On February 21st, tryouts will be held for both JV and Varsity candidates. 

Varsity:

Any player interested in trying out for the Varsity team should plan to attend tryouts on Monday (2/21) and Tuesday (2/22) at the BHS turf soccer field:

  • Monday 2/21 (Tryout):
    • Location – BHS Turf
    • Session 1 Time – 10:15am – 11:45am
    • If Indoors, move to the BHS Gym from 6:05pm to 7:30pm
  • Monday 2/21 (Tryout):
    • Location – BHS Turf
    • Session 2 Time – 6:15pm – 8:00pm
    • If Indoors, move to the BHS Gym from 6:05pm to 7:30pm
  • Tuesday 2/22 (Final Tryout):
    • Location – BHS Turf
    • Varsity Time – 5:30pm – 7:30pm
    • If Indoors, move to the BHS Main Gym from 6:05pm to 7:30pm

8th graders are not eligible to tryout for the Varsity team. Any 9th or 10th grade player that does not make the varsity team will be permitted to join the JV squad on Wednesday for their final day of tryouts. Dress for cold weather when you are scheduled to be playing outdoors! If weather does not permit tryouts on the grass field we will move to the BHS Gym (see above).

JV:

Any player interested in trying out for the junior varsity team (including 8th graders and those 9th/10th graders that did not make the varsity team) should plan to attend tryouts on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday:

    • Monday 2/21 (Tryout):
      • Location – BHS Turf
      • Session 1 Time – 10:15am – 11:45am
      • If Indoors, tryouts are postponed
    • Monday 2/21 (Tryout):
      • Location – BHS Turf
      • Session 2 Time – 6:15pm – 7:45pm
      • If Indoors, tryouts are postponed
    • Tuesday 2/22 (Tryout):
      • Location – BHS Turf
      • JV Time – 5:30pm – 7:00pm
    • Wednesday 2/23 (Final Tryout):
      • Location – BHS Field 3 (Outpost)
      • JV Time – 3:15pm – 4:45pm

12th and 11th graders are not eligible to tryout for the junior varsity team. Dress for cold weather when you are scheduled to be playing outdoors! If weather does not permit tryouts on the grass field we will move to the BHS Gym (see above).

Required tryout forms for all players:

Any High School or Middle School student interested in trying out for either the Varsity, or JV, Girls Soccer Teams must turn in all of the necessary paperwork. This includes:

  • “Blacksburg High School Soccer Player Code of Conduct Contract”
  • “Blacksburg High School Standards of Conduct Policy”
  • Concussion Form
  • Physical
  • Medical

If you do not have the team rules form you can request a copy from Coach Travis.  No student will be permitted to tryout if they are missing any forms.

Winter Sport Players: If you are playing in a winter sport and will not be able to attend the first day of tryouts, you must contact Coach Travis and notify your intentions to tryout after the winter sport is complete. Do not assume that a spot on the team will be held for you. This information must come directly from the player, or the player’s parent. Players competing in winter sports will be given an opportunity to try out for a team the day after the conclusion of the winter sport.

For questions: Travis Eschenmann (cell) 540-449-5020 or vpitrav@vt.edu.

FAQs

Should a 9th grader tryout for Varsity: As a general rule, players are encouraged to tryout for the team of their choice.  For 9th grade students, even if they don’t make the varsity team they still have the opportunity to play JV.  The process of getting “cut” from a team can sometimes be perceived as a negative by players.  Each player needs to ask themselves how they will respond if they are cut. Can that player see it as a learning opportunity?  If they can walk away from tryouts and accept the decision of the coaches without a negative impact on future performance then they are encouraged to tryout.

Here is another point players may consider.  If a varsity team graduated 3 seniors, that is a relatively small class so there will be more returning players than usually.  None of the returning players are guaranteed a spot on the team, but it is an indication as to how much competition there will be in tryouts this season.  Playing with the JV team gives young standout players the opportunity to become leaders and see ample playing time.  If a talented player excels to the point where they have risen far beyond the level of competition on the JV team, the JV Coach will also have the opportunity to work with Coach Travis towards moving the player to varsity.  Each year the varsity team typically brings a couple of standout JV players up to join the varsity team in post season play.

Should an 8th grader tryout for JV: 8th graders are welcome to try out for the JV team. Competition is strong so no one should be discouraged if they do not make the team as an 8th grader. This is an extra year that most schools do not provide to 8th graders. All players are evaluated on a level playing field and there is no requirement to select high school students first.  New in 2020… 8th graders that do not make the JV team and wish to play for the Middle School team will be able to join Middle School tryouts on 2/26 at the Middle School practice field.

How are evaluations made for JV and Varsity: Players are evaluated on a variety of skill and fitness criteria.

Fitness: As part of the tryout process, fitness tests will be utilized to help make determinations on physical strengths and weaknesses.  Fitness will not be the sole criteria for selection, but a contributing piece of information that will allow our coaches to select fit players that can keep up with the pace of the game.

Aerobic Conditioning

  • 110 Turnovers (Complete 1 full set.)
    • 10 reps = 1 set
    • Sprint 110 Yds. In 18 sec. – 55 sec. jog recovery and rest before beginning next rep
    • 90 sec. jog recovery and rest between reps 4 & 5 and 7 & 8
  • Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1

Technical Ability

  • Creativity – Creativity lies in those players that dare to create within the game, who approach every game as another chance of creating the unbelieving and thrilling moves that make soccer a game of genius. If you expect to create on the field, be sure to remember to develop your ball control skills and work to open up your vision.
  • Ball Handling – No matter what position you play, it is important that you have a high level of “feel” for the ball, and feel comes from nothing else but accumulating experience with a ball on your foot (all parts of it), not to mention your thighs, chest and head (and hands, if you’re a goalkeeper).
  • Corner Kick Delivery – Varsity candidates will have a special opportunity to earn their way onto the team. An important part of becoming a well-rounded player is taking corner kicks effectively.  Of the 38 goals scored in the first round of group-stage matches at the 2018 World Cup, seven were from penalties, six from corner kicks, four directly from a free kick and three from free-kick crosses. All told, 53 percent of the goals came off set pieces.  Successful completion of a corner kick competition will result in the immediate placement on the Varsity soccer team.

Tactical Ability: Players will be evaluated on their ability to make effective decisions during a soccer./span>