2020/21 Player Placement

April 18, 2020

Covid-19 has had  incredible impact to almost everything we do in our day-to-day lives  and soccer is not exempt.   While it appears the the country is making positive strides on getting a handle on the virus, we are still under Federal and State mandates to “Stay at Home” and  practice social distancing.  While we were hopeful that we could have  live tryouts in May, the state and the RCS felt a back up plan was needed.  A subcommittee of RCS members were tasked with coming up with a back up plan.  The plan was approved by the RCS committee and was voted in by all RCL clubs.   The policy allows for club flexibility in the implementation.  Below you will find the State’s Policy and Washington Premier’s implementation of the policy.

State’s Policy

Approved by All RCL Clubs April 16, 2020 

Due to Governor Inslee extending Washington State’s stay-at-home order through May 4th, there will not be in-person tryouts for the 20-21 season. The governing body of the RCL has decided to implement a player placement program to allow the teams to be formed in May, and be ready to go once the Governmental guidelines allow clubs to resume playing.

Returning to Same Club Player Registration:

Players may register and be rostered for their same club beginning on May 1st.

The May 1st date for registering players can ONLY be: a player who was registered in your club for the 2019-20 season, US Club players, USDA players, non-registered players or players within your own rec/select club association.

These players can sign up for the placement process with RCL clubs effective immediately. This allows the coach and prospective to player to have communication in advance of the May1st registration period

Tryout Registration:

If RCL players register for a different club’s tryouts, personnel from that club is allowed to communicate with the player/player’s family BUT not offer an opportunity to register with the club until May 5th. This communication between the player and the player’s family with the club is allowed because the player, by signing up, has expressed interest in the this RCL club.

There is no final deadline for registration.

Established RCL Recruiting Guidelines are in place (i.e., an RCL club’s representatives – Coaches/Directors/Administrators/Board Members cannot contact players unless the potential player/family initiates the communication with the club). It is important that a club has evidence showing that the player’s tryout registration was previously accepted to avoid any potential recruiting violations from being raised by another club or by Washington Youth Soccer.

The player placement process is the best solution available to allow the RCL clubs, and the individual teams, to be ready to begin playing quickly upon easing of the social distancing policies in place. Having mutual respect for one another will go a long way in getting our clubs and the RCL league up and running again.

The details regarding the player/parent/club contract are determined by each club.

If an RCL player decides to leave an RCL club to join another club, most RCL clubs allow a player to leave their club as long as the departing player is current with their club dues and fees. It is our recommendation that players who are current should be allowed to leave an RCL club to join another club of their choice.

Paul Bayly
RCL Commissioner

PAUL BAYLY
RCL COMMISSIONER | DIRECTOR OF COACHING EDUCATION

Tryout Registration

If RCL players register for a different club’s tryouts, personnel from that club is allowed to communicate with the player/player’s family BUT not offer an opportunity to register with the club until May 5th   This communication between the player and the player’s family with the club is allowed because the player, by signing up for tryouts, has expressed interest in the this RCL club. 

Implementation of the 2020/21 Player Placement

April 18, 2020

A Message from Seth Spidahl, Director of Coaching

I wanted to get you up to speed on “how” we are going to implement the Player Placement program in lieu of physical tryouts.  The state established a global policy for all RCL clubs.  The policy allows each club flexibility in the implementation based on what club leadership feels is best for their membership.  At WPFC, we feel the fairest way is to establish player pools.  Once we are able to have live practices, we will go through the process for specific team placement as we expect there to be movement.  Below is what to expect over the next few weeks.

The Process

  1. Player placement will begin on May 1st for ALL WPFC players. WPFC players who have signed up for tryouts will receive an email on May 1 with instructions on how to accept the Pool Position which does require a payment (explained. In number 6).
  2. Every WPFC PREMIER player who was in the club last year, will be guaranteed a spot on a 2020-21 roster.
  3. FOR NOW, we are going to use last year’s team assignment to create smaller groups within the pool. Smaller groups will aid in communication until we get back out on the field.  This is just temporary and not fixed, please see next bullet point!
  4. Once we are allowed back on the field in a typical fashion, we will have age group trainings to evaluate ALL players in the player pool which will determine final roster placement. We expect there will be player movement up and down.
  5. Those that are interested in trying out up an age, will have that opportunity once the health guidelines allow us back on the fields. We always encourage players to play on age. Reminder, in general, only those that can make a year up “A” team and be a starter or significant contributor will be move.
  6. The fee during the month(s) that we can’t participate in live session, will be reduced from $240 to $80 a month which is non-refundable. More than likely this will be the cost for May, and we hope to be back in more of a normal fashion by June. The reduced fee will also be reflected in the annual fee e.g. if we can’t practice the month of May, you will pay $80 and the annual fee goes from $2400 to $2240
  7. Once we resume full training, the monthly club fee will be at the normal rate for the program.
  8. During these months off the field, coaches will be assigned a particular schedule to keep players engaged (e.g. weekly Zoom meetings on a variety of topics) and stay connected to their assigned group.
  9. We have moved to a new registration system and you will need to set up a new account if this is the first time you have logged onto the system.

If you have questions, contact:

Girls ECNL: Scott Ford – scott_ford77@hotmail.com
Boys ECNL: John Yorke – jyorke3@aol.com
RCL 11 Aside Teams (08-02) B & G:  Kevin Skinner – krskinneruk@yahoo.co.uk
RCL 7 & 9 Aside Teams (2012-2009) B & G: Michael Donne – donnemichael@hotmail.com

GO PREMIER!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all clubs using the same process for player placement?

