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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 = 6. 95% 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

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

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

More Things to Consider Birth Months of Professional Players 11

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

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

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

Technical Assessments measurement against performance standards 15

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

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

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