Top team offers are already out—how’s your team shaping up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Especially when those outsiders become starters instantly. Totallly unfair.

I find this perspective weird. If the new kids are of higher quality than why not let them join the team and be the starters? Top teams should prioritize ability, not commitment to the club. If lower quality players from outside make the top team and then also get prioritized in the games, that is a different issue and I would not want to be part of the club. But if it is simply about trying to have the best players on the team, regardless of where they played before, I think that is understandable and to be expected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents: We want teams to focus on developing players not just winning.

Also Parents: We should cut 3 players because they hold onto the ball too long and have low soccer IQ.

Parents, you are the problem.

We want fairness. Kids who work hard and continue to develop should earn their spot and even move up. On the other hand, kids who consistently hold the team back—whether by being uncoachable, slowing down the team’s development, or contributing to repeated losses—should be moved down to a level that matches their current performance and commitment.

Yes, we want every kid to have a chance to grow, but fairness means holding everyone accountable. It’s not fair to the hardworking players to let others stay in spots they haven’t earned.

One kid scores in almost every game. Multiple goals in some games. But also almost never passes and is responsible for the most turnovers. Can attribute most of the wins to this kid’s goals At same time most of the losses from not distributing the ball and losing the ball. Also less development for the team because one kid hogs the ball. Dilemma?

We have that kid on our team, she will score 1 goal after 15 attempts and 20 turnovers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents: We want teams to focus on developing players not just winning.

Also Parents: We should cut 3 players because they hold onto the ball too long and have low soccer IQ.

Parents, you are the problem.

We want fairness. Kids who work hard and continue to develop should earn their spot and even move up. On the other hand, kids who consistently hold the team back—whether by being uncoachable, slowing down the team’s development, or contributing to repeated losses—should be moved down to a level that matches their current performance and commitment.

Yes, we want every kid to have a chance to grow, but fairness means holding everyone accountable. It’s not fair to the hardworking players to let others stay in spots they haven’t earned.

One kid scores in almost every game. Multiple goals in some games. But also almost never passes and is responsible for the most turnovers. Can attribute most of the wins to this kid’s goals At same time most of the losses from not distributing the ball and losing the ball. Also less development for the team because one kid hogs the ball. Dilemma?

We have that kid on our team, she will score 1 goal after 15 attempts and 20 turnovers!

Yet everyone has to get the ball to him

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents: We want teams to focus on developing players not just winning.

Also Parents: We should cut 3 players because they hold onto the ball too long and have low soccer IQ.

Parents, you are the problem.

We want fairness. Kids who work hard and continue to develop should earn their spot and even move up. On the other hand, kids who consistently hold the team back—whether by being uncoachable, slowing down the team’s development, or contributing to repeated losses—should be moved down to a level that matches their current performance and commitment.

Yes, we want every kid to have a chance to grow, but fairness means holding everyone accountable. It’s not fair to the hardworking players to let others stay in spots they haven’t earned.

One kid scores in almost every game. Multiple goals in some games. But also almost never passes and is responsible for the most turnovers. Can attribute most of the wins to this kid’s goals At same time most of the losses from not distributing the ball and losing the ball. Also less development for the team because one kid hogs the ball. Dilemma?

We have that kid on our team, she will score 1 goal after 15 attempts and 20 turnovers!

Yet everyone has to get the ball to him

15 shots a game in 11v11 sounds like this kid is a real baller

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not looking good for 2nd team kids to move up at u12. Rumor is, our top team took 3 outsiders over 2nd team players. Will follow up. But it’s messed up to take outsiders over 2nd team players.

How is it messed up? My U12 kid is an outsider going to a top team. They are coming from a different top team and not the only one. I have no clue whether anyone on the second team “should” have been moved up. I’m sure some were hoping. Why not take someone who is already used to the competition level/speed of play and can hang with current top team players?

This is the PP. You do have a point. But it is also point that if you are on the 2nd team, and the club says stay with us you will be developed, then they never pull 2nd team players up and take better players from outside the club. Then the club does not value 2nd team players and does not develop them. In our case, we have 3-4 2nd team players who have improved drastically, did very well in tryouts, but the top team took outside players who did not even attend tryouts. The whole thing smells like a big back-door deal.

Does the first team always practice with the second team at your club? If not, maybe those other players went to practices with the first team before tryouts. My child did that at one club. On the day we went it was only the first team of their age group training with the first team of the age group one year older.

