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  5. At the Start of the Season

5.1  Duties of Coaches

5.1.1  Mandatory Coaches’ Meetings
5.1.2  Other Responsibilities

5.2  Duties of Clubs

5.2.1  Schedule Conflicts
5.2.2  Home Field Schedule
5.2.3  Use of MCYSA Referees
5.2.4  Field Scheduler
5.2.5  Club Planning

5.1 Duties of Coaches 

5.1.1 Mandatory Coaches' Meetings 

The MCYSA will conduct mandatory meetings for all coaches immediately prior to the start of both the fall and the spring season. Coaches are required to attend these meetings. Each coach must sign a roster sheet at the meeting to receive credit for attendance. Game cards and team schedules will be distributed at these meetings and will not be given to anyone other than the team coach or assistant coach. In the event the team's coach or assistant coach does not attend the meeting, arrangements must be made to pick up the game cards and schedule by a Club officer from the Games Chair. There will be no exceptions to this rule. 

Packets will only be released to clubs in good standing with MCYSA and NJYSA. 

Prior to the start of the fall season, there will be separate coaches' meetings, one for Division III and IV coaches and another for Division V and VI coaches. 

Prior to the start of the spring season, there will be a coaches' meeting for Division I and II and any other teams who did not participate in MCYSA the previous Fall season. 

5.1.2 Other Responsibilities 

Make sure that the team and players are properly registered. Inform players and team officials of the rules of play and of the need to abide by them. Instruct your teams' spectators on proper conduct before, during and after the game, both on and off the field. Each team should have a copy of the League Handbook and the FIFA Laws of the Game. Visit the MCYSA Website at www.MCYSA.org  for links to downloads for this information. Contact the other coaches in your flight and let them know the time and location of your home games as soon as possible, preferably prior to the start of the season.

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5.2 Duties of Clubs 

Club should begin planning in detail prior to the start of the season when the schedules are released by the Games Chair. The Web Manager will publish the league schedule on the league Web site. 

5.2.1 Schedule Conflicts 

Clubs should determine as soon as their teams are registered with the league if there are any major conflicts that affect the whole team such as State Cup games, school trips, mid-season tournaments, proms, religious events, etc. If a conflict is detected in which there will not be sufficient players to field a team for any of the regularly scheduled game dates in the MCYSA league season, the Games Chair and Scheduler must be notified by use of the Conflict Notification Form contained on the league Web www.MCYSA.org (see Online Forms).  Once the Master Game Schedule is set, the other club affected by the approved request must also be notified. A rescheduling will be granted in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 6.1 for all approved conflicts.  Only one conflict notice per team will be considered.

5.2.2 Home Field Schedule  

Any information required in this section shall be submitted by email. 

The Web Manager will provide a file to each club's Field Scheduler at the time the League schedule is posted on the Web site. This file will list all the home games for the club. No later than ten days after receipt of this schedule, or by the published due date, each club shall complete a Home Field Schedule covering the entire season and indicating the game time for each match. The Field Schedulers shall email the completed Home Field Schedule to the Web Manager, who shall then distribute it to the President, the Games Chair, the Referee Assignors, the Discipline Chair and the Senior Referee.  

If the Field Scheduler knows the field location, that information can and should be provided. However, the league recognizes that some municipalities do not let clubs know what fields will be available at the start of the season. That being the case, the field location of the game shall be provided to the Web Manager no later than the Wednesday two weeks before the game is to be played, e.g., September 12th for September 23rd.  

A fine in the amount of $50.00 will be assessed for those clubs which do not submit their complete schedules within the ten day period mentioned above. For each subsequent week in which a complete schedule is not received, an additional $50.00 fine will be assessed. No changes in the schedule will be allowed except for those reasons set forth in Section 6.1 of this handbook. Specifically, any difficulties clubs may experience due to their entering teams in other leagues will not be considered as grounds for modifying the home field schedule. 

