U13 is the year when we bring all of our Academies together to form our 2 Elite teams for the new year.  Last year we had 3 teams at this age group in the East and South Academy and we were expecting a number of girls from outside the academy to be trying out as well.  

Over the last month I had told all the girls and parents on my team that they should tryout for our club and another club so they would have different options to choose from.  A lot of coaches and clubs rarely tell all of their players to take a look at other clubs, some will tell players who may not make the team to look elsewhere, but I want people to choose to stay with us because they are informed about all their options and believe that we are the best fit for them.   

I know a number of girls were offered spots on teams one or two years up and they turned them down.  It was kind of funny to hear that coaches had been telling them about the benefits of playing up when they were trying to recruit them and they answered back with the fact that they were on the team that won State Cup an age group up.

I have been telling people that I have been excited about this age group for two years now and I am honored that I get to coach them.  It is a great age group in the State with a lot of talented players.  At the end of the tryouts we selected 34 girls to be a part of the Elite program which we will pool train for the first month and a half of the fall season until we form our Blue and White teams.  Along with the two Elite teams, we will also have 2-3 teams in our West Academy.

I was very happy to see that all of the girls from my team last year were selected to be in the Elite pool group and all of them accepted spots in the group.