Club Policies - Playing Up/Team Formation

There has been many questions about Odyssey's Playing up Policy and the formation of teams this year. When starting a new club, we find that the age spectrum is more wide spread then it should be in a older, healthier club. As we continue to grow, we would like a team for every age bracket so that in the long run, we will not be creating new teams but just strengthening them with tryouts. This way the kids can stay and develop together. We ARE at that point with our girls teams and each year we get closer to that with the boys teams. These players can now play age appropriate and be the model of what we are striving for with all our teams. It would be great to keep the kids that have been together and create an "all star" team with no age boundaries. Yes, they probably would win more games. Winning is great but still not our focus here at Odyssey. First and foremost is player development. Every player has a tremendous way to go in terms of player development. Parents must trust the coaches experience with clubs that do try the "no age boundaries" and trust that it is not healthy for the players or the club in the long run. Only in special or unusual circumstances or very superior playing ability would we move these players up. The rationale of this 'playing up' creates instability in several fashions. The club has already experienced this when we took teams to tourneys and leagues where they played teams with true age appropriate players. These clubs send more players to the next level then any other. That is our personal goal for each and every player, to send them to the next level, regardless of what that next level is.

Supplemental Insurance supplied by Odyssey through Eastern NY Youth Soccer

EXCESS COVERAGE
Accident Medical Expense insurance is provided on an "excess" basis. This means that after the insured player or coach has been reimbursed for medical expenses by other insurance programs, and after the deductible has been satisfied, the Youth Soccer Accident Medical Expense plan will pay up to the maximum Medical Expense benefit for remaining treatment, service and supply expenses. These other programs include group, blanket or franchise health insurance coverage, group hospital or medical service plans, and prepayment coverage; any coverage under labor-management trustee plans, union welfare plans, employer organization plans, and coverage under any governmental programs, coverage required or provided by any statute, and automobile reparations insurance (no-fault) coverage.  The amount up to the deductible is the responsibility of the players family.

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Last modified: 06/21/10 08:26:05 AM  Odyssey Soccer NY