Resources for Coaches
Suggested Guidelines for Parish CYO Team Selection
Suggested Guidelines for the Parish CYO Team Evaluation/Tryout Selection Process
Child Protection Training for Coaches
Suggested Guidelines for Parish CYO Team Selection
The CYO is one of the few leagues that has made allowances to have two (2) skill levels of competition in each age group. The exceptions are the Rookie age group (due to the children’s young age and newness to the game) and the High School age group (due to the number of participants).
This was done to balance the age-old debate of participation versus competition. This was not done to separate the teams by grade. Two levels of play in the major age groups thus allows both sides of the debate a measure of satisfaction. It allows the skilled children to play in a competitive environment and it allows the lesser skilled children to play in a less competitive environment.
Unfortunately, over the years a misconception has developed over the intent of having different divisions within a two-grade age group. In some parishes the conception has been that the teams should be divided along grade levels and that children should be allowed to play with their friends/classmates; the inference here is that they should not have or be allowed to develop friendships with children in different grades. Another reason for this type of division is that it affords the parish a quick and less controversial team selection process. This does a disservice for the skilled players as well as the lesser skilled players. That was never the intent of the CYO. By dividing teams by grades it puts some teams on an “uneven playing field” and at a distinct disadvantage. More importantly it puts some children in a competitive environment that they are not equipped to handle; either skill wise or emotionally. It also puts both the skilled and less skilled children in an environment where they can become frustrated and discouraged.
The problem that most often arises in separating the children by skills is finding an objective system of evaluating talent; we think we have some good suggestions on the succeeding pages.
The following is an excerpt from the CYO Supplemental Basketball Rule Book and comparable rules are found in all CYO Supplemental Athletic Rule Books for the various sports offered by the CYO.
The following are the different divisions for each league:
Senior: Mid-Atlantic
Intermediate: Mid-Atlantic (boys only)
Varsity: Mid-Atlantic, Tournament
Junior Varsity: Tournament, Non-Tournament
Rookie: Non-Tournament
Non-Tournament Division: There are NO trophies, awards, or championships in this division. This division is for children who have never participated in the sport before, or who have one year experience or less. This gives the child an opportunity to learn the game in a low-key, no-pressure to win atmosphere.
Tournament Division: A team trophy will be awarded to the post-season double elimination tournament winner. All teams in each section qualify for the post-season tournament. In the JV Leagues, this division is for children who have some experience with the game, and those with average or better ability. In the Varsity Leagues, this division is for a parish’s second or third team.
Mid-Atlantic Division: A team trophy and individual player trophies will be awarded to the winner and second place team of the post-season single elimination city wide play-off. This division is the championship division, for the better ball players. Top flight competition where a team’s regular season record determines its play-off status. Play-offs determine the Archdiocesan champions, who will represent Washington in the Inter-Diocesan competition for the Mid-Atlantic Championship.
In any age group where there is more than one division, parish MUST enter a team in the HIGHER division before entering a team in the lower division. At the Varsity level and at the Junior Varsity level SECOND teams from a parish may be entered in either division. A second higher-level team must be entered before a third lower level team can be entered.
The last paragraph of the rules was implemented to prevent teams from “playing down” in leagues where they do not belong for the sake of “winning a championship.”
Once a parish has determined how many children are going to be in each age group and based teams on the above rules, the following is suggested:
Varsity Age Group (7th & 8th Grade)
Selection: Mix grades and have a try-out (evaluation)
Mid-Atlantic
Soccer: 14-15 best players on this team
Basketball: 10-12 best players on this team
Baseball: 13-15 best players on this team
Softball: 13-15 best players on this team
If there are two (2) Mid-Atlantic teams, there should be an “A” team with the best players and a “B” team with the next best players.
Tournament
Basketball: 10-12 second best players on this team
If there are two (2) or more Tournament teams, there should be an even distribution of the talent pool between the teams, regardless of grade. There must be a second (2nd) Mid- Atlantic team before a parish may enter a third (3rd) tournament team in this age group.
Junior Varsity Age Group (5th & 6th grade)
Selection: Mix grades and have a try-out (evaluation)
Mid-Atlantic / Tournament
Soccer: 14-15 best players on this team
Basketball: 10-12 best players on this team
Baseball: 13-15 best players on this team
Softball : 13-15 best players on this team
If there are two Tournament teams there should be an "A" team with the best players and a "B" team with the next best players.
Non-Tournament
Basketball: second 10-12 best players on this team
If there are two Non-Tournament teams there should be an even distribution of the talent pool between the teams.
Rookie Age Group (3rd & 4th grade)
Selection: If there are two (2) or more teams, there should be an even distribution of the talent pool between the teams, regardless of grade.
Suggested Guidelines for the Parish CYO Team Evaluation/Tryout Selection Process
Due to the numerous phone calls, letters, and meetings, the CYO Office of the Office of Youth Ministry of the Archdiocese of Washington has decided to issue the following suggested guidelines. If your parish is going to conduct evaluations/tryouts the following method should be followed as closely as possible to alleviate problems surrounding the results of this process.
- The key to any parish CYO function is communication. Make sure that the process has been thoroughly thought out and has been communicated to the children and their parents, far enough in advance of the process, so that all questions can be answered. The process should be done fairly, objectively, and consistently. It may be a process in which everyone might not agree with the results of the process; but no one should be able to dispute the process itself.
- All children in the age group that is being evaluated must be present at the time of the evaluation/tryout:
Junior Varsity: Fifth (5th) and Sixth (6th)
Varsity: Seventh (7th) and Eighth (8th)
In other words it is a mandatory evaluation for every child in each age group. This will not only allow you to select the Tournament or Mid-Atlantic teams but it will also allow you to distribute the talent evenly on the remaining teams if there is more than one. Even if there is to be only two (2) teams in a certain age group, everyone should be at the evaluation/tryout - All the coaches of the teams that are to be formed from this evaluation/tryout should be involved in the process. The basketball delegate/commissioner should guide the evaluation/tryout along with one other member of the parish CYO board, athletic committee, or whatever governing panel your parish has in place.
- Do not allow exceptions, unless they are absolutely necessary. This means do not allow exceptions before the evaluation/tryout or after the evaluation/tryout. The minute you allow an exception for a parent coach, a car pool, siblings, etc., you leave yourself open for more problems, which then renders your process useless.
- The evaluation/tryout process does not make anyone un-Christian. It is merely an extension of the academic process of placing children on their proper levels of ability in the athletic arena within the parish program. If CYO boards have been empowered by the parishioners to run their CYO athletic programs, then the parents must be willing to abide by the processes the elected/appointed governing bodies put in place.
- If you are attempting to change from a one grade team selection process or some other hybrid process to an evaluation/tryout process; you must use at least a three (3) year test period in order to judge whether this process is going to work in your parish. Any form of change is going to have some problems especially in the first year.
We are not saying this process works for everyone, but if you do go to an evaluation/tryout process please follow the above guidelines which we hope will alleviate some of your post-evaluation/tryout problems.
The Archdiocese of Washington has a Child Protection Policy designed to ensure children in our care are safe. All volunteers and employees who have substantial contact with children must follow this policy, which includes the following:
- Receive and read a copy of the policy, and return the acknowledgement in the back of the booklet
- Complete an Application for Employment or Volunteer Service
- Complete a criminal background check (fingerprinting) before beginning volunteer service or employment
- Participate in annual education on child protection (first year requirement is to attend a workshop, "Protecting God’s Children" by Virtus)
Information for the fingerprinting and education workshops is online. You can get the forms you need from your parish.
