This contract defines the responsibilities and rights of the players, parents and coaches of the S.P.A Academy soccer  team.  We have 
  learned that one key ingredient of success is clear, consistent communication between players, coaches, and parents.  This agreement 
  is one  way of  explaining in detail  our expectations  of you as a  member of the team.  It will help identify some  potential problem areas 
  and at the same time answer questions about the team's decision making process.  Before you agree to become a member of the team,

       MUTUAL OBLIGATIONS FOR PLAYERS, PARENTS AND COACHES

                      MUTUAL OBLIGATIONS FOR PLAYERS, PARENTS AND COACHES

  1. On this team, everyone will  have to make a serious commitment to soccer.  The  Coaches will  strive to  improve themselves as coaches
   and  role  models.  The players will  strive to improve  themselves as  players and  team members. The parents  will be taken  very seriously. 
   We  recognize  that there are things  more  important in life than soccer.  In terms  of priority your God, your family and  school  work  should  
   come  first.  However, if  the Coaches  see you are not willing to put your soccer above other recreational activities during the season  it may
   affect your playing  time and or  your  status with  the team.  As  a  member of  the  team we  expect  you to commit   to the  sport  of soccer
   and  your  team  as  your  first   recreational  activity and priority during  the season. Everyone will  listen to the coaches.  Everyone  will  hustle. 
   Everyone  will  play  as  team  rather  than  as  individuals.  No  one  will  criticize  his  teammate.  Everyone  will  encourage  his   teammate.
   as individuals. No one will  criticize his  teammate. Everyone  will  listen  to the coaches.  Everyone  will  be  open to suggestions  regarding

         rule of conduct and are expected to correct others.  

      4. The team and the individual.  Members of the team agree to put their team ahead of the individual player.  If  conflicts arise  between the team.

         These decisions will be  made after gathering all relevant information and  consultation with those involved.  The Coaches’ decisions  will be  objective

          and will be based on their best evaluation of the facts.  Once a decision has been made, it is final and players and parents must agree to abide with the

         decision.

       5. Playing time.  The coaches will make difficult decisions about playing time on a weekly basis. Everyone should understand that some players may

         receive  less playing  time than  others. The  coaches will  attempt  to provide every player  plays at  least 50%  of every game.  Skill level, endurance, 

         attendance, effort  in practice, opposition, and  development  will all determine  playing  time.  Starting a game does not indicate any superiority of on 

         player over another.  Playing time will be affected by practice effort, tardiness and absences.  Finally, tournament play may result in modification of this

         rule and less playing time based upon the situations and the discretion of the coach.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE COACH

1. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of the team on and off the field when the team is together and part of a team event.  We will insist our players are polite, well behaved, and respectful.  You can expect honesty, communication, consistency, and reliability from your Coach.  Nothing positive will come of the team’s efforts if we produce world-class players who do not know how to conduct themselves as successful human beings.  In this regard you can expect Coaches to conduct themselves as positive role models and display appropriate behavior.  Our Coaches recognize we are dealing in an important way with young people and we cannot overlook the impact coaches have on players' lives.

2. The Coach will emphasize technical confidence and proficiency.  Activities will focus on involvement with the ball.  One complaint about Canadians players is that they are not good with the ball.  We will try to emphasize touch with the ball, dribbling, passing and receiving. 

3. You can expect the coach to emphasize activities which promote thinking and problem solving rather than line drills.  The coach will attempt to encourage initiative. The coach will to attempt to lead by example, encourage players with positive feedback, and eliminate fear of failure.  On the other hand, do not expect your Coaches to praise everything you do well. After a time, there are things your coach will come to expect from every player.  There are times when your Coach will say very little, and times they will yell out instructions.  There are times they will be very critical of players, and other times they will be very generous with praise.  Coaches should not use demeaning descriptive words assigned to players but rather should suggest the appropriate alternative conduct or point out the deficiency in their action. You and your parents are expected to take constructive criticism along with praise for a job well done, and be able to deal with both.

4.  The Coach will push each player to play beyond his comfort level, attempting to push his limits.  The Coach will recognize players for trying hard, and laugh with and keep pushing players when they make mistakes.

5. The coach will try to develop players who are aggressive, self confident, mentally tough, conscientious, respectful, and good sportsmen.

