Team Formation

Westwood Youth Soccer – Team Formation Goals & Guidelines

Our Approach

Our goal at WYS is simple: help every player develop their skills, build confidence, and enjoy the game. When players are placed at the appropriate level—where they can be both challenged and successful—they are more likely to grow and stay engaged in soccer for years to come.

Playing at the Appropriate Level
We aim to place players on teams where they can succeed, feel challenged, and have fun alongside teammates and against opponents of similar ability.

Player Movement Is Normal
Movement between teams from season to season is a natural part of development. Changes may occur based on registration numbers, team size changes, and player growth.

Every Team Offers Opportunity
All teams provide valuable chances to learn. Some players benefit from more touches on the ball, more space to make decisions, or leadership opportunities that come from different team environments.

How Teams Are Formed

Team placement decisions are made using multiple inputs to ensure a robust and thoughtful process:

Independent Evaluations

Neutral evaluators observe players during games and assess skills, awareness, effort, and teamwork using a standardized scoring system.

Coach Feedback

Head and Assistant Coaches individually submit feedback on skill level, attendance, coachability, attitude, and willingness to play different positions. 

Holistic Review

Evaluations and coach input are reviewed together by the Director of Coaching, the age group coordinator, and multiple WYS Board members to determine team placements.

If you'd like more detail on how this process works, we've put together an FAQ that walks through the key steps and answers common questions. You can find the FAQ here.

Helping Your Child Through Team Release

Team placements are exciting, but they can also bring up big feelings—especially if a child ends up on a different team than a friend or on a new team altogether. 

A few tips that can help:

• Remind your child that every team is a chance to build new friendships and grow as a player.

• Keep the focus on effort, teamwork, and having fun rather than who's on which team.

• If they're disappointed, give them space to feel that, then help them look forward to the season ahead.

By working together—players, parents, and coaches—we can ensure every child in Westwood Youth Soccer has the opportunity to grow, improve, and develop a lifelong love of the game.