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About Tryouts

SYSL Select is a competitive program.  SYSL Select uses a player selection process, called a tryout, to find the right set of players to form teams that can compete at the highest possible levels.

This does not always mean selection of the best players. Skill on the field is obviously an important factor, but attitude, vision, work-ethic, and other less quantitative factors are also considered.

Teams require different players to perform different roles. There are strikers, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers. Within each group you may want one strong/physical player, one very fast player, one player with extreme foot skills, and another player who has strong vision and can read the game as it unfolds. You may want different players to take on the roles of acquisition, distribution, and transportation of the ball.

The purpose of the tryout, and the job of the tryout evaluators, is to incorporate all of these factors and find the right combination of skills, attitudes and roles to build a competitive team.

Tryout Schedule

• June 17 
  6pm - 8pm U9 - U14 Birney Middle School

• June 28
  2pm - 3:30pm U9 - U10 Birney Middle School
  4pm - 5:30pm U12 - U14 Birney Middle School

What to Wear

Players must be properly dressed for the tryout. Specifically they must wear appropriate footwear and shin guards. Shin guards must be worn under the sock. They must not be on top of the sock, or on top of the sock with the sock turned down over the shin guard. Tryouts are held rain or shine. The temperatures may be cold, but not likely in mid June. Players must also dress appropriately for the weather.

Player must not wear any jewelry - this includes necklaces, rings and earrings of any kind, and bracelets. Players must not wear current club affiliated clothing (including SYSL recreation and SYSL Select). Players doing so may be asked to remove such items during tryouts.

What to Bring

Players are required to bring a properly inflated ball of the appropriate size for the age group for which they are trying out. That is #4 for U-9 - U-12, and #5 for U14. Players must also bring an adequate supply of water.

Duration

Each session lasts for 1.5 to 2 full hours. Players need to be properly hydrated before each tryout session, and will be given multiple water breaks during the tryout sessions. Tryouts are held rain or shine.

Check-In

Upon arrival, players must check-in with the tryout coordinators. Players will receive a number to be pinned to their jersey bearing their tryout number. Players should save this number in the event they are invited back for additional evaluation. 

Players must then move onto the tryout field to warm-up. Warm-ups are typically informal. Players warm-up with their own ball and work with other players who are there for the tryout. Parents are not permitted on the tryout field. Parents are permitted to warm-up with their players if they want, but not on the tryout field.

The Tryout

The tryout itself is very much like a typical practice. Players will be divided into groups and run through some individual drills, move to small sided games, and eventually onto larger full sided games. Players will be given water breaks and stay in the tryout area during breaks. Parents are to remain OUTSIDE of the tryout area.

There will be multiple tryout evaluators managing the tryout, Some of the evaluators are coaches of the teams in the specific age group and gender that is being evaluated. Other evaluators include other SYSL Select coaches and/or SYSL recreation coaches who are assisting in the selection process.

The tryout evaluators are looking for the right combination of players to form the most competitive teams possible. They will be watching the players and taking notes on individuals and associating those comments with the jersey number worn by that player.

Evaluators will exchange information and point out certain players to other evaluators who may want to take a closer look. All the feedback is then gathered and given to the coaches of the teams being formed. It is those coaches who are responsible for making the final decisions on which players are selected.

Player Notification

At the end of tryouts, a coach from one of the teams will give the player a call. Depending on the number of available slots a player will be invited to join a select team. If a selected player declines an invitation to play with the team, then an alternate player may be invited to join the team. Sometimes, coaches will recommend that the players continue to play in recreational soccer or work on their game for another year. Not all players have the ability to play in a more competitive league.