Rush Pikes Peak Player Placement and Movement Philosophy

Philosophy
Since 2004, Rush Pikes Peak Soccer Club has focused on improving player development in all arenas. Part of effective player development is the player movement process, in which players are selected for a team rosters based on players' individual abilities, performance, and evaluations from head coaches and Directors of Coaching. This constant drive to develop players at all levels is demonstrated in the process the club has titled "Player Movement."

Player movement and player placement decisions are beneficial to individual player development and will remain a key component of Rush Pikes Peak's competitive program.

Decision Making
The following questions and guidelines outline the reasoning and mechanics involved with player movement.

When looking at the players, head coaches, assistant coaches, and Directors of Coaching must ask the same questions about every player:

How does the player perform in games? 
Is the level of the game too high and therefore they give the ball away, hide, do not compete and rarely touch the ball? Is the level of the game too low? Do they score in every game, or dribble by most opponents with ease and as a defender does the opponent only rarely beat them? When the level is suitable, most players are challenged but find success; they are highly productive in a few games but average in most. 

When promoting a player, look for certain characteristics. Does the player posses one or a mixture of the following traits: technical speed, tactical speed, pure physical speed and a strong psychological demeanor? When relegating a player, look at the same characteristics to determine if the player is lacking in one or more of these areas.

How are the player's training habits?
The player will demonstrate training habits through commitment level during the season and intensity and excitement during training.

Is movement in the player's best interest?
Does the player want to take on the expectations of the next level? Will they be competitive at the next level? If the player is moving down, will movement ensure more playing time in an environment the player will enjoy?

Is movement in the team's best interest?
Balancing the needs of the player with the needs of the team can be complicated. It can be hard to give up top players but the club and its coaches are here for the development of the individual player. The player's best interest must supercede the team's best interest. For example, former Colorado Rush players Aleisha Cramer and Conor Casey both missed USYS Regional and National Championship events at 18 and 19 so they could train and compete with US National teams. Moving players to a situation that is best for them follows the same process regardless of the level at which it takes place within the club, from Advanced to Academy. Moving players to a different team can give the players remaining on the team a greater chance to participate within the team at the appropriate level. If a top player moves on, other players have a chance to step up and take on a greater role. If a player moves down, the team can push itself to a higher level.

Player Placement/Movement Process
Before Tryouts
Answering the four questions outlined above about each individual on a team can help a coach and Director of Coaching decide if player movement is necessary for a given individual. All parties involved should give player movement considerable thought before a asking a player to move teams. The mechanics of how a player is actually moved requires a great deal of clear communication and solid decision making between the Director of Coaching and the head coaches involved.  

This process of player movement begins each year with player placement meetings between coaches and Directors of Coaching that occur before tryouts and continue throughout each season. The following outlines the general mechanics of this process: 

• The process begins with the player placement meetings that occur each year before tryouts. At this time, the head coach should come prepared to nominate players for both relegation and promotion. The head coach must discuss his/her thoughts with the Director of Coaching prior to this meeting.  Head coaches should use the form in the manual (please contact Director of Coaching for a copy) to help prepare for this meeting. Head coaches should be a bit "pushy" with regard to player promotion, as it is their job to promote players. Promotion demonstrates a coach's true abilities. Head coaches should also be prepared to give a realistic and relevant assessment of a player they are relegating.
• The Director of Coaching must give final approval to any player movement. Any attempt by a coach to circumvent this process for team or personal benefit will not be tolerated.
• There is no ladder in the promotion of a player. For example, a player from an Advanced team can go straight to the top team. A player can jump up to as high a level team as is necessary to ensure appropriate development. In relegating a player, players should not normally be dropped more than one team (e.g. from Rush to Nero). Usually a one team drop is sufficient and may make it more likely the player will continue playing. If dropping two teams is a possibility, speak with a Director of Coaching and he/she will make the final decision. A relegated player can also move age groups if a more appropriate level can be in another age group.