I agree that if your kid is on the 2nd team and you feel they should be moved up, go to other clubs' practices/tryouts. They may get a first team offer somewhere else. I know at least two kids where that was the case this spring. Different coaches look for different attributes. Loyalty to a club doesn't really make any sense. Some individual coaches might care about a kid's development, but many do not. We got really lucky to have a coach who recognized and pushed for our kid to be moved up to first team when they were a little younger. I do think being on the first team opens doors. Coaches at other clubs are more likely to let you practice with their first team if they know you are already on a first team.

This is the PP. Yes, our 1st team practices separately, so we can't see what they are doing or who attends ect. Another parent on the 1st team told me they took 3x outside the club players who didn't even attend tryouts, they were at their practice sessions. So, yeah...we can't attend our own 1st team practices, but apparently other kids from other 1st teams can.

Have you asked? We asked a few months ago and were told yes. My son performed well and was invited back whenever it didn't conflict with his team's practice. Tryouts are next week and it is looking like he will make the team. Moral of the story? Ask.

Valid point and I agree with your post and I am happy for the outcome. What you described is what I have witnessed at my previous club. I have asked twice (beginning go the year and now) but the coach never responds, just ghosting. So, Im ranting a little on DCU Mom. Therapy? -Maybe. Sour Grapes -Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not looking good for 2nd team kids to move up at u12. Rumor is, our top team took 3 outsiders over 2nd team players. Will follow up. But it’s messed up to take outsiders over 2nd team players.

How is it messed up? My U12 kid is an outsider going to a top team. They are coming from a different top team and not the only one. I have no clue whether anyone on the second team “should” have been moved up. I’m sure some were hoping. Why not take someone who is already used to the competition level/speed of play and can hang with current top team players?

This is the PP. You do have a point. But it is also point that if you are on the 2nd team, and the club says stay with us you will be developed, then they never pull 2nd team players up and take better players from outside the club. Then the club does not value 2nd team players and does not develop them. In our case, we have 3-4 2nd team players who have improved drastically, did very well in tryouts, but the top team took outside players who did not even attend tryouts. The whole thing smells like a big back-door deal.

Does the first team always practice with the second team at your club? If not, maybe those other players went to practices with the first team before tryouts. My child did that at one club. On the day we went it was only the first team of their age group training with the first team of the age group one year older.

I agree that if your kid is on the 2nd team and you feel they should be moved up, go to other clubs' practices/tryouts. They may get a first team offer somewhere else. I know at least two kids where that was the case this spring. Different coaches look for different attributes. Loyalty to a club doesn't really make any sense. Some individual coaches might care about a kid's development, but many do not. We got really lucky to have a coach who recognized and pushed for our kid to be moved up to first team when they were a little younger. I do think being on the first team opens doors. Coaches at other clubs are more likely to let you practice with their first team if they know you are already on a first team.

This is the PP. Yes, our 1st team practices separately, so we can't see what they are doing or who attends ect. Another parent on the 1st team told me they took 3x outside the club players who didn't even attend tryouts, they were at their practice sessions. So, yeah...we can't attend our own 1st team practices, but apparently other kids from other 1st teams can.

Have you asked? We asked a few months ago and were told yes. My son performed well and was invited back whenever it didn't conflict with his team's practice. Tryouts are next week and it is looking like he will make the team. Moral of the story? Ask.

Valid point and I agree with your post and I am happy for the outcome. What you described is what I have witnessed at my previous club. I have asked twice (beginning go the year and now) but the coach never responds, just ghosting. So, Im ranting a little on DCU Mom. Therapy? -Maybe. Sour Grapes -Yes.

If the coach isn't responding it sounds like they don't think your kid is good enough but they feel awkward having to straight up tell you that. My kid plays on a first team. Sometimes kids from the second team are asked to guest play. These are kids who look really good on their current team. But there's a big jump up in the skill level when going up against teams where a decent number of kids are going to be playing ECNL and MLSNext in a couple years. All of sudden the second team stars don't look so good. A first team coach is looking for someone who can help their team more than they are looking for someone who wants a bigger challenge for themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not looking good for 2nd team kids to move up at u12. Rumor is, our top team took 3 outsiders over 2nd team players. Will follow up. But it’s messed up to take outsiders over 2nd team players.

How is it messed up? My U12 kid is an outsider going to a top team. They are coming from a different top team and not the only one. I have no clue whether anyone on the second team “should” have been moved up. I’m sure some were hoping. Why not take someone who is already used to the competition level/speed of play and can hang with current top team players?

This is the PP. You do have a point. But it is also point that if you are on the 2nd team, and the club says stay with us you will be developed, then they never pull 2nd team players up and take better players from outside the club. Then the club does not value 2nd team players and does not develop them. In our case, we have 3-4 2nd team players who have improved drastically, did very well in tryouts, but the top team took outside players who did not even attend tryouts. The whole thing smells like a big back-door deal.

