A Note from the MUSC Travel Committee on Travel Try Outs, Team Formation

Applicants will be notified of their acceptance into the program by e-mail message.

Dear Parents:

The following is intended to explain the tryout process and explain how team formation is accomplished. At the outset, we recognize that evaluating the skill of interested players is not an exact science. It is, by nature, subjective. Nonetheless, we will make every effort to ensure that each accepted player is offered a position on the correct team so that he or she:  (1) receives an appropriate level of training; and (2) experiences the appropriate level of challenge and competition.

Over the past few years, we have worked hard to refine and improve the tryout and team formation processes. We appreciate your input and support as we continue to do so.

As the process moves forward each spring, it is essential to remember that the group tryout event is an important component -- but not the only component -- of talent evaluation and team formation. During the group tryouts or practices, we rely heavily on input from professional trainers have years of experience in evaluating the skill level and development potential of young players. We also rely on input of experienced volunteers (such as MUSC Board Members) who are familiar with the tryout process and evaluation criteria. A non-exhaustive list of skills and attributes that are considered during the tryout process include: speed, strength, focus, ball skills, the ability to use both feet, passing, field awareness, penchant for teamwork, etc.

Players who try out for travel teams fall into two categories -- those who presently play on a travel team and those who do not. In evaluating the players who presently have a position on a team, we again emphasize that the group tryout event is important, but it does not override the information that we have gathered based on week-in-and-week-out performance during training sessions and in match play. Through this experience, the professional and volunteer coaches develop a thorough understanding as to whether the player is placed on an appropriate level team or whether the player should be placed where he or she is challenged to a greater or lesser degree. As a "sanity check" of this understanding, we may implement one or more of the following: (1) coaches/trainers from the different level teams of the same age group attend games and training sessions of the other respective teams; (2) players from different level teams train or scrimmage together en masse; and (3) particular players are invited to train or scrimmage with a higher-level team.

With respect to players who do not presently play on a travel team, the talent evaluators at the group tryout pay particular attention to gauging the new player's skill level and ensuring that the player is placed alongside "known" players of varying skill levels so that proper comparisons can be made. Where appropriate, individual players are invited to a subsequent training session with existing teams to further those comparisons and confirm correct team placement.

When tryouts are complete, the MUSC Travel Committee convenes a series of team formation meetings. At these meetings, all interested players of a particular age group are considered together. The Committee takes into consideration all of the available data and proceeds to form teams in a way that is designed to optimize the experience for ALL of the players. Each year, this involves some difficult decisions. We try to get it right and, most of the time, we believe we do. There are, however, always instances where, for example, a player is placed on a "B" team and excels beyond expectations or a player is placed on an "A" team and struggles more than expected. In some cases, the committee may decide that the travel program is not an appropriate placement for a particular player at that point in time, and the player is asked to join the recreation program.  That is why team formation is a fluid process from year to year. Our commitment to you, however, is to make each season a rewarding and productive experience for every child who participates in the travel program, regardless of the particular team that he or she plays with.  Most of our age divisions have teams that are flighted according to skill level -- “A,” “B,” and, in some instances, “C.”  As in past years, the “A” team will invite its players to join first and all players will be given a week to accept or decline the offer. Once the “A-level” programs are finished, the B team will follow the same process.

This year, the club will be implementing some changes to post-invitation procedures. First, applicants will be notified of their acceptance into the program by e-mail message, simply because we have too many people to reach out in too short a time period and e-mail is more efficient.  Second, we will ask that the $200 non-refundable deposit for each accepted player be paid within 10 days of being offered a position on the club or that spot will be forfeited.  The deposit is necessary for two reasons:  first, to ensure that we receive payments in a timely manner; and second, to demonstrate a commitment to the team that has offered the player a spot.

Please remember as you move forward that this a selective process.  Not all applicants will be accepted into the program, or offered a spot on the team of their choice.  As parents and guardians, it is important that you evaluate your child's ability to deal with this process before the try out process begins.

Once again, we thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you at tryouts and throughout next season.

Mitch Heisler

Gregg Bangs

Chris Harnett

Wade Layton