Anonymous
02/22/2026 14:30
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
Anonymous wrote:This makes me sad. My DD will be a freshman in MCPS in August and wants to try out for soccer and basketball. It shouldnt be this cut throat.
Its much, much, much easier for girls to make teams than boys. Some girls who only play rec get on JV soccer and freshman basketball.
Anonymous
02/22/2026 13:48
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
This makes me sad. My DD will be a freshman in MCPS in August and wants to try out for soccer and basketball. It shouldnt be this cut throat.
Anonymous
02/22/2026 13:44
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
Anonymous wrote:For boys soccer, do they cut kids after each night?
In our experience, yes, but every coach might do things different
Anonymous
02/22/2026 13:11
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
For boys soccer, do they cut kids after each night?
Anonymous
02/22/2026 11:43
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
I get that it might be more than that. If you are really worried about it, the child should have emailed the Coach and asked. It shows initiative and an understanding that they need more than the basics. Should things be better advertised? Sure, but make a positive out of the lack of information.
So in your scenario, 150 boys should each be individually emailing the person listed as the coach (who does not work at the school and who they don't know)? This doesn't seem like a good system.
Anonymous
02/22/2026 11:42
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
When coaches don't also work at the high schools, communication is almost always an issue. The coaches assume the schools are communicating with students and their job is just to show up and run the tryout. The school admin expect the coaches to communicate but often don't even send them contact information.
Anonymous
02/22/2026 11:41
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
Anonymous wrote: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.
I get that it might be more than that. If you are really worried about it, the child should have emailed the Coach and asked. It shows initiative and an understanding that they need more than the basics. Should things be better advertised? Sure, but make a positive out of the lack of information.
Anonymous
02/22/2026 11:27
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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!
Not at the school I work at or the HS my kids attend. It’s very competitive at both!
My son and daughter played different sports and they had experiences similar to OP for tryouts. I think a lot was predetermined but they went in knowing what to expect in terms of running, general fitness, drills, etc.
Lacrosse in the Concorde District is extremely competitive.
Anonymous
02/22/2026 10:54
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
Mine is trying out for softball… only info was just the general how to register, tryout times, and location (softball field… don’t think that’s happening, lol) weeks ago. I am assuming info will be sent tonight?
Anonymous
02/22/2026 10:46
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
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.
Just so you know, they only took 5 or 6 freshman last year. Try and set your son's expectations. My kid was cut after the first day and switched to a different spring sport and he played on a good club soccer team (RL level) for years prior. Many very good players are cut. Boys soccer is the most brutal FCPS sport.
Anonymous
02/22/2026 10:36
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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!
Not at the school I work at or the HS my kids attend. It’s very competitive at both!
My son and daughter played different sports and they had experiences similar to OP for tryouts. I think a lot was predetermined but they went in knowing what to expect in terms of running, general fitness, drills, etc.
Really? That's so interesting. How many kids try out and are cut from even JV?
NP. Our girls lacrosse can absorb almost everyone most years with a JV team. Boys have cuts. Not 100s, but probably half make it.
Anonymous
02/22/2026 10:30
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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!
Not at the school I work at or the HS my kids attend. It’s very competitive at both!
My son and daughter played different sports and they had experiences similar to OP for tryouts. I think a lot was predetermined but they went in knowing what to expect in terms of running, general fitness, drills, etc.
Really? That's so interesting. How many kids try out and are cut from even JV?
Anonymous
02/22/2026 10:29
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
OP, would you mind sharing the soccer info you were sent? it might be helpful for kids trying out at other schools.
Anonymous
02/22/2026 10:26
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
Anonymous wrote: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!
Not at the school I work at or the HS my kids attend. It’s very competitive at both!
My son and daughter played different sports and they had experiences similar to OP for tryouts. I think a lot was predetermined but they went in knowing what to expect in terms of running, general fitness, drills, etc.
Anonymous
02/22/2026 10:23
Subject: Sports tryouts—is this standard?
Anonymous wrote: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.
VHSL rules require green days to be open participation to any student at the school and they have to be listed or published by the school so students know about them.