Select Soccer Policies

LYS Select teams are formed based on Coach input and player skill as demonstrated at our annual tryouts.  All players, including returning players must attend at least one of the tryout events, which are open to any soccer player in the Lincoln High School catchment. Tryouts typically take start in late April.

The principal goals of LYS Tryouts are to:

• Determine the appropriate level of play for players.
• Measure interest from players, to form the correct number of teams at each age group.

The goal of LYS is to enable soccer for all motivated children.  Players will not be cut from the LYS program unless:

• Not enough players tried out to form a team.
• No coach is available to form a team.

For inexperienced players, coaches may recommend to parents that LYS rec programs are likely to provide a better experience for their players.

Late registration is not typically supported for LYS Select teams.  When existing LYS teams lack players, coaches may reach out to add players after tryouts.  In this situation:

• Rec players that could not be placed on a team should be given the option of joining late.
• Players that missed registration (eg, new to the area) may be added to the team outside of the Tryouts process.

For Developmental Select teams (U10 and below), teams may be formed on the following criteria:

• Skill level of the players
• Local neighborhood of the players
• Rec teams of the players
• Parent requests as approved by coaches

For Competitive Select teams (U11 and above), teams are formed based on the competitiveness of players.  This may mean that players are put on teams practicing at a more distant field, or that friends are not playing together.

LYS Developmental teams (U10 and below) require rec participation in one of the LYS member clubs.  This policy exists to ensure:

• Players in the Select program develop at an accelerated pace, due to additional games and practices.
• Select teams are filled with motivated players who are looking for additional soccer.
• Select players continue to enjoy “fun” soccer, where there is less pressure.

In the spring, Developmental players are not required to play recreational spring soccer if they are participating in another sport (eg baseball, lacrosse).  Parents must inform their developmental coach at the start of the season as to which sport conflicts with spring rec soccer.  When a player is not participating in spring rec soccer, they still pay for rec soccer participation.

LYS Competitive players are not permitted to play rec soccer.  This policy exists because:

• Competitive game schedules conflict with rec.
• PYSA wants the rec league to be appropriate for players that are new to soccer.

Competitive players are permitted to play as guests on rec teams when the rec team is not able to field a team.

LYS Coaches must abide by guidelines published by LYS, and sign the coaches pledge at the beginning of each season.

Coaches are responsible for any fines which are levied by OYSA or PYSA due to red cards or missed games.

As with all other youth sports, coaches are mandatory reporters under US and Oregon law.  US Soccer requires coaches, board members, and team manager must complete the SafeSport training to work with children.  LYS verifies this requirement  is met for all its volunteers.