2024-2025 TRYOUTS


2024-2025 COMPETITIVE SEASON TRYOUTS: Save the Date

Detailed times and locations are TBD and will be announced in late spring. Tryout registration will open in late spring.

Boys & Girls                                   

Birth Year *Days *Dates
2016 (U9) Monday & Tuesday July 15 & 16
2015 (U10) Tuesday & Wednesday July 16 & 17
2014 (U11) Monday & Wednesday July 15 & 17
2013 (U12) Saturday & Sunday July 27 & 28
2012 (U13) Monday July 29
2011 (U14) Monday July 29
2010 (U15) Monday July 29
2009 (U16) Monday July 29
2008 (U17) Monday July 29
2007 (U18) Monday July 29
2006 (U19) Monday July 29
*Tryout days/dates are subject to change

2024-2025 TONKA FUSION ELITE TRYOUTS (BIRTH YEARS 2012-2006)

 Visit Tonka Fusion Elite for complete and updated information and registration.

Girls Academy

Monday, July 8 & Tuesday, July 9

Boys Elite Academy

Saturday, July 27 & Sunday, July 28

UNDERSTANDING THE TRYOUT PROCESS:

  • Tryout Advice

    • With every evaluation and new season, there comes potential for change and great anxiety from players, parents and coaches alike. We encourage you to remember that each year is a chance to grow, to develop as a player, to develop as a person and to develop a passion for soccer. 
    • Long-term player development is unique to each player and is neither consistent nor predictable -- it is the product of several interacting variables (environment, attitude, genetics, training, nutrition, injuries, etc.). In other words, no one can predict where a player will be 10 years from now. Afterall, Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time, was cut from his high school basketball team. 
    • As such, players, coaches, and parents should not confuse current team placement for long-term outcome predictions. The current teams will look very different down the road (and they should!). Rather, all parties should understand that the goal is to place players in the most appropriate environment for their current developmental needs -- with players of similar abilities to ensure a balanced training and game environment: not too difficult, not too easy.
    • We understand and admire the desire for the players to be on "the best team," but hope that you understand the potential difference between that and "the best team for your player right now." The development path that we created and continued to strive for and strengthen allows for movement of players among play levels. 
    • This allows for the most suitable player development environment – where players can have fun, be appropriately challenged, and improve game day performance. It is important that every player in our program has the chance to succeed and enjoy playing soccer. Playing above or below one’s level often brings out frustration, boredom or disengagement. Our goal is to help find that perfect balance. Please help support Tonka United by supporting your child – whatever level they are placed at.
  • Player Expectations

    • Players will receive their shirt when checking in on site before their initial team placements event. This shirt needs to be worn to all team placements. If experiencing inclement weather, please note that the required shirt must be worn on top of any layers.
    • Wear soccer gear: cleats, shin guards, soccer socks, and appropriate clothing. 
    • Bring soccer equipment: pumped soccer ball and water bottle. May be helpful to have your name on items. 
    • Demonstration of Tonka United’s life skills: fun, respect, positivity, teamwork, perseverance, work ethic and community. 
  • Parent Expectations

    • Help check in younger players on site before their initial team placement session.
    • During the evaluation, parents are not allowed to be near the fields used for team placements, to attempt to coach from the sidelines, nor to approach evaluators to ensure that players and evaluators can proceed distraction free. 
    • Before the team placement sessions, encourage your child to do their best and manage the things within their control (attitude, workrate, etc.)
    • After placement results, regardless of if your child made the team they wanted to or not, help them practice their resilience. Again, each player develops at different rates – therefore, players move both up and down in team placement, all depending on a variety of factors that change over time. What’s important is that players face the immediate challenge in front of them and continue to improve. 

  • Evaluation Criteria

    We are looking for players who perform soccer actions better and more consistently than others. 


    What is a "soccer action?"

    • Communication: how well does the player send and receive information nonverbally and verbally with the environment. 
    • Decision Making: how well does the player filter information to decide WHAT to do and HOW to do it. 
    • Executing a Decision: how well does the player move their body to successfully complete the decision. 
    • Fitness: how well does the player successfully execute more soccer actions, quickly recover between actions, and maintain quality and quantity of actions over time. 

