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TRYOUTS: TRYOUTS: RIGHT OR WRONG?

Glen BuckleyUEFA A, USSF A, NSCAA Premier Diploma, National Youth License

State Director of CoachingNYSW Youth Soccer Association

National Staff Coach, US Youth Soccer

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•As a team sport, soccer is a late specialization sport.

•Research has shown that it takes between 15 and 17 years to become competent to compete at the highest level in any sport.

Player DevelopmentPlayer Development

•The time frame for the development of soccer players is considered long-term athlete development.

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Why Do We Hold Tryouts?Why Do We Hold Tryouts?

• Evaluation Process

• Player Development (potential)

• Building a “winning” team

• Resource Limitations

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Are Tryouts Appropriate for:Are Tryouts Appropriate for:

• Recreational No

• Club/Travel

• Premier/Select

• ODP

Maybe - At What Age?

Yes - At What Age?

Yes - Representative

• Professional / National Team

Yes

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Ages of Soccer GrowthAges of Soccer Growth

• Childhood 4-9 years old

• Puberty

• Adolescence

• Adulthood

10-14 years old

15-23 years old

24-35 years old

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Identifying PotentialIdentifying Potential

Puberty (10-14 years old)– evidence of technique– coordination / athleticism

– speed (physical and mental)

– application (why are they playing?)

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Identification of TalentIdentification of Talent

Adolescence (15-19 years old)– technical application– tactical awareness (decision-making)

– strength / stamina

– physical maturity / fitness

– psychological strengths

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How Many F’s???How Many F’s???

Finished files are the re-sult of many years of scientif-

ic study combined with theexperience 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.

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Lateral Thinking Lateral Thinking (outside the box)(outside the box)Longer term visionLonger 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.

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More Things to ConsiderMore Things to Consider

Age vs. Birthdate

5047

2659

1151

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

8857 club 9 to 16 year old players

13 %

57 %

30 %

May-AugSep-Dec Jan-Apr

School and club start

QUESTION:

ARE THE MAJORITY OF THE BEST PLAYERS BORN SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER?

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More Things to ConsiderMore Things to Consider

Birth Months of Professional Players

birth month

Co

un

t

300

200

100

0

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Tryouts for 10-14 Year OldsTryouts for 10-14 Year Olds

Objective• measuring a player’s technical proficiency

Tools• small-sided games (3v3, 4v4)• street soccer• technical assessments

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Street SoccerStreet Soccer

• version of a small-sided game

• individual point system

• players organized by numbers

Point System

Win = 3Draw = 1Loss = 0Goal = 1Assist = 1Shutout = 1

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Technical AssessmentsTechnical Assessments

• stations to assess the six skills

• measurement against performance standards

Running w/ the Ball Turning Dribbling & Speed Passing / Shooting Heading

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Technical AssessmentsTechnical Assessments

• measurement against performance standards

Time (secs) Pts Time (secs) Pts Time (secs) Pts Time (secs) Pts Goals Pts Score Pts

Under 4.1 5 Under 23.0 15 Under 12.1 5 Under 12.0 15 3 10 16 & Above 10

4.1 - 4.4 4 23.0 - 26.9 12 12.1 - 12.5 4 12.0 - 15.9 12 2 6 15 8

4.7 - 5.4 3 27.0 - 29.9 9 12.6 - 13.8 3 16.0 - 17.9 9 1 4 12 - 14 6

5.5 - 5.9 2 30.0 - 33.9 6 13.9 - 15.1 2 18.0 - 19.9 6 0 2 9 - 11 4

6.0 & Over 1 34 & Over 3 15.2 & Over 1 20 & Over 3 Under 9 2

Running With

The Ball Turning Dribbling Heading Passing / ShootingSpeed

Scoring Table - U12

CREDIT TABLE

TOTAL POINTS CREDITS

31 - 37

23 - 30

18 - 22

Under 18

2

1

6

5

4

3

57 & Over

38 - 56

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Tryouts for 15-19 Year OldsTryouts for 15-19 Year Olds

Objective• talent identification and development

Tools• match play (11v11)• over the course of 3-4 matches

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Match PlayMatch Play

• range of technique

• understanding of role

• quality of opposition

• quality of decisions• assertiveness / imposing themselves on the game

• leadership / role model

Things to considerThings to consider

• ongoing assessment (over multiple matches)

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SummarySummary

• 9-14 travel/club, technical assessments9-14 travel/club, technical assessments

• Assess players potential to meet the requirements of Assess players potential to meet the requirements of the game through continued development.the game through continued development.

• 15-19 select/representative, match play15-19 select/representative, match play

• Tryouts not needed for recreational clubsTryouts not needed for recreational clubs

• Observe players strengths and weaknesses Observe players strengths and weaknesses to perform in various roles.to perform in various roles.