The following page is being proposed to replace the existing team formation page for the MY2013 Regional Guidelines. Note that it incorporates details for team formation selection rules for AYSO Extra and All-stars.

1. Purpose

The purpose of this page is to provide you with a general overview as well as guidelines for team formation, balancing, and waiting list       procedures.

2. Disclaimers

Aside from the details in this document, the Region reserves the right, at its discretion and within the AYSO Regulations (as defined in the Regional Guidelines) and the Regional Guidelines currently in effect, to place any player on any team.

At no time does the Region or any representative of the Region (other than the Regional Commissioner or their designee) make any explicit or implied <promises> commitments that a player will be placed on a team with other specified players, placed on a team coached by a specific volunteer or in a particular division other than the one they would normally be assigned.

3. Overview

These team formation and team balancing guidelines are governed by the overriding AYSO principles of "Everyone Plays" and "Balanced Teams." Team formation and balancing procedures vary by the age group (division) and by the program type. The following table provides an overview of both the formation procedure and the balancing procedure used for each division and program type:

4. Division Commissioner Forms Teams

5. Coach-driven Team Formation

6. Via Computer Program

• Players are rated:
• Returning players in these divisions are rated based upon their coach rating from the prior season.
• New (unrated) players are assigned an average rating by the Division Commissioner based an estimation on parent supplied information about their child.
• Commissioners are encouraged to hold a "rating session" should there be a large number of players who require a current rating, wherever possible. This will provide a more accurate and fair assessment of the readiness of each player.
• Players are sorted by their age group and overall rating. For example, the U-12 division may include U-11 and U-12 players. The age groups are separated and then players are sorted from the highest-to-lowest player. Then,
• A "snake draft" procedure is follows the player sorting:
• The first team receives the highest rated player in a given age group.
• The next team receives the next highest ranked player, and
• The process continues until each team receives one player. This constitutes one "draft round."
• When the first draft round is complete, the team that received the last pick of the first draft round receives the first pick of the second draft round
• The order is then reversed again for round three. This procedure is repeated until all players in an age group are placed on a team.

For example, if there are 100 players in an age grouping, team number one would receive players rated #1, #20 and #21 in the first three rounds. Team number ten would receive players rated #10, #11, and #30 in the first three rounds. In divisions where there are two "playing ages" (for example, U10 traditionally includes both U9 and U10 players), the two "playing age groups" are drafted separately. The team that receives the first pick of the older "playing age" group receives the last pick of the younger "playing age” group, and vice versa. Continuing with the example in the previous paragraph, team number one would receive players rated #1, #20 and #21 for U10 players in the first three rounds, and receive players rated #10, #11, and #30 for U9 players in the first three rounds.

Once the "snake draft" is completed, adjustments are made to the randomly generated teams to place a coach on each team. Furthermore, the goal when players are moved between teams to ensure each team has a coach is to ensure equal rated and equal “playing age” players are swapped between teams. Except for parents with siblings in the same division, requests for players to be on the same team or to play for a particular coach cannot be accommodated in this process.

7. Tryout Process

7.1. General Approach

AYSO Extra and All-star team invitations are to be extended on the basis of the results of tryout sessions scheduled by the Region. Consequently, these guidelines form the basis for conduction the tryouts as well as for forming teams as a result of these tryouts. These guidelines are designed to ensure the best possible team or teams are formed for each gender/age division where the team or teams represent the Region in competition at the Section or Area level. These rules do not necessarily create balanced teams within the gender/age division for the Region.

Some divisions (where a "division" is a single age division and gender such as "Girls Under-11") have two teams. No gender/age division shall have more than two (2) teams. The total number of teams in any division is affected by the number of teams and players in the primary program for that age division as well as whether the Region believes the level of skills and talent for the pool of players is sufficient to create additional teams.

If there are two teams in a division in a program, then they shall be designated as:

• AYSO Extra:
  • The first team shall be the "Premier" team and,
  • The second team shall be the "Champions" team
• All-stars:
  • The first team shall be the "Gold" team and,
  • The second team shall be the "Silver" team.
  • [would you consider a second silver if there warrants enough players?]

