Every spring LUSC conducts evaluations for travel team placement for the following year’s fall and spring seasons. If your child decides to participate in the travel program in the fall OR the spring, these data are very important in the placement process.
See the Schedules page to see the evaluation dates and times by age group. Note the special goalkeeper evaluations also (see FAQ below).
- Please arrive 20 minutes ahead of time and sign in (look for the table near the field). Your child must sign in to participate.
- There is no fee associated with the evaluation.
- Please make sure you attend the session for your child’s NEXT YEAR age group/division. If you are unsure, please see the LUSC Age Group Policy.
- Participating in the evaluation is not the same as registering for the fall travel program. Fall travel soccer registration usually opens in early May, and must be completed by the registration deadline, typically in early June.
Evaluation Format:
The LUSC Evaluations involve mostly placing players in small-sided games (3v3 to 6v6). There will also be additional activity-based stations. Small-sided games provide players with the opportunity to have maximum touches on the ball as well as the opportunity to make numerous decisions in a game-like environment in a short period of time. The other stations will be familiar activities to what LUSC players typically participate in at practices. Evaluators will be observing a players comfort level on the ball (technique), decision making ability (tactical ability), and athleticism.
Team Formation Process:
For more information regarding how LUSC forms travel soccer teams, please go to the LUSC Team Formation page.
FAQs:
How important is it that my player attend?
It is very important that every player come to the evaluation. The independent evaluations from this process, plus the input and evaluations from coaches and LUSC professional coaches, are the data used for placing your child on a team that is developmentally appropriate.
When do rising 3rd graders go through evaluations?
Evaluations for 3rd graders on spring travel teams will take place during the fall season.
When do rising 4th graders playing in-town go through evaluations?
If a rising 4th grader plans to play in-town for both fall and spring of 4th grade, there is no need to attend travel evaluations in the spring. However, if she plans to play travel in either the fall or spring, she must attend travel evaluations. Note that the fall season evaluations are only for 3rd graders.
Are there evaluations for rising 9th graders?
No. LUSC does offer BAYS travel teams in the spring season for 9th-12th graders, but there are no evaluations for these teams. Also note that LUSC offers a Sunday pick-up game for high school players in the fall.
Who conducts the evaluations?
While the evaluations are organized by LUSC, to ensure independence, the evaluators are professional coaches who are not familiar with the players. The evaluators are mostly coaches from outside Lexington and include college coaches, high school coaches, professional coaches from other local soccer organizations, and so forth. From time to time, professional LUSC coaches who have not worked with the age group being evaluated during the previous year may be used. A team process is used so that every child is evaluated by several coaches in several different situations.
What if my child is unsure about playing travel soccer next year?
Come to the evaluation! Whether the player decides to participate in the travel program in the fall OR the spring, these data will be used, along with coaches’ input, for appropriate placement.
What if my child isn’t in the “typical grade” for his/her age?
Your child should go to the evaluation session of the group with which he/she plans to play. For travel soccer teams, LUSC follows the rules set by BAYS, the league in which we play, with a few modifications that can be found in our Age Group Policy. If your child is playing “up” with (older) kids in his/her grade, there are no restrictions. If your child is playing “down” with (younger) kids in his/her grade, he/she must be born after January 1. We advise you to discuss your options with your child’s Division Director or coach before making a decision, prior to evaluation week so your child can attend the correct evaluation session.
What if my child is only planning to play travel soccer next spring?
Come to the evaluation! Whether the player decides to participate in the fall and/or the spring, these data will be needed for placement.
Is there another evaluation time for travel soccer?
No. This is it. Please attend.
Can parents watch the evaluation?
Parents may watch from the sidelines. Please refrain from cheering one group or another and make no specific remarks to any player.
What equipment do kids bring?
Please have players come as they would for a practice, including water bottle, properly inflated ball, shin guards, cleats or sneakers and sunscreen / bug repellent, if appropriate.
How should players dress?
Players should dress like they do for practice. However, players should not wear jerseys from teams they play on (for example, LPDA, Skills Academy, NEFC, etc.).
When will I learn the results of the process?
Team formations typically are finalized and communicated after the end of school. You will therefore be notified sometime during early summer.
What if my child really truly cannot attend?
Please notify your coach and the division director. We will do our best to place your child appropriately with the data that we do have.
What are Goalie Evaluations?
Goalie evaluations are only for rising 5th-8th grade (U11-14) players with an interest in playing goalkeeper. We hold separate goalie evaluations at these age groups because, for those players with an interest in keeper, we will consider a player’s goalkeeper skills as well as field skills in the team formation process. If a player is up for consideration as a goalkeeper for a team, the coach or division director will talk to that player about the position and expectation for the amount of game time as goalkeeper. Players with an interest in goalkeeper should attend both the general and goalkeeper evaluations.
