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TRYOUT GUIDE A helpful guide for navigating 2021 Nebraska State Soccer Team Formation
WHAT IS "RE-
Important Dates
REGISTRATION" AND HOW DOES THAT
11U
(2011)
–
13U
(2009)
CHANGE TRYOUTS? Re-Registration:
PERFORMING YOUR
Team
BEST WHEN IT COUNTS FROM NEBRASKA MEDICINE
Formation
June
7
Signing
-
June
Events:
June
Day:
5-6
11
June
12
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST SOCCER CLUB FOR
14U
(2008)
-19U
(2003)
YOU FROM TECHNE FUTBOL
Re-Registration: Team
QUESTIONS TO ASK AT TRYOUTS
June
Formation
June
28
Signing
-
Events:
July
Day:
26-27
1
July
2
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PAGE
2
RE-REGISTRATION: WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES THAT CHANGE TRYOUTS?
Last year, when we were all working to combat how COVID-19 had disrupted our spring season and unsure if we would be able to hold tryouts the way we were used to holding them, the Nebraska State Soccer Board of Directors approved a temporary Team Formation policy that included the option for a player who did not have an interest in changing clubs, or even attending any other tryouts, to receive and accept a "re-registration offer" from their current club without the need of attending tryouts.
While we are able to once again hold traditional tryout events, many members expressed their desire for us to keep the "re-registration" option for future years, so the "re-registration offer" has been added to our recently updated Team Formation Policy.
Re-registration offers can only be given by a club to players who are currently registered with one of their teams. Players have the option to accept that offer, or deny it and attend other clubs team formation events. Players who accept a reregistration offer cannot attend other clubs' tryouts.
Re-registration offers are intended to relieve the unnecessary stress of tryouts for players who are happy with their current club and do not wish to leave.
Other
players are encouraged to attend club team formation events to find the best new fit for your soccer experience! We will give you some tips for looking for a new club later in this guide.
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PERFORMING YOUR BEST WHEN IT COUNTS By Justin Annin 1.Hydration and Nutrition
a.
Pre-Training: Hydration and nutrition should start 2-4 days prior to the start
of tryouts. i. Hydration: Primary focus is to stay hydrated with water. You can add an electrolyte drink if the temperature and/or humidity is elevated during training. ii. Nutrition: Do not eat large meals prior to training, eat consistent foods your body is use too and consume lean proteins and carbohydrates during each meal. b.
During Training: Continue to consume water during breaks.
Periodically sip
on an electrolyte beverage, if needed. Water should be your primary drink during training. 2.Mental Preparation.
a.
Controlling emotions: Nervousness - Anxiety – Excitement i. Visualization techniques: Start two or three days in advance of tryouts. 1.
Image yourself completing different footwork or training drills with
proper technique and positive results. 2.
Focus on your ability, not others.
3.
Focus on each individual training task. Do not focus on the next drill
or on making the team. b.
Proper warm-up: This is where our mental focus for the days training starts. i. The dynamic program should last approx. 10-15 minutes and will help prepare the athlete for demands of training. (do not just go through motions in warm-ups) 1.
Step 1: Elevate body temperature - Start with a slow jog. (2-3
minutes)
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CONT. PERFORMING YOUR BEST WHEN IT COUNTS
2. Step 2: Increase coordination, joint pliability and muscle activation – Utilize controlled dynamic movements. (6-8 minutes) 3. Step 3: Increase muscle force and reaction – These exercises need to be quick and explosive in nature. Performed in multidirectional patterns. (2-4 minutes) 3.Optimizing Recovery
a.
Recovery begins immediately after your training session (tryouts) are
completed. b.
