Policies and Waivers

General Field Rules
Playing Time
Attendance
Sportsmanship
Social Media Guidelines
Publicity Policy and Waiver
Carpool Policy and Waiver
Misconduct Suspension policy

General Field Rules

• No smoking or alcohol on or near any fields. 
• No dogs allowed on or near any fields. 
• No bicycles allowed on any fields. Please chain them to the nearest fence. 
• Turf shoes are allowed on all fields. Cleats may only be worn on artificial turf fields.
• Profanity is not accepted.
• To be a part of WSSL is to embrace and support its philosophy (See About WSSL).

Playing Time

Players learn by playing. Commitment matters. Sportsmanship matters. All players will receive balanced/fair playing time over the course of the season, and will play 50% or more in each game, unless:

• a player misses practice
• a player arrives late to the pre-game warm up or game itself
• a player displays poor sportsmanship or disrespect to a trainer, coach or fellow players
• players who play in the goal for 1/2 of the game will be given field time during the following half
• starting players will rotate game by game. Players who do not adhere to the rules of sportsmanship or commitment will not be awarded a starting position.

Playing time may be limited by attendance, attitude or other factors, and may be limited on the higher level travel and Premier travel teams.

Attendance

If your child has a history of missing pre-game training and/or games in WSSL, we reserve the right to block your ability to register your child or to restrict them from receiving a team assignment. Our League functions best when everyone attends and a player with chronic absences hinders the experience of not only their team, but the opponent's team as well.

Sportsmanship

We strive to create a positive environment based on mutual respect rather than a win-at-all-costs attitude, and our programs are designed to instill good sportsmanship in every facet. Coaches, referees and parents all want the same thing- a fair, safe and fun game for the kids. So:

1. Always keep in mind that audible/visible criticism of referees, coaches or league leadership will work to undermine the authority of the person being criticized. Such criticism often leads to a poorly controlled match that is less safe, less fair and less fun for the players.
2. Always keep in mind that the referees, coaches and other volunteers are not your adversaries. Yelling at or being disrespectful to coaches, referees, division heads or other league leadership is not consistent with good sportsmanship. They are all volunteers and they must be treated respectfully.
3. Discussions should never be public. As a general rule, they should never be during the game; wait until half time or after the match is over. The discussions should always be in a proper, respectful tone. Have a conversation, not an argument.
4. Remember that people see things from different angles and in different ways. Be open to the other points of view.
5. If you feel there is a real problem with the referee or a coach (obvious bias, total lack of understanding of the rules, inappropriate attitude), please bring this to the attention of your division head and league leadership.
6. Please do not chastise (publicly or privately) division heads or league leadership over team formation, friend requests, the weather or anything else. Division heads are also volunteers and are doing the best with the information they have at the moment. It is possible they will not get it all 100% right, but please keep in mind they have a tremendous job and are doing the best for the children as a whole. Weather calls in particular are not always obvious and are often difficult to make involving several factors.  

Social Media Guidelines

It is important for WSSL players and their families to always exercise discretion when using social networking media. Posts regarding WSSL, teammates, other teams, coaches, trainers, referees, games, etc. must always be respectful, sportsmanlike, and must never reflect poorly on WSSL. In other words, if you wouldn’t say it face-to-face, don’t post it. 

Cyberbullying will not be tolerated. This includes:
1)    Sending mean messages or harassing someone.
2)    Posting comments that are mean, not true, or create rumors.
3)    Sharing an embarrassing photo of someone else.

Treat others as you want to be treated and pause before you post.

Publicity Policy and Waiver

By registering a child for West Side Soccer League, parents and/or guardians agree and consent that photographs and/or videotapes of the WSSL teams and their members may be used, from time to time, for publicity and promotional purposes. This release includes, but is not limited to, websites and other social media accounts of WSSL, commercials, advertisements, press releases, electronic media and articles. It covers parents, family members and others who may not have signed a WSSL registration or volunteer form, and all such persons waive any rights to compensation. In using such photographs or video, no player will be individually identified by WSSL at any time, without the express written permission of that player's parent or guardian.

Carpool Policy and Waiver - Travel and Tournament Teams

At times, parent coaches or other parents may drive players other than their own child to/from practices, games, tournaments and other team activities. To the extent a parent or guardian allows their child to carpool in this manner, the parent or guardian agrees that there are risks inherent in doing so, assumes those risks, and releases and waives all claims of liability of any nature whatsoever against WSSL, its directors, coaches and other representatives which may arise from such carpooling activities, including any and all liability, damages, fees, expenses, courses of action, claims, suits or judgments of injury to or death of any person or loss or damage to any property which arises in the course of, or in connection with, or as a result of, carpooling, including vehicle accidents, driving infractions and any incidents involving carpool participants. The parent or guardian also agrees to indemnify and hold harmless WSSL and its directors, coaches and other representatives from any and all actions, claims or demands that may accrue or be made against WSSL or such other persons which arise out of or in connection with such player's participating in a carpool, whether such claim, demand or action is the result of negligence of the drivers or otherwise. WSSL is not responsible for ensuring the quality or licensing of drivers or that the drivers' vehicles are roadworthy or sufficiently insured.