scholarship player at an elite club/academy level

[Anonymous]

First, be thankful for the scholarship, not all clubs do it , but many do.

Second, your coach doesn't car that your kid is on scholarship, he/she may have even helped you get it, especially if it was all done "verbally" as you say, which I must say for any club doesn't seem very above board, but w/e.

Third, many (most?) coaches play strong players in the back, especially weaker teams who are unable to possess the ball much.

Fourth, if you're unhappy, leave and let someone else take the free slot. You'll never be guaranteed to play the position you want, especially at the younger ages.

My advice? Sounds like your kid is progressing and getting a lot of playtime. Praise him for his play at his current position. Quit focusing on where he is NOT playing. You have no idea what type of player he'll be in a few years.

[Anonymous]

Worst part about this entire thread big picture wise is it sounds like the coach was trying to actually develop the player lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:he doesn't mind rotating, except now it seems like he's permanently on the weaker team in defense. it's almost been five months, and to a 9-year-old it is like eternity. he has become better and better during these 5 months because he wanted to get out of the weaker team and his position, but it doesn't seem to lead to any changes. while in the past, he was quite sensitive to my son's progress.

i just don't know if this is because he is on scholarship. wouldn't the club want the player they pay for to play at the stronger team and in the most effective position? it just doesn't make sense to me.

the real problem is that he doesn't see a way out. if he makes efforts, his teammates cannot possess the ball and they loses. if he is discouraged and doesn't work extra hard, they loses. after working so hard for almost five months, this past week he finally became unmotivated, and it is just hard to see. and this weak team is likely to stay weak for a long time, so he will always have to stay on this team? we seriously ask ourselves, should we stay or should we leave.

but is this the same with other clubs for the scholarship players?

You seem like a terrible helicopter parent. Maybe try tennis?

don't think you understand the pressure and sacrifice of playing at this level, especially at this young age.

just hope someone who has gone through something similar with us could share some real insights.

Dude he's 9 years old unclench

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:he doesn't mind rotating, except now it seems like he's permanently on the weaker team in defense. it's almost been five months, and to a 9-year-old it is like eternity. he has become better and better during these 5 months because he wanted to get out of the weaker team and his position, but it doesn't seem to lead to any changes. while in the past, he was quite sensitive to my son's progress.

i just don't know if this is because he is on scholarship. wouldn't the club want the player they pay for to play at the stronger team and in the most effective position? it just doesn't make sense to me.

the real problem is that he doesn't see a way out. if he makes efforts, his teammates cannot possess the ball and they loses. if he is discouraged and doesn't work extra hard, they loses. after working so hard for almost five months, this past week he finally became unmotivated, and it is just hard to see. and this weak team is likely to stay weak for a long time, so he will always have to stay on this team? we seriously ask ourselves, should we stay or should we leave.

but is this the same with other clubs for the scholarship players?

You seem like a terrible helicopter parent. Maybe try tennis?

don't think you understand the pressure and sacrifice of playing at this level, especially at this young age.

just hope someone who has gone through something similar with us could share some real insights.

Dude he's 9 years old unclench

Imagine being like 12 and overhearing your parents on the phone say “yea well that ship has sailed, he was a star growing up but not everyone has that amount of dedication.”

😒 I just wanted to know if dinner was ready so I don’t like die.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s nothing to do with scholarship. Coaches/clubs don’t care about individual players. Your current coach doesn’t want to lose a strong player and the higher level coach doesn’t want to deal with you as a parent or make changes during the season. And they all have favorites.

In our club the pain in the ass parents usually end up getting their kids moved up because we have weak-spined DOCs.

This might win silliest take ever. Clubs scholarship players of all levels. They want the kids to be able to play. Coaches absolutely have favorite players, or players they want to give a chance- your son may be one they are trying to help. As someone else said, no coach with half a brain plays his worst player in the back. That's ridiculous. You can win a game with a freak goal from a terrible player, or tie 0-0, but if you try to "hide" your bad kid in the back you're going to get punished.

With that said there are very, very few truly "elite" 9 year olds anywhere. There are some strong players, but "elite" is a stretch. You need to relax and let your son have fun. If he really is not happy being a defender, then look for a new club. Also, defenders are hard to come by. Midfielders, as they get older, are easier but if your son can grow to be an "elite" defender your opportunities will be greatly expanded. Scoring goals on another 9 year old is nice, but its not like there are exceptional goalies either. Most of them are afraid of the ball, don't come of their line, or can't catch it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my son (U9) was placed on the weaker team since he joined the club last fall but he was playing forward. he got some injuries by the end of last season that impacted his performance. he was put to defense during the winter and now the spring season starting, and it continues to be that way. he wants to get back to the forward position and go to the stronger team because he simply has beat each one of them and scored against the stronger team while leading the weaker team. he is fast and aggressive and good with shooting, and he is one of the top players. i have talked to the coach. he said playing defense in the white team will do my son good so he can learn to survey the field. but the white team is so weak that it simply makes my son unmotivated to play his best.

is this a rule that once you take the scholarship you have to do something for the club such as babysitting the weak team?

also it seems the coach wants to put the strongest player, my son, in the back, and put the weakest in the front. does this make sense?

they haven't got any new players in since we joined, and it seems the weak team is going to stay as it is. i don't know how long we need to put up with this, but to leave the club and rescind the scholarship seems to be unwise. it's really hard to decide what to do.

anyone has done this could give any suggestions? 