    Quality of Soccer Actions ("better actions") is determined by the objective of the game (to score more than the opponent), and prioritized by the following intentions: 


    Attacking (when their team has the ball)

    • 1st intention: to score (by shooting or heading)
    • 2nd intention: to advance the ball (by passing or dribbling)
    • 3rd intention: to keep the ball (by passing or dribbling)

    Defending (when the opponent has the ball)

    • 1st intention: to prevent conceding goals (by blocking shots or pressuring the player with the ball)
    • 2nd intention: to prevent forward advancement (by closing passing lanes or pressuring the player with the ball)
    • 3rd intention: to regain the ball (by forcing inaccurate passes or stealing the ball from the player)
  • What if my player misses tryouts for team placements?

    • Every effort should be made to attend the scheduled assessments. There are no make-up sessions or individual evaluations.
    • If a current Tonka United player is unable to attend, then their body of work from the previous soccer year provided by their most recent team coach and Age Group Director will be used to help guide their team placement. 
    • Players who cannot attend assessment MUST still register for team placements to be considered for any placement. After completion of the team placement registration, please email Angie St. Martin - astmartin@tonkaunited.org - to inform her of your intended absence.
  • What is the process for accepting the invite to play with Tonka United for the 2023-24 soccer season?

    • Individual players will be contacted via PlayMetrics notification/email with their team placement.
    • Please be prepared to make a decision on your roster invitation as players will be asked to accept their spot and confirm their commitment to their team within 48 hours of the sent email. 
    • Roster placement is only finalized when a player has paid their commitment fee & a payment plan for season fees has been agreed to within the time period stated in the team offer.  After that time, the club may offer roster spots to other eligible players.
    • Based on the recommendations of Tonka United Soccer Staff, teams from fall to summer season are subject to change based on registrations, commitments, and other unforeseen circumstances. For the most part, fall teams continue as the summer teams.
    • Commitment to Tonka United is valid for both Twin Cities Soccer League (US Club) and Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer).
    • Team placements registration fees, commitment fees and any Competitive Team fees are non-refundable.
  • What are the season plans for teams? And what are the typical transitions from 7v7 to 9v9 to 11v11?

    • Season plans will be published prior to team placements. They provide a look at the expected commitments, leagues, staff, etc.
    • Typical transitions while progressing into a larger game often include expanded roster sizes, possibility of fewer teams, and new titles for division levels within TCSL.  More information will become available as season plans are published. 
  • What if I don’t agree with the placement of players?

    • Please remember that our objective with tiered teams is to help provide appropriately challenging environments for all players in our community. Tonka  United  Soccer Staff will do our best to place players on teams where they are surrounded by others of similar ability and aspirations. When appropriate throughout the course of the season, Tonka United may adjust players’ team placements.
    • There will be no contesting or protesting of team placements of any player in any age group. 
    • The club will not engage in any discussions or debate on team placement.
    • Evaluators' scores from the team placements and players' body of work provided by the most recent team coach and Age Group Director are confidential and will not be shared. Players looking for feedback should reference their end-of-season player development plans and coach feedback.


  • How does Tonka Fusion Elite (TFE) factor into team placements?

    • TFE is a player pathway beginning at U13 for Tonka United, Fusion SC and other metro-based players to compete in a national platform. 
    • Players interested in tryouts for their age and gender’s TFE team can view more details on the TFE website
    • Players register for TFE tryouts and Tonka United tryouts separately.
    • If a player pays both TFE & Tonka United tryout fees and accepts a spot on a Tonka United team, the fee paid to Tonka United will be put towards the player’s commitment deposit. 
    • TFE tryouts cannot be used as a make-up session for Tonka United team placements.
  • Play-up Policies

    10.3 Play-ups - Administrative


    Our policy is that players participate with their birthyear, with the following exceptions, subject to concurrence by the parents and player:

    • All players must attend tryouts at their own age group.
    • Where numbers dictate a move of players up to form a team.
    • In all cases, play-ups must be approved by the Technical Director & Age Group Director(s).

    10.4 Play-ups – Skill Based


    The goal is to have players play with their birth year guidelines. If it is decided by the Age Group Director(s), along with the Technical Director, that a player is significantly hindered in his/her growth and development due to a lack of challenge in their current age group a player may be considered for a skill based play-up.


    10.5 Guest Play-ups


    A player may temporarily play up on a higher age-group team on an as needed basis, consistent with league rules, as long as the player fills the roster spot on the players age group team, the players first obligation will always be to the team the player was selected for. Guesting arrangements are to be made through the two coaches involved. The involved coaches must honor the player’s obligation to represent the team for which they are rostered.


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