Help me decide if a mid season move makes sense

[Anonymous]

I am a big fan of this message board and was hoping for some feedback. I am debating whether to move my 2014 boy from a big academy in Montgomery county to another academy.
Basically, my kid loves the game, he practices 3 times per week with his team and 2 times per week with a private coach. He is currently in the 4th team in his age group. He is the starting offensive midfielder. In practices, he is the type of player that will consistently finish running exercises a lap ahead of anyone else and go all out during drills. We just played the Southampton Cup and he scored the game winner in the final and was also awarded the player of the match. During the tournament.
I inquired with the coach about him trying out with a higher level team within the academy. The coach responded that, unfortunately, the teams are full. (I have been involved in competitive sports for 30 years and know that there is always space if there is enough talent. Maybe my son has it, maybe he doesn't but I am amazed they will not even look). Also, he said that, at best, next Fall he would make the 3rd team.
At this point, I have reached the conclusion that despite my son's best efforts, we cannot convince the coach that he can perform at higher levels. Since this coach also has a major influence in the make up of the higher level teams, I feel that the writing is on the wall that we need to move on.
I am sure some of you have dealt with situations such as this one so any suggestions are welcomed by me.
Happy Holidays!

[Anonymous]

I think you already know. You should move to another club. Not sure mid-season is necessary unless your son is unhappy.

[Anonymous]

Move. Or at least shop around. Email coaches, see if you can join in on practices and see where your kid will fit in in that club. At least that's what I would do.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Appreciate the responses. I just wanted to get feedback to make I was not convincing myself.
Bare in mind that I have never complained. I try to put myself in other coaches shoes. I coached ice hockey many years ago and can definitely understand when parents are delusional.

[Anonymous]

You tried with them. Sometimes makes sense to go where they value your player.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't force a mid season move but I would definitely be looking for next year.

Going into U12 next year there will be movement so slots should open in the musical chairs game. You do you but the 4th team is pretty far down. If the program doesn't believe in the kid you have to move. The boy can't play confidently if the coach doesn't support him.

A good move might be to a team that tends to be a feeder, like PPA or Paragon, and on their second team instead of being buried on another large program's 3rd or 4th team. The next year they should have slots on their top team as they go to U13 and 11v11 and a few kids go to the bigger clubs. Then say U15 if your kid excels they could bounce to the bigger clubs top teams. So have a plan but expect to get sidetracked to another one.

Find a couple of feeder club you like and contact them for a practice. After a few practices, if your boy makes a 1st team offer, I would take it if your son likes the coach. Otherwise bounce next year to a feeder.

Leaving mid season will generally get you blackball from a club but nothing personal, I don't think they will care at the 4th team level. You just have to double pay.

Side note, your boy sounds like a runner/winger at a better team. Winger is great spot to learn as a 2 way, the down side can be that coaches will often sub out the wings often to get fresh legs on the field so your boy might not get much game time.

Sorry if any of this is condescending. Best to you guys.

[Anonymous]

Are there carding etc. issues moving mid-season between ECNL clubs?

[Anonymous]

Maybe your kid can play at a higher level or maybe he cannot. If that is his desire, the only thing clear here is that it will not be with your current club. I agree that you should place your kid where he is valued.

[Anonymous]

My kid is one of the top couple of players on one of the top teams of a large club and has been playing on the top team since u9. He has always been one of the top players. Even with that knowledge if you had started him out on the 4th team I wouldn't trust our club to have ever eventually moved him to the top team. Im sure a lot of people will say if your a top player you should stand out. I also have 2 girls and the gap between girls on top teams vs 3rd or 4th team is way diff then the gap between talent on boys side at that age. You need start practicing with other clubs. You will find out most clubs will let your kid practice initially with the top team something i'm sure your club never does. They will then let you know what team they think he should play with and you can make a decision based on that.

[Anonymous]

Meant to say My kid is one of the top couple of players on one of the top teams in the region of a large club

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't force a mid season move but I would definitely be looking for next year.

Going into U12 next year there will be movement so slots should open in the musical chairs game. You do you but the 4th team is pretty far down. If the program doesn't believe in the kid you have to move. The boy can't play confidently if the coach doesn't support him.

