What is the Scoop on CASL Tryouts?

Yes, yes, yes, tryouts are just around the corner and registration opens this week. Where do you find the information? How do you register? What are the dates? When is the registration deadline? I'll try to answer these questions on today's blog plus more!
The information on tryouts can be found the CASL home page (http://www.caslnc.com/). On the left tab, click on the tryout section. Then, depending on what level the player is trying out for, continue clicking to get that information.
One registers on-line by following the instructions on-line.
The dates are also on-line. Please note that the older HS girls age brackets (Rising U16-U18) begin their tryouts earlier than everyone else and earlier than usual. Their first tryout is on Sunday May 1st. Further tryout days are also on Sundays.
The registration deadline is May 10th except for the U16-U18 girls. Their deadline is April 26th due to their tryout beginning on May 1st(see above). If you miss the deadline, the only way you can register is at the field on the days of the tryout. Registration tables will open 45 minutes prior to the tryout commencing.
If you miss the deadline, the fee increases by $20 so it behooves you to register by May 10th (April 26th for the U16-18 girls). This may seem like a harsh penalty and that it is a money maker for the organization, HOWEVER, it is just the opposite. Registering on-line takes a great deal of human error out of the process(as long as parents input the correct information). Signing up on a tryout day can lead to things going amiss and making it easier for players to be overlooked or be in the wrong age bracket (usually for a day). CASL would absolutely love it if all signed up by the deadline. Then the registration process is seamless and the tryout sheets with names and numbers are ready to go! THEREFORE, please try to register on-time!
Tryouts are a hectic time for all involved. Parents are on edge as their child is being evaluated and all parents want their child to do well. Many players are on edge as they are trying out (some are more on edge due to the influence of their on edge parent(s)). Administrators are on edge as they want to make sure that all the walk-up registrants are in the proper tryout and that the coaches get the info about these walk up players. Coaches are on edge because in tryouts in a subjective sport such as soccer (in cross country, you ask competitors to run and rank them how they finish--there is no such possibility in soccer), productivity of a player can be hard to judge in a couple day tryout even for the most experienced coach.
MY ADVICE: Have the players ready to go with everything they need at tryouts. Parents should encourage the players to go out and play hard, have fun and to volunteer to perform in as many drills and playing opportunities as possible during the tryout. Try not to set expectations about what team the player should be on....just encourage the player to play as well as possible and let the chips land where they may.
Parents should let the process run its course. Trying to figure out what is in the mind of the coaches at tryouts is an inexact science, at best. Also, there is a thought out there that returning players have an advantage over new players due to the coach knowing the player. That is probably true with the hard working player (practice and games), the very solid citizen and/or a player that is very productive despite not being as talented. HOWEVER, players that do not work hard in practice, are not such a solid citizen and may be very talented (including in the tryout situation) but not as productive as witnessed in past experiences have a disadvantage at tryouts, due to the coaches knowing those things!
Have Fun and Remember it is Just a Tryout!
                                                                                      Charlie Slagle