Berea Youth Soccer Club

Travel Soccer Tryout and Selection Policy

MISSION

The mission of the Berea Youth Soccer Club travel team tryout and selection process is to ensure that all players residing in and/or attending school in the City of Berea’s Public Schools receive a fair opportunity to join a team of their peers possessing similar game skills.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Eligible Participants

Tryouts are open to all U8 – U14 girls and boys. Typically, this is 1st grade through 8th grade.

These team rosters typically carry a maximum of 10-18 players depending on the age group.

Participants living in towns other than Berea are welcome to participate in tryouts. These out of town participants will be considered for a team roster on a case by case basis and will be rostered on teams ONLY after ALL players residing in and/or attending school in the City of Berea’s Public Schools AND Parochial Schools (ex.-St. Mary’s, St. Adalbert’s, etc.) who tryout have been rostered on a Travel Team. Please review the scenarios below for an explanation of the process.

Example 1: 15 players are trying out for a team that can carry a maximum of 12 players. 10 of the 15 players reside and/or attend school in the Berea Public School District or at a Berea Parochial School. 5 of the players participating in the tryouts do not live or attend school in Berea. The 10 players residing and/or attending school in Berea will be evaluated and offered roster spots on the team. The remaining 5 out of town players will compete for the remaining 2 open roster sports. These out of town players will be evaluated and ranked and the top 2 will be offered roster spots. The remaining 3 players would be ranked and placed on a list of alternates should a player who is offered a roster spot decide not to play.

Example 2: 18 players are trying out for a team that can carry a maximum of 16 players. 16 of the players reside and/or attend school in the Berea Public School District or at a Berea Parochial School. 2 of the players participating in the tryouts do not live or attend school in Berea. The 16 players residing and/or attending school in Berea will be evaluated and offered roster spots on the team. The remaining 2 out of town players will be ranked and evaluated and placed on a list of alternates should a player who is offered a roster spot decide not to play.

**Any coach/coaches who do not follow these Travel Soccer team selection guidelines will be subject to disciplinary action including temporary or permanent suspension of Coaching Privileges with Berea Youth Soccer.

THE TRYOUT PROCESS

The tryout process is held once a year in the Spring. The results of these tryouts will determine the teams for the following fall AND spring seasons.

PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE TRYOUT SESSION. Special cases like player injury or family inability to make tryouts will be considered. A private tryout with the coach, the Vice President of Travel Soccer AND at least one member of the Travel Soccer Selection Committee can be scheduled. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES is a coach of a Travel Team to offer a roster spot to a player without holding a team tryout or private tryout that is attended by the Vice President of Travel Soccer and a Travel Soccer Selection Committee Member. A player may not be rostered on a team without the approval of the Vice President of Travel Soccer AND the Travel Soccer Selection Committee. Evaluation Forms must be completed for every player participating in Travel Tryouts and turned in to the Vice President of Travel Soccer.

Logistics

Tryout times and locations will be posted on the club website www.bereayouthsoccerclub.org

Each tryout session will last 1 - 2 hours. Players will be run through a series of drills, game situations, and small sided team play.

The evaluators consist of coaches, board members, and the Travel Soccer Selection Committee. Evaluators are dedicated to a single skill (Shooting, dribbling, game play, etc) so that their assessments are consistent across all participants. All results will be weighted and relative so that individual evaluator ratings will not affect the overall players score.

Tryout Day

Parents must fill out the registration form and hand it in at the tryout. Participants will identified by a piece of athletic tape on the back of their shirt with their name on it.

Players must wear appropriate workout clothes including spikes and shin guards.

Players must bring their own ball.

There will be water breaks between drills. Players must bring their own water, snacks, etc.

Tryout Drills

There will be five skill stations for each tryout. In addition, there could be an optional goalie station for participants wishing to be evaluated as a goalie. Goalie evaluations will simply be added to regular tryout evaluations and will in no way affect a players ranking for regular field evaluations.

Shooting Station:

Description

Participants will be passed a ball from the flank. They will be asked to dribble to gain control of the ball, then shoot on an open goal. Participants can take as many dribbles as necessary to gain control and set up a shot. Either foot can be used for the shot. Players will also be passed a cross closer in front of the goal for a one timer.

Evaluator instructions

Evaluators are instructed to look for the ability to maintain control of the ball in front of the net and get a shot on goal. Evaluators will also be judging the force and accuracy of the shot.

Ball in the Air Station:

Description

Participants are formed in two lines facing each other. Participants in line 1 will pick up the ball and pass it in the air to participants in line 2. Participants in line 2 will be asked to gain control of the ball and pass it back to the participant in Line 1. First will be a series of head ball passes, then chest passes, then thigh level passes.

