Metuchen Soccer Club

Spring 2021

March 1st, 2021

MSC - Who we are

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Our Mission

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Through soccer to provide our community a fun and rewarding environment where all our children, regardless of their background or ability, can achieve their full potential.

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About Us

We will deliver the best soccer experience possible for the children of our community. We strive to provide the right opportunities for children of all different levels - soccer skill, athleticism, socioeconomic, age - to succeed. From our Recreation, Signature, and Premier programs to our MiniMeggers, PreK, and Buddy Ball (children with disabilities) programs. We also contribute to the needs of our broader community through student scholarships, equipment donation, and international sister clubs (Ugandan Bulldogs).

The Club is committed to educating and training players, coaches and parents in all relevant aspects of the game, while creating the right environment for them to learn, play, and respect the game; and instilling the importance of good sportsmanship, the value of teamwork, skills of the game and fair play.

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Most importantly we strive to foster the love of soccer for our children.

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Our Programs

• Mini Meggers Program
• Rec Program
• Travel Program
• Mid New Jersey Youth Soccer League (MNJYSA)
• Suburban Youth Soccer League (SYSL)

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Kids come first - We will develop kids in...

• Ability
• Knowledge of the game
• Becoming sports participants
• Gaining personal confidence and price
• Acquiring team spirit
• Setting objectives and striving toward them
• Building character

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Travel Soccer

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MNJYSA - “Kids come first”

• The league’s desire is to promote fun… it is the club and coach’s job to make this come true.
• Winning games is not the only the focus of the game. It should not be allowed to become the measure of success.
• MNJYSA’s SAGE program embodies these precepts.
• Clubs are expected to comply fully with the SAGE program and its specific procedures.
• MNJYSA will NOT tolerate any action that is intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule, or demean others under any circumstance.

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MNJYSA League Handbook - Highlights

• Can be downloaded from
• League Website:www.mnjysa.org
• Club Website - Travel: http://www.metuchentravelsoccer.com/
• Know the rules
• https://www.theifab.com/laws
• You can also download the IFAB app from Google Play or Apple Store
• All coaches to have a USSF Class F license or higher to coach in MNJYSA

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MNJYSA League Handbook - Highlights - Game Day

Schedule and Times

• The game schedule is fixed as of 9:00 P.M. of the Tuesday before the scheduled playing date. A club should not change the field location or time of the game thereafter unless a State Cup Competition game requires the change.
• When the weather makes play impossible and another field is unavailable, the Club League Contact must call the visitors and the referee assignor at least three (3) hours before the first scheduled game of the day, but not later than 10:00 AM when the first scheduled game of the day is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM or later. Coaches will not call the Referee Assignor. Otherwise, the game is on unless canceled by the referee at game time.
• In the spring season, some clubs are not able to use their home field before April 1st. When this occurs, MNJYSA recommends that in flights where teams play each other twice the teams swap home and away games if the away team has a field available. That is, play the first game between the two teams at the away field and the second game (scheduled for later in the season) at the home field. If neither team has a field available, the League Contact of either team should initiate the appropriate steps as set forth in the provisions of Section 6.1.3 (Rescheduling of Missed Games) of this Handbook to reschedule the game.

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MNJYSA League Handbook - Highlights - Game Day

Schedule and Times

• For ages U9 and older games are generally scheduled to be played on Sunday. There may be games scheduled for Saturdays which is based on uneven flights. This allows for all teams to have ten games scheduled within the Season.
• U8 and U7 games are scheduled to be played on Saturday.
• The home team can schedule the starting time of the game between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM on Sunday and between 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM on Saturday at their convenience. This is part of the home field advantage.
• The visiting team must adhere to the starting time scheduled by the home team.
• By mutual agreement of both the home team and visiting team coaches, the games can be started earlier or later, provided that the agreement is made prior to 9:00 pm of the Tuesday before the scheduled playing date.
• When a game starting time is so changed, the home team League Contact must call the referee assignor with that change.

