Travel

Haverhill Youth Soccer is dedicated to promoting and enhancing the culture of soccer in the city of Haverhill. Our Development and Recreational programs provide opportunities for children to learn the game and develop soccer skills, while Travel teams play at an appropriate competitive level within the Essex County Youth Soccer Association.

To assure fairness and continuity, this Travel Policy has been approved by the Board of Directors and will be implemented by the Travel Director(s).

Definitions

The following abbreviations may be used in this document:

“HYS” is Haverhill Youth Soccer.
“Board” is the Board of Directors of HYS, which oversees HYS.
“TD” refers to one or all HYS Travel Directors, who implement this Travel Policy.
“DSD” refers to the Director of Soccer Development, who assists in executing Travel player placement.
“ECYSA” refers to the Essex County Youth Soccer Association, the league in which all HYS Travel teams play in.

Selection of Head Coaches

The TD recommends and the Board approves head coaches for all Travel teams. Applying for a coaching position does not guarantee a coaching assignment.

Application - Applicants interested in seeking a position as a Travel coach must apply in writing to the TD by June 1st preceding the fall season in which they hope to coach.
Qualifications - The TD will assess applicants on the following qualifications:

Personal qualities, including but not limited to: integrity, leadership, understanding, sensitivity, organization, ability to communicate, fairness, dedication, commitment, etc.
Recommendations of other coaches, Board members, and parents. As well as any other factors deemed appropriate by the TD.

Recommendation - The TD will recommend each qualified candidate to the Board.
Approval - The Board has the option to approve or reject the TD’s recommendation. To minimize conflict of interest, Board members who are candidates for a Travel coach position should not be present or participate in the discussion or voting for the coaching position for that team. If the Board rejects the TD’s candidate, they may accept a candidate not recommended by the TD. This secondary candidate must have applied for the position. If no secondary candidate is available or qualified, the Board may ask that a new search be conducted for a suitable candidate, at the TD's discretion.
Notification - Upon the Board's final decision, the TD will communicate the outcome to the travel coach applicants by email or phone if required.

Expectations of Travel Coaches

All Travel coaches are subject to evaluation by TD and DSD, and the Board at all times. Coaching positions may be terminated at any time for any reason. The following are the expectations of all Travel coaches:

Commitment - Coaches must make a commitment to their team for both the fall and spring seasons in a given soccer year. Head Coaches should plan on attending at least 80% of all games and practices and have Assistant Coach coverage in their absence.
Sportsmanship - All coaches must display the highest level of sportsmanship, fair play, and respect for their players, opponents, and officials at all times.
Coaching Licensing - Coaches will make reasonable efforts to improve their skills over time, and are encouraged to attend coaching education courses.
Regular Season Practices - Coaches should not hold official practices earlier than the start of the season (2 weeks before the first game). During the season, coaches should hold a minimum of 2 practices per week, which are at least 1 hour in length.
Pre-season Practices - Coaches may have opportunities to play prior to the start of the regular season, but it is recommended that they communicate them as non-mandatory.
Off-season Activities - Coaches may, but are not expected to, enter indoor leagues, offer clinics, or have practices over the winter. These activities are not under the supervision of HYS and are completely independent of HYS. HYS does not set terms or conditions for coaches involved with teams during the off-season, other than to indicate that no off-season participation by a rostered player can be required as a prerequisite to continuing on the roster or in determining playing status during the seasons.
Communication - Parent engagement is strongly encouraged to help develop stronger relationships with players and families. Therefore, coaches are responsible for communicating essential information such as practice and game location, times, and other critical information. HYS recommends using the provided communication app, TeamSnap. Otherwise, email, text, or phone is required. Coaches are required to respond within 24 hours to a parent's outreach.
Coaches may appoint a Team Manager responsible for communication with the team if they so desire.

Selection of Assistant coaches

Each team must have a single head coach responsible for all phases of team management. He or she will be responsible for choosing assistant coach(es). It is recommended not to exceed 3 assistant coaches per team. Assistant coaches may not be announced before the player placement and notifications. Assistant coaches are subject to the same terms, conditions, reviews, standards of behavior, and discipline that apply to the head coaches.

Renewal of Coaching Status

All Travel coaches are subject to the review of TD and the Board at all times. Coaching status is not automatically renewed year to year.

Any person interested in applying for a Travel coaching position, even if already occupied, may do so by June 1st of the year preceding the fall season in which they hope to coach.
Incumbent Travel coaches need not apply unless they are notified by the TD that there is another application for their position.

