These Standing Rules were approved by the Board of Directors on June 6th, 2005.

Section 1. Purpose
The purpose of the Standing Rules is to document any rules or guidelines that are outside of the scope of the club’s By-Laws. The By-Laws of the club define the Board and their function, meetings, elections, etc. whereas the Standing Rules will define parent, player or team specific rules or guidelines.

Section 2. Financial Issues
Since the club frequently pays for activities long before participation occurs, parents are requested to pay invoices as soon as possible (within 30 days unless prior arrangements are made). Failure to pay for spring or fall before the fourth game may result in the player being suspended for the remaining games or until the invoice is paid.

Indoor soccer may be invoiced by the game or for the entire session. This decision is made based on expected participation by one or all of the following officers:

• President
• Treasurer
• Technical Director

If by game, once a player commits to a certain number of games they will be invoiced for that amount and expected to pay that invoice regardless of any schedule conflicts which may arise. With sufficient notification of conflicts, the coach may find a suitable substitute willing to pay for that spot, but this is not guaranteed. Players may not “sell” their spot to another player without expressed permission from the coach. Coaches have the right to limit indoor participation to a set amount of players to ensure adequate playing time, in which case games would be “sold” on a first come - first serve basis.

Social activities, such as trips, parties, parent/player games, are expected to be pre-paid. Financial assistance may be available to those that request it. Please discuss your situation with the President, Treasurer, or coach. These requests will be held in confidence. The club may elect to do any of the following:

• Pay for uniforms
• Pay spring and fall fees
• Pay indoor fees
• Pay social activity fees
• Pay for special training
• Delay invoicing for any activity or allow for partial payments
• Waive invoices in exchange for volunteer activity

Since it is important that your daughter participate in the activities that help her develop as a player and a person, we encourage you to discuss your situation if you find that her activities are being limited because of a financial situation. Parents receiving financial assistance are strongly encouraged to volunteer some time to the club. There are many areas where help is usually needed. Some examples may be in organizing fund raisers, assistance in field maintenance, assistance in organizing social activities, and sponsorship procurement.

Section 3. Sportsmanship and Behavior
Parents and players are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship toward opponents and officials. Parents should encourage their daughters during a game, but refrain from coaching her (and never coach another player) unless they have been specifically asked by the coaching staff to assist in some area. Players are taught to succeed in spite of incorrect, or what is perceived as incorrect calls from officials. Parents can support this concept by refraining from criticism and questioning of referee calls. Everyone is also reminded that every referee will make a mistake and that is part of the game.

Respect for the coach is important for team continuity. Parents should refrain from criticizing the coach in their daughter’s presence. If issues need to be discussed, parents are encouraged to first call their coach and not approach him or her at a practice or game (particularly after a game where emotions on both sides may be high).

Section 4. Player Selection and Release
Players are selected by the Technical Director, usually with the cooperation of the appropriate age group coach. LKSC will attempt to avoid a formal try-out procedure since this can be very stressful to players and may not be a true indication of ability. Some methods of selection include:

• Player expresses interest in the club and the player is observed by the Technical Director and/or age group coach under game conditions. Every effort will be made to observe any players who expresses interest provided there is a potential opening at that age group.
• A player attends an LKSC practice and is observed by the age group coach and the Technical Director.
• Player is observed, without a request, in a recreation game.
• Player participates and is observed in an LKSC sponsored event.

Players participating in another classic or premier level club will not be approached directly by the Technical Director without a previous expression of interest. The Technical Director may approach a player to participate as a guest player in an indoor game or outdoor tournament. In cases where an adequate talent pool is not available to field a competitive team, the Technical Director may approach a classic or premier player to double-card as long as it is specifically expressed that the player must fulfill her commitment to her primary team.

Players are placed on the roster for a fall – spring season, and will only be released mid-season for the following reasons:

• The player has an injury or illness which prevents participation.
• The player is unable to make a reasonable amount of games or practices due to other activities or transportation. The impact of this is determined on an individual and team basis by the Technical Director.
• Failure to pay outstanding invoices in a timely matter without prior arrangements.
• Sportsmanship or behavior issues of either the player and/or parent(s).

