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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We have a U12 DC who is currently playing on the pre-ECNL RL team at their club. The highest level teams at the club are RL. For multiple reasons, we are concerned that the current club will not be a good fit for next year/long term. DC is probably a long shot for making a national league team next year, though DC does want to try out. I think it's a more realistic goal to try to end up on a solid RL team where DC can keep developing. Mainly looking for decent coaching and a club that seems stable/well run.

So my question is... what is the best way to navigate this? [b]Should we reach out to coaches and ask to attend practices this winter? It seems like so much is going to change for next year between some kids making the national leagues plus the age group change. Can coaches even give a good idea of whether a player would be a good fit for their RL team next year before they see who shows up to tryouts in the spring? Is it good to just get on coaches' radar before the open tryouts regardless? [/b]Have certain kids already been identified as potential/likely to make the national level teams and thus coaches know how many spots they'll need to fill on RL teams?

A related question... how might we handle potentially going back to an old club if that seems like a good fit? We left at the request of DC due to a not great coaching situation. The coach liked DC (tons of playing time) but was just very negative/not motivating. Presumably that coach will not be coaching the older players. Do we reach out ahead of time or just show up whenever tryouts happen?

I just want to find a place DC likes, where they can be challenged but feel like a contributor, and where the club seems healthy/functioning. I feel bad for DC that we haven't quite been able to figure this out.[/quote]

Start now.  We are U12 MLS Next I/ECNL level and we have been [b]invited[/b] to 3 practices over the last 2 weeks.  [b]I was a little shocked that this happens like this.  I spoke to another parent recently more experienced than me with an older kid and he said his kids spots have always been locked in before tryouts.[/b]

Because we are not really with a coach that we really like right now, I am visiting the potential teams now and watching the coaches.  Once coaching assignments come out in the spring, I will request to go to that coaches practice.  IG has the historical coaching assignments so you can get a feel for who the coaches will be at some of the major clubs.  This may be more than you want to do but I will probably know where we are going after MLS Next announces BY vs SY and the clubs announce their coaching assignments but before tryouts.

[b]I would also ask your coach for feedback on what your kid needs to work on and spend the winter months working on 1-2 things that can improve your game.[/b]  [/quote]

Geez, it is early. Were you invited to the practices because you reached out to someone at the club? [/quote]

Invited.  Interested how people read what they want to read.

The most important piece was also probably missed.  If your child continuously works on their game, they will be coveted by coaches in the area.  I have found a mostly entitled mentality in local soccer.

[/quote]

So you’re saying your child was scouted at a tournament or somewhere and asked to practice with a team or teams? You didn’t approach them at all first? My child is not at the MLSNext level and as I said ECNL is a long shot too. Trying to understand how this works for us commoners whose kids want to make a competitive high school team in a few years, no college or pro aspirations here.[/quote]

No, I did not approach them at all at first.  I didn't even know that is how this world operates until I experienced it.  Here is what I have absorbed so far.  There are two types of people at the top of the food chain in youth soccer:

1) People who only want the best kids involved.  This preserves the competitive environment they are creating for their kids.
2) People who don't want others to know about opportunities to ward off competition.  They have kids who can hang for a while but generally should not be included.

The category 1) people are the coaches and parents who are inviting my kid out.  The parents will tell the coaches "I saw this kid at XXX and he can play...you need to invite him to practice."

The category 2) parents are DCUMers who are cringing that I am sharing this information publicly with you.  The Mid-Atlantic is small and it is almost a guarantee that you will land on a team with a parent who played D1 locally for a Mid-Atlantic D1 program with someone who is now a coach or club administrator.  It is just the reality I have experienced so far.

It is just like college recruiting.  If a club knows you are all-in, they will probably be willing to take a chance on it.  Proceed how you want with this information.[/quote]

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