rules, documents & POLICIES
Westside Youth Soccer has developed the following Code of Ethics and Conduct to guide our employees/volunteers in their interactions within the club and with children. The safety, rights, and well-being of children we serve are at the core of our daily programs. We nurture supportive relationships with children while balancing and encouraging appropriate boundaries.
- Play by the rules of the game. Do not cheat, intentionally foul or harm other players during training or games.
- Respect the officials and to accept their decision without criticism.
- Be fair to your opponent and to treat them well – without them there would be no game!
- Encourage your team-mates and help them to succeed. Do not criticize, make fun of or make them feel unwelcome.
- Treat your coach with respect and work with the coach for the betterment of the team.
- Accept coaching instruction, correction and decisions as part of the learning process. Don’t argue with coaches. If you disagree with coaches arrange to discuss before or after training.
- Speak respectfully, openly and honestly to your coach should a dispute arise.
- There is Zero tolerance of profanity, temper tantrums, racist or homophobic language/attacks, violent or destructive behaviour (including vandalism of equipment or property), use of drugs or alcohol.
- Be generous when you win and gracious when you lose.
Failure to comply with the Code for Players may result in your suspension and/or removed from COYSA/WYSA soccer programs.
The purpose of this policy is to provide Westside Youth Soccer Association staff and volunteers direction on the Rule of Two to ensure adult interactions with athletes, coaches and referees protect the health, safety and wellness of all participants.
Westside Youth Soccer has adhered to this Anti-Bullying Policy to help guide and protect the children that participate in our activities as players, referees, coaches or in any other capacity. Bullying can be defined as intentional hurtful and aggressive behaviour that makes others feel uncomfortable, scared or upset, and it is the responsibility of the club, our staff and volunteers to create a safe, free of bullying soccer environment.
Westside Youth Soccer welcomes all individuals to participate in soccer and believes that embracing differences while removing barriers to promote diversity and equity and foster inclusion, is integral to serving the wider soccer community. The purpose of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy is to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion as integral parts of soccer in British Columbia.
The Westside Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) recognizes the value of capturing memories and promoting the sport of soccer through photography and videography. This policy outlines how images and videos taken at WYSA-sanctioned events may be used for club communications, marketing, and promotional purposes.
The purpose of BC Soccer’s Criminal Record Check Policy is to ensure that BC Soccer, its members and affiliated organizations work to uphold the duty of care owed to everyone involved in sanctioned soccer activity in BC by conducting the appropriate criminal record checks.
All directors, volunteers, employees or contractors of BC Soccer or an affiliated BC Soccer organization, who are aged 19 years and older and, are participating on a regular basis in any element of youth soccer, or, who will be with a vulnerable person, must have a completed a Criminal Record Check that includes a vulnerable sector check.
ALL coaches are required to have a current CRC completed in order to coach. CRCs must be renewed every 3 years.
HERE is the link you will need to complete the online criminal records check. The access code that you will need is: GMW8Z2VNT7
Please note that the procedure is similar to a credit check. It is NOT a credit check, but you do need to answer the questions carefully. If you cannot get into the website please email ed@wysa.ca for more instructions.
Some members may have to complete the CRC in person at the local RCMP detachment.
Please email ed@wysa.ca to request a volunteer letter to take with you so the fee will be waived.
How would you like to get 50% of your child's registration fee back?
Simply volunteer and coach a WYSA team. Once the season is finished we will refund 50% of the program fee that you paid for your child.
** To qualify, all coaches must finish the season and also complete the age-relevant coaching certification course. Then a refund etransfer will be sent. **
HERE is the document outlining this credit for volunteer caoches and board members.
Guidelines for Teams Attending Tournaments
WYSA encourages all teams that wish to attend tournaments to do so, and each year we provide paid entries for our Skill Centre and Academy teams.
Teams wishing to attend tournaments can be made up of players, from one or more league teams, as long as the players and team are all registered, and in good standing, with BC Soccer.
Guidelines
1. Out of province tournaments: BCSA application form
2. All players must be registered with and be in good standing with BCSA.
3. The Team going to tournament must be affiliated or in other words registered with BCSA through their district. For example a team that is playing within a league can take a core group of their league players then add players from other teams until they have enough to go to a tournament – this team is recognized by BCSA because it is affiliated/registered with BCSA through its league standing.
4. WYSA players will NOT be released to teams that are not affiliated/registered with BCSA. Parents of players wanting to go to tournaments with teams that are not affiliated/registered with BCSA need to be aware that there is NO insurance coverage for their child if they participate with one of these teams!