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MNJYSA League Handbook - Highlights - Game Day

Field, Pre Game & Positioning on the field

• The field must be lined clearly (including between the goal posts), goals must be anchored as required by FIFA Law I, nets must be hung and staked so that a ball cannot go through, and corner flags must be securely placed. Flags at the halfway line are optional. The referee has the final judgment on the condition of the field for play.
• Be on the field 30 minutes before game time. Be sure the items on your checklist are on hand and ready to go. (E.g., proper game card, game ball, coaches' IDs, player passes, referee fee, ice or ice packs, alternate colored shirts, etc.) Don't just be early to set up the field and start work on the game card.
• The home team is allowed a 15-minute grace period after the scheduled start time. The visitors are allowed 30 minutes grace. Referees are allowed a 30 minute grace period. Putting aside grace periods, it is a breach of etiquette to delay the start of the game. Forfeits are not wanted and will not be tolerated.

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MNJYSA League Handbook - Highlights - Game Day

Field, Pre Game & Positioning on the field

• The referee will verify the game cards with player pass number, name, and shirt number. Only players and coaches having proper coaches' cards that are on the participating team’s game card and roster shall occupy one side of the field. The parents and spectators of both teams shall occupy the opposite side of the field. A team shall be permitted to have no more than three (3) rostered coaches on the side with players. A club linesman shall be permitted on the side with players and coaches if needed and placed by the referee.
• Minimum number of players on game day
• Games can be played with less than the full number of field players on the team. The minimum number of field players that makeup a team on game day are:
• For 11 v 11 = Seven (7) players make a team;
• For 9 v 9 = Six (6) players make a team;
• For 7 v 7 = Five (5) players make a team;

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MNJYSA League Handbook - Highlights - Game Day

Game cards

• Each team, both home and away, shall bring a game card to each game. Each game card should be filled in with the game number and the names of both teams. Additionally, each team must list the participating players and coaches for that game on the card. All participants must hold valid NJYS passes from their Club and not be under suspension.
• Game cards must now be generated via GotSoccer/GotSport website and printed out. The team roster should be loaded into GotSoccer/GotSport website prior to the beginning of each fall and spring season
• The game card will pre-populate with ID numbers for each player and coach as well as Match # and Game details.
• # - Uniform number Player name can be entered in manually on the game card.
• Coaches are required to ensure that they or their Club enters the game scores and number of referees into the MNJYSA.org website. Scores shall be entered as soon as the game is completed but no later than 48 hours during the normal league matches. The last game of the season scores shall be entered prior to the end of the season deadline that is listed in the seasonal calendar.

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MNJYSA League Handbook - Highlights - Game Day

Game cards

• The referee will complete the game report and mail the game card, retained passes and supplemental reports to the MNJYSA First Vice President within 24 hours after the completion of the game. Scores for U10 and younger matches must also be reported on the MNJYSA website. Scores are not visible to the public because the younger ages are developmental but the league uses the scores to ensure proper flighting for next seasons.
• Teams can only report games actually played and may not submit two different game cards for a single played game. Teams that attempt to report a single played game as two reported games will be fined $500.00 each and
• The coaches will be suspended for a minimum for six months. These teams also will not be eligible for flight champions.

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MNJYSA League Handbook - Highlights - Game Day

Cards – Club Pass is in effect

• MNJYSA will allow a Club to field a team of eligible players from their Club for any game.
• An eligible player will be defined as being the correct age or younger, subject to the age/roster restrictions defined in the NJ Youth Soccer Player Development Initiative (NJYS PDI).
• This means a player from your Club with a valid pass and the appropriate age/gender may play for a team for which he/she was not originally rostered.
• Older players cannot play on younger teams
• Age appropriate girls may play on boys teams.
• Boys may NOT play on girls’ teams.
• Game day roster sizes previously set are still in effect.

