FCL’s purpose is to set the highest standards for soccer clubs to develop youth players to their fullest potential – physically, emotionally, and ethically. As such, participants must conduct themselves to the highest standard. At all times, adult participants are expected to be role models for the youth involved in this league – exhibiting good sporting behavior in both victory and defeat.
Entering any Florida Club League (“FCL”) or other FCL competition is considered to be an automatic acceptance of the FCL’s rules, policies, and procedures including this Ethics Code and Guidelines.
All teams within a FCL Member Club will be held to the standards set forth in this Code of Ethics and Guidelines, as well as the rules and guidelines established by US Soccer, US Club, and National Premier League, when applicable (collectively, “FCL Rules”), regardless of which specific competition they play in. If these Code of Ethics and Guidelines are in direct conflict with the rules of either US Soccer, US Club Soccer, or NPL, the rules of US Soccer, US Club Soccer and NPL, shall govern, and FCL may be restricted from implementing certain rules related to teams not participating in FCL competitions.
All participants in FCL events must be members of US Club Soccer and therefore must adhere faithfully to the letter and spirit of its bylaws, rules, and policies, as well as the FCL Handbook, FCL Rules, the guidelines for new club admittance, and the following FCL Ethics Policy:
As used herein, the following terms shall have the following definitions:
Adult Member: Any coach, director of coach, trainer, manager, official or other individual 18 years of age or older affiliated with a Club and having access to a Player, the Player’s parents or the Player’s contact information that is not available publicly.
Certified Referee Assignor: Any individual certified by the United States Soccer Federation to serve as a referee assignor.
Club: Any club or academy admitted to FCL and that is a member of US Club Soccer.
Coach: Any coach, assistant coach, or trainer employed, contracted by or volunteering for a Club.
Director of Coaching: Any individual employed, contracted by or volunteering for a Club as a Director of Coaching, Executive Director, Technical Director, General Manager or as an assistant to any of the above-listed roles and all adults filling similar roles regardless of title.
Field: Any field used by a club to conduct Tryouts, Training Sessions or Games (other than tournament games).
Game: Any FCL sanctioned game, including all-league, play date, State Cup games and tournament games sanctioned only by US Club Soccer.
Manager: Any individual employed, contracted or volunteering to serve as a team manager, team parent or similar role regardless of title.
Official: Any individual serving as a Coach, Director of Coaching, Referee, board member, director or similar role for a Club.
Player: Any player holding a valid player pass from US Club Soccer and currently playing for an FCL or US Club Soccer Club.
Recruiting: Contact or communication with a Player who is registered to another FCL Club and asking or allowing them to attend a tryout outside of the FCL Tryout Window, attend a club Training Session, play or guest play for any other Team, without first receiving written permission from the Director of Coaching of the Player’s Club.
Referee: Any referee licensed for the then-current year by the United States Soccer Federation.
Trainer: Any adult employed, contracted by or volunteering for a Club as a trainer regardless of title. An individual will also be deemed a Trainer if they are privately training Players who play for another Club.
Training Session: Any Club sanctioned, or private, training session or practice. Training Sessions are limited to Players carded to play for the Club holding the Training Session.
Tryouts: Any Club advertised try-out session, including regularly scheduled tryouts and supplemental tryouts. Tryouts are open to all Players and all youth who are not Players but are interested in becoming Players.
This code of ethics has been developed to clarify and distinguish approved and accepted professional, ethical and moral behavior from behavior detrimental to the development of soccer within the FCL and US Club Soccer. This Code of Ethics is applicable to all Adult Members,Players, and their parents though in many cases the Coach will be primarily responsible for ensuring compliance. Punishments for violations of this code of ethics may be imposed upon a Club if committed by an Adult Member or another individual present at a Game or Training Session.
Adult Members have the responsibility to assist their players in conducting themselves properly when in public and representing their team, their Club, US Club Soccer and/ or the FCL.
Before an issue or complaint is forwarded to the FCL Protest, Discipline & Ethics Committee (“PDE Committee”), every attempt should be made to resolve the issue between the involved Clubs. If the issue cannot be resolved by the involved Clubs, the issue should be forwarded to the applicable Board Director. If the issue involves two clubs from different regions or the issue is time-sensitive an Incident Report may be forwarded to the PDE Committee at [email protected], only by the Director of Coaching or President of the Board of Directors of the protesting Club. Reports forwarded by other individuals will be dismissed.
All issues forwarded to the PDE Committee will be dealt with first by the PDE Committee, and if necessary, on appeal, by the FCL Board of Directors (“BOD”). Members alleged to be in violation of any provision herein will be required to stand before the PDE Committee. To hear an issue, the PDE Committee will be made up of at least three individuals who will act as the FCL Ethics Committee. Allegations of ethics violations will be made in accordance with United States Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer and FCL bylaws and operating procedures, with a copy sent to the Chairman of the PDE Committee.
Penalties for violations of the FCL Rules include, but not be limited to the following: