Probably the biggest single benefit in AYSO – and yet the biggest cause of concern for some parents – is our approach to team formation. A founding tenet of AYSO is to (re)form Balanced Teams each season. In fact, it is a firm rule that no player can be with the same coach/team from year to year – except for the coach’s own child. The goal is to mimic that neighborhood playground method of picking up sides so as to make the game as close and competitive as possible. Only then is it the best and most positive learning experience created for all. Balanced teams do not stop once the teams are formed and released though. The head coaches are as much a part of implementing this goal during the season by playing all players equally (in time) each game and throughout the season, by avoiding run-ups in the score, and by adjusting their coaching style and strategy to keep the game competitive and fun for all.
Balance
Like most AYSO regions, we have a single person who oversees forming a balanced division. This is the main, initial role of the Division Head (DH). The DH is aided by a computer program built into our registration system that has recorded statistics about each player from previous years or from parent declarations. This is why it is important not to create a new record during registration. Many factors are taken into account and we try and balance the skill, age, grade, height and school spread of each team.
We reserve the right to adjust teams after the season has begun if necessary in order to balance teams. We draft teams to be equal, but teams can become unbalanced if, for example, a strong player drops out after teams have been assigned.
Friend/Coach Requests
Every year WSSL receives numerous requests concerning team assignments. These requests are simple to make but they are not easy to grant.
WSSL generally does not accept requests, except in the case of twin siblings.
Further, WSSL does not accept conditional registrations, such as a registration conditional on a player being on a particular team, or playing at a particular time or with a particular player.
The focus of team formation is on having enough coaches and referees assigned per team. Any friend request may be looked into after the primary needs of a balanced team with enough coaches and referees have been addressed.
Co-Coaching Requests
If you are an assistant coach who wants to work with a particular head coach, please let your Division Head know. While we try to honor these requests, please keep in mind that our priority will continue to be creating balanced teams so if granting your request prevents this, the likelihood of us being able to honor the request is lower.
Problems with your child's team placement?
Your first point of contact should be the Division Head for your child’s division. What they will do is move your child off the current team and place them on the waitlist. The player will be inserted onto the waitlist based on the player’s registration date. You should only request to be moved off a team if there is absolutely no way your child can participate with that team. We cannot guarantee your child will be re-placed onto a team if the balance cannot be subsequently met. Parents and coaches must not seek to arrange adds, drops, or trades of players between teams on their own. The Division Head is the only person who can make such arrangements.