Any game can be played on any date earlier than the scheduled date by mutual consent of the clubs (not coaches) provided 10 days notice is given to the Games Chair by the League Contacts of both clubs. Such a change in the Home Field Schedule is not considered a postponement. If, in doing so, a time gap is created in a Home Field Schedule, the league reserves the right to move the times of other games so as to economize the use of referees. Such changes are not subject to protest. Therefore, clubs should make very sure before they change games to an earlier date that everyone else who may be affected has been included in the discussions.  

The league also reserves the right, when games are postponed due to state cup play, to move the times of other games. Therefore, clubs should strongly consider scheduling the times of teams playing state cup as the first game of the day. This will prevent gapping in the event of postponement. 

In formulating home field schedules, it is strongly recommended that clubs schedule older age groups earlier in the afternoon. 

Clubs that attempt to change previously scheduled dates, times or venues of a game will be fined an amount to be determined by the Board of Directors, minimum $50 for each attempt.  

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No league game may be scheduled to start before 1:00PM unless both coaches agree. However, in the event of site games, the first game will be scheduled for 12 noon.  

In the Spring season, some clubs are not able to use their home field before April 1st or such other time as their town will permit. When this occurs, the affected teams shall exchange home and away game dates if the opponent team has a field available. That is, play the first game between the two teams at the away field and the second game (scheduled for later in the season) at the home field. If neither team has a field available, the game must be rescheduled within two weeks after the first scheduled date. 

In the Spring season, some clubs are not able to use their home field before April 1st or such other time as their town will permit. When this occurs, the affected teams shall swap the dates of their home/away games if the opposing team has a field available.  

That is, if you have two games (using fictitious dates) - [This example has been added for clarification.]

GameA between Team1 and Team2 scheduled for 04/01 at Team1's home field

GameB between Team2 and Team1 scheduled for 05/10 at Team2's home field

Exchange the dates of GameA and GameB and play GameB on 04/01 and GameA on 05/10. If neither team has a field available, the game must be rescheduled within two weeks after the first scheduled date. 

If you intend to exchange the dates of the two games it is important that you: 

1)        Notify the Games Chair by use of the Schedule Change Form contained on the league Web www.MCYSA.org (see online forms). Submit a form for both games indicating the New Game Date for each game. 

2)        Use the correct Game Card. In the example above, on 04/01 you use the card for GameB which shows Team2 as the home team and on 05/10 you use the card for GameA which shows Team1 as the home team.  

5.2.3 Use of MCYSA Referees  

The MCYSA requires that the MCYSA Referee Assignors assign all referees to MCYSA sanctioned games. A fine totaling twice the referee fee in effect will be imposed against Clubs found to have used a referee in a game where the Club or its coach contacted a referee directly. There is no reason for Field Schedulers to contact assignors for league games. Distribution of information to the assignors will be handled by the Games Chair and the Web Manager. The only exception is State Cup games where Field Schedulers should make arrangements for referees directly with their local assignors. 

Referee assignments will be posted on the Web page during the course of the season. This posting will be for informational purposes only and will not replace any part of the referee assignment process.  

It is the responsibility of referees to contact the Field Scheduler of the club whose home games they have been assigned to officiate. Referees shall advise the Field Scheduler of their name and phone number.  

MCYSA assignors will only assign MCYSA referees for MCYSA games. If clubs have teams participating in other leagues, they must obtain referees for those games from the assignors for the other leagues.  

No referee may officiate a game in which an immediate relative is participating. An immediate relative for this purpose is a son/daughter or brother/sister. The assignors will try to avoid such circumstances. If the assignor does not realize or is not made aware that such a relationship exists, the referee being assigned should refuse to do the game. If for some reasons no other referee is available, the Referee Assignor will bring the situation to the attention of the League Contacts who can choose to accept the referee or follow the normal procedures used when a referee does not show up for a game as set forth in Section 7.4.7. 

In addition, the MCYSA would strongly prefer that referees not be assigned to do games involving MCYSA member clubs having jurisdiction in the area where the referee resides. This may be perceived by some as a conflict of interest. However, the League realizes that geo-graphical residence does not always translate into affiliation with the local soccer program. The League also realizes that it may not always be possible to avoid such assignments and still cover all scheduled games. Therefore, this is intended as a statement of desirability to the Referee Assignors. No penalties will be invoked should such occasional assignment occur. 

