What is Three River Soccer Association (TRSA)?
It is a community-based program that is independent from school districts and local high school athletic programs. TRSA competes in the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) league. MYSA organizes the competitive soccer teams into districts across the state. The program consists of boys and girls ages 8 and older who can play at a higher level than TRSA’s traditional house league. The Travel program has more games and practices. There are also four levels to accommodate a wide range of player’s abilities.
What is Travel Soccer?
Travel soccer, also known as Competitive soccer, is a more advanced soccer program tailored to players that want to continue developing their soccer skills to their fullest potential. The players are placed onto teams based upon their skill level into one of the following levels called Classic 3(C3), Classic 2(C2), Classic 1(C1) and Premier.
What do the playing levels mean?
There are several levels of competive play for youth soccer with the hightest level available in Minnesota being Premier and lowest level being Classic 3 (C3). There are also Maroon and Gold levels available for the yougest travel players. For Further information on levels of play please see the “Explanation of Player Levels” tab on the left side of the TRSA website.
How much do you have to travel?
Not much. TRSA is in the Northwest district of MYSA. We normally play teams such as Maple Grove, Plymouth, Big Lake, Coon Rapids, Blaine, Anoka, and other nearby communities. Occasionally, teams from Duluth or Brainard are in our district and require one longer distance to commute to play those teams.
How much does is cost to play Travel Soccer?
The Summer League costs approximately $230 and varies depending on the age group. The Fall League is about $125. Each Indoor session is about $100. Tournaments and uniforms are an additional cost. On the average a tournament will cost about $20/player.
Uniforms, on average, cost about $100 and include two jerseys, one pair of shorts and two pairs of socks, they typically can be worn for about two seasons.
How many soccer seasons are there?
There are three different soccer seasons: Summer, Fall, and Indoor. Each requires a different registration period. Two are sanctioned by MYSA and run in the summer and fall. The primary season is the Summer League and runs from late April to late July. The Fall season runs from late August to late October. The third season is during the winter and is called Indoor. Indoor has three different sessions and runs from November through March.
How many games and practices are there during Summer League?
The Summer League has about 10-12 league games. The games are played during the week, Monday through Thursday. Normally two to three practices are held during the week. Most teams enter into one to three tournaments that are hosted by other soccer clubs. The tournaments normally have three games and are held on the weekends. The tournaments that each team participates in are typically chosen by the team.
How many games and practices are there during Fall League?
The Fall League has about 6-8 games and they are normally held on the weekend. There are typically one or two practices per week.
How many games and practices are there during Indoor League?
The Indoor League has about 7 games per session and held on the same night every week. Practice is limited to available gym space.
Where are the practices and games held?
For Summer and Fall Leagues practices and home games are held within the TRSA area. They could be held in Zimmerman, Elk River, Otsego, or Rogers. Away games are held at the hosting soccer club soccer fields. The Indoor League games are normally held at Raila Sports Complex in Maple Grove or Goal Kick in Blaine.
Can only players from a specific area play on TRSA?
No. Anyone can play on TRSA’s club. The school district boundaries and/or city limits do not determine who plays on TRSA.
What equipment is needed?
A uniform which consists of two jerseys, shorts and socks. Uniforms cost about $100/player and are used for two to three seasons. Soccer shoes and shin pads are also required.
What is the purpose of evaluations?
The objective of evaluations is to place each player at an appropriate level for their ability, giving them the greatest opportunity for success, improvement and enjoyment.
Are Evaluation decisions a difficult task for the Evaluators?
YES. No evaluation system is perfect. We are bound by roster sizes and many times have more players than roster spots at a given playing level. Players often want to play with their friends or do not want to change teams. We cannot honor these requests due to the size of TRSA and player skill levels can change from year-to-year causing a move up or down in playing level.
Can Anyone attend evaluations?
TRSA holds open evaluations. Any player is allowed to attend evaluations that would like to play soccer for TRSA. However, No roster spots are held or guaranteed for team members from previous years.
Who decides how evaluations and team formations are executed?
The TRSA Board has the responsibility of creating and modifying the process and policies that govern evaluations and team formation. The Coaching Director is responsible for executing this process.
Who will be evaluating the players?
Three Rivers Soccer Association will again be using an outside evaluators to conduct evaluations. Overseen by the Coaching Director, these evaluators evaluate each player individually and a score is given for each player. With your continued feedback we will continue to modify the evaluations to ensure your children are evaluated in the fairest and most unbiased way possible.
Why are the evaluations held in August?
