April 13th, 2017
Message from Steve Baker, OYSA President.
Members,
Oregon Youth Soccer Association uses the US Youth Soccer definitions for teams and leagues as listed in the Players and Playing Rules – the current version is dated 8/20/2016. From this we get the following definitions:
Section 3. (1) “classic league” means an inter-club league in which (A) the use of tryouts, invitations, recruiting, or any similar process to roster players selectively to any team on the basis of talent or ability, is permitted; and (B) one or more league rules restrict the manner in which players may be rostered to participating teams.
(16) “recreational league” means an intra-club league in which
(A) the use of tryouts, invitations, recruiting, or any similar process to roster players to any team on the basis of talent or ability is prohibited;
(B) the club administering the league accepts as participants in the league any eligible youths (subject to reasonable terms on registration);
(C) a system or rostering players is used to establish a fair or balanced distribution of playing talent among all teams participating; and
(D) league rules require that each player must play at least one-half of each game except for reasons of injury, illness, or discipline.
For teams playing in a “classic” league players may be rostered on the basis of talent or ability. Now the question we are being asked is who can set try-out dates. The question we should be asking is why we have “no earlier than” dates when it comes to team formation. As we can see in 1A above tryouts are not necessarily the only way a team can be formed based on talent or ability.
To answer the why
1) All players should be able to participate in team formation for any club they see fit, within their own self determined geographical, financial or skill limitations 2) If team formation is carried out during existing league/cup play there can be a negative impacts on the existing team as well as the players themselves
3) Direct communication between one clubs members and another club’s player(s) promising selection to a team before the team formation process can again lead to unrealistic expectations from the player. This is also considered selection rather than the broader recruiting and is not a designated way to form a classic team
4) Clubs in the same locality should work together to provide the best opportunities for all players who want to play on a classic soccer team. For example: *one club has Boys tryouts on Saturday and Girls on Sunday. The “next” club down the road has the Girls on Saturday and Boys on Sunday.
Now to the who sets the “not before date” ? Traditionally, prior to 2014, team formation date was set by the Association, for U14 and below classic teams, as the Sunday after State Cup Finals. This had an unexpected problem when that was Mother’s Day, but other than that it worked pretty well. Why did the Association set the date, because the Association ran the leagues and cups directly. With the agreement between the Association and Peregrine (Timbers/Thorns) leagues are now run by Peregrine and sanctioned by the Association. So they have now come up with the “tryout schedule” which as we can see from above is in reality a team formation schedule. This schedule will in many/most cases use tryouts, but that is not a requirement.
Who is affected by this date? Only teams that play in the State wide Timbers/Thorns leagues are affected by this schedule. Teams that are formed to play in other USSF, rather than USYSA competitions are not. However we believe that having different dates and a lack of coordination across the various clubs and leagues will not meet #1 above – i.e. that all players should be able to participate in team formation for any club they see fit.
Recommendation Oregon Youth Soccer Association’s recommendation is that we use a consistent date that clubs, players, parents etc. can all rely on no matter which program the player ends up playing in. I have talked to many members of clubs large and small across the State. Some would like to keep teams together throughout the playing year and had team formation in late summer. Most would like to go back to just after State Cup finals. The only teams that are affected by this are those that will be going to Regional’s and potentially Nationals at that time.
For 2018/19 soccer year the Association recommends the Monday after State Cup finals for all tryouts.
Thanks everyone, Steve
Steve Baker President Oregon Youth Soccer Association
Message from Steve Baker, OYSA President.
Members,
Oregon Youth Soccer Association uses the US Youth Soccer definitions for teams and leagues as listed in the Players and Playing Rules – the current version is dated 8/20/2016. From this we get the following definitions:
Section 3. (1) “classic league” means an inter-club league in which (A) the use of tryouts, invitations, recruiting, or any similar process to roster players selectively to any team on the basis of talent or ability, is permitted; and (B) one or more league rules restrict the manner in which players may be rostered to participating teams.
(16) “recreational league” means an intra-club league in which
(A) the use of tryouts, invitations, recruiting, or any similar process to roster players to any team on the basis of talent or ability is prohibited;
(B) the club administering the league accepts as participants in the league any eligible youths (subject to reasonable terms on registration);
(C) a system or rostering players is used to establish a fair or balanced distribution of playing talent among all teams participating; and
(D) league rules require that each player must play at least one-half of each game except for reasons of injury, illness, or discipline.
For teams playing in a “classic” league players may be rostered on the basis of talent or ability. Now the question we are being asked is who can set try-out dates. The question we should be asking is why we have “no earlier than” dates when it comes to team formation. As we can see in 1A above tryouts are not necessarily the only way a team can be formed based on talent or ability.
To answer the why
1) All players should be able to participate in team formation for any club they see fit, within their own self determined geographical, financial or skill limitations 2) If team formation is carried out during existing league/cup play there can be a negative impacts on the existing team as well as the players themselves
3) Direct communication between one clubs members and another club’s player(s) promising selection to a team before the team formation process can again lead to unrealistic expectations from the player. This is also considered selection rather than the broader recruiting and is not a designated way to form a classic team
4) Clubs in the same locality should work together to provide the best opportunities for all players who want to play on a classic soccer team. For example: *one club has Boys tryouts on Saturday and Girls on Sunday. The “next” club down the road has the Girls on Saturday and Boys on Sunday.
Now to the who sets the “not before date” ? Traditionally, prior to 2014, team formation date was set by the Association, for U14 and below classic teams, as the Sunday after State Cup Finals. This had an unexpected problem when that was Mother’s Day, but other than that it worked pretty well. Why did the Association set the date, because the Association ran the leagues and cups directly. With the agreement between the Association and Peregrine (Timbers/Thorns) leagues are now run by Peregrine and sanctioned by the Association. So they have now come up with the “tryout schedule” which as we can see from above is in reality a team formation schedule. This schedule will in many/most cases use tryouts, but that is not a requirement.
Who is affected by this date? Only teams that play in the State wide Timbers/Thorns leagues are affected by this schedule. Teams that are formed to play in other USSF, rather than USYSA competitions are not. However we believe that having different dates and a lack of coordination across the various clubs and leagues will not meet #1 above – i.e. that all players should be able to participate in team formation for any club they see fit.
Recommendation Oregon Youth Soccer Association’s recommendation is that we use a consistent date that clubs, players, parents etc. can all rely on no matter which program the player ends up playing in. I have talked to many members of clubs large and small across the State. Some would like to keep teams together throughout the playing year and had team formation in late summer. Most would like to go back to just after State Cup finals. The only teams that are affected by this are those that will be going to Regional’s and potentially Nationals at that time.
For 2018/19 soccer year the Association recommends the Monday after State Cup finals for all tryouts.
Thanks everyone, Steve
Steve Baker President Oregon Youth Soccer Association
Comment