Begin with mobility work. (10min) i.Cool down: Active walk or slow jog for a 2-3 minutes ii.Foam roller: Lower body, hips, and upper back. iii.Static Stretching: No foam roller - you can perform a simple stretching routine to alleviate tight muscles and help the body relax after an intense training.
c.Hydration & Nutrition i.Recovery Nutrition: Starts immediately after training. Utilize ready-to-drink shake (ie. Muscle milk) and an electrolyte beverage during your cool down routine. Try to also consume a meal within 1-2 hours of post-training activities. The meal should consist of a combination of lean proteins and carbohydrates. Try to eliminate high fat fast foods post-training. Ie. McDonalds or concession stand foods ii.Multiple trainings in a day: Bring small-prepared meals and/or snacks with you. This will help reduce fatigue and hunger during training. Help with mental focus. d.
Consistent Sleep Hygiene i.Sleeping patterns: Develop a consistent sleeping routine that works for you. 1.
Consistent sleep patterns allow the body to regenerate and repair the
body from the increased demands and stress of tryouts. ii.Typically and athlete should get 7-9 hours of sleep per night. iii.Benefits of consistent sleeping patterns: Helps reduce fatigue and decrease the chance of injury. Helps increase mental focus and reaction time during training.
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How to Choose the Best Soccer Club for You From the Techne Futbol Blog
Check out any soccer “how to” article and you’ll see a list of the best ways to evaluate and choose a club team. Many, if not most of the tips, are helpful and include sound advice, depending on your goals. But while it is certainly important to pick the best soccer team, that should also mean it is right for you in other than the most obvious reasons. To that end, assessing your goals and what you want to get out of your experience is the first step. You may check all the obvious boxes (e.g. top competition; successful coach; playing time), but there’s more to that check list than you may have considered. It was great youth club experiences that paved the way for Techne founder Yael Averbuch West to a long and fulfilling soccer career, and an enduring involvement and love of the game. Surprisingly, the highlights of her experience often don’t make it on to most lists of what to look for in a club team.
What Matters More Than You Might Think?
People sometimes erroneously believe there’s a clear definition for what the “best” club team is. It’s usually the team that goes to the top tournaments, often traveling far and wide. Going coast to coast and everywhere in between to play in a tournament is not uncommon these days. A “big-time” team might be part of a prestigious league and include fancy uniforms. But the truth is, these “bells and whistles” are not necessarily things that create the enduring measures of satisfaction, or even success. The key is not primarily the high-level competition, which is actually a fraction of your experience (league games maybe 20 times a year; a showcase tournament perhaps three times a year). It’s your day-to-day experience that matters most. It’s the place where you are excited to go to practice. It’s where you find coaches and teammates you enjoy being around and sharing your time with. In fact, despite hard work and inevitable challenges, the “right” or “best” team or league to play in can be defined by your level of enjoyment and enthusiasm. That puts every other requirement in second place. This was true for Yael, who like many players, fondly remembers her club team. In fact, so much did she love that team that when the whistle blew signaling the end of the final game of her youth team experience, she uncharacteristically began to cry with sadness for the ending, and didn’t stop for the next several hours. Below are many of the qualities she was fortunate to have encountered in her club playing experience, and that formed the basis of her continuing soccer journey. When assessing what to look for, ask yourself these questions.
Is the atmosphere supportive and positive?
Coaches who believe the end-goal is winning in order to polish a resume (for either the club, coaches, and/or players) or getting players into the “best colleges” (a questionable term) may be missing the bigger picture. While this may be part of one’s goal, the true focus should be on a positive and enriching soccer experience, one in which the table is set for individual growth and improvement.
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Cont. How to Choose the Best Soccer Club for You
A player should feel excited to arrive at training sessions each week, leave each training session wanting to talk about what happened or what they learned, and this should drive a desire to play more at any chance they get.
Does the team/coach encourage a wholistic soccer experience?
The best teams/coaches are those that bring in the entire soccer menu: personal playing development, and a love of the game. Do they care what you do when you aren’t with them (your individual training)? Do they stress that individual relationship with the game? Do they encourage watching, enjoying, learning and becoming a fan of the game? Often this experience stems from the coach’s own attitude and demeanor about the game. A club with coaches and employees who genuinely love what they do and are excited to share that with the players is just as important - if not more - than any coaching credential or license.
Does the team/coach have a flexible and creative attitude?
