General Rules and Policies

The purpose of the general rules is to provide a comprehensive set of standard policies and procedures covering all aspects of the total soccer program as offered by the Association. The intent is to improve communications and understanding between the coaching staffs of all divisions, referees, players, local businesses, and spectators, thereby ensuring a quality soccer program. The Board will ensure that every member of the Association has access to these rules. In the event of any queries regarding the rules that follow, an interpretation will be rendered by the Board.

Players are entitled to receive the following:

  1. Fair and just treatment by all league personnel and fans.
  2. The opportunity to learn fundamental soccer skills.
  3. Encouragement to try their best.
  4. A FUN environment.
  • The Association may sponsor both a spring and fall season.
  • If a travel game cannot be played due to inclement weather, every effort will be made to reschedule that game. PeeWee, Instructional, and Academy games that cannot be played due to inclement weather will not be made up unless an excessive amount of the season has already been canceled.
  • The fall season shall begin no later than the second Saturday after Labor Day and end no later than the third Sunday in November. The spring season shall begin no later than the third Saturday in April and end no later than the third Sunday in June.

The Association is a member of Mass Youth Soccer and expects our membership to abide by Mass Youth Soccer's Codes of Conduct for players, coaches, referees, parents/guardians/spectators, and its Zero Tolerance Policy.

Registration

Registration will be held prior to each spring and fall seasons with the dates and times for each to be determined by the Registration Coordinator. The following policies will be applied:

  • A birth certificate, to be kept by the Association, must be supplied as proof of age for all players.
  • Players not residing in the town of Franklin must have the approval of the Registration Coordinator prior to the start of the season in order to participate in any of the programs of the Association. Additionally, non-resident players interested in playing in the Travel Division may be subject to the rules and regulations of the league entered. A non-resident may not displace a Franklin resident or Franklin student.
  • No youth may play on more than one team in the Association during any one season, with the exception that a player may be transferred between an Academy Division team and a Travel Division team with the consent of each Division Director.
  • No youth may be placed on a roster and play a regular season game unless an injury waiver/registration is held by the Association.
  • At the end of the formerly advertised registration dates, registration is officially closed based on the recommended roster sizes, and a time-stamped waitlist will be opened. At the discretion of the Division Directors, registration can be reopened for the purpose of filling out complete rosters. In the event this happens, players will be accepted and placed in the order of the received registration. If the threshold is reached such that players can be added, the decision will be made by the Division Director.
  • The registration is processed by an online management system. Registrations outside of this system may only take place with the approval of the Registration Coordinator.
  • Minimum age for a child to register is such that the child is four (4) as of August 31 (of the current calendar year) for the fall season and four (4) as of August 31 (of the previous calendar year) for the spring season.

Fees

  • Registration fees will be set at $100.00 for one child, $200.00 for two children, and $270.00 for three or more children in the same family.
  • The deadline for refunds will be July 1st for the fall season and February 1st for the spring season
    • Refunds will not include any administrative fees such as application platform fees
  • Once the refund deadline has passed, registration fees will not be refunded unless the child cannot be placed on a team by the Association, is injured, moving out of time or is otherwise disqualified from play by the Association prior to the start of the season.
  • The Association will assess a late fee of $30 for any registration accepted after the formal and scheduled registration dates. Those families with multiple children who register after the published registration dates will be assessed a $30 late fee per child up to a maximum of $90 late fee per family.
  • Late fees will not be charged to new residents who are registering in the Association for the first time.
  • Late fees are non-refundable

Roster Sizes

In order to maximize playing time for all players, rosters for the teams within the Association shall be limited depending on the number of on-field participants of the competition, as follows:

  • 3v3: 9 players (with the intent that two teams of 3v3 will be formed from the total)
  • 4v4: 11 players (with the intent that two teams of 4v4 will be formed from the total)
  • 5v5: 7-10 (8 ideal) players
  • 7v7: 10-12 (10 ideal) players
  • 9v9: 12-14 (13 ideal) players
  • 11v11: 15-17 (16 ideal) players
  • 11v11: maximum 22 players (high school teams)

A roster limit may be waived for a team with the approval of the Board.

Coaches

  • The formal coaching staff of each travel team should consist of a head coach and one or more assistant coaches, or a minimum of two co-coaches for Academy teams. During the actual play of games, only the players, approved youth coaches and credentialed adult coaches will be permitted to be on the designated sidelines.
  • Coaches are entitled to receive a shirt from the Association if they do not already have one. Coaches are entitled to receive a credit for the cost of one player registration fee to be used in a future season. This credit will only be given to a coach who holds the required license for their division and attends the preseason meeting held for the coaches in their division, unless excused by the Division Director.

