For quick reference, we've included information regarding the MSYSA Player, Coach, and Team movement policy below. It's important for players, parents, and coaches that are interested in Southern Maryland Rush to understand the restrictions in place and that our club will always do it's best to comply with this policy.
[Note this only applies to MSYSA carded players and coaches.]
This text comes from the following update from MSYSA:
https://www.msysa.org/msysa-player-coach-and-team-movement-policy/
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE MSYSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
All of us are working through the Coronavirus crisis and are trying to figure out how to restart our soccer world once we get back out on the fields and begin play. The time that we start back up may be towards the time when teams and Clubs will begin tryouts for the next seasonal year.
To prepare everyone, we thought that it best to remind all Clubs that MSYSA does have an enforceable policy regarding the recruitment of players, coaches and teams.
The policy was enacted at the beginning of the 2019/2020 seasonal year and its goal is to ensure a level field of competition between all MSYSA affiliates when recruiting players, coaches and teams. It is NOT intended to restrict the development of players.
All clubs invest large amounts of time and money into their teams. Losing players in the middle of the seasonal year has the possibility of destabilizing teams which may cost clubs time, money and resources.
There is a financial penalty for clubs who violate the policy. We hope to avoid this by encouraging all MSYSA members to work together and to actively promote players to the level of play that is appropriate based upon their technical capabilities and social needs.
Please familiarize yourselves with the MSYSA Player, Coach and Team Movement Policy and share this information with your teams.
While the COVID-19 crisis has dramatically affected our spring season, and potentially beyond, our movement and recruitment policy remains "as is". The MSYSA movement and recruitment policy was established in September 2019 and it's entirety can be found in the link below or in the Bylaws and Policies section of our website (about us/bylaws and policies).
Below is part of the policy, but see policy link above for complete description of responsibilities and violations.
POINTS OF CLARIFICATION (5/4/2020):
* ANY PLAYER/PLAYER GUARDIAN IS ABLE AT ANY TIME TO INITIATE CONTACT WITH ANOTHER COACH , TEAM OR CLUB. THE CONTACTED CLUB CAN THEN FREELY COMMUNICATE WITH THE PLAYER AS LONG AS THE ORIGINAL COMMUNICATION WAS PLAYER/GUARDIAN INITIATED.
*COMMUNICATION ORIGINATING OR INITIATED BY NEW COACH OR CLUB CAN ONLY OCCCUR DURING THE OPEN PERIOD OF MAY 15-JUNE 30.
*A PLAYER'S ARRIVAL AT A PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED TRYOUT, SOLELY OF THEIR OWN VOLITION AND CHOICE, WOULD BE CONSIDERED PLAYER INITIATED COMMUNICATION, EVEN IF NOT DURING THE STATED OPEN PERIOD.
PLAYER, COACH & TEAM MOVEMENT POLICY (RECRUITMENT) HERE
Below is part of the policy, but see policy link above for complete description of responsibilities and violations.
"The recruitment of player(s) actively playing for another MSYSA-affiliated organization is prohibited, except as specifically provided in this policy. A player is actively playing for a team if the player appears on the official team roster certified by an authorized representative of MSYSA for the current Seasonal Year (August 1–July 31)."
" Contact with the player for the purposes of recruitment is restricted during the soccer year except during the Open Recruitment period. The open recruitment period will run from May 15th through June 30th. Outside of the open recruitment period, contact with a prospective player is only allowed with the permission of the player’s current club. "
" This rule does not prohibit the communication or publication of open tryouts to the general public, or the conduct of open tryouts, or subsequent communication with uncommitted players who attended an open tryout. It also does not prevent a player from seeking out additional opportunities throughout the year – i.e. guest playing, club transfers, etc. – as long as the player legitimately initiated the contact".
MSYSA deems this policy a crucial step in the enforcement of illegal recruitment within our state association.