7.2. Coach Selection and Concerns

1. They will need to work together during the selection of players and share knowledge about player strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. The selection of players to play for one coach versus another should not be a source of conflict between the coaches.
2. They will probably end up practicing at the same time and location to ensure quality scrimmages are possible.

Should any conflicts in player selection continue in divisions where       there are two teams, and the coaches cannot come to a mutual agreement that balances desired players and strength of roster, the Region reserves the right to create a selection committee and determine rosters for each team independent of coach selection.The Regional Commissioner, based upon advice from trusted advisors, shall determine which coach or coaching team shall get the Premier or Gold team.

A coach or assistant coach can only be associated with one team in a specific program. Examples:

• An individual cannot be the coach of 2 teams in the AYSO Extra program.
• An individual cannot be the coach of 1 team and a designated assistant coach of another team in the AYSO Extra program.
• An individual cannot be the coach of 2 teams in the All-star program.
• An individual cannot be the coach of 1 team and a designated assistant coach of another team in the All-star program. And,
• Although discouraged since it may create problems in Spring Select, an individual can be the coach or assistant coach for an AYSO Extra team and the coach or assistant coach for an All-star team at the same time.

7.2. Tryouts

At least one (1) tryout session will be scheduled. It is highly recommended two (2) tryout sessions be held if resources are available to conduct them.

If a team is scheduled for two (2) tryout sessions, then both tryout sessions will have the same (or substantially similar as determined by the evaluators) drills/exercises.

7.2. Evaluations and Ranking

If two tryout dates are scheduled for a division, then candidates shall be encouraged to attend both sessions.

At least one independent evaluator and up to three evaluators should be       present at each tryout session. Evaluators may not be the coach(es) of that team or parents of any candidate for that team. Ideally, AYSO Extra coaches should work together to evaluate candidates in the other divisions, rather than bring in outside evaluators. However, outside, independent evaluators (such AYSO Soccer Camps instructors) are permitted as long as they have no affiliation with a local soccer club.

It is highly recommended the same evaluators be used if a gender/age division has two (2) tryout sessions.

Each candidate will be rated in four categories pertaining to performance: technical, tactical, functional defending and functional attacking (where functional areas are evaluated during game play). Each category carries the same possible score; no category shall be weighted any heavier than the others.

To ensure a fair and consistent basis for ratings, each evaluator must evaluate each candidate present on a given night and assign them a score in each category. Evaluators are reminded the ratings should be unique for each player and for each category. For example, the top-ranked striker might have the highest level of technical and functional attacker scores while attaining average tactical and below average functional defending scores. Evaluators shall never uses the ratings to create a ranked list of players.

Goal keepers [we need to create something special for goal keepers]. Here is my suggestion (also see how this is incorporated into selection rules): The Region recognizes these are competitive teams which allow for - and encourage - goal keeper specialization in the older divisions. Consequently, the Region will allow teams in the U-11 and older divisions to hold separate and independent tryouts for goal keepers which can be held during one (1) to two (2) sessions of the Region's Goal Keeping Academy (training). Goal keepers will be evaluated on technical - catches/touches, restart quality, kicks, etc. - and tactical - positioning, restart decisions, strategic play, etc. [I am good with this - but we need to somewhere put in "allow changes at any time to this process"]

All player identification will be done by assigned tryout number only. At no time should any coach, assistant, or evaluator create a situation where certain players are more easily identifiable than others (certain colors, numbers, markings, or separate sessions). Each team is responsible for providing registration services and volunteers to assist with collecting player information and handing out tryout numbers. The region will provide certain equipment to assist with the tryout but it is the coach's responsibility to conduct the exercises and small-sided games.

The evaluator(s) ratings are normalized and turned into standardized scores. The cumulative, standardized scores (across all four categories) determine a ranked player order. The ranked player order becomes the basis for the coach/coaches to extend invitations to candidates.

7.3. General Approach to Selections

The coach/coaches shall present their selection plan(s) and how it/they complies/comply with the appropriate selection rules below ("Selection Rules") for approval to the Regional Commissioner or their designee for approval prior to extending offers to any players. Once the Regional Commissioner or their designee has approved the selection plan(s), the coach/coaches can begin using their approved selection plan to begin extending offers.

