This page is to provide more clarity on how BYSA evaluates players and builds teams for the travel program.
Player Evaluation:
Players are evaluated by their Coaches and Independent Evaluators (IE) on a 4 point scale (with the ability for a coach to score a half point). Final Player score is the average between the Coaches score with the IE score. The Coaches score is the average of all coaches input.
For example: if your player has 3 coaches, each coach’s input will be ⅓ of your players overall Coaches score. If your player has 2 coaches, each coach’s input will be ½ if your players overall Coaches score.
Guidelines for scoring are the following:
4-Top Player: One of the top 2-3 players on the team
3-Impact Player: A strong, above average player relative to others on the team
2-Contributing Player: Below average player (relative to others on the team), but contributes positively in practices/games
1-Struggling Player: Struggles to contribute to the team relative to other teammates, would be better off on a less competitive team in the future
Additional guidelines have been provided to coaches to aid in evaluation of complete impact of a player on the field
Technical Skills: Ball control, passing accuracy, dribbling, shooting, and defensive abilities. Handles the ball confidently even when under pressure.
Soccer IQ: Demonstrates good positioning, movement off the ball, and how to contribute to team play. Makes quick, smart decisions during matches.
Physical Attributes: Speed, agility, endurance, and size/strength.
Mindset: Positive attitude, coachable, aggressive, and hard working.
Commitment: Reliable and makes the majority of games and practices
Independent Evaluators (IE):
In order to reduce bias, BYSA uses an independent 3rd party evaluation process. This process also helps evaluate player impact across different grades and teams.
IE scores count for 50% of the overall player evaluation score.
Team Selection:
Once the players have been evaluated by their coaches and IE, BYSA Age Directors will bring together a cohort of coaches and knowledgeable board members (usually 3-4) to select teams for the upcoming year. This process is overseen by the president, vice president and evaluations chair to ensure consistency and fairness across age groups. The ultimate goal of team selection is to place players on the teams that are most appropriate for their skill levels to optimize player development and enjoyment.
Players are placed on teams based on their overall score (weighted 50/50 by their coaches scores and their independent evaluators score), while also making judgements calls in cases where the data is close. Considerations that could cause a player to be placed on a different team
Very close scores between an older and younger player. When this happens, BYSA will place the older player on the higher ranked team
Player physical attributes: Physical attributes (size, speed, strength) may be a factor that is consider between two players with a similar score - particularly when a player moves up to an older age group that is physically more demanding.
Goalkeeping: While BYSA does not believe that players should be full time keepers before U14, consideration for players who are developing goalkeepers will be made for the U12 and older age brackets
Commitment: We know it's hard with so many great activities to participate 100%. That said, if two players have similar scores and one player has a higher commitment level that could impact their team placement.
Age directors make all final decisions for team placement. Once the team selection process is complete, the Age Directors will add coaches based on the parent volunteers of the players on each team and once coaches are established, emails will be sent out to parents once team placements are finalized.
Please remember that BYSA is a volunteer organization and we want what’s best for all players. The process is continually being evaluated to ensure developing players can move up and that players are placed on teams that will help them thrive. While we strive to make good and fair decisions using the best data we have, we are not perfect and understand how hard it can be when a player has been misplaced on the wrong team. We thank you for understanding!