DANVERS YOUTH SOCCER INTRAMURAL TOURNAMENT POLICY

PURPOSE

Recognize that tournament play is a desired level of competition by many players and coaches at the U-8 through U-10 intramural level.
Coach selection, tournament team formation and play require a process and a set of guidelines to help ensure quality coaching, equitable team formation, issue resolution and follow through on the goals and objectives of DYS.

PHILOSOPHY

Tournament experience should be positive and enjoyable to DYS players and coaches.
Coaches shall be responsible for providing fair and equitable distribution of playing time.
The team formation process shall give equal consideration to all intramural players in the age group within reasonable boundaries.
As long as coaching is available the team formation process shall be viewed as a means to place players on teams, not as a means to eliminate players from tournament play. Every effort will be made to provide each player who wished to participate an opportunity to play.

ADMINISTRATION

The Intramural Tournament Program (ITP) will be administered by the Intramural Tournament Committee (ITC). The ITC shall oversee the ITP (i.e., team formation process, coach selection, player notifications, etc.)
Disputes resulting from participation in the ITP shall be arbitrated by the Committee. If still unresolved, such disputes will be submitted to the DYS Board of Directors.
If necessary, the ITC may reserve spots in upcoming tournaments, providing deposit monies form DYS funds to be reimbursed to DYS when teams are formed.

COACH SELECTION

The ITC Coordinator will notify all intramural coaches via email, website announcements and other applicable means of the tournament coaching application period and process. Applications should be submitted prior to team formation. Applications from qualified individuals not currently coaching in the age group will also be considered by the ITC.
All non-affiliated coaches must register with MYSA and DYS and submit CORI screening information per DYS and MYSA policy.
Standard DYS Coaches Application forms may be used. Applicants should indicate the age group for which they are applying and their current role in DYS. A brief summation of experience and qualifications should be included.
Returning ITC coaches and current Intramural coaches with applications on file may notify the ITC via email to the ITC Coordinator.
The ITC will consider the written application and past DYS experience to select coaches.
The final coaching selection will be made after team formation in order to match the coach with their child’s team.
All potential coaches may be invited to participate in the team selection process at the discretion of the ITC.
In the event multiple coaches for a specific age group occurs beyond the necessary requirement and a decision can’t be made to choose the coach, the following format shall be used to select the coach:

1. License level (i.e., G, F, E, D)

2. Tournament coaching experience

3. Intramural coaching experience

4. DYS involvement

5. Clinics and other experience

The utilization of the criteria listed above is not restricted to following the order as listed – but rather to be used as a guide to assist the ITC in their selection

TEAM FORMATION

Teams will initially be formed for the fall tournament season. Registration for fall teams will take place from June 1st through July 15th. A second registration period will be held from February 1st through March 1st for players only interested in spring tournaments. Where possible and appropriate, the ITC may keep fall teams intact for the spring season if a review of spring only applications indicates that all players can be placed on age- and competitively–appropriate teams. At the discretion of the ITC, fall teams may be disbanded and teams reformed if needed to make appropriate placement and create competitive teams.
After completion of team formation, player movement between teams and/or recruitment of additional players must be approved by the ITC Coordinator.
No tryouts are to be held.
DYS does not endorse tournament play for U-7 (U-8 Jr.) players except as part of exhibition matches at the Danvers Invitational Tournament..
Minimum roster size shall be 10; maximum shall be 14 or as limited by tournament rules.
U-08- Upon completion of the registration process, the ITC will use player rankings from the most recently completed intramural season to create and balance teams in such a manner that all players who apply are placed..
U-10- U-10 teams will be formed for competition in A-B-C divisions by using the player rankings from the most recently completed intramural season to create competitive teams at each level. The GUIDELINES that govern U-10 team formation are as follows:

A Division- U-10 Senior players ranked in the top 15 by Intramural coaches. If needed to fill the roster, ranking range may be extended through 24 on the advice of Intramural coaches and at the discretion of the ITC.*
B Division- U-10 Junior players ranked in the top 15 by Intramural coaches. If needed to fill the roster, ranking range may be extended through 24 on the advice of Intramural coaches and at the discretion of the ITC.*
B Division- U-10 Senior players ranked above 30 but not placed on the A division team. If needed to fill the roster, ranking range may be extended on the advice of Intramural coaches and at the discretion of the ITC.
B Division- Mixed Jr/Sr teams comprised of players from both age groups ranked between 15 and 24
C Division- U10 Junior players ranked above 30 but not placed on the A division team. If needed to fill the roster, ranking range may be extended on the advice of Intramural coaches and at the discretion of the ITC.
C Division- Mixed Jr/Sr teams comprised of players from both age groups that are not otherwise placed.

* On advice of the Intramural coaches, the ITC may form two teams of Seniors (A) or Juniors (B) by balancing the players ranked through 24 between the teams. This option should be used if the competitive abilities of the resulting teams remain appropriate for projected level of play.
A U-08 player may be placed on a U-10 Jr or Mixed team under the following circumstances:

There is no U-08 team available or the U-08 team is not participating in a tournament that weekend.
The Intramural coaches indicate the player can compete at the U-10 level both physically and skillswise.
The player’s parents consent.
There is a need to fill the U-10 roster, and no true U-10 player will be denied a roster spot as a result.

GENERAL

Open roster spots that exist due to player drop-out or a player shortage at the time of team formation may be offered to players that did not participate in the formation process only after all participants have been placed and with notification to the ITC. Open roster spots that occur after team formation may be filled with the approval of the ITC Coordinator and placement will be at the discretion of the committee or Coordinator.
Coaches are responsible for all administrative duties related to the tournament they select including applications, fees, player notification, registration, age verification, patches, transportation, etc.
Teams may participate in as many tournaments as desired during the season.
DYS teams may participate in MYSA or USYSA sanctioned tournaments only.
For the safety and well-being of the players, coaches are discouraged from entering teams in a higher age division.
Rosters are limited to currently registered DYS players.
Participating players and coaches are required to exhibit the highest level of conduct and sportsmanship.
Deliberate and/or serious disregard of this policy by any coach may jeopardize further involvement with DYS.

Any situation not covered by this policy should be brought to the attention of the ITC through the Coordinator for resolution.
This policy approved and adopted by vote of the Danvers Youth Soccer Board of Directors on August 9, 2006.