Help with running a tryout

[mmarzolf]

Hi everyone,

I have inherited two U-16 boys teams, an A team (premier one) and a B team. The coach is moving out of state and I have been his assistant for both teams, but have never run a tryout??

I'm going to be combining the two teams into one, and will be cutting kids. I have found other teams for the ones I cut. I'm really looking for some pointer's to run the best tryout I can!! Thanks for the help.

[Val]

First thing you have to decide is what your purpose of holding a tryout. Since you know the kids and have found slots for the other kids, presumably the one who won't make your team, why are you holding this tryout anyway? Is it just to cover you in case a parent complains? And that's a valid reason, but maybe you should spend more time meeting face-face with parents and kids to tell them why the kid is being cut.

Other than that, my standard rule of thumb is someone else to judge the results, another pair of eyes, especially helpful if they don't know the kids.

At this point you should also be looking at serious leadership, so maybe play some 7v7 and let the kids select the positions. You split the kids accordingly, but them decide who plays where. Or, have the defenders play attacke and have the strikers defend. Look to see who's enjoying themselves the most and who's doing the most on-field directing.

[mmarzolf]

Thank you, I have face to face meeting with all players and parents. The tryout is really a formality for the club and league.

I was looking for something new for the boys?? All the old coach ever had them do play, no drills, no teaching, zero. Once I have the team together, we are going to have a lot of work to do! But for now I was looking to change things up, and still keep it fun for the boys.

Thanks again.

[Jerzy]

Good shooting drill that the kids should have fun with.

|............... |
.... X.... X



....Y.... Y
|.............. |


Two players on each side, both in a wide goal. Team X gets the ball and player with the ball runs with the ball and shoots. X has to recover quickly. If team Y makes the save, they advance quickly and shoot. Go back and forth keeping score. Winning team moves up the ladder and losers play. Crown the champion team after 3 or 4 rounds.

Another shooting drill, play 4v4 in a short, wide pitch, full goals, two GKs. This is a lot of fun. As a progression, all shots must be on the 3rd touch for the team, or play max of two-touch.

Play 5 v 5 in a 40x40 field with 4 goals to encourage change of direction. I hated the game, but most of friends really enjoyed it.

[huffsw]

At my tryouts GU13. I needed to evaluate all the players as they would play as a team and individually.

Here's what I did...

• Sprints with and without ball to evaluate speed
• One Vs. One to evaluate controll and defending talent level
• 4 vs 4 to evaluate player and feild awareness
• 6 vs 6 to let them have the opportunity to show me what the knew and to evaluate turns and passing to space.
• One vs two to score to show determination/aggressiveness
• two vs two to score in a small area shows teamwork and willingness to pass.

I hope that this helps

Stephen