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MNJYSA League Handbook - Highlights - Game Day

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*U8 may play 7v7 in 2019

Roster Sizes

Referee Fees

MNJYSA League Handbook - Highlights - Game Day

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Length of Games

Players will be permitted to “play up” in accordance with the following NJYS table:

U7 Team – U6 Player(s) permitted on a U7 team U8 Team – U7 Player(s) permitted on a U8 team U9 Team – U8 Player(s) permitted on a U9 team

U10 Team – U8 & U9 Player(s) permitted on a U10 team

Older players cannot play on younger teams

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Club Guidelines

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Club Guidelines

Playing Time

• Travel Teams
• MNJYSA DOES NOT have a policy on playing time.
• The club recommends that across the season, each player should play at least a minimum number of minutes (dependent on age group)
• U13 and older (05,06,07)
• 70 Minute games
• Minimum 1/3 of the game (23) mins per player
• U12, U11 (2008-09)
• 60 Minute games
• Minimum ½ of the game (30 minutes per player)
• U10, U9, U8 (2010,2011,2012)
• 50 Minute games
• Minimum ½ of the game (25 minutes per player)

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Club Guidelines

The Coaches

• Prior experience coaching or playing soccer is not required to be an excellent parent coach. Parents receive training on running practices and coaching games from the club. Most parents find this experience very rewarding.
• Ideally, Coaches SHOULD NOT be team managers.
• Ideally, Coaches SHOULD NOT be related to team managers.

Team Managers

• Parents also have an opportunity to become a Team Manager playing an essential and helpful role to reducing the administrative burden upon the coaches.The team manager would also act as the team treasurer and handle all payments to referees each week.

Team Fund

• Club has up to $200 in fund allocated for each NEW team for miscellaneous items. This available only 1x per team.
• Equipment
• Recommend that each team manager collect an additional set amount from parents to fund team’s non-league activities/tournaments for the season (Fall+Spring)
• Club allocates $400 for each team’s winter training sessions
• Club pays for all teams to participate in the annual (Fall) Piscataway Soccer Club Tournament.

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Club Guidelines

Sportsmanship

• Teams, parents and coaches should behave in a manner befitting the club.

Team Communications

• Parent meeting
• SSU or TeamSnap
• Other tools – Our website www.metuchentravelsoccer.com

Training Sessions/Practices

• Along with training partners, the club can provide guidelines on how practices can be run

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Club Guidelines

Game Day

• MNJYSA League Schedule is fixed as of 9pm of the Tuesday before scheduled playing date.
• For home games, please work with our (Club Scheduler) VP Ops – Amish Gandhi (amish.gandhi@metuchensoccerclub.com) to find a suitable field/time for your home games.
• The Club schedules all home games. It is up to the discretion of the Club Scheduler to lock the schedule or move any games in order to ensure field and referee availability prior to the league deadline.
• Do not include the Club Scheduler on away game correspondences.
• First games on home field, teams must setup corner flags and weights for goals, open the bathrooms.
• Last games on home field, teams must take down flags and weights for goals, close the bathrooms.
• Cards & Registration papers/waivers
• Game Card for home games
• Player Cards
• Pay the ref
• Uniforms
• Always bring both
• Home Uniform: Blue
• Away Uniform: White

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Club Guidelines

Game Day - Don’t forget:

• First Aid Kit & Ice Packs
• Please report any issues or significant injuries to info@metuchensoccerclub.com
• Water
• After the game
• Retrieve & count game cards
• If last game on home field, must put away corner flags and weights for goals
• Enter game score, referee information and current week trainer info on Score sheet (provided to all coaches/managers before the season)

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Club Guidelines

Tournaments - We encourage teams to participate in tournaments and other soccer-focused opportunities such as:

• Piscataway Tournament – Club participates in all age groups
• Spookarama
• State Cups
• Piscataway Winter Futsal League
• Winter Training
• Other Tournaments
• Manalapan
• Wall
• Drew University
• Many, many more..
• Summer Training
• Pre-Season Camp by SuperSoccerStars

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FAQs

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Club Contacts

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BOARD MEETINGS NORMALLY TAKE PLACE ON THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH*

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8-9PM @ Borough Hall

500 Main St

Metuchen NJ 08840

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ALL ARE WELCOME.

