What to Expect at Competitive Tryouts

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What to bring and wear to Tryouts:
Please wear a non-club-affiliated jersey to Tryouts. Each player will be assigned a numbered pinny prior to tryouts. Players must wear cleats and shin guards and bring a water bottle. 
 
Tryout Activities:
You will notice that Tryouts held at South County Youth Soccer tend to consist of some iteration of small-sided games. SCYSC highly values and has had success evaluating players during real, game-like scenarios rather than any specific 'drills'.  In this way, common technical skills like footwork, passing and shooting can be assessed, but also so can other skills like:  positioning, defensive ability, decision making, communication skills and overall game awareness.

1. During tryouts, initially a coach will likely run players through a dynamic warmup to get muscles prepared for the training activities to follow.  Players will have some initial touches on the soccer ball during this activity.
2. Players will be organized into "small-sided activities and games", which means a few players at a time will participate in a game within a smaller space on the field.  For example, 1 v 1 or 2 v 2 activities, or small-sided games such as 4 v 4.
3. Lastly, players may be organized into larger teams for regular game play.  The size of those teams is dependent on age and number of players for the tryout.  The coach will mix players and teams from time to time. 

 
During these activities, independent and qualified Evaluators will be assessing every player individually.  

Post Tryouts:
Evaluators may use several metrics to evaluate players:

1. Prior coach evaluations. If a player has played for the club in the past, that player’s coach will have provided a formal written evaluation prior to tryouts. If a player is coming from another club, the written evaluation is not necessary.
2. Tryout evaluations
3. Discussions with former coaches.

 
Coaches, Evaluators, and the SCYSC Soccer Operations Committee will review and discuss all information and create team rosters accordingly.
 
Competitive Tryouts, Next Steps:

• All team placement decisions will be made within 14 days of the last day of tryouts and parents will be notified shortly thereafter. If you have not heard anything by that time, please contact Shirley at the office at (401)782-8200
• Details about the offer will be included in the email including a required response date.
• In the event a player has been selected for a South County Competitive team, the parents will be asked to make a commitment by registering and paying online to reserve the player's spot on the roster. (Payment options will be offered, and an individual will have an opportunity to apply for financial aid or scholarship).
• Unfortunately, not all players attending the try out may be successful in gaining a place on a Competitive team. If a player does not make a Competitive team, we recommend the parent registers the child for the South County house program.As disappointing as this will be for some, we will certainly encourage a player try again at a future try out.