What is the BAYS Travel Program?
Attleboro is affiliated with Boston Area Youth Soccer (BAYS), a competitive league for those in 3rd through 12th Grade, in which teams from other towns compete against each other on weekends. Many of the towns we play are relatively nearby (e.g., North Attleboro, Plainville, Foxboro, Mansfield, and Wrentham); and some towns are further away (e.g., Marlboro, Natick, Newton, Watertown). The average driving time is 30-35 minutes (ranging from 15 to 60 minutes).
Attleboro Youth Soccer places children on teams according to player grade and skill level, to ensure an appropriate playing level for player development. BAYS then places the teams in Divisions with other teams of similar skill level/ability. Each BAYS grade group may have up to 4 Divisions, with Divisions 1 and 2 being the most competitive. The Divisions are further divided into Sections comprising 4 to 6 teams who play each other during the season.
BAYS grade groups are designated by gender and grade. Ex: Girls Grade 3 or Boys Grade 6. Grades 3 and 4 play 7v7 on smaller fields (ideally 40 yds. X 60 yds.) with downsized goals. Teams playing 7v7 will have 9 to 14 players per team. Grades 5 and 6 play 9v9 on a mid-sized field. There are usually 12-16 players on each 9v9 team. Grades 7 and 8 play 11v11 on a full-sized field, with 15-18 players on Division 1 & 2 teams and up to 22 players on Division 3 - 4 teams. HS BAYS (Grades 9-12) plays in one of two formats. Division 1 and 2 plays 11v11 on a full-sized field and Division 3 and 4 plays 7v7 on a 9v9 field.
The Grade 3-8 fall and spring seasons last for 10 weeks, with 5 away games and 5 home games. Games are scheduled on Saturdays, although games can be held any day of the week if a make-up is needed. The Grade 9-12 season lasts for 7 weeks and games are scheduled on Sundays.
The Travel Program has a competitive focus, but still emphasizes fun, and skill development, especially in the younger non-results oriented grades. The spring season is more competitive than the fall, as the section winners for Grade 6+ receive awards and the Divisions 1 & 2 playoff winners play in the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions (MTOC). There are no playoffs for Divisions 3 & 4.
Who decides on which BAYS Travel team my child will play?
Player placement is the responsibility of the AYS Board of Directors who will rely upon coaches’ evaluations and evaluations by other impartial parties during the season. Additionally some form of evaluation or tryouts might be held in the spring for the fall season. Massachusetts Youth Soccer (MYSA), AYS Board Members and/or coaches may conduct or assist during evaluations or tryouts. Emphasis in finalizing teams will lie with the coach of each particular team.
The top team(s) in any grade group will be the strongest. The Travel Director or AYS Board will decide if other teams should be of equal strength or selected according to players’ skills. However, in view of the competitive nature of the BAYS program, it is not possible to seed lower teams with some of our strongest players, as these players are needed on the top teams. Likewise, it is also difficult to place children with their friends or family as soccer skills may differ. While each team in a grade group needs enough players to field a team with adequate substitutes, there will not always be an equal number of players on each team. Players are placed on a team playing in a division appropriate to the player's skill.
All team assignments will be made not only on the basis of physical skills, but also on the basis of past on-field deportment and level of commitment displayed. A player who misses or is frequently late for practices or games, or who is uncooperative or displays unsportsmanlike behavior, may receive a lower ranking than a dedicated, enthusiastic player with lesser skills. In other words, the “whole” player will be considered and placed appropriately.
Other factors, which affect team assignments, are the availability of coaches, practice time conflicts, and team balance (e.g., we may need to mix players with defensive skills or goal-keeping skills with other players who have attacking skills).
Once your child has been placed on a team, the rosters are submitted to BAYS. BAYS regulations provide little flexibility in making roster changes during the season.
AYS builds teams each season based on the registered players available. Players may not keep the same teammates or coaches season to season.
Parents and players should understand that:
- Team assignments are made with the best interests of players and teams in mind.
- Player assessment is obviously subjective, but will be conducted as fairly as possible.
- Every effort will be made to see that teams are not exclusionary over time and that team assignments reflect an evaluation of each player’s current skills and commitment.
- A player’s individual success and development results in large part from how the player interacts with the team to which he/she is assigned, not on which team.
- Often there is not enough room to place all players with equal abilities on the same team.
As a parent, you can help your child not to feel discouraged if he/she isn’t assigned to a specific team. Such situations often work out for the best, as it allows your child to develop his/her soccer skills in a less-pressured atmosphere.
We encourage you to discuss any concerns about team placement with the Travel Director for your child.
Is it possible that my child will not be assigned to a team?
Yes. While Attleboro Youth Soccer would like to place everyone who wants to play, there are occasions when this isn’t possible. Sometimes we do not have enough volunteer coaches, or there are not enough children to form a complete team.
Attleboro Youth Soccer will notify parents when there is a problem in assigning your child to a team and a full refund will be issued.
How are coaches selected?
AYS depends upon parents to volunteer as coaches. Unfortunately, volunteer coaches are often in short supply. For both our In-Town and Travel programs, coaches are assigned to the team that their child is rostered on. Both programs rely on coaches to determine the number of teams we will have.
Please don’t be reluctant to volunteer, even if you’re not athletic and know nothing about soccer. Many of our most successful coaches never played soccer and are learning the sport along with their children!
Of course, because most of our volunteer coaches are not professional educators or soccer players, occasionally some parents feel their children are not receiving the best soccer instruction. If you find yourself in this situation, we suggest you speak with the Travel Director.