What advice would you give to a player in your tryouts?

Effort,
Do everything as well as you are able, no half measures, do not waste opportunity.
Attitude,
I am here to work, to show you, you need me! Confident but not arrogant. Respectful but not butt kissing.
Skills,
demonstrate what you are good at. As you warm up if you posess dribbing skills or ball control or shooting make those actions be positve, display good technique. Keep the ball close, excercise the traps and bulge the ole onion skin.
I will assume you wil be involved in mini match ups, display spacial awareness, change the pace on or off the ball, movement off at angles and to open up space.
Communicate to your teammates and ensure you are working as a group to achieve width, length and support.
When defending do not get caught out of position and if you do tackle win the ball. Nothing will impress a coach than if he sees success by a player at each facet of the game with effort and attitude at 100%.
Appearance,
no hats, rings, earrings, shoes polished, kit bag and sweats clean if you bring them. Lots of water on hand. Look like this means something to you. You are ready to give it and prepared to work your butt off.

Just a personal preference leave your parents out of the mix if you can. They can support you and that is what they are supposed to be good at not interfereing with the coach. Be sure the expectations of yourself, the coaching staff and the parents if involved in travelling and supporting structures are on the same wavelength

It is easy to say HAVE FUN and I know telling you to be calm may seem difficult but in truth act calm and enjoy yourself. Whatever your personality be it shy or aggressive, tame or wild be the best of the character traits that seperate those from along for the ride to one who sets the destination.

From our pitch to your pitch in the spirit of fairplay

 

Re: Re: What advice would you give to a player in your tryouts?

sure, show what you can do...no hiding from the ball...and of course scoring gets notice, but so do assists

look teams are run by coaches, show an attitude that you are open to coaching and looking to improve

...ball watching, don't get caught ball watching, and communication is a wonderful thing and especially noticeable when you are playing with strangers

shoes polished? seriously? I couldn't care less personally (but if your parents come, make sure they're quiet)

Yeah, don't let the pressure of trying to find a team force you into joining a team that isn't consistent with your idea of how the game should be played and how players whould be treated

Relax, have fun, you'll play better and a coach would rather have an enjoyable player than somebody who will be hard to deal with...

Oh, and show you know the game, don't be afraid to play the ball back if it is warranted, if they call a foul, try a quick re-start once or twice, just so the coach knows you know to do it

 

NEVER SURRENDER!!!

You want to always stand out?????
Go hard every time on every play...
This gets you noticed !Try to be a one man wrecking crew out there. Look to also be a team player ... Dish a few sweet passed up and if the guy can't seal the deal ; don't be afraid to let him know next time you might have to close the deal yourself!!! GOOD- Luck..

 

Re: Re: Re: What advice would you give to a player in your tryouts?

Another saliant point! Passes that are spot on, usefull and give others success will be noted.

Coaches are just people who even on their best days will not get it right all the time. In selecting a team if you are not chosen by a coach that does not mean you are inept or a poor player or you are somehow at fault and failed. It could mean you need to work harder on certain things. In all cases ask those doing the chosing, if you are able, to explain what THEY THINK and if you see the logic and understand the decisions it can make you a better player.

At the younger ages so much developement and character is evolving in our youth. Your opportunities need not be limited by what a few well intended but unable to foresee the future coaches might decide.

I applaud the courage those who try out for a select team where cuts are being made of the risk they might not make it. It does not mean we are correct. In giving players advice as to what level they can expect to play at, few coaches are qualified to say you have no chance in a way as to crush a dream. Honesty is a fine trait and sometimes we can not tactfully say I see no future at this level for you. The beauty of soccer is at some level we can all play. Who is to say is it a coach or the player who finally makes that decision?As a coach we make the best choice based on what we see that day or days and as an opinion it is not a fact of life simply a choice.

I love it when a player turns adversity into a challenge as in the case of Owen Hargraves cut from the U-16 team now on the Britsh national team playing out of Gemany or Michael Jordan not making the basketball team in highschool. Or Paul Sanga cut from the u-12 team only to be one of the best players on the u-16 a few years later.

We once chose 17 out of 146 who gave it their best shot. There were a few standouts whose abilities were noticable a striker who is so fast with the ball close at his feet it takes the breath away. A player who in goal looks like an octopus, kicks the ball 60 yards is 6 foot 2 and just a bit slower than the striker. Genetics will play a part as will the sweat but talent is what it is. There were tears with some players and accusations by some parents. It was a torture to decide as you could not slid a penny between some players in noting what they brought to the game.
In the end it was a bit of speed, a bit of height, an anticipation level to rival Gretzky, a set of cool parents versus a very obnoxious one.

Also the idea of playing time is critical as a starter for tier 2 or a bench warmer at tier 1? Is the lack of playing time made up in the training somehow?
I coached a tier two team that in the provincial tournament had to play the tier 1 teams. We made it to the finals and defeated the top teams along the way. On one of those teams was a player who had trained with us at the season begining and would have been a starter. In the match we played against his team we ended 0-0 after 90. We played 30 minutes of extra time and finally we won on a 7th shot of a penalty shootout. In a two hour match he played less than 30 minutes. His father admitted that he was so enchanted by being selected he did not consider the playing time his son would recieve. In fact his son was the final player chosen.

