What's the best way to go about getting in touch with pro clubs about trials?

Make up a player resume.

USL and A-league have some open tryouts each year. You need to call tem first, and send them your resume.

Think about this if you don't live near a club, you will have to relocate. The money they pay is not enough to live on. So your going to have to find a regular job to help support yourself. "A" league practice is 5 days a week.

So when you find a job your boss better love soccer, because you will have to make all those practices.

 

The Columbus Crew announced today that the club will
> hold open tryouts on
> Saturday, Nov. 2, 2002, at the Crew Training Center
> at Obetz (Ohio). The top
> three or four players will earn an invitation to one
> of the Crew's preseason
> camps.
>

 

Call them find out the try out dates, and send them your resume by snail mail. I suppose you can also e-mail it.

Then practice.

 

http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/contact_info/index.asp

Here is the info for prospective players who want to have a trial with the Revolution. Good luck.

 

"Well, I can't do that Crew tryout...they don't allow collegiate players...oh well"

Still going to college are you on schorlship? Tell me more.

 

I would think you would need to be drafted if you are in college and want to join an MLS team. You would need to contact a scout or something like that.

This is the email of the Pres and GM of the Minnesota Thunder A-League team, Jim Froslid. I know they have open tryouts every year. Jim can let you know the details. I'm pretty sure he reads his email regularly and answers it.

jim@mnthunder.com

 

Who do you play for? How are you? I would expect that at college level, if you were that good you would have been noticed by now. That's not being unkind, but kids in England are now being recognised as "being good" from 7 years onwards.. (David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Owen Hargreaves). However, some do "slip through the net" and being in the USA you are further away from the mainstream European scouting network.
I am a coach, and have access to professional clubs in London, and DO make recommendations to clubs of talent.
I coach and referee in the USA regularly so am always on the look out, and do refer players back.
Send me a resume of your background and I will see what I can do.
(I currently have players from USA, Canada and Belgium "under review" by a top club in London).
Contact me at: jefflancast@hotmail.com

 

"I coach and referee in the USA regularly so am always on the look out, and do refer players back.
Send me a resume of your background and I will see what I can do."

Curious can you do anything for him just by looking at his player resume. Wouldn't you have to see him play first somewhere before you could recommend him to anybody? Because when you recommend someone aren't you putting your name and reputation on the line.

 

First of all, his resume will give me an indication of what level he "might be at". If he is not playing at a particulary good level, then yes, I might not put my reputation "on the line".
Secondly, if he is playing at a level, that might warrant "having a look" then I would arrange for that to be done. Then I would feel "safe" about making a rec.
Thirdly, I might want to look anyway, out of curteousy.
Personally, if I say that I will do something, then I will.
Also I then get the opportunity of maybe "picking up" someone else during the same game.
This way everybody is happy and "reputations" are safe.

 

RICHIE; There is also the "politics" angle to it too.
First of all, there's the cost and travel implications of making a "trek" without having some background knowledge of potential. That's not to say that it won't happen, if it saved a club $m's in the future. If someone has represented the USA at youth level, (and that more or less might be the benchmark), then requests "come in their thousands" to most clubs requesting trials. It is at times a matter of sorting the "wheat from the chaff", and then prioritising.
Some will get looked at, some won't. A resume might just indicate the "Wills & Won'ts".
Then there's the "real politics". Not being an E.U. national, no automatic work permit, etc. Some eastablished young eastern European and Brazilian internationals (or on the fringe) don't get work permits to the EPL if they have not played in a specified quota of international matches.
A bit of "ancestry" might help, if it's recent. (Grandparent cut off). Unfortunately having a second cousin, whose third uncle is a distant relative of someone who was a deck-hand on "The Mayflower" doesn't count! (At times unfortunately!!).
That briefly is a short tour of what criteria any budding young player will require in terms or ability and playing level, and the "paperwork" that goes with it all.
America is considered to be the "untapped source" as perhaps Africa was some years ago, and their good players have made their mark. Some U.S. players have too. I'm sure in years to come further progess will be made, and their IS some good young players around in the USA. How many will become Laindon Donovans?
Unfortunately not many. As their are not many David Beckhams "et al". The main thing is that the kids don't give up dreaming and believing. It has to happen to someone.

 

Hey Jeff,

Just a public acknowledgement of how caring and kind your answers have been.

You are undoubedtly a great developer of talent.

cheers

 

"SEAHAWK" Thank you for your kind comments. (You may not be as kind after Saturday, when "Arsenal beat Blackburn!!!) (LOL). (That's MY Team!!)
As a matter of intersest, whereabouts are you in northern Virginia. I'm there a lot, as my "best buddy" lives in Fauquier County, and I've done some coaching there. I actually still play in Manassas when I visit.
(Scored a "great goal" my last trip!!).
I might actually be going down to a tournament organised by Chesterfield Club, (near Richmond?) at some time. Getting ready to book up the flight this Friday for coming back next July. ("Stop off" before going to the USA Cup in Blaine, MN). This year is the first in the last 5 I've not been to Viriginia. I miss it!
"A beautiful state"! (I digress!). Thanks again for your comments. JEFF.

 

"Secondly, if he is playing at a level, that might warrant "having a look" then I would arrange for that to be done"

How would you do that exactly, if you were not close in locations?

Would he pay to get to you, or would you pay the money for him to get to you. Then when he got there who would he play for and against for you to get a look at him?

Last question, how long a look do you need to know if he is the kind of player you want. Whole game, a half, or just ten minutes? What do you look for in a player exactly? Do you look in general or at a position or both?

I am curious because I scouted players myself at one time.

Richie

 

The person concerned has replied to me, and it would not be fair to him to discuss his personal reply, and his background, so therefore in answer to your questions, I will "generalise".
The opening 10 - 15 minutes of a game will give you an idea (or should do) about the players' own personal skills.
Seeing what position he has been selected to play in, and whether that is (a) suitable for his skills and (b) is that what you want from him.
Considerations to: "Is he playing out of position?"
"Would another position suit him?"
(As a youth I used to play with/against Brendon Batson (ex Arsenal, W.B.A.) who was a striker in his teens. Arsenal made him a full back! (He made "pro", I didn't!).
If early indications show that there is something worth following up, then watch at as many games as it takes to make a decision ass to whether to pursue interest.
Covering the distance point, I would arrange for someone "locally" to have a look, and assess on the points I have mentioned above. If, then, worth following up, either a "personal look" in location, or an invitation to attend a particular club, should any show interest in a submitted report.
That's about it in a "nutshell" for a quick response.

 

I scouted for an A-league club. I would not travel to the player he would have to come to me in NYC at his own expense.

I have friends who coach in the Super div. In the early 80's and for ten years after that Superdiv was one of the best leagues in the country. The real talent in the super div left for MLS and A league, but still has some good young players and some older players who can play.

I would get them a few practices and a friendly game with a team in the super division. That is where I look at players.

If I had a lot to do it really just takes ten minutes to know. Did not look to much at what position they play, but I do look at that especially if they say they are a striker. Main thing is touch, quickness and vision. You can not help noticing soccer sense and speed. But the big three that can get them a second look is touch, quickness and vision. You can see those qualities right away. They don't have them I send them home after we eat

 

I got your response but your last enquiry stated that through injury you were out "for the rest of the season".
Has there been a dramatic recovery? How is your trial with and where? Hopefully hear from you later on your situation.

 

Jeff, do you ever play Subbuteo?

 

When I was a young boy I used to.