TRY OUTS & TEAM SELECTION

[FYI]

What Parents need to consider about playing levels, ability & development for your young athlete.

***what is better ...bench player, vs. core player ...if that means with a team in a lower league/level/ranking ?
***play on a high ranked/level team that plays a punt & Chase (emphasis on fast & strong win), vs. a lower ranked/level team instilling possession, skill & control?
***higher level team does not have soccer skills training program, vs. the lower ranked team that has now added/en-devoured into a good training program?
****teams that have no multi-year development program & regularly ditch players for marginally better ones?
****Does this team inspire, motivate and challenge them to be the best athlete they can be?
****Do they enjoy practice and feel disappointed when it is canceled?
****Does your child smile when they walk off the pitch after training session?
****How do they see themselves after a game, especially after a loss?

[offthewall]

well said

[bluesoccermachine]

I didn't know where to post this questions so I will try it here.

Can a girl play on a boys SRSL team?

[soho]

I've been burned wasting my time taking my child to a team tryout only to find that the coach had no intention of taking on new players because he had the same players for years. A multi year development program is a great thing but it is a bad thing if you move to a new community and find that the team is a "closed shop". Other clubs have fall tryouts only to find out that they want a commitment to play indoor and train all winter and they will make up their mind in the spring, when it is too late to join another team. More time wasted.
My advice. Find a coach who will not jerk your child around with tryouts that are only held because of club policies.
Get an honest assessment of whether he/she will play. If you watch the tryout see what the coach is emphasizing and whether he/she seems to know what they are doing. There are too many factors to list but I guess the most important thing is whether the coach seems to enjoy what he/she is doing and whether it rubs off on the players.

[POLSKA]

FYI i really don't get why you have posted all those questions.

You are assuming? that high ranked team does not play possesion game?

A talented player with potential has to play the highest possible level where competition and level of players around him cause drive to constantly improve.

As far as tryouts. Accepting player to the team is not an easy process. If player posses skills coach will have to take a look at the player over several practices. If there is indication that this particular player may be able to contribute to the team, coach will want to see player in a game situation. Coach is also looking how new player is dealing with
other players in the team. So quite of few factors play role before decision is made and the process may take time.
So what some parents may see as "jerking around????- is simply a process of evaluation.
If player shows no required level of abilities and is very obvious that player is trying for the level well above his, coach will not waste his and the player, parents time .

[FYI]

FYI i really don't get why you have posted all those questions.

To clarify ...Originally posted for U12 and under, so the reference is for an early age, team & player development.

You are assuming? that high ranked team does not play possesion game?

No ... not in all cases ... at young ages many teams focus on the strong & tall players ... given that they have the ability to win possession through physical presence.
It is a fact that many '"small" players get overlooked early on.
Physical presence is an easier route to establish control /possession rather than teaching/patience for team build up, passing, link-up, combination play, third-man or skillfulness of 1v1 play.

The post is simply to point out some questions during your team selection process,

"What Parents need to consider about playing levels, ability & development for your young athlete." (U9,10,11,12).

[POLSKA]

FYI - sorry - now I understand. Your questions are very valid for this age range.

[FYI]

I didn't know where to post this questions so I will try it here.

Can a girl play on a boys SRSL team?

YES ... all same rules apply for call - ups, higher/lower level play etc.
However, boys cannot play in a girls league.

[Martin]

However, boys cannot play in a girls league.

Actually, that one was challenged a few years ago (down Kingston way I believe)and a boy can play in a girls league if there are no suitable male alternatives readily available. A court challenge in SRSL-land would easily see that hard and fast rule overturned.

After all, what's good for the goose should be good for the gander.

[soho]

Polska,
A coach should not ask for a commitment from October to April before he/she makes up his/her mind. The player ends up in house league because it is too late to find another team at that point. I have also found that many clubs have A and B team coaches who don't talk to each other and have tryouts independent of each other. The last cut of an A team should be able to play for a B team, but then you find out that the B team coach has his/her own agenda and winter training and no room in the spring when the A team makes its cuts. Yes, I think this qualifies as jerking a player around. A player who could have contributed to a team at the rep level ends up in house league.

[soho]

On a related topic, one of the reasons that A and B team coaches do not talk is because the B team coach thinks that they should have been picked for the A team position. When looking for a club, be very wary of coaches who are more concerned with their personal success than player and team development.

[PT Beez]

The last cut of an A team should be able to play for a B team, but then you find out that the B team coach has his/her own agenda and winter training and no room in the spring when the A team makes its cuts. Yes, I think this qualifies as jerking a player around. A player who could have contributed to a team at the rep level ends up in house league.

I think this is where I make a comment that the club is at fault as the A Team and B team should be working collectively and if not...then the club and the head coach who is collecting his paycheck should be held accountable.

But a club that is interested in the best interest of the players would be pro-active in developing this spirit of co-operation where both teams have the best interest of the players...which would result in being able to pull up a player as a replacement and the coach would know that player would be able to fit into his style of play.

instead we have various agendas and self interest being played out from the club executive...club head coaches and individual team coaches....and of course self interest on the part of the players...which some executives find abhorrent....as that is something they alone should be enabled with?