SSC Rep Team Evaluation Information
Rep Team Evaluation Information
Players/Parents/Coaches,
As we approach the beginning of player evaluations, we would like to communicate with the membership on how this process works, especially for those going through evaluations for the first time.
Player evaluations and selections can often raise anxiety, tension, and many questions for those involved (players,parents,coaches). In an attempt to minimize negative feelings for questions around the evaluation process, it is very important that everyone fully understands the process itself.
The Club operates a 6-7 month evaluation period starting in September and ending February/March, depending on the age group.
The Processs
The evaluation, selection and placement process is comprised of a combination of past season assessments by the player's team coaching staff and the post-season evaluation sessions which normally incorporate 2 to 3 evaluation sessions which are observed by an evaluation team comprised of the select team coaches and the Semiahmoo Head Coach.
Player performance in training and games between September and April is the most significant evaluation period.
This period is the main opportunity for players to showcase their abilities and earn selection to the team for the following season. The post-season evaluations will provide a final opportunity for coaching staff to consider players for selection as they are being evaluated against other players who may be new to the Club or new to the divisional level.
For players new to the Club or to the divisional level, the post-season evaluation sessions represent the primary opportunity for evaluation of a player's suitability for selection and placement on a select team based on the coaching staff's assessment of the player's ability in comparison with their knowledge of the other players currently within the club..
Playing Up
Players will have no restrictions on development opportunities due to to their year of birth, In staying with our philosophy of doing ``what is best for the player``, the Club will consider the player`s ability rather than their birth date.
Any player who believes that they have the abiility to play at a higher level shall be provided the opportunity to go through a season long evaluation process to determine this. If successful during the evaluation period, the Club Head Coach will have the final say on whether playing up is in the best interests of the player after considering all factors. In short, if a player is good enough, they will be considered old enough with respect to playing up. There will be no ``holding back`` an individual player`s opportunity to play at the next level because of their age.
Role of the Club
It is the responsibility of the Club to ensure a fair, transparent and honest process with respect to final player selections. As such, the Club Head Coach provides oversight of the process. This consists of:
1. Monitoring players over the season
2. Ongoing communicating with team coaching staff
3. Observation of post season evaluation sessions
4. Providing input where necessary.
5. Facilitating post evaluation selection meetings.
6. Ensuring that evaluators are thorough, fair and honest in their final selections.
7. Challenging evaluators and denying selections if necessary.
8. Checking and signing off on final roster selections.
Closing Statement
We hope that this communication will help you understand the player evaluation process.
While we may not all agree on the final selections, it is important to know that the Club goes to great lengths to ensure that the process is fair, transparent, and honest. We believe a thorough 6-7 month evaluation coupled with strong leadership and oversight from our Club Head Coach allows the final selections to be as accurate as possible.
Best of Luck,
Mark McQueen, Head Coach, Semiahmoo SC
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Semiahmoo Soccer Club is committed to providing a evaluation process that considers the best interests of players.
In order for players to best showcase their abilities, it is beneficial for them to be placed in an environment that is challenging, but more importantly, allows a sufficient level of success. We have made some changes to the tryout process to ensure a fairer and clearer process.
This year players at each tryout will be tiered into groups that consider their best interests with regards to showcasing their ability. For instance, players finishing the season with Metro status will be grouped together, as will Gold, Silver, Bronze, Selects, Development, and Prospects. With the tiering of skills in place, the opportunity for players striving to move to the next level will increase as they are less likely to be dominated by players from a higher level. Subsequently, the identification of top performing players within their own group will become significantly clearer for evaluators.
Thanks,
Mark McQueen
Head Coach
Rep Team Player Evaluation Camps
REGISTRATION
(2012 - 2013 Season )
NEW - All players who wish to attend the Rep Team Player Evaluation Camps MUST complete the online evaluation registration form in order to participate. This is mandatory. In addition, online registration and payment must be completed by Midnight the day prior to the 1st Open Evaluation Session. There will be no late or walk up registrations taken at the registration desk on the evaluation date.
Age Levels for the 2012-2013 Fall/Winter Season are as follows:
U10 - players born 2003
U11 - players born 2002
U12 - players born 2001
U13 - players born 2000
U14 - players born 1999
U15 - players born 1998
U16 - players born 1997
U17 - players born 1996
U18 - players born 1995
Rep Team Evaluation Registration Fee - NEW - A one time $15 non-refundable Team Evaluation Fee is required for every player to pay at time of online registration, via paypal only. Cash payments will not be accepted at the registration desk. Upon completion of your registration and payment , you will receive an email confirmation from the Semiahmoo Soccer Club. Please print out this receipt and bring to the first session as proof of online registration and payment.
Check In - On each evaluation date, please arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to the evaluation time to check-in at the Registration desk and receive your pinnie. The registration desk will be located at the evaluation field.
