POLICIES & PROCEDURES

RECREATIONAL PLAYER PLACEMENT POLICY

INITIAL FALL PLACEMENT - The Tri Cities Soccer 'year' begins in the fall of each year and carries through to the spring, coinciding with the school year, with new teams being organized every fall. TCSA will assign players to the same group of players from the previous spring season if requested and only during the early registration period. Players registering after the early registration period has ended are assigned to teams on a first come, first serve basis and as much as possible in proximity to their nearest public elementary school. Due to an uneven number of players in certain areas, it may be necessary to combine elementary schools close to each other on some teams.


SPRING PLACEMENT - Players returning in the spring will be placed on the same team they were with in the fall whenever possible. However, player participation often changes in the spring which can dramatically affect team make up. Coaches not returning may also affect placement. Players who register during the early registration period has the best chance of being placed back with their fall team and/or their school team. Players who register after the early registration period are again placed on a first come, first serve basis with all attempts made to get them as close to their school neighborhood as possible.


PLACEMENT REQUESTS - TCSA does not accept placement requests for any players/teams EXCEPT for under the following circumstances: 1) a parent coaching or sponsoring a team will have his/her child on the team coached or sponsored unless otherwise requested or unless the child is in a different age division. 2) brothers or sisters in the same division will be placed on the same team unless otherwise requested. 3) a coach may request a maximum of 2 other parents to be assistants. These request MUST be indicated on the initial registration forms of all coaches and players must be registered during the early registration period. 4) requests due to specific requirements of players with disabilities. Documentation of the medical condition is required and players must be registered during the early registration period. 5) any request NOT to be placed with a specific coach will always be honored. Any request of this nature should be emailed to: TCSA@TCSA.net. Please be aware that this can create a need for your child to be moved to a team that is further away and not with other kids attending their nearest public elementary school.


IF ANY FAMILY IS FOUND TO DELIBERATELY FALSIFY THEIR REGISTRATION IN ORDER TO BE PLACED ON A SPECIFIC TEAM, ALL CHILDREN IN THAT FAMILY WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON AND THE FOLLOWING FULL CALENDAR YEAR.


PLAYERS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO DIVISION ACCORDING TO AGE/GRADE ONLY. THERE WILL BE NO 'PLAYING UP' OR 'PLAYING DOWN'. OUR REGISTRATION SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY ASSIGNS YOUR CHILD'S GRADE BASED ON THEIR BIRTHDAY. IF THEIR GRADE IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE SYSTEM DETECTS, TCSA WILL MOVE THEM TO THE PROPER DIVISION UPON RECEIVING DOCUMENTATION FROM THEIR SCHOOL OF THE CORRECT GRADE SO THEY CAN PLAY WITH THEIR CLASSMATES.


NO TEAM OR BUDDY REQUESTS WILL BE HONORED FOR SPECIFIC COACHES, PLAYERS, OR CARPOOLING.


RECREATIONAL PLAYER REFUND POLICY

‍Refunds Will Not Be Granted For The Following:


  • Player not able to attend practice
  • Team placement
  • Medical issues during the season


Refunds will only be issued in the event that the player moves out of the area prior to the season starting and requests the refund in writing to TCSA@TCSA.net

CAMP & CLINIC REFUND POLICY

‍Refunds will not be given after the first day the camp / clinic has started unless the class is cancelled by TCSA. If weather or a facility closure causes a camp day to be cancelled, TCSA will provide players with a credit to be used towards future registrations.

COMPETITIVE PLAYER REFUND POLICY

‍Full refunds will be granted if the player decides to leave the TCSA program during the team registration period and prior to July 1st of each soccer year. If the player decides to leave TCSA after July 1st, partial refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis. **High School aged teams may have different team registration dates and be allowed a modified refund date**

WEATHER POLICY

It is TCSA’s policy that if lightning is seen, thunder is heard or if the Strike Guard alert sounds (long horn blast and/or a visible flashing amber strobe light on roof top) the game or practice must be terminated immediately. Everyone must leave the fields and seek shelter in their vehicles. Thor Guard is only installed at James O. Breen Community Park and at East Side Sports Complex. The siren and flashing amber light is located on top of the concession building at James O. Breen Community Park and on top of an electric service building east of the soccer fields at East Side Sports Complex. Please note that the concession area patio at James O. Breen Community Park is NOT lightning safe and CANNOT be used as shelter.


In addition to the stated weather policy, common sense should be used to determine if games should or should not be played or practice held due to bad weather. Games and practice must end if standing water is present or if the field becomes dangerous to the players. The referee will make the determination if a game should be played or not. Coaches should consult with the referee if, in their opinion, the game should be canceled due to weather or field conditions.



For Saturday morning Recreational Soccer Leagues, the decision as to whether games will proceed or will be canceled will be determined by 7:30am and will be noted on the homepage of the website.

STRIKE GUARD LIGHTNING PREDICTION SYSTEM

The St. Charles Park District has installed the Strike Guard Lightning Prediction System and Voice-of-Thor horn warning system at James O. Breen Community Park and at East Side Sports Complex. Although each one of us is responsible for our own safety, we utilize this sophisticated computer system to provide additional warning when dangerous conditions are detected.


The system consists of sensors placed at the park site that measure electrostatic charges at ground level and in the atmosphere. When conditions indicate that lightning occurrence is probable, a signal is sent to an alarm horn. The signal provides an 8-12 minute warning that allows one to clear the area and seek shelter.



To minimize the potential for lightning related injuries, it is recommended that when the warning system is activated, a 15 second horn blast will be heard. The park sites are to be cleared immediately and activities not resumed until the all clear signal is given (3 short horn blasts). These alarm tones are distinctly different from any current public alarm tones. It is recommended that park patrons and staff immediately seek shelter in their vehicles. If such shelter is unavailable, patrons should avoid areas that are higher than the surrounding landscapes, not to use a tree for shelter and keep away from metal objects such as bicycles, golf carts, umbrellas, etc. If it is the opinion of the Park staff, referee, coach or the general public that the weather situation is not safe, do not wait for the horns to activate – CLEAR THE AREA! Take shelter in your vehicles anytime lightning is seen or thunder is heard.