5. For 2025, WYSA covered up to 2 entries for spring tournaments for Skill Centre and Academy teams. However, check with the club as usually teams are on their own for planning and tournament fees.
6. Coaches can apply to WYSA to invite players from teams other than their Club team to go to tournaments, including players from any other COYSA Clubs: Lake Country, Mission, Kelowna, Rutland, Kelowna United, Okanagan FC and/or Westside.
7. Coaches of the team going to a tournament will email the player(s) they wish take from another club to WYSA’s Executive Director at ed@wysa.ca who will then send an official request to the other clubs.
8. Teams may NOT miss regular scheduled league games to attend tournaments.
9. Coaches, Parents, and Players are expected to uphold WYSA/COYSA/BCSA codes of conduct while attending tournaments.
Risk Management Check List for Teams attending Tournaments
1. Medical forms filled out and handed in to team officials.
2. Contact numbers (including cell phone) for parents and alternate are on file with team officials.
3. Emergency Action Plan has been made, people have taken designated roles, and everyone understands their role fully.
4. Chaperones are designated.
5. Cell phone numbers and accommodation information for chaperones are on file with team officials.
6. Cell phone numbers and contact info for coaches, chaperones, and hotel has been given to every player, coach, and chaperone in an easy to carry format (e.g. small card).
7. Address of each field you are playing at are with the coach, and with the person designated to make the emergency phone calls.
8. First aid supplies are fully stocked.
9. Equipment is in good repair.
In Case of Emergency
When an emergency happens, whether it is an injury or a missing player, a pre designated plan will allow everyone to act immediately in a highly effective manner to deal with the emergency.
The Team Head Coach should hold a meeting with all coaches, team managers, and chaperones prior to the tournament.
Brainstorm everything that could go wrong on while traveling to and from, while at the tournament, while at the hotel, time between games,
etc.
Create an Emergency Action Plan:
1. Designate a first aid responder, responsible for the first aid kit.
2. Designate someone to stay with the injured or affected person (injury, illness, anxiety etc.) including transportation to medical facility if necessary.
3. Designate someone to stay with the team.
4. Designate someone to be responsible for phoning: emergency personnel, parents, chaperones, and notifying WYSA.
5. Designate who will search if a player is missing.
6. Designate someone to document the incident including any follow-up required i.e. police report or medical requirements.
7. Have a team meeting at the hotel and review emergency exits at the hotel, review codes of conduct, review expectations of players for the field i.e. staying with chaperones, meeting points/times etc.
Every human deserves to be well in mind, body and spirit. It is here we will share resources that, we hope, will aid in each individual’s path to wellness.
The Kids Help Phone website provides mental health resources and emergency support for children and youth.
Call 1-800-668-6868
Get support with these mental health resources – Kids Help Phone
Adult & Youth Resources and Crisis Support can be found at the BC Crisis Centre.
BetterHelp is an affordable, flexible and private online counselling service available to anyone.
Here is the medical form that each team coach or manager should have for each player on file and safely secured at all team events.
AIR QUALITY
BC Soccer Air Quality Guidelines state that all soccer practices & training be cancelled when the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is 7 or higher. WYSA will make the call at 4pm each day for the entire evening and post on our social media (Facebook and INstagram).
Please watch your social feed from WYSA or your coaches and/or track the AQHI yourselves.
Games will be cancelled at an AQHI of 7+ and this could happen before, at kick-off or during a game depending on how fast the air quality changes. Final say at or during a game is at the referee’s discretion.
EXTREME HEAT
BC Soccer has safety guidelines for items such as extreme heat or poor air quality. Referees have the ability to determine if water breaks are required as part of rising heat situations.
Extreme Heat Guidelines outline that soccer be modified to ensure player safety between 30C-39C and cancelled at 40C+.
Going forward we will make the call as forecasted and actual temperatures reach 40C. Please watch WYSA's social media feed (Facebook and Instagram) or emails from your coaches for cancellations.
Games will be cancelled at 40C+ and this could happen before, at kick-off or during a game, final say at or during a game is at the referee's discretion.
Cancellations due to heat may occur at lower temperatures based on humidity and other factors that are having a clear and unhealthy impact on our athletes. This may be done prior to or during soccer by the district (COYSA), Club (WYSA), coaches or referees.
The WYSA 2026 Annual General Meeting will took place on March 5, 2026
HERE is the AGM document package that was presented and accepted.
