At 8-10, coaches are not evaluating soccer talent or baseball technique. They’re evaluating four things:
Coachability. Does the kid listen to the instruction? Do they try it immediately? Do they ask questions when they don’t understand? Kids who nod and actually do what you say move up the list. Kids who nod and then do their own thing don’t.
Effort. Are they running hard on every play? Are they staying engaged when the ball isn’t near them? A kid who goes 80 percent hard the whole time beats a kid who goes 100 percent hard for 30 seconds then checks out.
Ball commitment. Do they stay with the ball? Do they chase it or wait for it to come to them? Do they try to win the play or hope someone else gets it? This tells you everything about whether they actually want to be there.
Friendliness. Do they talk to other kids? Do they seem like they’d be good in a group? Do they celebrate when teammates do something good? This matters way more than skill at 8-10. You’re building a team, not a traveling elite squad. You need kids who like being together.
Skill is last. The kid who can’t kick but is coachable, tries hard, and makes friends moves up a spot every month. The kid who can kick but ignores you? They’re stuck.
Tell your kid before tryouts: “I want to see you try hard, listen to the coach, and have fun with the other kids. That’s what matters.” Then mean it when they come home.