The Coach's Perspective on Tryouts

The Coach's Perspective on Tryouts

We have looked at some generalities of the tryout process and then at the parent / player side of the process. Now, let’s take a look at things from a coach’s point of view.

A coach should enter the tryout process with both an open mind and a well mapped plan for assembling a team.  The balance between the two is important. So too is the ability to remained focused throughout the process of selecting your team. I think the best way to approach this article will be to share some experiences I have been a part of or a witness to.  Cynicism will unfortunately creep in to this article at times. I apologize beforehand, but it is a necessary ingredient for making some of the points that need to be made. Through these experiences I hope the coaches reading this will learn and avoid some of the mistakes others have made before them. 

The guiding principles when selecting a team should be honesty and fairness.

Invite players you are interested in to attend tryouts. Beginning at age 12 or 13 players tend not to attend tryouts unless they are invited to do so. Players at this age develop an acute awareness of fitting in. They do not wish to show up and go through the process only to be cut. Extending them an invitation to tryout assures them they have a chance of making your team. Just make sure those you invite do have a chance to make the team.

Clear out problem players before tryouts.  If you have players from the previous season who you do not want on the team for next season, cut them before tryouts. No sense having someone you know will be whining, goofing off, or showing you disrespect around prospective new players.

Clear out weaker players who are not improving before tryouts. If you have a weaker player who is not as dedicated or committed as his teammates and who is not improving at the same rate, cut him before tryouts begin. Do not prolong the agony. It would be a good gesture to have recommendations of another team or club for the player to continue playing on, but this is not a necessary step. It is more to assuage your feelings of cutting him.

 Not being properly prepared for tryouts can doom the process before it begins.  Coaches and trainers should not be involved with on-site registration. They should be observing the arrival and individual warm-ups of prospective players. Soccer balls, cones, scrimmage vests and any other equipment that is to be used should be on the field and properly set up before athletes begin to arrive. Tryouts should begin promptly at the appointed time.  Late arrivals to the process should be noted. Punctuality is part of the process, after all.

Failure to introduce yourself to prospective players or learn the names of prospective athletes.  It is important to establish relationships with players. You are conducting tryouts hoping to recruit players to your team. Introduce yourself and have the players repeat you’re your name out loud.  Learn the player’s names as quickly as possible. They need to know you are interested in them and calling them by name is a sure way to drive this point home.

Select a limited number of proper activities for the tryouts. Limit the number of technical drills and activities done for time. Dribbling a ball through a series of cones for a time or running a 40 yard dash are not game related activities. You are selecting players to play the game of soccer, so have them play.  Keep-away or small sided games with goals are appropriate. Full sided play is definitely appropriate. Observe them doing what they are trying out to do. Time lost transitioning from activity to activity can never be regained during the tryout process so conserve it from the start.

Teach a lesson. You are selecting players that you will spend a season or as much as a year teaching how to play the game of soccer better.  One of the activities for tryouts should involve you teaching something to the prospective players. Observe how they respond. Who is coachable? Who seems to be above it all?  Which players can take direction and follow direction with good attitude?  Isn’t it better to learn who is inattentive or a goof off now rather than once actual practices begin?

Promising a spot to a returning player before tryouts begin. Coaches are human and as such we do not like to inflict pain on the people we know. Tryouts can be a stressful situation for many participants. No one likes to be told they are not good enough or even that they are not the right fit for a team they try out for. A sentimental favorite, but borderline player for the team is often the recipient of a promise like this.  In the end the coach may regret extending the promise and the player may feel unwanted resulting in a miserable experience for all.

A coach should fight back the urge to promise or guarantee a spot to a returning player before tryouts are actually held. Encourage the player to attend tryouts and express a belief that they have a legitimate chance to make the team, but they need to prepare well and have a good day(s) at the tryouts. No promises of making the team, just an opportunity to do so based on their performance at the tryout.

The above information can be applied before and during the tryout process. Think of them as do’s and don’ts that can help facilitate and make the process itself run smoother. Keep in mind that the first impression you make with prospective players is just as important as the first impression the players are attempting to make upon you.

Now let’s take a look at what happens to conclude the tryout process.

Meet and talk with parents after the tryout concludes and before the selection process begins. Committing to a player without meeting the parents is a dangerous proposition. You test drive a car before buying it. You have an engagement period before marrying someone. Get to know the parents. It is a critical step in building a cohesive team.

No matter how good a player is, if the parent(s) is/are nightmares it is not worth keeping the player around, especially if the team is young and developing. Do not be fooled by the player’s congeniality and sportsmanship for he may have learned he must be these things during tryouts to overcome his parents.

Selecting the “star” player who is a whiner and / or a discipline problem. Coaches always seem to believe they are the one that can reach a talented but disruptive or troubled player and turn him into a productive team oriented superstar.  An end of year review usually reveals the coach spent an inordinate amount of time “working with” and disciplining the whiny troubled star player. Time that could have been spent developing the rest of the team was lost. At the end of the year the whiner will probably move on to a “better coach and team” and previously loyal players may move on as well due to the experience. 

Taking on project players.  Project players come in two basic forms.

First, the athlete without a proper level of skill. Be sure that player and parent alike know he will be expected to attend all practices and voluntary extra sessions. He will be expected to possess the best work ethic on the team as he strives to develop the skill set necessary to compete with his teammates and against opponents at the level the team plays at.

Second, the skilled player with physical or athletic limitations. Be sure the player and parents alike know you appreciate the skill set but that you have reservations about the players ability to immediately contribute due to lacking speed, quickness, strength or size in general. Make it clear the athlete is to attend every practice and all voluntary sessions possessing great attitude, tremendous worth ethic and a drive to improve his speed, quickness and strength.

I am not saying you should never take players such as these. What I am saying is to make sure the player and his parents know he is being accepted onto the team as a project player. If you are going to limit his playing time until you deem him ready to contribute, be forthright and upfront about this. There must be complete and total player and parent commitment to this process or there will be failure accompanied by regret all the way around.

Injured players present difficult situations. This is especially true if you are not very familiar with the player’s abilities.  You only have so many roster spots available so the length of time a player will miss is a consideration as well.  My suggestion is if the player would not have been a starter on the team or displayed promise to develop into one during the present season, you should cut him with an invitation to tryouts for the next season.  If the player could be considered among the top players on the team, then roster him and allow the team to be part of his rehab experience.

And finally, before accepting a player onto your team, have an idea of a seasonal plan for his development and a plan for what his role will be with the team. These plans should be submitted to the player and his parent(s) before the player is officially rostered. Why should a player and his family be attracted to your club, your team, if you cannot show a clear training and competitive plan for the year?  If you want the player for your team, then you owe it to all involved to prepare properly to make it happen.

Good Luck and Good Soccer!