C3PO wrote:My 14 year old son wanted to change clubs - he likes his coach where he currently is, but the location doesn't work well for him any more. He's only on a mid level team, and that is fine and where he belongs. However, his tryout at the club where he wanted to be (and where more friends from his current school play) resulted in a weaker offer than where he's currently at. He doesn't want to move backwards, so he's going to stick with his current club for next year. However, I was wondering if folks had suggestions on better ways to try out in the future. At the tryout for the club where he wanted to be, they had all the kids try out on a non-full sided field, and it was too crowded and not much playing time for anyone. Do people contact the clubs beforehand to ask to attend a practice, even if they are not on a top team or trying to get on one? Anything else a player who is just decent can try to do to promote himself going forward to get at least an equivalent spot to where he is at?

C3PO wrote:My 14 year old son wanted to change clubs - he likes his coach where he currently is, but the location doesn't work well for him any more. He's only on a mid level team, and that is fine and where he belongs. However, his tryout at the club where he wanted to be (and where more friends from his current school play) resulted in a weaker offer than where he's currently at. He doesn't want to move backwards, so he's going to stick with his current club for next year. However, I was wondering if folks had suggestions on better ways to try out in the future. At the tryout for the club where he wanted to be, they had all the kids try out on a non-full sided field, and it was too crowded and not much playing time for anyone. Do people contact the clubs beforehand to ask to attend a practice, even if they are not on a top team or trying to get on one? Anything else a player who is just decent can try to do to promote himself going forward to get at least an equivalent spot to where he is at?

C3PO wrote:However, his tryout at the club where he wanted to be (and where more friends from his current school play) resulted in a weaker offer than where he's currently at.

dcu13 wrote:

C3PO wrote:However, his tryout at the club where he wanted to be (and where more friends from his current school play) resulted in a weaker offer than where he's currently at.

Just curious what you mean by a "weaker offer". Does that mean, for example, he's currently on a club's B team but is being offered a spot on the new club's C team?

retiredref wrote:Yes, players that are successful at finding the right fit do not rely on tryouts to find their next team. You can start looking any time. Know you current situation and whether you need to keep it a secret or not, but as the parent you can help by starting to identify potential other teams within your driving range that might be an appropriate level. Your child can also help with this by asking around with friends at school what teams they play on and what those teams are like. When you have identified teams worth taking a look at reach out to the coach or manager if that's the contact information available and ask about attending an open practice. Very few teams will be opposed to setting this up. An open practice has two massive advantages over a tryout--usually you are the only trialist there so the coach can really get a good look at what you can do and it's a real practice so you get to see how the coach runs a practice and what the team is like. When an open practice goes well you can try to keep it going and build that relationship, go to more practices and look for opportunities to guest play with that team so you can see how you would fit in during games. Tournaments, summer leagues, and futsal or indoor in the winter are some great opportunities to guest with the team. If you can't guest make sure you and your child go and watch a game so you can see how the coach behaves on the sideline and how the team plays on the field and make sure it will be a good fit for you. If you wait for tryouts to start looking you may as well put on a blindfold and throw a dart at names on the wall to pick a new team.

When I was a ref I had a massive advantage in this process because I could research the teams out there just by choosing those age groups to work on the weekends so I could see all the teams out there and all the coaches. While you may not be out on a soccer field every weekend like that you could still go watch a few games. The more information you have the better you are able to make an informed decision.

DCpetunia wrote:This doesn't always work, BTW. DD did this, this year. Asked to practice with the team; did so every week or 6-7 weeks before tryout. Kept asking coach if ok to keep practicing, coach said yes, told her what to work on, said she was in the mix for a spot, come to tryouts. I didn't get too involved - didn't want to be a pushy parent. Ttryouts came, DD went to all sessions, tried out with the same team (club has 4 teams at her age group - 2007), wasn't moved down to a team lower than the one she practiced with. Tryouts ended 2 weeks ago, haven't heard a thing.

