2015 Club Handbook

Information, Guidelines & Forms

January 2015
Who We Are
Description, History, Structure, & Levels of Play
Description & History

Modesto Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) is the parent organization for Ajax United. MYSA-AJAX currently offers
recreational, mini-season, and competitive soccer (Ajax United), as well as adult leagues. Our core values are honesty,
integrity, respect, and hard work.

Ajax United is a competitive soccer club based in Modesto. The majority of our players are from the Modesto metro
area but we also draw some players in from all the way from Merced to Sacramento.

Ajax United was founded in 1976. The celebrated success of our club includes state cup champion teams, National team
members like Tisha Venturini & Heath Pearce, and thousands of players who had the opportunity to grow their love of
the game of soccer.

Club Structure

AJAX Green /
Elite
AJAX White /
Premier

MYSA/ AJAX Mini Season

MYSA Recreational

We are proud to announce that we have Trevor White as our MYSA-Ajax Director of Coaching. Riccardo La Barbera as
Development Academy Technical Director. James Olivera Pre-Academy Technical Director
Mission, Vision, Goals, & Philosophy

Mission

MYSA Mission - MYSA provides players and families with a premier, safe, and fun experience for all ages, abilities, and
backgrounds. We foster life skills, teamwork, sportsmanship, and technical development.

Ajax Mission - Ajax provides players the highest quality coaches, uncompromising in their path to develop the player’s
techniques, tactics, and character as we ultimately foster a life-long passion for the game.

Vision

MYSA Vision - MYSA is recognized as the preeminent Central Valley soccer club enhancing player’s lives. We deliver
value with top facilities, quality coaching, and a path for development. We offer a fully-integrated soccer program with a
vast network of staff and volunteers. MYSA cultivates a passion for the game with a dynamic club culture and
community involvement.

Ajax Vision – Ajax United is recognized as an educational soccer club where players receive elite coaching from the most
educated and licensed coaches in our area. We provide an opportunity for players of ages 4-23 for superior training and
a path for development based on a club curriculum that fosters creative, attacking players who attract colleges offering
opportunities for our players to continue playing.

Goals

• Roster three teams in each age-group/gender for the Development Academy within next two years
• Roster two teams in each age-group/gender for the Pre-Academy within next two years
• Roster one-two teams in each age-group/gender for the Academy within next three years
• Gain ECNL membership within the next three years
• Increase financial aid & scholarship fund by 10% within the next two years
• Have all Development Academy coaches with a minimum of USSF D or NSCAA Level 6 License within one year
• Have all Pre-Academy & Academy coaches with a National C or NSCAA National License within three years

Philosophy

Ajax believes in a style of play that involves dynamic attacking players who are willing to take chances to be
successful. Our coaches will not focus solely on wins at younger ages as they work to develop techniques and creativity,
but ultimately will produce players who are able to problem solve on the fly and break down opponents, leading to
more sustainable success at older ages when wins become more relevant. We believe risk taking will allow our players
to express themselves and gain confidence that will carry into all aspects of their life. We apply this philosophy of player
development through a tier structure focusing on three unique stages of development. While our methods and goals
are different within each of these stages there are several guiding principles that envelope our philosophy: love of the
game, risk-taking, hard work.
Club Development Plan
The Ajax Club Development Plan covers three main areas to strengthen our family’s & player’s experience while in Ajax.

• Long-Term Player Development Plan

• Coach & Parent Education
• Public Relations

We are taking specific steps to improve each of these aspects. Below are some concepts we are implementing this
upcoming year that will have an immediate impact.

