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Rising youth registrations strain Escalon rec programs; staff seeks more coaches and space
Summary
Recreation staff reported registrations have climbed (staff said over 400) and described coach shortages that have led to waitlists and procedural changes such as auto‑draft rules and blind selection for players who miss evaluations.
Recreation staff told the Escalon Recreation Commission on Nov. 12 that youth program registrations have increased sharply this year and that staff are managing waitlists until volunteer coaches are secured.
Recreation staff said registration had exceeded prior records and that the department "are at over 400 now," prompting the use of waitlists until coaches are recruited. Staff described a current need for at least three coaches for basketball divisions (JV girls age 7–8, starter boys 9–11, and an all‑star girls coach to form a separate girls division). "We need a JV coach, a starter boys coach and an all star girls coach," staff said.
Commissioners and staff discussed team sizes and substitution concerns; Chair Trejo advised not exceeding about 10 players per team where possible so substitutions remain manageable. Commissioners suggested outreach to high‑school athletes, the Boys & Girls Club and other community pools for coaches.
The commission also reviewed complaints about delayed coach contact after draft nights and technical issues with roster distribution. Staff explained current practice: teams are drafted, rosters are released after assignments are finalized and an automatic email is sent to coaches — though staff acknowledged some messages go to spam. To improve fairness for players who miss evaluation days, staff described a blind selection method used for one sport and a stricter enforcement of evaluation attendance in others (flag football used two evaluation days and blind selection at the draft for absent players).
Jersey and uniform issues also surfaced: staff said an MLS supplier’s shipment lacked numbers on backs, causing confusion when similar colors faced one another. Staff said they are working on processes to ensure numbers or alternate jerseys are available in future seasons.
No policy change was adopted at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to continue recruitment work and to explore roster/automation options to close communication gaps.
