Rules and Guidelines
The following constitute the rules and guidelines for the selection and treatment of players on Panthers USA teams. All members of the Panthers USA including directors, officers, coaches, participants and parents shall abide by these rules and guidelines. Exceptions shall be made only upon approval by the Board of Directors. It is intended that adherence to these rules will help to ensure the fair treatment of all players in a manner consistent with the philosophies set forth below.
1) Playing Philosophies
a) Panthers USA is dedicated to providing skill-level appropriate soccer opportunities to all players. Coaches will encourage all players to always play their best. The organization shall attempt to field teams that are competitive within their respective league. However, coaches and club officials must be diligent to ensure that undue pressure is not placed upon players to win and repeat past successes. Good sportsmanship is fundamental and is expected from each coach; each coach must demand that from all players.
b) Teams that are not competitive, as evidenced by no wins or lopsided losses, will be evaluated by the Board to determine why and to take corrective actions if deemed appropriate.
c) The amount of playing time for players on travel teams shall be at the discretion of the coaches. However, coaches must be fair and reasonable in making any decision involving players, including decisions involving playing time.
d) Playing time may be withheld for disciplinary reasons at any time.
e) Our soccer club considers the program to exist solely for players to participate and enjoy the sport and to improve their skills to the highest possible level.
2) Travel Team Selection
a) Each May/June tryouts shall be held for the travel teams (it is intended that the tryouts conclude prior to the end of the school year). The tryouts will be for both the fall and spring season.
b) Tryouts will be conducted on at least two dates for each age division at which teams are anticipated to be formed. Players are strongly encouraged to attend all tryout dates.
c) To be eligible to play on a travel team, candidates must participate in at least one of the scheduled tryouts. Exceptions are limited to the following:
i) When an individual who registered to play on the travel team was unable to participate in a tryout because of health reasons or prior commitments that were made known to the selection committee.
ii) When an individual who expresses interest in playing, but has moved into the area after registrations and tryouts have occurred.
iii) When a team has less than a full roster because fewer than 18 qualified individuals tried out for the team.
In the event of an exception as noted above, the head coach at his discretion may permit an individual to try out for the team by demonstrating his or her soccer skills before a selection panel appointed by the applicable Travel Vice-President.
d) If after tryouts have been completed it becomes necessary to add players during the season additional roster spots shall be filled as follows:
i) In the event that the team tryouts were attended by a sufficient number of talented players The next highest evaluated player at the tryout (if still playing on a Panthers team) will be offered the open roster spot if accepting the spot will not have a significant negative impact on the player?s current team.
ii) Panther?s players may be approached for secondary participation if all acceptably evaluated players decline to fill the roster spot.
e) The Vice-Presidents/Travel will have the responsibility to organize and conduct tryouts. They shall appoint the necessary number of team selection panels. Each selection panel shall consist of no less than three evaluators, one of whom shall be the head coach of the team for which the tryouts are being conducted.
i) No parent or relative (except a head coach) of a prospective player participating in the tryout, or anyone with a known conflict of interest shall be selected as an evaluator
ii) Evaluators must commit to all regularly scheduled tryout dates
iii) Evaluators will evaluate each candidate objectively
iv) Evaluators must independently evaluate prospective players and are discouraged from giving the appearance of collaboration
v) All evaluators shall have an equal ?vote? in the selection process
f) The Vice-Presidents/Travel will have the responsibility of tabulating the player evaluations provided by the team selection panels and preparing a ranked list for each team. The following shall be considered in selecting players:
i) Each team shall have no more than eighteen players unless approved by the league. Twelve players (nine players for U-9 and U-10 teams) will be selected by their weighted ranking; secondary players shall not be included as part of this group of players selected.
ii) The head coach will have the option of selecting six players (five for U-9 and U-10 teams) who participated in the tryouts but were not selected by the committee, were exempted from the tryout for the reasons set forth in 2 c) or as secondary players
(1) Secondary players can be added from teams within the Panthers organization
(2) Players carded as primary players in the Panthers organization in two previous seasons are also eligible to be added as secondary players
iii) Players shall be encouraged to play at age or grade appropriate levels. Players electing to play up must be ranked within the top eleven players (top eight for U-9 and U-10 teams) to be selected.
iv) Unless done in accordance with the guidelines set forth herein, no recreational players will be drafted up to travel teams.
v) Subject to approval of the Vice-President/Travel, the head coach, for good cause, can veto the placement of an individual on his team.
g) Travel Coach?s Selection Committee: annually the Board shall appoint a coaches selection committee. Subject to Board approval, the committee shall select head coaches for each travel team. The committee shall consist of both Travel Vice-Presidents and a minimum of three other individuals appointed by the Board. The same factors used in selecting coaches shall be considered in choosing members of this committee. The selection shall be done in the spring prior to team tryouts. The coaches selected will coach teams for the fall and spring seasons. The Committee should make solicitations for coaching applicants through open communication, and individuals interested should make their intentions and qualifications known. Selection of head coaches should be done prior to tryouts. The following factors should be considered in the selection of coaches:
i) Prior coaching experience ? the possession of a coaching license is a positive factor, but not a requirement.
ii) References from past performance ? from parents, players, league officials and other relevant sources.
iii) Returning coaches should be given consideration to retain the team, but should not be considered as the only choice for the team.
iv) Coaches need not have children in the Panthers program to be considered for a coaching position.
3) Conduct
a) All representatives of the club (players, parents and coaches) are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship and abide by the Laws of the Game.
b) Coaches shall report all carded offenses to their respective Vice-President who will record and monitor these reports and refer individual cases to the Board for action as follows:
i) Player
(1) The Board will conduct a review upon a player obtaining a third yellow card in a single season and take action as it deems appropriate.
(2) A red card offense mandates a one game suspension
(3) A second red card offense in the same season will result in an immediate suspension from all Club activities. Reinstatement can only be accomplished by action of the Board. The Board will render its decision based upon testimony presented in person by the player, coach and parent; representation by all three parties is mandatory for action involving players.
ii) Coach
(1) The Board will conduct a review of any coach being sent off and take action as it deems appropriate.
iii) Parent
(1) The Board will conduct a review of any parent removed by a referee or coach from a game and take action, as it deems appropriate. Discipline for repeat offenses can include suspension of the player
c) Club disciplinary action can be served concurrently with any league disciplinary action.
4) Intramural and Recreational Soccer
a) Recreational and Intramural soccer will be given equal importance as travel soccer.
b) The Vice-President/Recreational and Vice-President/Intramural will attempt to ensure that adequate balance exists among teams so that all recreational and intramural teams are reasonably competitive in the league in which they play.
c) Recreational and Intramural programs shall be sufficiently structured to ensure that players of all ages have sufficient participation and recreational league remaining strong and active at all age levels.
d) The Vice-President/Recreational and Vice-President/Intramural and their coordinators, using the same criteria as that used in travel team selection, shall select coaches for recreational and intramural level soccer.
e) Recreational and Intramural soccer welcomes all players regardless of ability, experience or residence.
f) Recreational and intramural team members must be given reasonable playing time.
i) In intramural games, no player shall play all four quarters of a game unless all other players on the team have played at least three quarters.
ii) Recreational teams shall follow all applicable league rules regarding playing time, but are encouraged to follow the guidelines playing time used in the intramural program.
g) Intramural soccer shall focus on instructional soccer in an effort to develop the fundamentals, knowledge of the rules and sportsmanship. Intramural league play is contested to allow players to develop these skills in a game setting; there will be no recording of game scores or league standings.
h) Intramural players shall be encouraged to learn and play all positions. Players shall not play exclusively at any particular position
