Mission
To create the most competitive teams while providing an environment that enables players to achieve their greatest developmental potential in accordance with their abilities and their level of commitment.
Regarding Formation of Teams
General Rules:
1. There will be two (2) days in June during which all travel teams will hold tryouts. Due to the rapid population growth in the VSA area, we want to ensure that all qualified youth interested in playing travel soccer will have an opportunity to tryout. These two (2) tryout periods will also allow the VSA to determine if there is the capacity to have more than one team in a given age group.
2. All additional tryout times will be posted on the travel pages of the VSA website, and will include age group, gender, date and times of tryouts, and contact information for the team holding the tryout. This information should be posted at least two weeks in advance.
Player Recruitment Policy:
1. New players will be referred to the appropriately aged team. If there is no team for their age group, they are referred to the next available age group.
2. Exception to #1: If there are special circumstances and both coaches, parents, and player agree it is best to play in the next age group.
3. VSA coaches, parents, or players will not recruit from other VSA travel teams.
4. If a player on an existing team contacts another VSA coach about switching teams, a tryout can be arranged, but the current coach must be given a courtesy call to inform him or her of the situation. In addition, the policy regarding more than one team per age group and gender must be followed.
5. Once on a roster, players cannot switch to another VSA team during that season.
6. House and Suburban Friendship leagues should assist travel coaches by identifying players who could play travel. The decision to allow for a player tryout is up to the travel coach and the parents must not be pressured to move the player to travel.
New Team Policy:
1. At least 60% of the team must be VSA players.
2. VSA players are ones with Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow, Catharpin, and the Prince William portion of Broad Run addresses, or players who have been on VSA House or Suburban Friendship League teams for at least two (2) full seasons.
3. Coach or Team Manager should bring a proposed roster to the VSA travel board. If the roster meets criteria 1) and 2), as well as the policy regarding more than one team per age group and gender (if applicable), the VSA Travel Representative will take the recommendation to the VSA board for final approval.
Policy Regarding More Than One Team Per Age Group and Gender:
Effective February 15, 2003: From this date forward, if there is more than one (1) team in a given age group and gender, the teams will be formed as a Blue team and a Gold team.
1. If there is more than one (1) travel team in the same age group and gender, the following criteria must be met
a. Each age group/gender will have tryouts in June. The date and time for these tryouts must be posted on the web site and advertised in local newspapers.
b. Tryouts in June for Blue/Gold teams will consist of three tryout days. The first day would be for all players wishing to tryout for the Blue team; the second day would be a dual tryout day for both Blue and Gold teams, participating together; and the third day would be for the Gold team only. The Blue team will offer positions on the team to perspective players by the day after the dual tryout. They must notify the Gold coach of all players accepting positions within 2 days of the dual tryout.
2. If two (2) teams are formed at one time, then the VSA Board will select which of the coaches would be the coach of the Blue team with consideration given to the recommendation of the Travel Team Subcommittee.
3. If two (2) balanced teams are formed at U9, they will then separate into Blue and Gold at the summer U10 tryout. Selection of the Blue coach will occur early in the Spring U9 season.
a. The two balanced coaches will decide between themselves who will be the Blue coach. The other coach may opt to be assistant coach of the blue team or coach of the Gold team.
b. If they are unable to come to a decision, a subcommittee consisting of 5 travel coaches will make a recommendation to the VSA Board after reviewing the two coaches.
4. Selection of players if more than one (1) travel team in the same age group and gender:
a. The Blue team coach will have the right to be the first to invite an age appropriate player to play for him or her.
b. If the player should decline the invitation from the coach of the Blue team, that player may play for the Gold team, if invited.
