What Is A House League

A house league for children and adults means that everyone who registers, plays; you do not make the team. In a house league the players are split up into teams based on who they want to play with, their sex, age, which parent has volunteered to coach and team age distribution in an attempt to keep teams even. There is no guarantee that the teams will be equal nor that players desire to play with particular players can be accomodated.

A house league depends on parents who volunteer to coach youth teams. The club cannot guarantee that every team will have a coach as we depend on those volunteers. In those rare instances where there is not a coach, it is important that the parents pull together to make the team work so that their children will have an enjoyable time.

In organizing a house league the principal rule is to do what parents want for their children. Sometimes some parents lose sight of the importance to keep teams even in ability. This can result in teams winning every week and by large scores. This result causes great difficulty for those organizing due to the complaints of other teams. To make a house league function smoothly, it is imperative that parents and coaches be fair in their requests so that all teams will be equal in ability.

Sometimes coaches can bring to a house league a discipline and set of expectations which create very strong teams. This fact is normal and acceptable; however, in that situation where weaker players are not given an equal playing time, the whole raison d'etre of a house league is lost. The reason for a house league is not found in the winning of the game but in the playing of the game; the intangible result of which is that every player's feeling of self worth is reinforced because they were an integral part of the team. No set of rules or policing of those rules can possibly control this attitude- the parents and coach of the team need to work this out on a week by week basis recognizing that each person has their own unique perspective on this situation where the desire to win is put in conflict with fielding a player who is not strong. The decisions made may not always be perfect, but in general to make everthing work the person in charge of the team should be given the support and recognition from the parents, especially in front of the children

Some people are disappointed in what they find in a house league. In our soccer club (1) there are no rules concerning attendance. (2) Our league runs continuously from mid May to the 3rd week in August. Some teams will default games. Those people who expect the same level of committment as their own will be disappointed. There are soccer clubs adjacent to us which operate a season in May - June which might be more appropriate for them. We do expect there to be a game iregardless as to how many players have turned up. (3) some teams will be weak. By the time this is discovered it is usually too late to make changes in the teams without disturbing other children. (4) training is based on volunteers, some of whom have never played soccer. Those who desire a high level of training are encouraged not to register in the house league but to try out for a competitive team or enter a soccer academy training program. (5) Sometimes some parents of children on the team will take exception to the decisions of the volunteer coach; as an example the amount of playing times for their child. While the club tries to accomodate all parents wishes at all times, the club will not mediate between parents. Given the essential role of the volunteer coach, it is important for parents to accept the coach's decisions. (6) In our club we try very hard to register every one who wants to play. The reasoning is that what we have should be available to all children. If we add a 12th player on a team or if we add an extra team no one is particularly inconvenienced and in the process we have made one child happy.