MHS GIRLS SOCCER TRYOUTS
Tryout Objective: Conducting a fair and objective tryout is critical to the success of the team. All players will be given an equal opportunity to demonstrate their soccer playing abilities. Our goal is to select the best players to make our team as competitive as possible.
Selection Criteria: Tryouts will be held on March 18 & 19, 2024 . We will run 3:45-6pm Monday and Tuesday (if outside). Indoor schedule will be 5-7:30pm (Mon & Tues). Players will be evaluated on their soccer skills and how they perform while playing soccer in highly competitive situations. I strongly believe, that a player's performance in 1v1 situations directly relates to her performance in 11v11 games. Likewise if a player can perform well in small-sided games, such as 2v2 or 4v4 games, it is almost certain the player will do well in full-field games. In addition to soccer skills, each day players will be evaluated on their fitness, strength, and speed, which are critical physical abilities for soccer players.
The first day of tryouts will consist of rondos, small sided games and some fitness. We will use small-sided activities to evaluate each player’s ball-skills and individual capabilities in game-related situations. We are specifically looking for “strength on the ball” (the ability to shield and control the ball) and the player’s ability to “win the ball” from an opponent (tackling ability, courage, and determination). Finally, the “skillfulness” (ball-work and game-speed) of each player will be evaluated during all games. A top priority is for players to receive the ball across their body and give advice to the player they pass to. We will finish day 1 with small-sided games (6v6 or 8v8) to evaluate each player’s teamwork, game skills, fitness, and tactical decision-making. These games will be used to evaluate each player’s game skills, including passing, movement off the ball (i.e. moving to space), and decision-making under pressure. A player’s ability to play quickly and anticipate play will be a couple of key things we will be looking for during this phase of tryouts.
The final day of tryouts will be a mixture of rondos or postional rondos leading into a full field 11v11 game (if outside). This final phase of tryouts will focus on match-related performance evaluation of players at specific positions. We obviously need a certain number of defenders, forwards, and midfielders for each team, so filling specific positions could be one of the primary selection criteria in some cases. We will likely want to carry multiple players for each position on the team (starters and back-ups).
In addition to soccer skills, speed, and fitness, we will consider a number of “intangibles” in selecting players for our team. These selection criteria include academic status, leadership potential, attitude, mental toughness, self-confidence, coachability, and especially effort. We are looking for good citizens and team players, as well as skillful soccer players.
Team Selection: Based on the number of players that tryout and the quality of those players, we will be selecting players for varsity and JV. The initial (tryout) selection of players to each squad is not final. The coaches will make a final decision on the varsity and JV team rosters prior to the first game of the season. As early season training progresses, players will have an opportunity to move up based on their performance in practice and scrimmages. In addition, injuries, academic problems, or behavioral issues may result in opening on the varsity squad. Players could also move down due to performance or at the discretion of the coaches (e.g. if coaches feel a player needs more “seasoning” at the lower level of play). On the varsity squad, the players will have the opportunity to play on JV as well if they are not going to see much playing time on varsity (if numbers allow). Obviously we want them to get playing time as well, so this is the best way to do it. At the end of the season, we will pull up JV players to fill out a 22 player roster going into the playoffs. This will be a chance for those players to practice with varsity and see what it takes to play at the next level and to suit up with the team.
Rosters are not set in stone. For example, if a player is really struggling to keep up at varsity after we get going, we may move her down to JV. If a JV player is really improving and dominating JV we may switch spots with a varsity player. You need to maintain a good work ethic throughout the season to keep your spot.