BAYS Division Structure
In BAYS teams are separated into 4 Divisions with multiple sections within each division. The number of sections will vary based on the number of teams registered and most sections carry 6 teams to allow for 10 games (some sections will be larger or smaller accommodate all teams registered with BAYS for each division). Sections run alphabetically with A being the most competitive and becoming less competitive as you move down the alphabet. Each division is described below:
- Division 1
- Most competitive – elite level
- Playoff eligible in Spring (Grade 6 & older)
- Typically just 1-3 sections (A-C)
- Teams placed on skill, club request and past record
- Division 2
- Competitive –very high skill level
- Playoff eligible in Spring (Grade 6 & older)
- Typically 6-8 sections (A-H)
- Teams placed on skill, club request and past record
- Division 3
- Moderately competitive – high skill level
- No playoffs
- Typically 15-18 sections (A-R)
- Teams placed by skill and geography (BAYS will try and keep travel to less than 40 minutes IF enough similarly skilled teams)
- Division 4
- Least competitive – lower skill level
- No playoffs
- Typically 8-12 sections (A-L)
- Teams placed by skill and geography
NYS/BAYS Schedule
Norwood Youth Soccer must adhere to the registration deadlines imposed by BAYS to allow the league ample time to place teams and create schedules. Recruiting for a new season starts as soon as registration is opened, usually during the final weeks of the current season. Below is an outline of a typical season and what the NYS board does during each period followed by the current BAYS fall and spring schedules.
- End of current season
- Registration runs until 2-3 weeks prior to BAYS deadline for registering teams or 11-12 weeks prior to games starting
- Registration opens for the following season
- During Registration period NYS will
- Monitor registration and volunteer numbers
- Recruit additional players and coaches as needed
- Consider moving new (latest) registrants to waitlist early if risk of overloading teams becomes high
- 2-3 weeks prior to BAYS team registration deadline & team building begins
- Registration closes and late fee applied.
- All new registrants are waitlisted
- Evaluate the number of players registered and how many coaches have volunteered to determine how many teams to register
- Review previous season’s record and knowledge of current roster to determine what division/section to place the team in
- Waitlisted players released as space allows
- Recruit additional players and coaches as needed
- Team Registration due to BAYS late mid-late January for the spring or late June/early July for the fall (9-10 weeks prior to games starting)
- Team Placement finalized early March/ late August (2 weeks prior to games)
- Final rosters due late February/ early August (3-4 weeks prior to games)
- Games start early April/Early September and run 10 weeks