BAYS Travel Team Tryouts / Selection
Needham Soccer Club Travel Teams
Each year, Needham Soccer Club selects travel teams in suitable age groups to compete in the Boston Area Youth Soccer League (BAYS). Teams are selected with the aim of fielding the strongest possible teams at each age group, with a number of factors weighing into the selection process. All Needham based players in the appropriate age group are eligible to be considered, but must be selected to be placed on a BAYS Travel team*. In grades 3-6, any player not selected for a BAYS Travel team will automatically be placed on a team in our ‘in-town’ NSCCL program.
*In 7th/8th Grade, all NSC teams are BAYS Travel teams, and any player in those grades is placed on a BAYS Travel Team.
Click the below headings to learn more about how BAYS Travel teams are selected
+ Number of Teams / Players Selected
Each Gender:
*The number of teams for each age group indicate the “typical” number of teams each year. However, Needham Soccer Club has the right to revaluate the exact number of select travel teams in each age group every year to determine what the best developmental options are for each specific age/group of players.
+ Evaluation Criteria For Number of Teams
Every year/group is unique. As a result, the list of Criteria that Needham Soccer Club MUST consider when determining the final number of select travel teams at each age group includes, but is NOT limited to the following:
Criteria to Consider
**The first 4-5 7th/8th Grade teams are selected, while the remaining players are balanced on remaining teams (typically for a total of 6-8 teams).
+ When Are Teams Selected?
4th-8th Grade teams are selected annually each Spring for the following Fall – Spring year. The 2 Day Tryout period is typically held from Mid-May to Early June. With Day 1 for all age groups taking place prior to MDW and Day 2 for all age groups taking place after MDW.
3rd Grade teams are selected annually each Fall for the following Spring season only. These tryouts are typically held late October to Early November.
There are no other team selection windows or tryout periods. Changes to 4th-6th Grade teams, and top 4 7th/8th Grade teams outside of these selections only occur if a previously selected player withdraws, in which case coaches are encouraged to call up a replacement.
+ How Are Teams Selected? (Overview)
A number of factors go into the selection of Travel teams with the aim of the strongest possible teams in the highest level possible within the BAYS Travel league.
A more detailed tryout process and selection meetings process is outlined below.
+ Coach Selection Process / Criteria
Any Coach/Adult is eligible to apply for the role of Head Coach for a BAYS Travel Team. In most cases it is a coach with a child in the age group.
Coach Selection Criteria:
The committee shall use reasonable judgment to weight the above information, and other relevant information it deems appropriate, to choose the best coach for each team. Such chosen coach should demonstrate a willingness and ability to effectively train and coach players and to act in accordance with the philosophy and practices of the NSC.
The following criteria shall be given consideration to distinguish between coaches of identical or very similar qualifications:
+ 2 Day Tryout Breakdown
NSC Requests that ALL parents stay away from the tryout field to give players & coaches space to play and observe freely
Tryouts are run by Director of Coaching Matt Murray with help from the Professional Coaching Staff of the New England Revolution Academy to evaluate players impartially.
Day 1 – Dedicated to collecting data on players’ individual technical skill by playing small-sided games & activities. Players will be scored 1-10 on Attacking, Defending, Possession, Decision Making & General Technical Ability.
Day 2 – Dedicated solely to playing 4-6 full-sided games (7v7 – 11v11) depending on number of participating players. Games are 15-20 minutes long where evaluating coaches will move players to a new fields between games based on their observations during each game.
+ Day 2 Group Placement Process
Groups are preassigned for Day 2 based on the combined data from a number of criteria including but not limited to: Day 1 tryout score, current team coaches evaluations, players current team placement, previous evaluation data and professional coaching staff’s general knowledge of current abilities.
*All 4-6th Grade players attend the same 2 day tryout process for their respective age group.
*7/8th Graders will be notified following the NMDT of Day 2 Tryout Group Following a Review of Day 1 and ALL relevant Evaluation Data.
*To account for the large number of players in 7/8th grades, Day 2 for 7/8th grade will be split into 2 groups. Players assigned to Group 1 following Day 1 of tryouts will participate in Day 2 of tryouts at an earlier time. When/where appropriate the professional coaching staff may invite players from Group 1 to participate with Group 2 at a later time. As a result, some 7/8th graders MAY be asked to participate in 3 days of tryouts.
Following Tryouts – Scores for each station are collected by DOC, organized & made available at earliest possible date for slated coaches to review as well as for selection meetings.
+ Selection Process
ALL CONVERSATIONS AND INFORMATION ARE CONFIDENTIAL.COACHES ARE ASKED TO NOT COMMUNICATE ANY OF THE FINAL ROSTER SELECTIONS PRIOR TO ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CLUB.
To Be Considered:
Players wishing to be considered for selection must register for the relevant season, and should indicate their interest during registration.
For 3rd Grade tryouts in the Fall there is an additional tryout registration required since in many cases those players will have already registered for the full year.
Travel Team Commitment
Spots on NSC BAYS Travel Teams are often highly coveted, with a large number of players trying out for and interested in getting a spot on one of these teams. As such, for players offered and accepting spots, there is an expectation of commitment to the team, and a desire to make this team a priority.
If offered a spot, players must commit to:
In the event that a players is consistently unable to meet the above commitment, the coach, with the support of Needham Soccer Club, may remove that player from the team’s roster
Latest Tryout Dates
3rd Grade
3rd Grade teams are selected for Spring only. Tryouts take place during the proceeding Fall season, for players in 3rd Grade at that time.
Next Tryout: Fall ’24 For Spring ’25 Teams
3rd Grade Girls
Date: Sat. Nov 2nd
Time: 5-6.30pm
Location: Memorial Park
3rd Grade Boys
Date: Sat. Nov 2nd
Time: 3-4.30pm
Location: Memorial Park
4th Grade
For players entering 4th Grade in Fall
Next Tryout: Spring ’25 For Fall ’25 – Spring ’26 Teams
4th Grade Girls
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
4th Grade Boys
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
5th Grade
For players entering 5th Grade in Fall
Next Tryout: Spring ’25 For Fall ’25 – Spring ’26 Teams
5th Grade Girls
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
5th Grade Boys
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
6th Grade
For players entering 6th Grade in Fall
Next Tryout: Spring ’25 For Fall ’25 – Spring ’26 Teams
6th Grade Girls
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
6th Grade Boys
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
7th / 8th Grade
For players entering 7th or 8th Grade in Fall
Next Tryout: Spring ’25 For Fall ’25 – Spring ’26 Teams
7th / 8th Grade Girls
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
7th / 8th Grade Boys
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD