How are the teams made?

For each division, we start with our list of coaches and distribute the players among them with the following considerations in the order listed:

1. Coaches are paired with their requested co-coach.
2. Players are placed on the same team as their parent/guardian coach unless the coach requests otherwise.
3. Teams with a single coach are matched with team managers and their respective players.
4. Player buddy requests (first buddy only).
5. Age and gender balancing across all teams.

Why do you require at least two volunteer staff per team?

The lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic year after year have made it obvious to us that expecting a single coach to stay healthy, happy and available for the entire season is a near-impossible ask.  Multiple coaches offers huge benefits over single coaches, among which:

• More ideas.
• Less waiting by the players.
• Absences are covered by a familiar face instead of strangers.
• More eyes on the game = better follow-up practices.
• Division of labor (admin duties, running drills, substitutions, player positions, etc.).
• Less burnout.

My player really wants to be on the same team as their buddy.  Is there a way to guarantee that they will be on the same team?

Actually there is! If the parents/guardians of two players sign on as coaches AND request each other to co-coach a team (registration step 2.6), their respective players are guaranteed to be placed on the same team provided that they are in the same division.