HS tryouts

It probably is similar to club tryouts. Except parents at our hs never watch the tryouts while parents at our club often watch the tryouts, especially when the player is younger. 

My child decided not to play hs this year. She's found a few other opportunities to train and play and will do that instead. She's fine with the decision, but I having a hard time with it. I will miss it once the games start.

My daughter was also surprised at how easy the high school practices were.  I've heard it from other parents from other schools, but I am sure there are many high schools with more strenuous training.  I think that was part of the reason she decided not to play.  She knows she needs to be as prepared as possible if she wants to play as a freshman in college this fall.  Plus, she did additional training outside of high school last year. It stressed her because she wanted to keep her grades up, but high school is so intense with so many games in a short amount of time that it was hard to keep up that schedule.  She kept her grades up and survived it, but she didn't want to do it again.  It is her choice, but I will miss it.

Fresh off the first high school tryout, here are my observations and what I heard from our school's coaches:

Every coach and school is different. My daughter's club team has six different high schools represented and based on the chatter between the girls and the moms, there were marked differences and similarities in both how the different schools and how clubs run tryouts.

1. Pre tryout conditioning sessions - some started as early as October others started only two weeks before tryouts. Some were a 'weed out' process where players may have just dropped out when they realized the competition or that they weren't in as good physical shape as they needed to be. Advice for you for next year - condition like crazy between your last club game and your tryout - don't let the holidays turn your player into mush - run, cross train, anything to keep the fitness and touches going. If your player had any injuries late in the season like we did, rehab with non impact exercises. My daughter's time on the bike and pool kept her in shape and when she was cleared to run, her mile time was not far off her fastest at all. She regained that within days of training - so just keep moving any way you can between November and January.

2. Number and variety of level of players. You'll see levels from ECNL/RPL to Rec all trying out and depending on the depth of the numbers trying out, any and all can make a team. Some schools were hyper competitive with mostly Athena A or higher dominating the tryouts - others had a much more diverse and wider gap of talent. Two things - don't assume the coach is going to be blown away or even care what level you are playing club. He or she may have something very specific they're looking for and see that in a player who isn't at the highest level but has potential. Other coaches want to know where and for whom you play and will base their first impressions on that. If allowed, other players will show up wearing ODP tryout shirts or some ID camp shirt, it's mind games - some coaches allow it -others say tryouts happen in plain shirts with no club affiliations allowed. Advice - go in humble - play your game. And don't hot dog - high school coaches are looking for a team - play well with others regardless of level - that shows adaptability and teamwork. High school has a short training season - there's not a lot of time to get to know each other and trust each other - start it at tryouts - hone it early in practices. Our school's coach harped on this - kept telling the girls he was looking for a team not a bunch of bodies on the field. They listened and really worked well with whomever was on the field with them at that time.

3. The biggest differences between the schools was some had set tryouts for varsity versus JV and others did not; some had fields set up where you could easily see the levels on each and make assumptions based on who you were playing with and others did not. My daughter's school coach said from day one not to make any assumptions based on where they were on the field or who was next to them - he was placing them where he needed them to be to make his observations.

Some schools had cuts nightly - others made the big cuts at the end - it depends on the coach and the numbers trying out. They may need to narrow it down to make the best decisions. We knew two girls at two different schools who got cut the final night - it's hard and added to the stress of needing to do well every night.

Some schools put freshman on Varsity - others don't. It was half and half between the six schools from our club team - 3 had freshman on varsity- 3 did not. It's an individual decision by the coach so check the ego at the door and play the game. Riding the bench as a freshman on a huge varsity squad equates to a great bragging right that you're on the team but very little playing time. Regardless of where you play, the game is the best teacher - you want to be on the field not just 'on the team'.

One thing I have noticed in most of the six schools from our club team, the varsity rosters were huge while the JV's were kept to 18 or below. Not sure why since you'd expect a JV player could move up to fill in a varsity need but you wouldn't think a varsity player could move down to help the JV squad (I don't know the high school rules yet so correct me if I'm wrong).

My biggest takeaway from this past week was that it was way more stressful than club tryouts. Once you hit high school, you make it or you don't - there's no shopping around for a different team and roster. All the kids trying out wanted it - many were disappointed and have to face that daily when they're at school and see the kids who did make it. It's hard on anyone - harder for a young teen. I saw a lot of pressure put on these kids - and a lot was from their parents. My biggest piece of advice, prepare your player for tryouts with good fitness and nutrition but the rest is up to them. They have to have the desire, skills and determination to weather a week of ups and downs. My daughter had a great first night, bad second night and finished the final two feeling good about her tryout. She said she did the best she could but because she was so nervous, she didn't think it was her best. Her friends felt the same way - these kids were stressed out and when the moms started stressing, too, it made it worse. So the first day of tryouts, make sure the kid has everything and every form they need and send them off. When they get home or you pick them up, don't start quizzing on every detail - wait for it to come. If it does, great; if not - let it ride. By this age, they can handle it. If you see a meltdown starting, go be the parent but leave the soccer pep talking to a club coach or other mentor. My daughter's club coach was great with all the girls this past week - just made himself available for them to text or call if they needed to talk something out. It's in a club coach's best interest to have happy high school players when we all come back to train in late March so keep that communication positive and going.

As stated eaerlier, the biggest difference is lack of parents watching. It's time to cut the cord by the time they're trying out for high school. We had a few parents eek over and watch and they were the same ones who pace and wring their hands on the sidelines during club tryouts. By this time, there is nothing you can do - high school coaches really don't want to deal with parents - the relationship is between the coach and the player - you're the checkbook funding the booster club and volunteer for the concession stand now.

Good luck next year - it was stressful but we kept it in check enough to come out ulcer free. And she made her JV team - mostly freshman and sophomores and a small enough roster that she will see playing time and be doing that with some great friends she has either played with or against since she started this sport at 6 years old. She's excited to be part of a high school team and I'm stoked to get to watch soccer this spring!

Edited to add - if you know a parent of a player on the high school team already, ask them.  If not, tell your player to ask someone he or she may know.  They really don't like to tell Freshman much (at least at her school) so we went in only on what we learned at the parent meeting.  Do not skip that if your school has one - the coaches will outline what they expect and what they're looking for (numbers wise). 

Awesome post spectator and this portion that I have quoted is so true. My son (thankful and blessed for his compassionate soul) included in his bedtime prayers, all the players that were cut every night (cutting began on the first night). Keep working hard, he said, don't give up if you don't make it.  Very stressful indeed but also an opportunity to grower stronger and not get totally derailed.  Looking forward to our season.

Wow ! What an awesome kid! Great job, mom! Seriously, he can date my daughter!

In his freshman year our son played both JV and V and on the V team a couple of the upperclassmen were very cool, offering to car pool and calling him for pick up games over the weekends, etc.  But as we know all know there exists healthy competition so nothing was put out on the table, in a 'yours for the taking' kind of scenario.  This season he is rostered on varsity only and he is really looking forward to it.  It is our hope he will continue to strive to be the kind of player who will offer input and support to the couple freshmen also rostered.

Team chemistry is important. A potential benefit for kids who play for a local club, is that most of the players know each other well. I haven't watched much HS soccer thus far, but I am curious how a team of "familiar players" (even if they may not play club soccer at the highest level) stacks up against a team comprised of club rivals.