Travel tryout policy & procedures.

Eligibility & format

• All players must register online for the travel program in order to be allowed to try out.
• Only players who have registered as travel players for the upcoming travel season are eligible to attend tryouts. Coaches take attendance based on an approved list of registered players created prior to their session — players not on that list are not eligible to participate.
• SCPYS requires players to try out for their own age. U8 players are allowed to try out for the U9 team; however, preference is given to age-appropriate U9 players during roster selection.
• Returning SCPYS Travel players must attend tryouts every season.
• A minimum of 2 days are mandatory for all ages U8–U16. This tryout takes place in the spring to roster for the following Fall–Spring season — for example, a tryout in Spring 2025 is for the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 seasons.
• SCPYS holds one (1) to two (2) 60–90 minute tryout sessions for the evaluation of players over a 2-week timeframe. Players are expected to attend a minimum of 2 tryout sessions.
• At least 1 SCPYS board member will be present at each tryout session.

Commitment, conduct & uniforms

• It is the intention of SCPYS that players selected at the Spring tryout make a 1-year (full season) commitment to play — for example, a player selected at the tryout will play for both the Fall, Winter, and Spring full season.
• SCPYS requests that all parents stay away from the tryout field, to give players the opportunity to demonstrate their ability without the influence of parents. This also gives coaches the opportunity to focus solely on the players.
• Selected players will be required to purchase a uniform through the SCPYS website portal if they do not have a current SCPYS travel uniform. Uniforms are to be worn for 2 full years — please order accordingly with growth in mind.
• SCPYS travel coaches (head and assistants) will assess players during a series of drills and small-sided matches.

Player evaluation

Returning and new players

• For returning travel players, coaches will consider player performance and commitment from the previous season (50%) and tryout performance (50%) when determining player evaluation and team selection.
• For new travel players, coaches will consider tryout performance 100% when determining player evaluation and team selection.

Players are evaluated using SCPYS criteria consisting of appropriately weighted categories, including:

• Technical ability — footwork, passing, and ball control.
• Physical — speed, quickness, agility, strength.
• Ability to be receptive to coaching and constructive feedback, driving development and overall interest in the game of soccer.

Tryouts include scrimmage situations as well as 4 skill stations where players are scored on their ability to perform: 1v1 station, passing & possession station, finishing station, and 4v4 station.

Roster selection

• Upon review of coach evaluations and tryout results, it is the head coach's decision to determine which players will be offered a roster spot.
• If a player is selected, they will be notified by the Club or the head coach. Players who have not been selected for a travel team will also be notified.
• Those players not selected to play for a travel team will have the opportunity to be assigned to an in-town team if one is available.
• In certain situations, based on skill level and roster needs, a player may be asked to roster on a team one year up. In rare occurrences, a player may be asked to play two years up.
• After tryouts occur and rosters have been selected, if there are any open spots on a specific travel team, SCPYS will post the available spots and notify age-appropriate potential players.