The best learning experience, including challenges and fun, is available in many different environments. Are you allowed to play with other teams, including even pick-up or rec? How about playing up with older age groups? Are other players brought into the mix, including boys playing or scrimmaging against or with a girls’ team? While it’s not ideal to skip around from club to club, it’s important that a player’s youth soccer experience includes playing with a variety of players and for different coaches. It’s wonderful if you can achieve this within a single club.
Does the team/coach have alumni that are still involved in the game?
Having a list of players who are still in the game--in one way or another-- is a good sign that there is a history of all of the above qualities being a deeply-instilled part of the team/coach culture. It speaks volumes that the alumni of the team are still playing, coaching, fans, or in some way active supporters of the game.
The Bottom Line
Every person is different, and therefore connects to a team and a coach in a different way. And after all the basic requirements are checked off, ultimate “chemistry”--what’s a good fit--is difficult to assess without doing some homework, and if possible trying out some different teams. It’s very important to go train and guest play with a team or club, as many times as you’re able, to feel out the environment before making a commitment. Just remember that if you’re looking for the ideal environment to develop as well as enjoy the process, it is worth taking the long view. That means how you define the value of your experience, as well as how the club team you choose may impact your ultimate success. The best measure of that success is if and how you believe the team you join will help you grow both on the field and off, and hopefully develop an overall and enduring love of the game.
Check out technefutbol.com for more tips!
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Questions to Ask at Tryouts Avoid buyers regret and ask all the important questions before hand! Tryouts can be an exciting and nerve racking time for players and parents alike. When it's time for offers, it's important you are prepared and know what to expect from each club's experience. While a lot of decision making can be about the coach, other players on the team or location- there are other important questions you should know the answer to when you are ready to accept your roster spot!
Cost: What is expected and what does that include?
Clubs all have their own set costs and additional costs you should be prepared for. Additional costs could include uniform and other required gear, tournament fees, travel costs for out of town tournaments. Some clubs may include everything in your fees, others may leave these fees up to the individual teams which could cause unexpected costs to pop up throughout the year. Also ask about the club's possible scholarship or payment plans if cost is a concern for your family.
Time Commitment: What is the level of participation expected?
Make sure you and your player understand the commitment level for each team including how many practices you can expect a week, how many league games to plan for each season, and any mandatory winter activities/practices. Every team may be different, some will play multiple leagues which increases the number of games per season, some expect players to participate in several tournaments a season and some clubs offer futsal or indoor league during the winter. Be realistic about what your player and family can handle as a time commitment to know what team will be the best fit.
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Cont. Questions to Ask at Tryouts Travel: Where are most of the team's games?
Ask what leagues and events your team would be participating in and where those games are generally located. These can make a big difference in your family's schedule. Also ask about typical tournament locations- Does this team stay more local and travel to nearby states or will you be expected to much further away events?
Coach: What can you expect from the coach of this team?
Do coaches stay with teams season after season? How many teams is he/she coaching this year? What is their coaching philosophy? How do they organize each player's playing time? Do they support multi-sport athletes who may have conflicts throughout the year? Club policies and expectations are important to know, but you should also know the potential coach's rules, expectations and philosophies to avoid conflict later on!
Priorities: What makes your program different than others?
This answer will say a lot about the club and their values and priorities. Every club will have an answer about what make them different or better than another, and whatever that answer is will show you what they view as a pillar of their program, what they focus on and where their priorities lie. Find a club who's values fit with your own values and expectations whether its overall player development, creating a fun environment or keeping opportunities accessible for more players.
After Tryouts: Ask your player questions too!
Your player should be involved in the decision making! Ask what session they enjoyed the most, what coach gave them useful feedback or tips during the session, who do they want to play for the most after attending different options, and most importantly did they have FUN! The player will be spending a lot of time with the team they choose so it's important to get their feedback.
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Additional Resource Links TEAM FORMATION POLICY RE-REGISTRATION INFORMATION
FIND A CLUB
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT NEBRASKASTATESOCCER.ORG