2009 Chicago Fire Open Tryouts

Major League Soccer has improved greatly in the years since its first season, but one thing you’ll see more often here than in most other more established leagues is that teams will still hold open tryouts. By filling out a form and paying a small amount of money, you have an opportunity to demo your skills to the coaching staff, earning a chance for a spot on the team.

Over 150 people registered for the 2009 Chicago Fire Open Tryouts. I was one of them.

Chicago Fire Open Tryout Registrant #233

The Format

The Chicago Fire Open Tryouts featured three rounds. Rounds 1 involved playing in a 6v6 1 hour game. If you are asked back for Round 2, the next day you’ll have another hour of the same format. If you’re called back for Round 3, that afternoon you will be playing 11v11. Before Round 1 started, we were all informed that after the hour of play, names would be posted on the wall and on the Chicago Fire Open Tryouts page to let us know who should come back for Round 2. We were informed that there wasn’t time for the staff to give individual feedback so the only feedback we’d get is if we were playing the next day. One person will be picked after Round 3 to participate in two weeks of pre-season training for a chance to prove they deserve a spot with the first team.

We were also told that if we didn’t make it through the tryouts that there were other teams. The Chicago Fire have U-17, U-20, and U-23 teams, so “it’s not over for you if you don’t make it through Round 3.” Well, I’m 28, so I guess it is over for me if I don’t make it. B-)

Why I Registered

I should explain my background a bit. I was one of those people who didn’t start liking soccer until the 1994 World Cup was hosted here. I played in middle school in a recreational league, and I played in high school as well. Unfortunately, I didn’t play more than a couple of pick up games in college, which meant that I let myself go. This past fall, I joined a group for adult soccer coaching, met some great people, and now play in the recreational leagues hosted by the same group. The movement of my feet and feel of the pitch brought back memories from high school, and I was having fun playing and talking soccer again.

When I was at a Fire game and learned that the Chicago Fire would host open tryouts in December, I thought, “Why not? At my level of athleticism, I doubt I’d make it past the first round, but at the very least it would be a fun experience and a great story to tell.”

The Tryout

According to the Chicago Fire Open Tryouts page, of 153 registered players, 106 were from Illinois. One person came from Cote d’Ivoire, Africa. From the few people I met, I knew some came from places such as Argentina, Iowa, and Europe. The oldest person at the tryout was 50 years old, although I think I was probably one of the oldest there. Everyone looked young, athletic, and ready to prove that they deserved a chance to play for the Chicago Fire.

Round 1 was a blast. My team was wearing yellow pinnies on Field #3 and playing against Blue. Six of us had to come together as a team having never met before, let alone played together. The first half was a bit of a struggle. I was a defender, and we decided to keep control of the center as much as possible. We would allow the ball to come up the flanks since shots from there would be much easier for our keeper to handle. While there was plenty of communication, it wasn’t always clear who was being told what, especially since we didn’t easily remember our teammates’ names. We had two fantastic strikers who were sometimes able to take on four defenders by themselves and still score goals. As for myself, I got an assist when I managed to make an overlapping run and pass the ball to one of them at the top of the box. Overall, I’d say I could have done much better.

The second half of play was much better for me and for the team. During the half, we quickly discussed the defensive strategy we’d adopt. As the ball moved between the left and right sides of the field, the defenders would shift over. We’d let the attackers handle the players with the ball as it came down the field. By shifting and covering for each other, we did a decent job of keeping the ball out of our net. Each side had powerful shooters. I wish I could say I defended well against one particular shot, but my leg just happened to be in the way. I also took the full brunt of a rocket of a shot to my shoulder, which still feels tender today.

There was one particular moment that I really wished had gone a different way. The play was focused on the left side of the field, and no one was ahead of me on the right. I ran down the line, raised my arm in the air, and yelled for the ball. We had a defender on our team who didn’t speak any English, but he understood what I wanted and gave me this beautiful cross in the air. The net was wide open because the goalie was focused on covering the left side. If I would have tilted my head down just a few more inches, I could have headed it in easily. Instead, the ball flew past my chest as I jumped into the air. It went harmlessly out of bounds, and I was frustrated to have to head back to defend so soon.

I don’t remember what the score was at the end, and it didn’t really matter. What mattered was what the coaching staff thought of your performance. I wasn’t called back for Round 2, but someone on the field with me was. I wish I could remember which one he was, though.

The Chicago Fire posted a video of the tryouts to YouTube:

Overall, I’d say that it was a fantastic experience. I had the chance to play with some really talented and friendly individuals in an incredible facility. If you participated in the Chicago Fire Open Tryouts, how did you enjoy it? If you instead tried out for a different MLS team, how was your experience?