The Torpedoes Board welcomes you to the 2020-21 Soccer Season Tryouts

Torpedoes Goals

Our goal is to provide players with an environment in which they can improve their soccer skills, encourage a love of the game and most importantly to have fun.

Tryout Procedure

Try to make both tryouts.  If your child cannot attend one of the tryout sessions, advise one of the coaches so that the trainer can take a closer look at him/her today.

·      There is no guaranteed spot on any team from year to year.  Players are placed on a team and bound to that team for the duration of the 2020-2021 soccer season.

·      Independent trainers run tryouts and make assessments.

·      Considerations include athletic ability, speed and coordination, soccer aptitude, field awareness, attitude and other considerations.

·       The Torpedoes Board makes final determinations on rosters proposed by the trainers.

·      Tryout results will be posted on the Torpedoes website by mid-May.  Results will be posted by tryout number, so it is important to remember your child’s tryout number.

 Facilities

We are proud of our excellent facilities, which include:

·      Pulis Turf Fields – Fantastic new lighted turf facility

·      Torpedoes Soccer Center (Oakland) – Opened in Spring of 2012, we are proud to be the only club in the area with our own indoor facility.  It is open year-round for use by our teams at no additional charge. 

·      Soccer Court (Wyckoff) – Opened in Fall of 2011, the Soccer Court is a fenced in turf field and is used by our teams virtually all year long.

·      Outdoor Fields – Currently Torpedoes teams have access to eight natural grass fields and an additional lighted full sized turf field. 

 Practices

Players are expected to attend two practices per week during the fall season (mid-August to November) and spring season (mid-March to mid-June). Two practices per week will also be held during the winter (we understand conflicts with other sports a possibility).Coaches will try to avoid conflicts as much as possible 

Games

Boys play on Saturdays in Fall and Sundays in Spring.  Girls play on Sundays in the fall and spring (depending on team competition)

Tournaments

Teams attend two to three tournaments per year.  Typical tournament weekends are Labor Day Weekend (or the weekend before), Columbus Day Weekend, and Memorial Day Weekend.  U7 and U8 teams are exempted from mandatory participation in tournaments. Additionally many age groups form teams that play in summer tournaments.

Structure of Teams

·      U7 Age Group - Run in clinic format.  Emphasis on 3v3 games.

·      U8  – Up to three teams of 12 players.  Players will be grouped by ability, red, white and black, with red being most developed at this time. These teams will play 4v4 format.

·      U9 & U10 - Up to three teams of 12 players (maximum 14).  We expect to carry an “A Team” (Red), a “B Team” (White) and a “C” Team (Black). These teams play on an 7v7 small sided field.

·      U11 & U12 - Up to three teams of 12 players (maximum 14).  We expect to carry an “A Team” (Red), a “B Team” (White) and a “C” Team (Black). These teams play on an 9v9 small sided field.

·      Full-sided (U13 – U14) - Generally a maximum of two teams are formed with 16 to 18 players rostered on each team.  We carry an “A Team” (Red team) and a “B Team” (White team).  These teams play 11v11 on a full-sized field.

EDP Teams - Practice 3x’s per week.  Additional tournaments.  Team fees will be more than estimated costs of non-EDP teams.

Club Registration and Dual-Carding

The Torpedoes must be a player's primary soccer club commitment.  Any player considering also playing for another club must consult the Torpedoes policy on dual carding.

Once a position is accepted and paid, any player who decides not to play for any reason prior to the beginning of the season, will forfeit 50% of the registration fee.   Once the season has begun there will be no refunds. 

Conflicting Sports Policy

Players are expected to attend every scheduled Torpedoes practice and game.  If a player misses a practice or game due to a conflict with another sport during the fall season, the coach may reduce the player’s game time.  Excessive absence may result in a player’s expulsion from the Torpedoes.  The Torpedoes do not have a rule barring a player from playing soccer and another sport in the fall, but the club strongly suggests that the parents give a great deal of thought to whether playing multiple sports in the fall is a good idea for their child, particularly in the light of the commitment necessary to be a Torpedoes player.

Coaches/Trainers

·      U7 – U8 – coached by mixture of professional trainers and parent coach. U7 & U8 twice per week training, with professional coaches running practices either once or twice a week.

·      U9 – U14 - teams are professionally trained and coached for practices and games. Two practices per week. *U9 teams have option of professional trainer coaching games.

·      All Torpedoes trainers are overseen by Director of Coaching Andy Meaney, and are required to continue their growth as trainers through coaching courses and workshops.  

*Dependent on trainer availability.  All parent coaches are required to have a minimum Coaching Level II Certification.