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 year. 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). 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 can not 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 parents 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. They are described below and the weight for each of the elements is noted.

Two vs. two games (50%): 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. There are extra points added for a lopsided win and points taken away for a lopsided loss (lopsided is defined as a differential of 3 or more goals). In addition if the referee recognizes a strong player, he/she may note that player as strong and extra points are awarded to that player's score. The referees review all game rules prior to the game with all players.
Four vs. four games (30%): 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. Although these are games and players are told to play hard, the game score does not figure into the evaluation.
Dribbling and shooting (10%): each player will be required to dribble at moderate speed around a series of cones and shoot 2 - 4 shots with the right foot and 2 - 4 shots with the left foot. Evaluators will rate each player as to dribbling and shooting with each foot on a scale of 1 - 7. Evaluators will look for dribbling in control and well struck shots that are low and hard to the far corner of the goal. Fundamentals, accuracy and strength are measured.
Speed (10%): each player will be timed in an approximate 40-yard sprint.

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 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.

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