Recruitment of Premier Level player(s) actively playing for another team is prohibited, except as specifically provided for in this rule. A player is actively playing for another premier team if the players name is registered with Soccer Maine for that team in the current soccer year.
The current soccer year begins September 1 of each calendar year and concludes immediately following the Region 1 Championship. No adult registered with Soccer Maine (administrator, coach, trainer, director, booster, or any other club position paid or unpaid) shall recruit players actively playing for another team for participation in their program during the Soccer Year. No adult may encourage players within their program to recruit players actively playing for another team during the Soccer Year.
This rule does not prohibit the publication of open tryouts to the general public, or the conduct of open try-outs. One exception being if a Premier club offers a fall team, this does not obligate the player to play for that club the following winter/spring season.
Recruitment includes the following activity:
1. Communicating with a player or parent on the subject of that player's participation with a club or on a team.
2. Inducing, soliciting, or otherwise using current players, or their parents to persuade players from another team to transfer.
3. Providing incentives to players such as reductions in fees, trips, uniforms, and other equipment, other than financial aid with respect to Club fees in cases of financial need or hardship.
4. Using a position of authority to persuade a player to transfer from one team to another. This may include adults involved with the State ODP program, adults involved with clinics and soccer camps, and adults involved with school programs or other programs such as indoor soccer.
SPECIAL RULES APPLICABLE TO COACHES
1. All Soccer Maine rules pertaining to recruiting shall be strictly observed by coach, manager, and all team representatives. Compliance with these rules shall be the responsibility of the coach, and the club director of coaching. Violations of this rule may be regarded as violations of the Coaches Code of Ethics and subject to Soccer Maine's Disciplinary Policy.
2. Any direct contact with a player or parent with the intent to recruit must begin with an inquiry as to the players' current status, with any other team.
3. Continuing any contact with a player or parent after learning that the player is actively playing for another team is prohibited and considered a violation of this recruiting rule.
4. Discussing a club or program with a player from another team without notifying the player's parents is prohibited.
5. At all times, when discussing the advantages of his/her Club, program, or organization, the coach has an obligation to be truthful, forthright, and refrain from making derogatory remarks regarding other coaches, teams, and organizations.
6. No coach may make a statement, at any time, to a prospective athlete who cannot be verified as true, or promise any kind of compensation or inducement for play.
7. Once an authorized direct contact with a player has been made, no further contact with that player may be made without the consent of the players' parent or legal guardian.
8. All invitations or offers to join a premier level team (U12 to U19) shall remain open until September 1. Premier player registrations with Soccer Maine will not be valid until September 1.
9. Players currently playing for a premier team may not be recruited by another premier team until after July 1. Players on teams involved in the Region 1 National Championship Series may not be recruited until after their final regional or national game has been played.
10. Premier tryouts held prior to July 1 may not include players currently rostered on another premier team. Premier tryouts held before or during the Region 1 National Championship Series may not include players currently playing in that series.
11. Players who have submit a Soccer Maine registration form signed by their parents for a premier team after September 1 are considered rostered and are not allowed to be contacted by another premier team for the purpose of recruitment until after July 1 (or after the Region 1 National Championship Series if they are involved in it).
PENALTIES
A player recruited in violation of this recruiting rule shall be ineligible to play with the team in violation in Soccer Maine's State Cup qualifying, semi-final, final rounds, USYS Region 1 Championship series, and USYS National Championship series for the duration of the current soccer year. Any player recruited in violation of this rule shall subject the coach and Club to such further sanctions as may be imposed consistent with Soccer Maine's Disciplinary Rule.
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