Travel Soccer Program

Try-outs
Tryout player registration begins 30 minutes prior to the start of the tryout.
In an effort to save time, please print and fill out the tryout registration form and bring it with you to the tryout.
It is the goal of DYS to notify the participants of tryout results within 2 weeks of the age groups last tryout date.

What is Travel soccer?
We understand that there may be a lot of misconceptions concerning exactly what "Travel Soccer" is and what it involves on the part of the player and the parents. We hope this information helps to clear up some of the misconceptions
There are typically three levels of youth soccer in this region. Intramural (Rec) is the lowest level of competition and there are not tryouts and selections for team spots. Generally speaking all intramural teams are made up of players from the same school district. Travel is the next level up and is made up of players who come from the intramural level and tryout for a spot on the team. Travel teams are mostly made up of players from the same school but many times could have up to 1/3 of their players from outside the school area. The final level of club team play is the Premier level which is a highly competitive level made up of players from a fairly large geographical area.

DYS fields and trains both Intramural and Travel Teams.

FAQS

Does it involve a lot of travel as its name indicates? Not really. The teams usually play in the LANCO League which in many cases are the same clubs that participate in the intramural league. The difference sometimes is that the Travel teams do attend more tournaments which can equate to more travel at times on weekends.

Is the competition level a lot higher then intramural soccer and will my child fit in? Yes, the competition within the team and the teams they play against will have a higher challenge in regard to the level of skill and proficiency both individually and as a team. It is the coach’s job to properly prepare his/her players for that level of competition. Like all sports at all levels, sometimes the competition will be higher and sometimes lower than your own team. The tryouts are designed to select the players who the evaluators believe can play at a Travel level.

What is the overall time commitment? It is close to the intramural level but it is higher.

1. Training is typically twice a week for 1.5 to 2 hours per session,
2. Teams play 8 league games over 8 weeks.
3. There are two seasons, spring and fall and each are about 10 to 12 weeks long,
4. While up to each team, most teams will play one-three tournaments per season and some teams may play indoor soccer over the winter.

If my child makes the team, does he/she need to tryout again for the spring season? No. He/she will automatically be placed on the team in the spring. If you will not be able to commit to both seasons, you will need to notify your coach and/or the travel coordinator as soon as possible.
It is possible a mini-tryout may be held prior to the spring season in order to fill a team who has lost players due to injury and/or other circumstances.

Are the coaches experienced and knowledgeable? All DYS Travel team head coaches must have their coaching diploma or license in order to coach at the Travel Team level. Many of our coaches have exceeded the minimal level of coaching education and have accumulated many hours of formal coaching education. In addition most also have many years of coaching experience as assistant and head coaches.

When are tryouts for the Travel Team and how do I register to tryout? Tryouts occur in the spring (May) for the spring/fall seasons. They are usually at one of the local fields. Check www.donegalyouthsoccer.com for specific times, dates, and places.

What age teams do we have Travel Level in? We start at U9 and go all the way up to U19(assuming we have enough eligible players to field a team).

If I try out and do not make it, can we still play intramural? Absolutely. We do not assemble the Intramural teams until the Travel Teams players have all been selected and placed on teams. Also, if your child does not make travel, feel free to contact our Director of Coaching for feedback and suggestions on what your child can do to prepare for next time.

What is the difference between Intramural (Rec) and Travel?
1. Players must try out for travel teams.
2. Recreational soccer is less demanding on the players and parents. It is less competitive, and players are guaranteed 50% playing time in games.
3. Travel players are expected to attend all practices and perform at their best ability. While there are guidelines for playing time, it is at the discretion of the coach, and may be based on attendance, attitude, ability, and effort.
4. The level of play is higher. Travel is a great opportunity for the player who is not being challenged in the intramural league.

What if I have questions specific to my individual case and need more answers? Contact one of the following people for more answers:

President: Libby Foreman:  leafboy8@embarqmail.com
Travel Rep: Scott Summers: scottsummers24@comcast.net
Director of Coaching: Scott Steffen: coachsteffen@hotmail.com
Come on out and tryout. What have you got to lose? If selected to play you always have the final decision to join or not!

The Travel Try Out Form Can Be Downloaded HERE