The goals in the process of forming VYS All Star teams are to (1) select those VYS participants who have distinguished themselves by consistently displaying superior game skills, leadership and sportsmanship toward each other, the opposing teams, referees, and others involved in VYS; and (2) form All Star teams in a transparent manner that minimizes disappointment for the children. Each child who has registered with VYS House during the regular season will be afforded the opportunity to be considered for the VYS-sanctioned All Star Tournaments in the area for U8 and above. VYS will endeavor to form as many All Star teams as feasible in light of the availability of slots in tournaments and the number of qualified volunteer coaches. As a general rule of thumb, only about 10 percent of the children in any given age division will be selected to be an All Star.
Selection of All Star Coaches
Anyone seeking to coach an All Star team must submit an application to the VYS Administrator by the date set forth in each season’s calendar -- typically the second week of the House season. The Administrator shall notify House Commissioners of all candidates. If a Commissioner has more applications than positions, the Commissioner should form a three-person panel consisting of himself/herself, VP House, and the Technical Director who will review the applications and make a recommendation based on qualifications and observed behavior (since the All Star coaches are role models for our children, as well as representatives of VYS at regional tournaments).
All Star coaches should be selected by the beginning of the fourth week of the House season.
If a commissioner is seeking an All Star coach position, the VYS administrator shall notify the VP House who must approve his/her application.
Selection of All Star Players
The formal player selection process should not begin prior to the All Star coaches meeting, which will typically be held in the fourth week of the House season. Player selection is ultimately the decision of the selected All Star coaches and the appropriate division Commissioner, subject to the following guidelines and consistent with demonstrating consideration of the feelings and best interests of the children. It is to be understood that children demonstrating superior talent and skill, combined with traits of sportsmanship, fair play, honesty, leadership, dedication and coachability are the primary candidates for selection. Sportsmanship is a major part of any game and should be emphasized. All Star teams represent the entire VYS organization when participating in any endeavor, especially regional events such as All Star tournaments. Therefore, it is especially important that all VYS participants distinguish themselves by consistently displaying sportsmanship at all times -- during the VYS season as well as during the tournament.
The selected All Star coaches and the appropriate division Commissioner should determine the composition of the All Star teams based upon observation during House league play and the evaluations and assessments of various individuals as follows:
- First, during at least the first four weeks of the House season, the Commissioners should obtain evaluations of opposing coaches as to those players that exhibited the highest levels of talent, skill and those traits set forth above.
- Second, the Commissioners should observe the players during House games in an effort to identify primary candidates for selection as All Stars.
- Third, the All Star coaches should observe the players during the course of regular season games.
- Fourth, House coaches should nominate their own players that they believe merit consideration for selection as an All Star.
- Fifth, the division Commissioners should endeavor to have one knowledgeable observer from outside the division evaluate the players and provide input.
Through this process, the All Star coaches and the division Commissioners should have data on All Star candidates from numerous sources. Before the end of the seventh week of the House season, the All Star coaches and their division Commissioner should meet to select and form their All Star teams.
Keeping in mind that the focus should be on selecting those players that exhibit outstanding game skills, leadership and sportsmanship, All Star coaches should try to include at least one player from each team if at all possible, and this should be a factor in making close calls. If there is more than one All Star team in a division, the Commissioner and All Star coaches should form their teams based on an equity system -- whether by a draft or otherwise -- to ensure equal talent across teams. In other words, there should be no “A” team and “B” team unless the VP of House Soccer specifically approves such a set-up.
Sons and daughters of All Star coaches should be automatically included on the All Star roster unless the coach specifically turns this down.
Once the All Star players are selected, the division Commissioner or the All Star coaches should notify the parents of their child’s selection. A roster of All Star players should be provided to the other coaches in the division so they know who was or was not selected as an All Star from their teams.
All Star coaches are required to play every player at least one-half of each tournament game. The players selected as All Stars should be those players that are not only the most advanced players, but also dedicated to the game. VYS does not want to frustrate those players chosen as All Stars by selecting them for a team and then having them play less than one-half of each game. This factor should be kept in mind when determining the size of the All Star roster.
Preparing an All Star Team for Tournament
The objective is for VYS to form its All Star teams by the end of the House season. In preparing for the tournament, House team practices will take priority over All Star team practices, should there be a conflict between the two.
All Star coaches should be familiar with the tournament materials that will be provided by the VYS Administrator to ensure that all administrative elements needed to send an All Star team to the tournament are completed on time.
The VP of House Soccer may modify these guidelines prior to the All Star coaches meeting each season to take into account tournament rules or other changed circumstances.
