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Bellaire Soccer Club

Hints about HYSA Bracketing

February 2006

Coaches - it's not mandatory, but I strongly suggest attending the HYSA bracketing meeting in person. It's a great way to get a bead on where the teams in your age group are placing themselves, and you may have a chance to adjust accordingly.  Over time you will get to know the competition in your age group and this will help you place your team within that spectrum.

Also, at bracketing, you have a chance to notice and correct any unexpected errors that could dog your team through the entire season. The decisions made at bracketing determine the schedule of opponents that you will receive.

In short, an hour or so of your time can save you a lot of grief throughout the whole spring, and can go a long way toward placing your team in future seasons as your age group continues on through HYSA.

Someone from the club will be there "officially," but that person really will not know enough or be empowered enough to speak specifically for your teams interests.

And you can learn a lot, too.  I have found it to be invaluable in my own development as a coach.

Once you get to the meeting there will be a handout in the front of the room. Right away, review the information about your bracket and be sure you agree so that when your bracket is reviewed you can either object (and state your reason) or accept. Things go fast, and once the committee passes your bracket, it will not go back -- the positions are final!

If you are a new or relatively new coach and want some advice about bracketing, please contact a coach in our club. Feel free to ask me, too.

Ron Vlaskamp