For information on scheduling of the current season’s tryouts, please see this page.
What to expect at tryouts?
- Turn in your paperwork ahead of time so that you are cleared to participate
- Expect to be at all tryout sessions on time and prepared to play
- Arrive ready with proper equipment (running shoes AND cleats, shin guards, water)
- Arrive prepared to do your best: proper nutrition, sleep, proper care for injury and illness
- If you don’t understand something, ask questions
- During tryouts, expect to run, play small sided games, play possession games, and scrimmage
How to prepare for tryouts
- Be positive and prepared
- Attitude and effort will define how you are perceived
- Expect to run at least a 7 min/mile pace
- Be willing to take chances
- Don’t be afraid to make mistakes
- Be a good listener
- Ask questions if you are unclear about something
- Make sure that you are given a chance to play in a position where you will feel comfortable and show your strengths
- Be present and engaged
Responsibilities of the student-athlete
- Academics are a priority
- To participate in athletics is a privilege and comes with responsibility and commitment
- Maintain a 2.0 GPA
- Represent your school well by treating equipment and facilities with respect and following rules and policies
- Be positive and respectful of yourself, your teammates, coaches, teachers, officials, and fans
Maintaining health and reducing injury and illness
- Show up fit
- Manage your time well
- Take responsibility for your nutrition and amount of sleep
- Take positive care for illness and injury
- Communicate
Do’s
- Be in good physical shape: Many/most high school coaches give fitness tests during tryouts to gauge fitness levels and the level of commitment of individual players. Players who are committed to soccer take the initiative to stay physically fit. If you are not fit during tryouts then you will tire easily, which in turn will lead to you making more mistakes on the field. Tired players (at all levels) make more mistakes.
- Be on time: Be early to the tryout everyday. Don’t sit and socialize; your tryout begins even before the coach calls everyone to the field. Find a friend and begin passing to warm up.
- Dress like a serious soccer player: Wear your best/proper soccer gear. Don’t wear swim trunks (the coaches have seen this many times) or non-soccer cleats.
- Jog, don’t walk: When the coach allows a water break, jog there, get your water quickly, and jog back. This shows the coach you are focused and ready for the next drill.
- Eye contact with the coach: Always make eye contact with any speaker. This may be uncomfortable at first, but it will become easier the more you practice.
- Listen and follow directions: Pay close attention to what the coach is saying and what they are asking of you. It is very frustrating for a coach to have to repeat themselves constantly or stop an entire drill to explain it again.
- Attitude: ALWAYS keep a positive attitude. Coaches want players who are going to bring the team up, not down, and a good positive attitude goes a long way.
- Showcase yourself: Make good decisions on when you pass vs. dribble? Do not ball hog. What is your strength? Showcase that strength.
- Introduce yourself to the coach at some point.
- Mistakes: What you do immediately following a mistake shows a lot about what kind of player you are. You need to think “NEXT PLAY,” move on from your mistake quickly, and do what is best for your team.
- What are you doing away from the ball? After you pass the ball? Good soccer players are ALWAYS involved in the game whether the ball is near them or not. You should always be looking to improve your position. After you make a pass, you need to either make an attacking run, or a supporting run.
Don’ts
- Don’t say you can ONLY play a certain position! Instead, if a coach asks where you play, say “I link right mid (or whatever your position is) but I feel I can play anywhere.” That shows you are a dynamic soccer player, which is very valuable to a coach.
- Don’t joke around and socialize: This is a tryout, not a practice! You need to be serious and show that you are serious about soccer.
- Don’t ask questions like: Can we get water? What time is it? How much longer?
- Do not ever give up! Whether it is a drill, a practice, a game, or a season, you should never give up on yourself or your team