U15 and U18 Tryout Policy

Objectives:

1. To create a tryout process that is perceived as fair and transparent by the majority of the membership
2. To provide objective measurement of all players trying out
3. To provide competitive team coaches with the opportunity to have control over the selection of their teams
4. To treat players not selected with dignity and provide them with timely feedback

Organization of Tryout Session:

• Assistant coach(es) run the actual session for the players; in the absence of an assistant coach, a representative from the Club will run the session.
• For more information, see the document titled “Tryout Organization Information”
• Session content is small-sided games or full-sided games; no drills or other activities
• Team Head Coach is not involved in the admin and operation of the session as they will be assessing players allowing them to concentrate fully on the task at hand

Assessment Team:

• The assessment team for each tryout is made up of three people
• Team Head Coach (THC)
• Club Technical Representative (CTR) [i.e., Technical Director or Youth Director or an appropriate alternative]
• One (1) neutral assessors selected by the Club
• Neutral assessors are
• Not personally familiar with the players or parents of players they are assessing
• Selected by the Technical Director and Youth Director based on soccer and assessing experience relative to the team being assessed
• Assessors should not
• Sit together as a group but instead should spread out separately
• Sit with or talk to parents before, during or after an assessment
• Go into great detail with each other over the performance of players during the assessment; feelings about players should be kept to self
• The CTR is responsible for the management of the assessment team at each tryout including the distribution and collection of assessment sheets and the data entry

Assessment Protocol:

• A standard assessment sheet is completed by each assessor for each tryout
• For more information, see the document titled “Assessor Guidelines for Tryouts”
•  The data from each assessor for each player for each tryout is entered into a spreadsheet which generates a score and ranking for each player

Player Selection Process:

• Once the tryout series has been completed and all data has been entered, the CTR meets with the head coach of the team to discuss final player selections
• The CTR will ascertain from the THC how many players he/she is interested in carrying
• Once established, a line will be drawn on the spreadsheet to show the cut off based on the initial placement of players via the data
• The CTR will ask the THC if they are content with the players that fall above that line
• If the answer is yes, the process is over and notification of players can begin
• If the answer is no, then the bartering process begins between CTR and THC
• The THC is asked which player(s) they want to remove from the rankings above the line and which player(s) they want to swap them with that fell below the line
• The THC must be able to justify each swap (e.g., “I just don’t like him” or “I really need her” are not acceptable answers; specific points about differences in ability, history and performance must be cited)
• If the CTR is convinced that the justification for the change is well reasoned, then the change will proceed
• The larger the distance between two players to be swapped in the rankings, the better the justification by the THC must be
• The end goal is for the Club to be able to justify to inquiring parents on behalf of any THC why their child was released

Notification of Players: (see the document titled “Advice for Releasing Players from Tryouts”)

• All players at a final tryout must be notified by phone of the results by the head coach
• This should happen within 48 hours of the final tryout except in the event of unforeseen circumstances
• Players released should be given the specific reasons why they were not selected and/or given an opportunity to talk/meet with the coach at a later time to discuss the specific reasons
• Players released from an initial sort out and not a final tryout can be emailed (if more than 15 players to contact) otherwise they should also be called by phone; the same courtesy must be extended a sort out release and that is the opportunity to understand specifics about why the release was made

Tryout Policy Info:

• Tryouts will typically occur in April/early May
• Players must be registered at least one business day before their first tryout
• Players interested in trying out specifically for goalkeeper should identify themselves as such during the registration process
• Players should play at their natural age level unless they are deemed exceptional for their age (see Playing Up-Playing Down policy). 
• Where there is more than one team to be selected at an age level and therefore more than one series of tryouts, players do not have to attend the higher level tryouts if their interest is in the lower level team; subsequently players interested in the lower level tryouts should not attend the higher level tryouts with the intent of using them for practice
• Players not attending all tryouts RISK their chances of making the Team.  Exceptions to this include:
• Illness and Injury (doctor certificate required)
• Death in the family
• Extended travel commitments
• Recently moved to the area and unfamiliar with process

• Players on a long-term absence that will miss the entire tryout process may make a competitive team if:

1. they played at the same competitive level the year before; and
2. the Club in consultation with the team head coach agree to make a spot available

• If the absentee player in question satisfies these criteria they  will most likely be asked to come into the team and train with them for a selected period of time.  This will allow the Technical Director and the Team Head Coach an opportunity to evaluate the player further before making a final decision about selection.