About Tryouts Crossfire Select is a competitive program. Crossfire Select uses a player selection process called a tryout to find the right set of players to form teams that can compete at the highest possible levels.
This does not always mean selection of the best players. Skill on the field is obviously an important factor, but attitude, vision, work-ethic, and other less quantitative factors are also considered.
Teams require different players to perform different roles. There are strikers, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers. Within each group you may want one strong/physical player, one veryfast player, one player with extreme foot skills, and another playerwho has strong vision and can read the game as it unfolds. You may want different players to take on the roles of acquisition, distribution, and transportation of the ball.
The purpose of the tryout, and the job of the tryout evaluators, is to incorporate all of these factors and find the right combination of skills, attitudes and roles to build a competitive team.
Tryout Registration Registration is now open. Players can register on-line through the LWYSA website. Once you are on the LWYSA Online Registration page, make sure to choose "Crossfire Select 2010 Tryouts". There will also be an entry for Crossfire Premier 2010 Tryouts. Playersare welcome to register for that too, but it is a different programwith separate registration. Registering for one does not imply registration for the other.
Players register for a single age group within their gender. Players are permitted to tryout for an older age group, to play up, but may not tryout for a younger age group. Trying out for multiple age groups or for both Premier and Select requires multiple independent registrations. There is a per registration fee. See the age chart below to find the appropriate age group for your player. Look across to the month in which the prospective player was born, then down to find the year in which they were born. Then follow that row to the far left to find the age appropriate group for that player.
What To Wear Players must be properly dressed for the tryout. Specifically they must wear appropriate footwear and shin guards. Shinguards must be worn under the sock. They must not be on top of the sock, or on top of the sock with the sock turned down over the shinguard. Tryouts are held rain or shine. The temperatures may be cold. Players must also dress appropriately for the weather.
Player must not wear any jewelry - this includes necklaces, rings and earrings of any kind, and bracelets - including Livestrong style bracelets. Players must not wear current club or ODP affiliated clothing (including Crossfire Premier and Crossfire Select). Players doing so may be asked to remove such items during tryouts.
What To Bring Players are required to bring a properly inflated ball of the appropriate size for the age group for which they are trying out. That is #4 for U-11 and U-12, and #5 for all older age groups. Players must also bring an adequate supply of water.
Time And Duration Each tryout consists of two sessions. Players are not required to attend both days, but being there both days significantly improves a players chances of being selected to a team. In some instances, players may be called back for a third day of tryouts. If you cannot make both days then you must notify the tryout coordinators who will in turn notify the tryout evaluators.
Each session lasts for 1 1/2 hours. Players need to be properly hydrated before each tryout session, and will be given multiple water breaks during the tryout sessions. Tryouts are held rain or shine.
Check-In Upon arrival, players must check-in with the tryout coordinators. On the first day players will receive a jersey bearing their tryout number. On subsequent days, after checking in, players must find that same jersey bearing that same tryout number.
Players must then don their jersey and move onto the tryout field to warm-up. Warm-ups are typically informal. Players warm-up with their own ball and work with other players who are there for the tryout. Parents are not permitted on the tryout field. Parents are permitted to warm-up with their players if they want, but not on the tryout field.
The Tryout The tryout itself is very much like a typical practice. Players will be divided into groups and run through some individual drills, move to small sided games, and eventually on to larger full sided games. Players will be given water breaks and stay in the tryout area during breaks. Parents are to remain OUTSIDE of the tryout area.
There will be multiple tryout evaluators managing the tryout, Some of the evaluators are coaches of the teams in the specific age group and gender that is being evaluated. Other evaluators includeother Crossfire Select coaches and/or Crossfire Premier coaches who are assisting in the selection process.
The tryout evaluators are looking for the right combination of players to form the most competitive teams possible.They will be watching the players and taking notes on individuals and associating those comments with the jersey number worn by that player.
Evaluators will exchange information and point out certain players to other evaluators who may want to take a closer look. All the feedback is then gathered and given to the coaches of the teams being formed. It is those coaches who are responsible for making the final decisions on which players are selected.
Player Notification Notification of selection to a given team is done through a posting on the web using the assigned jersey numbers of the players trying out. If a given player sees their tryout jersey number posted on the web then they have been selected for a team. Numbers are typically posted within 48 business hours of the completion of the tryout. The coach of the team will then contact each player to give them a formal invitation to play on the team. Players can then chose to accept or decline the invitation.
Some coaches will post alternate numbers. These players have not been selected for a team. However, if a selected player declines an invitation to play with the team, then an alternate player may be invited to join the team. Alternate numbers are listed in numerical order. Being first in the list of alternates does not necessarily indicate that that player will be the first player selected in the event of a declination.
