Stafford Area Soccer Association (SASA)
Classic Division
Mission
The Stafford Area Soccer Association (SASA) seeks to provide each child the opportunity to participate in a highly competitive environment of spirited soccer and to instill in the youth of our community a respect for authority and themselves by aspiring to the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty and determination.
The SASA Classic Division is committed to providing each youth player the opportunity to enhance and develop soccer skills as well as a love of the sport and shall provide coaching of the highest caliber available. The Division encourages lasting personal relationships with other players and families throughout the Division and county. The SASA Classic Division seeks to ensure, and exists solely for, the enjoyment of the children involved.
Background
The Stafford Area Soccer Association (SASA) Classic Division is an advanced recreational program that provides players an environment in which they can develop their skills. The Classic Division strives to teach a greater understanding of the game of soccer and to instill self-confidence in players who show the potential for development. Classic Division coaches receive regular training and must possess a USSF E certificate within a year of entry into the Division.
The focus of the division is to develop players such that they are well prepared for competition in higher-level leagues, and to develop coaches. The Classic Division seeks to form equally talented teams in order to provide the most competitive and challenging environment for its players. With few modifications, Classic Division matches are played in accordance with SASA Recreation Division rules.
Eligibility
The Classic Division is open to all appropriate-age soccer players. A tryout is required for entry into the Division so as to ensure that the player is playing with other players of his/her ability and to help the Division balance teams. The Division currently includes coed teams at the U8 age group and gender specific teams at the U10, U12, and U14 age groups. With the concurrence of the Director of the Classic Division, players may be permitted to play in the next older age group. Players may not play in a younger age group. Although not encouraged, girls having successful tryouts may be permitted to play on a boy’s team. Boys are not permitted to play on a girl’s team.
Team Composition
The Classic Division seeks to have approximately 120 players in each of its four age groups (480 players overall). Teams are formed and players are rostered to teams in a variety of ways. Teams are most often made up of players drafted according to tryout results (see tryouts below). Additionally, players may join the division as part of a team entry. Three types of team entries are considered:
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Teams from surrounding counties are considered for Classic Division play on a case-by-case basis. These teams do not lessen the available openings for county players.
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Teams seeking admission to the SASA Travel Division will sometimes play in the Classic Division for a season or two to gain higher-level experience. Since all Travel Division teams must have open tryouts, the players on this "travel preparatory" team are considered Classic Division players. These teams sometimes lessen the available openings for county players.
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Recreation Division teams, though their coach, may also apply for admission into the Classic Division and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. As the Classic Division has reached capacity, Recreation teams will be unable to enter intact. All of the players must tryout and Recreation Division teams must recognize that only those players meeting Classic Division criteria are allowed on a team’s pre-draft roster.
If, after entry into the division in any of the above manners, a team or an individual player demonstrates a poor attitude or lack of commitment, the Division reserves the right to initiate a transfer out of the Classic Division. No adjustment of fees will take place should such a transfer be deemed necessary.
Tryouts
The Classic Division conducts tryouts prior to the start of each season. Before the fall season of each playing year (typically in June), the entire player population in the Classic Division must tryout along with any player seeking entry into the Division. Between the fall and spring seasons (typically in November), only certain players must tryout for the Classic Division. Players that must tryout at this time include any new player seeking admission, any player that has been advised to re-tryout by his/her coach, any player whose coach is not returning and any Classic Division player who desires to play in a higher age group or for a different coach. Consistent with its focus toward player development, coaches are expected to identify players who failed to demonstrate a commitment to the game during the previous season. Those players may not be returned to the Classic Division even though they may demonstrate sufficient technical capability during tryouts.
Given the importance of each player participating at a level of soccer that promotes his or her individual development and the equally important consideration that no one is placed in a situation that may be too difficult which ceases to be fun, a process has been developed to evaluate players during tryouts. The evaluation process provides each candidate the opportunity to demonstrate his or her level of development. Players are evaluated and rated on their technical, tactical, physical, and psychological development. Technical development pertains to how well the player performs the fundamental soccer skills such as ball control, passing and receiving and finishing (shooting). Tactical development pertains to how well a player recognizes various situations or problems during play and how well he or she makes decisions based on that recognition. Physical development refers to athleticism, i.e., speed, agility, stamina, etc. Psychological development relates to attitude and includes such things as enthusiasm, work rate, and determination.
The extent to which these components of player development apply to individuals will vary at different age levels but they are all vitally important when assessing the complete development picture of an individual player. Players are rated based on each of the areas outlined above and a rating is determined. The quantity of new players needed to fill open roster spots is determined and players whose average tryout grade places them within the needed quantity are placed in the player draft for selection to a team. If, in the opinion of the selecting coach and with the concurrence of the Director of the Classic Division, a player is unable to continue to demonstrate the requisite level of technical, tactical, physical, or psychological development, the player may be asked to withdraw from the Division.
Training
Classic Division teams conduct regular practices. Additionally, player-development training sessions are offered with instruction from professional trainers. Attendance and full participation in player development sessions and team practices are required in order to fully benefit from Classic Division play. Classic Division teams may start practice earlier and may practice more often before and during the season than recreational teams. The Classic Division abides by the SASA Recreation Division rule of no more than three events per week. Events include, but are not limited to, practices, professional training sessions, and games. Classic Division coaches are required to be certified (USSF E) within a year of entry into the Division. Classic Division players and families must be more serious about the game and together the coaches, players, and families create an atmosphere that is more conducive to individual development. Only players who are willing to devote themselves to such a training regimen should tryout for Classic Division play.
Special Requests
Unlike most Recreation Division teams, Classic Division teams are generally not organized geographically or by school districts. Teams are generally formed by the methods discussed above with emphasis placed on team balance. Apart from tryout results, only the aspect of siblings playing together is incorporated into team formation. Requests for carpooling, neighborhood practice locations, etc., are considered as long as team balance can be preserved. If local practice fields and carpooling are imperative then participation in the Classic Division may not be the best option. Similarly, the Division responds to requests for friends to be placed on the same team insofar as team balance can be preserved.
Uniforms
The SASA Board determines uniform style and colors for the Classic Division. All players must own a standard-issue Classic Division uniform. Teams playing in VYSA-sanctioned tournaments are required to wear the SASA Classic Division uniforms. Players shall wear a proper uniform to all games. Shirts should be tucked in and socks shall cover the shin guards. In inclement weather, players may wear additional clothing of similar color beneath the standard uniform items, e.g., a sweatshirt of a similar color may be worn underneath the uniform jersey but may not be worn on top of the jersey. No child may practice or play in a game without shin guards. Non-approved footwear (e.g. footwear with metal cleats or toe cleat) is not permitted.
Team Sizes
Classic teams follow the same team-size guidelines as Recreation Division teams. The Classic Division Director reserves the right to form teams of suitable sizes depending upon coach and player availability.
Conduct
Spectators and teams will be located on opposite sides of the field. Coaches are held responsible for the conduct of their players as well as their spectators. Unsporting conduct on the part of coaches, parents, and players will not be tolerated. Classic Division coaches, by virtue of their sideline demeanor, are expected to set a positive example for their players and spectators. Coaches are expected to foster more competitive play by e.g., removing players from the field whenever they go ahead by three goals (e.g., if a team has a 3 - 0 lead, a player may be removed from the field). An additional player may be removed for each additional goal that increases the lead until the minimum number of players are left on the field. See SASA Recreation Division Rules for minimum number of players.
Web Page/Hotline
Cancellation information can be heard on the SASA hotline by dialing 540-657-2010. The information regarding field closures, etc. will also be posted on this site.
