Blue Mountain Soccer Club is established to provide ‘recreational’ soccer to children in our area. Within that premise, we also attempt to provide competitive soccer opportunities.
Every year, we will establish teams for the upcoming season (Fall/Spring) to play in Travel league in age groups of U-9 and above, as currently allowed by vote of the board of BMSC. In the fall of 2009, a decision was made to have evaluations for all players coming into our U-9 and up boys and girls travel teams.
Attending the Evaluation session is mandatory for placement on a travel team eligible for playoffs. If a player does not attend the scheduled evaluations, the player will be placed on a team at the lowest level of play in the RBJSL or Schuylkill League. The evaluation process gives us another means to place players at appropriate skill levels.
The brief day of evaluations allows a group of volunteer evaluators to catch a glimpse of the players competing side-by-side with their peers through individual soccer skills and small sided games. Each player is awarded a comparative score by each evaluator. The scores from the evaluators are tabulated and averaged, allowing the players to be ranked by total score.
In addition to the evaluation, we have each player’s current coach(es) provide rankings and assessments of the players based on their skill levels. The belief is that the current coach(es) should have a solid knowledge of the player’s capabilities. (starting at the end of Fall 2009 season)
The scores from the evaluations are reviewed (and combined with scores gathered from the rankings and assessments provided by each player’s current coach). The players are then ranked by highest combined scores. Any inconsistencies between evaluation scores and coaches rankings are discussed between the club president, Vice President of Coaching, the coaches from the player’s team, as well as other previous coaches and evaluation advisors, if available.
In conjunction with the compilation of the rankings, we attempt to determine whether we have a sufficient number of players to form a team (s) to play in T1 or T2. Normally, the top 14-16 players in the rankings are considered for positions on the T1 or T2 team(s). The maximum number of players allowed on a team for U11 and up age group is 18 (U9 and U10 age group is 14).
Play Up Policy
Due to the July 31 cut off date, there will be certain players whose birthdates technically place them in an age group below that of their classmates or peers. These players may request a “grade appropriate” play up. Every effort is made to allow players to remain with their school class peers assuming the overall numbers allow and assuming the player is capable of playing at the higher age group. Any player who falls into this ‘grade appropriate’ category, and desires to play up to an age group higher than where their birth date places them so they are with their classmates, must request this on the BMSC “play-up” request form. All play up requests are reviewed individually and must be approved by the BMSC Board of Directors.
Please see additional details on the club’s playing up policy on the club website under the section “The Club”.
Evaluators:
Evaluators are all volunteers. This process depends on time availability for these people. We attempt to invite evaluators who have coaching experience and/or playing experience – this includes soccer club coaches (past and/or present), high school coaches, high school and college players, licensed referees, and coaches that have attained certain soccer licensing levels. Additionally, we try not to have evaluators attend when their children are participants, although sometimes they might be in attendance to organize the game activities (usually due to lack of available volunteers), and we do not allow evaluators to evaluate or score their own children.
Compilation of Evaluation Results and Ratings from Coaches:
Scores are compiled and ranked by the club President, Vice President(s) or other board members with the requirement that they do not have a child in the age group under review. The rankings are then reviewed with the assigned coaches of the specific team to determine team assignments. This process is taken very seriously, and frequently takes many hours of discussion. We don’t like to miss out on any potential candidates in the process.
Team Selection
Players are placed on teams based upon their player evaluations by the player selection committee of the board. Every attempt will be made to find a playing opportunity for all interested players.
The Club attempts to field as many teams at the U-9 and up age groups based on the number of registrations. An attempt is made to place every player at these age groups. If registration numbers are not sufficient to support multiple teams, BMSC will attempt to mix age groups. Parents of any player not able to find a team with the Blue Mountain Soccer Club will be contacted directly by a Club official and offered a refund.
Decision Timetable:
Normally the decision process to establish a division T1 or T2 team may take several weeks – sometimes into June. The lengthy period of time may be determined by overall registrations for a particular age group. If we have the makings of a division T1 or T2 team, the number of overall registrants may determine whether to take 14, 15, or 16 on the team, in order to leave enough players to fill other teams.
After the two weeks of evaluations conclude, the Board will meet with the age group coaches, handling any questions and review the final rosters. The Board will notify the players that did not make the “Travel-Comp” team for the age group. Once final rosters are posted on club website, no changes can occur.
Commitment Necessary for Travel team (T1 or T2 level):
If a player is selected to play at this level, the BMSC urges the player to commit to playing in both the fall and spring sessions, practicing sometimes twice weekly. Opportunities are also available for teams to play indoors in the winter (encouraged but not required). At the 7th and 8th grade level, teams may practice less, due to many players participating on school-based teams during their playing season. Practices may be more frequent near the end of the season as teams prepare for the end of season tournaments. Games are held primarily on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and the parents must be willing to spend some of their Saturdays and Sundays on the road traveling throughout the Berks County area.
Selection of Coaches:
In conjunction with the President and several board members, we attempt to find the best available volunteer coach(es). Preferably the coach for these teams will have a coaching license (usually ‘D’ or above) and/or playing experience. However, most of all, we want coaches who understand that we are in this to develop the skills of ALL of the team members, and to provide them with an enjoyable experience, while understanding that winning and losing is part of the game and needs to be kept in appropriate perspective.
If you don’t make the Travel team (T1 or T2 level):
Not making a Travel team (T1 or T2 level) should not be considered as any negative to your child’s soccer playing. Again, the main purpose of our club is to provide recreational soccer, but as a club, we also fight the battle of trying to provide competitive soccer levels for ALL players. We attempt to put your children in the appropriate division levels to keep them stimulated and interested, while having fun. There is enough competition in the world already – this should be a recreational outlet for the kids.
REFUNDS
The player’s registration fee for U9-U19 is 100% refundable until June 15, 2011. Refunds will not be issued to travel players based on the final placement of child on selected team roster. Any requests for refunds after this date will need to be presented to the BMSC Board in writing with no stated guarantees.