Anonymous wrote:of course I watch. The club isnt just evaluating my kid, my kid AND I are evaluating the club. I want to see how they interact with kids. It is VERY important to know this

My kid actually values my opinion and asks me my opinion about things. Also, she is 12, she is not 100% sure what to even do at a tryout or what the coach is looking for. So I watched her at a "just for kicks" tryout and gave her some tips (good for practices too, but more important if the first time someone is seeing you):

always hustle no matter what, getting a drink, picking up cones, fetching a missed shot, ...

Be nice to the other girls but do not talk too much, pay attention to what is going on

if the coach asks you a question, give him a confident answer and look him in the eyes when doing so

...

My husband works evenings and it is not worth it to me to turn around and drive home 20 minutes just to have to turn around and drive back in an hour (in order to leave enough cushion to make sure I am back in time).

Also, my stepson got injured at a soccer practice (broken bone) and I wasn't super impressed at how it was handled in terms of getting him prompt medical care, so I prefer to stay when possible just in case something happens.

If you don't know anything about the coach, of course you would stay and watch (keeping in mind they will be on their best behavior during tryouts). But I would find out who the coach is and go see a game they are coaching prior to the tryouts.