As part of preparations for next season, the Carleton Ravens men’s soccer team is hosting open tryouts for high school players hopeful to make next year’s squad.
According to Sandy Mackie, the team’s head coach, 20-30 players are expected to try out. After looking at those players, the number will be cut down to anywhere between six and eight.
But Mackie said recruitment for the team’s tryouts is, for the most part, the responsibility of the player.
“Historically if a kid wants to play he’ll be in touch with me right now,” he said. “My email contact list is up to 80 players.”
Players that get in touch with the team have the opportunity to attend winter training sessions, as well as the spring tryouts and pre-season training in the summer, he said.
Michael Reynolds, a third-year defender on the team, reached out when he was first interested in playing at Carleton.
“I saw them play against Queen’s in Kingston in Grade 12 and I really liked the way they played,” he said. “So I emailed the coach and asked him if I could try out.”
Following the exchange, he attended the team’s summer pre-training sessions, which was a big difference from his previous Ottawa Youth Soccer League (OYSL) training, he said.
“It was intimidating and pretty nerve-wracking,” he said. “Everybody was really big, really fast, and really good.”
Mackie said interest in playing soccer at the university level is high in the Ottawa area.
“We’re in a fortunate position here with the local soccer community here,” he said, referring to the community OYSL, Ottawa Fury FC, and Ottawa South United teams.
The team also has a network of alumni and contacts that refer players to the team’s tryouts, Mackie said.
Andrew Latty, a third-year striker, said tryouts are an intimidating process.
“A lot of the people want to play soccer and there’s not many opportunities,” he said. “For many people it’s your last chance to play at a high level.”
This reality brings out an “every man for himself” attitude in the players trying out.
It is a physically demanding process, and Latty advised players trying out for this year’s team to train their cardio work and practice on technical skills.
Reynolds suggested players make sure to “be fit, and try really hard”.
But most importantly, players need solid technical skills.
“We’re looking for good players, players that understand the game, have a good touch [and] are physically fit,” Mackie said.
And while the team’s official spring tryouts will be taking place shortly, any player interested in playing and who reaches out to the team during the year is considered.
“Recruiting is ongoing all the time,” Mackie said. “The bottom line is if you want to play here and you’re a good player we’ll have a look at you.”
