1. TRYOUTS: RIGHT OR WRONG?
Glen Buckley
UEFA A, USSF A, NSCAA Premier Diploma, National Youth License
State Director of Coaching
NYSW Youth Soccer Association
National Staff Coach, US Youth Soccer 1

2. As a team sport, soccer is a late specialization sport.
Player Development
As a team sport, soccer is a late specialization sport.
The time frame for the development of soccer players is considered long-term athlete development.
Test Note
Research has shown that it takes between 15 and 17 years to become competent to compete at the highest level in any sport. 2

3. Why Do We Hold Tryouts? Evaluation Process
Player Development (potential)
Building a “winning” team
Resource Limitations 3

4. Are Tryouts Appropriate for:
Recreational No
Club/Travel
Maybe - At What Age?
Premier/Select
Yes - At What Age?
ODP
Yes - Representative
Professional /
National Team
Yes 4

5. Ages of Soccer Growth Childhood 4-9 years old Puberty 10-14 years old
Adolescence
15-23 years old
Adulthood
24-35 years old 5

6. Identifying Potential
Puberty (10-14 years old)
evidence of technique
coordination / athleticism
application (why are they playing?)
speed (physical and mental) 6

7. Identification of Talent
Adolescence (15-19 years old)
technical application
tactical awareness (decision-making)
physical maturity / fitness
strength / stamina
psychological strengths 7

8. How Many F’s??? Finished files are the re-
sult of many years of scientif-
ic study combined with the
experience of many years
Answer = % of the population will only see three (3) F’s in this sentence. The word “of” is such a common word that our brains have learned to filter it out. 8

9. Lateral Thinking (outside the box) Longer term vision
How many “common” players are we filtering out because we have a preconceived notion of what WE believe a player needs to be able to do today?
Research tells us that cognitive, psychological and physical skills develop at different rates in young people. 9

10. More Things to Consider
Age vs. Birthdate
QUESTION:
ARE THE MAJORITY OF THE BEST PLAYERS BORN SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER?
57 %
School and club start
30 %
13 %
Sep-Dec
Jan-Apr
May-Aug 10

11. More Things to Consider
Birth Months of Professional Players 11

12. Tryouts for 10-14 Year Olds Objective Tools
measuring a player’s technical proficiency
Tools
small-sided games (3v3, 4v4)
street soccer
technical assessments 12

13. Street Soccer version of a small-sided game
players organized by numbers
individual point system
Point System
Win = 3
Draw = 1
Loss = 0
Goal = 1
Assist = 1
Shutout = 1 13

14. Technical Assessments
stations to assess the six skills
measurement against performance standards
Running w/ the Ball
Turning
Dribbling & Speed
Passing / Shooting
Heading 14

15. Technical Assessments
measurement against performance standards 15

16. Tryouts for 15-19 Year Olds Objective Tools
talent identification and development
Tools
match play (11v11)
over the course of 3-4 matches 16

17. Match Play Things to consider range of technique quality of opposition
understanding of role
quality of decisions
assertiveness / imposing themselves on the game
leadership / role model
ongoing assessment (over multiple matches) 17

18. Summary Tryouts not needed for recreational clubs
9-14 travel/club, technical assessments
15-19 select/representative, match play
Assess players potential to meet the requirements of the game through continued development.
Observe players strengths and weaknesses to perform in various roles.
Birthdate! 18