Team Selection Process
The MASA Travel Program
MASA offers travel teams starting at the U10 age level for both boys and
girls. The MASA Travel Program offers an opportunity for qualified players
to participate in a more competitive environment than our in-house programs.
The travel teams will compete against teams from other clubs in PA West
Soccer and participate in regional tournaments. Participation on a travel
team is determined by age eligibility and a tryout process.
Travel Teams
The number of teams to be rostered each season will be determined by the
Travel Committee based on player interest, availability of coaches, and
sufficient numbers of referees as required by PA West. Depending on these
factors, multiple teams may be rostered in a particular age group and may
compete in either an A or B division as available through PA West.
Eligibility
To tryout for a MASA Travel Team, players must meet age eligibility
requirements as defined by PA West as well as MASA requirements. MASA
requires that all players participate in at least one full season (fall and
spring) of in-house play at the U10 age level or higher with MASA or similar
program at another club. The age eligibility requirements will be posted on
the MASA website prior to each travel tryout. Players selected to play on a
travel team must register with MASA and pay registration and uniform fees in
full prior to the first team practice. In addition to these requirements,
players and their parents should be willing and able to commit to two
practices per week and one game per weekend, as well as participation in
several weekend tournaments throughout the season. Occasional absences from
practices and games with prior notice to coaches are understandable.
Players who consistently miss practices or games, or fail to notify coaches
of absences, will not be selected to participate on travel teams in the
future.
Age Eligibility for 2008 Fall/2009 Spring Season
U10 - born August 1, 1998 - July 31, 1999
U11 - born August 1, 1997 - July 31, 1998
U12 - born August 1, 1996 - July 31, 1997
Tryouts
Tryouts will be open to all players meeting the above eligibility
requirements. All players must tryout for the Fall season, regardless of
their participation in previous seasons. Tryouts for the Fall season will
be held in June each year. There will be a minimum of two tryout dates for
each fall season. Tryouts for the Spring season will be held, as necessary
to fill in vacant roster spots from the Fall season, in March. All tryouts
dates, times, and locations will be posted on the MASA website at least 14
days prior to the tryout date. If a tryout must be cancelled for any
reason, every effort will be made to post tryout cancellations on the
website at least 2 hours prior to the scheduled start of a tryout. In the
event a tryout has to be cancelled, a make-up date will be scheduled and
posted on the MASA website at least 7 days prior to the make-up date.
Players are encouraged to attend all tryouts for their age level, but must
at a minimum attend at least one tryout for the appropriate team to be
considered for selection to a team.
Team Selection
Players will be evaluated at the tryouts by at least three evaluators,
consisting of potential coaches, travel committee members, an independent
(from MASA) evaluator, or other qualified person selected by the Travel
Committee. Players will be evaluated on basic soccer skills, understanding
of the game, attitude, and performance in simulated games. Each evaluator
will independently complete his/her evaluation of players and submit a
recommendation of players to be selected for the team(s). The Travel
Committee and coaches will then review all evaluations and recommendations
and make the final selection of players for the teams. Within 10 days of
the last tryout for a team, a member of the Travel Committee will contact
the parents of all players who participated in at least one tryout to inform
them of the committee's decision regarding selection for a travel team.
Players must confirm their commitment to play within 5 days of notification
that they have been selected to a team or their roster spot will be
forfeited and another player will be given the opportunity to fill the spot.
The MASA Travel Committee
Courtney Olson - Travel Coordinator
Frank D'Amico
Mike Kania
Bill Leipold
Craig Swen
Updated: September 30th, 2008