Girls soccer is a very popular sport among Granite Bay high school athletes. Around 50 girls showed up at the GBHS girls soccer tryouts. This number might not seem high, however the competition is tough. On October 30th the first round of Granite Bay High School girls soccer tryouts were held. A vast majority of the girls trying out come from different club soccer teams around the area.
Club soccer season runs for almost a year, while at Granite Bay High School it runs from November to the end of February.
“I feel like in high school everybody’s really trying to fight to be a part of the team,” said Kailani Dwinell, a GBHS freshman who has participated in both club and high school soccer tryouts.
Dwinell describes how the level of competition for Granite Bay has a hard expectation for their students. This is why competition is so tough, because everyone is trying their hardest.
“Everybody’s pretty friendly and cheering everybody on during the tryouts,” said Dwinell.
Dwinell explained that team dynamics are very important to being a part of the team. Showing support is a major strategy when it comes to tryouts, whether it’s for club or high school sport teams.
Tryouts that are held at the highschool are seem to be more competitive than club tryouts.
“In club soccer you’re all the same age and you already know everybody, and you have all your old teammates that you’re trying out with too. So it’s much more comfortable than highschool tryouts,” said Diana Fowler, a freshman who has been through both highschool and club soccer tryouts.
As explained by both Dwinell and Fowler, the atmosphere around the two tryouts are vastly different.
Though the two girls explain how tryouts are difficult, they also mention a few details on how teamwork is an important part of how to get to know more people you’re going against.
Teammate relationships are not the only difference between the tryouts. Coaching tactics will also be different.
“It’s a challenge for high school coaches when they only see players for a few days and even more challenging for players as they do not have an alternative; make the high school team or do not play for your hometown. You really have to shine,” said Jennifer Deslaurier, Granite Bay Football Club coach.
In both high school and club tryouts it is of the utmost importance that players try their absolute hardest. This is what makes the coaches be drawn to them as players. High school coaches have a shorter time period to assemble their team, while in club coaches are given more time.