Does the first team always practice with the second team at your club? If not, maybe those other players went to practices with the first team before tryouts. My child did that at one club. On the day we went it was only the first team of their age group training with the first team of the age group one year older.

I agree that if your kid is on the 2nd team and you feel they should be moved up, go to other clubs' practices/tryouts. They may get a first team offer somewhere else. I know at least two kids where that was the case this spring. Different coaches look for different attributes. Loyalty to a club doesn't really make any sense. Some individual coaches might care about a kid's development, but many do not. We got really lucky to have a coach who recognized and pushed for our kid to be moved up to first team when they were a little younger. I do think being on the first team opens doors. Coaches at other clubs are more likely to let you practice with their first team if they know you are already on a first team.

This is the PP. Yes, our 1st team practices separately, so we can't see what they are doing or who attends ect. Another parent on the 1st team told me they took 3x outside the club players who didn't even attend tryouts, they were at their practice sessions. So, yeah...we can't attend our own 1st team practices, but apparently other kids from other 1st teams can.

Have you asked? We asked a few months ago and were told yes. My son performed well and was invited back whenever it didn't conflict with his team's practice. Tryouts are next week and it is looking like he will make the team. Moral of the story? Ask.

Valid point and I agree with your post and I am happy for the outcome. What you described is what I have witnessed at my previous club. I have asked twice (beginning go the year and now) but the coach never responds, just ghosting. So, Im ranting a little on DCU Mom. Therapy? -Maybe. Sour Grapes -Yes.

If the coach isn't responding it sounds like they don't think your kid is good enough but they feel awkward having to straight up tell you that. My kid plays on a first team. Sometimes kids from the second team are asked to guest play. These are kids who look really good on their current team. But there's a big jump up in the skill level when going up against teams where a decent number of kids are going to be playing ECNL and MLSNext in a couple years. All of sudden the second team stars don't look so good. A first team coach is looking for someone who can help their team more than they are looking for someone who wants a bigger challenge for themselves.

Same experience in my club. Some of the second team kids look great in their games but then fall apart when invited to play with the top team. I agree that most likely the coach does not want to invite the kid but there are diplomatic ways to handle that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents: We want teams to focus on developing players not just winning.

Also Parents: We should cut 3 players because they hold onto the ball too long and have low soccer IQ.

Parents, you are the problem.

We want fairness. Kids who work hard and continue to develop should earn their spot and even move up. On the other hand, kids who consistently hold the team back—whether by being uncoachable, slowing down the team’s development, or contributing to repeated losses—should be moved down to a level that matches their current performance and commitment.

Yes, we want every kid to have a chance to grow, but fairness means holding everyone accountable. It’s not fair to the hardworking players to let others stay in spots they haven’t earned.

One kid scores in almost every game. Multiple goals in some games. But also almost never passes and is responsible for the most turnovers. Can attribute most of the wins to this kid’s goals At same time most of the losses from not distributing the ball and losing the ball. Also less development for the team because one kid hogs the ball. Dilemma?

We have that kid on our team, she will score 1 goal after 15 attempts and 20 turnovers!

Yet everyone has to get the ball to him

15 shots a game in 11v11 sounds like this kid is a real baller

9v9 and this kid is a winger, whenever the ball touches her foot and it’s game over, she’s shooting, no matter what, don't even look to pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents: We want teams to focus on developing players not just winning.

Also Parents: We should cut 3 players because they hold onto the ball too long and have low soccer IQ.

Parents, you are the problem.

We want fairness. Kids who work hard and continue to develop should earn their spot and even move up. On the other hand, kids who consistently hold the team back—whether by being uncoachable, slowing down the team’s development, or contributing to repeated losses—should be moved down to a level that matches their current performance and commitment.

Yes, we want every kid to have a chance to grow, but fairness means holding everyone accountable. It’s not fair to the hardworking players to let others stay in spots they haven’t earned.

One kid scores in almost every game. Multiple goals in some games. But also almost never passes and is responsible for the most turnovers. Can attribute most of the wins to this kid’s goals At same time most of the losses from not distributing the ball and losing the ball. Also less development for the team because one kid hogs the ball. Dilemma?

We have that kid on our team, she will score 1 goal after 15 attempts and 20 turnovers!

Yet everyone has to get the ball to him

15 shots a game in 11v11 sounds like this kid is a real baller

9v9 and this kid is a winger, whenever the ball touches her foot and it’s game over, she’s shooting, no matter what, don't even look to pass.

