SMSC does NOT supply a ball for each child that registers. SMSC has typically supplied the Coach with one or two practice balls and a "Game Ball". These are for use by the team but it is up to the parent or guardian of the child to supply their child with the appropriate size ball. Practices are accomplished much easier when each child has their own ball.
8. Uniforms
All players on the Roster will receive a complete uniform. A complete set includes jersey, shorts and socks. Any player not receiving a complete uniform should inform the coach of any deficiencies. Uniforms will be numbered from 1 to the number of jerseys per team. Sizes for uniforms will be determined from registration forms and orders placed using that information. SMSC tries very hard to have uniforms for every child before the season starts but exceptions do happen. All efforts will be made to get your child a complete uniform. Names on uniforms are not included and must be paid for by the team. Sponsorship logos are applied after SMSC receives the sponsors check. Jersey colors can be chosen by the coach, only if the team has a sponsor and the sponsor has paid before the uniform order is made. Jersey colors will be limited by the manufacturer. All shorts will be black. Socks will match the jersey. SMSC has typically supplied one Goalie jersey for the team to share. It is the responsibility of the Coach to keep track of this special jersey for use on game days.
SMSC does not supply cleats or shin guards. The purchase of these items is the sole responsibility of the parents or guardian of the child. NO CHILD WILL BE ALLOWED TO PLAY WITH OUT SHIN GUARDS. The shin guard policy extends to practice time as well as games. Cleats are optional but highly recommended.
9. Teams
Teams will be formed to conform with MYSA: http://www.mysams.org/AdminManual/9.pdf
The number of teams in each age group and sub-pool will be dependant on the number of registrations. Team sizes will vary with age group.
10. Participation
ALL PLAYERS ON A ROSTER AND ATTENDING A GAME MUST PLAY AT LEAST 50% OF THE GAME. This is the overriding mandate of Recreational Soccer. Do not allow your child to be cheated out of his/her required playing time. If your child is not allowed to play 50%, you should immediately find the Field Marshall, Head Referee, or a Board Member of SMSC and report it. Exceptions to this rule are players who are serving Red card suspensions, a child who may have an illness which does not allow him to play but still attend, and other disciplinary actions from either the coach or the parents. All the mentioned exceptions should be reported to the Referee before play starts. The Referee should note the exceptions and inform the opposing coach before play starts and the SMSC Head Referee after the game.
11. Red Card Infraction Penalties
Players that receive a Red card or cumulative Red card, ie. two yellows in the same game, will be removed from the current game and will be required to sit out the next regularly scheduled game as well. Straight Red, Sending-off Offenses (Laws of the Game, Law 12), will result in a report being sent to the 1st Vice President, Disciplinary committee, and possible additional action added to the mandatory 1 (one) game suspension. Cumulative Red cards, two yellows, while serious enough to warrant a 1 game suspension, will not generally come before the Disciplinary committee for further action.
Coaches who are ejected from a game will incur a one game (or more) suspension of the next scheduled game. All coach ejections will automatically come before the Disciplinary committee for review and possible further sanctions as per the MSA "Code of Ethics".
Players serving a suspension must report to the game referee before play commences and the referee will then report that the player did meet the one game suspension requirements. After the game is over the player will then be returned to an eligible status and be available for the next game. Failure to report to the referee before the game starts will not remove the one game suspension which will carry over to the next scheduled game.
Coaches will report to the Head referee or SMSC official before the start of the next game to serve their suspension. Failure to do so will not fulfill the suspension requirements and the suspension will carry over to the next game.
12. Representatives to MYSA Year End Tournaments
All teams are encouraged to participate in the SMSC Club Tournament. All teams, no matter what the regular season record, can participate. The winner and the runner-up teams in each age group and gender are guaranteed a berth in the MYSA Southern District Tournament. Additionally, the third and fourth place teams may be asked to participate. The tournament moves around every year so some travel may be required with an overnight stay possible. All tournaments are two days and will require play on Sunday. If your team places first or second in the SMSC Club Tournament, SMSC expects that team to participate in the MYSA Southern District Tournament and the Tide Cup if the team advances. No funds from MYSA will be used to help teams travel to these events. All expenses will be covered by the team itself.
