Managing an OYSA Sanctioned League January 30, 2016 Managing an OYSA Sanctioned League What you need to know to get your league sanctioned and operate it successfully

Sanctioned Leagues Leagues – Why Operate? Running a league provides a place to play May be limited to players from a single club May include players from many clubs The operator of the league can determine the playing level of the league by adjusting who is invited/accepted into the league and by adjusting playing rules Running a league can generate a profit for the operating club

Sanctioned Leagues Why Sanction Your League? Activates liability coverage Host club Participants OYSA Obtain COI for the facilities used to play games in the league Referees USSF priority to sanctioned leagues Availability of Certified referees Marketing On OYSA Website Attract teams from other clubs

Sanctioned Leagues Requirements for Sanctioning Submit application to host Located on OYSA website at http://www.oregonyouthsoccer.org/forms The form is filled out entirely online and when submitted is emailed for review The sanctioning fee can be paid online as well All participants in the league must be registered with US Youth Soccer Mostly this will be OYSA Could include Washington Youth Soccer teams in some areas Remember, Insurance follows registration How will the league verify registration compliance? Submit a copy of the league rules Upload a copy Provide URL to website where rules can be found E-mail a copy to OYSA Referees Must be USSF Certified Must be assigned by USSF Certified assignor Switch to view of Application form Referee requirement is from USSF

Sanctioned Leagues Verifying Registration Trust everyone Can work for in-house league More difficult with teams from different clubs Is trust enough? Require Affinity roster Every name on the list will be registered Is the person at the game the person listed on the roster? Use player cards Cards can only be printed for players registered in Affinity Pictures on the card allow positive ID Alternative – photo roster Photo roster is available 2 ways From Affinity scheduling Can be set up for single team roster In either case will require a photo to be uploaded into player profile

Sanctioned Leagues What should be in your rules? Who runs the league and contact information for game day issues Information for Referees What is different from FIFA Laws? Length of games Playing format – 4v4, 5v5, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 Size of the field, goals Game restarts – throw in/kick in Substitutions Casts – not allowed? / allowed with conditions? Restarts by keeper U10 and younger Punting Goal kicks Penalties (U10 and younger) Heading (U10 and younger) Who provides the game ball(s)

Sanctioned Leagues What should be in your rules? (cont.) Administrative information for referees and coaches Minimum number of players/coaches to start a game How long to wait before abandoning a match Should anyone be called if there is a problem? Limits on where teams and spectators should be How many adults in the team area? Do teams check-in with the referee? Rosters? Cards? How many players allowed to play in the game? Can a late arriving player participate? Are there behavior guidelines for coaches or spectators? Where does a sent-off player go during the rest of the game? Where does an expelled coach go during the rest of the game?

Sanctioned Leagues What should be in your rules? (cont.) Administrative information for clubs, coaches, teams, and players Scores and standings Minimum disciplinary suspensions Suspensions for reasons other than breach of laws of the game, if any Hearings Appeals Protests Penalties for forfeits Game rescheduling, if allowed Sample rules Small sided game rules on US Youth Soccer website - http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/coaches/RulesSmallGames/ Rules for Timbers and Thorns Leagues on OYSA website - http://www.oregonyouthsoccer.org/home.php?layout=817309 Check league websites and review their rules

Sanctioned Leagues Financial Administration of Your League Budget Before league is announced Know fixed costs Sanctioning Field rental Portable toilets Advertising Equipment Know variable costs Referees Game scheduler Referee assignor Revenue Registration fees Other revenue sources Concessions Sponsors Fixed – you have to pay these regardless of the number of teams Variable – changes with the number of teams involved

Sanctioned Leagues Financial Administration of Your League (cont.) Communication / Advertising Do you need to pay for distributing information about the league? Postage Email distribution lists Can you rely on free information distribution streams? Email Social Media Website Do you need to pay someone to create your messaging? Be sure to include any expenses in your budget How will teams register? If using online registration, is there a cost involved? Are costs per team? (variable expense) Are costs a flat fee for the league? (fixed expense) Use of Affinity for league operations is free to member clubs

Sanctioned Leagues Financial Administration of Your League (cont.) Collecting Registration Fees Credit card payments online E-checks online Paper checks Billing for check payments What about teams that do not pay? Do you need to have an allowance for uncollected registration fees? If your rules allow for fines, how will you collect them? How will you track payment of fines? What is the effect of nonpayment Do you need insurance in addition to OYSA? Liability coverage, COI, included with membership and sanctioning Damage to or loss of your owned equipment or buildings is not covered Goals, nets, corner flags, storage containers, trailers, etc. If needed, be sure to include in your budget For credit card payments, who pays the merchant cost? Did you build that into your league fee?

Sanctioned Leagues League Management Preseason Issues that continue through the season: Game Scheduling Distributing Schedules Assigning Referees Emergency Action Plan Day of game issues: Verifying player or coach eligibility on game day Consequences of poor behavior by players, coaches, spectators Concussion issues that come from playing the games Scores and standings Tracking disciplinary issues Who schedules? When are schedules done? How are schedules distributed?

Sanctioned Leagues Tools for League Management Registering Teams Semi-manual systems, spreadsheet software Automated systems – online registration software Teams/clubs can manage self-entry Online payment of fees Scheduling Games Paper and pencil Spreadsheet Automated systems Team input Field input Assigning Referees Hire an assignor Use Oregon Soccer Central Get online game reports Many software companies make software to run leagues Fee associated with the use of these tools Affinity has tools for all of these things Fee is included in player registration, so nothing extra required

Sanctioned Leagues Tools for League Management Tracking Discipline Spreadsheets Software that includes discipline as part of scheduling Tracking Concussions Paper Software that includes concussion tracking and release as part of game scheduling Many software companies make software to run leagues Fee associated with the use of these tools Affinity has tools for all of these things Fee is included in player registration, so nothing extra required

OYSA & Its Members Teamwork “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” -Henry Ford

THANK YOU Question? 7920 SW Cirrus Drive, Beaverton, OR 97008 Phone : 503.626.4625 Fax : 503.520.0302 Site : oregonyouthsoccer.org E-mail : brian@oregonyouthsoccer.org