A PDF version of this document can be found here.

Policies and Procedures - Travel Soccer Program

Player Evaluations, Tryouts, Team Placement, Roster Approval, and Coach Selection

The travel soccer program is a major component of Reading United Soccer Club (RUSC).  Consequently, it is imperative
that the policies and procedures outlined in this document be adhered to by everyone involved in the travel soccer
program.  

I.        Player Evaluations
•     Age group coordinators will supply all coaches for their respective age group with a player evaluation form at the start of each season.  Only a RUSC approved player evaluation form may be used.
•     All head and assistant coaches must complete and submit player evaluations for the team and season coached.
•     Coaches’ player evaluations are an integral part of the team placement process (failure to submit player evaluations may have an effect on future coach selection).
•     In order to be considered valid, all player evaluations must be submitted to the respective Age Group Coordinator, Travel Commissioner, and President.  Electronic filing of player evaluations is highly encouraged by the Board of Directors.
•     Player evaluations must be submitted prior to the commencement of tryouts at a date to be determined by the respective age group coordinator.
•     Age group coordinators will share player evaluations with other age group coordinators for players moving into a new age group.   This does not apply to the U8 players that are new to the U10 age group.

II.       Tryouts
•     Tryouts are intended to evaluate a player’s ability to play soccer with children of the same age group and supplement player evaluations in the team placement process.
•     Tryouts will be open to all registered players and all registrants are expected to attend tryouts.
•     Tryouts will be held for each travel season – fall and spring.
•     Tryouts will include an appropriate warm-up, age-appropriate small-sided games, and scrimmages.
•     Only a RUSC approved tryout evaluation form may be used to evaluate players at a tryout.
•     Prior to tryouts, each age group coordinator must have the tryout plan reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors.  The tryout plan should include -

o    The number and duration of each tryout
o    How players will be matched against each other during the tryout process
o    The tryout evaluators and their credentials

III.     Team Placement
•     No team will be designed with the intention of keeping the team together as a unit from season to season, or year to year.
•     Teams competing in division one and two will be constructed with the intention of fielding the strongest and most competitive teams.
•     Prior to the placement meeting, each age group coordinator will create a proposed ranking of players based upon all information available.  This ranking will only be used as a guide during the placement process.
•     A Placement Committee will determine initial team placement for each player by committee consensus at the placement meeting.
•     The Placement Committee will use all information available in order to make roster decisions.
•     Each placement meeting must be attended by at last one member of the Board of Directors.  It is recommended that the attending board member not have a child in the respective age group.
•     All individual player placement discussions are considered confidential and should not be disseminated outside the placement meeting.
•     Roster spots may be held for tentatively assigned players.
•     In order for a player to play up an age group, the player’s parents must submit a written request to the Board of Directors.  The decision to allow a player to play at a higher age group must adhere to league rules and be approved by the Board of Directors.

IV.     Coach Selection
•     RUSC policy is to place players on team rosters before selecting coaches.
•     Factors such as licensure (USSF and NSCAA), coaching and playing experience, parent and player feedback, and Director of Coaching recommendations will be used to select coaches.
•     All coaching assignments will be made by committee.  At a minimum, the committee will include the President, Travel Commissioner, and respective Age Group Coordinator.

V.      Roster Approval
•     No individual may release team placement information until rosters have been approved by the Board of Directors.
•     Travel soccer rosters will be reviewed at the regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting immediately following the Placement Committee meeting.

VI.     Roster Adjustments
Occasionally due to various reasons (a player quits, a coach is needed, parental request, etc.), roster adjustments need to be made after the placement meeting or roster approval by the Board of Directors.  The following methodology must be followed to resolve any, and all, roster issues -
•     The respective Age Group Coordinator, or Board of Directors designee if the Age Group Coordinator is unavailable, must oversee the roster resolution process.
•     Only those individuals necessary need to be involved in the roster resolution process.
•     Because the roster issue will inevitably involve multiple teams, it is advised to wait until coach selection has occurred before attempting to resolve the roster issue.
•     If those involved in the decision making process are unable to reach an equitable resolution, the matter must be escalated to the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors will then make the final decision on the roster issue.