Team Selection-Tryout Policy

Team Selection-Tryout Policy
March 2008

It is the policy of the Highland Knights Soccer Club that all tryouts for team positions are to be OPEN tryouts, available to any interested player regardless of past experience or affiliations. No player is guaranteed a position on any team, regardless of where they played during the previous season or during the indoor season.

All tryouts are held under the control and direction of the Club and the team coaching staff and the HDSA technical director (assistant coaches and managers may not be selected until the team selection process is complete). Final team roster selection is the decision of the team coach and the HDSA Technical Director, however, this policy outlines a process to try and make player selection as fair and open as possible, and provide players and parents with an understanding on how players are selected.

Players interested in trying out for these teams and their parents must be aware of the serious commitment level that is required from every player. Because attendance at tryout sessions demonstrates one aspect of player commitment, players who fail to attend the majority of tryout sessions will risk being cut regardless of skill and ability.

For insurance reasons and adherence to SNS policy, all players must be registered with the Club for the current season prior to attending any tryouts.  If not registered, a player cannot try out.

All players will have the opportunity to attend at least three tryouts, with the exception being when numbers trying out exceed 30 players, and in such cases, some players may be cut after the first tryout.  Where tryouts require payment of a tryout fee, such fees must be paid prior to tryouts and are non-refundable (exception: if a player is cut after one tryout, any tryout fee will be refunded in full).

Prior to each tryout, each player will sign in and be assigned a distinctly numbered and colored pinnie that can uniquely identify each player without use of the player’s name. Every tryout session will include two or more ‘observation assessors’ and these assessors will each complete a standard evaluation form that includes a list of players (by pinnie number/color) and columns for assigning scores in a variety of categories (eg. passing, trapping, dribbling, shooting, positional play, fitness, game skills). The evaluation form will be prepared and approved annually by the HDSA Technical Director and the Club. The HDSA Technical Director will act as an ‘observation assessor’ for as many tryout sessions for each team as possible, with a minimum of one tryout session with each team.

Upon completion of each tryout session, the evaluation sheets will be collected by the coaching staff and tabulated for each player in attendance, with the evaluation sheets and overall tabulated results retained for reference during final team selection.

Upon completion of tryouts, the coaching staff and the HDSA technical director will meet to select the final roster. All evaluations will be available to assist in final player selection, and will be the primary factor in determining player selection. However, other factors that will influence final decisions are: player position, player age, potential need to players on other teams to field a team. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD THE HOME LOCATION OF THE PLAYER HAVE ANY INFLUENCE IN THE SELECTION PROCESS, with the exception of where more than one player is considered equal in all other aspects, and selection of one over the other may assist in travel arrangements by balancing player counts by region.

Should the coaching staff and HDSA technical director not be able to agree on the final list of selected players, the HDSA Executive will convene a meeting of the Executive, coaching staff, and the HDSA Technical Director where final player selections will be finalized.

For numerous reasons (eg. players dropping out, people moving to the area, injuries), there is always a possibility that players will be added or deleted from the roster after the initial tryout process has been completed. Should such circumstances arise, the coaching staff and the HDSA Technical Director will both be involved in making an final player selections

Summer Tryouts
Tryouts will begin at indoor facilities (Agridome and Highland Sports Complex) in mid to late March. When possible, tryouts will also include at least one session on a metro all-weather field. Teams are expected to hold no more than 4 tryout sessions before final team selection. Practices will start as soon as the team is selected, and may include an additional fee for indoor facility use. Final team rosters will be selected no later than April 30.

Winter Tryouts
Tryouts will begin in late September - early October, either on weekends or week day evenings. Tryouts will take place at the Agridome (if available in time) and the Highland Sports Complex. Teams will hold no more than 4 tryout sessions. Practices may begin as soon as the team is selected, and may include an additional fee for indoor facility use. Final team roster will be selected no later than October 31.