HSC - FAQ

All players, both new and existing, regardless of age or status, are required to tryout each year. The tryout fee is $10 per player and must be submitted with an application at the time of tryouts. Players will go through evaluations and team selections will be determined. Players are expected to be at designated tryout dates for their age group.

Players should attend every possible session to ensure adequate time for proper evaluation.

When possible, HSC strives to offer teams of varying ability and commitment within the same age group. Consult the web for team summaries, basic framework for team structure, and expectations of players.

We encourage our players to play in the most competitive bracket possible for maximum development. Players can request to be evaluated for an age bracket above their proper group. This request is found on the player application during the tryout process. Any player wishing to play up will be evaluated by the Directors of Coaching Operations and must have his approval to move up.

The HSC endorses a strong system of development in the younger age groups. As such, players at the U11 and younger age groups do not participate in a tryout that involves cutting or dropping players. Tryouts at the U12 and above age groups are competitive and do cut and/or drop players to form the best teams possible.

Players will be grouped together by like abilities and similar commitment levels. For existing players, this may include team transition during a new seasonal year of play. The Directors of Coaching will oversee the selection of these players along with the head coaches. The HSC strongly believes that the youth program is paramount to our long-term success and will make every effort to place young players on a team and to ensure the players participate at the most appropriate level of competition.

U11 offers challenges to team structure by increasing the number of players on the field at one time. With player development first on the agenda, we will group players with like abilities and commitments. This will provide the opportunity to match players with the right competitive atmosphere while competing in the Division II or III leagues. We will strive to provide the right environment for all players and do what is necessary to make sure that all of our players have a place to play.

HSC’s first priority is to form the top team for that division in order to prepare them for competition. Additional teams in each age group may be formed if the players and coaching is available. We will have enough players to field multiple teams in each division. This will allow a solid system to trade and promote players based on the team’s needs and the player’s abilities.

There are many factors when forming the upper age group teams. All coaches vary in their exact approach but common factors include, skill, tactical awareness, fitness, coach-ability/attitude, commitment to soccer, interest in the HSC’s complete program and offering, and personality.

Coaching and “friend” requests are considered in the younger age groups. We want the players experience in soccer to be fun and understand the need for young players to be with their friends. These requests should be noted on the application for tryouts and we will strive to meet all requests.

Coaches for established teams are announced well in advance of tryouts. The General Manager reserves the right to shift coaches to accommodate the best interest of the players and club. We often have reserve coaches waiting to take on a new or additional team to accommodate any new teams that may be formed. In this case, your prospective coach will be made known to you before asking your intent to play. Some of our coaches also coach High School teams. Soccer is a Spring High School sport. Due to the time commitments of High School soccer, a backup coach may be needed during the Spring club soccer season.

Our web site will provide up to date information on team and player status. Teams with committed players will be posted. New teams with updates on additional tryout dates or prospective Coaching assignments will be posted on the web. Indications on the team page will illustrate if the team is “closed” due to a full roster. Players that are not listed on that roster did not make the team selection. Coaches may elect to personally contact players but with such a large number of players, we will use the web for communication.

The HSC does not endorse a system of cutting and/or dropping players at U11 and lower. However, team transition in the U9 – U11 age groups may be necessary to keep players of like abilities and commitments together. U12 and older teams are subject to change at each tryout. However, for all age groups - teams formed for the fall season are intact for the seasonal year, which concludes in the spring of the following year. The DOCO’s will aid in formation of any hybrid teams necessary to compete in winter and/or spring leagues.

The HSC sponsors an open tryout for all age groups. You are welcome to bring a group of players to the tryouts but teams will be selected as described herein.

For U11 - 12 Div II, U13 & U14 Div I teams, how does the State Cup moving to Spring affect HSC's team formation and player selection?

The main motivation of the State moving the tournament date is for two reasons: 1. It will shift a significant number of players from the already full fall State tournaments to the spring. 2. Players will hopefully have more opportunity to play all year long. As a soccer club, we fully support playing all year long. However, it will not be our policy to restrict participation based on the player's desire to compete in the spring or attend the State cup in the spring. Because State cup at this age does not result in advancing to a Regional competition, participation in the cup can be determined at the team level. Players can be added to rosters as late as May 2009 so if there are players that wish to compete in the cup - we will make every effort to afford the opportunity. In essence, we expect to maintain our regular seasons and offer a full year of training and games just as we have always done.

The following table shows each age group by birthday for the 2008-2009 playing season:

Age Group	Birthday
U9	1-Aug-99 to 31-Jul-00
U10	1-Aug-98 to 31-Jul-99
U11	1-Aug-97 to 31-Jul-98
U12	1-Aug-96 to 31-Jul-97
U13	1-Aug-95 to 31-Jul-96
U14	1-Aug-94 to 31-Jul-95
U15	1-Aug-93 to 31-Jul-94
U16	1-Aug-92 to 31-Jul-93
U17	1-Aug-91 to 31-Jul-92
U18	1-Aug-90 to 31-Jul-91

The United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) defines the age groups as follows:
Age groups shall be comprised of youth players who are, before the first day of August of the immediately prior seasonal year--

(1) under 19 years of age.
(2) under 18 years of age.
(3) under 17 years of age.
(4) under 16 years of age.
(5) under 15 years of age.
(6) under 14 years of age.
(7) under 13 years of age.
(8) under 12 years of age.
(9) under 10 years of age.
(10) under 8 years of age.
(11) under 6 years of age.

However, the easiest way to figure out the right age group is to ask yourself how old your child will be on July 31. For example, if he or she is ten years old on July 31, then the age group is U11 (ten is under eleven years of age). Note that USYSA does not define U9 and U11 age groups. The HSC sponsors U9 and U11 teams where sufficient numbers of players allow it. This provides competition that is more balanced with similar skill levels. However, some leagues and tournaments offer only U10 and U12 age groups, so there may be matches between U9 and U10 teams, and matches between U11 and U12 teams.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tryouts 2008