Ohio High School Tryouts: Survey Results

Last week we started to hear from parents that there was a lot of frustration around High School Soccer tryouts in Ohio. We decided to do a survey to see if the frustration was as widespread as it had seemed. We collected a little more than 100 responses before the survey closed and the responses were pretty mixed. About 1/3 of responses represented families who were disappointed by the results from High School tryout, meaning the vast majority of families at least got the team placement they expected.

The comments from parents regarding Ohio High School Soccer tryouts reveal a mix of frustration, disappointment, and concern, with a strong emphasis on perceived favoritism and the politicization of the selection process. Here are some key themes that emerged from the responses:

1. Politics and Favoritism: Many parents feel that the selection process is heavily influenced by politics, with coaches allegedly favoring players from certain clubs or with certain connections. This has led to a lack of transparency and fairness in team selection.

2. Disappointment with Outcomes: Several parents expressed disappointment when their children, despite being experienced or having previously made the team, were cut or placed on lower teams. The process was described as disheartening, especially for players who had invested significant time and effort into their soccer development.

3. Coaching and Program Quality: There is a concern about the quality of coaching and the overall soccer program at some schools. Some parents mentioned that their children were opting out of high school soccer to focus on club soccer, where they perceive a higher level of play and coaching.

4. Mental and Emotional Impact: The anxiety and stress associated with tryouts were highlighted by several parents. The fear of not making the team, combined with the intense pressure of the selection process, has negatively impacted some players' mental health.

5. Structural Issues: Some comments pointed out logistical issues, such as the lack of JV teams in smaller school districts, the timing of summer sessions, and the handling of tryouts. These issues have contributed to a sense of dissatisfaction with how high school soccer is organized and managed.

Overall, while some parents are satisfied with their child’s soccer experience, a significant number express concerns about the fairness, transparency, and quality of the high school soccer programs in Ohio. These feelings reflect a broader frustration with the current state of high school soccer, where the competition to make teams is fierce, and the stakes are high for young athletes.

One important takeaway, is the importance of soccer experiences before you get to the high school tryout. More research can probably be done on this but the survey data show that experience is a crucial factor in determining success during tryouts, but the quality of that experience may be even more important.

Players who didn’t make a team had, on average, 9.8 years of soccer experience, while those who made varsity averaged 11 years. At first glance, this one-year difference might not seem significant, but digging deeper reveals a different story:

Among those who made the varsity team, an impressive 96% had played for a club soccer team in the previous year, and 70% had participated in a national or regional league. In contrast, none of the players who did not make a team had played in national leagues last year, and 35% had only played recreational, travel, or school-based soccer in 2023-2024.

These findings suggest that while the number of years playing soccer matters, the level of competition and the environment in which that experience was gained are even more critical. Participation in competitive leagues likely provided those varsity players with the skills, resilience, and exposure needed to stand out during tryouts.

You can download a PDF of the raw data below. I promised respondents that there would be no identifying data so, in order to respect that privacy I removed the comments section of the data. If you are the person who included a message directly to me, I appreciate your feedback and if you want to discuss further please reach out.