Mannschaft wrote:Choosing between two clubs for a 2014 boy. I have an older daughter that had a good experience starting travel at U9, so assume that I am going to choose one of these (ie. don't want to continue playing house). Both clubs are approximately the same driving distance to practice and games (very close).

Club A

Pros:

- Older daughter has played at every level of the club, and has generally had a good experience.
- Club is pretty large, and has probably twice as many 2014s trying out. I think the age group will be strong top to bottom as they age.
- Club is our local club, and my son goes to public school. He will have friends and classmates who play for the club, and will likely be in the same school (at some point) with his teammates.

Cons:

- I think there is a good chance my son will be placed on the bottom team.
- I'm not a fan of the bottom team coach. I like the other coaches in the age group, though.
- Only the top team practices 3 days a week. My son will get 2 days a week of practice, potentially widening the gap between him and the top team.

Club B:

Pros:

- Friends play for this club on the boys side, and like it.
- My son's best friend will likely play for this club's team. We could carpool, at least to practice.
- I suspect my son would play for one of their middle teams (ie. not the bottom).
- All kids at the club practice 3 days a week.
- We have attended camps at this club before, and liked them better than the camps at our current club.

Cons:

- Close by, but most of the club's kids will likely be in a different school pyramid than mine.
- About half as many 2014 boys, so the club may not be as competitive as they age.
- I feel a little disloyal putting my son in a rival club (they will play each other).

Thoughts?