It is expected that the referees which are provided by the clubs and listed in their club registration schedule will not generally officiate games involving their clubs. 

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5.2.4 Field Scheduler 

The assigning areas will be determined by the Referee Assignor Administrator, to whom the assignors will report directly.  All communication will take place by email. 

All requirements will be strictly enforced.  By Friday morning each week, the assignors will forward to the Referee Assignor Administrator, to the Senior Referee, to the Discipline Chair, to the Web Manager, and to the President a copy of the home field schedule for their areas to which they have added the list of referees assigned for that weekend, both by name and by code number.  All referees will have code numbers assigned by the Senior Referee. 

Referee assignments will then be posted on the Web page.  This posting will be for informational purposes only and will not replace any part of the referee assignment process.  Referees will not be listed by name.  Instead, the code number will be listed on the web site.  The purpose of this posting is to let the Field Schedulers know whether a referee has been assigned to their games. 

However, it remains the responsibility of referees to contact the Field Scheduler of the club whose home games they have been assigned to officiate.  Referees shall advise the Field Scheduler of their name and phone number.  If referees are not calling the Field Scheduler the Field Scheduler should advise the Referee Assignor Administrator immediately. 

The league does not provide referees.  It is the responsibility of clubs not only to list referees on their club registrations but also to make sure that the referees they listed are attending one of the mandatory referee meetings.   If referees listed on the club registrations do not attend one of the mandatory referee meetings, those clubs will not have sufficient referees to cover their games.  Listed referees are expected to officiate at least five (5) weeks of the season.  That will be tracked.  Clubs whose listed referees do not referee the required number of games will see a drop-off in the games that are covered. 

MCYSA approved referees are those who have attended one of the mandatory referee meetings and who are approved by the Senior Referee.  The Senior Referee will send the Referee Assignor Administrator the list of approved referees.  He will send the list on to the assignors.  Assignors will only use that list in assigning games.  All referees will be assigned using a grading system created by the Senior Referee.  That system will be used by the assignors in assigning referees to games.  This will insure that referees are appropriate for the division in which they are working. 

It is expected that the referees who are provided by the clubs and listed in their club registration schedule will not generally officiate games involving those clubs. 

MCYSA assignors will generally work with other leagues to assign member club's home games.  Therefore, Field Schedulers can request referees from the Morris County assignors for home games for teams placed in other leagues.  These games should be placed first or last in a site schedule, never in the middle, as we do not have control over the other league's games.  The exception is for the MAPS flights of the Central Jersey League.  No Morris County assignor will assign any MAPS games. 

Field Schedulers are forbidden to contact assignors for league games.  Distribution of information to the assignors will be handled by the Games Chair and the Web Manager once they have received information from the Field Schedulers.   The only exception is State Cup games where Field Schedulers should make arrangements for referees directly with their local assignors. 

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5.2.5 Club Planning 

Before the beginning of the season be sure to get the fields into good condition. 

Remember, for Divisions I through IV, the minimum size field for regulation soccer field is 100 x 50 yards. For Divisions V and VI, the minimum is 60 x 40 yards. Fields must be lined, cleared of obstructions, and the goal posts checked to make sure they are sound and secured to the ground (anchored). Proper corner flags must be used. The MCYSA will not permit league games to be played on fields found to be unsafe or unplayable. Referees and coaches are encouraged to report unsafe conditions to the Games Chair who will investigate such reports. 

Clubs should have maps or written directions to their fields from all directions. Maps and/or directions should be sent to all opponents and the Web Manager. Every effort should be made to post field directions on the league's Web site, www.MCYSA.org. Check team colors for possible conflicts. The home team should be prepared to change colors, but the visitors may have alternate colors and in the spirit of good sportsmanship may change.

Have a preseason meeting with parents. Ask them about school weekend trips, scout camp outs, parties, weddings, religious events to find out where the team will be during the season. Please explain to parents the importance of parental and spectator conduct in setting examples for their children as well as the expectations of the MCYSA with regard to fan behavior.

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