A. Tryouts – New Richmond Area Youth Soccer Association (NRAYSA) philosophy

1. Our goal in the tryout process: We believe that placing a player at the appropriate playing level is key to their overall development. Tryouts are used to effectively divide players between teams of differing competitive levels within an age group. Tryouts are for families intending to register for competitive traveling soccer.

2. Players will be evaluated and placed on the play level that is appropriate for their skill level. Players who do not make a traveling team may then join the Rec program and are encouraged to tryout again the following season.

3. “Open” tryouts: Anyone can try out for New Richmond Soccer Club (NRSC). Teams are formed seasonally on a merit basis and players are not guaranteed a spot just because they played the previous season. “Open” tryouts means open to all who are eligible and register, to both new and current players.

B. Fairness and transparency: NRSC is committed to having a team formation procedure in place that allows for equal opportunity for all players. Our assessors are trained individuals. We attempt to secure the best assessors in the area who are trained in the tryout process. Assessors may be brought in from outside the club, or may be experienced members of NRSC. Assessors are carefully selected by the Director of Coaching and President of the club. Although no tryout process is perfect, we believe that we are giving each player an equal opportunity to make a team, where the environment, conditions, and assessors are the same for all participants.

C. Tryouts – General Information

1. NRSC will hold tryouts for all players wishing to be on a competitive traveling soccer team each year.

2. All players born in 2017 (U9/10) and earlier, may attend and participate in traveling tryouts.

3. 2018 (U8) birth year and younger are not eligible for traveling teams but are encouraged to register for the Tiger Academy program.

4. If you are a male player entering High School in the Fall of 2026, you do not need to tryout.

5. Tryouts are currently conducted by New Richmond Soccer Club coaches and High School coaches. Team formation and rosters are discussed, decided and approved by the NRSC Board of Directors.

6. Tryouts for NRSC traveling teams are generally held in late June. Exact dates and times will be posted on the website as soon as they are determined.

7. Players must pre-register for tryouts. 

8. Tryout registration vs Club registration: Tryout registration and Club registration are two separate events. Registering for tryouts allows a player to participate in the process that is used to select higher level team rosters. Registering for tryouts DOES NOT register a player to play for NRSC, but only for the tryout event. A player must also register with the Club to be placed on a roster after tryouts. Players who are selected for a traveling team following the tryout process but do not register with NRSC are subject to forfeiting that roster spot if they fail to register by posted deadline. Players will be notified via email.

D. Tryouts – Format

1. Check-in: All players must check in at the registration table and be issued a numbered tryout t-shirt or wear their jersey.

2. Duration: Tryouts will be held for 60 – 90 minutes depending on age group and will involve several individual and team activities.

3. What is being assessed? Sessions will be divided into skills assessment and game play activities. Players will be scored on individual skill and technique, as well as overall team play and awareness, along with athletic attributes like speed, strength and agility.

E. Players Missing Tryouts

1. General tryout rules: NRSC considers tryouts to be the most critical element in team formation. All players who wish to be considered for the traveling teams must participate in the tryout process. We understand that there might be occasions when it is physically impossible to participate in a tryout session. Examples would be a serious injury or illness. NRSC will make an effort to assess players in these circumstances, but ALL players who want to make the higher level team are expected to attend all scheduled sessions. Players must register for tryouts even if they are going to miss tryouts due to an "excused" absence.

2. Absences – excused/unexcused: An absence that is considered “excused” is determined by NRSC. Examples of excused absences would be a broken bone, player is on crutches, or player has a serious illness prohibiting him/her from being present. Examples of unexcused absences are vacations, playing another sport, minor cold, social events, etc. The NRSC Board of Directors reserves the right to examine cases of extenuating circumstances on a case by case basis and rule on each as it sees fit. Our overall goal is to place the players at the level that fits their skill level. Skill level is most effectively observed and compared in a tryout setting.

3. Why so strict? If tryouts are not a top priority and attendance is not required, then they lose any value they might have in team formation and the whole process is undermined. Attendance at tryouts is critical to the individual and team formation process.