Competitive soccer sometimes requires flexibility to provide the best player development environment and to form the best teams to compete with the top clubs at the state, regional or national levels. We are a Division I soccer club that seeks to promote the appropriate development of our players and to improve the level of our teams. This policy is a statement that is intended to clarify the Club’s practices regarding players joining teams consisting of players in older age groups as defined by our national soccer organizations and to promote understanding with our players, parents and in our soccer community.
Our decisions regarding play ups will be guided by two interests, those of the player for appropriate development opportunities and those of the teams and Club for successful team formation, team development and competitive performance. We will strive to maintain a team’s competitiveness and the integrity of their roster. We will not move players down to their age-pure teams when it is not in the best interests of the player. We will not recruit players from within the Club; rather, we will strive to introduce additional players and their families to the benefits of our Club.
Policy
Initial evaluation of the player for possible inclusion on an older team will be conducted by ASR Play-up Committee.
A.) The following board members and non board members form the ASR Play-up Committee:
ASR’s President
ASR’s Technical Director
ASR’s Director of Coaching
ASR’s coach or league representative. (Excluding the team’s coaches “to and from” that the player will be assigned)
B.) All roster Play Up requests must be: reviewed, evaluated, and approved individually (case-by-case) by the above club ASR play up committee.
The decision will be communicated by the committee that will place the player on his or her team. The decision, however attained, will not be subject to appeal and the basis for the decision will not be disclosed.
Generally, even the most exceptional players return to their age groups to further their development and maximize their playing opportunities. The Club will use this annual evaluation by the Play-up Committee to process to periodically re-evaluate what is in the best interests of the player.
For coaches, players and their parents that are interested in being considered for playing up, your process is outlined below.
Request an evaluation by the ASR Play Up Committee.
Requests need to be via email or letter to the DOC.
Provide your players’ soccer experience, coaches’ evaluations, height and weight, and any other factors you consider relevant.
Criteria for Evaluating Potential Play Ups:
Exceptionally Skilled Player – Level of play of the older age group.
Players must demonstrate to the coaches of the older age group the ability to play at a high level in an older age group. They must show exceptional qualities, dominating or performing on par with the first 10 players of that age group. These players will be able to dominate in multiple aspects of the game. They will have that rare combination of advanced technical skills, situational awareness and maturity, relative to their age-pure peers. Though parents or coaches may think a player is dominant because they are the best on a team, the exceptionally skilled criteria will apply to the player in relation to the other top teams and their players in the older age group.
Physical Ability and Above Average Size or Date of Birth.
If a child is exceedingly big or is near the oldest of his or her age group and has average soccer skills it may be in the player’s best interests to play up. This may be the case if there is some risk that the physical play of the child may pose a danger to less mature or smaller players in his or her own age group.
Overall Benefit to the Club and Team Formation.
If there is an overall benefit to the Club and its teams, or if it is necessary to maintain the potential of a team and the Club, affected age group coaches and the Coaching Director, or designee, will evaluate potential play ups.
Guest Players.
To borrow a player from another team within the club all requests need to be submitted to the D.O.C. before discussion between coaches commences.
The D.O.C. will discuss with coach and will decide based on:
Player development proposes.
Player availability.
Team formation.
Parent agreement.
Outside Club Guest Play
Atletico Santa Rosa philosophy does not allow guest players outside of the club to play with ASR teams, or Atletico players to play with other clubs without authorization from D.O.C. ASR will not support players who guest play outside of the club except if the event supports the club development philosophy.
The tournaments that ASR would possibly approve include:
Dallas Cup
Disney Cup
Surf Cup
Communication to the D.O.C. must be via email. If any coach or parent decides to use a guest player without going through the proper procedures possible actions taken by the club may include the following:
