RATINGS AND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE (1-3)
TEAM FORMATION
The following information applies to how teams will be formed in the Development League. Ratings are extrememly important in forming equal teams and particularly at a junior level where children are playing the game for the first or second year. Each team must have players who have equal abilities, while some will be greater than others, but this should not matter if the participation rules are followed to the letter. Each team in these leagues will, in a perfect situation, play their #1 draft choice the same amount of time as a #10 draft choice so theoretically scoring in quarters should balance out over time.
In practice this may not happen due to better coaching on one team or another, or indivdual development over the season, or an incorrect rating at the beginning of the year, whch was used to form the teams. However, the goal is to create equal teams by rating children and then carefully placing them on squads based on their abilties and the abilities of their teammates. Some consideration will be given to placing children from the same schools on the same team, but the overriding consideration is making games fair and equal..
1) There are no tryouts for the 1st grade league. Teams are to be formed by neighborhood and school. The emphasis is on having fun and to teach children the fundamentals. It’s important that ratings are generated, turned in to VYI, and kept by the commissioner when the season concludes. These ratings are vital to adjusting rosters for 2nd and 3rd grade to create balance.
2) There are tryouts in October for 2nd and 3rd grade levels. These tryouts are important to gauge a player’s ability. This is especially true for those children where, for whatever reason, ratings are unreliable or non-existent. Tryouts for new players are essential and must be completed and turned in before the eeason starts and teams are formed. Ratings must be the basis for forming teams at this level.
As the children move into 2nd and 3rd grade it’s important that the Commissioner adjusts the teams to create balance so that a dominant team does not emerge. Twenty and thirty point wins do not benefit anyone. Placing two or three kids on the same team from the same school or neighborhood is desirable to help with car pools and socialization.
3) Ratings are based on the following criteria:
5 - best player for this skill you have seen at this age level. Inpractice only one or two kids should ever get this rating (5%-in a 100 player league, 5 or less should have this rating)
4 - a very solid player involving this skill who you could build a team around, if you do not have any players rated 5 (10%)
3 - an average player with this skill who can perform it regualrly, but not exceptionally well in a game sitaution. This group is the foundation of any team (50%)
2 - a below average player with this skill who can perform it sometimes but not repeatedly in a game sitaution (20%)
1 - a below average player with this skill, who can not perform it acceptably in a game situation (15%)