A good move might be to a team that tends to be a feeder, like PPA or Paragon, and on their second team instead of being buried on another large program's 3rd or 4th team. The next year they should have slots on their top team as they go to U13 and 11v11 and a few kids go to the bigger clubs. Then say U15 if your kid excels they could bounce to the bigger clubs top teams. So have a plan but expect to get sidetracked to another one.

Find a couple of feeder club you like and contact them for a practice. After a few practices, if your boy makes a 1st team offer, I would take it if your son likes the coach. Otherwise bounce next year to a feeder.

Leaving mid season will generally get you blackball from a club but nothing personal, I don't think they will care at the 4th team level. You just have to double pay.

Side note, your boy sounds like a runner/winger at a better team. Winger is great spot to learn as a 2 way, the down side can be that coaches will often sub out the wings often to get fresh legs on the field so your boy might not get much game time.

Sorry if any of this is condescending. Best to you guys.

Thanks for suggestions! Pure gold.
Regarding my son's running, in the Spring season, the coach placed him as a winger. When we realized the amount of running that would be needed to excel at that position, he decided to spend all summer running at 7am for 45min, 6 days per week. When the Fall season started, the leap that he had attained was jaw dropping. At team practices, he would finish the running exercises and sit down for a few minutes until the rest of the team arrived. Coached actually asked him to slow down. Since he also worked hard all summer on his technique, the coach decided to place him as the attacking mid fielder.

On a separate note, are there passionate coaches in the DMV? The reason why I ask is because I am originally from Argentina and coaching seems to be more passionate and personal over there. Coaches that I have come across over there will try to pump their players saying things like "come on baby! You can do it! I know you have it in you to do great things! etc...
Over here, I have found it to be far more indifferent situation. More along the lines of going to a doctor...Maybe we have just been unlucky.

[Anonymous]

I would ask the coach if there are opportunities to occasionally guest play on the higher team if the other team is short players for a game or even a training scrimmage. This happened occasionally during the prior spring season on my child’s 2012 team and was an early way for coaches to gauge how the rising team players did against the existing team. It also helps players see how they perform against better defenders etc.

[Anonymous]

As someone who's done the travel soccer roller-coaster with two kids from u-little to college and also coaches travel soccer. I always tell people to explore their options (yes even my own teams). It doesn't hurt to know what's out there, reach out and have him practice with the teams your considering looking at. Is it a better environment? What are his chances of joining now vs at tryouts? Is cost going to be a factor if the club holds you to your commitment? (they must release your card if you've paid up...).

Sounds like you're not super happy with the future of where you're at, don't wait until you don't have any other options. It doesn't hurt to look.

[Anonymous]

For sure get together a list of the clubs and what they offer - for example MLSN or ENCL - and cost and how far their practices are for you.

You'll also have to email the clubs you might want to switch to unless they have make-up tryouts posted.

Keep in mind that if you switch once, and the club doesn't feed into a higher program, you might have to switch again soon after. If your kid enjoys the team they are on and gets a lot of touches and play time outside the current team, you could use the Spring as an extended hunt for the next team and switch for next year.

[Anonymous]

OP. I have a few thoughts to consider. If you are doing 2 private sessions per week, you guys must defiantly be dedicated and should move up and or the skills should shine through and the coaches should take notice.

1.) Are you using a private Coach organic to your club? If not, and if it's allowed, that might produce more benefit as the Coaches talk and might influence who moves up.

2.) Sometimes the extra pushy parent gets what they want. We have family literally complain about the 3rd team loudly and just started bringing their kid to all the 2nd team practices. -They aren't on the team yet, but the other kids like the kid, so after a month, they were invited to guest play at the end of season tournament. Seems like they unofficially made room for the pushy parents.

3.) Some clubs do get full and moving kids around creates too much drama/ so they only bring in kids from outside the club for the top teams. So, yes I would look at bringing your kid to practice as soon as possible to another club you are most interested in now. Don't wait for tryouts, just bring them to try the practices now if at all possible. Just e-mail the TECH Director or DOC or Club Admin and talk up your kid and bring them out. At 2014, your kid should be ready to make the switch to another club and understand the reason why. -Don't tell your current club anything unless you think it can be helpful in their consideration to move your kid up.

4.) Lastly, if you only go to a tryout for another club. Get there early, have your kid help the coaches set up, wear and Argentina jersey, wear neon headband w his name on it and juggle a grapefruit before the session start. Talk to the head Coach before and after practice. Otherwise, it will be hard to get noticed during an open tryout.

-Good luck and have fun!