Tryout Tips

The Original Article is on the USSoccerPlayers.com website at http://ussoccerplayers.com/news_you_can_use/467518.html

     So how do you get ready for the big tryout day? Whether you are trying out for a higher-level select team, a high school team, or even a college or pro team, there are certain rules to live by when getting ready for the event. To start, make sure that this team you are trying to make is a good fit for you. (See a related Resource Center article, How do I select a travel team that's right for me?) If you are trying to play in an older league, make sure that the team fits your need for a challenge. If you want to play for a select team, but you are still looking to have fun more than anything else, you will want to be sure you agree with the philosophy of your coaches. In a way, you want the team to "tryout" for you before you tryout for them. Make sure the team is a good fit before anything else.

Now that you know this is the team you want to play for, it's time to prepare for the big day. Remember, all that these coaches are judging you on is your performance on the field. This is not a judgment on you as a person or your personality. They are looking at soccer skills only. To start, you will want to be in top shape. If you can't run a series of sprints without feeling completely out of breath, you need to work on your speed and endurance. Practice doing 8-10 100 yard sprints in a row, at least 3 times a week, in the month preceding your tryout. You will also want to work on endurance-- you should be able to run 3 miles in at least 30 minutes, ideally, in 25 minutes or less.

Secondly, you will want to practice ball skills. This means practicing dribbling and shooting (going to an empty field to practice dribbling and shooting is a good idea). However, there is only so much you can do on your own. Ideally, it is best to have a partner or, even better, partners to practice with. Then, you can mimic game time situations and moments, and practice movement with a ball and with other players. In addition to your individual skills, most coaches will want to see how you work with other players throughout the tryout. Practice passing and movement with your friends and you will be ready for playing with others on tryout day.

Third, don't get hung up on positions. Even if you have played nothing but defense, you should not limit yourself to a specific position on the field. You may not even realize how good you could be in a different position. Don't get stressed out if the coach puts you in a different position in a small-sided scrimmage in the tryout. Perform as well as possible, and don't worry that you may not be playing the "position" correctly. The coach knows that he is juggling players around and putting them in new places. Think of it as a fun way to explore something you haven't tried before!

Finally, have a positive attitude, and be friendly and upbeat with other players. Coaches will be evaluating your "mental" game as much as your physical game. If it comes down to choosing between two players with equal physical skill, a good attitude can go a long way.

How do I select a travel team that’s right for me?
 

The Original Article is on the USSoccerPlayers.com website at http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/resource_center/for_players/talking_shop/438841.html
 

Finding a travel team that is a good “fit” for you and your family can sometimes be a difficult process. You and your parents should make a list of what you want from your soccer team so you have an idea in mind when you visit with different coaches and teams. You will also have to take into account the fact that you will have to try-out for most travel teams, so even if you find a “perfect” team, you will still have to try-out and actually make the team. Have back-up teams in mind in case your first choice doesn’t work out.

Generally, you will want to look at a team based on three factors: level, location, and coach. Level refers to the level of competition that this particular travel team faces in its league. You will want to pick a team that will challenge you, but you won’t want to play in a Premier Division if this is your first travel season. The levels of stress at the highest ranks of youth soccer can be fairly intense, with a lot of emphasis on winning, especially for older players. Use your experience from the past—- how have you previously handled high levels of competition? Do you thrive on intense competition? If you want to play in a top-level league, are you prepared to sit the bench for a while until you prove yourself? These are all questions to consider when you evaluate the level of a certain travel team or teams.

Second, you will want to consider the team’s location. Your parents will probably have a lot of input on this issue, especially if you don’t have a driver’s license and they are the people responsible for getting you to practice and games. If your dream team is located in a different county or town, are you prepared to sacrifice 5-10 hours of commuting time a week? Do you have the support and guarantee that a family member will be able to drive you to practice and games, especially away games? Does the prospective team offer a carpool to practices or away games? Do you have brothers and sisters who also play soccer or other sports and also need rides to practice and games? Sit down with your parents when evaluating your potential team’s location and make a list of the pros and cons to that location.

Finally, you will want to “evaluate” the different coaches of the travel teams you are looking to join. First of all, you may want to make a list of the qualities you look for in a coach. Do you like a coach who is super-friendly and nice, or do you prefer someone a little more businesslike? Do you prefer that your coach was a one-time player? You or your parents may want to ask him or her about their coaching philosophy, including how they run practice, how they decide who starts in the games, and why they wanted to coach travel youth soccer in the first place. You will be spending a lot of time with this coach and will be subject to his or her philosophy-— so make sure you agree with their ideas regarding soccer.

Other factors to consider when finding a travel team include: word of mouth, or what you have heard through the grapevine about certain teams and coaches; your potential teammates (do they seem like a good, supportive group of players, or are there lots of petty arguments among the players); and the team’s extended schedule (i.e., if the team participates in camps and/or indoor soccer leagues outside of the regular season). Finding the “perfect” team can be tough, especially if at first you don’t make the team you really want. But, like most things in life, a great soccer team becomes great because of your own attitude. So stay positive and remember to have fun.
 

These articles are from the US National Soccer Players Resource Center.  The US National Soccer Players Resource Center is a terrific place to find lots of tips and articles for Coaches, Players and Parents.  Here are some links to their recent articles: