Tryouts and Team Formation

For the 2026-2027 Season: Teams will be changed to align with the school-year age grouping (August 1–July 31).
If this shift is new to you, please review this link that explains changes ⚽
If you are unsure which age group your child will fall into, please refer to the AGE - SCHOOL YEAR CHART ⚽.
All PLAYERS—including current travel players—will be required to participate in April tryouts, even in cases where we anticipate keeping certain teams intact.

DATES and PROTOCOLS HAVE NOT BEEN FINALIZED - PLEASE USE BELOW AS A GUIDE ONLY

Phase 1

Important Information about Team Formations & Tryouts for Current Players

We expect several teams to stay intact, but some may change
Multiple Red Bulls coaches will evaluate each player and each team
Metrics for current players will include fall, winter, spring practices, games, and tournament performances
Players currently playing up will initially try out with their age group. Red Bulls Coaches will adjust groupings as needed.
Some newly formed teams may be mixed-age depending on numbers.
It is possible that some current Travel or Premier players will not receive return offers.
We will continue to provide as much transparency as possible leading up to the tryout and team formations

Team formations will continue to be based on MERIT, including:

We encourage players to use winter as a training opportunity to develop their skills and to have additional exposure with the Red Bulls trainers

Notifications:

Team placement announcements will be sent all at once on a designated date
This will include two notifications:
- Players offered a roster spot on a specific team
- Waitlisted players (to be considered if spots remain)
- Non-offers with possible alternatives
Individual feedback or appeals will not be permitted

Parent Meeting Summary - Recap on January 21

Access to slides here: Google Slides (or below)
The google form will remain active Parent Questions: LINK HERE
Please direct feedback or questions regarding this topic via the form instead of email. We will provide responses where appropriate and applicable (although not immediately).

West Side Soccer Travel Program - Transition Plan to School Year

My player is already in the travel program, why do they have to try out?

Tryouts are necessary to fairly balance teams and keep to merit process.
Perspective: WSSL Tournament team program requires tryouts for their current players each year.

It is possible my player may not get a return offer despite already being on the team?

Yes.
All teams will be reviewed to uphold standards of the program
Talent, commitment, attendance, behavior drive the decisions for placement
PLEASE NOTE: We expect that the MAJORITY of current players will make their teams.
- However: Players who have been chronically absent, have demonstrated persistent behavioral issues, are have been unable to meet basic skill benchmarks of a travel team, will not be given a return offer.

Will my player be moved to their age group?

Players start with the tryout in their age group so they can be compared to the same age/school year.
Regarding team formations, each current player, team and situation will be reviewed individually
NOTE: Players will shift to their new school year group, unless their development is better served playing up for that team.
Parents cannot request for the children to play up or be rostered due to social reasons.

My child plays already plays a year up, will they be moved to their age group?

Who makes the decision?

Red Bull’s Coaches & the RB leadership team along with West Side Leadership will make all placement decisions.

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