August evaluations give TRSA several advantages. Team formation can be completed so players can participate in winter leagues together or begin indoor training programs together during the winter months. Evaluations can be held on natural grass rather than the turf or hard floors used for indoor soccer. Playing on grass also helps keep the cost associated with renting indoor space very low. Players are still in good physical condition and are in no danger of losing their touch so soon after the summer season has ended.
Why are there two evaluation dates for each age group?
There are two evaluation dates so that each player has the opportunity to be evaluated for an appropriate amount of time. This gives the assessors the proper time needed to evaluate each player completely thus decreasing mistakes in the selection process.
Do we have to show up for both evaluations?
YES! You must show up for both evaluations if at all possible. If you cannot make both evaluation dates you must notify the Coaching Director before the dates in question. If two players are evaluated at the same level and one went to both dates and one did not, the player that attended both will be given preference!
How long do evaluations last?
Evaluations are listed as 1.5 hours each but may not take that long. Please do not drop your children off without first talking with the evaluators about the length of assessments! The length of evaluations depends on numbers. If the numbers are low evaluations may only take an hour to conduct.
What happens if a player misses evaluations due to a major injury or illness?
The player may be placed on a team at the discretion of the Coaching Director. The player must have contacted the Coaching Director about their injury or illness prior to the evaluation day.
What happens if a player misses evaluations due to a minor illness?
The player may be placed on the lowest level team, room permitting. The player may also ask for a tryout at a later date provided the Coaching Director is available to evaluate. The player may also be placed on the highest level team at the discretion of the Coaching Director.
What happens if a player misses evaluations for other reasons?
The player may be placed on the lowest level team, room permitting.
What happens if a player misses evaluations due to Late Registration?
The player must attend an evaluation set up by the Coaching Director. The player may also be placed on a team at the discretion of the Coaching Director.
Can a player be evaluated for an older age group (play up)?
Any player may be evaluated at an older age group (never younger) if they so choose. However, in order to be considered for the older age group, the player must evaluate in the top 25% of all players at the older age group. If they do not evaluate in the top 25% they will be placed in their own age group.
There are two exceptions to this rule:
- Two age groups may be combined because of insufficient numbers at each age group.
2. A player may be allowed to play with their own school grade.
How do I ask to be Evaluated fo an Older Age Group?
You must contact the Coaching Director. When asking the Coaching Director for permission you must include the player’s name, age, current team and current coach. You must also include your reason for your request. Permission to be evaluated at an older age group will be considered on a case by case basis.
What will you need when checking in at evaluations?
Each player must have a parent (unless 18) with them to complete a player evaluation registration form, a water bottle, soccer ball, cleats, and shinguards.
**Please do not wear a soccer jersey of any kind, TRSA or otherwise.
What takes place at Evaluations?
Evaluations are made up of small sided games and skill drills. The drills will be set up before the evaluations begin and scoring of evaluations will be split evenly between the small sided games and skill drills. Players will be selected randomly and put on different teams for each small sided game. Each game will be no longer than 10 minutes. At the end of Evaluations the two scores are added up to give a final evaluation score.
What types of Skills are being Evaluated?
During the games and skill drills evaluators will be looking for Individual ball skills: passing, receiving, shooting, defending and tackling. Tactical Ability: communication, speed of play, vision, decision making, movement on and off the ball, transition from offense to defense. Physical Ability: Speed, quickness, aggression. Attitude: Sportsmanship, respect for other players and the evaluators.
What do the Evaluators look at during the Skill Drills?
Skill Dirlls will be used to look at: first touch, off the ball movement, passing, control and dribbling.
What do the Evaluators look at during the Small Sided Games?
Small Sided Games will be used to look for technical ability, tactical understanding, physical ability such as: individual ball skills, passing, receiving, shooting, defending and tackling tactical ability and attitude.
Players will be selected randomly and put on different teams for each small sided game. Each game will be no longer than 10 minutes. During these games evaluators will also be looking for Individual Ball Skills, Tactical Ability, Physical Ability and Attitude as described in the paragraph “What types of Skills are being Evaluated?”.
Can defenders score well in evaluations?
There is no reason a defender cannot score as highly as a forward or midfielder as long as they display good technical and tactical skills and are involved in the play.
Defenders have good skills, are tactically sound and should not hang back and be removed from the play. Defenders should also not just kick the ball but play it with a purpose.
Are there Goalkeeper Evaluations?
YES. Please make it clear to the Coaching Director that your child is interested in playing as a goalkeeper. Make sure that you state clearly whether or not your child is only interested in playing as a goalkeeper or would like to play on the field as well. If the Coaching Director is not informed of goalkeepers wishing to try out then no goalkeeper evaluations will be conducted.
Travel Soccer Information – Also called Competitive Soccer
