TRAVEL TEAM TRYOUT PROCESS 2015 16 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) What are the travel programs and commitment level for FC Berna? How is Berna handling tryouts for the different program levels (Travel, Select, Premier)? What do we bring to tryouts? Why do tryouts consist of two days? Who conducts tryouts? Does Berna allow players to "play up", and how do I register to play up on the website? Why is there no U8 travel program, and what are the U8 tryouts for then? Are players evaluated for specific positions? What criteria are used to evaluate players? How are players grouped during tryouts? How large are travel team rosters? Where and when will tryout results be available? How does one accept a position on a team? Why do player families have only 48 hours to accept a position on a team? Why must registration be completed and payment made to accept a position? What happens if we don't accept a position within 48 hours? Can I still accept a position after 48 hours? How will I know if my player does not make it onto a team? What are the travel programs and commitment level for FC Berna? FC Berna will offer three levels of travel soccer: Travel, Select, and Premier. The minimum commitment level for programs U14 and younger is two seasons (fall and spring). Please review the details for each program from the menu on the Berna website. Any players unable to make the required seasonal commitment (time and financial) for their travel program of choice should look for a less intensive travel, or non travel, program on the Berna website. How is Berna handling tryouts for the different program levels (Travel, Select, Premier)? When you register for tryouts, you can choose the program(s) for which your player will be assessed. We will then know which specific players have interest in each program, and how many total players are interested in each program. The evaluators may choose to use part of the tryout time to assess the players interested in a specific program, but no choice you make about your program interest will affect how your player is evaluated or the way in which they participate in tryouts. You should however be familiar with each of the FC Berna travel programs before you make your choice. The only difference will be for Legacy Premier. If your player is interested in being assessed for the premier program, they should register for the Legacy Premier 2015 16 program. Tryouts for Premier, Select and Travel programs are fully integrated. Players attending Legacy Premier tryouts may be instructed to attend the later tryouts for Berna Travel and Select teams, or a
player seen at Berna Travel and Select tryouts may be sent to a Legacy Premier training session for assessment. What do we bring to tryouts? If you pre registered online at the FC Berna website LESS than 24 hours prior to your tryout date, you should bring a printed proof of registration. If you have not pre registered at all, you will need $20 cash for a walk up registration at the field. If you pre registered more than 24 hours prior to the tryout, you simply need to find the check in table for your player to go onto the field. Your player should arrive early, wearing shin guards and cleats, and bringing their own water. Your player should also arrive relaxed and ready to enjoy their tryout experience with FC Berna. Why do tryouts consist of two days? Tryouts are two days to ensure that evaluators have an opportunity to assess all interested players. We want to give players sufficient opportunity to demonstrate their skills and potential, and sometimes players may be unable to attend or may not perform at their best on one particular day. Nonetheless, it is best to attend both days if possible. Who conducts tryouts? Tryouts are conducted by professional trainers contracted by FC Berna to provide training services during the playing season. During tryouts, the evaluators will include at least one current trainer for the age/gender group being evaluated. The tryout process is designed and overseen by the FC Berna Director of Coaching. Does Berna allow players to "play up", and how do I register to play up on the website? Players are allowed to play up to grade level. Players are encouraged to play within their age and/or grade group, except in unusual circumstances. Berna training staff make all decisions regarding whether a particular player will develop better while playing above age and grade, which includes assessing the player's fit with the rest of their age group. While registering for tryouts on the website, your child will receive a program offering based on their age. During the registration process, one of the program questions asks you to check the box if your player is currently playing up. We will then manually place your child in the appropriate age group. Then, using the tryout schedule, have your player attend the tryout nights for their desired age group. Why is there no U8 travel program, and what are the U8 tryouts for then? Berna believes in developing players in their skill and love of the game. At all ages, but especially when they are young, players thrive when they get maximum touches on the ball. Traditional travel soccer ignores this concept, placing a priority on training that focuses on team success. Berna will offer U8 Academy and Academy Select, pre travel programs featuring progressive development and intensive training that will accelerate the essential skills required
