theory is that players will progress better and have a more enjoyable experience if playing with and against children of similar skills, speed, agility and age.

In the event that there is no team in the appropriate age group, the following shall apply:

  1. A player will be evaluated in the next higher age group with permission of the player, player’s parents or legal guardian and coach players may not play up more than one age group.Refer to the “Playing Up” Policy for special considerations and exceptions.
  2. In the event the TDOC is involved as one of the coaches, the Board of Directors will assign a surrogate to assume all responsibilities of the TDOC.

Player Placement Procedure

The team selection process will result from the committee’s consideration of the following information:  Coach feedback, trainer evaluation, and tryout results.  Feedback from coaches and trainers will be obtained by the TDOC prior to the placement meetings.

Placement after the Formation of Teams

A player requesting placement after the selection of teams may be placed on a primary team at the discretion of the Player Placement Committee based on the circumstances of the situation.  The committee will consider the experience of the player, impact on the existing team dynamic, recommendation of the head coach, and results of the TDOC’s evaluation.  This policy typically applies to players who move into the area after evaluations have been completed.  This policy does not apply to players who simply missed a scheduled evaluation session.

Player Movement

A player may not migrate between teams mid-way through a soccer year.  The only exception to this rule is one team chooses not to participate in the spring.  In this case, any player from a team that will not play in the spring, may move onto a waiting list to be placed on another team that is participating in the spring.  Players will sit on the waiting list ranked in order of their fall evaluation scores.  Players that did not participate in the fall will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list below existing club members.  Players will be placed on teams at the discretion of the coach in the order by which they were ranked.