1st time trying out for travel (older child)

[Anonymous]

This will be my daughter's first time trying out for travel in NOVA. What should she expect (she is U13)? She has played on a competitive rec team (no local travel team) but we just moved to the area -- will she automatically have a mark against her for not playing travel? She has great footwork, is fast and is a strategic player if that info helps. I would really appreciate hearing from parents of older players (over U11) especially!

[Anonymous]

If she is a very good player, the fact that she did not play on a "travel" team should be irrelevant to any coach.

Of course this area is overloaded with good travel soccer players so depending on which club she is trying out for, her best shot at a roster spot may be on a B or C team.

The good news is that all team rosters have to expand at U13 by several players to accommodate playing 11v11 so there should be several roster openings (at least on the B/C teams).

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

At that age, our club would likely have the girls run through some basic footwork drills so they can observe her touch on the ball, then move into some small-sided possession games where they'll look for her ability to make quick, well placed passes under pressure from a defender (and likewise her ability to apply pressure and gain possession as a defender). Then they may move into a scrimmage. If there are a lot of players out there, you may see players moved from scrimmage to scrimmage as they seek to organize the groups into similarly skilled players. They may also do some sprints and/or agility drills to gauge speed, athleticism, fitness, etc. She may be forced to play a position out of her comfort zone (she thinks of herself as a forward but they'll put her in center back), and she should be able to roll with that. They'll watch how she interacts with other players, how she recovers or reacts to an error or challenge, and whether she can adjust her play when coached.

I agree with PP - depending on the size of the club and how many kids come to try out, the coaches may not even know where she came from when they're watching her. If she's a good player, it won't matter what club/program she came from.

I've posted this advice before so sorry if it's duplicative, but if at all possible, have her attend an open practice with the team or age group before the tryout so she can get familiar with the coach, the drills they do, the style of play, etc. Also gives the coach the chance to assess her in a less stressful environment and let you know in advance of tryouts whether she or he thinks there might be a fit for her in the club.

Good luck to your daughter!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At that age, our club would likely have the girls run through some basic footwork drills so they can observe her touch on the ball, then move into some small-sided possession games where they'll look for her ability to make quick, well placed passes under pressure from a defender (and likewise her ability to apply pressure and gain possession as a defender). Then they may move into a scrimmage. If there are a lot of players out there, you may see players moved from scrimmage to scrimmage as they seek to organize the groups into similarly skilled players. They may also do some sprints and/or agility drills to gauge speed, athleticism, fitness, etc. She may be forced to play a position out of her comfort zone (she thinks of herself as a forward but they'll put her in center back), and she should be able to roll with that. They'll watch how she interacts with other players, how she recovers or reacts to an error or challenge, and whether she can adjust her play when coached.

I agree with PP - depending on the size of the club and how many kids come to try out, the coaches may not even know where she came from when they're watching her. If she's a good player, it won't matter what club/program she came from.

I've posted this advice before so sorry if it's duplicative, but if at all possible, have her attend an open practice with the team or age group before the tryout so she can get familiar with the coach, the drills they do, the style of play, etc. Also gives the coach the chance to assess her in a less stressful environment and let you know in advance of tryouts whether she or he thinks there might be a fit for her in the club.

Good luck to your daughter!

Ha, ha, ha, ha....our club does zero skills at all ages----just small-sided scrimmages..full-field a little older.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the club, some have already started try-outs. My DD's have a warm-up and then have small scrimmages. I don't think they have room for footskills. It depends on how competitive the club/how many spots as to whether she has a good shot or not. Its really based on how she plays since they won't know her. Its easier for the girls than the boys usually though.

[Anonymous]

What club is she trying out with?

[Anonymous]

Did you check the try out dates? They end soon or have ended for some ages spending in the club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the club, some have already started try-outs. My DD's have a warm-up and then have small scrimmages. I don't think they have room for footskills. It depends on how competitive the club/how many spots as to whether she has a good shot or not. Its really based on how she plays since they won't know her. Its easier for the girls than the boys usually though.

Any club too big to evaluate skills has sucky players. Fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the club, some have already started try-outs. My DD's have a warm-up and then have small scrimmages. I don't think they have room for footskills. It depends on how competitive the club/how many spots as to whether she has a good shot or not. Its really based on how she plays since they won't know her. Its easier for the girls than the boys usually though.

Any club too big to evaluate skills has sucky players. Fact.

+1

The boys they selected out at our U-12 tryout suck big time. Many can barely dribble.

[Anonymous]

OP here: tryouts are next week for the team closest to us. I didn't think to go to more than one team's tryout, that might have been a better plan.

[Anonymous]

Do parents stay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do parents stay?

Many do stay and it is probably a good idea if your kid is new. Depending on the club, you can sometimes also get a sense of where the coaches might be slotting your kid and with which of their teams. Sometimes, the head of coaching also might address the parents about their process, either at the beginning or at the end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the club, some have already started try-outs. My DD's have a warm-up and then have small scrimmages. I don't think they have room for footskills. It depends on how competitive the club/how many spots as to whether she has a good shot or not. Its really based on how she plays since they won't know her. Its easier for the girls than the boys usually though.

Any club too big to evaluate skills has sucky players. Fact.

There were so many players that the 2003 and 2002 tryouts at our club that there's no way all of the players could possibly be seen. We are taking out kids to another tryout just in case they weren't seen and don't get picked, even though they've been with this club for a few years. Since there are new coaches at these two age groups in our club, they know none of the current kids and have no idea what level any of the players are at. My daughter and son were super frustrated at the tryouts because there were so many unskilled player, and at these age groups you would hope that they have been sorted out already. All they did was scrimmage the entire time - no warm ups, no skills at all. Several kids had almost no touches on the ball because the current kids weren't passing to them. I would be frustrated too.

[Anonymous]

Tell her this, focus on the tryout and not worry that she is not included in the groups of other kids, that will happen when she makes the team.

Don't be shy and don't hold back

Don't sit down during breaks,

be aggressive and vocal

thank the coach at the beginning saying thanks for having me out, they will ask her name and then at the end go thank the coach.

Parents should not line the field, step back, watch the other parents be the knuckleheads standing on the sidelines arms crossed talking about more soccer.

have her tell them she plays both offense and defense and play both at the try out.

The key is to separate herself from the others. do what it takes to do that .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the club, some have already started try-outs. My DD's have a warm-up and then have small scrimmages. I don't think they have room for footskills. It depends on how competitive the club/how many spots as to whether she has a good shot or not. Its really based on how she plays since they won't know her. Its easier for the girls than the boys usually though.

Any club too big to evaluate skills has sucky players. Fact.

There were so many players that the 2003 and 2002 tryouts at our club that there's no way all of the players could possibly be seen. We are taking out kids to another tryout just in case they weren't seen and don't get picked, even though they've been with this club for a few years. Since there are new coaches at these two age groups in our club, they know none of the current kids and have no idea what level any of the players are at. My daughter and son were super frustrated at the tryouts because there were so many unskilled player, and at these age groups you would hope that they have been sorted out already. All they did was scrimmage the entire time - no warm ups, no skills at all. Several kids had almost no touches on the ball because the current kids weren't passing to them. I would be frustrated too.

Arlington?