Help me decide if a mid season move makes sense

[Anonymous]

Been in your situation. Coaches get into what i call “player lock” once teams get established. It’s a double edged sword.

kids who developed earlier are locked into the higher team positions because coaches will not demote them in youth stages. It doesnt matter if your kid is slightly better. They have to be significantly better to displace a kid

2nd your kid gets pigeonholed into a lower team kid. Guilty of association. So they will being in an outside player over your kid.

You have to leave clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Been in your situation. Coaches get into what i call “player lock” once teams get established. It’s a double edged sword.

kids who developed earlier are locked into the higher team positions because coaches will not demote them in youth stages. It doesnt matter if your kid is slightly better. They have to be significantly better to displace a kid

2nd your kid gets pigeonholed into a lower team kid. Guilty of association. So they will being in an outside player over your kid.

You have to leave clubs.

Specifically on boys side this is why US mens will never win on national stage. Pay to play and parents attempting to influence outcomes. Clubs are here to make revenue not necessarily be the most competitive.

[Anonymous]

Draw a hard line... " My son will only play on X level team" You will be suprised how quckly clubs bend the knee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

Thanks so much for taking the time to give such a thorough response. Here is my response to your points:

1)The private coach that we are using is the assistant coach of the 2013's 2nd team. Great coach. Very professional. Unfortunately, our 2014 head coach has far more power within our academy.

2)I have never been a pushy parent because I am a believer that talk is (or should be) cheap. Its what you do in the field and in practice that counts. I became team manager at the request of the coach but haven never demanded anything. I only asked the coach if my kid could try out with a higher team at the end of the season after we would the tournament and he scored the game winner in the final.

3)I am considering emails several academies, buy my hesitation is that most are now doing Futsal and my kid has always played regular soccer or indoor soccer, but never Futsal so I am not sure he would show well under this circumstances.

4)I agree that main tryouts should 100% be avoided. I have seen them and I am baffled on how academies can discern talent by watching hundreds of players playing 4v4 with pug goals.

Last update: our private coach corroborated that the team within our academy that we were interested in trying out, currently has 15 players and is actively trying to trim down its roster. They are not looking for more players.

Apparently, our academy has the beautiful problem of having too many good players...

You are one of those scheming parents.

[Anonymous]

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

You already know. If he’s still on the 4th team, they are only there to collect money from you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Draw a hard line... " My son will only play on X level team" You will be suprised how quckly clubs bend the knee.

Pathetic. You sound like you are an Arlington parent.

[Anonymous]

OP, you have put way too much detailed info out there that it will be easy for people around you and in your club to figure things out. Your negotiating power is finished. Never broadcast your plans unless you’re in a position of strength and/or willing to walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Been in your situation. Coaches get into what i call “player lock” once teams get established. It’s a double edged sword.

kids who developed earlier are locked into the higher team positions because coaches will not demote them in youth stages. It doesnt matter if your kid is slightly better. They have to be significantly better to displace a kid

2nd your kid gets pigeonholed into a lower team kid. Guilty of association. So they will being in an outside player over your kid.

You have to leave clubs.

You're not wrong. We are in a NOVA club w 3-4 teams per age group boys and girls side. "Player Lock" is real. Our top team did not have any 2nd team guest players and only brought in 1 guest player from an outside club. We will have to wait until tryouts to see if any movement actually occurs. My guess is 1-2 players at best, and at least 1 will come from an outside club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Been in your situation. Coaches get into what i call “player lock” once teams get established. It’s a double edged sword.

kids who developed earlier are locked into the higher team positions because coaches will not demote them in youth stages. It doesnt matter if your kid is slightly better. They have to be significantly better to displace a kid

2nd your kid gets pigeonholed into a lower team kid. Guilty of association. So they will being in an outside player over your kid.

You have to leave clubs.

You're not wrong. We are in a NOVA club w 3-4 teams per age group boys and girls side. "Player Lock" is real. Our top team did not have any 2nd team guest players and only brought in 1 guest player from an outside club. We will have to wait until tryouts to see if any movement actually occurs. My guess is 1-2 players at best, and at least 1 will come from an outside club.

My DC's team has had more guest players from the top team in a younger age group (4) then from the 2nd team in the same age group (0). When our team needs players, they're not getting pulled from the 2nd team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Draw a hard line... " My son will only play on X level team" You will be suprised how quckly clubs bend the knee.

Bend the knee? what is this Game of Thrones?

You're just a $$$ to these clubs, if you/your DC won't play on the 2nd or 3rd team there is 20+ families that will gladly take your spot, why do you think there are clubs with 3rd and 4th "travel" teams

[Anonymous]

Are implying that your kid should not be on the 4th or 3rd team, but on the 2nd/1st? Does your kid clearly stand out as a mistake in player placement? Because to make that jump at a top club you need to really be dominating and standing out. You could always shop around and see what the results are. You can also try to fit into a smaller club with less talent that plays in a top competition. Maybe your kid could make a top team there and then you can really see how much talent they have.