Long-Term Player Development Plan

Stages of Development
1. Development Academy U8-U11 -- “Mastery of the Ball”
a. 8 Players on the field
b. Rosters of 8-13 Players
c. Primary Teaching Method – 1v1 & 2v1
d. Formation of 1-3-1-3
2. Pre-Academy U12-U14 -- “Playing together”
a. 11 Players on the field
b. Rosters of 14-18 Players
c. Primary Teaching Method – 2v2 up to 11v11
d. Formation of 1-4-3-3
3. Academy U15-U19 -- Playing in a system”
a. 11 Players on the field
b. Rosters of 16-22 Players
c. Primary Teaching Method – 4v4 up to 11v11
d. Primary formation of 1-4-3-3
i. Other possible formations
1. 1-4-4-2
2. 1-3-5-2
3. 1-4-3-3
4. College Academy U20 & U23
a. 11 Players on the field
b. Rosters of 16-22 Players
c. Primary formation of 1-4-3-3

Season Calendar (All teams will take 4 weeks off during the season, 2 of which must be consecutive weeks)
U8 – February through October
U9 – February through November
U10 – February through November
U11 – February through January/February
U12 – March through January/February
U13 – March through January/February
U14 – March through April
U15 to U19 - May through April/May
U20 to U23 – June/July
Age-Specific Curriculum- sample U8, look for each age group on website.
Annual Training Plan
Daily Training Plan
Testing & Player Evaluations
Testing

In 2015 will be the deployment of a club-wide testing program. This will allow us to monitor players development as
they go through the year, one age group to the next and one coach to another. This is a quantifiable program measuring
a player’s technical expertise. This will not always relate to effectiveness in a game but is a good indication of their
technical development.

Evaluations

Player evaluations are an important part of the development package. In order for players to know where they are
excelling and where they need to put in a little more work, they must have the feedback from their coaches. Normal
day-to-day interaction suffices most of the time but a formal evaluation process is absolutely necessary to make sure the
coaches opinions are communicated clearly and thoroughly to the player and parents.

An exciting tool we are using for player evaluation is a system called Zoom Reports. This is an online system where
coaches are able to provide numerical and descriptive feedback to players based on the four pillars of the game:
technique, tactics, physical, psychological. Within each pillar are specific areas which are evaluated and commented on.
These evaluations are then made available to the players/families. Coaches also have the tool of requesting self-
evaluations to have a player reflect on their own strengths and weaknesses. Ajax coaches will be required to complete
two player evaluations a year using the Zoom Reports tool and some may choose to provide evaluations more often.

Licensing & Education

Coach Education
Each year our coaches are required to complete twelve hours of coaching education. The goal of this program is not
only to increase the licenses and knowledge of our coaching base but also to keep our methods and exercises up with
modern developments in the game. The Ajax Technical Director offers some hours as internal education but for the
remaining hours our coaches are required to attend formal outside education courses. Most often these courses are
provided by the two most widely acknowledged soccer organizations in the U.S.A., the National Soccer Coaches
Association of America (NSCAA) and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).

Parent Education
Not all the parents involved in Ajax have played professional or collegiate soccer. Some may just have played high
school soccer while some may have played just some recreational soccer back in the day, others may not have played
soccer at all. In order to provide the complete well-rounded soccer education, we need are beginning to implement a
parent education program. This program will involve opportunities for parents to learn about our age-appropriate
program objectives, learn activities to help their children continue playing soccer at home, get a better understanding of
appropriate game behavior, and even a chance to learn the laws of the game.
Public Relations
Communication

Ajax is expending a lot of time and energy to make sure we communicate better with our customers (you families). The
most obvious place of information is our club website. This is a great place to start to see the most important events in
our club. Below is a list of other communication tools that are in use:

Website: www.MYSA-AJAX.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/modestoajax

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ModestoAjax

Field Closure: www.MYSA-AJAX.org

Marketing

In addition to communicating with our current group of players and families, it is extremely important that we continue
to promote the Ajax Club. The most important and relevant way of promoting our club is through you the parents.
Hopefully we have created a positive experience in a way that you are proud to talk about your club and everything we
offer. Currently there are no funds identified for marketing or outreach but that may change in the near future.

Conflict Resolution

Our Path of Communication is extremely important to make sure that problems are addressed in an appropriate and
timely manner. If you ever feel your player is in an unsafe or potentially harmful situation then you should immediately
contact the Director of coaching, technical director or an Ajax United committee member. All discussions will be kept
confidential if requested by the parent. If the issue is not a circumstance of player safety then we urge you to follow the
path of communication identified below.

