SCOR QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
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COMMON SCOR QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE:

The 'Play-up' policy reads:
SCOR needs a written request from parents of the player that wants to play up before tryouts in May.

Players who have been identified by a pro coach as able to compete for a starting position on the older 'Black' team by being physically, technically, tactically and mentally prepared to do so can try out for the older 'Black' team.  This option to move players from an age appropriate level to a more competitive level is intended to cater to players who will not benefit from playing at their age appropriate level.  This move is meant to be the best option for the younger players but also the best option for 2 teams involved in this transfer. If players are selected to play up on the Black team then that is where the players play.  

We do make exceptions and allow younger players to play up on the 'Orange' team when that team's participation in the league is threatened because there are not enough players rostered on the older 'Orange' team. However, that player or players being selected to play up must still be able to play at the older Orange team's level.    

We use our seasonal player Rankings data submitted by our pro team coaches every season to determine who gets invited up to the 'Orange' team if there is a need. Top ranked player(s) are invited to play up and we go down the rankings from 'best to to less' until a player(s) agree to move up.  If players are selected to play up on the 'Orange' team then they can still change their mind, decline and play for their age appropriate team.  Time will be of essence and dictate the timing of all involved procedural decisions.

Final decisions are made by the Director of Coaching after consultation with involved coaches, parents and SCOR Administration.

SCOR Tryout Process

Players are evaluated by Travel Team pro coach throughout the season.

Pro coach takes attendance and rates all players after every practice session and game (1 being poor to 4 being excellent).  At the end of the season each player will have accumulated a final RATING amount and a RANKING spot on a list of all registered, age appropriate registrants. 

Definitions:

Rating - Points given to each player after practice and games for performance in attitude, technique, athleticism throughout the season.

Ranking - Placement of registered players listed from 1 to 40, 1 being the best, based on all collected data.

Official SCOR Tryouts will consist of 2 combined practice sessions towards the end of the spring season where a number of coaches will be present to observe and assess.

Tryout results and placement of players will be discussed among all the attending coaches.  

Individual player’s Tryout results are added up and a final RANKING list will be created to  assess a player’s commitment level, consistency and level of play.

VP’s of Travel, Registrar and the DoC meet to create the teams EXCLUSIVELY based on the assessment figures compiled and provided by the DoC. Travel team head pro coaches sign off on final rosters before Registrar officially creates the teams.

My child should be a Black team player.  What can I do to have him switched over?

We will take another look at the tryout evaluations to see if something was overlooked.  If no data supports the demand to have the player play on the Black team and no changes will be made then.  We will kindly remind parents that playing on a ‘B’ team is NOT a punishment.  It is another opportunity for the player to develop and respectfully prove the coach wrong.  Through hard work and the right attitude players will learn to deal with adversity.

How long does a player stay on the team?

We make a full year commitment but if players leave and/or new players want to try out off-season then we will unofficially try them out at an indoor practice session and then provided there is space place them accordingly.  We do reserve the right to make changes to a roster throughout the first 2 weeks of an outdoor season if it is obvious we made an error in either the calculations or simply because a player was misjudged.

Is there movement of players from season to season?

Yes, there has always been movement from Black team to Orange or White teams or vice versa.  Not many necessarily but every tryout is independent from any past made observations.  Remember, observations are made by at least 3 evaluators including team coach.  These 3 will discuss final player Rankings and submit documentation to DoC.

Do the evaluating coaches make mistakes?

I wouldn’t call them mistakes because determining level of play involves so much subjectivity that by default there might very well be players on the ‘Orange’ team that should be on the other team.  and vice versa.  We will use the first 2 weeks of the season to correct any placement decisions that could hurt the development of that particular player and/or the team he/she is playing.  In short, we will try and make any adjustments needed to be made.

What if one is new to town or one who has never played Travel before?

They might or might not be at a disadvantage but they do have the opportunity to tryout 2 times which is more than most other clubs offer.

What is more important, technical abilities or tactical insight?

The moment by moment decisions players off and on the ball make are tactical decisions that suffer when players don't have adequate technical skills. When one doesn't have the ball, one is worrying about what will happen when one gets the ball, and when you get the ball you haven't had time to relax and to make quick good decisions relative to the ball, relative to your teammates and relative to the opponent.

Technical abilities that develop in game realistic moments will develop tactical insight.  In time both will develop and become dependent on each other.  The same goes for fitness; over time a 3-way relationship between tactics, technique and fitness is developed and subsequently the player will make good decisions more often when it really counts.