5. Rules for determination of Blue/Gold team:
a. U9 Teams:
i. If two teams are formed at U9, the Blue team will be the stronger of the two teams, or
ii. if two teams are balanced at U9, they will be divided into Blue/Gold at U10 Summer tryouts, with the Blue team being the stronger of the two.
b. If a second team is formed after a first team has been established, then the Blue team will be considered the team that was formed first.
c. If the Gold team believes that it has surpassed the skills and abilities of the current Blue team, then the Gold team may ask to have the matter reviewed by the Travel Team Subcommittee. Review will include:
i. current league and division of play
ii. tournament play (league and division of teams played; level of tournament; results; guest players used)
iii. impartial evaluation from other travel coaches
iv. head-to-head results from tournament play
League Selection
At all age levels, there are two options for boys: ODSL or NCSL. The only league available for girls is ODSL until U11, at which time they may consider going to WAGS.
1. Guidelines for U9B:
a. If there is one team, the coach will be given a choice of league, with counsel from the club subcommittee
i. The subcommittee will be made up of at least two coaches from other teams, to include one from an ODSL team, one from an NCSL team.
ii. Counseling will consist of the subcommittee meeting with the coach(es) of the U9B to review players and provide advice, or the coach(es) may be provided with a list of current coaches and contact them as he/she wishes.
b. If there is more than one U9B team, it is strongly recommended that at least one team play ODSL.
i. Any team remaining in ODSL may re-consider moving to NCSL at a later date.
ii. Follow same guidelines as for one team.
c. The subcommittee would meet with the coaches and parents to pass on information, answer questions, and to advise.
d. Final decision is that of the coach/parents.
2. Guidelines for U11G:
a. These teams have a win/loss record which should be taken into consideration if wishing to move to WAGS.
b. The subcommittee would meet with the coaches and parents to pass on information, answer questions, and to advise.
c. Final decision is that of the coach/parents.
3. Guidelines for teams moving from ODSL to WAGS or NCSL, or back:
a. Consider regular season record
b. Consider tournament record
c. The subcommittee would meet with the coaches and parents to pass on information, answer questions, and to advise.
d. Final decision is that of the coach/parents.
4. Guidelines for subcommittee meeting with coaches and parents include but are not limited to:
a. Determine goals of team
b. Advise on differences of various leagues
i. WAGS and NCSL usually travel further (as far as Baltimore )
ii. WAGS and NCSL play more games (10 vs 8 in ODSL)
iii. Quality of fields/refereeing (general consensus is that ODSL has better of both)
iv. Financial considerations
v. Additional training requirements/commitments if a team wishes to be competitive at the higher divisions
c. Explaining role of parents in team structure
Travel Team Subcommittee
The Travel Team Subcommittee will consist at any given time of approximately 7 (seven) coaches. A subset of those seven will be used at any given time to address issues brought before the committee and to advise coaches and/or parents. That subset will be fluid and consist of coaches uninvolved in the outcome of a particular issue.
1. Purpose of the subcommittee
a. To provide coach selection recommendations to the VSA Board.
b. To advise coaches and parents regarding movement between leagues.
c. To ensure that parents are able to make a fully informed decision in the best interests of their player
d. To represent the club in a positive manner to the parents and players
e. To act as an independent advocate for the player
f. To serve as an ambassador of VSA Travel in all matters
2. Formation of the subcommittee:
a. The initial subcommittee will consist of 4 coaches agreeing to sit on the committee for 2 seasons, and 3 coaches who will sit for 1 season.
b. Subcommittee members added after the initial season will always sign up for 2 seasons, which will ensure that the subcommittee has some continuity.
Arbitration Panel:
A panel consisting of the president of the VSA Board, three (3) travel parents and three (3) house league parents will arbitrate any disputes that may occur based on the above policy.
Selection of Panel:
1. House League Participants: The president of the VSA Board will select the three (3) house league parents.
2. Travel League Participants: At the beginning of each season, each travel team will nominate one parent willing to sit on the panel. The three (3) travel parents for the panel will be selected by a random drawing from this list.
3. No panel participant may be associated with the teams involved in the dispute.
The basic guidelines for arbitration are:
1. To meet the mission of the VSA Travel teams;
2. To ensure that the creation of more than one (1) team does not degrade the competitiveness of the existing, or Blue, team; and
3. To ensure that these rules do not place an undue hardship upon a family, a team, or the league administrators.
4. The president of the VSA Board will only vote in the event of a tie.
