Team Selection: New Info

Following recent discussion among the club management, the procedures for any week where we have too many players for the match squad have been tweaked.  Here's what you need to know:

From now on, if numbers are high, ALL players will still be asked "does anyone fancy missing out?" BUT if anyone DOES volunteer, it will NOT count in any tally of matches missed. The previous system was open to abuse, i.e. a player could easily opt to miss out on a night when he KNOWS he can't play, which defeats the object.  If a player KNOWS he can't play, then he can't play and he shouldn't benefit from that.  Players are welcome to volunteer to miss out but are also welcome to NEVER volunteer.

If insufficient people volunteer to miss out, then the selection panel of four (captain Greg and three vice-captains Tremayne, Lee and Joe) are empowered by the club to decide whether a player should miss a match for any reason.  Any player in financial debt to the club should expect to miss out.  Above and beyond that, the selection panel of four are empowered to decide if any other player deserves to miss out for any reason.  Click here to read more about the kind of thing which might lead to a player missing a match.  Any player being asked to miss out will be encouraged to still attend the match, and indeed it would be hugely in their favour if they DID attend the match, because (a) they might be needed if there are injuries or last-minute dropouts and (b) if we're losing 1-0 with 5 mins to go they could be ball boys to help give us a chance to draw level, or they could do some filming, or help run the substitutions, etc etc etc.   The club will absolutely trust the selection panel of four to manage players being told that they are getting less playing time because for whatever reason, they deserve less playing time.  Players are entitled to a full and frank explanation of why they're being asked to miss a match, and the selection panel of four will between them ensure that this is communicated.

Commitment to the club, both on and off the field of play, will play a big part in the selection criteria.  Commitment comes in many, many forms and I'm not going to insult anyone's intelligence by going into detail here about the kind of things that constitute excellent commitment and the kind of things that represent poor commitment.  If you're interested, ask!

If we're STILL left with more than 14 players available for selection, then the selection panel of four should by all means have a "rota" for all players to miss the occasional match. Players who are asked to miss out will be under no obligation to attend and, while they will be asked to attend after all in the event of dropouts, will reserve the right not to do so.

Greg (or, in his absence, whichever of the vice-captains is running the show in a particular week) needs to know if you are available for selection by 8pm on Wednesday, the day before a match.  You will be notified by 12pm on the Thursday at the latest if you are missing out.  If for any reason you need to know earlier than that, you should let the selection panel of four know your special requirements – whether that's a permanent thing or just for a particular week.

The above guidelines will, it is hoped, foster and encourage all members to be shining examples of commitment and fair play.  These guidelines should help to keep our club healthy and happy.

If the selection panel of four ask you to miss a match for any reason, please make sure you listen carefully to their reasons, please understand that the selection panel of four is united in agreement, and is backed up 100% by the rest of the club's management team (Stuart, Simon, Andrew and Phill).  If you disagree with the selection panel of four's decision, you are welcome to raise any objections at the club's AGM.

If anyone has any questions or comments about any of the above, please speak to/email/text any of the club's management team.

Up the Accies!