We are working with our coaches to have an open door policy with regard to player and parent concerns. We urge you
to bring up questions or concerns you may have without having fear of a backlash toward you or your child. Ajax has a
24 hour cool off period- this means no conversations, calls, texts or emails immediately following a game. The following
is the path of communication that needs to implemented:

Player or Parent Concerns: You must first talk with the Coach. If the problem cannot be solved you will speak with your
Team Parent Liaison. If the issue still cannot be solved it will be heard in front of the Ajax United Committee. Again, if
the issue is still not solved it will go to the Board of Directors, if necessary.

The following path of communication is for the Coach, either with a player or parent concern. The coach will first talk to
the player and/or parent, trying to solve the issue. If the issue cannot be solved, or the inappropriate behavior does not
cease, the coach will contact the Ajax Committee. Again, if the issue is still not solved it will go to the Board of
Directors, if necessary.
Club Fees
Registration Fees
$150 Registration- due at commitment night
The Ajax United registration fee is used to cover direct registration costs and program administrative costs. US Club
Soccer player registrations range from $15-$20, depending on age. Membership in MYSA is $30. Coaching education is
$30. The remaining amount goes to a variety of expenses: equipment, supplies, field prep, website fees, staff etc.

Club Service Hours Deposit

$100 Fully Refundable Deposit (Option to split into four payments of $25)
Modesto Ajax serves over 375 players from more than 300 families on 28 teams. Our program would become overly
expensive if all tasks of the club were completed by paid staff. Lots of volunteers are needed to provide our players and
families with a high quality program filled with fun and personal development.
Modesto Ajax requires each family to perform at least five (5) hours of club service. Parents must keep track of their
own hours. As an incentive to participate, Modesto Ajax assesses a $100 fully-refundable club service deposit at the
time of registration. If your family performs five or more hours of club service work, that deposit is 100% refunded.
At the approved event, upon completion of your hours, make sure to get a signature from the event coordinator (see
attached form). Hours will not qualify if not accompanied by the event coordinator’s signature.
Activities that qualify are listed below. In addition to the list, you may receive special calls for club service with those
hours qualifying. However, activities that only benefit the team will not….while these are very important for your team,
the goal is to have involvement of families with the running of the club.

Club Service Opportunities Include, but not limited to:

Annual Roles One Time Opportunities Annual Team Positions
 MYSA/AJAX Board of Directors  Try- Outs  Assistant Coach
 AJAX Volunteer Staff Member  Camps  Team Manager
 Recreational Team Head Coach  Club Concessions  Team Treasurer
 MYSA Task Force Member  Club Fundraising  Team Liaison
 Picking Up Trash
*Note – Annual Roles all exceed the 5 hour minimum requirement but are offered 50% off all Ajax Camps
Player Service Hours
The purpose of this Ajax activity is to encourage all players to help improve our club. All activities will be age
appropriate. The required number of hours per player is:
 1 hour per player on Developmental Academy Teams
 2 hours per player on Pre-Academy Teams
 3 hours per player on Academy Teams

Upon completion of any Club service hours, player hours and scholarship hours if applicable, please mail or go to the
Modesto Youth Soccer Association office and drop off the signed form. At the time that all hours are completed the
form will be submitted for reimbursement, these funds will be applied to your players account.
Club Fees ($75 per Month)
This includes training and field fees for U10 and above. Training fees go to cover coaching salaries and program directors
(Director of Coaching, Technical Directors and Goalkeeper Director). These fees should be viewed as a payment plan for
an annual amount of training. The monthly training fee does not vary based on hours per month trained. Each team has
macro-cycles during the year that involve more frequent amounts of training and at other times less amounts of
training. For teams that take a required month break in their season we continue to collect training fees for that
month. The field fee is used to pay for two practice sessions per week, official games, lights and referees at Mary Grogan
Soccer Complex. All teams are required to train at the facility and this fee will cover that expense. If teams choose to
practice a third session or organize any scrimmage or game that is not official, additional fees will be incurred. U8 & U9
fees are all inclusive.

Timing & Method of Payment

Registration & Club Service payments must be paid before player registration will be initiated.

All fees are due by the 1st of each month to the team treasurer. The team treasurer must submit team payment and an
accounting ledger by the 10th of each month to MYSA/AJAX. If a player account is delinquent 30 days he/she will receive
notification that payment must be received within 5 days or the player pass will be surrendered. The player will not be
allowed to participate in practices or games. Special circumstances do occur and if this is the case, arrangements need
to be made with the Ajax United committee.

