The BGM Guide to Try-Out Season

There’s no way around it: Try-outs are super competitive in youth soccer. In order to impress coaches, players are expected to go out of their way to demonstrate exactly why they’d be a great fit for their desired club.

That doesn’t just mean putting your skills and athleticism on display. It also means behaving like a professional, both on and off the field. This is your opportunity to prove that you possess the key characteristics coaches are looking for as a strong teammate and team leader.

With this in mind, here’s how you can impress coaches and distinguish yourself from other talented players during try-out season:

Take Risks During Play

Coaches naturally gravitate towards players who exude confidence, and confident players take risks. This shows coaches that you’re not afraid of uncertain situations because you truly believe in your physical and technical abilities.

For example, let’s say you’re in a scrimmage and attacking in the opposing half. As a defender comes up to mark you, don’t be afraid to take them on – it often will look better to a coach that you try, especially if you fight hard to recover the ball if you don’t beat them. It’s a great way to stand out.   

Likewise, if you’re in position to make an amazing pass that sets your teammate up for a goal, take it! They’re not looking for players who never make mistakes. They’re looking for players who make mistakes without losing focus or composure afterwards. In other words, coaches like players who understand that mistakes are a natural part of the game and don’t get upset when something doesn’t go their way.

Pay Attention to Directions

This one is a bit of a secret you don’t hear often. But coaches want to see how focused you are on what they’re saying. They’ll commonly give a direction after a drill like, ‘Go grab some water and meet me by the far corner flag.’ They want to see how many players follow their directions to a t.

Additionally, when they are explaining a drill, spend extra focus on their explanation. The players that don’t need extra explanation stand out to coaches.

Maintain a Positive Attitude

Another tell-tale sign of a high-level player is a positive attitude. Coaches want to see players who put the team first, and negativity doesn’t help the team.

So, let’s say you pass the ball to your teammate, and your teammate misses it. This is very frustrating, but getting angry and yelling at your teammate wouldn’t be helpful. How does this behavior prevent the same thing from happening again?

What coaches want to see in this situation is a player who commends their teammate for making an effort before pulling them aside and saying something like, “Good effort, let’s do it again!”  Likewise, if you make a mistake on receiving a pass, thank your teammate for the great ball and acknowledge that it’s on you for not finishing the play.

The point is, your communication should be entirely positive. That means using positive vocal cues and encouraging body language. Clap for your teammates, compliment good behavior, and speak to them how you’d like your coach to speak to you.

Warm Up Like a Professional

High-level players aren’t just distinguished by their notable talent, skills, and soccer IQ. They also stand out by their behavior in every aspect of the game. There’s a certain way to behave that shows that you take soccer seriously.

A great example is your behavior before the practice or a game. During this period, lots of players like to relax and joke around with their teammates. But is this what the best players do? No, they’re warming up and making sure their bodies and minds are ready to perform. This doesn’t mean you can’t chat with your teammates or the other players trying out, but don’t do it to the point of not preparing yourself.

So, when coaches are setting up cones and getting ready, show them that you take soccer seriously by doing what you need to get ready. This could involve stretching, juggling or passing with a teammate, or doing some light physical drills to get the blood flowing. Little things like this really stand out to coaches, even if it seems like they’re not paying attention.

Wear Something Unique or Memorable

 The sheer number of athletes who try out for a club makes individual players difficult to remember. Coaches are human beings, and if they are seeing a lot of players, there’s no reason to make it harder for them to remember you.. Anything else you can do to stand out from other players could be the difference between being remembered and being forgotten.

For example, coaches are more likely to remember players who take the initiative to introduce themselves and shake their hands. If you’re trying out for a new club and you can wear whatever you want, it’s also highly recommended to wear the same outfit every try-out session, so coaches have something to remember you by. Choose a jersey that’s easily distinguishable, and accompany it with another distinguishing feature (like a headband) to stand out as much as possible.

At Beyond Goals Mentoring, we know how stressful try-out season can be, especially in today’s hyper-competitive landscape. That’s why we’re dedicated to helping young athletes develop the mental tools that allow them to thrive in these make-or-break moments.

So, if you are ready to thrive and get to the next level,

let’s set up a mentoring session today. Harnessing our own experiences aspros, we’ll show you how to stay focused and relaxed under pressure while maintaining a healthy relationship with the game.