I suspect the worst. And maybe I should have forced the issue and asked for a more detailed assesment of her prior to tryouts. But also feel like the coach should have indicted if she wasn't really "in the mix" for a spot. I get that it is competitive, and they might not want to commit before the tryout in case a better player shows up. But come on, to go through all of that, not be pushy, and get no indication that she wouldn't make it, keep being invited back, then nothing at all? Unprofessional in my view. At least be clear that she would have a tough time making the team.

But let me know if I read it wrong, or handled it wrong.

Just curious what you mean by a "weaker offer". Does that mean, for example, he's currently on a club's B team but is being offered a spot on the new club's C team?


This is actually a very good point. If the club is larger and has more teams or play at a higher level, the weaker team ( possibly lower level) may be right for his level. A team 2 player for one club will often equate to a team 3 or 4 player at a larger more skilled club. I would see which league and division the team plays in to decide if its actually weaker.

DCpetunia wrote:

retiredref wrote:Yes, players that are successful at finding the right fit do not rely on tryouts to find their next team. You can start looking any time. Know you current situation and whether you need to keep it a secret or not, but as the parent you can help by starting to identify potential other teams within your driving range that might be an appropriate level. Your child can also help with this by asking around with friends at school what teams they play on and what those teams are like. When you have identified teams worth taking a look at reach out to the coach or manager if that's the contact information available and ask about attending an open practice. Very few teams will be opposed to setting this up. An open practice has two massive advantages over a tryout--usually you are the only trialist there so the coach can really get a good look at what you can do and it's a real practice so you get to see how the coach runs a practice and what the team is like. When an open practice goes well you can try to keep it going and build that relationship, go to more practices and look for opportunities to guest play with that team so you can see how you would fit in during games. Tournaments, summer leagues, and futsal or indoor in the winter are some great opportunities to guest with the team. If you can't guest make sure you and your child go and watch a game so you can see how the coach behaves on the sideline and how the team plays on the field and make sure it will be a good fit for you. If you wait for tryouts to start looking you may as well put on a blindfold and throw a dart at names on the wall to pick a new team.

When I was a ref I had a massive advantage in this process because I could research the teams out there just by choosing those age groups to work on the weekends so I could see all the teams out there and all the coaches. While you may not be out on a soccer field every weekend like that you could still go watch a few games. The more information you have the better you are able to make an informed decision.

This doesn't always work, BTW. DD did this, this year. Asked to practice with the team; did so every week or 6-7 weeks before tryout. Kept asking coach if ok to keep practicing, coach said yes, told her what to work on, said she was in the mix for a spot, come to tryouts. I didn't get too involved - didn't want to be a pushy parent. Ttryouts came, DD went to all sessions, tried out with the same team (club has 4 teams at her age group - 2007), wasn't moved down to a team lower than the one she practiced with. Tryouts ended 2 weeks ago, haven't heard a thing.

I suspect the worst. And maybe I should have forced the issue and asked for a more detailed assesment of her prior to tryouts. But also feel like the coach should have indicted if she wasn't really "in the mix" for a spot. I get that it is competitive, and they might not want to commit before the tryout in case a better player shows up. But come on, to go through all of that, not be pushy, and get no indication that she wouldn't make it, keep being invited back, then nothing at all? Unprofessional in my view. At least be clear that she would have a tough time making the team.

But let me know if I read it wrong, or handled it wrong.

DCunited wrote:Travel teams for A and even B teams is political. In the rare instance your kid is Elite everyone can ID that. However coming from a outside team and just practicing with A team will generally not get the desired effects a parent would hope. You have to remember those coaches have to deal with A and B kids parent who has been on club for many cases years. So my advice if kids not elite set expectations and have the kid earn there way up. Target B team and not A team. Tryouts are a farce, they are used to fill in some players on the lower teams. Most slots are locked prior to tryouts.

DCunited wrote:Travel teams for A and even B teams is political. In the rare instance your kid is Elite everyone can ID that. However coming from a outside team and just practicing with A team will generally not get the desired effects a parent would hope. You have to remember those coaches have to deal with A and B kids parent who has been on club for many cases years. So my advice if kids not elite set expectations and have the kid earn there way up. Target B team and not A team. Tryouts are a farce, they are used to fill in some players on the lower teams. Most slots are locked prior to tryouts.