TRYOUTS / PLAYER PLACEMENTS

• 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 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.

• 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 Complete Player Qualities: Game Understanding, Highly Skilled Actions, Physical Capabilites, Mental Skills, Teamship Skills

• 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. 

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)

• Players will need to be registered for tryouts before the tryout date, regardless of attendance. Tryout absence can be noted within the tryout registration.  
• Every effort should be made to attend the scheduled assessments for the age group. There are no make-up sessions, individual evaluations, or alternative tryout dates.
• CURRENT TONKA UNITED COMPETITIVE PLAYERS: If a current Tonka United player is unable to attend, then the player's 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 NEW TO TONKA UNITED COMPETITIVE PROGRAM: If we have open roster spots available after teams are formed, we will invite players that did not attend tryouts to attend two training sessions the first week of practice to serve as an evaluation.  The first week of practice is expected to be August 17.  If we do not have any roster spots available after teams are formed, your tryout fee will be refunded.  Notification of either scenario will occur by August 9.

• 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).
• Tryout registration fees, team commitment fees, team placement registration fees and any Competitive Team fees are non-refundable.

• Season plans are published on the website for each age group & playing level and provide a look at the overall expected commitment.
• Individual team plans are also availalble on the website. They include more detail for each team, such as coach, leagues, specific tournaments, and more.
• Season & team plans are subject to change.
• 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. 

• 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 Director are confidential and will not be shared.