Hawks Team Formation & Draft Process

(Website Version – Parent Friendly)

Our Goal

At La Pine Sports Academy, our goal is simple:

👉 Create balanced teams, a fair experience, and a positive environment for every player.

To do this, we use a structured team formation and draft process for our recreational divisions.

What is a “Draft”?

A draft is a way to build teams where:

• Coaches take turns selecting players
• Players are grouped by skill level first
• Teams are built evenly instead of stacking talent

👉 This helps ensure all teams are competitive and balanced

Player Skill Assessments (Not Tryouts)

All players will participate in a player skill assessment before the season.

• This is NOT a tryout
• No players are cut
• Every registered player will be placed on a team

Why we do this:

• To understand each player’s current skill level
• To group players fairly
• To help build balanced teams

How it works:

• Multiple coaches evaluate players
• Players are placed into general skill levels (1–5)
• No single coach decides a player’s ranking

👉 The goal is to place every player in the best environment to learn, grow, and have fun

Player Skill Levels

Players are placed into general skill groups:

• 5 – Advanced
• 4 – Strong
• 3 – Developing
• 2 – Emerging
• 1 – Beginner

These are used only to help create balanced teams, not to label players.

How the Draft Works

• Coaches are randomly assigned a draft order
• The draft follows a snake format

Example:

• Round 1: Team A, B, C, D
• Round 2: Team D, C, B, A

This continues until all teams are filled.

How Teams Stay Balanced

To keep things fair:

• Teams must select evenly across skill levels
• No team can stack top-ranked players
• Each team builds gradually from all skill levels

👉 This ensures every team has a mix of players and a chance to compete

Draft Timing (Important)

• Each coach has 90 seconds to make a pick

If time runs out:
👉 The team will automatically receive the highest-ranked available player

• The draft will continue without stopping
• This keeps the process fair and on schedule

Coach & Assistant Coach Players

• Coach and assistant coach children:
  • Participate in skill assessments like all players
  • Count as that team’s pick within their skill group

Players Who Miss Assessments

• Players who miss assessments are still placed on a team
• They will be selected in the final round of the draft

👉 This helps maintain fairness for all players

Friend Requests

8U and below

• One mutual friend request allowed
• Must not affect team balance

10U and above

• No friend or team requests allowed
• Teams are formed strictly through the draft

👉 As players get older, the focus shifts to fairness and competition

Trades & Team Changes

• Trades are rare and strictly controlled
• Must be approved by league leadership
• No changes are allowed after teams are finalized

Final Team Review

Before the season starts:

• Teams are reviewed for overall balance

Once games begin:
👉 Teams are locked for the season

CLICK HERE FOR Draft Process FAQ'S