Sports tryouts—is this standard?

[Anonymous]

Kid is trying out for HS soccer for the first time. Coach sent a schedule of what each day of tryouts will focus on, and what criteria will be used to judge players.

Is this standard? Yes, I realize it can all be b.s. but I was impressed by how clear and comprehensive it was. My kid has only done track before, where there is a cutoff time and that’s it.

[Anonymous]

HS soccer tryouts were nuts for my son, who had played soccer since he was 3 and who played travel from age 10. Almost 200 kids tried out, and my son made it through the first six cuts before getting cut in the last round. It was ridiculously intense. It was organized, but extremely intense.

My son wound up moving to live with his dad for the rest of high school because he could attend a very good private school up north. He played soccer at that school for the last three years of high school.

[Anonymous]

My son wants to try out at Westfield tomorrow. He registered awhile ago through the website, but hasn't been sent ANYTHING. All we know is what the school posted on the athetics website, which is a time and location for Monday only, along with a message to "be prepared!". Be prepared how? He doesn't even know what to bring. Just show up with soccer cleats? It seems unfair to be competing against kids who tried out last year and know exactly what to bring and expect.

They didn't have even one soccer green day all year unlike friends at other schools, so its not like he could meet the coach or ask anyone. I'm a little baffled b/c he did a fall sport that was SO organized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son wants to try out at Westfield tomorrow. He registered awhile ago through the website, but hasn't been sent ANYTHING. All we know is what the school posted on the athetics website, which is a time and location for Monday only, along with a message to "be prepared!". Be prepared how? He doesn't even know what to bring. Just show up with soccer cleats? It seems unfair to be competing against kids who tried out last year and know exactly what to bring and expect.

They didn't have even one soccer green day all year unlike friends at other schools, so its not like he could meet the coach or ask anyone. I'm a little baffled b/c he did a fall sport that was SO organized.

Bring water, cleats, and shin guards. What else do you need to bring for soccer tryouts? Not a parent at your school but someone who knows what equipment is needed for soccer. Maybe your kid could email the Coach and ask, that would show some initiative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son wants to try out at Westfield tomorrow. He registered awhile ago through the website, but hasn't been sent ANYTHING. All we know is what the school posted on the athetics website, which is a time and location for Monday only, along with a message to "be prepared!". Be prepared how? He doesn't even know what to bring. Just show up with soccer cleats? It seems unfair to be competing against kids who tried out last year and know exactly what to bring and expect.

They didn't have even one soccer green day all year unlike friends at other schools, so its not like he could meet the coach or ask anyone. I'm a little baffled b/c he did a fall sport that was SO organized.

Bring water, cleats, and shin guards. What else do you need to bring for soccer tryouts? Not a parent at your school but someone who knows what equipment is needed for soccer. Maybe your kid could email the Coach and ask, that would show some initiative.

NP-Usually soccer tryouts will tell kids to also bring running shoes, a plain specific color t-shirt, etc. Its not about "equipment needed for soccer", its about what players need to participate in an organized tryout for 150+ boys.

[Anonymous]

Have they checked to see if the team has an IG? Tryout checklists are frequently posted there.

[Anonymous]

When my son tried out for Westfield soccer several years ago they had 172 boys try out. This was under a previous coach so my info on the tryout would not be helpful.

Maybe they are trying to thin the herd by providing zero information.

[Anonymous]

Its very strange to not have any green days for a sport all year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid is trying out for HS soccer for the first time. Coach sent a schedule of what each day of tryouts will focus on, and what criteria will be used to judge players.

Is this standard? Yes, I realize it can all be b.s. but I was impressed by how clear and comprehensive it was. My kid has only done track before, where there is a cutoff time and that’s it.

Do you mind posting it?

[Anonymous]

Yes. That’s what the lacrosse tryout process is like at our FCPS school too.

I think it is smart of the coach, so they are ready for when parents complain that Larlo didn’t make the team, they can point to the criteria that they used.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid is trying out for HS soccer for the first time. Coach sent a schedule of what each day of tryouts will focus on, and what criteria will be used to judge players.

Is this standard? Yes, I realize it can all be b.s. but I was impressed by how clear and comprehensive it was. My kid has only done track before, where there is a cutoff time and that’s it.

I coached in FCPS for 20 years and this is standard. Every sport must have a rubric and all tryout decisions must be backed up by what individuals scored on the rubric.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my son tried out for Westfield soccer several years ago they had 172 boys try out. This was under a previous coach so my info on the tryout would not be helpful.

Maybe they are trying to thin the herd by providing zero information.

Yes, the Westfield tryouts were brutal. One year, it was 170+ and another year, it was 190+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. That’s what the lacrosse tryout process is like at our FCPS school too.

I think it is smart of the coach, so they are ready for when parents complain that Larlo didn’t make the team, they can point to the criteria that they used.

Lacrosse is no cut at most schools!

[Anonymous]

Which is surprising that they would send out NO information. Don't they even want to know what travel teams the kids play on, or separate the JV kids from the Varsity? How can you fairly evaluate 175 boys with zero organization?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its very strange to not have any green days for a sport all year.

How do you know for sure they haven’t? Green Days seemed to be a word of mouth thing in our kids experiences.