FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The club operates a 6-7 month evaluation period starting in September and ending in February/March, depending on the age group. Player performance in training and games between September and February/March is the most significant evaluation period. This period is the main opportunity for players to showcase their abilities and earn selection for the team for the following season. The evaluation, selection and placement process is comprised of a combination of past and current season assessments by the player's Team Staff, other Team Staff within the age group, Club Technical Staff and a final Team Selection meeting.

The club operates a Player Placement Program for the purpose of identifying players prior to the post-season selection meetings. The process is as follows: Step 1 – All Team and Club Staff coaches of all levels observe and make note of players demonstrating high-performance levels within their own environment from week to week. Step 2 – Club Technical Staff will distribute a recommendations form for team coaches to complete. ● Division 3 coach recommends the best players to Division 2 coach ● Division 2 coach recommends the best players to Division 1 coach Step 3 – Upon receiving a recommendation, coaches may invite recommended players into training sessions or games in order to assess their abilities for future entry to the level above. Step 4 – If a player is considered suitable for the level above, they will be identified as a player who may potentially advance at the next entry point into the program. Note: In exceptional circumstances, players may move up or down the player pathway mid-season. Mid-season movement is only sanctioned after the Club Technical Staff has assessed the organizational and logistical possibilities in addition to the impact on all parties.

Your team coach should be able to advise you if your child was recommended. The coach should also be able to provide reasons/opinions why your child was not recommended if this was the case.

1. The team coaches are responsible for evaluating and selecting the players within their age group over the 6-7 month period. 2. The club staff is responsible for managing the Player Placement Program, providing oversight of the evaluation process and the player selection decisions. 3. Team coaches are responsible for selecting the players; however, club staff must approve the final selections after they have verified the selections have been fair, honest and accurate. Note: If necessary, club staff (as unbiased and independent evaluators) will challenge and overrule a coach’s selection if they are considered unfair, dishonest, or inaccurate.

For players new to the club or to the “Rep” level, if you haven’t attended an evaluation session yet, please fill out the form below to request an assessment. Request Player Evaluation HERE

It is the club’s responsibility to ensure a fair, transparent, and honest process with respect to final player selections. As such, the Club Technical Staff will provide oversight of the entire process. This consists of: 1. Management of the Player Placement Program 2. Periodic observation of players during training sessions or potential games 3. Ongoing consultation with team coaching staff regarding player abilities 4. Facilitating selection meetings 5. Ensure evaluators are fair, honest and accurate by challenging and overruling selection decisions if necessary 6. Approval of final roster selections While we may not all agree on the final selections, it is important to know that the Coastal FC goes to great lengths to ensure that the process is fair, transparent, and honest. We believe a 6-7 month evaluation of players through the Player Placement Program, coupled with strong leadership and oversight from our Club Technical Staff, allows the final selections to be as accurate as possible.

Player selections are somewhat subjective, and selection decisions are largely determined by opinion. Opinions often differ between coaches and parents, and rarely does everyone agree. Decisions to select a player are based on a multitude of different perspectives, such as: ● Overall impact and influence on training and games ● Athletic ability ● Technical ability ● Tactical ability ● Attacking attributes ● Defensive attributes ● Positional attributes ● Attitude ● Attendance ● Positional needs of the team ● A combination of everything above

When players are similar in ability, the coach will often choose the player that possesses a slight advantage (in the coach’s opinion) in the specific individual attributes listed above or for specific positional needs of the team. Example: Players may have a similar level of impact/influence during training or games, but their physical or technical abilities may be very different.

In situations where all things are deemed relatively equal, the club will select those players currently playing in the club, residing within the club’s catchment area, or returning to the club.

Due to several hundred players being evaluated, we unfortunately can’t provide individual feedback on the reasons why players were not selected.

The club distributes individual Player Progress Reports for our coaches to complete and discuss with their players each season. You can ask your team coach to provide you with feedback on the areas you need to improve on.

No, players do not get access to a rep team simply because their parent is on the team staff. Prior to the appointment of a coach, assistant or manager, the club determines the level of the player first. Only when the club is satisfied the player is suitable for the relevant level of play will the coaching staff be appointed.

Players have no restrictions on development opportunities due 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 ability 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 Technical Staff 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. Advancement of younger players will consider: 1. Are they amongst the best 2-3 performers at tier 1 of an older age, or are they average performers at tier 1 of an older age? 2. Are they equipped physically, emotionally, and socially with respect to safety and interaction with peers? 3. Is it better to be an average player playing up or an impact player at their own age? 4. Does the environment provide the player with confidence, excitement, love of the game, and the ability to use technique, or is it simply a physical and technical battle to perform each week?

● U11/U13 Girls Development 1 – 3 ● U11/U13 Boys Development 1 – 3 ● U14 - U18 Boys/Girls Divisions 1 & 2

Our goal is to have 2 - 3 teams at each age group. However, the creation of additional teams will always be dependent on the number and ability of players within the given age group.

The timeline for completing the entire process can take between 3-7 days, depending on how many teams there are and if any unforeseen issues arise. The process is outlined as follows: ● Step 1 - Division 1 players will be offered spots approximately 24 hours after the final evaluation. ● Step 2 - Upon receiving the offer, Division 1 players will have 24 hours to accept a position on the team. Once all spots have been accepted we move to the next step. ● Step 3 - Division 2 players will be offered a spot after the completion of the Division 1 roster. ● Step 4 - Upon receiving the offer, Division 2 players will have 24 hours to accept a position on the team. Once all spots have been accepted, we move to the next step. ● Step 5 - If another team is to be created, the same process as above will apply. ● Step 6 - Once all team rosters have been completed, players who are not selected will receive a letter informing them.

The club will not hold spots for players who delay acceptance past the 24-hour window and will continue to offer spots and build the roster until it is complete. Accepting players are expected to complete their online registration immediately.

We encourage those that are not selected to register in the Coastal FC House program.