Tryouts

Background and Process

Medfield Youth Soccer (MYS) holds tryouts for the Under 11 (U11) through Under 14 (U14) age groups in May for the next soccer year, beginning in the Fall. There are no tryouts for the Under 9 (U9) and Under 10 (U10) age groups. All age groups are for next year. The typical player (based on age eligibility) will be in the Spring of their 4^th grade (U10) year when they tryout for the first time for U11 (Fall 5^th grade). A player's age is based on their age as of July 31st If there are any questions as to what age group a player should be trying out for, please email MYS at info@medfieldsoccer.com.

As noted above, no one is required to attend tryouts. Players who chose not to attend tryouts will automatically be placed on a "balanced" team. However if you wish to be placed on a "select" team, a player must attend tryouts. Players who wish to attend goalie tryouts must also attend regular tryouts; a player cannot just attend goalie tryouts.

If a player is ill or injured and cannot attend tryouts, a note needs to be forwarded to the tryout coordinator for the Medfield Soccer Board prior to the scheduled tryout (see About Us page for that individual and email that individual through the soccer info line at info@medfieldsoccer.com) and the player's coach should be notified. Any player not attending tryouts due to injury or illness will receive appropriate consideration for a select team when the full select team is rostered.

The tryouts are all evaluated by coaches and soccer knowledgeable evaluators who are NOT from the same grade or age group as the player. For example a parent or coach of a 6^th grade male player cannot evaluate the current 6^th grade boys who are trying out.

The first 50% of the players placed on a select team will automatically come from the tryout process. Coaches for the age group have no veto over this process except if the coach previously reported the player to have an attitude (disruptive) issue. The other 50% of the players on a select team are derived from the unanimous agreement of the age group coaches.

There are four elements to the tryout process for U12 and older:

•1. Two vs. two games: each player trying out will play 8 (sometimes 9) three-minute games. Based on a random number table, each player is matched with a teammate and will play against two other players who were teamed together in a similar manner. The game is random as well, so the 4 players selected to play in a game are by chance, not pre-determination. There is a referee for the game who keeps score; as described above, the referee is not a parent or coach of the player's grade. This is an objective game where the winner and the score matter. The referees review all game rules prior to the game with all players.

•2. Four vs. four games: each player trying out will play 2 games approximately seven minutes in length. Each game will take place on a different field. Based on a random number table, four players are teamed together. The team plays one game. For the second game, players are re-assigned so a new team is formed. There are three evaluators on each field. In total each player will receive six independent evaluations. Again the evaluators are not parents or coaches of the player's grade. The evaluations are scaled 1 to 7, with 7 being the highest. Evaluators look for a player's ability to make good soccer decisions and have sound fundamentals of the game. Key skills evaluated include technical skills (passing, dribbling, effective passing), movement without the ball, good offensive and defensive decision-making, and ability to "see" the field. Although these are games and players are told to play hard, the game score does not figure into the evaluation.

•3. Shooting: each player will be served (passed) two balls across the top of the goalie box for right footed shots and then two balls will be served across the top of the goalie box for left footed shots. Evaluators will rate each player as to shooting accuracy and technique. Each shot will be rated on a scale of one to five, with a five score representing a shot that was well struck, low and hard to either corner of the goal. The best score of two for each of the left foot shots and the best score of two for each of the right foot shots is used for the evaluation.

•4. Speed: each player will be timed in a sprint simulating a breakaway run.

U11 Age Group

As part of a new approach Medfield Soccer is considering for all future tryouts, in 2010 the U11 Tryouts (boys and girls) will be conducted in conjunction with Mass Youth Soccer (MYSA) evaluators/trainers, and will consist primarily of progressive small-sided games (2v2, 4v4, 6v6). Players will be assigned to random groups of 12, and technical and tactical skills will be evaluated as players are rotated through the games.

Goalies

Goalie tryouts will be held for next year's U12 and U13/14 players. Goalie tryouts for these age groups will be held on the same night. There are no goalie tryouts for the U11 age group because MYS believes players at this age should be encouraged to play all positions. As noted above, evaluators are parents and coaches not from the grade of the goalies being evaluated.

By participating in goalie tryouts players are making a commitment to play at least 50% of each game as goalie. Provided that there are three or more goalies trying out, the top rated goalie will automatically be placed on the highest select team. Players who are not able to commit to play at least 50% of the game as goalie if selected as the top rated goalie should give this requirement thoughtful consideration prior to participating in goalie tryouts.

If a player is ill or injured and cannot attend the goalie tryout, a note needs to be forwarded to the tryout coordinator for the Medfield Soccer Board prior to the scheduled tryout (see About Us page for that individual and email that individual through the soccer info line at info@medfieldsoccer.com) and the player's coach should be notified. Any player not attending the goalie tryout due to injury or illness will receive appropriate consideration for a select team when the full select team is rostered.

The following activities will be evaluated at goalie night: punting, placekicking (goal kicks), throwing and shot stopping. The last activity carries the highest weighting.

If there are any questions about the tryout process, please contact the Medfield Youth Soccer Board at info@medfieldsoccer.com