Team Choice for Player Development

[Anonymous]

Is it better to be one of the best players on a lower-level team or one of the substitutes on a higher-level team?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it better to be one of the best players on a lower-level team or one of the substitutes on a higher-level team?

No way to answer this without providing more information.

At what age?

At what level?

What is the ultimate Goal for the player?

You can make a good argument for both, either way.

In general at U10/U11 and below, you want to maximize playing time.

At U11/U12 and up, it might be ok to be a substitute on the highest level team. -Why? Because, on the highest level teams, they are going to big event/ fun trips and the subs get more playing time and get to be part of those big highlight events. Then when they get older, and they are still a sub, the Coach puts them in for the Showcase Events for college recruiting and exposure.

[Anonymous]

Generally, I would say neither -- being in the middle is best. A starter with ample playing time, but not the best--then it is time to move on. But it also depends on the athlete's personality. I have seen kids come on to a team as the worst one and work their butt off the improve to being more middle of the pack. I have also seen kids come on the team as the worst one and lose all of their confidence and actually get worse.

[Anonymous]

At U13 and older, it is easier to get a top team offer from another club if you are coming from a top team (even if you were a sub). So it can be worth taking the top team offer to break into that level and then making a lateral move to get more playing time later.

Also, the time spent training with stronger players will make your player stronger, even if they are getting as much playing time in games.

[Anonymous]

Training, coaching, tournaments etc. always better on the top team. Also PP states, it makes it easier to move sideways later on.

The speed of play, intensity, and physicality also rise as the level rises.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Training, coaching, tournaments etc. always better on the top team. Also PP states, it makes it easier to move sideways later on.

The speed of play, intensity, and physicality also rise as the level rises.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it better to be one of the best players on a lower-level team or one of the substitutes on a higher-level team?

Impossible to answer in a binary fashion without additional details. I know a few A teams where I would not touch the offer because of the coach but the DCUM community would jump at the offer because they need to fill their ego to be on the A team of this pristine club.

[Anonymous]

I think it could all be beneficial. I saw somewhere that you want to play with players you can lead, players at your level, and players you can learn from. It's good to be challenged, but learning leadership skills and building confidence is important too. Maybe that means to join a big club where they have the opportunity to play up or down. Or pick a rec team they really enjoy and can get some leadership skills teaching teammates to get better, while playing as a guest and getting additional private training. Or playing on a high level team, and then enjoying some casual pickup soccer in the neighborhood or at school recess.

[Anonymous]

The coach is more important than the team

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The coach is more important than the team

People always say this but sometimes at our club they offer you a team and they dont even tell you the coach, or if they do they don't really make another offer. When you go to tryouts or even training sessions with a club you have no idea who will be coaching the team next year.

Its super unclear to me how one even picks a coach....

[Anonymous]

The coach is not important at all. Development does not take place at these clubs unless its an MLS Academy. These coaches have multiple teams and about 20 kids on each team...stop looking for clubs for development! It is on you as a parent to expose your player to all kinds of environments and experiences. Futsal, training, guest playing, pickup, street ball...whatever. Relying on some inexperienced coach to make your kid good 3 times a week is laughable.

The players your player will compete against at practice every week is more important than a coach...unless your kid is that coach's pet project...then you are good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The coach is not important at all. Development does not take place at these clubs unless its an MLS Academy. These coaches have multiple teams and about 20 kids on each team...stop looking for clubs for development! It is on you as a parent to expose your player to all kinds of environments and experiences. Futsal, training, guest playing, pickup, street ball...whatever. Relying on some inexperienced coach to make your kid good 3 times a week is laughable.

The players your player will compete against at practice every week is more important than a coach...unless your kid is that coach's pet project...then you are good.

The coaches who had my kids from U-littles were an instrumental part of their development and other kids
We never had a 20 roster team and I don’t ever recall seeing another team under 11 v 11 with such numbers.

Yes, we all know extra quality work away from your club is necessary
If all the club coaches are inexperienced and no good in the area, then who are you going to for extra training?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The coach is not important at all. Development does not take place at these clubs unless its an MLS Academy. These coaches have multiple teams and about 20 kids on each team...stop looking for clubs for development! It is on you as a parent to expose your player to all kinds of environments and experiences. Futsal, training, guest playing, pickup, street ball...whatever. Relying on some inexperienced coach to make your kid good 3 times a week is laughable.

The players your player will compete against at practice every week is more important than a coach...unless your kid is that coach's pet project...then you are good.

The coaches who had my kids from U-littles were an instrumental part of their development and other kids
We never had a 20 roster team and I don’t ever recall seeing another team under 11 v 11 with such numbers.

Yes, we all know extra quality work away from your club is necessary
If all the club coaches are inexperienced and no good in the area, then who are you going to for extra training?

Using the term U-littles immediately categorizes you. What about that coach made him instrumental? How far have they developed? 4th team? What is your threshold for development? The eye test?

You are parroting the exact thing these clubs want you to...we develop so give us loyalty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The coach is not important at all. Development does not take place at these clubs unless its an MLS Academy. These coaches have multiple teams and about 20 kids on each team...stop looking for clubs for development! It is on you as a parent to expose your player to all kinds of environments and experiences. Futsal, training, guest playing, pickup, street ball...whatever. Relying on some inexperienced coach to make your kid good 3 times a week is laughable.

The players your player will compete against at practice every week is more important than a coach...unless your kid is that coach's pet project...then you are good.

+1
If you are able, take a look at almost any player who was just named to the USYNT U14 Regional Training Camp roster. We know a few local players and it is clear 70% to 80% of their significant development took place outside of team practice. The kids that have been noticed for their 'advanced development, relative to their peer group,' primarily accomplished this through tons of extra work and training. Futsal, skill groups, private training, indoor, street ball, training at home, trips abroad, being on selective tournament-only teams and access to elite coaches is where development hits the launching pad and takes off.

But, I do think you need to surround your player with other like-minded and dedicated families who are committed and flush with resources to pursue all the extras.

Otherwise, if your player only does the team level training, their development will pale in comparison to the family that seeks development outside of the team training environment. But still, if you really are interested in development over the experience, you need to get on a high team level, join a group of players who participates in all the extra trainings and join that group too.

If you can't do that or don't want to commit to that level, thats fine too. Just know that by U14, the development from team training alone starts to plateau.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The coach is not important at all. Development does not take place at these clubs unless its an MLS Academy. These coaches have multiple teams and about 20 kids on each team...stop looking for clubs for development! It is on you as a parent to expose your player to all kinds of environments and experiences. Futsal, training, guest playing, pickup, street ball...whatever. Relying on some inexperienced coach to make your kid good 3 times a week is laughable.

The players your player will compete against at practice every week is more important than a coach...unless your kid is that coach's pet project...then you are good.

The coach may or may not matter a whole lot for development, but it sure does matter for your kid’s day-to-day experience. It would be stupid to ignore that unless you are talking about an MLS academy or something high level like that. For most kids, the coach matters a great deal as it can make or break their enjoyment of the sport.