8v8 Tryout policy information for U9 and U10 Teams 4/27/13
TRFC has adopted a policy making tryouts a “voluntary procedure” designed to afford your child the opportunity to play at the level of competition commensurate to their ability. If you would like your child to play on any U9/10 travel team(s) please have them attend the tryouts that are held in May and or June. These teams are 8v8, that is, each team shall play with 8 players on a side on the field. All current U8 and U9 TRFC travel team players turning U9 or 10 respectively are required to attend these U9 or 10 tryouts, if they want the opportunity to remain on a travel team.
When tryouts are held by the club for (any) new or existing U9 or U10 travel teams (after the U8/9 years) all players including current (TRFC) rec and all new rec and all players from other clubs, may attend or be invited to attend these (open to all) voluntary tryouts-evaluations for our travel teams.ALL players are “required” to attend the tryouts/evaluations to be “considered” for a TRFC travel team.
Tryouts/evaluations are held to evaluate/rate the player’s capabilities and potential so to encourage the players to play at the level of competition commensurate to their/that ability. Although these evaluations are an important guiding factor in the player selection process—(player) commitment and maturity levels are also factored in. These tryouts for the new and current travel teams are to be conducted (at club expense) by the TRFC Head Coach and club trainers. Our current rec team coaches and travel team coaches are (usually) consulted before finalizing rosters. No one will be allowed to play-up on these 8v8 travel teams. Players may only tryout in their proper age group. All current U8/9 rec team coaches and the appointed U8/9 turning U9/10 travel team coaches are required to participate in all (preliminary) tryout procedures--however the coaches will not evaluate players at the U9 or U10 tryouts.
All players are encouraged to tryout, but will not be forced to play on a travel team---however--any coach that encourages a player(s) to NOT attend the tryouts or NOT join a (any) travel team, or hinders the tryout/evaluation or the player selection process in any way may be subject to disciplinary action. After all U9 and 10 travel team rosters have been finalized (after completing tryouts) all of the remaining players including players that weren’t selected, or that decline to tryout or to play for (THE) U9/10 travel team they are selected (to) will be assigned to a rec team (which is usually but not necessarily a current rec players current rec team) so as to maintain or create a competitive balance on the remaining rec teams. Spots will not be held for unregistered players after a date so determined by the E/B.
Q and A on U9 and 10 tryouts.
1 Are the TRFC U9 & 10 soccer tryouts mandatory? No. Only those players that want to be travel players or remain on a current travel team must tryout. Although we highly recommend that all players tryout--players (or their parents) that want to stay on a rec team may do so.2 What is the age requirement for the U9 and 10 travel teams? Age group determinations can be found on the club’s website.
3 Who may tryout? Any age appropriate players from TRFC or other clubs may attend our voluntary tryouts.
4 If a child does not tryout or is not selected for a U9 or 10 travel team will there still be a place to play?YES. All returning TRFC Players that are not selected or who decline to tryout or choose not to play for or are not ready to make a commitment to THE U9 or 10 travel team they are selected for will be placed on a rec team. We do attempt to keep the rec players together on their current rec team-although we must at the same time try to maintain or create a competitive balance on those remaining rec teams. New outside registered rec players will be placed as needed among (all) of the remaining rec teams AFTER all of the (registered) returning TRFC players have been placed. Rec players will be notified of their team assignments after the travel team placements are completed.
5 How many teams are formed, and when will the players that are selected for a travel team be notified? There is no set number. We typically have 2 or 3 returning travel teams in an age group. Additional new teams may be formed depending on the number of children and the skill level of the players trying out. Roster sizes vary from 11 to 14 players per team. Player notification is USUALLY done in about 14 days. When players are notified that they have been selected for a travel team, they will have a specific amount of time to respond and register and make payment, after which time their spot may be given to another player. Players that decline THAT spot on a specific travel team will assigned to a Rec team. Although all current TRFC U9/10 (travel and rec) team players will be assured a place on a team—that spot may be on a U9/10 travel OR on a rec team.
6 Can U9 and 10 players play for the travel team and a Rec team? No. Players that make a travel team may only play for that travel team.
7 Who will select the coaches for the U9 and 10 travel team(s)? The TRFC Head Coach, Boys and Girls Age Group Director and Age Group Staff will make coaching recommendations for any NEW travel teams being formed--but it will be the responsibility of the Executive Board to approve (or disapprove) the choice or choices. The coaches will usually have a child on the team, but while this is ideal, it is not required. Coaches of new teams may be appointed before or after the new travel team’s rosters are selected and finalized. Current travel team coaches are usually retained but they are not guaranteed reappointment. Current Rec coaches that prefer to stay in the program will (usually) be retained as a coach of a Rec team.
8 What criterion is used to evaluate players? The U9 and 10 travel team players will be evaluated at a tryout by the Head Coach, Age Group Director and training staff which will run and supervise the tryouts/evaluations. They will make player roster recommendations based on player performance in an entire year period. Although tryout ratings/ evaluations is a factor in the player selection process, player commitment, maturity levels, yearly performance of player are also heavily factored in. All current TRFC team coaches will be also asked to complete a player movement recommendation form for their players.
9 Who will select the players? The Head Coach, Age Group Director, Staff and the E/B Tryout Committee will review the recommendations and finalize the U9 and 10 travel team rosters. Coaches of the current travel teams will also submit player movement recommendation forms for consideration before the rosters are finalized.
10 Who will train the U9 and 10 travel teams? A TRFC approved trainer.
11 How much does the travel program cost? Registration fees will be $195.00, which is the same for all TRFC players. There will however be additional costs per year to pay for training, as well as the fees to enter tournaments and camps at the discretion of the coach and team. All teams are encouraged to defray their costs by finding club acceptable means of fundraising.
12 What about uniforms? All TRFC travel players must purchase the prescribed club uniform package which will cost an average about $75.00. The club colors are RED, WHITE AND BLUE.
13 If we (coaches) have any other questions about the program, to whom shall we address them to? The Head Coach will have the current specific information on all policies (enacted by the E/B) about the U9/10 travel team program and the tryouts/evaluations.
14 What leagues do travel teams play in and how far do we travel? Travel teams play in the Monmouth/Ocean Soccer Assoc. (MOSA). MOSA plays games on Sunday and travel is confined to Monmouth/Ocean Counties.
15 If we as parents allow our child to play for a travel team can you briefly explain “what is expected” from our children and from us? Players and parents must “make a commitment to the team”. A TRFC player’s commitment includes, attending practices, scrimmages, and all scheduled games. It will also include going to tournaments, camps and participating in indoor, outdoor and winter training. Parents are expected to support their children in those endeavors. Parents may also be asked to participate in “team orientated fund raising”, to help alleviate the cost of going to tournaments, camps and training, and for the purchase of (although not necessarily in the same season) ball bags, jackets and warm-up suits.
116 How and when do we register our children? Registration instructions will always be posted on the club –eweb-site, any questions can be addressed to the registrar.