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Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 4354

Metuchen, NJ 08840

Club FAQ

When do teams practice?

Most teams practice twice per week, although teams are free to practice more often if the coaches and parents decide it's necessary. The practices are held on weeknights and are usually 90 minutes long. Younger teams typically start as early as 4pm while older teams typically start as late as 7:30pm.

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When do the season(s) start?

Travel teams play in both the Fall and the Spring. Our club belongs to a state league (Mid-New Jersey Youth Soccer Association) and to the Suburban Youth Soccer League. The leagues set the start dates for the seasons. Typically, the Fall season starts in September and the Spring season starts in March.

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When are the games?

The leagues schedules our games on Sundays (for U9 and up) and on Saturdays (for U8). Our games must be played, if they are rained-out or otherwise postponed, they must be rescheduled. Often, those rescheduled games are played on days other than Sundays.

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Club FAQ

How long are the games?

• League game lengths vary by age.
• U8 plays four 12-1/2 minute quarters.
• U9 and U10 play four 12-1/2 minute quarters
• U11 and U12 play two 30 minute halves
• U13 and U14 play two 35 minute halves
• U15 and U16 play two 40 minute halves
• U17 and up play two 45 minute halves
• Scrimmages can be of any reasonable length as agreed to by the competing teams' coaches.
• Warm-up time before games is important. Coaches need players to arrive 30 to 45 minutes prior to game to in order to properly warm-up. Game time is NOT arrival time.

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Club FAQ

How long is the season?

• Half of a season's games are played on one of our home fields. The other half of the games are played at the opponent's field which could be just about anywhere in central New Jersey. It is unusual to have to drive more than 30 minutes to get to an away game.
• The season generally lasts 10-12 weeks. There are ten league games
• Older teams and higher flights, participate in playoffs in the spring season.

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Do I have to play in both the Fall and Spring seasons?

• With the exception of players who play on high-school (non-travel club) teams in the Fall, you are expected to play both the Fall and Spring seasons with your team. High-school age travel teams often do not register for league play in the Fall as the players are too busy with their school teams. Those teams typically register for Spring league play only.

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Club FAQ

I heard that travel teams train all year around. Is that true?

• Generally, yes (except for Early Summer)
• We recommend that teams train during Winter months and in August to prevent players from losing the hard-won skills they developed during the season. However it's not a requirement - just a recommendation.
• Most teams take off two months per year (July and December). And the practice schedule is usually lighter in the off-season.

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Club FAQ

What does it cost to play in MSC - Travel?

• Typical club registration costs between $750-800/year.
• The club accepts payment plans (monthly) or full amount.
• Full amount must be paid before end of the Fall season.
• Payment is by credit card or check.
• There are various exceptions to the fee, and the fee structure may change each year.
• Players must also periodically purchase a uniform through soccer.com
• Uniform fees run around $125 for a full kit. The club subsidizes the purchase of a backpack for new players.
• The club does accept donations of previously used uniforms for use by those who need them. If you have a uniform to donate or need to use one, reach out to uniforms@metuchentravelsoccer.com

How are the club registration fees used?

• Metuchen Soccer Club is a non-profit organization.
• All funds collected by the club are spent directly on the players or to offset the administrative costs of running the club and participating in the various leagues.
• All club administrators, coaches and team managers are volunteers and do not receive payment of any kind.

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Club FAQ

What other expenses might we incur?

• Some teams have no additional fees.
• Some teams might ask for an additional $200-$300 per year.
• This is determined by the coaches and parents for each team.
• It's common for teams to maintain a team fund to pay for things that are not funded by the club registration fees.
• The amount of each player's contribution to a team fund depends on the team.
• Generally speaking, the more competitive a team is, the higher the team fund fees will be.
• Team fees generally cover things like tournaments (the club pays for one per year), Winter indoor league participation, extra training equipment, etc.
• Tournaments can be quite expensive and must be paid for up-front, often many months in advance. This is why teams typically collect these fees at the start of the year.

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