A primary goal of HMMS is to maximize the opportunity for each player to participate at a level consistent with his/her interest and abilities, while encouraging everyone to enjoy the game of soccer, to display sportsmanship at all times, and to develop individual and team skills. Program policy defines the structure governing attainment of this goal.
In the past, common policies were applied universally across all groups. For a number of reasons, we believe that this approach has become ineffective. In the future, the program will be organized according to three broad age groups. HMMS believes that the needs of participants and the objectives of HMMS are generally consistent within these groups:
- Youth (Elementary School)
- Intermediate (Middle School)
- Senior (High School)
Policies relating to coach and player training/development, player evaluations (tryouts), and competitive opportunities will be tailored to these age groups.
General Policies:
- 50% Play Rule - Applies to all recreational and travel teams. The 50% play rule does not apply to the FC program.
Please reference the Travel/FC policy for more information.
- Open Tryouts - Player evaluations for all travel and premier teams will be open to residents and nonresidents of Hampden, Middlesex, Monroe, and Silver Spring Townships.
- Playing Up- Limited to Intermediate and Senior Program; Player must be an "impact player" (top 50% of "A" team at the older age group); must request approval from AGC at natural age group at least 2 weeks prior to tryout; must attend tryout for natural age group. All decisions regarding playing up, including permission to evaluate and final rostering, will be subject to final review and approval of HMMS Board.
Organization:
- Youth Program: U-6 through U-12 Rec.
- Emphasis on recruitment and development of coaches.
- Coach and player training emphasize individual skill development. Minimal focus on team tactics, game strategy and competition. (travel teams should introduce these facets)
- Travel teams should participate in at least 2 tournaments.
- Playing up not permitted.
- Intermediate Program: U-12 Travel through U-14
- Coach and player training emphasizes individual skill development, team tactics/strategies, and increasingly competitive game play.
- All teams encouraged to participate in tournaments. Travel teams expected to participate in at least 3 tournaments. Division 1 travel teams expected to participate in State Cup or State Challenge Cup tournaments.
- Playing up is permitted, but only to an age group not more than one year older than a player’s natural age group.
- Senior Program: U-15 through U-19
- Coach and player training emphasizes competitive team play and team tactics.
- All teams encouraged to participate in tournaments. Travel teams expected to participate in at least 3 tournaments. Division 1 travel teams expected to participate in State Cup or State Challenge Cup tournaments.
- Playing up is permitted without limitation to the age group for which a player may tryout.
- HMMS Premier Program: "HMMS Premier FC"
- Highest, most competitive level of soccer offered through HMMS.
- Seeks to provide the opportunity to players who display the highest level of commitment and skill to participate on a team comprised of similarly committed/skilled players.
- Program entails extensive travel and additional cost to the player.
- Program will be initiated at the Senior Program level and may be expanded at the discretion of the Board.
- Subject in all respects to the rules, regulations and policies governing HMMS.
Other Policies:
- HMMS Trainer / Training Program
- HMMS will retain a professional trainer to organize and implement the Association’s training program at all levels and to manage HMMS Premier FC .
- HMMS recognizes that a comprehensive training and development program for coaches and players is critical to attainment of the Association’s primary goals.
- Age- and skill-appropriate training will be emphasized at every competitive level.
- Selection of Coaches
- Subject to Board approval.
- HMMS will not contribute to paying coaches but does not restrict teams from retaining paid coaches at their own expense.
- Travel Team and Premier Team Selection Process
- HMMS VP-Travel coordinates player evaluations for all travel teams.
- Number of travel teams formed depends upon the number of qualified applicants.
- Premier team evaluation will utilize evaluators external to HMMS, but both evaluators and evaluation criteria will be approved by the Board.
