Soccer Tryouts I

If your league is starting soon, you may be involved in running tryouts for your team.

You will need to have some objective way of selecting your players. We believe that a measurement system is very safe and fair. Today, we offer you one such evaluation tool. You will see that it is actually filled out from a real tryout we conducted with our team. There are many ways to score and rate players, this is just one of them. We will provide another method in a future article.

The link below gets you to a spreadsheet with all the mathematical formulae intact, so be careful when you make changes.

This model places equal value on attendance, effort and skills, breaking down skills into 7 categories. The last four areas are weighted at 50% of the first three: skill application (in games), movement (off the ball, requiring vision), attitude (leadership, passion, interest, focus) and communication (verbal, non verbal.

There is a % rating excluding attendance for those coaches who place less emphasis on it and a total. You can change the weightings or the categories to whatever you like, this is just one suggested format.

The key then is to run tryout practices in which you can observe these categories and skills and get at least three opportunities to rate each player. You can use the drills from our practice books, they are well suited for this purpose.

Experience has shown that the top 10 players coming out of this rating scheme will provide at least 7 of your future starting line-up.

Soccer Tryout

Our Practice Books And Resources

Kids Soccer Practices

Youth Soccer Practices

Competitive Soccer Practices

Soccer Goalie Practices

Soccer Systems Of Play

Indoor Soccer Practices

Soccer Fitness Training

Soccer Skills Training

Soccer Tactics - Learning By Watching

We all watch live soccer games in the stadium or on TV. Some of us even watch taped classics. When we watch as a supporter of a specific team, or simply as a fan of the sport, we get totally immersed in the competitive aspect, in the drama unfolding, in the great plays, the goals, the referees. It's fun, it's excitement and it is what makes it the beautiful game.

There is another way we can watch soccer games, through the eyes of the learning coach. And learn we can. Instead of reading up on particular team's strategies and coaches, why not watch the strategy, the tactical manouvering, the coaching adjustments unfold before your very own eyes.

It is a matter of mindset and discipline to watch a game and learn tactics. You need to pretend that you are scouting the two teams you are watching.

Try to figure out their formations, not by what the reporter tells you, but by what you see. Write it down.

Then look at defensive and offensive moves of each team. these moves are the result of the game strategy and tactics, they just don't happen. Professional coaches also have a game plan.

If you know something about the teams, like the playmakers, the scoring threats, the unbeatable defender, the weak spots, that will help.

Remember also the basic objectives of each team: Score goals and prevent the other team from scoring. So what are the defensive tactics. How is the other team trying to crack the opposing defense. How are they trying to get players into scoring positions.

Try to notice transition plays - fast or slow. Vertical or horizontal build-ups? Possession game or fast break attack? Lots of switching side of attack or flooding one side? Overlapping or not. And so on.

Try to read each team's game plan and watch the opponent adjust. Take notes. Before your next practice, decide if something you saw is relevant for your team. Incorporate it into practice and try it in the next game.

Learning By Watching - one interesting way of developing coaching skills.

Our Practice Books And Resources

Kids Soccer Practices

Youth Soccer Practices

Competitive Soccer Practices

Soccer Goalie Practices

Soccer Systems Of Play

Indoor Soccer Practices

Soccer Fitness Training

Soccer Skills Training