St. Clement Parish Athletic Committee

- Team Formation Guidelines - 

Purpose

It is the intention of the St. Clement Athletic Committee that all children who express an interest, be allowed to participate in a meaningful way. At times the number of children expressing an interest in participating on a SCAC approved team is more than can be accommodated in terms of adequate supervision or practice/playing time.  In this situation, the following guidelines should be followed in order of priority.

1.)     Solicit more coaching volunteers.

2.)     Explore the feasibility of starting a second team if it can be supported (registration fees, uniforms, facilities) by SCAC.  It will be SCAC’s decision as to how the teams will be divided (equally, A and B, etc.) in consultation with the coaching staff.  The leagues available to participate in and skill level of all children will primarily determine the composition of multiple teams.

3.)     If the above two options are not feasible, team try-outs will be conducted.

Multi-Grade Teams – especially Junior Varsity and Varsity

1.)     SCAC acknowledges that the optimal amount of players for each team should be in the 12 –14 member range. 

2.)     When it is possible, the committee strongly suggests that each team keep as many players as it can accommodate, especially when it is a very close decision as to who makes the last few remaining team positions.

3.)     When a team involves two or more grade levels, SCAC feels it is important to consider the entire program and its competitiveness in successive years.  To this end, SCAC strongly encourages each coaching staff to:

For teams made up of two grades

-          Have the team composed of no more than approximately 75% of higher grade children unless there are not enough children in the lower grade, and

-          Have the team composed of no less than approximately 25% of children of the higher grade unless there are not enough children in the higher grade or there is a clear superiority of skill of the lower grade children. 

-          If a Head Coach wishes to form a team that is outside of the above guidelines, he must consult and obtain the approval of the Athletic Director before any cuts are made.

For teams made up of more than two grades

-          Be guided by the following unless there are not enough children in any one grade(s)

                  # of Grades            # from any one grade

4                                       No more than 40% in any one grade

3                                       No more than 50% in any one grade          

-          If a Head Coach wishes to form a team that is outside of the above guidelines, he must consult and obtain the approval of the Athletic Director before any cuts are made.

   

Try-Out Guidelines

1)    The team coaching staff will conduct try-outs.

2)    A representative of SAC will be present at all try-outs.  If a SAC member is a coach or team volunteer, another member of SAC with no team affiliation as a coach or volunteer will be present.

3)    At least 72-hour notice must be given to all children eligible to participate on the team.

4)    Only those eligible children (i.e. age, gender) in good standing with SCAC (no outstanding issues in CCD with attendance or behavior)  will be allowed to try-out.

5)    Try-outs should be for a minimum of two full practice sessions.  Each session should include a variety of drills in order to properly evaluate each participant.

6)    An objective scoring system should be utilized to rank each player.

7)    Due to the fact that some children will not make the team, the Head Coach should;

-          Thank all participants for trying out – the key is they all tried!

-          When stating that some will obviously not make the team, the coach should mention it is natural to feel disappointed but they should not be discouraged – there are other opportunities to play and chances in the future to try-out again for other teams.

-          The Head Coach should offer to talk with any child or parent/guardian to explain the reason(s) why they did not make the team and offer their advise on what skills need to be developed.

8)    If possible, the coaching staff should select the team within 72 hours after conducting the final try-out.

9)    SCAC is particularly sensitive to those children who do not make the team.  The Head Coach must call either the child or parent/guardian to notify them that they did not make the team, explain the reason(s) why and offer their advise as to what skills need to be developed.

10)    All children that make the team should receive a call from the Head Coach notifying them when the first practice will be.

Play-Up Policy

1)    It is the policy of SCAC that no child should play on a higher-grade level team than they are eligible for.

2)    In those instances where a requesting coach and parent feel that such a situation is in the best interest of the child, each must submit in writing to SCAC the following:

a.   Team child is requesting permission to play for.

b.       Reasons why it is in the best interest of the child.

c.       Reasons why it is in the best interest of the team.

3)    After receiving, reviewing and considering the two written requests, SCAC will render a final and binding decision.           

  Adopted: April 20, 2002