After team has been formed, the coach shall submit, in writing (where an email is sufficient) how they complied with the selection rules to the Regional Commissioner and/or their designee.

7.4. Selections for Gender/Age Divisions with 2 or more teams

The Premier or Gold team coach shall present their selection plan and how it complies with the Selection Rules below for approval to the Regional Commissioner or their designee for approval prior toextending offers to any players. Once the Regional Commissioner or their designee has approved the selection plan(s), the coach/coaches can begin using their approved selection plan to begin extending offers.

Any player declining an offer from the Premier or Gold team coach are ineligible for selection to the Champions or Silver team. However, the Regional Commissioner reserves the right to make any number of ineligible players (who declined an offer to the Premier or Gold team) available to the Champions or Silver team.

After the Premier or Gold coach completes player selections, they shall submit, in writing (where an email is sufficient), how they complied with the Selection Rules to the Regional Commissioner and/or their designee. The Regional Commissioner shall notify the registrar and all coaches in the program, in writing (where an email is sufficient), when he/she approved the Premier or Gold team roster.

The Regional Commissioner reserves the right to cancel any accepted offer for any reason.

The Champions or Silver team coach begins after the Regional Commissioner approves the Premier or Gold team formation. The Champions or Silver team coach shall present their selection plan and how it complies with the Selection Rules below for approval to the Regional Commissioner or their designee for approval prior toextending offers to any players. After the Premier or Gold coach completes player selections, they shall submit, in writing (where an email is sufficient), how they complied with the Selection Rules to the Regional Commissioner and/or their designee. The Regional Commissioner shall notify the registrar and all coaches in the program, in writing (where an email is sufficient), when he/she approved the Champions or Silver team roster.

7.4. Selection Rules for Team Invitations

Team Invitations are handled through a sequential process which includes Mandatory Tryout Picks, Additional Tryout Picks and Wild Card Picks. After Mandatory and Additional Tryout Picks are complete, the remainder of the positions on the team may be filled by the coach selecting candidates from:

• The tryout list, or
• Players who did not attend a tryout according to the Wild Card Picks guidelines below.

In all cases invitations may not be sent to any candidates until the Regional Commissioner or their designee reviews the list of mandatory picks and potential additional picks (wild card, etc.)

Overview of the selection rules by Roster Size:

7.4.1. For divisions with a single team with a maximum roster size of 10 players

Mandatory Picks: For teams with a       maximum roster size of ten (10), six (6) of the top ten (10) ranked candidates must be offered a position on the team.

Additional Tryout Picks: After Mandatory picks are complete, additional positions on the team must be filled by the coach selecting from other candidates who attended the tryout until at least eight (8) players have accepted.

Wild Card A or B Picks: The coach       can select up to one (1) Wild Card A or B pick.

7.4.2. For a team with a maximum roster size of 12 players

Mandatory Picks: For teams with a       maximum roster size of twelve (12), eight (8) of the top ten (12) ranked candidates must be offered a position on the team.

Additional Tryout Picks: After Mandatory picks are complete, additional positions on the team must be filled by the coach selecting from other candidates who attended the tryout until at least ten (10) players have accepted.

Goal Keeper Pick: The coach may select one (1) goal keeper who attended the goal keeper tryout (independently from the Mandatory and Additional Tryout Picks). The coach must use a Wild Card Pick if they wish to select a goal keeper who did not attend either the player tryout or the goal keeper tryout.

Wild Card A or B Picks: The coach       can select up to two (2) Wild Card A or B picks.

7.4.3. For a team with a maximum roster size of 15 players

Mandatory Picks: For teams with a       maximum roster size of fifteen (15), ten (10) of the top fifteen (15) ranked candidates must be offered a position on the team.

Additional Tryout Picks: After Mandatory picks are complete, additional positions on the team must be filled by the coach selecting from other candidates who attended the tryout until at least twelve (12) players have accepted.

Goal Keeper Pick: The coach may select one (1) goal keeper who attended the goal keeper tryout (independently from the Mandatory and Additional Tryout Picks). The coach must use a Wild Card Pick if they wish to select a goal keeper who did not attend either the player tryout or the goal keeper tryout.