The state established a global policy for all RCL clubs.  The policy allows each club flexibility in the implementation based on what club leadership feels is best for their membership.  While some clubs are assigning players to actual teams without any live tryouts, at WPFC, we feel the fairest way is to establish player pools.  Once we are able to have live practices, we will go through the process for specific team placement as we expect player movement.  

Can I still sign up for tryouts/team placement?

Yes, registration is open and will remain open.  You can use the following to link to REGISTER NOW.    We have waived the tryout fee in efforts to try help families.

Please Note: We have moved to a new registration platform called Sports Connect.   You will be required to set up a new member account before you can register your player.  If you already have a WPFC account on Sports Connect, you will want to select the login option under the Create New Account button.

I signed my player up for tryouts, is there any other registration required now?

No, if you have signed your player(s) up for tryouts (team placement), there is no other action required by you at this time. 

How will I know when I need to make payment and accept the player pool roster spot?

Beginning May 1, the club will send out email notices to all players that are eligible to be in the player pool effective May 1 (the only players that we cannot send to are external players coming from another RCL club, they can’t be added until May 5th).

 The email sent by the club, will include instructions on how to accept your roster spot in the player pool and make payment.  Your spot is not secured until payment has been made, this should be completed within 48 hours of receiving the email.

My son/daughter has been playing for another club but would like to be considered for a Washington Premier team, what process should we follow?

You will want to sign up for tryouts/team placement before April 30th.  You can use the following to link to REGISTER NOW.    If you are coming from a non-RCL club, on May 1, you will be added to the player pool and will be sent an email from the club with the instructions for accepting the pool spot.   If you are coming from another RCL club, you should still sign up ASAP however, we cannot offer you a player  pool spot until May 5th.

My son/daughter played in Washington Premier’s premier program last year, will they be guaranteed a roster spot on a team?

Yes, every WPFC premier player that played last season in the club and signs up for 2020/21 tryouts (player placement) by April 30th, will be guaranteed a spot on a premier team.  The roster spot offered may not be for the same team your player was on last year, but they will be offered a roster spot on a premier team.

Assuming we will not be live on the fields in May, how will my player stay connected to the club?

We are using last year’s team roster to form smaller groups within the pool to aid in communication.  The coaching slate for the new year has been released, and the coach that is assigned to the team for the 2020/21 season will be the lead contact for weekly communications. 

Players new to the club will be assigned to a group and the lead coach will be in touch with those players.

If I am new to the club, will I get access to the Techne Futbol Application during this down time?

Yes, new players coming into the club will be added to the Techne Futbol Application and will have access to the application while at Washington Premier.

How will the player fees be impacted if we are not on the field in May?

Club leadership understands the impact the Covid-19 virus has had on the economy and our membership.  The club will be charging a flat player fee of $80; this is the amount that is due when accepting the roster spot in the pool. The reduction in the normal monthly amount is also reflected in the annual amount due.  E.g. U11 and above players the annual fee was $2400 and now has been reduced to $2240.   For U9 and U10 players, the annual fee was $1700 and will now be $1610.

What happens if we are unable to hold live practices in June?

The monthly fee will continue to be reduced to the $80 fee as well as the annual fee will continue to be reduced.

My son (daughter) has always played up, how will that be handled with this modified placement process?

WPFC’s policy has always been that in order for a player to play up an age group, they have to be a very significant player in the age group that they are playing up in. For example, they need to be someone who is a top five or six type of player on the team that is a year up from their birth year.  Once we are live on the fields, the coaching staff will evaluate the player.   If it is decided that the player does not fit the profile, then the player will be rostered and play on their birth year age.

My son accepted a roster spot on a WPFC high school boys team. I have been paying the monthly installment payments, what happens if they can’t practice in May?

If we are not practicing live in May, an adjustment will be processed to your account bringing May’s installment down to $80 and the annual fee to $2240.  This will continue each month until we are live back on the fields.

During these hard times, will WPFC have any funds for Dues Assistance?

Yes, Dues Assistance will be available this year. The application is available on the website under the resources tab > forms and documents > dues assistance. Please fill out the form and mail to the PO Box provided. Generally, dues assistance is awarded the first couple of weeks in June; please allow extra time for this process as we navigate through the off field/on field transition. You will need to accept your player’s spot on the team and make your initial payment in order to be considered for a scholarship. Additional Dues Assistance questions can be forwarded to Kristine Spidahl.

Is a new uniform required this year?

Yes, this is a uniform “buy” year. Every two years, players are required to purchase a full uniform kit. Please see our new kit on the website under the resources tab > uniforms. In order to help our membership defray costs during these unprecedented times, we have worked in conjunction with both adidas and soccer.com to make the sweatsuit optional this year and is not required at the time of kit purchase. This could decrease your uniform costs between $84-$96.

Who should I contact if I have a soccer question?

If you are a returning WPFC player, you can contact the 2020/21 head coach that was assigned to the team you played on last year.  If your coach is new to the team,  you can find the coaches email address under the Coaches tab on our web site.  Under staff coaches, the coaches are listed in alpha order by last name.

If you are new to the club and have not been informed of your group assignment, you can reach out to one of the below directors.

 

Girls ECNL: Scott Ford – scott_ford77@hotmail.com

Boys ECNL: John Yorke – jyorke3@aol.com

RCL 11 Aside Teams (08-02) B & G:  Kevin Skinner – krskinneruk@yahoo.co.uk

RCL 7 & 9 Aside Teams (2012-2009) B & G: Michael Donne – donnemichael@hotmail.com