Rule 1101. Definitions

Section 1. The definitions of Bylaw Article III of US Youth Soccer apply to this policy. Those definitions include the following:

• "Federation": The United State Soccer Federation, Inc.
• "Region": One of those regions established under Bylaw Article VIII.
• "National Council": The National Council of US Youth Soccer as provided under Bylaw Article XI.
• "Organization Member": means an organization that is classified as such a member of USYSA as provided by Bylaw Article IV.
• "State Association": The administrative body within a territory determined by the National Council to carry out the US Youth Soccer’s programs for youth players.
• "Team": A group of soccer players playing on the same side in soccer games.
• "US Youth Soccer": The United States Youth Soccer Association, Inc.
• "Youth player": means an indivdual who is an amateur player and who has not reached 20 years of age prior to December 31 for the current seasonal year.(Rev. 8-16)
• "NYSWYSA": New York State West Youth Soccer Association.
• "Seasonal year": The seasonal year of NYSYWSA shall begin on September 1^st and end on August 31 of the following calendar year

Section 2. The following definitions also apply to this policy:

• "Add": The addition of a player to a teams roster.
• "Eligibility to play": Registered and not under suspension.
• "Involuntary release": The removal of a player from a teams roster at the request of team authorities.
• "Registration": The execution of an intent to play the sport of soccer and the paying of fees to become a member of NYSWYSA and US Youth Soccer.
• "Game Roster": means the list of players who will particiapte in a particular competition.
• "Team Roster": means the list of registered players eligible to play for a team.
• "Rostering": Assignment of a registered player to a team.
• "Select team": The official select or all-star team of US Youth Soccer, A region, NYSWYSA, A district or geographical subdivision of NYSWYSA; or Any league
• "Suspension": The temporary withdrawal of rights and privilege, such as the right to play, coach, or otherwise administer or participate (directly or indirectly) in soccer, and the suspension is for the entire term of the suspension with all rights and privileges withdrawn unless specifically stated otherwise by the suspending authority.
• "Uniform" means a jersey or shirt, shorts, thermal undershorts, stockings, shin guards, footwear, warmup jacket, pants, or suit, and other similar items of wear.
• "Voluntary release": The removal of a player from a teams roster at the request of the player.

Section 3. The following definitions are used by NYSWYSA and suggested for use by leagues within NYSWYSA to facilitate communication and understanding among them:

• "Classic or Club team": A travel or competitive team composed of players who are listed on the team’s NYSWYSA roster for league play and does not include guest players. A Classic or Club team participates in a Classic or Club league (multi-club league; tryouts are allowed; one or more league rules restrict the manner in which players are rostered to participating teams). These leagues are also sometimes referred to as basic travel leagues.
• "Premier team": A team which participates in a single tiered Premier league or the Premier Division of a multiple tiered league (no league rules restrict the manner in which players may be rostered, except for rules which limit recruiting behavior or limit participation of previously rostered players). This would also include those teams that participate in a "weekend" cup-qualifying league.
• "Select team": The official Select team of a US Youth Soccer member National State Association. In NYSWYSA, these are State Olympic Development Program teams. These teams would not be permitted to participate in any NYSWYSA Cup.
• "Inter-Club Tournament team": A team put together for the sole purpose of playing in tournaments or other sanctioned non-league competitions, whose roster includes players who are members of more than one club.
• "Intra-club Tournament team": A tournament team whose roster includes players who are members of only one club.
• "Recreational team": A team which participates in a recreational league (a single club league; no tryouts; all eligible applicants accepted; league balances talent across teams for even competition; rules require that each player play at least ½ of each game).
• "Club": An organization that is a member of NYSWYSA that has identifiable membership of youth soccer players on whose behalf the organization conducts or engages in youth soccer activities; and sometimes referred to as a "league" or "local association," is the basic administrative unit of US Youth Soccer.
• "District": A geographical subdivision of the territory of NYSWYSA.
• "Guest player": A registered player participating in a competition for a team to which the player is not rostered for purposes of league play.
• "Inter-club transfer": The removal of a player from a teams roster at the request of the player and the contemporaneous addition of the player to the roster of another team from a different club.
• "Intra-club transfer": The removal of a player from a teams roster at the request of the player and the contemporaneous addition of the player to the roster of another team from the same club.
• "League": A structured group of 4 or more teams joined for the purpose of inter-team play under a common set of administrative and competition rules; and is differentiated from another league by rules that govern that the rostering of players to each leagues teams, and the different terms used to describe each league do not necessarily reflect the level of ability or talent of teams participating in the league.
• "League team": A team that participates in regularly scheduled league play.
• "Player": A youth player registered in accordance with US Youth Soccer and NYSWYSAs rules.
• "Transfer": The removal of a player from a teams roster on the request of the player, and the contemporaneous addition of the player to the roster of another team.