13. Tournament Participation
The Turkey Shootout, Great Day of Soccer Girls Tournament and the Club Tournament are all optional tournaments and not required. The Club Tournament is free and open to all SMSC teams, regardless of regular season record. All teams are encouraged to participate and compete for the "Season Championship". If you participate and qualify for the MYSA District Tournament, you are expected to represent SMSC. Only the most dire circumstances will excuse a team from district play.
14. Officiating
All games will have some form of "Officiating". U5-U8 will have Coaches on the field enforcing the rules and encouraging the players. The Coaches will also be responsible for keeping the quarters to the allowed time. U10 and up will have paid referees supplied by SMSC and assigned by the Head Referee. Each game with referees will have three referees, a Referee and two Assistant Referees (AR). The Referee will be on the field with the players and is the senior official present. The ARs will be off the field and on opposite sides of the field watching for balls over the line as well as infractions on the field. The AR can make calls just like the Referee but the Referee has over-rule capability and has the final decision on any calls made. Time will be kept by the Referee on the field.
15. Forfeits, Postponements, and Rainouts
All Coaches are responsible for getting game times to their players and parents. Game times and schedules will be posted on the SMSC web site as soon as they are available. Changes to the schedules can occur due to factors such as weather, tournament scheduling, team reformation and other things. Check the schedule often and make sure you are going by the latest version.
Any team not playing at their assigned time without prior dispensation will forfeit that game which will be recorded as a loss. While this is not a big deal for your regular season record, it does have a negative quality. First, you are depriving two teams the opportunity to play soccer. That is what everyone signed up for and we strive to have the best soccer experience for every player in SMSC. Second, if referees have been assigned to the game, they get paid. This monetary loss for no reason might have been avoided by a phone call to a commissioner the day before with the possibility of rescheduling.
Blatant disregard of the rules can result in a FORFEIT.
For example: A Coach does not play two players 50% of a game in an attempt to gain an advantage by sitting the weaker players. Not only will a forfeit be assessed but the Coach will be brought before the Disciplinary Committee for further action.
Official Postponements and Rainouts will be rescheduled if possible. Rescheduling might involve as few as two teams or the entire league. Single game days might turn into double-headers in the case of a rainout. Check with your commissioner and the web site for any revised schedules.
16. Discipline
Any infraction of the rules, Laws of the Game, or other situations might result in disciplinary action being taken against the offending Parent, Coach, Player, relative or Fan. MYSA has issued a
Code of Ethics (section 4.6), which will be used to by SMSC as a guide for the Disciplinary Committee when any matter comes before it.
17. Protests
Protests of regular season games will not be allowed. Protests, by definition, are made when a Coach, team, or player feels that the Referee has made a call contrary to the "Laws of the Game" as defined by FIFA. At the level of soccer that we play, we strive to have all the rules followed to the letter but since we already have imposed our own rules over the "Laws of the Game", protests of SMSC rules versus FIFA "Laws of the Game" will not be allowed. We will listen to any complaints of rules interpretations and attempt to clarify to the Referee, Coach, Team, or parent what the SMSC policy is. The Head Referee will be the first person available to answer any questions at any scheduled game day.
If a RULES violation is reported to the Referee, Head Referee, Field Marshall, Tournament Director or Board Member, it is not considered a "Protest". Any reporting of such violations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. An example of this would be reporting that a Coach had not followed the "50% Playing Time" rule.
18. Boundaries
The boundaries of SMSC will be within Harrison and Hancock County, Mississippi. Any other organizations protected by Mississippi Youth Soccer Association within these counties are recognized. SMSC contains within its area Gulfport, MS; Long Beach, MS; Pass Christian, MS; and large areas of unincorporated Harrison County, MS; north of the listed cities including Lyman, MS; and Saucier, MS.
19. Alcoholic Beverages
Absolutely no Alcoholic beverages of any sort will be allowed at any SMSC function. SMSC functions include games, practice, tournaments, or Great Day of Soccer. Further, this also applies to any of the soccer fields where SMSC teams meet to practice or play games. SMSC facilities include fields, buildings, and any parking area around the field(s). Any person seen drinking alcohol, or exhibiting signs of drunkenness at an SMSC function will be asked to leave. Refusal to leave will be just cause to call the Police or the Sheriffs Dept. to the scene to remove the individual or group with every intention of prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law.