Tryout FAQ

FAQs


WHAT AGE GROUP SHOULD I TRY OUT FOR?

2013/2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2001/2002
U8 U9 U10 U11 U12 U13 U14 U15 U16 U17 U18


WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

  • Cleats
  • Shin guards (Shin guards must be worn for the entire session)
  • Plenty of water
  • Appropriately sized soccer ball
  • White t-shirt weather-appropriate training clothes
  • Returning Bethesda SC players: DO NOT wear your club uniform or training gear!
  • Please check-in 15-30 minutes prior to the tryout sessions.

 

DO RETURNING BETHESDA SC PLAYERS NEED TO TRY OUT?

Yes.  All players must register for and attend try outs each year.

IS THERE A REGISTRATION FEE TO TRYOUT?
Tryout Registration is FREE for all current BSC players (including players graduating from the Soccer Juniors program), and $25 for all non-Bethesda SC players.

HOW DO I REGISTER?
New and Returning players can register by clicking here.  Starting with the 2019-2020 season Bethesda SC will be switching our registration system to LeagueApps so all players and/or parents will need to create a new account. If you are having trouble registering please contact our Office Administrator Zane Campbell at zcampbell@bethesdasoccer.org or call the main office at 240-224-7363.

LeagueApps Parent Registration Guide

 

WHEN WILL I HAVE TO COMMIT TO THE TEAM AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I COMMIT?

We ask that every player that is trying out for a Bethesda SC team be ready to commit to the team upon receiving an offer.  This will speed up the process for everyone else in the age group.  Decisions must be made within 24 hours as there are players that will be offered a spot should one decline an offer.  Acceptance of a roster spot is confirmed ONLY when the commitment paperwork and registration fee are received.

Parents please note: If you have an outstanding balance entering into the 2019-2020 season you will not be allowed to accept a team spot. If you have any questions please call the main office. 


WILL A SESSION EVER GET CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER? WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING PLAYERS?

There is a good chance we will get rain during May in Maryland.  While it would take extreme weather to cancel any of our sessions, this has happened in the past.  If there is a threat of severe weather, please make sure to check the Bethesda SC website often as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages. We will also attempt to contact all registered players.  For this reason, it is important that the email address you put on the registration form is the best one to contact you with.  Please know that while cancelling a session is rare, player safety comes first.


WHAT IF I AM SICK OR IF I HAVE TO MISS TRYOUTS?

In the case of all unavoidable conflicts, please contact the Bethesda SC Age Group Coordinator or a Director of Coaching. Please go to our Boys or Girls Coaches page for more information.


WHAT DO THE COACHES LOOK FOR DURING TRYOUTS?

All players will be evaluated based on their technical and tactical ability as well as their physical abilities.  Players who exhibit a strong work ethic and who display a respect for the game, coaches and fellow players will show well.


DO I HAVE TO ATTEND ALL OF THE TRYOUT SESSIONS?

This is a very popular question each year.  The simple answer is…YES.  The more sessions you attend, the greater the opportunity you have to exhibit your skills to the head coach and the staff of evaluators.  For this reason, we strongly recommend that you attend each of the sessions in your age group.  If there is a major and unavoidable conflict with the dates and times of your age group sessions, please contact the Bethesda SC age-group coordinator. Arrangements can be made to provide you the opportunity to try out.  In some circumstances, a supplemental session may be scheduled.  It is imperative that, even if you are planning to miss a sessions or sessions, you still register online!  When you are attending the second night of tryouts, please make sure that your player number is the same as on all previous nights. Jerseys will be provided on site, please double check it is the same number you received at the first tryout date


CAN I PLAY FOR AN OLDER TEAM?

One of the goals of our club is to make sure that each player is placed on a team not necessarily based on age but on ability.  It is in every player’s best interest, from a soccer development standpoint, to play with players of like-ability. For this reason, if the Bethesda SC technical staff determines that it is in your best interest to play up a year, a decision can be made at that time.  If you are new to the club, please make sure that the staff knows if you are at a session and are attempting to play up a year.

I AM INTERESTED IN PLAYING FOR BETHESDA SC BUT I CANNOT AFFORD IT.  IS THERE A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OFFERED?

Yes.  Details are on our  Scholarship Page

HOW MANY PLAYERS ARE ON A TEAM?

The roster sizes for our teams are as follows:

  • U8 play 5 per side, roster sizes will range
  • U9 and U10 play 7 per side, and have 10 to 14 players per team
  • U11 and U12 play 9 per side, and 12 and 15 players per team
  • U13 and older player 11 per side, and have 15 to 18 players per team

 

WHERE DO TEAMS PLAY?

Home games generally are played in Bethesda, Maryland.  Travel teams will play away games throughout the DMV area and in other states depending on the league a team competes in, and the tournaments teams elect to play.  See information for the leagues we compete in under Leagues on the main scroll bar of the Bethesda SC website.

 

WHEN DO TEAMS PLAY?

The Fall season starts the weekend after Labor Day.  The season generally runs 10 or 11 weeks.  The Spring season generally starts the first weekend in April and runs through early June, skipping Easter weekend.  Note that we generally do have games scheduled over the Spring break weeks. We ask travel team players to plan travel and vacations accordingly. BSC also has training throughout the winter and the option to play on summer teams competing in the Super Y Summer League.

 

WHEN DO TEAMS PRACTICE?

Bethesda SC practices begin for the fall season the same week that schools begin and run for approximately 10 weeks, with the option to add additional training camps at an additional cost. In the spring, practices begin in late January and continue until mid-June.  Bethesda SC teams practice two-three times per week in the fall and spring, and once per week training in the winter.

 

WHAT TYPE OF COMMITMENT DO I NEED TO MAKE TO TRAVEL SOCCER?

We play in competitive leagues and the spot your child takes on a team is often a spot denied to another child.  Additionally, soccer is a full season sport and we expect a full season commitment. For that reason, while we understand that some conflicts arise that are unexpected and unavoidable, we expect players to attend all practices and all games and play for the full season.   Failure to comply may result in reduced playing time for your child and could also effect their individual soccer development. 


HOW DO I TRYOUT FOR A GIRLS ECNL TEAM?
Girl’s ECNL tryouts are held as part of the scheduled Bethesda 2019/2020 tryouts. The club will also be holding a Spring ID Clinic for new players in late April. Please check out our Spring Identification Clinic for more information. 

 
HOW DO I TRYOUT FOR A BOYS US SOCCER DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY TEAM?

There are two ways to tryout for the DA

 

1)You can send our Academy Director Jonathon Colton an email jcolton@bethesdasoccer.org and ask for an invitation.

2) Through our USYSA State Cup Tryouts you will be observed for both the USYSA Teams and Development Academy Teams.