Youth Soccer News: The Heartbreak of Tryouts

Tryouts. For a competitive coach this has to be the most stressful week or weeks of the season.

If it is not for some, then I am sure they have their reason; but for me it is. I have never liked the process. I know it is necessary every year, but it does not make it any easier.

I have been involved in this process for almost 30 years and I still dread it. I just hate breaking a kid’s heart or dashing his dreams.

Maybe that is just me, but it is tough to talk to parents and tell them their son or daughter has been dropped, or is not quite ready yet for that next step. But you have to be honest and fair; parents want the truth, and will respect you for the input. But as coaches most have been in the same situation as kids or parents and it is not fun and sometimes it can become “the end of the soccer world for some kids” and some parents.

I have told the following story many times to my teams that I coach or to teams that am making decisions on when I have had to cut players.

It is a very simple story, but worth repeating.

When I was a fourteen year old boy I was fortunate to be selected to try out for my country, Northern Ireland, at the U-15 level. It was a long time ago, but to this day what happened has always stuck in my mind.

I was chosen but the boy sitting next to me was not. That boy was George Best, and he was overlooked at 14.

Some years later I asked George why he was not chosen. He said the coaches told him he was “too “small.” As we all know, George Best became probably the best player in world soccer back in the sixties. You wonder what those coaches thought years later.

Here are some of my thoughts on club tryouts:

• Each player should be in good physical and mental condition for tryouts, if you have had time off from soccer before tryouts, it is so important you keep your conditioning up with ball work and a fitness routine.
• Work on your first touch every single day; it is the single most important technical aspect of this great game.
• As a player trying out, be yourself. Try to relax – you will perform better if you can.
• Don’t try to overdo it; stay within your comfort zone and play simple.
• There probably will be bigger, stronger, faster players out there, so try to play smart and use your soccer brain.
• You have to forget about mistakes you make. Don’t dwell on them; everybody makes mistakes, and coaches understand that.
• It is so important to show good desire and passion for the game. Coaches love to see that part.
• Try to show good leadership, both with your play, and vocal capabilities. If the coach asks questions, step up with an answer. It may not be the right answer, but wanting to be seen and heard is also so important; it shows the coach you are involved in the process.
• If you are not “selected” and you feel you did your best, if you get the chance, ask the coach what you can work on to improve your game so that you will be better prepared next time. Most coaches will give you a straight answer.

Finally, never give up. There is always another day, another chance. Just look at George Best. The next year, at age 15, he was scouted by Bob Bishop from Manchester United. Reportedly Bishop sent then-coach Matt Busby a telegram stating, "I think I've found you a genius."

Best was invited for a tryout, and even though he only lasted two days before becoming homesick and returning to Northern Ireland, Busby was so impressed that he worked to get the young man back. At age 17 Best returned to Manchester United and the rest, as they say, is history.

Related Articles: John Napier on SoccerNation