APEX Team Selection Process 

We encourage the players to attend each night if possible.  Your player will have a t-shirt with a number on the back. We will have 2-4 coaches evaluating the group depending on the number of players. Please register your player online for tryouts. 

We ask that the kids play hard and listen to the coaches and have fun. We want this to be a positive experience. They should treat it as a practice.  We will likely do less coaching than we would at a normal practice. We will have them do a variety of activities. We are evaluating four main areas:

• Technical: dribbling, passing, receiving, shooting

• Tactical: attacking awareness and decision making, defensive awareness and decision making

• Physical: speed, strength, balance

• Psychological: attitude, effort, competitiveness, response to coaching

Each night we will do some type of small sided game 3v3, 4v4 or 5v5.

We include the goalkeepers in some of the activities, but in some activities all the players will be considered field players. 11/12U is too early to focus on one position. In older age groups we will consider players specifically trying out for goalkeeper. In addition, goalkeepers need to be able to receive back passes with their feet, distribute the ball to their teammates, take their own goal kicks, etc.

After tryouts are finished the Apex Soccer Academy coaches will compile their evaluations and discuss team selection. Several alternate players may be identified. Depending on which players register for Apex Soccer Academy and the results of our evaluations at tryouts, we will look to form a team and place them at the appropriate division within Level 1 soccer under Iowa Soccer League.  Please understand some coaches are familiar with the players from running practices, observing games, and skills sessions. All of this information will be considered.

Age Group and Birth Years

11U (2015 birth year)

12U (2014 birth year) 

13U (2013 birth year)

14U-15U (birth years 2012, 2011 & 8th grade)

15U-16U (birth years 2011 & 9th grade, 2010)

17U-19U (birth years 2009, 2008, 2007)

Tryouts

Tryouts for the 2025-2026 season will begin in late May / early June.

Schedules for tryouts will be posted in April.

Located at Gregg Young Sports Campus: 1401 High Rd, Norwalk, Iowa.

More details on the start/end of the season, tournaments and off-season training opportunities will be discussed at tryouts or provided by your team coach.

The Bid or Invitation Process and Alternate Selections

Based on the rules of invitations (bids) for Level 1, the bids will go out on the date set by Iowa Soccer Association (ISA).

Bid Dates

Dates will be posted in the Spring once released by Iowa Soccer.

The players have 12 hours to respond. An Alternate player was evaluated and deemed to be very close to that level. If an invited player(s) elects not to accept the bid, the alternate player(s) are then offered a spot and should respond to the club within 12 hours.  All bids will be sent via the email used on the registration form.

Declination notices will be sent 2-4 days after bid date. Apex Soccer Academy will encourage players that are not selected to consider playing Level 3 soccer with their local soccer club. 

Note: While at first receiving an alternate bid may be disappointing, the tryout and evaluation process is not perfect and there is a chance that the player will still be able to play with the team. We understand players and parents need to make decisions. However, based on bid acceptance and timing, an invitation to a team could be sent 2-3 days after the initial bid date.

If you have questions regarding the bid or invitation process, please contact director of coaching, Mark Gavin.