VVSC Player Placement
Team Formation: U11-U14
Teams are formed based on chronological age (birth year). Tryouts are a part of the selection process for team placement. We consider a players skill, athleticism, work rate, attitude, technical ability, and tactical understanding when forming teams.
We also strongly consider the players previous season(s) with VVSC. Feedback from the previous coach weighs heavily in regards to which team a player will be placed.
Team Formation: High School
High school girls teams (playing club soccer in the fall) and high school boys teams (playing club soccer in the spring) are formed by developmental quality, not necessarily chronological age. If a freshman has the maturity, technical quality, and tactical ability to play with a U19 team they may be placed at that level.
Player Movement:
Player movement is fluid throughout the year. If a player is performing well on a yellow team there may be an opportunity to permanently move to a navy team. Similarly, if a player is struggling for confidence or dealing with an injury on the navy team, they may move to the yellow team in order to get more playing time and get back up to speed.
There are also many guest playing opportunities throughout the year. It is common for coaches to ask for extra players for league games and tournaments. This can be a navy player guest playing with a yellow team, a yellow player guest playing with a navy team, or a player guest playing on an older age group. The only thing we cannot do is have an older player play down age groups.
Playing Up
Players who wish to “play up” an age group will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Typically we recommend a player play up an age group if they have the physical maturity and skill level not only to compete, but be one of the top players in an older age group. We will also consider if a player if he or she is in an older grade than most of their age group.
There are also times when it is necessary for players to play up when we are combining age groups as we need to have enough numbers to form teams.
U10 Academy
The VVSC U10 Academy is for players ages 7-9. Some players will be on teams that compete in the front range and western slope leagues. Some players will be on teams that play in jamborees (mini, one day tournaments). Some of the age groups will all practice together and rotate through coaches. Some will be placed on teams that train twice a week with some of our highest level coaches.
U7 through U10 Academy Kick-Around
You must register them under the registration tab for 2019 Tryouts. This link will become available April 1st. This is a kick-around to help determined what level the interest your child has in soccer. Teams will be formed based on interest level. This is not an official tryout. All players are welcome to attend the kick-around and all players will be placed within our academy program.
This is a higher-level of recreational soccer. There is significant travel involved. Academy teams will participate in Jamborees. These jamborees are a one day round-robin tournament played on Sundays in various locations. Teams will participate in four Jamborees a season (Fall and Spring). Clubs that participate in the jamborees include: Steamboat Soccer Academy, Glenwood Springs Soccer Club, Summit County Strikers, Roaring Fork Valley Soccer Club. This means that Jamborees could be held at those clubs' fields. VVSC looks to host at least two Jamboree dates in Edwards, CO.
Players are placed, practices will be held two times a week in an academy style training. Academy style training allows players to be moved around and train with like-minded players. VVSC's academy program is a great introduction for both family and players to get an understanding of the differences between recreational soccer and competitive club soccer.
Please read attached Academy Q&A document.
Competitive Tryouts U11-U19
Tryouts Procedure
• Overall responsibility rests with the Director of Coaching. Tryouts for each age group are conducted, under the guidance of the Director of Coaching, by the Team Coaches and additional independent evaluators approved by the Director of Coaching.
• All current VVSC players are expected to attend tryouts. NO PLAYER HAS A GUARANTEED POSITION FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. If more players try out than there are roster spaces available, then some players may be placed on a wait list or practice player status. The Director of Coaching is responsible for contacting players who do not make a team or are wait-listed prior to announcing the placement results.
• VVSC players are NOT to wear a VVSC uniform to tryout.
• The decision whether there are enough players for a team will be based on the number of registered players. The VVSC will not register a competitive team with fewer that 13 players on the roster.
• Players will be evaluated and placed on teams based on the evaluation process of the VVSC coaches. As a general guideline, VVSC coaches evaluate players based on four pillars of player development: technical, tactical, physical and psychological observation.
• For returning VVSC players, evaluation will be based on their prior soccer year and tryouts. Tryouts are a whole year process. VVSC coaches communicate throughout the year regarding the development of players
• Teams are not final until players have registered. The Director of Coaching has final authority to make adjustments to teams at his or her discretion
Scholarship
• Scholarships are awarded on the basis of need
• All members are required to make a minimal financial commitment to the club each season.
• A Third Party evaluator will be reviewing all applications
• No incomplete application will be accepted or reviewed
• All applications require tax documentation
