TRAVEL SOCCER MANIFESTO
HUB SOCCER OF DENVILLE, INC.
TRAVEL SOCCER MANIFESTO
This document is incorporated into HUB Soccer’s by-laws as of 7/17/2022. It is a guideline and policy for the administration of HUB Soccer’s travel soccer program.
ADMINISTRATION
Travel soccer is administered by the Vice President of Travel Soccer and the Travel Soccer Director. They are 100% responsible for all activities of the program, including, but not limited to, game and practice scheduling and field locations, registration of teams and players, approval and registration of parent administrators/coaches, professional trainers, tryouts, and finances. They are also responsible for recommending player fees along with the club Treasurer, subsequently to be approved by the board of directors.
AGE GROUPS
HUB Soccer supports U8 > U19 boys and girls travel teams.
TRAVEL TEAM SELECTION/AGE GROUP
Travel teams are selected for players trying out in their applicable date of birth age group. Players possibly playing up in their age group will be determined by the rating they receive at the tryout and/or roster needs for each team. Older players are not permitted to play down in the next youngest age group.
TRAVEL TEAM TRYOUTS & EVALUATORS
The travel staff is responsible for scheduling tryouts and coordinating publication of same with the Communications Director and team coach administrators. Tryouts will be held in the Spring for the upcoming Fall season. The travel staff is also responsible for contracting with professional trainers and/or training organizations to do the tryout evaluations. Results of
evaluations will be done in XL or similar software to facilitate ratings for each player and subsequent team composition.
TRAVEL TEAM COMPOSITION
The Travel VP or Travel Director will contact the team parent coach with the tryout results and recommend rosters for the upcoming fall season as early as possible and no later than 1 day after the last spring game. Teams will be assembled based on tryout results, age group and based on the recommendation of the Travel VP and Travel Director. Any players who did not rate in the top 80% and previously played on that team and risk being cut will be discussed with the coach for continuation by the travel staff. The final decision whether to cut that player will be made by the Travel VP and Travel Director. If the VP and Director are not in sync on the decision, the President will be consulted and make the final decision.
MIDSEASON ADDITIONS/POST-TRYOUT ADDITIONS
If there is a need to add a player after tryouts have been completed or during a season due to loss of player(s) due to injuries, moving out of town, going to another team or other extenuating circumstances, the coach will consult with the Travel VP and/or Travel Director on replacement options, including having a replacement player attending a practice. The player and parents will be fully vetted before the player is allowed to join the team.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS
Travel teams will utilize professional trainers chosen by the Travel VP and/or Travel Director. A professional trainer is a person who trains teams and has and maintains required certifications and licensing to do so. Trainers are paid to do the training. HUB Soccer will contract with a professional training organization or independent professional trainer(s) to do training. Parents, guardians or other family members are not eligible to be professional trainers for their child’s team regardless of certifications, coaching or playing experience. Professional trainers will have and currently maintain all necessary credentials, certifications and licensing required by the state of New Jersey and NJ Youth Soccer Association or other governing state soccer association. Professional training organizations should have been in business 5 or more years and independent professional trainers should be, too. References as needed and should be checked out by the Travel VP or Travel Director.
PARENT RESPONSBILITIES
Parents are responsible to pay travel fees on time, have their child/children arrive on time for practices and games and make sure their child is properly attired and prepared to play competitive soccer. Parents are responsible to have their children play both the Fall and Spring seasons. Parents are expected to obey all rules and guidelines set forth by Morris County Youth Soccer
or other leagues of play, Denville Township and HUB Soccer, or any affiliated organization. Parents are expected to display good sportsmanship at all events and respect coaches, team parents, and opponent parents and coaches.
PLAYING TIME
Small-Sided Teams: players should play at least half of each game. Substitution timing is predicated by flow of the game and the referee, so we do not expect the coach to have this down to the minute.
Large-Sided Teams: players should play at least 15 to 20 minutes of each game. Substitution timing is predicated by flow of the game and the referee, so we do not expect the coach to have this down to the minute.
There has to be flexibility in playing time based on practice and game attendance, player attitude, sportsmanship, and work ethic. It is not the intent of these guidelines to micro-manage practices and games, but provide guidance to our parent coaches and trainers as well as giving our players the ability to develop their skills in competitive games. Many young players do not
achieve their full potential until high school, so game playing time U8 > U15 is critical in their development. Some guidelines:
- Someone needs to keep track of playing time at games.
- Someone needs to keep track of attendance at practices and games. While there are exceptions and extenuating circumstances, players who miss practice should not start a game. Our mission is to prepare our travel players to make their high school team. In high school, if you miss practice you do not start and may sit a whole game.
- Fall Soccer – 2 practices a week
- Spring Soccer – 2 practices a week to attend; players doing other sports are expected to make 1 practice and all games
- Fall or Spring – Players playing in other affiliated arrangements are expected to make 1 practice per week and all games
- Winter-Indoor Leagues/Tournaments – up to the coach, however, we recommend that players who have attended indoor practices should start games as well pre-spring season scrimmages.
PLAYER RESPONSIBILITIES
Travel players are expected to play both the Fall and Spring season. They are also responsible to attend practices and games and be properly attired for them.
Players are expected to obey all rules and guidelines set forth by Morris County Youth Soccer or other leagues of play, Denville Township and HUB Soccer or any affiliated organization. Players are expected to display good sportsmanship at all events and respect coaches, teammates and opponents.
PARENT MANAGER RESPONSIBILITIES
ELITE-LEVEL PLAYER CLUB AFFILIATION
With the approval of the HUB Soccer Board of Directors, the club may choose to have an Elite Player Club affiliation to augment training and advancement opportunities for players having the skill, ability, commitment, and financial resources to play at a higher level. These arrangements are an affiliation and under no circumstances will HUB Soccer merge or have its
travel program taken over by another soccer club or other sports organization. Guidelines and policies for ELP Affiliation have to be written, recommended by the Travel VP and Travel Director, and approved by the board of directors.
SECONDARY CARDED PLAYERS
The use of second card players will depend on team needs and roster sizes. When carding is done for an upcoming season, primary carded players will be given first priority in securing cards. Required second card paperwork must be received by or
preferably before HUB Soccer, MCYS or any other organization’s due date to be processed for the team’s first game. There are no expediting late second card requests.