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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So when you get an offer letter or whatever it’s called, how does that work? Can the club move a player up or down during the year? [/quote]

Yes. My son was offered a spot on the top team and moved to the B team as soon as the season started. A few new kids appeared after the initial roster was set and it was clear they would need to make space on the top team for them. They were undeniably better than any of the existing players. It was disappointing for our son and I felt like it was a bait and switch. A few weeks into the season, my son was over it and so was I. The B team was still a strong team and I think it’s a better fit for his skill level. If I couldn’t clearly see that the new players were better than my son, I probably would have had a tougher time accepting it. [/quote]

Although the situation does suck in the long run it's probably best for him as he likely gets a lot more playing time than he would have had on the top team.  He has an opportunity to continue developing and build some confidence so that next year he can challenge for the top team.[/quote]

I'm much happier that my kid at U-little plays on a B team, rather than A teams.  First, it is a lot more fun to watch the games where your kid makes a big difference in the outcome of a game, Second, less stress and yelling by the coach if they mess up a play, Third, DC still practices and scrimmages against the top team, and Fourth, the A team parents are pretty intense / crazy, always yelling at their kids during the game what the kid should be doing.  I'm sure at U11, DC will be called up to A team, but we're enjoying the lesser stress at this time.  The part that sucks is when DC or another gets called up to play with the A team at a tournament or game, leaves our B team weaker.[/quote]

I couldn't agree more.  A teams, especially at top Clubs, have a pressure to win, win, win and most will do anything beginning at U9 to do that which flies in the face of developing these players for how they will be at 16/17/18 years old and beyond.  They tend to pigeonhold kids to position.  They tend to be joysticked more.  They tend to play in more tournaments and have games farther away.  They have the expectation that they have to purchase every additional training the Club offers. They have the pressure to not  miss a single practice or game---even when it is a family wedding or something that will be so much more important than an 8-year old's soccer game in life.

I also agree there is an intensity on the sidelines of almost all 'A' teams from parents.  They exude stress. They are always looking at other kids as the enemy.  God forbid a kid from one of the 'lowly' teams guest plays for them.

Being on a B team in the younger years allows the kids to scrimmage the A team at practices.  It allows the players a lot more freedom and leeway in terms of missing practices or deciding not to play futsal or to get individual training somewhere on their own not affiliated with the Club.  The parents, for the most part, tend to much more relaxed.  They tend to have a bigger picture and a long-term development in mind.

I look at our A teams crazy schedule and crazy, butt-clenched so tight they could polish quarters and I am so glad my kid is playing in a relaxed environment.  With older kid, we have seen the benefit now that he is entering teen years.  Most of those A team kids started dropping the sport by middle school, burned out or they no longer could hang on the A team and couldn't handle a demotion.

Of course, there are exceptions.  However, they tend to be few.[/quote]

There were 11 kids on my son's U10 A team. 9 of them are in DA now (U14). I agree many great players were on B team when they were young. But saying most of A team players will burn out or drop maybe is not making too much sense.
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