6. The Coach will communicate with you.  Your will be given feedback about your performance and what improvements you have/need to make.  The coach will call you if he has a problem or he will be late.  The coach will call all team members if practice/game is rescheduled or canceled.  Please call the Coach Office or home for any question.  Or check the web site www.soccerprospect.com.

7. The Coach will not leave players unsupervised at the fields. The Coach will wait up to 15 minutes after the scheduled end of practice for you to pick up your player.  The Coach will then take the player a) to a phone; b) to his home; c) the coach’s home.

8. The Coach will manage the team in conformance with the rules as promulgate by the S.P.A and the state association.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE PLAYERS

1. Players are expected to have FUN.  If you don't want/love to play soccer, or if you don't want to work hard to improve yourself as a soccer player, don't play Academy soccer.

2. Players are expected to LISTEN to the coach.   Coaches don't have the time to spend with each player individually as needed.  When the coach talks players are expected to listen.  This means, don't talk, don’t talk back, don't walk away, don't kick the ball.  Don’t wrestle.  The better you listen, the faster you will learn, the better player you will be.

3.  As a member of the team, you are responsible for your own performance and conduct.  Honesty, communication, and reliability will be expected at all times.  The team asks that you care about yourself and the sport of soccer.  This requires that you maintain a healthy lifestyle and a healthy team attitude.  Any use of drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes is not acceptable to the Club and may result in temporary suspension or even removal from the Club.  In addition, our team will insist you maintain a positive team attitude and a personal sense of sportsmanship and fair play. 

4. At all team functions you will be expected to conduct yourself in a respectable manner and to represent your team and the Club in a positive way BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE GAMES

5.  During the soccer season you and your team will be participating in practices, league competition, tournaments, and hopefully state and national cup games. Your coaches will make decisions on player selections, game lineup, player's position, amount of playing time, tournament participation, etc.  Players must be positive in fulfilling the role they are asked to perform for the team at any moment, even if that role has them playing limited time, not playing at all, coming off the bench, or playing a different position. 

6.  From the designated arrival time at all practices and games, you will be expected to concentrate on soccer.  You must arrive on time with the required equipment (shoes, proper uniform, warm-ups, soccer ball, shin guards, etc.) and be ready to practice or play.  Since practicing and playing at your very best requires your undivided attention, there will be no visiting between you and your parents, family, friends, pets or others (who might cause you to lose your focus on soccer) from immediately before the practice or game until you have been dismissed by your coach.  This includes half-time and at the conclusion of games, when you will be expected to get water and then immediately join your team and Coach for game discussion and team adjustments.

7.  Nutrition and rest are also part of your personal responsibility as a member of team.  We expect you to eat nutritious, healthy food in a timely fashion so as not to interfere with your performance.  At tournament play, it is especially important to eat such that player performance will not be adversely impacted.  If you have any questions about which foods are best for performing athletes, please ask your Coach.

Rest periods between games may be spent with family members or friends if time and your Coach permit.  However, the period between games is not to be seen as a family time, vacation time, or a time to go sight seeing.  There will be times when your Coach will require that the team stay together while you wait for your next game.  At other times, your Coach may allow you to go with family or friends.  This decision will be left entirely up to your Coach and he/she  is free to reverse any decision at any time if it is in the best interest of the team.  Individual exceptions will be made if the situation warrants but that decision, as well, will be left entirely up to your Coach, whose decision will be final.

8. Players are expected to push their comfort zone, push their technical and physical limits, and strive to excel.  Players will not be lazy and will not avoid technical training or conditioning training.  Players will strive for teamwork and will be supportive of their teammates.  Players will not be critical of their teammates and will ask the Coach to intervene if there continues to be any issue with a teammate.  Players will respect and recognize the efforts and improvement of their teammates and will push them and laugh with them when they make mistakes.

9. Players are expected to attend PRACTICE.  We really don't have enough time to practice.  We have to make the most of our time.    Attendance at no less than 75% of practices is required to assure playing time.  Absences from and repeated tardiness to practice will result in loss of playing time.

effort to assure that no ball is lost or accidentally picked up. All team members will make an effort to account for and corral team equipment and return team equipment found out of its place.

11. If you will not be at a game, you will have the courtesy to call and let the coach  know.  It is very difficult to give players fair playing time in a game, and keep an organized team on the field without advance notice of players that will not be present.

