Section8 : Recruiting Program

(this document is a draft and is under review)

by Thumper Dec 18, 2009

Preface : This program is to serve as a guide, and is not an absolute set of rules. As such, exceptions are allowed when it suits the best interest of the team - but exceptions must be presented to the team captain for approval. Also this program is written to be fairly lenient to provide the recruiter some room for judgment as each situation is different.

***Why do we recruit:***

  • It takes a BIG roster to field 24 players to an event.
  • If you don't recruit faster than you loose players the team dies a slow painful death.
  • If you don't bring in new blood your leaders will burn out and the team dies a slow painful death.
  • New blood brings new energy and that can bring the burned out old buzzards back to life.
  • Many hands make light work.
  • If you have enough players at an event, you can do elegant things.
  • If you have a lot of players at an event, everyone has more fun.
  • If you have enough good players at an event, everyone walks just a little taller and the banner shines a bit brighter.
  • In the midlands Section8 doesn't have a home commercial field and as a consequence, we have had to think outside the box for the survival of the team.
  • For a team to be well rounded it will need leadership, youth, and wisdom - stealthy old buzzards and aggressive 50 killers. Achieving this balance requires a conscientious effort.
  • It's hard to practice with 4 guys.

***The Program:***

  • As a guest expresses a desire to enter our recruiting program, the guest should be directed to express that desire to the regional captain for approval...
  • The regional captain informs thumper for section8 -- recruit sig and updates roster.
  • Once a guest enters the recruiting program: all active members should get to know the recruit and express any concerns they have with his play or attitude or general "team fit" to the regional captain and coaches.
  • The coaches in particular should examine the recruit for ability and "coachability".
  • Once it seems the recruit is a keeper, a member steps up and announced he is "sponsoring" that recruit. This may be done publicly or privately.
  • Once the sponsor is satisfied with his recruit, that the recruit has met all requirements for membership, has verified with the recruit that he desires to join the team, and will uphold it's code of conduct then the sponsor calls for a vote. Ideally this is done at a team function and always in person.

***Team Membership Requirements:***

  • 2 away games
  • sponsorship by active member
  • vote called by sponsor
  • vote seconded by senior member, preferably a coach or captain
  • unanimous vote by all members present at event

***Footnotes to recruiting:***

  • Section8 does not recruit active* members from other traveling scenario teams without permission from the captain of that team. (While we allow dual membership, many teams don't) (*active is defined as a player who is actively playing for a team as a full uniformed team member)
  • Section8 does allow open recruiting of all free agents and unsigned players.
  • Section8 does allow open recruiting of players being recruited by other teams until they are "signed" full members of that team; however, consideration should be made to both the disposition of the player and our relationship to the teams that are recruiting him.
****RECRUITER SITUATIONS & SUGGESTIONS*****
SITUATION : Player leaving a team: You know of a player who is leaving a team who we have a friendly cordial relationship with, but the player is unhappy and the team he is on is not meeting his expectations. He has expressed an interest in Section8.

Suggestions :
1) Invite him to check out our website - to see who we are.
2) Invite him into our private team forum - to get to know us - without obligation or commitment - as your guest.
3) Invite him to practice with us - without obligation or commitment - as your guest.
4) Invite him to play with us at an event as your guest to see how we play - again without obligation or commitment.
5) Suggest that he go "free agent" for a while, and put "free agent" in his public sig on what ever forums he frequents to let the various teams know he is an available free agent.. then invite him to practice with us.

SITUATION : Recruit being recruited by multiple teams: You know of a player who is being recruited by multiple teams but has not committed to anyone - and some confusion has occurred:

Suggestions :
1) Invite him to check out our website - to see who we are.
2) Invite him into our private team forum - to get to know us - without obligation or commitment - as your guest.
3) Invite him to practice with us - without obligation or commitment - as your guest.
4) Invite him to play with us at an event as your guest to see how we play - again without obligation or commitment.
5) Suggest that he post "[B]free agent[/B]" in his public sig on what ever forums he frequents and suggest that he let all teams that are recruiting him know that he is an available [B]free agent[/B].. then invite him to practice with us.

SITUATION : One of our active players being recruited by another team: You know one of our active players being recruited by another team:

Suggestions :
1) Approach the player and see where he stands - and let the captain know where he stands.
2) The captain should contact the captain of other team and express his concern as appropriate.