Loyalty to Clubs/Leagues

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are a tribal species. People like to root for their "team". It's as simple as that. When you are part of a club/league, work for a company, attend a school, live in a region, you tend to root for your own teams and against the others.

And clubs bank on this to keep you around and paying. If a club isn't working it's not weird to leave. Club movement is completely rationale as a paying customer trying to find the right fit for your child. It's a weird to proudly say your kid played with one club and group of kids for 6+ years as though it makes them better than the new player that just joined. Some clubs are a lot more culty than others though.

[Anonymous]

As a parent who didn’t play soccer, how do you know which clubs or coaches are best for your DD? Where is there a focus on player development rather than kickball and undue focus on “winning” at u-little ages? For all that you need to wade through here commenting on clubs and coaches, there are some nuggets and other than talking to parents where else can you learn? I’d be loyal to a club committed to player development over time.

[Anonymous]

My kid is u15 and has been playing at the same club since she was 5. Every season we check out different clubs and jump in on sessions with other club coaches during the season. None have really impressed us which is why we stay at the current club.

Sometimes club hopping makes sense. Sometimes it doesn't.

[Anonymous]

I was thinking this last night as I read through random posts and comments. The loyalty some of these folks have to these clubs is insane to the point you're actually arguing anonymously about who's better than who and legit getting personal. Some people just have nothing going on outside of this and care too much lol.

[Anonymous]

Never, never stay loyal to a pay2play soccer club. NEVER.

For the club the parent is the customer and for you your son/daughter is your customer. Take care of the customer first. Stop drinking the kool-aid. Take your child to every ID session every year in March MLS Next or ECNL. If you child is an excellent player, clubs will fight for your child to play for their club. If your child is an excellent player you are making that club look good and helping them lure more customers.

I have seen players get burned by clubs for staying loyal. They don't want you to got to tryouts ID sessions and then when you have no options or offers because it is too late and all the other teams are full, then your club that you are so loyal to, give you an offer for the second or third team.

Don't drink the Kool-Aid. End of story.

[Anonymous]

I am a current TM and my coach or admin staff accidentally loaded all the offers and assigned them to the teams of all players, of which as a TM, I could see in the system.

The thing is, is that they loaded all the offers after the 1st day of tryouts, meaning, they already had their mind made up which players they wanted to move down or up. Tryouts really didn't mean much at all.

The club said they would develop players, but in the end they moved down 3 players and took 3 outside players. (2 didn't even attend tryouts!) Next year, I will be looking and trying out clubs in the fall time, well in advance of tryout season. I didn't have the heart to tell my kid that it didn't really matter how hard you tried during tryouts as the Club already had her offer loaded up.

[Anonymous]

Just a parent's perspective, but I think tryouts are not really likely to have a big impact on current player's placement--the coaches have a much bigger well of experience with those players to draw on. It is more to see how outside prospects do against known quantities. But I fully support making sure you have options and looking around, even if you end up staying with your current club. Otherwise you're effectively locked in whatever they offer.

[Anonymous]

Most of these posts have to be club staff, not parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a current TM and my coach or admin staff accidentally loaded all the offers and assigned them to the teams of all players, of which as a TM, I could see in the system.

The thing is, is that they loaded all the offers after the 1st day of tryouts, meaning, they already had their mind made up which players they wanted to move down or up. Tryouts really didn't mean much at all.

The club said they would develop players, but in the end they moved down 3 players and took 3 outside players. (2 didn't even attend tryouts!) Next year, I will be looking and trying out clubs in the fall time, well in advance of tryout season. I didn't have the heart to tell my kid that it didn't really matter how hard you tried during tryouts as the Club already had her offer loaded up.

Not sure which club you’re in, but when they cut my son from Revolution after bringing outsiders who did not try out and that we learned were not going to pay fees we packed our stuff and left in a heartbeat. Betrayal is an understatement after seeing adults lie to our child looking them in the eyes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a current TM and my coach or admin staff accidentally loaded all the offers and assigned them to the teams of all players, of which as a TM, I could see in the system.

The thing is, is that they loaded all the offers after the 1st day of tryouts, meaning, they already had their mind made up which players they wanted to move down or up. Tryouts really didn't mean much at all.

The club said they would develop players, but in the end they moved down 3 players and took 3 outside players. (2 didn't even attend tryouts!) Next year, I will be looking and trying out clubs in the fall time, well in advance of tryout season. I didn't have the heart to tell my kid that it didn't really matter how hard you tried during tryouts as the Club already had her offer loaded up.

Not sure which club you’re in, but when they cut my son from Revolution after bringing outsiders who did not try out and that we learned were not going to pay fees we packed our stuff and left in a heartbeat. Betrayal is an understatement after seeing adults lie to our child looking them in the eyes

Sounds rough! A bit of adequate player counseling would go a long way!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:no loyalty to clubs or leagues, my kids play at different clubs and leagues, but... some clubs (as a whole) have better coaches and players and some leagues (as a whole) host more competitive play. You should choose what's best for your kids development.