If a TD deems it appropriate, they bring a recommendation for not renewing a coach's status.
The TD will review the qualifications and performance of every coach every year.
The TD may request a meeting with a current Travel coach if there are concerns about the coach or team performance. The TD may decide not to renew a coach's position as coach of a Travel team.
The TD may seek additional applicants if there are no qualified candidates.

Removal of Travel Coaches

In the event that an issue arises with regard to a Travel coach during the season as a result of violating HYS guidelines, policies, behavior, or ECYSA rules, then that coach may be sanctioned or removed during the season by the TC with Board approval.

Notifying the TD - Issues may be brought to the TD directly by any member of the HYS community. Results of surveys may be considered a notification that there may be an issue with a Travel coach.
Investigation - Accusations of wrongdoing against Travel coaches will be investigated thoroughly with input sought from all knowledgeable parties, including parents, players, league officials, referees, and the coaches themselves. The TD will initiate the investigation and serve as the liaison between parents, players, the TD, and the Board. Once the important details associated with the issue have been established and corroborated, the TD will present the details to the TD.
Board Meeting - The Board will consider the TD's recommendation and may either act on it directly or act in some other way that it deems in the interest of the players, the families, the coach, and the organization. The parties may request an appearance at the Board meeting to have the Board hear their positions. The Board's course of action will be communicated to all parties, and the matter will be closed

Expectation of players

HYS expects all its players to conduct themselves appropriately at all times on and off the field. Players are expected to attend practices and games or communicate with the coach when attendance is not possible. Because placing a player on a Travel team roster, by definition, prevents another player from making that team, there is an implied commitment for Travel players. As a result, the TD and Board have established formal expectations for Travel players.

Practices - Players are expected to participate in at least one of the two scheduled practices each week and be available to play in every game. Only compelling reasons will be considered acceptable excuses for not meeting this requirement. Compelling excuses are defined as situations that are beyond the player's control. For instance, an important family obligation or responsibility would be considered a compelling reason, but a club soccer commitment or practice for another sport would not. Each coach reserves the right to manage this as they see fit.

Seasons - Players are expected to play both fall and spring seasons in a given soccer year to be eligible to play on a Travel team.

Off-season - Participation in off-season activities is entirely voluntary.

Tournaments - Participation in tournaments is recommended but not required.

Removal of Players - Failure to meet these expectations may result in the player losing their place on the Travel team. Players may be suspended during a season for disciplinary reasons or any conduct unbecoming of an HYS soccer player as determined by the coach.

To do so, a coach must adhere to the following sequence of events:

Travel Coach informs the Travel Director of their wish to remove a player from the team.
The Travel Director informs the Board of this request.
The Board communicates to the player’s parents.
a. Parents have the right to appeal the decision in writing.

Players may also be removed from a Travel team between seasons. To do so, a coach must adhere to the following sequence of events:

Travel Coach informs the Travel Director of their wish to remove a player from the team.
The Travel Director informs the Board of this request.
The Board communicates with the player’s parents.
a. Parents have the right to appeal the decision in writing.

Travel Team Game Playing Time Policy - Players participating in weekly practices must play a minimum of 40% of the game that week, with exceptions given for injuries or disciplinary actions. Playing time is determined by the coach’s discretion for those players who do not participate in any weekly practices.

Player Assessments

Player Assessments - The TD and DSD’s goal with player assessments is to find players who can have a positive impact during game situations and to place every player on a team with other players of similar individual abilities. Placing players in the proper positive soccer environment to play is critical to creating a positive soccer environment for every player to develop to their fullest potential.

Current Travel Player Assessments: Current Travel players are assessed by coaches after the fall and spring seasons. Coaches are provided with an HYS assessment template, which assesses players according to the following criteria:

FIELD PLAYERS

Positional Attributes

The position most often played

Technical Attributes

Dribbling/Ball Control
Defending
Passing Technique
Receiving / 1st Touch
Striking /Finishing

Tactical Attributes

Game Intelligence
Spatial Awareness

Psychological and Social Attributes

Attitude / Effort
Behavior
Percentage of Practices Attended
Percentage of Practices Attended

GOALKEEPERS (GRADES 6 - GRADE 8)

Technical Attributes

Handling
Diving
1 v 1's

Tactical Attributes

Positioning
Distribution
Communication

Physical Attributes

Quickness / Agility

Psychological and Social Attributes

Confidce
Bravery
Percentage of Practices Attended
Percentage of Practices Attended

Player Assessment Criteria: Players will be assessed at the end of the season and during In-Person Player Assessments using the same criteria or reference point…

1.0 = Beginner

The player is in the early stages of understanding and not yet able to execute.

