Team Selection Policy - Juniors

Junior sport often involves team selection, whether that’s pre-season grading, coaches selecting weekly teams or try outs for special teams or events. 

It can be common for selection decisions to cause issues and conflict in clubs. It’s important to manage junior selections well, ensuring children’s enjoyment is top priority and club culture remains positive and respectful.

Encouraging participation for all children and youth

According to the Clearinghouse for Sport there are several key factors that motivate children’s participation in sport:

• Having fun and enjoying themselves.
• Hanging out with friends.
• Learning new skills.
• Feeling like they belong as part of a group.
• To build their fitness and physical health.

Team selection and competition design

It’s understandable that winning is a club goal, yet clubs and associations should consider the factors above that drive participation for children and youth. Team selection processes should avoid a focus on winning above all else, or stacking teams during finals.

Well graded competitions can support better skill development and cater to children and youth who:

• Are new to sport.
• Have lower confidence, and will benefit from playing with children of similar abilities and motivations.
• Are seeking a greater competitive challenge.

Giving children and youth the opportunity to play in a variety of positions can aid their development and enjoyment by supporting their confidence and helping them learn new skills.
 

Tips for parents

Junior sport selections are an exciting time. It's the start of the season, event or program - a time to test skills, meet new friends and have fun. But for some kids, it can also be a time of uncertainty, worry and disappointment.

All adults involved in junior sport selections have a role to play in keeping environments positive and safe, and making sure children's enjoyment is top priority.

Here's how parents can help:

• Understand the selection process for your child’s team or club – read any relevant selection guidelines or policies. Ask questions of the club or coach to make sure you feel clear on the rules as they apply.
• Always be positive and relaxed - your actions and words have an impact on your child’s behaviour.
• Be open minded – sometimes initial disappointment can turn into positives – for example, missing out on a team with friends, can lead to making new friends.
• If issues arise, avoid discussing them with other parents or in front of children. If you have questions or feedback, raise them in a respectful way with the coach, selection panel or club committee.
• Treat the coach, club committee and volunteers with respect at all times.

Always abide by your club code of conduct and child safe practices.
 

Team selections, policies and the law

Every sport that receives federal government funding is required to have a Safeguarding Children & Young People Policy. The policy must comply with standards set by Sport Integrity Australia. The policy that applies to your club will have information about behaviours not allowed in your sport like discrimination and bullying of people under 18. 

Regardless of your team selection policy, complaints of discrimination, bullying or harassment must be managed according to the relevant Safeguarding Children & Young People Policy.

State, territory and commonwealth anti-discrimination legislation makes it unlawful to discriminate against a child or young person based on certain protected characteristics.