Player Financial Assistance

Financial Aid

We are all sometimes faced with financial difficulties. Therefore, Ajax United has created the Financial Assistance Fund.
Our goal is to make sure we have an option for families that are facing financial obstacles. In 2014, Ajax provided
$14,000 in financial aid to families in need. Over 30 players received assistance last season and we aim to increase the
fund every year. We gladly accept tax-deductible contributions for the fund.

Scholarship Fund

Please contact the Ajax United committee for more information. There is a volunteer requirement to the Club associated
with acceptance of financial aid.

How is need determined?

Financial aid is awarded based on the application form you turn in. Please apply in cases of serious hardship, for example
receiving federal aid is serious hardship, not wanting to withdraw money from your nest egg is not. The board members
review the applications privately. Families may have to provide proof of income level. This is NOT a merit scholarship
program; this is financial aid for those who truly need it. Being laid off or unemployed is not an automatic condition for
receiving aid. What the league and club wish to provide is an opportunity for players that would otherwise be unable to
participate. Your information is kept confidential. All forms can be found at www.MYSA-AJAX.org Forms, required
information must be turned in by correct age group due date to be considered. Required application, 1040 and recent
paystub must be completed and turned in by due date or we cannot provide a scholarship.
Development Academy- March 1
Pre Academy - April 1
Academy - June 5
Ajax Club Fundraising Program
In addition to team fundraising, the club will be hosting different types of fundraising from Casino night to nights out at
various restaurants in town etc… These are not mandatory however are encouraged. Everything that helps the Club
directly benefits your child.

Additional Ajax Services & Programs

 Ajax College Recruiting Services
 Ajax Soccer Camps
 Friday Night Lights
 Ajax Shooting Stars Program
 Ajax Approved Private Trainers
 Technical Director Supplemental Training
 Speed and Agility Training
 Firework Booth

Play Up Policy
Development and Pre-Academy: Each player must tryout in their correct age group. On specific request of the
coach to move a player up an age group, the request and the player will be evaluated by the Director’s. A decision
will be made based upon what is best for that individual player.

Injury Policy
If player is injured during season and will miss more than 60 consecutive days with a Doctors note, fees can be
reviewed and adjusted.
Player and Parent Code of Conduct
As a soccer player of AJAX United Soccer Club we will:

 Give 100% at practices and games, do your best to help others.

 Be early to practice, have soccer gear on and ready
 Wear the assigned practice jersey to practice
 Remember uniforms and equipment on game days
 Be 60 minutes early to games
 Watch the game and encourage players on the field when a substitute
 Show good Sportsmanship at all times.
 Encourage your teammates at all times and play fun and fair.
 Have fun!
 If you are not going to be at training you must let the coach or manager know 24 hours before through a call
 Bring a drink, water or a sports drink is essential

As a Parent of AJAX United Soccer Club we will:

 Arrive on time to practices and games

 Refrain from assessing other players (and reporting your assessment, if negative, to their parents)
 Encourage practice at home/practice with players at home
 Always stay positive, win, lose or tie
 Express interest, encouragement, and support to your child
 Remember who the player is: your child.
 Respect your child on and off the field, they will be stressed out if you demand performance for your approval
 Always lend a hand when a coach/official asks for help, they have very demanding jobs working with many
players
 Let the referee do their job, do NOT make comments to the referee or yell at the referee
 Watch the game from the ‘parent’s side’ away from the opposing team parents
 Be good examples of good sportsmanship, if you have issues with a game please wait 24 hrs to ‘cool off’ and be
kind with words. This is to be a fun experience for all.
 During games keep comments to positive encouragement.
 Please remember to let the coach do the coaching of the team Please, no coaching from the side.
 At practice let Coach and the players practice. Please don’t interrupt during the practice, this will distract the
players and change their attention.
 Enjoy the Experience…
 Travelling Protocol: No adult may share a room alone with an unrelated player. There are to be no unsupervised
minors in hotel rooms, players are always chaperoned