Why is she a winger? If she actually gets 15 shots a game, I’d say those are good stats lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents: We want teams to focus on developing players not just winning.

Also Parents: We should cut 3 players because they hold onto the ball too long and have low soccer IQ.

Parents, you are the problem.

We want fairness. Kids who work hard and continue to develop should earn their spot and even move up. On the other hand, kids who consistently hold the team back—whether by being uncoachable, slowing down the team’s development, or contributing to repeated losses—should be moved down to a level that matches their current performance and commitment.

Yes, we want every kid to have a chance to grow, but fairness means holding everyone accountable. It’s not fair to the hardworking players to let others stay in spots they haven’t earned.

One kid scores in almost every game. Multiple goals in some games. But also almost never passes and is responsible for the most turnovers. Can attribute most of the wins to this kid’s goals At same time most of the losses from not distributing the ball and losing the ball. Also less development for the team because one kid hogs the ball. Dilemma?

We have that kid on our team, she will score 1 goal after 15 attempts and 20 turnovers!

Yet everyone has to get the ball to him

15 shots a game in 11v11 sounds like this kid is a real baller

9v9 and this kid is a winger, whenever the ball touches her foot and it’s game over, she’s shooting, no matter what, don't even look to pass.

Why is she a winger? If she actually gets 15 shots a game, I’d say those are good stats lol

Cloud Hunting! Aiming for the cloud not the goal!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents: We want teams to focus on developing players not just winning.

Also Parents: We should cut 3 players because they hold onto the ball too long and have low soccer IQ.

Parents, you are the problem.

We want fairness. Kids who work hard and continue to develop should earn their spot and even move up. On the other hand, kids who consistently hold the team back—whether by being uncoachable, slowing down the team’s development, or contributing to repeated losses—should be moved down to a level that matches their current performance and commitment.

Yes, we want every kid to have a chance to grow, but fairness means holding everyone accountable. It’s not fair to the hardworking players to let others stay in spots they haven’t earned.

One kid scores in almost every game. Multiple goals in some games. But also almost never passes and is responsible for the most turnovers. Can attribute most of the wins to this kid’s goals At same time most of the losses from not distributing the ball and losing the ball. Also less development for the team because one kid hogs the ball. Dilemma?

We have that kid on our team, she will score 1 goal after 15 attempts and 20 turnovers!

“15 attempts” meaning shots? If so, how many of those are shots on goal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Especially when those outsiders become starters instantly. Totallly unfair.

So..........,

You think there should be some kind of order of precedence based on how long a player has been with the club?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents: We want teams to focus on developing players not just winning.

Also Parents: We should cut 3 players because they hold onto the ball too long and have low soccer IQ.

Parents, you are the problem.

We want fairness. Kids who work hard and continue to develop should earn their spot and even move up. On the other hand, kids who consistently hold the team back—whether by being uncoachable, slowing down the team’s development, or contributing to repeated losses—should be moved down to a level that matches their current performance and commitment.

Yes, we want every kid to have a chance to grow, but fairness means holding everyone accountable. It’s not fair to the hardworking players to let others stay in spots they haven’t earned.

Half of our team is literally from another club. And more coming

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents: We want teams to focus on developing players not just winning.

Also Parents: We should cut 3 players because they hold onto the ball too long and have low soccer IQ.

Parents, you are the problem.

We want fairness. Kids who work hard and continue to develop should earn their spot and even move up. On the other hand, kids who consistently hold the team back—whether by being uncoachable, slowing down the team’s development, or contributing to repeated losses—should be moved down to a level that matches their current performance and commitment.

Yes, we want every kid to have a chance to grow, but fairness means holding everyone accountable. It’s not fair to the hardworking players to let others stay in spots they haven’t earned.

Half of our team is literally from another club. And more coming

NVArlington 10s or Loudoun Union 09s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents: We want teams to focus on developing players not just winning.

Also Parents: We should cut 3 players because they hold onto the ball too long and have low soccer IQ.

Parents, you are the problem.

We want fairness. Kids who work hard and continue to develop should earn their spot and even move up. On the other hand, kids who consistently hold the team back—whether by being uncoachable, slowing down the team’s development, or contributing to repeated losses—should be moved down to a level that matches their current performance and commitment.

Yes, we want every kid to have a chance to grow, but fairness means holding everyone accountable. It’s not fair to the hardworking players to let others stay in spots they haven’t earned.

Half of our team is literally from another club. And more coming

Sounds like TSJFC brigade is here