Purpose of Rep or Select Teams

The purpose of a Rep or Select Team (Rep) is to provide an opportunity for qualified players to compete at a higher level of competition with players of similar abilities. Identification of these players is done through an independent evaluation process incorporating 3 or 4 evaluation sessions observed by independent evaluators and the Rep team coach(es).

Objectives of the Club's Rep Program

• To provide high quality, competitive Rep team programs which will further the development of players and coaches towards as high a skill and proficiency level as they can achieve
• Encourage excellence and sportsmanship among Rep team players and coaches, and
• To enhance each player’s enjoyment of the game of soccer.

Quick Links

Team Selection and Placement
Playing Up
Commitment
Rep Fee
Rep Season
Playing Up
Registration
Evaluation  Dates
Coaches
Evaluators
Evaluation  Process
Notification

Team Selection and Placement

Players are evaluated on the basis of a number of soccer-related skills and abilities by independent evaluators from outside of the age group, who are chosen by the Club for their experience and training.  These evaluators also include SSC professional technical staff. In general, players are selected based on their athletic ability, attitude, aptitude for the game, and if they are a returning player, their overall performance during the previous season. A minimum of 3 and a potential 4th Evaluation session will be held for each rep group. At the coach and technical staff’s determination, the 3rdth Evaluation session(s) may be conducted on a “closed” or invitational basis. That is, these evaluation sessions will be invitation only.

Playing Up 

Players Who Desire to Play in a Higher Age Group (commonly referred to as “Playing Up”) 

While the majority of players develop at a comparable pace to others in their age group, some players appear to advance much faster. In order to ensure that such players are appropriately challenged in their development, the Club will consider allowing players to "play up" in a higher age group, where the player in question exhibits the following:

1. a technical proficiency level clearly above that of the player's peer group.   

2. sufficient size and aggressiveness to withstand the physical challenges of the higher age group; and

3. an appropriate maturity level.

Note: greater speed and size or a more aggressive nature (than the peer group) alone will not be sufficient for a player to play in a higher age group. The player must clearly exhibit a technical proficiency level beyond their age group. 

NOTE: Rep team selection does not unequivocally guarantee a player a place on the team roster for the entire season. That is, a player is expected to consistently continue to develop and maintain their performance (relative to other team members) as the season unfolds. Should this not occur, a Rep team coach, in consultation with the Club’s technical staff and player’s parents, will have the option of moving a “non-performing” player to the next division level down. The Rep team coach may then fill the vacancy created by “calling up” an eligible player from the next division level down.

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Commitment

To play at any Rep level will involve a greater commitment of time, travel and additional costs by the player, with the greatest commitments being required at the higher Rep level(s) in each age group.

During the season, parents and players can expect that Rep practices will be held at least twice a week with one game per week.  In addition, Club-conducted team training takes place every weekend (ie. on Saturday).  It is also highly recommended that players participate in a core conditioning or related skills session once a week, in addition to practices.

Be aware that the commitment and expectations will differ from division to division (ie. Metro will be greater than Gold and so on) and you should check with the team’s Rep coach involved at your daughter’s age and level for specifics.

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Rep Fee

Rep team players will pay an additional rep fee annually for the Club’s Player Development Program, which can be recovered through fundraising should the team so desire. These fees are posted on the Club’s website and are needed to offset specialized training made available to Rep teams. Acceptance of a Rep team selection means the player (and their parents) has agreed to this fee.

Each rep team is responsible for their own fundraising efforts to defray the costs associated with tournaments, extra player development training and Team Wear.  However, all Team Fundraising must be for the benefit of the whole team.  The Club will not allow any player-specific fundraising of any kind that does not go to the team fund. Also, fundraising efforts should be correlated with spending plans so that there is a “zero” team account balance at the end of the season, in accordance with the Clubs Policies and Procedures. 

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Rep Season

While the league soccer season typically runs from September to March, successful Cup play can extend a season into April, with Provincial Cup finals being held in early July.  In such instances, Cup play coaches will probably conduct training throughout the Spring.  Tournaments and team-building activities are often the focus of these sessions.  It is understood that players need rest time and families will have vacations. However, during the month of August, players can be expected to participate in team training activities and training camps the coaches and their staff may have planned in preparation for the start of the coming season. 

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Evaluation Process

Registration

Players need to register online for evaluations using the Club’s online evaluation registration system . Registration confirmation will take place 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start, by players checking in at the South Surrey Athletic Park Fieldhouse Concession. A one-time $10 evaluation fee will be collected at check-in from all players attending the Club’s evaluation sessions.  

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Evaluation Dates

Each group is given a minimum of 3 evaluation dates, and players are required to attend at least two (2) sessions to be considered for the team.  It is in the player’s best interest, especially those new to the Club, to attend all 3 dates, as it will offer greater exposure of a player’s abilities.  If you are unable to attend any of the evaluation dates, you need to let the Club know the reason(s), as soon as possible by emailing soccer_admin@shaw.ca . The Club’s evaluation dates are posted at www.semiahmoosoccer.com . 

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Coaches 

Coaches have been pre-selected (via an interview and evaluation process) and will be announced prior to the first evaluation session whenever possible.

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Evaluators

Evaluators are utilized from both inside and outside the Club, and will be independent of the age group being evaluated.  However, we have asked the (selected) Rep coaches for these teams to be on the field, observing the process and the players, given their knowledge of players and their involvement in the selection process. 

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Evaluation Process

SSC technical staff  structure and oversee the Club’s rep team evaluations. Each qualified Evaluator and coach will have a list of players, by pinnie number and color only (no names), and a list of criteria they will be evaluating against.  They will observe the players as they participate in drills, small-sided and full-sided games, and will attempt to watch every participant and track their performance.  This is a very intensive task, and we assure you that all Evaluators take this very seriously. A Club player’s performance during the past season will also be taken into account.

After the remaining Evaluations and prior to the completion of the final evaluation, the Evaluators will be asked to identify, based on their observations, the players they feel should be included in the final Selection Pool. Except for significant extenuating circumstances, player selections will be made by the team coach, from the Selection Pool, in consultation with SSC Technical staff. Typically, 20 – 22 players make up the Selection Pool for each team. 

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Notification

Subsequent to conclusion of the third or final evaluation, the Rep team coach (in consultation with the Club’s technical staff) will be asked to finalize the team roster, and email notices will be prepared for each player advising them if they have made the team, or if they have not been selected at this time. Consequently, it is imperative that accurate email contact addresses are supplied when registering for your evaluation session. Players not selected may request and will be provided an evaluation summary from the Club, once evaluations overall have concluded.

This procedure can and will be utilized whenever team formation considerations are static (ie. the number of: equivalent Rep teams and committed players is known and/or free from “[other] evaluation shopping”).

Additionally, where the Rep coach is continuing on from last season, those unsuccessful and who played on the prior season’s team will also be contacted by the team coach.

Note: players not selected from the Selection Pool will remain on this list and will be advised should one or more selected players decline or be unable to subsequently join or maintain their place on the Rep team. 

As we all know, MSN works fast, and the notification process is not always a pleasant/ fair experience for every player.  We hope the above process will serve to minimize this, as well as ensure a fair and transparent evaluation process for all players.  

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For additional information regarding evaluations or Rep team issues, please contact Richard Coulter, Director of Player/Coach Development, at vicepresident@semiahmoosoccer.com

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