Rule 1102. Applicability of Policy

This policy only applies to New York State West Youth Soccer Association youth players registered through New York State West Youth Soccer Association, unless specifically stated otherwise.

Rule 1103. Gender of Teams

NYSWYSA recognizes two types of team genders:

Teams with females only are girls teams.

All other teams are boys teams.

Rule 1104. Age Groups (Rev. 8-16)

a)  Except as otherwise provided by Rule 1105, age groups shall be comprised of youth players who are of age on or before the last day of December of the current year.

• 19 years of age and under.
• 18 years of age and under.
• 17 years of age and under.
• 16 years of age and under.
• 15 years of age and under.
• 14 years of age and under.
• 13 years of age and under.
• 12 years of age and under.
• 11 years of age and under.
• 10 years of age and under.
• 8 years of age and under.
• 6 years of age and under.

b)  Players may play up in an older age group, but never play down in a lower age group.

Rule 1105. State Variances (Rev. 11-02)

As provided by US Youth Soccer Rule 1105, NYSYWSA may permit variances in Rule 1104 and 2205 of this policy in the best interest of developing the sport with the jurisdiction of the State Association. Those variances do not apply to any NYSWYSA State Cup competitions.

Rule 1106. Game Play with Non-Members
Section 1. The USYSA Board of Directors or its designee may grant temporary permission to a regional or USYSA team to participate in games with a team of an organization that is not a member of the Federation or FIFA. In granting that permission, the Board or its designee shall ensure that all USYSA requirements have been met, including insurance requirements.

Section 2. New York State West Youth Soccer may grant temporary permission to a NYSWYSA team, or to a team of a member of the State Association, to participate in games with a team of an organization that is not a member of the Federation or FIFA. In granting that permission, NYSWYSA shall ensure that all USYSA and State Association requirements have been met, including State Association insurance requirements.

Section 3. Temporary permission under this rule may not be given for more than a period of one seasonal year. Permission may be renewed.

Rule 1107. Recognition of Risk Management Actions
Section 1. A disqualification or other disciplinary action for violation of Risk Management policies imposed by NYSWYSA against a person participating or seeking membership in a program of USYSA program, a State Association, or a program of a member of a State Association shall be recognized by all member State Associations within USYSA.

Section 2. A Risk Management disqualification imposed by NYSWYSA upon a prospective member who has been convicted of, or is a defendant in litigation alleging that the person has committed a felony, a crime of violence, or a criminal offense against a child shall be recognized by all State Associations upon proper notification to and by USYSA.

Section 3. NYSWYSA's Board of Directors or its designee shall conduct a review or hearing before allowing membership within their State Association to any individual who has been disqualified or otherwise disciplined by another State Association for violation of its Risk Management policies. The review or hearing shall be limited to whether the conduct giving rise to the Risk Management action taken by the other State Association constitutes a violation of the prospective State Association’s Risk Management policies. Nothing herein shall prevent a State Association from disqualifying other prospective members in accordance with its own Risk Management policies.