All Divisions

Siblings in the same division may be placed together on the same team. Since it is not always clear which children are siblings, it is important for parents of siblings to request that the siblings be placed together by submitting a Sibling Form. Siblings include brothers, sisters, half-brothers, half-sisters, step-brothers and step-sisters playing in the same division. Cousins are not siblings.

No “playing up” or “playing down” (playing outside your age group) are permitted for the purpose of buddying except in the case of Under-7 players “playing up” with a sibling in the Under-8 division.

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U19, U16, U14, U12, and U10 Divisions

While friends may randomly end up on the same team, special requests to play on the same team with a friend will not be honored. The only exception is for siblings in the same division. We cannot honor “buddy requests” since we strive for Balanced Teams, one of AYSO's Five Philosophies.

In these divisions, players are assigned to teams by a computer algorithm designed to balance teams in terms of ability, age, and experience as far as possible.

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Under-7 & Under-8 Divisions

We accept buddy requests in the Under-7 and Under-8 age divisions since they are non-competitive. While we will also balance these teams as much as possible, pairs of players from the same age group may submit a U7/U8 Buddy Form. (signed by a parent of each player) requesting they be assigned to the same team.

We will not accept buddy requests for more than two players, nor will we accept buddy requests with the same player listed on more than one form. Finally, players already buddying with a sibling (or siblings) and players associated through coach/assistant coach pairings may not submit a second buddy form. Even though no score and no standings are kept in our Under-7 and Under-8 divisions, we still aim to place our players on balanced teams.

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Under-6 Division

In the Under-6 division, we feel that since all of the players are inexperienced, balance is impossible to predict. Therefore we accept a U6 Buddy Form for up to a full team of seven players. We require buddy groups of three or more players to include a Head Coach volunteer.

The players on the buddy form must be either all boys or all girls, and every player must be in the Under-6 age division. A parent of every player listed on the buddy form must sign the form. Finally, requests for teams larger than seven players cannot be accepted since we are determined to follow another of AYSO's Five Philosophies, Everyone Plays.

Contact the registrar at registrar@phmsa.org via email or by phone at 686-2824 Ext 2 with questions about the buddy policy.

Buddy forms are available for download as PDF forms (see appropriate links above). Printed copies will be available at Registration.

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North South Team Formations

PHMSA forms teams in the U6 through U10 age divisions by city. Pleasant Hill residents are placed on teams formed in Pleasant Hill (South), Martinez residents are placed on teams formed in Martinez (North). Although we try to do our best with this process, there are no guarantees based upon number of coaches that sign up for those divisions that completely eliminate the chance that some kids may have to play in their neighboring city. One of AYSO’s 5 philosophies are “Balanced Teams”, this philosophy takes precedence over the North / South team formations and any buddy pairs that are requested in the U6 through U8 divisions. PHMSA will continue to make every attempt to adhere to this formation structure with the idea that the “Balancing of Teams” is our primary goal.

Note: U12 through U19 divisions do not use the North / South team formation structure.

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