THINGS TO CONSIDER #1
GRAD YEAR
GRAD YEAR REFERS TO THE ATHLETE'S HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION YEAR.
BY CLASSIFYING PLAYERS BY GRAD YEAR - IT ELIMINATES THE CONFUSION DURING SUMMER MONTHS OF TRANSITIONING BETWEEN GRADES. REGARDLESS OF WHAT TIME OF THE YEAR IT IS - THEIR GRAD YEAR WILL NEVER CHANGE.
THINGS TO CONSIDER #2
SKILL LEVEL
THIS IS LIKELY THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE EQUATION. PLAYERS AND PARENTS NEED TO BE EXTREMELY REALISTIC AND HONEST REGARDING AN ATHLETE'S SKILL LEVEL. SKILL LEVEL IS NOT THE SAME AS EXPERIENCE. JUST BECAUSE A PLAYERS HAS BEEN PLAYING FOR 5 YEARS - IT DOES NOT MAKE THEM AN ADVANCED PLAYER AND VISE VERSA.
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KEEP IN MIND - IT IS EASIER TO MOVE A PLAYER UP THAN DOWN!
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THINGS TO CONSIDER #3
MINDSET
MINDSET IS A REALLY IMPORTANT COMPONENT. IT MATTERS WHEN TRYING PLACE AN ATHLETE.​
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CONFIDENCE AND COMPETITIVENESS IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE. AND IT DEVELOPS AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
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IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT BOTH PARENTS AND PLAYERS ACCESS THIS IS HONESTLY AS POSSIBLE. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY - THINK ABOUT WHEN THE PLAYER IS NOT AROUND PEOPLE THEY KNOW, WHEN THEY ARE UNCOMFORTABLE.
THINGS TO CONSIDER #4
POSITION
ALL WE REALLY NEED TO KNOW IS IF A PLAYER IS A FIELD PLAYER (FP) OR A GOAL KEEPER (GK)
AS FAR AS WHAT POSITION A FIELD PLAYER PLAYS - IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.
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KEEP IN MIND - IF WE DON'T HAVE THE BALL, WE'RE ALL ON DEFENSE AND IF WE DO HAVE THE BALL, WE'RE ALL ON OFFENSE.
MEANING - EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW HOW TO DRIBBLE, ELIMINATE, PASS, RECEIVE, TACKLE AND SHOOT. EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW HOW TO MARK AND CUT.
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