for success in soccer. Information for these programs can be found on the Berna website (where U7 Academy details are also provided). The U8 tryouts are to assess players for participation in the Academy, and particularly to determine early candidates for participation in the Academy Select program, which is by invitation only. Are players evaluated for specific positions? Players are not assessed for specific positions besides goalkeeper. They are assessed on overall soccer skills because the club believes it's important to develop players as complete soccer players and not limit them to only certain positions at a young age. As players get older, position specialization becomes more important. What criteria are used to evaluate players? During tryouts, evaluators assess players in the following four categories: 1) Psychological/mental focus, response to pressure, and work ethic. 2) Physical size, speed, strength, coordination, and conditioning. 3) Technical passing, dribbling, shooting and 1 st touch technique and effectiveness. 4) Tactical choices made with and without the ball (e.g. field position, selection of passing/dribbling/shooting). For players already within the club, the trainers' ongoing assessment from throughout the year is the most important criteria. Players receive an evaluation at the end of the fall season, and are ranked by team trainers. These evaluations include an assessment of dedication, attitude and participation gained from observing the player throughout the prior year(s), as well as the psychological, physical, technical and tactical skills displayed during the same time period. Pre tryout scrimmages within each age group are also used to evaluate the pool of players within the club. Spring open tryouts are used to evaluate players new to the club, in a setting with existing players, as well as observe the competitive level of players within the club who are not on the same team. How are players grouped during tryouts? Players are randomly assigned to different fields. Professional trainers will conduct the tryout with drills and scrimmages appropriate for the age group, consistent with the Berna soccer philosophy, and dependant on what they need to observe. During tryouts, evaluators may move players between fields in order to assess them in different situations. This process will be followed throughout the duration of both tryout dates, so that the evaluators can observe a range of variables and characteristics. How large are travel team rosters? For small sided teams (U11 or U12 and younger), a final roster can include 11 14 players. For full sided teams (U12 or U13 U14), a final roster can include 15 18 players. For U15 U19 a final roster can go up to 22 players.
Where and when will tryout results be available? Travel team rosters will be communicated via emails generated from the club registration system. There may be phone calls made as needed by head trainers within each age group. We will form as many travel teams as possible, contingent on the number of interested players, and a determination of the right "fit" of players on a team. Rosters will be communicated on the following timetable: First team: as early as 2 days after the 2nd tryout Second team: approximately 3 days after the first team is announced Third team: approximately 3 days after the second team is announced Fourth team: approximately 3 days after the third team is announced Please note: 1) the above timeline is a general guideline, and email announcements could happen more quickly than this schedule; 2) or roster announcements may occasionally be delayed due to player call backs or unforeseeable events, such as rainouts. In the event of delays, we will communicate the delay as quickly and effectively as possible. How does one accept a position on a team? Once rosters are announced for each team, player families have 48 hours to accept that roster position. Accepting a roster spot requires that the player complete registration online for the applicable program and team. The player must also make a payment according to the program requirements and payment options available online when completing acceptance and registration (generally, paying the annual cost in full, or choosing the automated payment plan). For families requesting financial assistance, a financial aid application must be submitted in lieu of payment. Why do player families have only 48 hours to accept a position on a team? There are often multiple teams in the same age group. In order to finalize rosters for multiple teams in the same age group within the deadlines indicated, there must be a firm deadline for responses. Why must registration be completed and payment made to accept a position? This is to ensure that commitments are firm. Players who initially commit to a team but later drop out can negatively impact the viability of a team, and therefore negatively impact other player families that have committed to that team. The club thinks it's important to ensure that commitments are firm. What happens if we don't accept a position within 48 hours? After 48 hours, any open positions on team rosters will be offered to other players as appropriate. This is to ensure that all teams within an age/gender group can be finalized within the established timeline. Can I still accept a position after 48 hours? No. After 48 hours any open positions on team rosters will be offered to other players as appropriate.
How will I know if my player does not make it onto a team? We will attempt to make an appropriate team for every player interested in playing travel soccer. It is difficult to ensure that all players can be placed on a travel roster, however, due to minimum and maximum limits on travel roster size, and the number of unassigned players in an age group. If we can meet a minimum roster size, we will create a team, informing the players of the situation, and working to find a few more players prior to the beginning of the fall season. Any players for which we cannot create a team will receive an email. Berna will offer recreational soccer programs and teams, as well as additional clinics for skills, speed and agility, and positional training, amongst others, so that all players in the club have an opportunity to develop their skills.