Wild Card A or B Picks: The coach       can select up to two (2) Wild Card A or B picks.

7.4.4. For a team with a maximum roster size of 18 players

Mandatory Picks: For teams with a       maximum roster size of eighteen (18), twelve (12) of the top eighteen (18) ranked candidates must be offered a position on the team.

Additional Tryout Picks: After Mandatory picks are complete, additional positions on the team must be filled by the coach selecting from other candidates who attended the tryout until at least fifteen (12) players have accepted.

Goal Keeper Pick: The coach may select two (2) goal keepers who attended the goal keeper tryout (independently from the Mandatory and Additional Tryout Picks). The coach must use a Wild Card Pick if they wish to select a goal keeper who did not attend either the player tryout or the goal keeper tryout.

Wild Card A or B Picks: The coach       can select up to three (3) Wild Card A or B picks.

7.5. Wild Card Picks

1. If a player was either a player         on the previous year’s Region 213 AYSO Extra or Fall Season Core Program team for that age group, then the coach may select that player as a "Wild Card – A" pick.
2. A coach may select a player who does not meet any of the prior listed conditions as a "Wild Card – B" pick. Wild Card – B picks are only eligible for the "correct" year’s Flex Extra team (i.e., a player may not play "up" without trying out or by being a coach’s "Wild Card" pick). The Region created this option to allows the coach to accept a player who moves into the Region's territory after the tryouts have been completed or to recruit back a club player into AYSO.

7.6. Call Backs

1. There is a limited time window for call backs.
2. A coach may call back candidates for Additional Tryout picks or AYSO Registered Wild Card– A picks for evaluation at their spring practices. Only those players who either attended the tryout and did not meet the Mandatory Pick guidelines or are AYSO Registered (Wild Card A) may be called back.
3. The Call Back is not a tryout. The Call Back cannot be used to convert a Wild Card – A pick into a ranked, tryout Mandatory or Additional Tryout pick.
4. The coach will have two (2) weeks after the completion of tryouts and the publication of evaluation results to complete their Call Backs and evaluations.
5. The coach is required to offer roster places to their Mandatory Picks prior to conducting further call back evaluations.

7.7 Underage Players

Underage players are those whose birth date falls after the cutoff date for a particular division. Generally they are eligible for play in an "older" division; however they must meet specific criteria in terms of their ranking. It is the Region’s intent that players play in the proper       age division for the Flex Extra Program, and that only truly exceptional players be allowed to play "up." There are players that do have the skills and size that will let them compete at the higher age group. Therefore we have created a process to allow for one (1) underage player to make a Flex Extra team.

1. Coaches can only make offers to one (1) underage player from the tryout roster.
2. The player must attend tryouts. Wild card picks cannot be used for an underage player.
3. Underage players must be ranked in the top half of all players attending the tryout. The Regional Commissioner and/or their designee will make the determination as to appropriate cutoff.
4. Underage players should make every attempt to attend the tryout for both teams for which they wish to be considered, i.e., the “correct” age group and the “older” age group. A player who does not attend the tryout for the “correct” age group and subsequently wishes to play on that team can be selected by the coach only as a Wild Card Pick.

If, unfortunately, the Region is unable to offer a team for a gender/age division, then all underage players who try out for the older age division will not be considered Underage Players under this provision and will be treated as if they are in the same age division as the other players.

8. Spring Select

These guidelines help coaches understand what they can - or should - do for the recruiting of players to join their team for the Spring Select season.

Throughout these guidelines, a reference to the coach taking action means the person managing the team whether this is the Team Manager or the coach. It is the person communicating with the players' parents regarding commitments and decisions. And, this person is not always the coach.

8.1. Introduction

Visit the Spring Area Q Select versus Section 11 Spring Extra web page (click on the link) for an explanation of what Spring Select is and the differences between the program before reading these guidelines.

