1) Introduction
This Saturday (Feb 6) from 5 to 7pm, MHAA will be holding soccer tryouts for our Premier (select soccer) program. Players can register and participate in tryouts at not cost and with no obligation. After tryouts MHAA makes decisions about which teams it will create and who makes those teams. Players and families that are offered a spot can then decide if they want to accept. I encourage anyone who is curious to participate.

2) Tryouts Specific Details
Saturday, Feb 6 from 5-7pm at Game On Indoor Sports Complex in North College Hill
Address: 6630 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45224

Bring: Soccer Shoes (outdoor cleats), shin guards and socks, appropriate clothing to play soccer (we will be indoors on field turf), water bottle, soccer ball of appropriate size. 

Soccer Ball Sizes:
Born 8/1/07 or later = size 3 ball
Born 8/1/03 - 7/31/07 = size 4 ball
Born 7/31/03 or earlier = size 5 ball

If you cannot make tryouts, but want to be considered: Please 1) register for premier tryouts on our website and 2) email [email protected] prior to and let us know you can't make it. Please do this before Feb 6.

3) Tryout Process
Our tryout process is handled through our website and all player parents will need to have a website account at www.monfortheightsathletics.com.

A) Register So We Have Your Details
First step is letting us know you might be interested by registering. You can do this up until Feb 5 on our website (www.monfortheightsathletics.com). Regsiter your player(s) for the "Premier" Program in their age group on that site. You can also do it by walking into tryouts on Feb 6, but we would prefer you do it online. If you do walk in and sign up at the tryouts, we will create an account for you on the website later.

B) Tryouts and Assessments
We will have our currently scheduled tryout session and we might schedule another if we think we need one. After tryouts, our coaching staff will use those assessments as well as any other information at our disposal (including prior knowledge of players) to make two judgments:
1) Is it appropriate for us to field a team in each particular division? and
2) If so, who makes the team?

C) Notifications to Families
Once decisions have been made EVERYONE who has expressed interest will be emailed (via your website account) and informed of the status of our MHAA Premier team(s) in their respective division. We will let you know our plans going forward and, if we field a team, who made the team (assuming everyone accepts a spot on the team). We will contact everyone by Feb 10 for sure, so you still have 4 days to make any relevant decisions about recreational soccer (the deadline for that is Feb 14). If we need more time to make decisions, we will let you know that by Feb 10 and inform you of how we will move forward from there.

D) Families Respond
All Families that have made a particular team will get and "Accept or Decline" notice via the website. You need to respond via the website if you will accept the spot on the team. If you do accept, the website will lead you through the rest of the registration process and you will be charge the appropriate fees for your team. If players decline, that may or may not open spots for players that otherwise may not have made the team. Alternate players will be notified if that opportunity arises. Please respond as quickly as possible (within 2 days is preferred) if you are offered a spot on a team.

E) Season Planning Begins!
Respective coaches will organize their teams and begin planning for Spring season play and possibly particpating in tournaments as well.

4) The Lowdown on Premier Soccer in General
SAY Soccers "Premier" Program has been around for a couple years now, but is still very young. the Greater Cincinnati Premier Soccer League (in which our Premier teams play) will hold it's 4th season this Spring (2016). With each successive season, the field of teams grows and the level of play gets higher. IN the first season in Fall of 2014, GCPSL only had 12 teams in 3 divisions (Boys Passers, Girls Wings, and Boys Wings). Last Fall (2015), in it's 3rd season, the GCPSL featured 40 teams across 6 divisions (Boys Passers, Boys Wings, Boys Strikers, Girls Wings, Girls Strikers, Girls Kickers). In addition to league play, many of these 40 teams also participated in select soccer tournaments against teams from other "Non-SAY Premier" select soccer clubs such as Cincinnati West, TFA, Kolping, Star, Cincinnati United, Fairfield Optimist, Ohio Elite and so on and many did well, with several tournament champions from the pool of GCPSL teams.

MHAA Premier teams have thus far only played in GCPSL League play and have not participated in tournaments yet, but I expect that to change very soon (likely this Spring).

MHAA has fielded the following Premier teams in that past three seasons:
Fall 2014: Boys Passers, Boys Wings, Girls Wings, 
Spring 2015: Girls Wings
Fall 2015: Boys Wings, Girls Wings (2 teams), Boys Strikers
Spring 2016: ? see #5 below

It is important to understand that even for "select" soccer, there are a diverse range of "levels." Select Leagues will have relative levels of ability and teams can move up and/or down levels with each season, depending on how they perform. The GCPSL is growing and looks strong, but it currently only has one level per division and also features "combined" divisions with two years in age span. As it grows, the GCPSL will move to one year age spans for divisions and possibly eventually have multiple levels in each division. In General (Joel's Opinion), GCPSL teams play at a significantly higher level than our recreational teams and at a comparable level to lower to mid level teams from "non SAY" select clubs, but not at the highest level of select youth soccer that you can find anywhere. MHAA always targets getting kids to play in situations that are best for them and their family. We want them to develop as soccer players and as people and also have fun. I welcome all families in our organization to talk with me about your choices with soccer. In addition to running MHAA soccer, my kids and I participate in many other soccer formats, including other select clubs (we've played for 3 different ones), soccer development program, summer camps and soccer related sports such as futsal, indoor soccer, and basketball.

