Tryouts may not be required or necessary for every age group.  You will be notified if tryouts are necessary.  If so players from the Akron and surrounding communities, tryout and are selected for the travel teams. First round of tryouts are held in September and October. During tryouts teams of coaches and Board members observe skills, knowledge of the game, general playing ability, teamwork, sportsmanship, willingness to learn, and behavior. By late October coaches will select a minimum number of 11 and a maximum number of 18 players from those trying out. Players will be notified and dates of tryouts will also be posted.

Players and parents must make a commitment to the team. A player’s commitment includes, attending practices, scrimmages, and all scheduled games. It will also include going to tournaments and camps and participating in indoor and outdoor training. Parents are expected to support their children in those endeavors. Parents may also be asked to participate in "team oriented fund raising", to help allieviate the cost of going to such tournaments, camps and training, and for the purchase of (although not necessarily in the same season) ball bags, jackets and warmup suits. Although all travel team players should receive some playing time, the amount of time shall be earned, and based on merit, commitment and attendance as determined by the Travel Team’s Coaching Staff.

Travel Tryout Procedures

Players shall tryout for teams comprised of players within the same age group. We would like to see players playing on teams within their age groups. Players may tryout for an older age group team with the approval of the Akron Soccer League Board or Travel Coordinator. Such approval shall only be for one year at a time.

1. Every endeavor will be made by all coaches to actively recruit the best players available within their age groups to attend tryouts. Coaches are encouraged not to recruit players out of their age group rather discuss the situation with that age groups current coach.

2. Each coach will be responsible to record the name, address, phone number, birth date, previous team, and club of all players trying out for the team.

3. Each coach will maintain an evaluation record for each player trying out and will be able to justify, if requested, why a player was selected or not selected for the team.

4. At the conclusion of tryouts each coach will notify every player who attended tryouts (even if they only came once) to the names of those individuals who were selected for the team.

5. It is the responsibility of each coach at the beginning of tryouts to have a meeting with the parents and players attending tryouts to explain his/her criteria for selecting players, financial responsibilities, parent involvement, length of season, travel commitment, his/her coaching philosophy, etc…, and to answer any questions raised.

6. It should be the endeavor of each coach to make the tryout process a positive experience. Those players showing promise, but who are not selected should be encouraged to join in training sessions provided to work on their skills. Opportunities arise during the season and you never know when and if an opening occurs and they may be asked to play.

7. Every attempt for an opportunity to improve soccer skills will be made available to all players willing to learn and improve