Tryouts/Evaluation
Dover Sherborn Soccer Club
Player Evaluation Process
The Dover Sherborn Soccer Club serves over 1,000 children between the ages of 5 and 14. The Club has 4 stated goals:
- Ensure that the children have fun
- Help the children become better soccer players
- Give the children an opportunity to exercise
- Provide a challenging soccer environment for players of all abilities
In order to meet the above requirements, the DS Soccer Club holds players evaluations each Spring. These evaluations help the Club build the proper BAYS "travel teams" for the following Fall. To help parents, coaches (and players) understand the evaluation process, we have outlined it below. In addition, we have included a Q&A section with questions that have come from parents over the past few years.
Player Evaluation Process:
•1) Who is evaluated:
Player evaluations are done every Spring for players who will play on town "travel teams" in the upcoming Fall. This includes all players currently in grades 3rd - 7th, who will play on U10-U14 teams.
•2) Why does the club evaluate players:
The Club wants to do its best to match players of equal playing ability. This helps provide a challenging environment for all players, while at the same time building confidence.
•3) How does the evaluation process work:
The evaluation process includes a number of criteria:
•a. Coaches' written evaluations
All registered team coaches (both head coaches and assistant coaches) are required to provide a written evaluation of every player. Each player is scored on a number of different criteria, including attendance, attitude and ability. The players are also individually ranked. A copy of a blank evaluation form is attached for reference.
•b. Try-outs
In addition to the coaches' written forms, the Club also believes it is important to get objective feedback from a third-party source. Currently, we use Mass Premier Soccer (MPS) to manage our try-outs. MPS holds a 90-minute session with each age group to evaluate the technical abilities of each player. They use a series of small sided games to score the players. These scores are tallied and a ranking of all players in each age group is provided to the Club. All players who are interested in playing Fall soccer must attend the MPS try-outs.
•c. Independent Evaluations - Special Circumstances
On occasion, at the discretion of the Club Coordinators and Club President and based on feedback from parents and coaches, the Club may arrange for additional independent evaluations. This could simply be independent evaluators attending selected games, or a special scrimmage arranged by the club within a specific age group. The results would be utilized at the placement meetings as part of the evaluation process.
•d. Evaluation meetings
Once the above evaluations have been completed, the Club holds evaluation meetings with all coaches in an age group. The meetings are led by the Club Coordinators (Laura Wood and David Cottrell), and attended by the Club President (Paul Blanchard). These meetings provide an opportunity for the coaches to review the written evaluations and the try-out rankings. All players are then placed on teams, based on ability. If a player is new to town and does not have a coach's evaluation and does not attend the MPS try-outs, they will be placed on the bottom team in their age group.
•4) When are the team rosters available:
After the coaches' meetings, the Board reviews the teams one last time. All team rosters are approved by the end of June. At this point, the Club begins to determine coaching assignments. Our goal is to have 1 Head Coach and 1-2 Assistant Coaches for each team. In July, the Club Registrar emails all coaches with their rosters and their team placements in Bays. Additionally, parents will receive an email communications, directing them to the Admin Sports website for their child's team information.
Parent Q&A:
Can my child move "up" or "down" from season to season?
The DS Soccer Club makes every attempt to put players on the most appropriate teams. However, a child's ability will change as they mature in the sport. Some children will get stronger and more coordinated with time; others will lose interest in soccer and begin to focus on other activities. Each season provides a new opportunity for your child to be evaluated. Remember that ability is not the only factor in our evaluations. Other criteria, like a positive attitude and respect for the team, are also weighed.
It is also important to note that the Club tries to keep all teams consistent during the school year. The expectation is that players will play on the same team for both the Fall and Spring seasons. However, there are fewer players in the Spring (due to other sports, such as softball and lacrosse) and this may give certain players the opportunity to move "up" for the Spring session. Placement on a team during one school year is NO guarantee for following years.
What if we disagree with the placement of our child?
The Club will not move a child "up" to a higher team because of a parent's "request". We will encourage the parents to speak with the coaches about how their child can improve their skills in the future. If, however, a parent requests that a child move "down" (perhaps due to the pressure of being on a top team), the Club will discuss this with the coach and help to make this move possible.
When do try-outs take place?
The MPS try-outs usually take place at the end of May or the beginning of June. All parents will receive email communications from the Club in advance of the try-outs.
Where do the try-outs take place?
All try-outs will be held on a local field in either Dover or Sherborn. Players will be expected to bring a ball and water bottle and to wear cleats and shin guards. Location information will be included on the email communications from the Club.
What if my child cannot attend the try-outs?
The MPS try-out sessions are mandatory. If you know ahead of time, that your child has a conflict, please contact the Club Coordinator in advance (Laura Wood for girls or David Cottrell for boys). If your child gets sick on the day of try-outs, please alert the coordinator. The players who cannot attend their sessions, will be required to attend a session with another age group. Not attending any MPS try-out will hurt your child's ability of being placed on a top team.
Can I see the coach's evaluation of my child?
No. It is important to remember that all of our coaches are parent volunteers. They are not professionals. The evaluations that they complete are strictly confidential and are collected after the coaches' meetings. If we allow the evaluations to be shared with parents, we might begin to see hurt feelings and/or concerns and feedback about players. This will not be beneficial to the Club or the players.
How are the teams configured?
The teams are configured according to the evaluation process. The size of the teams will vary by age and season. For example, in the BAYS U10 Divisions, the game format is 6 v. 6, so there will generally be 9-12 players on each team. In U11 and U12, the format is 8 v. 8, so there are generally 12-16 players on each team. With the U14 teams, the format is 11 v. 11 and teams will be configured with 16 to 18 players. The exact numbers will vary season to season according to the number of players signed up, and the number of teams that can be configured. This will allow for player movement from one team to another each season.
A final point, if a team is placed in Division 1 or Division 2, the Bays organization sets limits to the size of the team. The following standards apply to these teams:
•· U10 = 12 players max
•· U11 and U12 = 15 players max
•· U14 = 18 players max
If my child is not a strong player, will they be "cut"?
Absolutely not! As long as your child is registered for the Fall season, they will be placed on a team. It is the Club's intention to have ALL interested children participate in soccer. If, however, you do not register your child during the Spring, and wait for the Fall, we cannot guarantee a spot on a team. All player placements and coaching assignments are made over the summer and "last-minute" registrations cannot always be accommodated.
What if my child is a really good player...can he/she play "up" for the next age group?
Playing up is not allowed. All children will play with their appropriate grade and age group only! The only exception is for a child with an early birth date (prior to 8/1). This is dictated by the BAYS organization.
If I volunteer to coach, will this influence my childs team placement?
It is important to note that coaches for each team are not determined until after the evaluation process and the teams are configured. Although coaches can request to coach each year, the coaching assignments are determined by the coordinators and club president. Players are never assigned to a team based on their parent's ability or willingness to coach.