Players can be released at the conclusion of the spring season for any reason, including lack of developmental progress. Typically a release would be preceded by at least one meeting with the parents (and possibly player).

All attempts are made to firm up rosters on or shortly after June 1 for the upcoming soccer year. For this reason, any player who accepts a position on an LKSC team, or who is assumed to have accepted a position by not notifying the club of their intentions to leave, can be released if they participate in another classic level try-out.

Section 5. Team and Club Issues
No LKSC team should receive preferential financial or material benefits from the club, parents or any other source that is not available to our other teams without Board approval. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Items or activities purchased through team specific fundraisers
• Donations or purchase of uniform or apparel items not available to other teams
• Special trips not offered to other club members
• Special practice facilities not available to other club members

Excluded from this ruling would be teams formed for special purposes, such as the High School team(s) and U8 Development teams. These teams might not participate in LKSC sponsored social activities, might wear different uniforms than the remainder of the club, and might have a different practice venue.

All attempts will be made to place a team in a division, league or indoor venue where a reasonable amount of success will occur. Winning or losing all games is usually not the best environment for development.

LKSC focuses on player development and will often make decisions, such as bumping a player up, that may initially appear to hurt a team. The Technical Director may request that a player move up and play with an older age group. Parents always have the right to refuse this request without repercussions. Please keep in mind that such requests are made to benefit the development of the player.

Player development and team development go hand and hand. That being said, the topic of playing time is often a sensitive issue for both players and parents. The LKSC teams participate in a level of competition that is notably higher than recreational soccer and various travel teams. Every effort will be made to provide each player on a team with as much playing time as possible. However, in keeping with the competitive spirit of each game, playing time is at the coaches or technical director’s discretion. Additionally, in the same spirit of competition, tournament selection will also be at the coaches and technical director’s discretion. Approaching playing time and tournament selection in this manner should encourage each player to do their best in practice and in games.

Section 6. Attendance, Proper Preparation and Apparel for Games and Practices
Players are expected to attend all games. When this is impossible due to illness or school functions, you must notify your coach as soon as possible. LKSC has and would like to continue to accommodate players that participate in other sports and on other soccer teams, but as more and more choices become available to the athlete, the continuity and productivity of practices decreases. Therefore it is necessary for the club to monitor practice attendance. Players with conflicts are expected to make at least one practice per week. Attendance will be taken at practices and if it is deemed that excess absenteeism has occurred, the amount of minutes that the player participates in games (playing time) may be curtailed, or in severe cases, the player may be asked to leave the club. Communication with your coach regarding any conflicts is very important and should be discussed as soon as these conflicts are recognized.

Players are expected to arrive on time for games and practices and be prepared to participate. Slumber parties the night before a game along with large meals and excessive extra curricular activities on game day are discouraged. If a coach indicates he wants the players at a game 30 minutes before the start time that means the player should have her shin guards, socks and shoes on and be ready to participate. Additionally, players should bring a sufficient quantity of water to each practice and game.

Players must wear the designated uniform in an appropriate manner, and it should be clean and in good repair. Shirts should be tucked in according to FIFA and league rules. Players must also bring along any alternative jersey and/or socks and shorts. Appropriate apparel should be worn to practice. Sports bras, halter tops, spaghetti strap tanks, tube tops, etc. are not appropriate outerwear for athletic activity. Sports bras are recommended apparel for underneath a jersey or practice shirt for all age groups. Shin guards should be worn to all practices unless the coach indicates that they are not needed (skill sessions). Players are discouraged from wearing non-LKSC team or uniform apparel from a classic or premier program that the player is currently participating with.

Section 7. Appeal Process
Any member who would like to appeal a ruling or disciplinary action should first appeal to the Board of Directors of LKSC. The next step would be to appeal to Ohio-North, the governing body of USYSA Soccer for this area. They can be contacted at 330-659-0989.