YOUTH ATHLETICS TEAM FORMATION GUIDELINES

The following youth sports guidelines have been developed in an effort to create a fair and equitable way to form Lombard Park District youth sports teams.

Grades 1-2
• All teams will be formed in an effort to distribute players based on age and skill level.
• All first graders will be allowed one friendship request. For any friendship request to be honored the friend must also request the participant.
Example: If Billy requests Tommy, then Tommy must also request Billy.
• All second graders will receive the choice of either a friendship request or returning to their previous team.

Grades 3-4
• All teams will be formed in an effort to distribute players based on age and skill level.
• All third graders will be allowed one friendship request. For any friendship request to be honored the friend must also request the participant.
Example: If Billy requests Tommy, then Tommy must also request Billy.
• All fourth graders will receive the choice of either a friendship request or returning to their previous team.*

Grades 5-6
• All teams will be formed in an effort to distribute players based on age and skill level.
• All fifth graders will be allowed one friendship request. For any friendship request to be honored the friend must also request the participant.
Example: If Billy requests Tommy, then Tommy must also request Billy.
• All sixth graders will receive the choice of either a friendship request or returning to their previous team.*

Grades 7-8
• All teams will be formed in an effort to distribute players based on age and skill level.
• All seventh graders will be allowed one friendship request. For any friendship request to be honored the friend must also request the participant.
Example: If Billy requests Tommy, then Tommy must also request Billy.
• All eighth graders will receive the choice of either a friendship request or returning to their previous team.

When forming youth softball teams the two oldest grades will be allowed this option. After friendship requests are paired up, participants will be assigned to teams taking into account a variety of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, age, skill, gender, school, geographical location, and special circumstance.

Each team will automatically have the coach’s and assistant coach’s children placed on their team. Each head coach is only assigned one assistant coach. In the event a coach requests an assistant, this will also count as their friendship request. All siblings falling within the same age group will be placed on the same team. Participants who are on the wait list will not be guaranteed a team or a friendship request.