Can someone tell me about playing "up" and how it works?
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Anonymous
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My 13 year old is a starter on the top team of a strong club in the area. His coach did something that we are struggling with how to respond to. I'm not sure we'll keep him on the team, and are looking for other options.
One option my kid has suggested is maybe moving to another team that's an age group up, in the same club. So, instead of playing A team U14, he would play B team U15 or something like that. I'm not sure how that works logistically. Does anyone have experience? |
SocAnon
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| We moved our kid for similar issue. The coach was lackluster (just on time to practice, lots of scrimmaging, poorly executed drills, not addressing fouls at scrimmages). We weren't ready to move clubs, as the next club is about 10 more minutes away, so we moved our kid up a year in the spring tryouts. The club accepted our kid and placed them on the B team. But they put all new players on the B team and never adjusted the A and B team rosters. The A team kids have formed cliques and haven't been very welcoming. (The The B team kids and coach has been a step down competition-wise and that A team 'fire' just is not there. The kids have been bigger and faster and our kid has become a little timid as a result of it. Next season, we will but out kid back at the appropriate age group but try to change clubs completely. We are just looking for proper development from a competition and coaching standpoint. Our kid didn't really like switching teams, but there were issues with the last coach and now playing up there are a host of new issues. Logistically, our kid kept the same number (luckily) , the club technical director had to approve the transfer and the registrars had to switch our player between teams. |
Anonymous
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Thanks!
Our issues aren't soccer related. I mean, they are issues between a soccer coach and an athlete, but the thing that happened wasn't a soccer thing. The coach seems good at developing kids' skills. |
Anonymous
| "Playing up" can be a benefit to a player who is exposed to a higher level, faster play likely more skilled players etc. I think my only caution is we saw there can be a huge difference in size of players during these years - a small player is going to have to learn how to match up against bigger, stronger, faster players and the game becomes much more physical. We were advised by several coaches that playing up could help with our player's development - and we did notice that but they really needed to be fast, have better endurance and push themselves with their ball handling. I think each age group can only have a few players that are "playing up" on their roster, and I don't think I would advise a 2 year play up (which I believe is the max you can play up. |
Anonymous
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My ds is playing up around that age you all are speaking of. He was on the B team previously on age and went to an A team a year up. He needed to be with kids who were playing faster and more skilled than him. It is working out great. Many players and competition are a little bigger, stronger and faster and it has forced him to improve which I knew he could do. He is not the best on the team which is fine, he falls in the middle. Im not sure how long we will play up but it has worked great in our favor this year.
I am not a fan of playing up to a weaker team than you left. If the playing up team is in 3rd division for example, this will be weaker than your 1st or 2nd division team even a year down. Your kid may play with players with bad form, passes, touches and low game iq. You should watch the team and make sure it's one your child can learn from, not one that will make them play worse. |
Anonymous
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If he plays up, can he repeat that level next year? I'm not sure it makes sense for him to stay up.
Or maybe playing up would be good for him as a player. My goal is just to keep him away from the coach. If he stays "up" what does that mean for his senior year? He'll be 17 all senior year, is that fine and he just plays as an 18 year old? |
SocAnon
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Yes, he can repeat that level the next year. |
Anonymous
| I would only play up if he plays on the A team |
Anonymous
Even if the other choice is to change sports? Staying where he is might not be a choice. |
Anonymous
| Sounds like you need a new club, not necessarily "playing up". If you are avoiding a coach, in a club, its seems pretty hard to stay away from a coach. And if the coach did something that is that questionable why are they still a coach. Options seem to be 1) switch sports, 2) switch clubs 3) play up |
Anonymous
OP here, I don't have control over the bolded. |
Anonymous
OP, you obviously do not need to share what the coach did. But if it was bad enough that you are looking to make changes, perhaps this coach needs to change his ways. He's probably treated players similarly in the past and will repeat his behavior in the future. https://system.gotsport.com/forms/7875767H9 - MD Youth soccer concern reporting https://www.vysa.com/3270-2/ - VA SafeSport https://www.vysa.com/training-for-parents-guardians/ - VA resources for parents and guardians. https://uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern/ - US Center for SafeSport. Link to report a concern. Bad coaches continue their poor behavior, including verbal and emotional abuse, because they aren't encouraged to change their behavior. Change or find another job where kids aren't affected. |
Anonymous
I'd argue that you do have control over the bolded statement. If their behavior warrants it you can report the coach as another poster provided great resources or your player can leave - playing up or moving out. |
Anonymous
I have reported. My kid leaving doesn’t address what I bolded which is the coach still coaching other kids. |
Anonymous
there are a bazillion soccer teams in this area. |