EASTSIDE Youth Soccer Association (EYSA)

Rules and Regulations

2003 March 1

A) EVALUATION PHILOSOPHY

The primary goal of evaluations is player placement and ensuring that each player has the best possible soccer experience that they can have.

Evaluations are a process that attempts to ensure that players are placed on a team of similarly skilled players. Players who can work together to learn and grow are more likely to have a positive soccer experience. Placement of players in the correct environment is very important. It often makes a difference in whether a player continues to play the game.

Strong players must be in competitive situations where they feel they are being challenged and are learning. Similarly, no one enjoys being the weakest player and if practises and games become a constant struggle then players will not enjoy their soccer experience. Whatever the level, players are much happier playing with players of their own skill level.

The basic policy of EYSA is that when there is more than one team in a division, every effort will be made to create balanced teams. Exceptions to this must be approved by the EYSA board.

Players will be placed in one of the following 4 divisions for the season
• SK Premier Youth Soccer League (SPYSL) Division: The Premier League team is highly competitive and the highest skilled players in each age group make up the one team in this division.
• Division 1: This team is very competitive and the next group of highly skilled players are placed on the one team in this division.
• Division 2: Team(s) is (are) less competitive and aimed at players who wish to work hard to improve their skills. There may be more than one team in Division 2 depending on the overall number of players and the talent pool in a particular age group.
• Division 3: Teams in Division 3 will be balanced based on the available player information from evaluations. The teams in this division will try to accommodate those that wish to play with their friends or who are just entering the sport.

Players are evaluated at the beginning of each season so if a player is evaluated for Division 2 one season there are opportunities, depending on their skill level and what they have learned the previous season, for players to move either to Division 1 or 3. A player is not stuck in a division just because they have been placed there once.

When evaluations are finished, all players will have been placed in a Division based on their evaluation results, small sided games, and written evaluations from their previous coach(es). The numbers of players in each division, in each age group (female and male), will determine whether there will be more than one team in a division.

B) DIVISION PLACEMENT

1. All players shall be invited to attend Evaluation camps. Evaluation Camps shall be held in each age group, sex, and division.

2. Players who do not attend Evaluation Camps will be placed in a division at the discretion of the Coordinator and the Technical Director.

3. The Coordinator or Co-coordinators are responsible for coordinating all divisions in each age group and each sex which entails organizing the player evaluations with assistance of the Technical Directors and others

4. The Technical Director, in consultation with the appropriate Coordinator(s), shall be responsible for placing all players in the appropriate division. This decision is final.

5. Each player shall be given the opportunity to be seen twice during the evaluation process. It is the player’s responsibility to be available during this time.

6. Player placement will include the results of the evaluation process and the written comments of the players previous coach(es), where applicable.

7. Division placement numbers will be the basis for all team formation

8. EASTSIDE strives to place players of equal skill within the appropriate division, according to its evaluation philosophy.

C) TEAM PLACEMENT

1. Player placement will include the results of the evaluation process and the written comments of the players previous coach(es), where applicable.

2. Players who do not attend Evaluation Camps will be placed on a team at the discretion of the Coordinator and the Technical Director

3. The Coordinator(s) in each age group are responsible to ensure that EASTSIDE’s Rules and Regulations involving team selections are adhered to.

4. The Coordinator(s) are responsible for ensuring that each player is notified within two weeks of the player’s final evaluation with regards to his/her division placement.

5. The Coordinator(s), in consultation with the Technical Director and coaches, shall be responsible for placing the evaluated players on the appropriate team. This decision is final.

6. The Coordinator, in consultation with the Technical Director, shall decide the final number of players per team in division 2, and 3 with regard to the total number of players in that age group and the zone budgetary guidelines.

7. The Technical Director and coaches may assist the Coordinator in making decisions regarding the composition of teams.

8. The Technical Director and Zone coach, in consultation with the Coordinator, shall decide the final number of players on the SPYSL Division and Division 1 teams, having regard for the total number of players in that age group and the zone budgetary guidelines.

9. Two or more teams may be formed in Division 2 in the U14, U16, U18 age groups if:
a. The Technical Director deems the talent pool for that division to be large enough to field multiple teams.

10. Two or more teams may be formed in Division 1, 2 and 3 in the U12 age group if:
a. The Technical Director deems the talent pool for that division to be large enough to field multiple teams.

D) AGE GROUP PLACEMENT

1. EASTSIDE Youth Soccer Association requires that all registered players play in their appropriate age group except under very special circumstances. Players wishing to play up an age group must complete the appropriate application to the Board.

2. This application MUST be submitted, with the supporting documentation, before registration.

E) COACH PLACEMENT

In August 2000, the Board approved the implementation of Zone Coaches for EASTSIDE’s Division 1 teams. The Zone Coaches are now appointed for the SPYSL Division and Division 1 teams. This stability was encouraged in order to better serve the players in the zone by facilitating a longer term and more comprehensive player development plan by the Board and the Technical Director. Zone Coaches are appointed based on coaching certification, experience, and suitability for a specific age group and/or sex. The long-term plan is to see this coaching stability throughout the age groups and divisions in the near future.

Zone Coaches are appointed for 1 year and will guide a team through both the Indoor and Outdoor season. An annual evaluation is required for each Zone Coach.

1. Coaches must apply for their positions at or before the Indoor/Outdoor Registration Night. An application form must be filled out in full. Coach placement is as follows:
a. The Coordinators of each group will be responsible for recruiting coaches for the Division 2 and 3 teams.
b. The Technical Director, will be responsible for recruiting and appointing the SPYSL Division and Division 1 coaches; the Zone Coaches. The Coordinators will be responsible for bringing qualified candidates for Zone Coach positions to the Technical Directors attention.
c. If a conflict develops where two coaches wish to coach the same team, the President and the Technical Director shall decide which coach goes to which team.
d. Coaches will be chosen on the basis of their qualifications and personal suitability.
e. Coaches coaching an opposite sex team, must recruit an assistant coach or manager that is the same sex as the team.
f. The Board encourages all coaches to attain at least a Community Coach Youth coaching certification and will pay for coaches to upgrade their coaching qualifications. SPYSL Division and Division 1 coaches should consult the Saskatchewan Soccer Association as additional coaching qualifications may be required for Provincial and National competitions.

2. Coaches must submit a Criminal Record Check, completed by the Saskatoon Police Service, on a bi-annual basis. The Board of Directors holds the right to refuse coaching privileges on the basis of the results of the Criminal Record Check or the absence of a Criminal Record Check submission by the deadline set by the Board.

F) GENERAL

1. Teams registered with EYSA must have predominantly maroon, white and black in their uniforms.