Prerequisites

  • Coaches and assistant coaches are required to complete all safety requirements set forth by our affiliation (Mass Youth Soccer)

Selection

  • Coaches and assistant coaches may be chosen by the Division Director based largely on an evaluation of the willingness and ability of candidates to work within the guidelines set out in the training program of the Association. When evaluating a candidate, the Division Director must consider whether the candidate:
    1. Holds an appropriate coaching license, with greater weight given to a coach holding a higher level of coaching license
    1. Instructional Division
    1. Introduction to Grassroots
    2. Grassroots 4v4 Online/In-Person Coaching License
    1. Academy Division
    1. Grassroots 4v4 Online/In-Person Coaching License
    1. Travel Division
    1. 4th grade (7v7) - Grassroots 7v7 Online/In-Person Coaching License
    2. 5th and 6th grade (9v9) - Grassroots 9v9 Online/In-Person Coaching License
    3. 7th grade and up - Grassroots 11v11 Online/In-Person Coaching License
    1. Has attended mandatory and optional training sessions
    2. Has organized and delivered an appropriate training program to players in previous seasons
    3. Exhibits sporting behavior on and off the field
  • The Division Director should consider whether the candidate:
    1. Has first-hand playing experience
  • The Division Director may consider whether the candidate:
    1. Has a child on the team
    2. Has volunteered in the Association previously
  • Division Directors must submit a list of his or her selections for coaches and assistant coaches at least four weeks before the opening of a season.
  • Division Directors cannot vote on their own selections.
  • When decisions concerning Board members chosen to be coaches are made, the Board member in question will be asked to leave the room during selections and will be notified as all other candidates.
  • Appropriate communication should be made by the program director promptly after the Board's decision on the coaches list.
  • Should a coach be removed from a team for any reason, a new coach will be appointed by the Division Director.

Responsibilities and Guidelines

  • Schedules and Codes of Conduct will be provided to each coach, player, and sponsor.
  • Coaches are required to complete the player evaluation form provided by the Division Director two weeks prior to the end of the season. Head coaches should encourage all assistant coaches to provide input.
  • Coaches and assistant coaches are required to align with the Zero Tolerance policy established by both the league and FYSA.
  • Coaching staff for Academy and Travel Division teams shall be allowed on the field of play only with the permission of the referee (e.g., injury). . Under no other circumstances should a coach be on the field of play while the ball is in play.
  • Coaches can pursue the dismissal of a player whose conduct is deemed detrimental to the team at any time during the season. Prior to such a dismissal, the coach must provide at least one warning to the player, and at the same time, notify both the parent and the child in question, and the Division Director stating the reasons and action to be taken if said conduct continues. The Division Director shall notify the Board if such a dismissal has been considered. All player dismissals can be appealed to the Division Director and, if necessary, to the Board.
  • If a coach or member(s) of a team engages in conduct which is considered a serious breach of sporting behavior, or is in some way detrimental to the Association, the Board may ban the offender(s) from further participation in Association activities.

Training

  • It is the expectation of the Association that coaches will meet the Association's requirements via certification and licensing clinics whenever they are held. The Association will promote and provide access to Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) sanctioned certified courses.
  • The Association will reimburse any member who has completed a state-sponsored coaching license course in order to meet the Association's coaching requirement. Specifically, the Association will reimburse as follows:

    100% reimbursement for Grassroots courses

    50% reimbursement for D license

    0% reimbursement for C license

    Variance from this policy can be made at the discretion of the BOD.

  • The Association will reimburse students involved in FYSA (up through high school age) for 100% of the clinic fees for Grassroot courses sponsored by the state.
  • The funds will be distributed once proof of completion of the course has been established. A license certificate serves as valid proof.

Age Group Facilitator

  • The Travel Division Director must submit a list of their selections for Age Group Facilitators at least three weeks before the close of the spring season.

Referees

Training

  • The Association will reimburse students involved in FYSA who take and pass a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) referee certification course 100% of the course fee.

Spectator Responsibilities

  • All league personnel are encouraged to seek the support and cooperation of their team's parents, relatives and friends to make each game an enjoyable experience.
  • Spectators should remain off the field and at a distance from the touchlines during a match. Under no circumstances shall spectators be permitted to be along either goal line during a match.
  • Unruly conduct, including harassment of players, staff and referees, and foul or abusive language will not be tolerated. Zero Tolerance violations will be addressed in accordance with the MA Youth Soccer Codes of Conduct. Spectators are asked to help the Association keep the fields in shape by properly disposing of trash into available receptacles.