Evaluator Instructions

Evaluators will be instructed to evaluate the player in line 2 for ability to gain control of a ball that is not on the ground.

Dribbling Station:

Description

Two lines will be formed side by side. Participants will be asked to dribble the ball on the ground around a series of cones. Dribbling can be with the inside of the foot, outside of the foot or preferably, a combination of both. Both lines will start simultaneously in a relay race to get all participants through the drill. This is intended to add pressure on the dribbler and help simulate game situations.

Evaluator Instructions

Evaluators will be instructed to evaluate the players ability to control the ball on the ground, dribble with both feet and use the inside and outside of the foot. They will also be evaluating the accuracy of the pass back to their teammate.

Defensive Station:

Description

Participants will be asked to defend their goal in a 2 on 1 situation. 2 offenders will dribble and pass to avoid the defender, obtain good position and shoot. Defenders are instructed to contain the offenders, force the offenders to poor shooting positions (Outside), and steal the ball.

Evaluator Instructions

Evaluators will be instructed to evaluate the players ability to contain offensive players, position themselves properly for defensive play, and ultimately stop the offensive play either by forcing the offenders out of the center or stealing the ball.

Game Station:

Description

Participants will be asked to play in a short-sided game. This is a live game situation. Participants will play both offensive and defensive positions. There will be no more that 4 vs 4 players in the game to ensure maximum “Ball” time for each participant.

Evaluator Instructions

Evaluators will be instructed to evaluate players ability in many areas of the game:

Technical Skill – dribbling, passing, shooting, etc
Tactical Awareness – playing in different positions in different areas of the playing field
Physical Abilities – speed, strength and balance
Psychological – aggressiveness, determination, discipline, sportsmanship

Goalie Station (Optional):

Description

Participants wishing to be evaluated for a goalie position will be run through a series of drills including blocking, catching, and kicking (Punting) the ball.

Evaluator Instructions

Evaluators will be instructed to evaluate the participants’ ability to stop offensive plays, block shots and control the ball in the box.

TEAM SELECTION

Participant results will be tallied by the travel selection committee. Player selection will be determined through a combination of tryout results, travel selection committee’s, and coach’s recommendations. Having previously played for a team does not guarantee a spot for the next season.

The travel selection committee will meet with coaches to determine the roster for the upcoming seasons. Communication of acceptance or rejection will be made as soon as selection is made. This is typically within a few weeks of tryouts.

The number of teams formed for each age group will be determined by the number of volunteer coaches and qualified participants which enable BYSC to enter the most competitive teams possible into the appropriate AASL(Boys Travel League) or NOGSL (Girls Travel League) flight (skill category). Teams will be formed based on skill level and there is no guarantee that a second or third team will be selected.

If multiple teams are to be formed for an age category, the travel selection committee will determine the best team format, that is whether or not to build equal strength teams or graded teams.

Berea Youth Soccer’s Recreation divisions offer competitive soccer for those who would like to work on their skills and try out again the following year, or for those who cannot or do not wish to commit to the year-round demands of Travel soccer. For more information, please visit www.bereayouthsoccerclub.org

The travel selection committee will consist of the following BYSC Board/Coaching positions:

ANY BYSC Board Members

Vice President/Director of Travel Soccer

Team Head Coach and Assistant Coach (es)

CONCLUSION

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Berea Youth Soccer Club’s Travel league. We are a 100% volunteer organization and do our best to be fair, consistent, and balanced in this selection process. However, know that we are human and this is not an exact science.

You may direct any questions, concerns, or comments to the Board of Directors. Meetings are held once each month. Please contact Melanie Edwards at: melanie.edwards@bereayouthsoccerclub.org with any questions

2009/2010 Age Group Breakdown:

U19 – Birthdate = 8-1-90 to 7-31-91
U18 – Birthdate = 8-1-91 to 7-31-92
U17 – Birthdate = 8-1-92 to 7-31-93
U16 – Birthdate = 8-1-93 to 7-31-94
U15 – Birthdate = 8-1-94 to 7-31-95
U14 – Birthdate = 8-1-95 to 7-31-96
U13 – Birthdate = 8-1-96 to 7-31-97
U12 – Birthdate = 8-1-97 to 7-31-98
U11 – Birthdate = 8-1-98 to 7-31-99
U10 – Birthdate = 8-1-99 to 7-31-00
U9   – Birthdate = 8-1-00 to 7-31-01
U8   – Birthdate = 8-1-01 to 7-31-02
U7   – Birthdate = 8-1-02 to 7-31-03

Born After 7-31-2003-MUNCHKIN SOCCER

THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK!