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Minneapolis United Traveling Team Formation Policy

TEAM FORMATION POLICY OVERVIEW

Minneapolis United (MU) is a community-based club that strives to balance the needs of all players’ at all competitive levels, from Recreational to Premier.

  1. The goal of the Minneapolis United Team Formation process is to create a system in which players can best develop individual soccer skills and participate in statewide soccer play.
  2. Traveling soccer allows players to develop individual and team skills necessary to play at the high school varsity level and beyond.
  3. MU believes that Individual and team development work best when players participate on teams with other players at similar commitment and skill levels.
  4. Placement of individual players on appropriate teams is increasingly critical at the higher levels of competition.
  5. MU forms all teams through a formal tryout (evaluation process) as outlined in the sections immediately below. To ensure accuracy and fairness MU employs an independent contractor ISSE to oversee and administer the tryout process.
  6. The Boys and Girls Coaching Directors are responsible to hire and place coaches for all traveling teams.

Note: For information related to U9-U10 Team Formation, please see the “MU Academy” section of this policy

TRYOUT PROCESS (U9-U19)

The Minneapolis United Soccer Club owns all team designations which include (Gold, Maroon, C3, C2, C1 and Premier). The Coaching / Training Director along with the MU Board determine the amount of teams that an age/gender group can support based on player skill levels manifested through the tryout process.

  1. The Coaching / Training Directors are responsible for leading the tryout process in conjunction with the independent contractor ISSE. Tryout format is at the discretion of the Coaching / Training Director and MU’s Board.
  2. Players will be asked to compete against a group of their peers in various 1 v 1, 4 v 4 and 7 v 7 drills to evaluate them on various skills like first touch, passing and vision, field awarness...Each player then receives a score based on how they compared to the other participants.
  3. There is an annual tryout fee for all players participating in the tryout process. This fee assists in compensating the Evaluators and facility rental.

Factors

The following factors are considered in the tryout process (not ranked in order of importance):

  1. Attitude and commitment level to attend practices, training, games and tournaments. Commitment to attend winter training program (attendance at winter training is expected)
  2. Performance at tryouts (specifically, how the player rated on various skill tests)
  3. Performance as observed by the Coach in game situations from the previous season. This information is submitted on the Player Evaluation form.
  4. Specific positions needed

Note: All coaches are required to fill out and turn in the requested Player Evaluation Form on each player two weeks prior to tryouts.

Team Tryouts

Results from tryouts determine the rosters for the season immediately following tryouts.

  1. Teams are formed for the fall and upcoming summer season and will stay intact until the next scheduled tryout for that age group
  2. All teams are formed based on the tryout process.
  3. Qualifying for a specific team one year does not mean that the player will automatically be placed with that same team or coach in later years

Note:

  1. All decisions on player selection shall rest with the Coaching / Training Director, with input from the returning Coach being an integral part of the process. Team Managers are not involved in the player selection process.
  2. In instances where multiple players are ranked relatively equal in terms of commitment (attendance at Winter Training), attitude, and skill, (and there is not a particular position need), loyalty will go to returning team members (incumbents).

    Note: After the Tryout Process is complete and prior to the next annual tryout, the Coaching / Training Director with Team Coach have the authority to add up to two players to each team.

Multiple Teams / Same Playing Level

When multiple teams exist in one age group at the same level of play, the Coaching / Training Director determines the team that will be considered the top-tiered most competitive team. The “most competitive team” will likely have had greater success in the previous season.

  1. Teams are broken down by competitive level: "most competitive team” and a “next most competitive team”.
    1. The “most competitive team” is rostered first
    2. It is assumed that every player participating in the process is trying out for the most competitive team. He or she will be placed on a
      team based on the criteria noted above.
    3. Player’s choosing to decline an offer to play on a specific team, will then have a chance to be chosen for the next competitive team
      in the age group.

