Boys soccer tryouts at Hayfield Secondary School are set to begin on Tuesday, Feb. 24, marking the start of a competition as students prepare for limited spots on the varsity and junior varsity teams. With both teams holding tryouts to start at the same time, players from different grade levels are expected to compete against one another for positions in what students describe as a highly competitive process. Each year, returning athletes and first time participants take the field hoping to take a place on either the varsity or junior team. With limited spots available and many students trying out, preparation and mindset often make the difference.
One returning JV goalkeeper Chris Ramos said last year’s experience helped him identify areas that needed improvement.
“I learned to be more confident with the ball at my feet,” Ramos said. “That’s something I struggled with last year.”
Ramos added that being part of the JV program taught him the importance of consistent effort throughout the entire tryout period.
“Being on JV proved that I always have to give all my effort and commitment because coaches are always watching,” Ramos said.
The goalkeeper said preparation, this year, has focused on maintaining intensity and pushing through each drill.
“One thing that helped me during the tryouts was just giving my best at every drill and never having the mindset of ignoring the coaches words,” Ramos said.
Returning junior player, Harris Kochi, said last season’s experience changed how he views the competitive nature of tryouts. He explained that earning a spot on varsity requires more than just skills in the field.
“The hardest part was knowing everyone is competing for the same spot,” Kochi said. “You really can’t take any play off because the coaches are watching everything.”
Although making varsity last year gave him confidence, it did not remove the pressure heading into this season.
“Making varsity last year gave me confidence, also it made me realize I have to keep improving,” Kochi said.
Not every returning athlete experienced success last season. One student, junior Issac Ashsa, who did not make the team, became more motivated rather than discouraged. Ashsa and other participants were able to improve their skills for this upcoming tryouts by having additional training outside of school practice.
“I try to stay focused and be more consistent, so I will be ready from the first day of the tryouts,” Ashsa said.
Ashsa describes the outcome of last year’s tryouts effectively as impactful.
“I was shocked, but it made me think about what I needed to work on the weakness instead of worrying about it,” Ashsa said.
Since last year’s tryouts, he said he has focused on improving weaknesses that disqualified him from the team.
“I’ve been practicing more consistently and working on my speed and ball control,” Ashsa said.
Although last season’s results were disappointing for him, it didn’t stop him from the goal he has.
Tryouts at Hayfield are competitive every year.
“Combined, JV and varsity, about 80-100 students try out per year,” coach of the JV team, Kevin Bachouros, said.
With that many players showing up, the roster spots are limited, with roughly only 40 spots available.
“The roster for JV and varsity is usually about 20 players on each team,” Bachouros said.
Tryouts don’t last long either.
“The tryouts last three to five days every year,” Bachouros said.
In that short time, coaches evaluate players during drills and scrimmages to see who stands out and who can stay consistent.
For players who made the team last year, these few days of tryouts mean proving themselves again. For others, it’s another chance to show their worth.
With tryouts set for Feb. 23 and later postponed to Feb 24., many students are preparing in different ways. Some are conditioning after school, while others are working on specific skills they struggled with last year.
As close to 100 athletes prepare to compete for about 40 positions, this year’s tryout once again shows how competitive program is and how ready players are to earn their spot.
