FYL Tryout Policy for Spring 2026 Season

FARMINGTON YOUTH LACROSSE

Tryout Policy 2026 Season

This document outlines the process and procedure for tryouts for Farmington Youth Lacrosse. Tryouts will be held for “A” and “B” team placements for 12U/14U teams, when registration numbers dictate the need for multiple teams. All registered players will be placed on a team. The tryout process and procedures are governed by the FYL board. Evaluation scores and explanations for players other than your own child are considered confidential. This policy was developed in sincere effort to: 

1. Achieve the most accurate player placement so that all FYL players can compete in the best environment for them to succeed and grow in the game of lacrosse. 
2. Provide players and parents with transparency in the tryout process.
3. Provide a set of standards to assure a high degree of fairness and objectivity in the tryout process. 

The following general rules apply to tryouts: 

• The number of teams established will be based on registration. 
• Players must make every attempt to attend the tryout date. If there are unavoidable conflicts in attendance (i.e. illness / injury / emergency) please contact your coach. When possible, an evaluation of that player will be scheduled for another time. In other circumstances, players that are unable to attend tryouts will be placed on the “B” team. 
• Teams will be determined and balanced using a combination of evaluation scores and team-specific positional needs. 
• Every player at tryout will be evaluated and considered for placement on the “A” team regardless of their experience, or team placement in prior seasons.
• Throughout the season Coaches will continue to watch player development and may choose to have a player on the “B” team play with the “A” team for select games/tournaments. 
• Evaluators will have extensive lacrosse background/knowledge and may consist of coaches from other teams within FYL, High School lacrosse coaches and/or independent evaluators (College players, outside coaches etc.) All evaluators will be approved by FYL and be unbiased, in that they do not have a direct connection or relationship with any of the players they are evaluating. 

What will the “tryout” look like? 

• The tryout will be an extended practice (2 hours). Drills will be run by the Coaches for that age group. Drills should be familiar to players, attending indoor practices will help prepare players for the tryout. Evaluators will attend to observe, score and take notes. 
• Upon check-in players will indicate if they are trying out for a specific position i.e Goalie, Defense, Attack, or Midfield. Players can also indicate if they are unsure or play multiple positions. This is to ensure that teams have a distribution of players in all positions of play.
• The tryout will be split into two parts 

1. Skills evaluation, where players will participate in drills that showcase fundamental skills (passing, catching, cradling, dodging, shooting, scooping etc.) 
2. Scrimmage or small group play, where players will be evaluated in game-like situations to determine off-ball skills, tactics, hustle, communication, field awareness and sportsmanship. 

• Players will be evaluated on the following: 

1. Stick skills (passing, catching, shooting, scooping, cradling) 
2. Athleticism (speed, agility, competitive spirit) 
3. Hustle & effort 
4. Lacrosse IQ (Field awareness, dodging, clearing, communication)
5. Other: Evaluators will also take note of respectfulness, sportsmanship, and team spirit. 

• Evaluators will score each player in the 5 evaluation areas and the scores will be totaled across all evaluators. If an evaluator misses scoring a player that score will be filled in by averaging the other evaluators’ scores for that area. Ideally, each player will be scored by 2 evaluators during tryout. 
• Coaches will observe players during indoor practices prior to tryout, as well as at tryouts and will provide an additional score. 
• Scores from evaluators and coaches will be averaged to provide each player with a final score used for team placement. 

Parent Guidelines

Please understand that any tryout process is imperfect and that there is a subjective element to the process. Evaluators do make difficult decisions, but FYL has created what it believes to be a fair process that relies on our volunteers doing the best they can. We understand tryouts can be stressful for players and parents; we aim to make this process as easy as possible. You should address any questions or concerns PRIOR to the day of tryouts and team placement notification. Please help us by following these simple rules with your child. 

1. Always stay positive with your player
2. Please do not sideline coach or yell to your child during tryouts, if you do plan to stay and observe please sit quietly on the sideline.
3. Trust that our goal is to put every player onto the team that will give them the best opportunity to succeed and grow this season. 
4. If you or your child have any questions or concerns about tryouts, please reach out the Boys/Girls Director at FYL directly. 

2026 FYL Girls Director: Aly Wiser, Alywiser@gmail.com 

2026 FYL Boys Director: Joe Russe, josephrusse@me.com

2026 FYL President: Ken Angle, farmingtonyouthlax@gmail.com