Its all about being realistic...maybe the offer of being on the 3rd team is right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are implying that your kid should not be on the 4th or 3rd team, but on the 2nd/1st? Does your kid clearly stand out as a mistake in player placement? Because to make that jump at a top club you need to really be dominating and standing out. You could always shop around and see what the results are. You can also try to fit into a smaller club with less talent that plays in a top competition. Maybe your kid could make a top team there and then you can really see how much talent they have.

Its all about being realistic...maybe the offer of being on the 3rd team is right?

It’s also about realizing higher teams have better training, better coaching, better competition and better events.

We’re on the 2nd team, we pay as much as the 1st team, but they get priority in all of the above areas. We’re start back 2 days a week, but they start back with 3 days per week. They are in a big tournament, we are not. They are doing more and it develops the players a ton more.

It’s worth it to try to get on the best team if given the chance, not withstanding a 9-10-11-12 year old’s skill level, because they could blossom if given the same opportunities.

But this is why teams should demote players also. If a player doesn’t perform w the best training, then make room for other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are implying that your kid should not be on the 4th or 3rd team, but on the 2nd/1st? Does your kid clearly stand out as a mistake in player placement? Because to make that jump at a top club you need to really be dominating and standing out. You could always shop around and see what the results are. You can also try to fit into a smaller club with less talent that plays in a top competition. Maybe your kid could make a top team there and then you can really see how much talent they have.

Its all about being realistic...maybe the offer of being on the 3rd team is right?

It’s also about realizing higher teams have better training, better coaching, better competition and better events.

We’re on the 2nd team, we pay as much as the 1st team, but they get priority in all of the above areas. We’re start back 2 days a week, but they start back with 3 days per week. They are in a big tournament, we are not. They are doing more and it develops the players a ton more.

It’s worth it to try to get on the best team if given the chance, not withstanding a 9-10-11-12 year old’s skill level, because they could blossom if given the same opportunities.

But this is why teams should demote players also. If a player doesn’t perform w the best training, then make room for other kids.

This is the explanation for the age group change discussion and why one set of parents want it and others are fighting for their lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are implying that your kid should not be on the 4th or 3rd team, but on the 2nd/1st? Does your kid clearly stand out as a mistake in player placement? Because to make that jump at a top club you need to really be dominating and standing out. You could always shop around and see what the results are. You can also try to fit into a smaller club with less talent that plays in a top competition. Maybe your kid could make a top team there and then you can really see how much talent they have.

Its all about being realistic...maybe the offer of being on the 3rd team is right?

It’s also about realizing higher teams have better training, better coaching, better competition and better events.

We’re on the 2nd team, we pay as much as the 1st team, but they get priority in all of the above areas. We’re start back 2 days a week, but they start back with 3 days per week. They are in a big tournament, we are not. They are doing more and it develops the players a ton more.

It’s worth it to try to get on the best team if given the chance, not withstanding a 9-10-11-12 year old’s skill level, because they could blossom if given the same opportunities.

But this is why teams should demote players also. If a player doesn’t perform w the best training, then make room for other kids.

Are you sure they pay the same? Do you know their team fee and whether the supplemental indoor fitness costs more but if we don't pay it she worries about keeping her spot?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are implying that your kid should not be on the 4th or 3rd team, but on the 2nd/1st? Does your kid clearly stand out as a mistake in player placement? Because to make that jump at a top club you need to really be dominating and standing out. You could always shop around and see what the results are. You can also try to fit into a smaller club with less talent that plays in a top competition. Maybe your kid could make a top team there and then you can really see how much talent they have.

Its all about being realistic...maybe the offer of being on the 3rd team is right?

It’s also about realizing higher teams have better training, better coaching, better competition and better events.

We’re on the 2nd team, we pay as much as the 1st team, but they get priority in all of the above areas. We’re start back 2 days a week, but they start back with 3 days per week. They are in a big tournament, we are not. They are doing more and it develops the players a ton more.

It’s worth it to try to get on the best team if given the chance, not withstanding a 9-10-11-12 year old’s skill level, because they could blossom if given the same opportunities.

But this is why teams should demote players also. If a player doesn’t perform w the best training, then make room for other kids.

Are you sure they pay the same? Do you know their team fee and whether the supplemental indoor fitness costs more but if we don't pay it she worries about keeping her spot?

The published base fee for the 1st and 2nd team for our age group is the same. Of course extras (like tournaments and winter activities are extra. All players are expected to pay for the tournaments, but winter activities are usually optional). Each club runs those things a bit different.

But yes, the 1st team has more sessions for the same price and more opportunities. Hypothetically, If triplets had a slot on each level of team and all other things being equal, the triplet on the 1st team would be a much better player after 1 year. That’s a good enough reason to try to move a kid up, even if they are not at that level currently.