12. Players are expected to have good sportsmanship.  This means: 1) DON'T TALK BACK TO COACH OR REFEREE.  Accept the coach's/referee’s decision; 2) Don't poor mouth or speak to your opponent except to say good play; 3) Don't criticize or blame your teammate.  Encourage him (Good try; bad luck); 4) Seek out at least one player on other team to compliment him on his game.

13. Players are expected to help the coach w/ equipment.  What can I do?

OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARENTS

1. Parental support and involvement in the team are essential.  The selection of your players for the team requires your commitment also. 

2. If your player is to make a quality commitment to the team, you must see to it that he attends all team functions (practices, meetings, games, etc.).  Parents are expected to get players to practice on time and pick them up on time.  If your child is not at the field and you are late, call the coach’s house. They may be there. There will be times when conflicts cannot be avoided and other more important events occur.  We need your communication, planning, and understanding so that we can minimize the conflicts.  It is our team's responsibility to present a periodic schedule to allow time for your planning.  When you or your player has an unavoidable conflict, we expect timely communication to see if the team can make any necessary adjustments.  Final decisions on scheduling and adjustments will be made by the Team Coach after careful consideration of your needs and those of the team.

3. Sideline coaching and Conduct:   Parents will be supportive of their child and the team. There will be no coaching by parents.  No matter how good your intentions are, we insist there be no shouting instructions to your son or yelling (complaining) to officials during games.  Your vocal support and positive encouragement are welcome after a good play.  "Go" or  "Shoot" are interpreted as instructions and as such are not desirable.  It is important players not be distracted at practices (parents and friends please stay off the designated practice area, including the goal mouths), during games, and that players are given only one set of instructions by one voice before, during, and after practices and games.  For this reason, the team insists the Team Coach be the only voice at all games and practices.  No one other than those listed on the official game roster may sit on or near the team bench before and during games (please respect the space and privacy necessary for the team and coach to carry out their game responsibilities).

The team’s first concern is for the long term development of your player's soccer skills under pressure, and there may be times players are instructed to do things parents do not understand.  Parents will be supportive of skill acquisition rather than simply winning or losing.  Player and team development will sometimes be given a greater priority than winning.  Parents and Players must understand this and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with a healthy team environment. 

This team believes in and teaches players the benefit of having mental strength to guide their intense focus on the game of soccer.  We will instruct your player to ignore adverse conditions such as bad referees, name calling, foul language, rough play, cheating, poor weather, negative behavior by parents or opponents etc.  We expect our parents to have this same mental strength.  Parents will not yell angrily at any player (yours or theirs), at any coach, referee, or other parent.  If you must yell, yell positive comments and reward not only the skill of players but effort.  Sportsmanship and playing 100% hustle and to the best of one's ability are to be rewarded.

4. Parents, always at the appropriate moment and time, feel free to communicate and ask questions about your player.  Please take the initiative to teach your player to speak up and communicate for themselves whenever possible.  Your coaches will always express their observations and views of an individual.

Parents may at time disagree with the decisions of the Coach regarding positions and playing time, tournament selection or the like.  Parents are asked to bring their concerns to the Coach, Parents are asked not to act in any manner which would be harmful to team unity or harmony.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

RAIN DAYS: Please do not assume that we will not play soccer.  If you have any question please call the coach or other team official.  If it is a light misty rain day, we will still have practice as scheduled outdoors. In event of a hard rain during practice time or earlier in the day so that the field may be muddy, we will advise of practice meeting location.

OFF SEASON OBLIGATIONS: The players will perform the assigned self improvement and keep track of the time spent on that activity on the forms provided.

DISCIPLINE

Our attempt with this agreement is to present in clear detail exactly what will be expected of you and what you can expect of your team, and you’re Coaches.  If you are ever uncertain what is expected, it is your responsibility to ask one of your Coaches. Knowing and understanding these things, your participation in the team will be positive for you as you develop your soccer skills to the very highest level possible.  We have very high expectations of ourselves and you.  There should be no discipline problems.  However, if there are, the Coach will attempt to manage discipline problems with on field treatment where possible.  This includes sitting out activities or The next step will involve a cut in playing time.  Cuts in playing time will be made for excessive tardiness, absence, and repeated disciplinary violations.  If the coach is unable to cure the problem he will seek the assistance of the player’s parents.