Dates: "Blue" sessions August 1st/6th 2011
"Red" session August 2nd/7th 2011
Rain Date August 10th - Only if one of the above is rained out.
Each player should attend ONE Blue and ONE Red session
NOTE: Failure to attend BOTH will adversely impact your evaluation
Who: Boys & Girls, entering 2nd grade fall 2011 and older.
Location: Middle School Soccer Fields
Cost: Free
"Blue" session - Station Rotation on Skills - Passing / Dribbling / Controlling / Shooting etc.
"Red" session - Small Sided Games - 3v3 / 4v4 / 5v5 with and without GK's
Other:
All players planning on playing travel soccer in the spring of 2012 should attend 2 dates - one "Blue" session and one "Red" session.
FAQ
Who should attend?
All soccer players who are going into 2nd grade through 9th grade (fall of 2011) and who intend to play travel soccer in the spring of 2012. If your player is born prior to 7/31/03 (most 3rd graders and older), travel soccer is your only option for Spring/Summer playing and you should attend. NOTE: players born 8/1/03 - 7/31/04 (most 2nd graders) are classified by MYSA as U8. OTSC allows U8 players to play up as U9's and will play at that age for 2 years.
Why so long before the season?
Minnesota Youth Soccer Association, combined with the Minnesota State High School League rules, dictate the window available for all clubs to conduct tryouts. This year, that window is July 30 - August 14th.
What if we miss tryouts?
Excused absences for injury's may be approved prior to the tryout dates and must be submitted in writing at a tryout session. To maintain the integrity for all players, there are no exceptions to this policy.
How and when are teams selected?
Tryout data and in season evaluations will be reviewed and teams selected using a blind (no names) review process by the Board. Initial teams will be announced when 2012 registration opens in late fall. Players making more competitive teams will have a window to register to secure their roster spot. Following the registration deadline those players are subject to loosing their spot. Early registration is encouraged.
If my player doesn't make a higher level team, can they still play to a higher level in season?
Yes. Play-ups within and between age levels is common and the Club encourages that practice to give more players an opportunity to experience more competitive play. Play-ups are managed by coaches IN SEASON and are subject to MYSA restrictions.
Who conducts tryouts?
The Director of Coaching, in coordination with the Club, organizes and administers the tryouts but is not an evaluator. On field evaluators may be coaches within the Club but are prohibited from grading the age group in which they coach. Many of the evaluators are directors of coaching or paid coaches from other area programs in an effort to maintain a non-biased and fair process for all athletes. The Club follows a rigorous document tracking and auditing process to ensure all data is properly recorded.
My child is young, do I really need to tryout if we don't want to play a higher level?
Exposing your young player to a tryout format provides valuable experience as a player and a competitor. It is also the only way the Club can properly balance multiple teams competing at the same level and a way for the Club to determine what level teams will compete. Players participation will help them perform in a tryout setting in future years and will help the program to appropriately balance teams. From time to time the program will field only one team in an age group. Tryouts will also help us determine if that team should self select to a higher level of play. We encourage all players at all levels to participate in this process.
How can I help make tryouts and the club the best experience for my athlete?
We are so glad you asked. Please contact the club administrator or any of the board members to volunteer your time and talent to making the club the best it can be. We estimate that nearly 70% of all Orono kids will have been in one of our programs beginning with Pre-K. It takes hundreds of volunteers to make it work. We are looking for volunteers to help with tryouts, among many other opportunities. Tryouts are closed to parents, however, it takes many volunteers to set up the day. We look forward to hearing from you.
