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Information Provided for Tulsa United Soccer Club Members Provided by Blitz United Soccer Club the competitive arm of Tulsa United |
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our Competitive Arm of Tulsa United Soccer Club
The following information is designed to help parents and players
thinking about competitive soccer.
Background
Competitive soccer clubs are governed by Green Country Soccer Association, (GCSA) just like recreational clubs. There are 12 competitive clubs in our area that are members of Green Country. Players are not eligible to play competitive until they reach the Under 11 age bracket. A finite number of teams are formed by age with a minimum of 14 players per team and a maximum of 18 players per team, as designated in the GCSA Bylaws. Each club has their own philosophy, democratic structure, policies and fee schedules. The GCSA Competitive Commission sets the tryout dates but each club sets up their own schedule within the guidelines. Each club will designate the fields they use, the time schedules and what activities the players participate in. As all clubs are different you must contact the individual clubs to get specific answers. Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions and answers that are specific to our own competitive club, Blitz United Soccer Club. This should give you a good foundation of information to then expand upon.
Who should try out?
Those with a high level of interest in playing soccer, have a competitive personality and a desire to develop their own soccer skills.
What are a few of the main differences between competitive and recreational soccer?
1) Level of Commitment – players and parents/family
2) Travel
3) Expense
When are tryouts?
2008 Preliminary Dates:
May 26 – June 19 – open camps, trainings, etc. Dead week no contact, trainings, or practices June 19 - 25, 26 June: Tryouts U-11 thru U-14 After 5:00pm 27 June: Tryouts U-15 thru U-19 After 5:00pm 28 June - 11 July: Additional tryouts as needed (weeknight start time no earlier than 5pm. Weekend start time no earlier than 8am)
Where are tryouts?
For Blitz United at their Home Fields-Bishop Tract at 41st & Hwy 169
What time are tryouts?
See www.blitzunited.org
or www.gcsoccer.com
What if I am on vacation during the tryout dates listed?
Call the coach listed in the tryout circular.
How many spots are available?
GCSA dictates there will be 14-18 players per team
What should I bring to tryouts?
The usual: shinguards, soccer shoes, soccer ball, and water bottle
What should I expect when I get there?
Sessions usually last 1to 1 1/2 hours. Players will participate in drills as a group and finish with some type of scrimmage. Tryouts are a lot like going to practice.
What happens after the tryout?
Before you leave the field, each player should either be:
1) Invited to join the team
2) Asked to return for further evaluation
3) Told they do not fit the player profile that club is looking for (sorry rejection is also part of the process)
*Ask before you leave if you are not told anything.
I was asked to join the team but I want to tryout for another club also-what should I do?
Unless you have specifically been told that the offer is good for a certain time period, you are not guaranteed that spot after you leave the field. This is why it is so important to do your club research before tryouts begin. It is best to narrow down your choices to 1-2 clubs that you think would be a good fit for your family and then prioritize them as to 1st and 2nd choice.
How do I know what Club would be a good fit for our family?
Here comes the hard part. This is where your research in ADVANCE is important. To help, here are some examples of questions you should ask:
Who will be the coach of my child’s team?
Will there also be a trainer?
Who will the trainer be?
How often do they work with the trainer?
What days, times and at what location are these training sessions?
Is there an additional charge for the trainer?
When and where are the Team practices? Are all practices mandatory?
Who makes the decisions regarding my child’s team-the coach or the club?
What is the team and club philosophy regarding player time and substitutions?
What about uniforms, what is required and how much will it cost?
Is there additional equipment we need to buy and how much will it cost?
How many out of town tournaments do they normally attend?
What is the average cost for these tournaments?
What is my TOTAL monthly cost going to be for this team?
Are we expected to fundraise?
Is that for the team or for the club?
Are there club assessments during the year and what is their historical cost?
What if I sign up and change my mind later?
When you sign the contract and give a club your check you are signing a one-year contract with that club. You cannot transfer between competitive clubs until the Spring season at the earliest. In order to transfer in the Spring, you must go through Green Country’s transfer procedures; you must be current on your financial obligations at your original club and the new club must have a place for you on a team.
You can however, go back to the recreational league.
There are many ways to get this information. Your child should be receiving a newspaper type publication called the Competitive Tryout Circular in late April or early May. All the area teams will be listed along with coach’s names and phone numbers. A lot of the questions above can also be answered with the information in the circular. Many of the clubs have their own websites that will tell you their philosophy and talk about their structure. You can get most of these links through the GCSA website main page is www.gcsoccer.com then go to competitive tryout information link . In addition, it is recommended to talk to current players and parents involved in competitive soccer to learn more in depth about their experience and advice.
If you have specific questions regarding competitive soccer in general or Blitz specific questions, please call the Blitz United director of coaching, Wilbert Maximore at 298-5976.