Great point and probably one of the most damaging for a player to be seen doing. The movement off the ball is what you will be doing the most of. Rember in a 90 minute match you will only be touching the ball for say 2 to 3 minutes minutes in its entirety possibly less. While we look at the skill in which you perform with the ball we also look to see what you are doing without the ball in the other 87 mimutes as it comprises your greatest activity.

Yea I know a bit anal but in truth such things as properly tied laces, putting your boots away into your bag clean, no dried up grime, not walking across the pavement with them on, checking or tightening your cleats shows respect for the game as well as good habits for one's self image. I do believe one's care of the tools reinforces a good work ethic however it is a personal peeve of mine. which I readily admit is on the have a chance of making the team meter may not factor in.. My team is not allowed to leave or toss stuff or be in any way uncaring with any equipment

Again excellent advice! Be sharp when the ball is out of play setup for what you know is coming do not use this time to relax and forget to pay attention . Getting got napping on a quick corner or throw-in will not make you look good.
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Get a lot of touches of the ball before the tryout starts. Your first hundred touches are not as good as the second hundred. So get those first touches out of the way before the tryout starts.

Don't be afraid to attack if the space you left is not filled in by another player trying out. You have to show something to be noticed. If you don't go because your back support is not there. Very few coaches will understand why you did not go. He will think you never go into the attack.

Don't make a pass and be content to admire your pass. Move in the flow of play after your pass and hope for a return pass or another pass in combination play.

Lose the ball or a team mate loses the ball or your no longer in the flow of play, get your arse behind the ball.

Ball is up and your tired show a will of iron and get up. I look for that kind of will in a player. Also have the will to get behind the ball when your team loses the ball.

Think about your support positioning.

Going out for inside mid? Try to put yourself as the second attacker for the dribbler who ever the dribbler is from your inside position. So you will get a lot of touches and make those touches show something that will be remembered in a good way.

Think a head so you don't need to think after you get the ball. So when you get the ball you just do. Going for tackles? Go at the right time which is when the dribbler does not have close control of the ball. Don't dive in on the tackle. You will miss and look bad doing it.

If you can beat players take them on. That creates space for team mates. Don't take on the second attacker unless it means you can get a shot off and score.

After beating the first defender look to pass while moving away from pressure. Perfect time to look for throw pass, a shot or to reverse the field with a pass.
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I look for player quickness, vision and a good touch.

Players making a good impression in small sided play have a good chance of making the team in general.

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Here is some stuff from a one time friend that can help.

Communicate in the Games
Players who give instructions and help other players with verbal and visual cues stand out as leaders. It does not have to be long winded or a continuous narrative, but good communication makes players stand out in a positive way to the observers. Silent players appear to be out of the game mentally.
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(Calling for a back pass as the other player just touches the ball is bad communication. Thats from me.)
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Introduce Yourself and Ask Questions
Whenever there is a moment, the player should greet each of the coaches. It is sad to hear kids say that they went to the tryout but did not know who had evaluated them. Players should ask questions to ensure that they understand what's going to happen at both the tryout and during any follow-on tryouts or administrative mumbo jumbo.

Ask for the Job
Good heavens, please tell the coaches you had a good time and want to play for the team. As a coach, I really have a much harder time cutting kids who show up, work hard, introduce themselves and who ask for the job than I do cutting kids who show up, play, and leave without indicating any interest.
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You said you were trying out for a number of teams.

That might be fun for you, but it could hurt you in the future.

When someone comes out for my team or my club I think they are doing that because they want to play for us.

If I like your game and offer you a spot on the team I expect you to play on the team because you wanted to go out for the team.

If I offer you a spot then you say I have to think about it or no I am playing for another team. I think you were just trying to waste my time and effort.

I will ask you why aren'y you accepting the offer to play. Acceptable excuses arem just found out I moving out of state or your dying. Those are the only 2 acceptable excuses. Anything thing else I write your name and address down for future reference if you should ever tryout for my club again. So I will remember to turn you away at another tryout.
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Things a coach remembers a good tackler, speed, and a guy who can fisinish a half chance or a chance, and someone who can cross the ball and make a good cross with either foot


Good luck,

Richie

 

ryan "The thing is, I'm looking to improve as a player, and because I don't know much about the clubs because many are new, I don't know what to do other than to try out for all of them. Any advice?"

That is your problem you have no info on the club your trying out for. You need to see them play in games and in practice the season before.

In these cases might as well try out for all of them if they are all playing in the highest division in your league and they have very good coach/trainer.

Ideally they should have some money behind them. Because then you can be seen in good tournaments if your team is good instead of crap local tournaments that no one but local coaches watch because of lack of money.

I would not play for a lower division team, you want to play in the best division for the best competion. Have to play in the highest division of your leagues play if you want a chance to play for your leagues select team if they have a league select team. Which is a team made up of your leagues best players. They should be playing together in better tournaments.

I coached my leagues select for years I only looked at players who played on the best division of league competition. If a player was good but played in a weaker division chances are I would not even consider him and might not even know about him.

Try to play on an established team with good coaching in the highest division and level of play.

All these things will help you be spoted by coaches that could do you the most good later on. They know a club puts out good players. They see you in league select tournament, etc.

Clubs that merge might be good for a year, but they never seem to last for more then a season or two.

New clubs come and go.

Richie