Feature image for Softening The Draft

Softening The Draft

Youth-sports administrators share approaches to skill assessments and team drafts that reduce stress while creating balanced teams.

4 min read

Photo Credit: Courtesy of NAYS

No matter what the sport or the age of the children, conducting skill assessments, tryouts, drafts—or whatever label you want to apply to the process—in creating balanced teams in youth-sports programs can be a real challenge for recreation professionals.

And it’s really stressful for the kids taking part.

In a recent email from a recreation professional seeking some guidance on the issue, she wrote: