Policy for player assignment to an older age group team (playing up a level)

Background on team assignments

Each year players that register for the soccer program are initially assigned to teams based on their age. The DLYSA board makes these player assignments after careful review of the number of players and their ages. The number of young players each year has typically allowed the program to support U10 and U12 teams.  The number of players in the older age groups fluctuates more on an annual basis so assignments are made to U14, U15 or U16, and U18 teams depending on numbers. If a large number of players register within an age group, two teams will be formed.   In some years an age group may have too many players for one team but not enough to form two teams.  In these situation, players will be put on teams based on their time of registration and remaining players will be put on a waiting list.

Policy on assigning a player to an older level

In some years, some players are interested in moving up to an older age group team (e.g. from U 14 to U 16).  Based on input from a strategic planning session and the 2017 season, the DLYSA board has formalized the following policy:

1. DLYSA supports forming complete teams for the good of the most players.
2. DLYSA supports moving players up a level only when they have demonstrated the necessary skills and maturity to play at an older level and have demonstrated a commitment to fully participate at practice and games.
3. A player interested in moving up a level must, with parental permission, make a request to their coach and the director of coaching (DOC).
4. This request must be made prior to the Summer Soccer team registration deadline (typically April 20)
5. The desired team must have a vacant roster position available and the player’s current team must have sufficient numbers to maintain a team in their absence.
6. A player evaluation will be conducted by the appropriate DLYSA coaches organized by the DOC to determine if a player can be moved up.
7. Players whose requests are approved will become members of their selected team for the entire season.  Players whose requests are not granted will remain on their age appropriate team.
8. Special consideration may be given to players on a wait list.  
9. Special consideration may be given to families that have two or more players split between teams.