All policies are expected to be enforced by the Director of Coaching and Executive Committee of Pinellas Park or the full Pinellas Park Soccer Board. Individuals have the right to appeal any policy decision to the Board or its Executive Committee.

Financial & Coaching Obligations

Competitive coaches are ultimately responsible for the conduct and good financial standing of their team, players, and parents. If players are delinquent in meeting payment obligations by more than 21 days, the coach is obligated to turn in the player pass to a member of the board until the matter is resolved to Board’s satisfaction. Players may receive Board approved payment plans or scholarships when necessary as finances allow. No full scholarships will be awarded to a player. The Director of Coaching and Pinellas Park Executive Committee must approve scholarships for a player.

Coaches must abide by the printed bylaws, rules, or policies of Pinellas Park United, Leagues (USA), and FYSA. Note: The League rules are very tight and have many consequences for violations (e.g. red cards, ref abuse, poaching). FYSA will suspend coaches, and fine the team/club for poaching violations. Poaching regulations are very strict and a coach/team/club can easily be charged even when a minor violation by a team parent occurs without the coach’s knowledge. The coach is obligated to inform their parents of the rules.

Any coach, who does not abide by these policies, may be removed from coaching by the Board. The Board also reserves the right to place coaches or players in “bad standing”; therefore withholding their release to other FYSA sponsored organizations. The Director of Coaching can remove/replace a competitive coach; however, the coach has the right to appeal to the Board.

If a competitive coach has a one or more of their children playing on any Pinellas Park United competitive team, the Board has the right to approve reduced or waived fees (excluding or including uniform costs) for up to one child. However, if a coach who has a discounted child is removed or is deemed in “bad standing” by the Board, the privilege of reduced or waived fees is revoked, and the coach will be required to pay for their child. A team may choose to pay for a coach’s child from the team funds. A team may choose to have partial payment paid for a player from team funds with approval from the Director of Coaching, Executive Committee, and consensus of the team parents.

All scrimmages or rescheduled games need the approval of the Director of Coaching, the designated Field Scheduler, and the Referee Assignor.

At a minimum, teams need to have on their official roster a head coach, an assistant coach, and the Director of Coaching.

The Executive Board of Pinellas Park must approve all team fundraisers and advertising.

Any balances in team funds at the end of play (or tryouts) carries over with that team moving up into the higher age bracket the following season. Team funds may be spent on team activities (tournaments) and equipment. No funds to players will be given. If a team folds, the team funds become the property of Pinellas Park United for field improvements.

All uniforms must be kept in acceptable condition, and the Competitive Committee has the right to require a player to purchase new uniform parts to replace parts that are a poor reflection on Pinellas Park. If two players end up on the same team with the same uniform number from previous seasons, then the player with seniority with the organization shall retain the uniform number. The allocation of additional costs for that child to change numbers shall come from the team’s funds.

Any team can hire an additional trainer as long as A.) all other Pinellas Park financial obligations are met; the team cannot opt out of club training fees and B.) the trainer is approved by the Director of Coaching.

Playing Up in Age or Opposite Gender and Rules for A,B,C teams

     Players should play with their own gender where there is such a team available. Players should play in their natural age bracket when there is a team available. If a player wishes to deviate from the above, they must receive approval from the Director of Coaching. Any decision by the Director of Coaching may be appealed to the Board.

     Where there is more than one team in an age bracket in the same gender, there will be “A (Blue), B (Red), and C (Yellow)” teams. The A team represents Pinellas Park's attempt to field the strongest, most competitive team, followed by the B, and so forth. At tryouts, the A team coach leads the tryouts in collaboration with the other coaches. The coach from the higher team has the right to select players first. No coach at Pinellas Park should be trying to persuade players to change teams, unless both coaches and the Director of Coaching have reached a majority decision of what is best for that player and Pinellas Park United.