Notification Process

  1. Team Coaches will be notified of the Team Formation Meeting (with MU’s Coaching / Training Director and an MU Board Member) that will occur within 7 days of the tryout. It is at this meeting that the tryout team rosters are finalized.
  2. Team Coach’s must notify players that were previously on the tryout team that did not make the team within 72 hours of the team formation meeting.
  3. Web site posting for team rosters will occur after the 72-hour period regardless of whether this notification has occurred.
  4. Players earning roster spots for a respective “team” will receive an e-mail or a phone call to that effect and must register for the upcoming season within 48 hours of receiving notification or risk losing the spot to another player. Team Managers need to help facilitate at this stage of the process.
  5. Players not selected for a respective team are notified by email or in writing.
  6. If a player so chooses not to accept a position on a team, registration fees will be refunded minus our processing fee within the designated time period.

Note: Process will be delayed if multiple “Teams” must be formed from the same age group/gender.

“MU Academy” (U9-U10)

The academy program provides an enhanced soccer experience to players that are looking for a higher commitment level. The program is designed to pool the top players within the age groups to train together. This improves the development of these players and builds strong relationships amongst the group.

  1. Approximately 24 children in each gender of U9 and U10 will be chosen from tryouts to participate in the “MU Academy”. MU’s Coaching / Training Director have the authority to add players to the “MU Academy” that could not attend the tryouts.
  2. Evaluators at tryouts will identify kids based on (1) commitment, (2) athletic ability and (3) soccer skills.
  3. In each age group / gender, two teams will be formed to participate in the MYSA Fall and Spring Traveling Leagues.
  4. U9-U10 MU traveling soccer players that are not in the “MU Academy” will be assigned to teams competing in the Gold (lower) level.
  5. MU’s Coaching Director will choose the Spring and Fall League coaches for “MU Academy” teams. Both parent and paid professional coaches will be considered.
  6. Coaching fees will be the responsibility of the parents on that team.
    Academy players will participate in the winter training program 2 times per week for 90 minutes. Winter training is from mid-November through mid-March and will be held indoors with the club Training Director.
  7. There will be four separate training groups focusing on fundamental foot skills.
    • U9 and U10 Boys
    • U9 and U10 Girls
  8. While Fall Traveling fees will not differ from U9-U10 MU traveling players participating in the Gold level, Spring Traveling fees for “MU Academy” participants will be approximately $55 higher to reflect the extra day of Winter Training.

PLAYERS MISSING TRYOUTS

  1. MU is unable to arrange individual tryouts.
  2. A player who cannot attend tryouts may petition MU in writing for placement to be on an MU team for the upcoming season. Sending the petition does not guarantee a position on a specific team rather it alerts the coach and the coaching director that even though your child was not at tryouts they are still interested in playing for MU. Players will be placed on a team based on their skill level. No player is guaranteed a spot on a team and “close calls” will go to those that attend tryouts.
    Send notice to:MU.Admin@comcast.net

OUTSIDE PLAYERS

While MU’s primary goal is to serve Minneapolis players, teams may include players who do not live in Minneapolis or attend Minneapolis schools (“outside players”).

  1. MU will place no more than 30% “outside players” on the roster of any MU team.
  2. Exceptions to this rule require MU Board approval.

PLAYING TIME

  1. It is MU’s policy that participants at U9-U11 and all C3 players will get a chance to play multiple positions and will generally get equal time in games over the course of the season.
  2. Player development is the focus at these levels of play.
  3. Coaches can reduce playing times for reasons such as the following:
    • Missing or disrupting practices
    • Tardiness to practice
    • Failure to notify coaches in advance regarding absences from practices or games
    • Failure to follow coaches directions
  4. At U12 and up at the C2, C1 and Premier levels, coaches have discretion to field the most competitive team (playing time and position). When and where a player plays is strictly up to the coach.

ROSTER SIZE

The number of players on each team may be a function of the number of players registering for any season and other specific team considerations as determined by MU’s Coaching / Training Director, with input from the Team Coach.

  1. U9 to U10 teams play 6v6 and must roster 10-12 players.
  2. U11 and U12 teams play 8v8 and must roster 12-14 players.
  3. U13 and older teams must roster 15-18 players.

Note: All Gold level and C3 teams must accept new registrants if not fully rostered.