Tryouts
Rush Pikes Peak holds tryouts twice a year. The tryout for U11 - U18 girls and U11 - U14 boys occurs in the last week of May/first week of June. The tryout U15 - U18 boys takes place in late October/early November. Tryouts give coaches and Directors of Coaching a chance to assess players from outside the club who are interested in joining the Rush. These tryouts run from a two hour session to several sessions over a number of days and usually consist of 4v4, 7v7, and 11v11 games. Current Rush players do not have to attend tryouts, they simply need to make their intentions to return known to the head coach. Rush players do not have to attend because they are evaluated over an entire year by the head coach and Director of Coaching, which is the proper method of evaluating players. Rush players can be promoted and relegated throughout the year and coaches and Directors of Coaching discuss them in pre-tryout meetings, before any new players are added into the equation.

The tryout environment judges players' abilities in a couple of hours. The limited time frame makes evaluation a difficult process and requires evaluation of current Rush players to occur outside of the tryout environment.

Tryouts for Under 11
The tryouts for U11s operate in a similar manner to all other tryouts. Players play games, usually 4v4 or 7v7, where coaches and Directors of Coaching evaluate them on their individual soccer abilities. Every player is given a number and the Directors of Coaching and staff begin the process of forming groups of players with like abilities. This process takes place over three separate days of training. The club recommends that players attend all three tryouts. If a player is unable to attend all three, he/she needs to make it known to a Director of Coaching. During these three days, individual players may receive phone calls regarding their places within the competitive program. All of the players should receive a phone call within 72 hours of the final tryout date.

After Tryouts
After the actual tryout has ended, coaches and Directors of Coaching factor in new players previously not with Rush Pikes Peak at a meeting following the field sessions. The club is loyal to players within the club first but if a player from outside the club demonstrates that they are clearly better than a player from inside the club, he/she should be offered a place on the roster. The competitive program has an obligation to put the best players together.

Coaches use the following guidelines when filling out a roster:

All teams above U15 should try to carry two goalkeepers.

These numbers are a guideline and exceptions can be made with the approval of the Director of Coaching.

Constant evaluation of the players must take place from the first training session until the last. Directors of Coaching track this process in logbooks. Through the season head coaches need to make sure to have regular discussions about players with the Director of Coaching and the other coaches in the age group.

Actual player movement during the season is rare and should occur for one of the following reasons: 

• Numerous injuries create low numbers and player(s) move up.
  
• A player clearly demonstrates he/she is placed too high or too low. This type of movement usually comes from a recommendation by the Director of Coaching.
• In severe cases, a player is disruptive to the team.

The circumstances of each case are different but, in general, these are the main reasons for player movement during a season.

There are several ways to evaluate players in new environments before a transfer takes place.

The first is for the player to train with a new team as part of the Tutor Program. These sessions are designed to help the player develop and may or may not result in a permanent transfer. Training with a new team should first occur under supervision of the Director of Coaching at a staff training session. If it occurs outside of a staff session, the Director of Coaching must have prior knowledge of the arrangement. These types of sessions are necessary for players to develop and all coaches must encourage them. Head coaches are responsible for communicating with the other coaches in the age group and the Director of Coaching prior to the training session.

The second way to evaluate a player is to add the player as a guest player in a tournament. This allows the coach to look at a player with the team in a competitive environment for several days. Guest playing should be done as often as possible without disturbing team schedules, giving players a chance to play as much as possible. This form of player movement may or may not result in a transfer.

The third way is to use the club pass system to give players a chance to compete at a higher level. As long as a player does not play for more than one team per game day, he/she can play with a higher level team in a league game. Coaches must work with the Director of Coaching about using a club pass for a player. This form of player movement may or may not result in a transfer.

Conclusion
Player movement is a critical component of player development. In this club and country, not enough movement exists to accelerate a player's growth. In an ideal setup, a player would belong to a club instead of an individual team. This would allow player movement to occur weekly with no penalty, similar to European club structures. Players could move up and down teams and age groups with no penalty, based upon performance in games and training. The club pass system implemented by Colorado Soccer Association a few seasons ago allows more player movement and is a step towards an ideal player movement system.