Coaches: Tips for a More Efficient and Organized Youth Soccer Tryout

Last night was the first tryout for my Long Island Youth Soccer team this year and I decided to share some of the information with my fellow soccer coaches that I have learned over the years.  I can only chuckle at how far I have come since I ran my first youth soccer tryout about 4 years ago.  Every year is a learning process and every year some new issue comes up that I figure out a better way to handle the next year.  I hope that by sharing what I have learned, it will benefit either a new soccer coach or even a seasoned youth soccer coach who has run into the same problem and needed some help figuring out a better way to run the tryout next year (or if time, this year).

Every Long Island Youth Soccer Club handles tryouts differently and some run the tryouts as a Club and some allow the individual teams to handle their tryouts.  In my Soccer Club, the Club schedules and runs the Tryouts, but as a Coach, I still am involved as if I am running the tryout.  The ups and downs are that I have no control over the date and time of the tryouts, but I also do not have to worry about locating additional coaches/trainers to run the tryout and I can focus on the players and observing my team and our new options as they are taken through a tryout run by someone other than me.  Fortunately, I am given final decision making power. Although I take the suggestions of the Third-Party Trainers VERY seriously, if I chose not to listen to their suggestions, I can choose whichever youth soccer players I want.

Regardless of who schedules the tryout, the following suggestions can be used by all to help ensure you have an organized and efficient tryout, which will help you roster a team that not only is skilled, but that will also have all positional needs covered and hopefully has some chemistry.  It is easier to do this when you have a set plan and enough people and the proper equipment to have a good Youth Soccer Tryout.

1.        Once you set up 2-3 dates for tryouts, ADVERTISE THE TRYOUT.  This can be done by word of mouth/reaching out to players you may be interested in, and by posting the tryout son your club website and public sites such as www.backofthenet.com or if your team plays for Long Island Junior Soccer League, you can post the tryouts at www.lijsoccer.com.  Be sure to include age, league/division, and your email and phone number so prospective players or parents can contact you prior with any questions.

2.       Schedule to have 2-3 other qualified adults to run the soccer tryout.  If you have a team trainer, the soccer trainer should be the one running the tryout and you and the trainer should agree on 1-2 other trainers or soccer coaches in the club that you trust.  By trust, I mean that you know will show up for all the soccer tryouts and whose soccer knowledge and opinion you trust.  The best Tryout is when you, as the coach, can focus on the paperwork and observing the players work with the other coaches/trainers.

3.       Prior to the Soccer Tryouts, prepare (or purchase) soccer scrimmage vests  (2 sets of different colors) numbered 1-25, unless you expect larger numbers of soccer players at tryout then have enough to for each player to have their assigned number in both colors (reversible vests with a number are best).  We have tried different numbering options over the years including taping numbers to jerseys and shorts, pinning number cards, writing numbers etc.  What we found is that sweat and forgetful kids mean that none of the above options are reliable.  What works best is to use construction tape to number pennies or if you know you will be holding Tryouts over years (or maybe share with another coach) order reversible scrimmage vests (pinnies) with numbers screened on both sides of the vests.  This allows you to keep track of the players with numbers assigned to each player and the ability to split into separate groups by color.  A local soccer catalog/internet company (American Challenge www.achallenge.com) has a few different styles of vests available and for a small additional charge will put numbers on the soccer scrimmage vests.  I have used this company for many years and have purchased warm ups, sweats, balls, and equipment for my team.  In addition, I have purchased items for my sons and have used them to add numbers to t-shirts and jerseys.  The quality of their work is excellent and I have never had a problem with their customer service.  When I emailed them through their website, I received a pricing quote back to me within 30 minutes.  I had sent two other companies requests for pricing quotes and never received a response.  Depending on the vest  you choose and numbers your price per vest will run you about $4-$12 a vest (discounts on larger orders) and numbers would be an additional $1.50/vest- 6” numbers 1-99 and $2.50/vest-6” numbers- 100+.  Searching the web, I found another internet store that sold them www.soccergarage.com at a discount price of $5.25-$16 a vest without numbers, and www.amazon.com had them in sets of 12 from $12.75-$99 and individuals prices about $5.50, without numbers.

4.       The Day Of Youth Soccer Tryouts- arrive at the fields about 30 minutes prior to tryouts and have players show up about 15 minutes prior to tryouts.  Make sure that you and your trainer/Asst Coach have discussed the specific warm-ups, drills, and games they will run the players through.  You want to typically break up your tryout into 15 minute warm up, 15 minute drills, 30 minutes small sided games, and 30 minutes full field scrimmage (if enough players), and 15 minute cool down.

5.       While your assistants set up for the actual tryout, you should have a pre-printed sign up sheet that would include- Pinnine number, Players full name, Date of Birth, phone number, and email.  You may also want to include a spot for previous team.  **MAKE SURE PLAYERS DOB FALL WITHIN YOUR AGE GROUP**.  As players arrive, have them fill in the form and issue them their numbered pinnie to correspond with the number they signed up under.  At the end of the tryout, collect all pinnies and at the beginning of the next tryout have the players sign-in and give them the same numbered pinnie they had the prior Soccer Tryout.

6.       After signing in all players, take some time to walk around and observe the tryout and different players.  At some point, you will want to take 15 minutes to meet with the parents and discuss the team and answer any questions they may have.  It is surprising how many parents are not aware of the financial and time commitment that Travel Youth Soccer requires.

7.       Conference with your trainer/other coach during the tryout to see which youth soccer players each of you are interested in getting a better look at.  At the end of the second tryout, you and them will create your final roster and always choose 2-3 alternate players you all agree would be good choices if any of the chosen players declines the invitation to the team.

8.       I recommend that once the decision is made, you contact the parents and player that night or a minimum of 24 hours after the end of tryouts.  In addition, set up to collect the registration money and paperwork from all players (including returning players) within a few days of the end of tryouts.  Although you get verbal commitments to the team, it is not definite until you have the paperwork and money.  This is why it is important to collect everything so soon to the end of tryouts.  This way if any player does not provide the money and documentation, you should have time to find other soccer players to make the commitment to the team.

Somehow, this post has once again gone so long, but I feel it has a lot of great information for Long Island Youth Soccer Coaches on how to have a more efficient and organized Youth Soccer Tryout on Long Island.  Everyone has a different style, and you do not have to take my advice, but when I was starting out and even the 2^nd and 3^rd year, I would have liked to have a post like this to read to give me some ideas on how to run a better tryout.  Good luck!  Please share any comments or other suggestions below!

Coming soon- the MUCH anticipated- “Coachra v. Momzilla”, and a look at the summer programs/camps offered by Long Island Rough Riders and NY Redbulls Youth Academy.