Reaching back out to a club DC previously turned down

[Anonymous]

Last year DC got an offer from a club that they ultimately turned down. DC seemed to be a good fit for the team. Based on how things have gone at current club this year, DC has expressed some regret for not taking the offer.

How do we handle reaching back out at this point? Do we mention that DC was offered last year and is very open to moving there this year if an offer were to be made again? Do we ask to attend a practice before tryouts again, or just tell them that DC plans to come to tryouts? We were gracious in turning down last year's offer so as not to burn the bridge. DC is also looking at one or two other clubs, so nothing is 100%. We don't want to come off as stringing anyone along. I assume this is all normal and clubs are used to players turning them down only to come back the following year? DC has been at the same club where they started travel soccer a few years ago, so we aren't club hoppers or anything. Just trying to get out of what is no longer a great situation and hopefully find somewhere DC can stay put for a while if possible.

[Anonymous]

We did this a few years back. I think you’ll have more luck if it’s a smaller club or he was a standout for his position. In DS’s case, we very polite declined the offer. We reached out the next year and they remembered him and were happy to have him.

[Anonymous]

Just tell the coach you'd like your DC to come to a practice or two before tryouts for an assessment. Just leave it at that and say you'll also be looking forward to tryouts. You can do the same with the other clubs you're considering. They understand it's a business and we're the customers they need to attract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last year DC got an offer from a club that they ultimately turned down. DC seemed to be a good fit for the team. Based on how things have gone at current club this year, DC has expressed some regret for not taking the offer.

How do we handle reaching back out at this point? Do we mention that DC was offered last year and is very open to moving there this year if an offer were to be made again? Do we ask to attend a practice before tryouts again, or just tell them that DC plans to come to tryouts? We were gracious in turning down last year's offer so as not to burn the bridge. DC is also looking at one or two other clubs, so nothing is 100%. We don't want to come off as stringing anyone along. I assume this is all normal and clubs are used to players turning them down only to come back the following year? DC has been at the same club where they started travel soccer a few years ago, so we aren't club hoppers or anything. Just trying to get out of what is no longer a great situation and hopefully find somewhere DC can stay put for a while if possible.

I would only reach out to the club if you're 100% sure that is where you DC would go. Nothing worse than reaching out asking for an offer, getting one and then saying "Thanks for no thanks" - that would burn a bridge in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I would just go to open tryouts and say nothing about it. If there's no open tryouts, sign up for an ID session. New coach, new decision makers. Just because they had an offer before will mean nothing to the new coach. If old coach is gone, new coach may not like just because. There's a lot of little politics we are all unaware of. Especially if you're considering other clubs, then why come in like we had an offer before and expect another? Let their performance at a new tryout speak for itself.