SYA DRAFT PROCEDURES – Anklebiter Division Teams

Please remember the Player Participation Rule applies at the Anklebiter level!!

ALL PLAYERS MUST HAVE A STARTING POSITION ON OFFENSE OR DEFENSE – ANY ABUSE OF THIS RULE IS GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL AS A COACH IN SYA!!

Note: The Anklebiter (AB) draft will be overseen by the SYA Commissioner or his appointee(s). To ensure a fair and equitable draft, the AB draft will “NOT” be run by an AB coach. The goal for the AB division is to have balanced teams that are competitive in the FCYFL. All players in the AB division are to be drafted with one goal in mind, to create “EQUAL” AB teams within SYA. The AB division is the foundation of the SYA football program and is extremely important to the development and future involvement of these kids in football. A positive experience at this level can lead to years of participation in youth football and is where we cultivate the love of the game in our players. This is our highest priority.

If there are 2 or more Anklebiter teams, the following will apply:

• An AB Head Coach of the current year that was a coach of record from the previous year, either as an Assistant or Head Coach, may be allowed to protect no more than 4 players (this includes your child) from their previous year’s roster in the draft selection process. Only the Head Coach of the current year can protect players from their previous year’s roster and no player may be protected by a current year’s assistant coach. Coaches must declare their intended protected players before any draft procedures can begin.

• If a draft order needs to be determined then the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. will be placed in a hat and the draft order will be drawn accordingly. This will be done ONLY AFTER the top running backs and skilled players are determined. The draft will be conducted in a serpentine order, reversing each round.

• Prior to any drafting and protecting of players all of the AB Head Coaches and the AB Commissioner will identify the top running backs in the division based on the number of teams to be drafted. These players must be within a reasonable range of the weight requirements for carrying the football at the AB level. These players will be picked first, no exceptions, in draft order, with one going to each team. If one of these players is an intended protected player then that coach will get the player. The remaining running backs will be chosen by the determined draft order. No coach can protect more than one of these players.

• Next, all of the AB Head Coaches and the AB Commissioner will identify the best remaining skilled players to be selected in the second round based on the number of teams to be drafted. These players also must be within a reasonable range of the weight requirements for carrying the football at the AB level. These players will be picked second, no exceptions, in reverse draft order, with one going to each team. If one of these players is an intended protected player then that coach will get the player. The remaining skilled players will be chosen by the determined draft order. No coach can protect more than one of these players.

• After the running backs and skilled players are selected then the draft will begin with the third round with coaches selecting players.

• No coach can protect more than 1 player in any given round. For example no coach can protect more than 1 player in the first round, or more than 1 player in the second round, or more than 1 player in the third round, etc., etc.

• Each AB Head Coach is responsible for rating every AB player. This may be done in conjunction with their assistants. Players will be rated using a standardized form with a number system. Each player will be evaluated in every category with a number 1-5, with 5 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. These ratings will be accumulated into a spread sheet which will be used to rank the players for the draft. This will slot the protected players fairly.

• If your 4 protected players are the best players in rounds 1 thru 4 then you are not allowed to select another player until all other coaches choose 5 players (this assumes the other coaches do not protect any players). You get the 4^th pick in the 5^th round of the draft if there are 4 anklebiter teams (ie: defined as the opposing coaches get the first 5 picks in this year’s pool of players). You will then return to your selected draft order position. If your 4 protected players are not the top 4 picks then they will be protected in the round where they fall based on the ranking system.

• Fathers serving as assistant coaches will be expected to follow their player and the proper placement of the player will always come first.

• The process of recruiting Assistant coaches with sons of high football ability to play on one team will not be tolerated.

• If a previous years Head Coach and that coaches Assistant are both AB Head Coaches in the current year then the previous years Head Coach has first choice of the 4 players that may be protected.

• Remember, the Anklebiter division is considered an instructional division where fundamentals, sportsmanship and fun are the keys to success.

• If disagreements cannot be settled among our coaches, the SYA Commissioner, the AB Commissioner & SYA Director of Coach Development will call a draft at a location of their choosing and institute a Blind Draft.