Texas Longhorns Soccer Club, Inc. (“TLSC”) and its members, staff, and volunteers (with the members, staff, and volunteers collectively hereafter referred to as the “Adults”) shall fully comply with the following:
Child Abuse and Reporting
1. The TLSC acknowledges that a child needs to feel appreciated and acknowledged in order to fully develop into a peaceful and caring adult. However, the extent of the physical contact which an Adult should have, and is permitted to have with a TLSC child or teenager is limited to touch that encourages a child or teenager to develop self-esteem and security. Touch that is initiated by an Adult for his or her own self-gratification or touch that exploits a child or teenager is prohibited. Furthermore, any words or actions toward a child, for the purpose of sexually exploiting the child or teenager, is prohibited. If any Adult has any doubt about the propriety of touching, he/she should refrain.
2. Abuse of children is not tolerated. Abuse includes but is not limited to verbal abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse, and neglect.
3. No person shall ever leave a child unsupervised.
4. At no time during TLSC activities may an Adult be alone with a single child where others cannot observe the situation.
5. All Adults are prohibited from being alone with children they meet in TLSC activities outside of TLSC sponsored activities. This includes sleepovers, babysitting, and inviting children to one’s home.
6. Suspicions of child abuse must be reported to the Executive Director of TLSC (“Executive Direct”) at the TLSC office, 1219 Abrams Road, Suite 118, Richardson, Texas
75081-5592 ; telephone 972-480-9340.
7. The Executive Director will report the alleged incident in accordance with relevant state reporting statutes (and, where applicable, local reporting statutes). The TLSC will fully cooperate with any legal authority involved.
8. The Executive Director shall promptly notify the President of the TLSC and the parents or legal guardian of the child(ren) involved in the alleged incident. Such notice shall comply with the notice requirements of the relevant state or local agency.
9. If the reported incident(s) involves a TLSC member, staff member, or volunteer, the President of the TLSC reserves the right to suspend the TLSC member, staff member, or volunteer from any and all activity with the TLSC. If the reported incident(s) involves a TLSC staff member, the suspension will be without pay.
10. The suspended TLSC club member, staff member, or volunteer will be reinstated only after the TLSC Executive Director and the TLSC President are satisfied that all allegations related to such party are cleared. (Back pay due to such reinstated staff member will be paid upon reinstatement.)
11. Because of the sensitive nature of allegations of child abuse and child sexual abuse and because of the need to protect the child and the reputation of any TLSC club member, staff member, or volunteer who is falsely accused, TLSC members, staff and volunteers who come aware of such allegations should only discuss the allegations with the Executive Director or his/her designate.
12. All of the TLSC’s full-time and part-time staff and volunteers must read and agree to follow this policy by signing the Statement/Release by Applicant document.
General
1. All adults are responsible for reading and abiding by the policies of North Texas State Soccer Association, of the associations in which they register (home), of the leagues in which they play, and the Texas Longhorns Soccer Club.
2. All persons are expected to treat each other with consideration and respect, treating everyone equally, regardless of sex, national origin, citizenship, religion, race, color, or culture.
3. All persons are expected to employ positive techniques of encouragement, reinforcement and redirection.
4. All persons are expected to portray positive role models.
5. All Adults will abstain from public display of intimate affection.
6. Inappropriate language or profanity is prohibited.
7. All Adults are prohibited from dating TLSC players who are 19 years of age or younger.
8. Possessing, manufacturing, distributing, using, or being under the influence of illegal dugs or alcohol on TLSC premises or at TLSC functions is prohibited.
9. The TLSC encourages all parents to determine transportation arrangements for practices and other TLSC team and club events well in advance. Emergency procedures should be in place.
10. All players, parents, staff and volunteers are expected to attend all TLSC team club activities, athletic or social.
11. Policies and procedures of the TLSC may be amended as needed by the TLSC Board of Directors (the “Board”).
12. TLSC players may not “guest” with other teams without prior approval of the team coach.
13. TLSC players who violate TLSC club rules when traveling may be sent home.
14. Fines, appeals, or other administrative financial matters incurred by TLSC players, coaches, or teams are the responsibility of the TLSC team and not of the TLSC.
15. The TLSC colors are orange, white, navy. Only uniforms approved by the Board of Directors will be worn.
Players – Staff – Volunteers
1. The TLSC will not tolerate any abuse of a player. Abuse includes but is not limited to verbal abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse, and neglect.
2. No TLSC player should be left unsupervised. This includes, but is not limited to, practices, league games, and tournaments.
3. The TLSC does not encourage player-staff relationship outside of organized TLSC team or club activities.
4. The TLSC expects all players to respect their parents, their coaches, their teammates, game officials, and their opponents.
5. TLSC players may not “guest” with other teams without prior approval of the TLSC team coach.
6. TLSC players who violate team/club rules when traveling may be sent home.
Parents – Staff
1. Communication is encouraged among staff, parents, and players. To this end, phone calls and/or requests for conference should be handled in a timely manner away from practice or games.
2. During practice or games, a TLSC coach’s first responsibility is to his/her players.
3. TLSC parents and coaches are immediate role models for players and set the tone for expectations on the field.
4. Please support the manager of your TLSC team. Assistance with equipment, communication, travel, and special events is greatly appreciated.
5. As TLSC is the host of the Dallas Cup and the Spring Classic soccer tournaments each spring, each TLSC parent is expected to participate in some volunteer capacity, including housing, if requested. Dates of these events are announced at the beginning of the soccer year so that all parents and players will be available during this time.
6. Under no circumstances (practices, games or tournaments), is the manager or parents to substitute for a coach. Any substitute should be determined by the Coaches Administrator or his/her designate.
Financial
1. No player contract is valid unless accompanied by the requested payment.
2. All TLSC rostered players and/or their parents are expected to meet all financial obligations.
3. If financial obligations are not met in a timely manner, the TLSC has a NO PAY, NO PRACTICE, NO PLAY, NO TRAVEL, NO TRY-OUT POLICY.
4. No refunds of TLSC fees will be considered.
5. The TLSC is considered a “traveling” club. The TLSC players and parents are expected to participate in all team tournaments and travel after signing with the team and through June 30th of the soccer year and to meet the additional financial requirements thus incurred.
6. Because tournaments attended by the TLSC teams are considered TLSC team events, all TLSC players on the team roster shall equally share tournament fee expenses whether or not each player on the TLSC team roster participates in the tournament. However, all other tournament expenses, including coach’s expenses, are shared by those players, including guest players, who do participate. NOTE: Graduating seniors may be excused from participation in June tournaments only with advance permission of the team coach and only if such non-participation does not affect the eligibility of the remaining team members to participate in said tournament. Graduating seniors who are granted such permission must contribute the usual tournament fee obligation incurred by a team event.
7. No tournament assessments will be reassessed due to change of plans of any single player. Refund for trips will be made at the sole discretion of the Board.
8. A player may not participate in local or out of town tournaments, receive permission to be a guest player, or participate in individual or team try outs for the ensuing soccer year unless all fees and other financial obligations have been met in full.
Violations of any part of this Policies and Procedures for the Conduct of Members, Staff and Volunteers is grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination, and prohibition from engaging in membership, staff, or volunteer activities.
Policies & Procedures for Download:
http://www.longhorns.org/docs/clubInformation/guidelines/TLSC-POLICIESPROCEDURES.doc
