| New Coaching and Team Formation Policy and
Process |
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Competitive team participation is governed
by the club, and teams must be approved by the board prior to formation (see
the below Coaching and Team Formation Policy). Existing teams may apply to
transfer into the club from outside clubs, but must go through a Board Review
at a Board Meeting well prior to the registration for the upcoming season of
play. Open tryouts are held in the late Spring for Fall play in the following
season, and in early Winter for the upcoming Spring season.
SASC has a
new adopted this
Coaching and Team Formation Policy - please read it to
understand how new teams are formed and approved.
Coaches and/or group
of players from SASC Recreational soccer are encouraged to prepare to move into
Competitive soccer, if appropriate for the children. They are also encouraged
to work with other groups of players and parents from other teams within the
same age group to form new competitive teams, bringing together players of
similar playing level. Open tryouts and organization of the new teams must be
coordinated with the SASC Competitive Director (see below). While these groups
are organizing into a team, coordination with the SASC Board, Recreational and
Competitive Coordinators and other groups of players is critical. Finally, when
a team is about ready for final steps to formation (has "critical mass" of
players and final tryouts organized), the team should be going through steps of
SASC Board approval. This should be April/May (June at the very latest) months
for new Fall teams, or Dec/Jan for Spring teams.
Readiness of players
based on current level of soccer play and general abilities to deal with the
higher commitment level of competitive soccer should be discussed with coaches,
coordinators, trainers in our recreational development program (being run by
Andrew Ransome of Griffin Soccer) and any others experienced with competitive
soccer, such as SASC Board members, other coaches and parents. The personnel in
the recreational training program are watching for players exhibiting readiness
for competitive soccer while providing player and coach training sessions.
Likewise, parent coaches are also encouraged and will be supported in efforts
to move to competitive soccer. Our programs are put in place to build coaching
abilities to move onto competitive soccer for those who wish to, as well.
Coaches should also be looking into the CYSA/USSF coach licensing classes when
preparing to move into competitive coaching, as well as other resources, such
as NSCAA classes,
PCA,
coaching clinics (CYSA, District II, universities, etc...), books, videos and
software.
When finding groups of players for competitive teams, keep in
mind that competitive soccer has single year age range for teams, not two
years. Players for a new competitive team should be falling into the single
year or birth dates for eligibility. While younger players can register with
older teams, for good of the players going forward, it is best they are within
their single one year age range, with "playing up" the rare exception. For
consistency within the team, it is better for players to start with teammates
of the same age to progress with rather than later finding they need to move
teams due to age differences becoming more of a factor as the children mature
(mentally and physically).
Steps for moving to competitive soccer, in
summary:
- Identify players exhibiting soccer play appropriate
for competitive level of play.
- Identify potential coaches and parents to organize
team.
- Individuals or groups should get into contact with
recreational and competitive directors to move forward.
- Find additional players from other recreational
teams, and general public, of same singe year age range.
- Informal steps toward organizing a group to become
a new team should formalize into open tryouts and board approval.
- When team is approved, work with competitive
registrar and director toward finalizing rosters and registering.
Differences in competitive soccer to keep in
mind.
- Additional time and commitment toward training
(more and longer practices) and travel (away games).
- Slightly higher required costs - registration fee
(SASC $140 vs/ $105) and jersey kit ($50 per 1-2 years).
- Typically additional expenses depending on team
decisions - travel, tournaments and equipment.
- Single year age range for competitive teams vs.
typically two years for recreational.
- Higher level of commitment and discipline in
training and games, higher attendance requirements.
- Generally higher level of intensity of games -
speed, physical play/roughness and "professionalism".
- Wider range of circumstances around games, some
unpleasant - field conditions, referees, spectators.
- Tracked volunteer hour commitments toward SASC
activities and parent referee participation requirements.
- Coaches have required licensing requirements.
See the Competitive Teams Information section
below for additional details and requirements for competitive teams.
Please contact the
Competitive
Director for additional information.
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