Policies & Procedures

SSL By-Laws (6/10/2008)

SSL Player/Parent Handbook (v. 02-2010)

SSL General Policy and Playing Rules (v. 02-2010)

SSL Coaches Handbook (v.02-2010)

Code of Conduct - Player/Parent

Code of Conduct - Coach

How Recreation Teams are Formed...

A recreation team is a team that has been formed without the use of tryouts or any other means that selectively rosters players on the basis of talent. As a result, the placement of kids on a team should be done randomly with the intention that parity should exist across the age group. Associations should consider doing this through the board of directors, a placement committee, age group co-ordinators or a simple computer program. A system of rostering kids should be employed that creates a fair or balanced distribution of playing talent among all teams participating within an age division. Remember that your recreation program is a developmental soccer program for all youth players without regard to skill level who wish to play soccer. The recognition of skill is only done to balance teams in an age group. The randomness of the placement process can be modified by allowing geography (zip codes) to be considered. The age group coordinator position can be a central point for all the activities concerning team formation such as:

*locating and selecting team coaches

*forming the team

*scheduling the games

*scheduling practice nights

*passing out equipment on equipment hand out day

As the name would imply, an association should consider having an age group coordinator for each age group involved in recreation play. At no time should there be any recruiting of players by anyone or any means. Likewise, players cannot be denied their right to play during the regular season or when their team plays in a tournament. The coach must call and inform all youth that are assigned to a team of the practices and any Cups or tournaments that the team is participating in. Allowing teams to stay together year after year is a decision that is left up to each association. The factors that go into making that decision may be varied but in most cases it should be understood that players likely would develop better and faster in an environment that is fostered by teams being allowed to stay together. Developing better and faster simply means that the fun of the game is increased for the kids in such an environment. It may also be easier to manage the registration process when teams are left intact year after year. The downside to this methodology is that it is easier for teams to be created that have a very high median skill level relative to other teams in the same league.

updated 2/22/2010