Travel and Premier Team Tryouts - Information and Schedule

Tryouts are conducted annually, typically during May and June. Tryouts are open to everyone who wishes to attend. All returning West-Mont United players must also tryout annually. Tryouts are a competitive evaluation process conducted by qualified coaches and West-Mont United staff.

Players who are not on an Intramural, Travel, or Premier West-Mont United team right now, please complete a Player Tryout Registration Form.  We must have this form signed by the player's parent or legal guardian before they can join the tryouts.  Players who are currently registered with West-Mont United do not need to complete this form. 

Tryout Guidelines
Tryout Day Instructions 
Policies Regarding Playing Up or Playing Down
2010 Tryout schedule
US Youth Soccer Age Eligibility Chart
Field Maps and Directions
Frequently Asked Questions about the Travel Program and Premier Program 

West-Mont United Tryout Guidelines 2010

1. West-Mont United holds annual travel team tryouts to provide its players and teams the best opportunity to succeed. It is the responsibility of all coordinators and coaches to identify players' technical, tactical, physical and mental proficiency and potential during the tryout process. Special care will be taken to evaluate all players equitably without regard to their current team - be it A, B, C or other.
    
2. The age group tryout coordinator and coaching committee will organize at least 3 tryouts for their age group - U9 Tryouts will run after U8 Technical Training sessions.
    
3. The coordinator will be the A team coach for that age. The tryout committee for each age group will include the B and C team coaches for that age as well. The Director of Coaching (DOC) will serve as tryout consultant for all age groups. He/she may appoint others to carry out these assignments, particularly from the West-Mont Coaching Committee.
    
4. Tryouts should be 1 1/2 to 2 hours in length - any longer and performance by players deteriorates. Recommended playing length (does not include registration time) U9 and U10 1 ½ hours U11+ 2 Hours
    
5. Players must attend at least 1 tryout to be considered; it is strongly recommended that players attend at least 2 tryouts so that the player may be evaluated fully.
    
6. Players will be notified of their team selection, in order, by each team coach - A team first, then B team, then C team. This is to ensure that the A team coach has the opportunity to select their team first in case any players decline a place on their roster. This will be administered by the coordinator for each age group.
    
7. Recommended roster size: U9 and U10 - 12-14 Players, U11+ - 16 Players
    
8. Tryout coordinators are responsible for calling all players not selected for any teams in their age group after all other players are notified.
    
9. All players are to be notified of their disposition by May 31, unless there are significant extenuating circumstances. Prompt and accurate player notification is paramount to the success of the process, dignity of the player and reputation of the club.
    

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Tryout Out Day Instructions - 2010

1. For liability reasons, all players must be identified as active West-Mont players or, if not, have their parents/guardians sign a West-Mont Tryout Registration form. Forms will be maintained by the coordinator.
    
2. All players will be registered and provided with an identifying number that will be used for the duration of the tryouts.
    
3. Tryout coordinators and committees are responsible for maintaining a copy of the player registration list. Coordinators may delegate this responsibility but are ultimately accountable for its maintenance. Coordinators or their designees need to allow time for player registration.
    
4. The tryout coordinator shall run the tryouts with assistance from their committee. The DOC or Coaching Committee members will act as impartial observers to offer unbiased opinions.
    
5. Space should be provided for a series of fields to be set up (approx. 60 x 40 yards per 12/14 players). Field space should be numbered 1, 2, 3, etc. Tryout coordinators will set up fields with the assistance of the corresponding coaches.
    
6. A series of small-sided games (initially 4v4 then 6v6) will occur. Goalkeepers should play as goalkeepers (where relevant in 6v6 Games). Each game lasts 12-15 minutes. The number of games played is dependant upon the number of participants. All games will be refereed by players on the field. Normal soccer rules apply.
    
7. The tryout coordinator and committee will observe all players and every player is given an alphabetical score of either A (high) - B - C (low) by the end of their third game. These scores are kept by the coordinator and coaching committee and not given to the players or parent/guardians.
    
8. For the fourth games, players with similar scores are grouped together and put into teams that play against each other. For example, all the letter "A's" play on field 1, the letter "B's" on field 2, etc. In this way, the better players are matched up with each other as soon as possible. In the event that a large number of players are given a similar score, more than one field will be used to accommodate this group of players. For example, letter "A's" might play on fields 1 and 2.
    
9. Games 4 and 5 are to be observed and individual players are moved between fields at the discretion of the coordinator and committee. This allows any initial oversights to be corrected, and allows a second look at some players who may be on the bubble of teams.
    
10. By the final game, the best players should all be playing on field 1, with the playing standard gradually decreasing through fields 2, 3, 4, etc. In this way the best players are selected in a relevant, game related fashion. Players will be ranked where the split between 'A' and 'B' will occur (10-14 or 14-18).

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Policies Regarding Playing Up or Playing Down

Periodically, we receive requests from players to play up or play down, either within an age group or between age groups. These are our policies regarding these situations.

• The top players as selected by the evaluation staff will comprise the Premier or A team, depending on what is available for that age group.
• We will create as many teams in an age bracket as possible, based on the number of players of travel program caliber who attend tryouts.
• Players must commit at the beginning of the tryout process whether they are interested in and willing to play for a Premier team or an A team. They can change their mind up until the beginning of the second tryout. If a player changes his/her mind, they must inform one of the evaluators. The player continues to participate in tryouts, they are just not considered for inclusion in the Premier or A team.
• If a player changes his/her mind after tryouts are complete and after being selected for a Premier or A team, he/she will not be considered for any WMU Travel or Premier team. This will be construed as an attempt to manipulate the tryout process.
• Players may play up one or more age groups based on their ability to make the top team for that division.
• Players are not permitted to play up for a B team when there is an A team available in their age division.
• The decision to play up belongs to the player and his/her family.
• Exceptions to policies will be handled by the Dircector of Coaching on a case-by-case basis.

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