1.5 = Developing

The player is starting to demonstrate moments of skill execution and understanding of team concepts.

2.0 = Adequate

The player is capable, but not consistently demonstrating. There is plenty of room for improvement.

2.5 = Emerging

The player is executing complex skills and beginning to show tactical understanding.

3.0 = Good

The player is strong and consistent in this category.

3.5 = Great

Player leads HYS age group in this category.

4.0 = Exceptional

Player is exceptional in this category - one of the best in ECYSA age group.

In-Person Travel Player Assessments (Tryouts): After the Spring season and in preparation for the next fall and spring seasons, HYS will hold in-person player assessments. The DSD will act as a lead evaluator to oversee the execution of player assessments.

The TD and DSD will be responsible for organizing the following key elements in-person assessment process, which includes:

Logistics

Determining all logistics: dates, times, locations, etc.

Field Organization and Set Up
The Sourcing of Non-HYS Affiliated Evaluators

Evaluators should be licensed coaches with prior experience coaching a youth club or travel team
The ratio of evaluators to players should be 1 evaluator for every 12 players.

Coordination of the Evaluation Process

Providing/Explaining the evaluation process and rating system to evaluators before evaluations.
As well as communicating HYS’s overall evaluator expectations.

Number Assignments

Each player will be assigned a number to be worn so that the number is visible to make the identification of individual players during assessments more efficient.

In-Person Assessment Grouping

Players will play small-sided games for the entire assessment.

Determining Final Evaluation Rankings

One-third of a player’s overall and final evaluation score will be an average score determined from non-HYS affiliates.

This is done to ensure neutral and unbiased evaluation scores.

One-third will be an average evaluation score determined by the remaining HYS-affiliated evaluators.
The final one-third will be previous postseason assessment scores.

In the event those scores are not available, the HYS-affiliated scores will be used for two-thirds of the final evaluation ranking.

Communication of Decision-Making Timeline

Within a week after the conclusion of the assessments, the DSD will provide the TD with all assessment information.

Attendance - Attendance is mandatory to be considered for a Travel team. Attending an assessment does not guarantee a player a position on a Travel team.

Excused Absences - A player will be permitted to miss an assessment for good cause (e.g., illness, injury, or unavoidable family obligation). If a player cannot attend an assessment, an email must be sent to the TD indicating the reason for the absence before the assessment. If the TD finds the excuse acceptable, the player will be eligible for consideration by the DSD.

Player placements

It is the intent of HYS not to deprive players of the opportunity to play soccer at the Travel level. A team cannot exist without a coach; however, a head coach must be selected prior to the start of player assessments to assemble a Travel team.

Assembling Teams - TD will determine the number of teams that can be assembled based on the number of player registrations and selected head coaches. As many as possible dual grade teams will be assembled if there are enough registrations and available coaches to support them. The final number of teams for each dual grade and gender will be determined before the start of player assessments.

Rostering of Players - TD will assign players to teams based on the results of player assessments and assign coaches to those teams. The roster size for teams will depend on the number of registered players. At the request of the TD, rosters may be brought to the maximum number allowed by ECYSA in order to ensure that the maximum number of players can participate.

Notification - All players attending the assessment must be advised of their team assignment using an email notice no later than one week from the second assessment. No commitment can be made to any player before, during, or after the evaluations until the TD informs the players of their placement. Travel coaches should not discuss the team selection with players or parents until team placements have been communicated to the players. At no time should specific player evaluation rankings be discussed with players or parents.

Movement Between Teams - It is possible that there is movement between teams prior to, during, or between seasons. It is up to the discretion of the affected team coaches and the TD.

Right of Appeal - If player selection is accomplished by the guidelines stated in this policy, appeals should be unwarranted. However, if a parent wishes to appeal, it must be done in writing to the TD stating the specified and objective reasons as to why their child should have been selected for a particular team. As with all TD decisions, the TD decision regarding the appeal is subject to Board approval.

Team Placement - TD will attempt to place teams in the appropriate ECYSA competitive divisions. ECYSA decisions regarding placement are final.

Policy Changes

Any changes to this policy will require affirmation by the Board.

Updated May 23, 2025