I agree...parents should be as cutthroat as the clubs are. This is my whole point. Adults should be involved to support their kid and do what is best for them. But for these weak adults it becomes "their club" or "their league". Pathetic.

I will also add that it is pathetic to stay with a team because they are "winning" when your DC barely plays or forced to be a goalie when they want to be field players. So sad!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a current TM and my coach or admin staff accidentally loaded all the offers and assigned them to the teams of all players, of which as a TM, I could see in the system.

The thing is, is that they loaded all the offers after the 1st day of tryouts, meaning, they already had their mind made up which players they wanted to move down or up. Tryouts really didn't mean much at all.

The club said they would develop players, but in the end they moved down 3 players and took 3 outside players. (2 didn't even attend tryouts!) Next year, I will be looking and trying out clubs in the fall time, well in advance of tryout season. I didn't have the heart to tell my kid that it didn't really matter how hard you tried during tryouts as the Club already had her offer loaded up.

Not sure which club you’re in, but when they cut my son from Revolution after bringing outsiders who did not try out and that we learned were not going to pay fees we packed our stuff and left in a heartbeat. Betrayal is an understatement after seeing adults lie to our child looking them in the eyes

+1 . Word’s been getting around everywhere—Revolution totally misled parents on both sides, boys and girls. They promised to keep the current players and said there wouldn’t even be tryouts anymore. But then, out of nowhere, they brought in a bunch of new kids who hadn’t even shown up for tryouts, sessions or whatever you want to call it. Now I’m hearing that some coaches are doing private training sessions on the side and bringing their own players onto the teams. For real, it’s such a letdown. The lack of honesty and accountability at Revolution just isn’t cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a current TM and my coach or admin staff accidentally loaded all the offers and assigned them to the teams of all players, of which as a TM, I could see in the system.

The thing is, is that they loaded all the offers after the 1st day of tryouts, meaning, they already had their mind made up which players they wanted to move down or up. Tryouts really didn't mean much at all.

The club said they would develop players, but in the end they moved down 3 players and took 3 outside players. (2 didn't even attend tryouts!) Next year, I will be looking and trying out clubs in the fall time, well in advance of tryout season. I didn't have the heart to tell my kid that it didn't really matter how hard you tried during tryouts as the Club already had her offer loaded up.

Not sure which club you’re in, but when they cut my son from Revolution after bringing outsiders who did not try out and that we learned were not going to pay fees we packed our stuff and left in a heartbeat. Betrayal is an understatement after seeing adults lie to our child looking them in the eyes

People are naive and have sense of entitlement to think they are permanently set on club, team or starting position

Life Lesson
Someone is always waiting for your desirable position, so perform to protect it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a current TM and my coach or admin staff accidentally loaded all the offers and assigned them to the teams of all players, of which as a TM, I could see in the system.

The thing is, is that they loaded all the offers after the 1st day of tryouts, meaning, they already had their mind made up which players they wanted to move down or up. Tryouts really didn't mean much at all.

The club said they would develop players, but in the end they moved down 3 players and took 3 outside players. (2 didn't even attend tryouts!) Next year, I will be looking and trying out clubs in the fall time, well in advance of tryout season. I didn't have the heart to tell my kid that it didn't really matter how hard you tried during tryouts as the Club already had her offer loaded up.

Not sure which club you’re in, but when they cut my son from Revolution after bringing outsiders who did not try out and that we learned were not going to pay fees we packed our stuff and left in a heartbeat. Betrayal is an understatement after seeing adults lie to our child looking them in the eyes

Letting players play for free only works if the team consistently wins. This is because the wins will bring the badge/club chasers and the badge/club chasers will fund the free rides. From a coaching and club perspective free rides can bring better players but it's risky to do because if you dont win it all falls apart. Also if other clubs start playing the freeride game freeride players will group together and join the same team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a current TM and my coach or admin staff accidentally loaded all the offers and assigned them to the teams of all players, of which as a TM, I could see in the system.

The thing is, is that they loaded all the offers after the 1st day of tryouts, meaning, they already had their mind made up which players they wanted to move down or up. Tryouts really didn't mean much at all.

The club said they would develop players, but in the end they moved down 3 players and took 3 outside players. (2 didn't even attend tryouts!) Next year, I will be looking and trying out clubs in the fall time, well in advance of tryout season. I didn't have the heart to tell my kid that it didn't really matter how hard you tried during tryouts as the Club already had her offer loaded up.

Not sure which club you’re in, but when they cut my son from Revolution after bringing outsiders who did not try out and that we learned were not going to pay fees we packed our stuff and left in a heartbeat. Betrayal is an understatement after seeing adults lie to our child looking them in the eyes

Letting players play for free only works if the team consistently wins. This is because the wins will bring the badge/club chasers and the badge/club chasers will fund the free rides. From a coaching and club perspective free rides can bring better players but it's risky to do because if you dont win it all falls apart. Also if other clubs start playing the freeride game freeride players will group together and join the same team.

Or a good decent family can't afford it

Never crossed your mind huh?