5) The Lowdown on Each Specific Division (Age Group)
Here's my breakdown of each specific age group for MHAA purposes:

Premier Boys Passers (boys born 8/1/07 - 7/31/09)
Play in 6v6 format on a small (Passers size) Field
MHAA has not had a boys passers premier team since Fall of 2014, as our numbers have been lower in that player pool. We tried to form one last Fall (2015) but it did not pan out. If we have enough interest, I would love to field a team, but I would say it's about 30% likely based on my understanding of our current community. If we don't field a team, I am willing to refer players to other organizations that may field a team as appropriate.

Premier Girls Passers (girls born 8/1/07 - 7/31/09)
Play in 6v6 format on a small (Passers size) Field
Last Fall (2015), we actually had the numbers to form a Premier Girls Passers team, but the GCPSL did not have enough teams to form a league! Bummer. We have a great group of players in this age range and I would like all of those who are interested to certainly come to tryouts. Even if we GCPSL doesn't have a Premier Girls Passers Division, we may consider having a team that plays in a tournament or two while the girls play recreational soccer if the parents are interested.

Premier Boys Wings (boys born 8/1/05 - 7/31/07)
Play in 6v6 format on a small (Passers size) Field
Last Fall (2015) we fielded a boys wings premier team I thought they had an excellent season. They had 2 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses and experienced a wide range of competition levels. We had a relatively younger team (more younger wings than older wings). I am optimistic that we can field a team this Spring.

Younger Premier Girls Wings (girls born 8/1/06 - 7/31/07) &
Older Premier Girls Wings (girls born 8/1/05 - 7/31/06)
Play in 6v6 format on a small (Passers size) Field
The Girls Wings Premier Division is the strongest. Last Fall, MHAA fielded two teams and the GCPSL had 9 teams in the division (the largest division). Our two teams were both mixed ages (older and younger, but with more older girls. They both finished in the middle of the pack and I was VERY happy with their development. This Spring MHAA is going to start moving toward splitting this age group into two, 1-year age groups. Many of the other organizations in the the GCPSL have already done this and the League itself will look to do so soon as well. I am certain MHAA will have a strong older girls wings team this Spring. This will probably be our most competitive division at tryouts. Our younger Girls Wings are not as certain to have the numbers to field a team. If we have the interest, we will form at team, but if not, the younger premier group is actually the older wings in recreational soccer and that may be a better option for many of the younger girls.

Premier Boys Strikers (boys born 8/1/03 - 7/31/05)
Play in 8v8 format on a medium (Wings size) Field
MHAA Fielded a Premier Boys Strikers team for the first time last Fall. They finished in the lower middle of the standings, but had a good season. In the Spring it is always iffy as these boys play a lot of baseball, but if we have the numbers, we will field a team again!

Premier Girls Strikers (boys born 8/1/03 - 7/31/05)
Play in 8v8 format on a medium (Wings size) Field
We have not had a Premier Girls Strikers team before, but I think we have a chance to field one this Spring. Our Rec Girls Strikers last Fall did very well and they are a bigger team. I hope we can get a Premier team together this Spring as well!

6) What If You Can't Make It To Tryouts?
If you cannot make tryouts, but want to be considered: Please 1) register for premier tryouts on our website and 2) email [email protected] prior to and let us know you can't make it. Please do this before Feb 6.

7) Costs for Premier Soccer
Here are the costs to anticipate for Premier Soccer at MHAA:
MHAA Annual Family Membership: $25 (once per calendar year per family - covers all MHAA sports)
MHAA Premier Soccer Fee: $40/player
Uniforms (Premier Players are required to buy the entire kit - jersey, shorts and socks): $42
NOTE: You get to keep your uniform and if you play rec and premier you do not need to buy two uniforms. You use the same one for both teams.
Equipment: plan to buy cleats, shin guards, soccer balls, water bottles, soccer bag, etc as needed
Tournament Fees: Some teams may decide to play in tournaments. costs vary for each tournament, but we would just divide the cost by the number of players. Figure about $40-60 per player per tournament.

8) MHAA's Recreational Soccer Program
MHAA's older soccer program is playing recreationally in the NW Cincinnati SAY League.  Important notes on Rec:
Deadline to Register is Feb 14 (You can do it on our website)
The Age groupings are different for Rec and Premier in the Spring seasons (they line up in the Fall)
Players are allowed to do both Premier and Rec if they want to
Rec Soccer players in a different format (more kids on the field) than Premier.
Full details for Recreational soccer can be found on our website. CLICK HERE