Serious Question

[Anonymous]

How many people really care about the club versus just the team their child plays on? Would you rather have a club with a development plan and process but might finish lower/mid table at younger age groups or would you rather just win at all cost at those younger ages? Does the club actually matter to you or just the team your child plays on? Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

We put our kids in the developmental club (actually pulled them from a big name club on a high team at U10). We stayed there until they hit 8th grade. Best.decision.ever. Development is most important in the younger years. They then have the skills and soccer iq to make the higher teams later. Yes, it can be hard to break onto them when rosters are full--but there is always room for good players.

[Anonymous]

The club determines how far you are driving to practice. Worth it if you get to u14 and it looks like your kid may play in college, otherwise, not worth it

[Anonymous]

I picked a club (Arlington) based on proximity so DD would meet neighborhood friends. She's met friends, and now she's being demoted from her team. She makes friends pretty easily, but i'm questioning that goal for picking a club.

[Anonymous]

We care about playing for a club that doesn’t require us to drive an hour each way to practice. Beyond that, we only care that the team is a good fit for our kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I picked a club (Arlington) based on proximity so DD would meet neighborhood friends. She's met friends, and now she's being demoted from her team. She makes friends pretty easily, but i'm questioning that goal for picking a club.

What does her getting demoted have to do with Arlington specifically? That could happen at any club.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean play in college or receive a scholarship to play in college? 2 different things.

[Anonymous]

Would you rather have a club with a development plan and process but might finish lower/mid table at younger age groups or would you rather just win at all cost at those younger ages?

No, one shouldn't win at all costs, but if your child's team is losing every single game all the time, that's discouraging for the kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many people really care about the club versus just the team their child plays on? Would you rather have a club with a development plan and process but might finish lower/mid table at younger age groups or would you rather just win at all cost at those younger ages? Does the club actually matter to you or just the team your child plays on? Thanks in advance.

The Club matters if you're invested and playing top tier, otherwise any mid/lower tier team is the same at any club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many people really care about the club versus just the team their child plays on? Would you rather have a club with a development plan and process but might finish lower/mid table at younger age groups or would you rather just win at all cost at those younger ages? Does the club actually matter to you or just the team your child plays on? Thanks in advance.

The Club matters if you're invested and playing top tier, otherwise any mid/lower tier team is the same at any club.

I think there's a fair bit to be said for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We put our kids in the developmental club (actually pulled them from a big name club on a high team at U10). We stayed there until they hit 8th grade. Best.decision.ever. Development is most important in the younger years. They then have the skills and soccer iq to make the higher teams later. Yes, it can be hard to break onto them when rosters are full--but there is always room for good players.

Do you mind sharing which club you switch your kids to? I am contemplating doing the same

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We put our kids in the developmental club (actually pulled them from a big name club on a high team at U10). We stayed there until they hit 8th grade. Best.decision.ever. Development is most important in the younger years. They then have the skills and soccer iq to make the higher teams later. Yes, it can be hard to break onto them when rosters are full--but there is always room for good players.

Do you mind sharing which club you switch your kids to? I am contemplating doing the same

Not PP but Premier AC is a great spot to be for development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We put our kids in the developmental club (actually pulled them from a big name club on a high team at U10). We stayed there until they hit 8th grade. Best.decision.ever. Development is most important in the younger years. They then have the skills and soccer iq to make the higher teams later. Yes, it can be hard to break onto them when rosters are full--but there is always room for good players.

Do you mind sharing which club you switch your kids to? I am contemplating doing the same

Not PP but Premier AC is a great spot to be for development.

+1. They tend not to be competitive, but have a heavy focus on development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We put our kids in the developmental club (actually pulled them from a big name club on a high team at U10). We stayed there until they hit 8th grade. Best.decision.ever. Development is most important in the younger years. They then have the skills and soccer iq to make the higher teams later. Yes, it can be hard to break onto them when rosters are full--but there is always room for good players.

What's the name of development club?

[Anonymous]

Our club is focused on development in the younger years. Plus community service and social emotional development of the girls (it’s a club heavily weighted for girls). Middle school and HS we have highly ranked teams (one won the 2019 Nationals and two teams going this year, plus US women’s National teams players).

Kids are in elementary and we aren’t even targeting college play, but the club is exceptional at developing the girls. If talented and gifted, the club can get you all the way.