At the RSA Division 4 level (generally 5th and 6th grade), players have a choice of participating in this traveling program, the RSA Intown program (see section 5.4 of this manual), or both.

At the Division 3 level (generally 7th and 8th grade), this traveling program is the only one offered by the RSA.

 The traveling programs are gender specific, 11v11 recreation programs and operate under the auspices of the Northwest Bergen Soccer Association (NWBSA).  RSA teams play teams from other communities located in northwest Bergen County.  The NWBSA program is more somewhat more competitive than the intown program but keeps its recreational spirit.

Girls’ teams play on Saturday mornings and boys’ teams play on Sunday afternoons. Ridgewood "home" playing locations change annually based on the number of teams registered and field layouts for the season. Generally, the programs are played at the Hawes School and Glen School fields.  Occasionally, home games are also played at Brookside, Maple, or Veterans Fields.

The NWBSA manages the program operation including referee certifications, scheduling, complaint handling, and any disciplinary actions. Players and coaches must provide photos for the NWBSA certified ID’s. At the start of each season, the NWBSA publishes a book for all headcoaches with schedules, contact names and phone numbers, maps, and directions.

In 1998, the RSA initiated clinics to help the players make the transition from Division 5, small field, 5v5 games to the full size 11v11 games in this program. It has run for between 4 and 6 sessions, one evening each week at 3 locations and has focused on proper positioning, team tactics, and utilizing space on the field.

The NWBSA publishes its rules. Be sure to obtain copies for you and your coaches from the RSA’s NWBSA coordinator. Be sure your coaches know them!  Included are rules about:

• assembling teams / team drafts
• team behavior
• spectator behavior (coaches are responsible)
• running up scores (with disciplinary action outlined)
• canceling games without authorization

5.5.4 Forming Teams

From a coordinator perspective, the most difficult element of this program is assembling teams and then keeping them "balanced" as the season starts.  Before June 1, the RSA registrar must submit team names, rosters, and photo IDs for coaches and players to the NWBSA registrar.  The Coordinator must assemble teams properly and in time (generally by May20) for the RSA registrar to complete this work   

Consult the NWBSA rules for assembling teams.  At the time of this writing, a player draft must be held and players must be equally distributed across all teams with respect to age and whether they play in club programs or not. Therefore, there are 4 categories of players that must be "balanced" across the teams:

• club player, older age group
• club player, younger age
• non-club player, older age
• non-club player, younger age

Players will drop from the program or register late for a variety of reasons, including whether or not they make the Maroons Soccer Club teams.  Teams must always stay "balanced" with respect to these four player groups as players are added to or dropped from the rosters.

The NWBSA permits teams to register with fewer players than you would like to see on a team. The minimum number that can be registered on a team for 2000 registrations is 13 and the maximum is 21. Teams operate best with approximately 19 players.

This can be a difficult transition for some coaches moving from the RSA Division 5 program.  Be sure to select head coaches who understand the game and handle players well.  Try to get 3 but not less than 2 coaches per team.  It is best to set up a junior coach (new to the age group) with someone who has already had experience at the age level being played.

If a Ridgewood NWBSA coach is notified of a home game cancellation or relocation due to inclement weather, the RSA coach is responsible for contacting the visiting team coach.

Makeup games may be rescheduled with agreement of the 2 coaches. It is the hometeam coach’s responsibility to acquire a site and schedule an NWBSA accredited referee. Ridgewood coaches seeking to reschedule a home game should call the RSA’s field coordinator and NWBSA referee coordinator to accomplish this.

The Ridgewood coach playing a home game is responsible for field setup. There are 4 things to do:

• Bring 3 gameballs
• Recruit 2 spectators to run the sidelines for the referee. The referee will provide flags to signal out-of-bounds.
• Be certain that goals are properly secured at the start and at the end of all sessions (See RSA Manual Appendix A3)
• Corner Flags

Girls (Saturday Morning)

• The coach for the 9am games must pickup cornerflags from Ed Seaver's garage (168 North Maple Ave across from the police station, near Linwood Avenue) on the way to the game.
• The coach of the last game of the morning must return the flags to Ed Seaver’s garage upon leaving. Maroons will return the flags if they're playing after the RSA.

Boys (Sunday afternoons)

• The coach for the 1pm games must pickup cornerflags from Ed Seaver's garage (168 North Maple Ave across from the police station, near Linwood Avenue) on the way to the game.
• The coach of the 3pm games must return the flags to Ed Seaver's house upon leaving.

February/March

Finalize plans for clinics with RSA Clinics Coordinator

April:

On-time registations are complete. Obtain registration info at the Board Meeting.  Assess your coaching position. Recruit more if needed and schedule a team draft with the coaches for late May. (NWBSA rules require a draft)

May:

Obtain last minute registration info at the May Board Meeting.  Decide on the number of teams and assemble them according to NWBSA rules.  Submit coach assignments and rosters to RSA registrar by May20.

Verify that the RSA’s registrar has all the player and coach photos to submit to the NWBSA for photo ID’s. Help chase down any missing photos and get them in as soon as possible (need photos about the size of a passport photo).

Find out which coaches have the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. certification and have them forward copies of their certificate to the RSA registrar. The most important rule right now is that a registered team cannot play until its coaches have obtained this certification. Be sure that coaches who haven’t had this certification schedule themselves to take the course.  Call the Youth Sports Research Council of Rutgers University at (732) 932-7178 for course schedules and locations. It is usually offered locally

• at Valley Hospital.  Call  1-800-825-5391 for info and to register
• at Hackensack Medical Center. Call (201) 996-3833 for info and to register

June:

Check on the status of the coaches’ S.A.F.E.T.Y. registrations.

At the Board Meeting, finalize your uniform & equipment request. Each team gets:

• Shorts, stockings , and a numbered shirt for each player. Request a distribution of shirt sizes - generally 6 medium, 8 large, 5 x-large, and 2 xx-large sizes works well.
• A goalkeeper shirt and gloves
• first aid kit
• practice cones (approx 15) and balls (3)
• 3 game balls

July:

Check on the status of the coaches’ S.A.F.E.T.Y. registrations.

Assign late registrants to teams

Get NWBSA headcoach books with schedules, maps, directions, and key contacts from the RSA’s NWBSA rep and distribute to coaches.

Encourage coaches to start light practices. Remind them that when the season starts, daylight becomes too scarce to have effective practices.

August:

Check on the status of the coaches’ S.A.F.E.T.Y. registrations.

Assign late registrants to teams

Be certain that coaches understand their responsibilities. Distribute the RSA Guide for Coaches

September (first week):

Assign late registrants to teams

Obtain NWBSA-certified photo ID cards for the players and the coaches from the RSA’s registrar for distribution. Tell the coaches to hold the cards and do not distribute them to the players. They must be given to the referee at the start of each game. The referee will check them at the start of each game. Players can’t play and the coaches can’t coach without properly certified photo ID cards.

Hold a meeting for coaches to introduce yourself, review NWBSA rules, and to distribute uniforms and equipment to each coach. Remember that half of the teams will have away games on the first day and will need time to get everything to their players so they can arrive at the game fully prepared. Be certain that the coaches know how to secure goals (See RSA Manual Appendix A3)

Through the season:

On game days with bad weather, be ready to receive calls from the RSA chair for communicating game cancellations or relocations to your coaches.

Check on how the teams are functioning.