Evaluation Schedule - Each group is given a minimum of 2 evaluation dates, with an optional 3rd date if deemed necessary by the evaluators. Returning players are required to attend at least one (1) session, while new 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 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 sending an email here .
SSAP #4 Evaluation Field Location - SSAP #4 is located at the South Surrey Athletic Park, 2200 148th St. Surrey. This field is located on the south side of 20th Avenue, south of the traffic roundabout, west of the softball pitches, on the lower evaluation, encircled by the running oval. This is a GRASS Field.
Postponement of Evaluations due to Field Closures- please check the Semiahmoo Soccer Club Website, under "Schedules" and "Rep Team Evaluations" as all field closures will be posted by 3:00 pm on the evaluation date. In addition, all registered players will receive emails advising them of the revised evaluation dates.
Evaluators
Evaluators are utilized who are knowledgable 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
Third-party professional staff may also be involved to 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 agility, speed and fitness tests, skill 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 (and especially in the second-half) will be significantly 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 the Club’s Head Coach and/or professional staff. Typically, 20 – 22 players make up the Selection Pool for each team.
Where players are assessed as being very close overall, it is the Club’s objective to ensure that any “tie-breaker” goes to those players residing within the Club’s catchment area or those returning to the Club.
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Team Selection and Placement
Players are evaluated on the basis of a number of athleticism and soccer-related skills and abilities by independent evaluators from outside of the age group, appointed rep coaches and the Club’s Head Coach, who are chosen by the Club for their experience and training. These evaluators may also include professional staff from third party service providers. 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. Typically 2 evaluation sessions will be held for each rep group. At the coach and technical staff’s determination, the 3rd and/or 4th (if deemed necessary) evaluation session(s) may be conducted on a “closed” or invitational basis. That is, these evaluation sessions will be invitation only.
NOTE: Rep team selection does not unequivocally guarantee a player a place on a rep 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) and commitment to the team as the season unfolds. Should this not occur, a Rep team coach, in consultation with the Club’s Head Coach 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. This call-up right will also be applicable should a higher-level rep team sustain extended player injuries which reduce their roster to a non-competitive number.
Notification
Subsequent to conclusion of the second or final evaluation, the Rep team coach (in consultation with the Club’s Head Coach or professional staff) will be asked to finalize the team roster, and email notices will be prepared for each player advising them that 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 will be expected to give their confirmation on a timely basis, typically within 72 hours. Team selections will not be held open to allow for “[other] evaluation shopping”. Accepting players are expected to complete their on-line registration with the Club on a timely basis as well.
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: the Selection Pool will be dissolved upon the conclusion of the team selection process. Should a selected player be unable to subsequently join or maintain their place on the Rep team, the Rep team coaches and the Club Head Coach will initiate a review and assessment process to determine which player will be contacted as a replacement.
As we all know, the notification process is not always a pleasant 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.
REP TEAM INFORMATION
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. For returning players, the identification of these players is done through a (past) season-ending assessment by the player’s team Head Coach and / or an independent evaluation process incorporating 2 or 3 evaluation sessions observed by independent evaluators and the rep team coaches.
Objectives of the Rep Team 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.
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 a possible additional functional or fitness-focused session, and one game per week. It is also highly recommended that players participate in a core conditioning or related skills session once a week, in addition to practices.
While Semiahmoo Soccer Club does not discourage players to participate in other sports and pursuits, playing at a Metro (M) or Gold (G) level suggests that players will make the appropriate commitment needed for the benefit of their development as well that of their Rep team colleagues. 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 to be clear as to their expectations. All rep team coaches are expected to hold pre-season and periodic player and team meetings to ensure that such expectations, as well as the coaches’ plans and player assessments, are clearly communicated.
Rep Fee
Rep team players will pay an additional rep fee annually for the Club’s Player Development Program. These fees are posted on the Club’s website and are needed to offset specialized training and facilities made available to Rep teams. Acceptance of a Rep team selection means the player (and their parents) has agreed to this fee. Rep fees must be paid in order for player registration for the upcoming Fall/Winter Season to be complete.
Each rep team is responsible for their own fundraising efforts to defray players’ rep fees, 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.
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 as late as July. In such instances, Cup play coaches will probably conduct training throughout the Spring and early Summer. 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 pre-season training camps the coaches and their staff may have planned in preparation for the start of the coming season.
Coaches
Coaches have been pre-selected (via an interview and evaluation process) and will be announced prior to the first evaluation session whenever possible.
A list of Rep Team Coaches for 2012 - 2013 will be posted here (to come). .
For additional information regarding evaluations please contact Evaluations Coordinator, Amber Poulton, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information on Rep team issues, please contact the club Technical Director, Mark McQueen, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it