In general:

• Every team needs to be ready to decide what it plans on doing in the Spring two (2) or more months prior to the start of the season (which is usually the first Saturday in March). In other words, most coaches need to begin checking with the parents of players on their current team immediately after the holidays are over (if not earlier... many of the Extra teams ask about Spring commitments at the end of the Fall Season).
  For All-star teams, this could mean starting on this before the All-star season begins (during team formation).
• Every team will have a need to replace players if they want to         participate in Spring Select.
• For some players who want to participate, soccer is a secondary sport and the coach might be missing players for games. 
• Some players leave soccer to focus on their primary Spring sport. And, 
• In the case of Under-11 and Under-12 teams, there is a need to add players since they will transition from playing with nine (9) players on the field (9v9) to eleven (11) players on the field (11v11).
• Every team needs to be ready to inform the Region of its plans for Spring four (4) to six (6) weeks prior to the start of the season. 
  For All-star teams, this means starting on this during the All-star season.
• Every team should have all of the player commitments and recruiting done four (4) weeks prior to the start of the season.

We have provided these guidelines to you (the coach) to inform you of the proper way of handling the recruiting of players for Spring Select.

8.2. Player "Rights"

The focus of AYSO is on the player. Therefore, the Region has established these guidelines to let parents and coaches know the players, ultimately, have "rights" where coaches have "recommendations." They are:

• Players have the right to leave the team for any reason (and the coach is not entitled to know the reason). Parents of players on the team must notify the coach once they have made the decision to leave. And, common courtesy suggests parents of players on the team be honest with their child's coach and notify (the coach) when they begin considering leaving the team.
• The coach cannot cut players from the team. If a team is going to continue playing into Spring Select, then all of the players currently on the team are entitled to continue with the team.
• If a team (the player is playing on) decides not to continue playing into the Spring Select season, then they will be the first players considered by the other teams (in an appropriate age division) continuing into Spring Select. Please note that this is not an obligation on the coach to accept or "take" these players first -- it is only a requirement they be considered by the coaches of the appropriate age division Spring Select teams.

8.3. Coach-to-Coach Courtesy and Recommendations

There are lots of problems, traps and issues where a coach might get into trouble if they are not considerate of other coaches in the same gender/age division in which they participate. These guidelines, therefore, set out a way for coaches to best work together for the benefit       of the players, the teams and the Region.

• Coaches shall NOT contact or recruit players who are currently on the roster of another AYSO Extra or All-star team!
• The players "rights" entitle them to leave the team they are currently on for any reason as long as they notify their coach they intend to leave. Once they have given notice, other coaches are free to contact them to recruit them to their team. As a courtesy, coaches trying to recruit players shall contact the player's current coach and indicate they would like to recruit the player BEFOREmaking contact with the player's parents.
• Coaches shall not "scout" other AYSO teams for players unless they get permission from the coach first.
• Coaches shall not, for any reason, represent themselves to any player or parent or other coach as an EXTRA or Flex coach until such time that the Regional Commissioner, or their designee, has notified them in writing (email is acceptable) that they have been named as a coach in these programs.

9. Balancing Procedures

9.1. School or Neighborhood teams

9.2. Average Computer Ratings

9.3. Balancing Adjustments

10. Wait List Guidelines

Based upon AYSO’s principle of “Everyone Plays”, all players properly compete their application packge and submit it prior to the cutoff date shall be placed on a team if enough coaches are available.

Players applying after the cutoff date (or complete the application process after the cutoff date) are placed upon a team if there is space available. They are first placed on a list of players waiting to be placed on a team ("Waiting List").

If there are not enough coaches for a division, then players who have completed the application process are placed on the "top" of the Waiting List. The Region, to the best of its ability, will place players on the Waiting List based upon when the complete application is received (and not on when they were pre-registered in eAYSO). Applications received at a registration event will get priority over mailed in applications. After the cutoff date, all applications must be mailed in since we need the postmark date to establish the order -- no hand delivered applications after the cutoff date.

The Region reserves the right to “bump up” players on the waiting list       whose parent or guardian are willing to meet volunteer commitments for which the Region has a need. This is most commonly used when a coach is needed in a division, and a waiting list player’s parent is willing to coach a team. The Region reserves the right, at its discretion, to offer a playing spot to any player on the waiting list.

The Region also reserve the right to move players between teams prior to the start of the season to preserve team balancing when a player on the Waiting List is added.