Bro don't leave the VA Makebelieves FC, you'll regret it for the rest of your DS professional career. I just spoke to the coach last night and he said your DS will be on the top team next season, we have about 1/2 the team sign professional contracts with teams in the EPL, La Liga and Series A.

Making the top team isn't going to be enough though you DS has to put in the work if he wants to be the starting striker, what's their 40 time? It needs to be in the 3s. How much is he benching? you want me to be able to do 10 reps at 225+. We'll be there next year, we turned down an offer from Man City because the signing bonus wasn't big enough, thinking about having our DS go to law school next year so he can represent himself as an agent. See you on the fields.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t even know kids so young could get athletic scholarships. This is separate from the financial aid programs many programs have?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the parent of a talented child. Too bad the talent will be unfulfilled due to a clueless parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t even know kids so young could get athletic scholarships. This is separate from the financial aid programs many programs have?

No, the OP said it’s not a scholarship, it’s financial aid. No clubs in this area offer talent based “scholarships.” Unless it’s the DC United Academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t even know kids so young could get athletic scholarships. This is separate from the financial aid programs many programs have?

No, the OP said it’s not a scholarship, it’s financial aid. No clubs in this area offer talent based “scholarships.” Unless it’s the DC United Academy.

I saw the posts making the distinction between need-based and talent financial aid/scholarship, but I don’t see where OP confirms that it’s one or the other. Most of the responses up to that point seem to take him at his word.

As you said, I didn’t think talent scholarships for 9u was a thing, and the only club that might do that doesn’t take players that young. Or that there were “elite academies” at that age.

Supposedly the $ offer was verbal only, as was the case for another club that OP later turned down. He specifically stated there was no application. If this was truly the case then I would LOVE to know which clubs because that sounds like the kind of “everyday corruption” that happens in developing countries, lol.

“Does getting a scholarship mean you have to babysit weaker teams” I mean cmon, either you’re a condescending ass, or your English is pretty good but sometimes you still need Google translate.

[Anonymous]

Can’t be DCU - they’ve been divesting from the younger years.

[Anonymous]

He is 8. Relax

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t even know kids so young could get athletic scholarships. This is separate from the financial aid programs many programs have?

No, the OP said it’s not a scholarship, it’s financial aid. No clubs in this area offer talent based “scholarships.” Unless it’s the DC United Academy.

I saw the posts making the distinction between need-based and talent financial aid/scholarship, but I don’t see where OP confirms that it’s one or the other. Most of the responses up to that point seem to take him at his word.

As you said, I didn’t think talent scholarships for 9u was a thing, and the only club that might do that doesn’t take players that young. Or that there were “elite academies” at that age.

Supposedly the $ offer was verbal only, as was the case for another club that OP later turned down. He specifically stated there was no application. If this was truly the case then I would LOVE to know which clubs because that sounds like the kind of “everyday corruption” that happens in developing countries, lol.

“Does getting a scholarship mean you have to babysit weaker teams” I mean cmon, either you’re a condescending ass, or your English is pretty good but sometimes you still need Google translate.

More clubs in the area do offer scholarships for talented players. They do ask for discretion because imagine if the words get out player x gets a free ride? And clubs/ coaches are willing to work with you if your kid is good kid with normal same parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:he doesn't mind rotating, except now it seems like he's permanently on the weaker team in defense. it's almost been five months, and to a 9-year-old it is like eternity. he has become better and better during these 5 months because he wanted to get out of the weaker team and his position, but it doesn't seem to lead to any changes. while in the past, he was quite sensitive to my son's progress.

i just don't know if this is because he is on scholarship. wouldn't the club want the player they pay for to play at the stronger team and in the most effective position? it just doesn't make sense to me.

the real problem is that he doesn't see a way out. if he makes efforts, his teammates cannot possess the ball and they loses. if he is discouraged and doesn't work extra hard, they loses. after working so hard for almost five months, this past week he finally became unmotivated, and it is just hard to see. and this weak team is likely to stay weak for a long time, so he will always have to stay on this team? we seriously ask ourselves, should we stay or should we leave.

but is this the same with other clubs for the scholarship players?

You have to be trolling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dying to know which club around here is considered elite at u9

If he’s talking white as second team, it’s possibly Arlington. At that age, red is the top team.

Regardless, this parent is a tool.