Youth Football Tryout Experience

[Matter]

Yesterday I invited a boy to a tryout for my football team after someone recommended him to me. The boy's mother raved to me over the phone about her son's abilities. I knew better than to believe the hype. When the kid showed up, his lack of foot skills and experience was immediately apparent to me.

Another kid who is a friend of one of my players just showed up to kill some time and hang with his friend. This kid just blew me away. He's short and unassuming but he just has that baller look to him. This kid did better than all of my players that showed up for practice on our first day of practice. Then to top it off, he told me he had not played football outside since he was 6 years old. (He's 11 now.) He has played some indoor ball in the winter according to his mother.

I told the first kid's mom that he is not at our level and that I wouldn't be able to add her son to my team. She understood and asked if the kid could still just practice with us and I agreed. The second kid's mom also called me and asked if her son could join our team and I said yes without hesitation.

Now I'm wondering if I saw what I thought I saw from the second boy and if he truly had never formally played ball outside before. Massive, I'm telling you that I saw a yute who was fast, composed, coachable, aggressive. I can't wait for Tuesday when we have practice again.

[Assasin]

Ah well, Mommy is not the best judge of football skills but even on the college level while we were recruiting some players who are raved about at high school level can't cut the grade and I wonder if it is just hype or people really think the kid is good.

[OJ]

Good luck with the team matter..try to always do three practices before you discount or committ to a player. Although your first assumption are usually right it gives the players a fair chance to show especially at the age group you are at as kids play is affected my moods,, fear, anxiety and confidence... just give yourself a date to cut your team after you have seen everyone at least three times.. hope you dont mind the advice.

[Matter]

I'm glad for the advice OJ. I come to this board because many here know a lot and can share their experiences with me.

I agree that sometimes you need more than one look at a player to really know if they're a fit for your team or not. Often it is not possible to see kids more than once because they're trying out for other teams and they may need to decide rather quickly between offers from the various teams for which they've tried out. Also, sometimes they've only tried out for one team but their parents and the kid are eager to hear your decision as quickly as possible. When I'm thoroughly unimpressed, I don't mind saying no immediately. I don't like to go against my first impression when that impression is a negative one.

Luckily for me, the kid that I didn't think showed well at my last try out will practice with my team still. After telling his mom that I can't use him for the team, she asked if he could train with us for the rest of the summer. I told her that that wouldn't mean that I'm changing my mind but I'd glad to help the kid bring up his skills. A little part of me hopes the kid is a fast learner because he's big and strong for our age group (u12's). If my initial impression of him is wrong, the kid will have a chance to redeem himself.

[Peter R]

Matter, It doesn't surprise me about the second youth. he probably played a lot more indoor than he is letting on although in no organized league or environment.

The best teacher of the game is to play. I've witnessed it with some kids who played with me last year and their technique has vastly improved in the last year. When you ask what they've been doing, they've simply been scrimmaging a whole heap, either in school or at home.

Good luck with your team...U12 is a great age to work with.

pr

[Mosiah]

Go ahead, Matter! You just identify those frauds!

[Matter]

Thanks Peter R. I'm enjoying it a lot.