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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think when clubs have A, B, C teams, it’s valuable to all the players because they are placed at the appropriate skill level and get to have decent playing time so skills can improve (Next Level, Freedom, Alpha, Warhawks).  What I didn’t know before that I know now is that is how most clubs work.  However, the club DD was at did not have tiers and only 1 team per an age group with 20+ players (sometimes more than 25+ players) and only the “core” team got all the playing time and the rest just paid the carrying cost for the club (play anywhere between 0 to 5 minutes of a 55 minute game).  Over $3500 per year excluding travel expenses, uniform, equipment, membership fees.  At the club my DD was at, the coach would tell those carrying cost players you aren’t strong enough to play at this tournament (would also say we aren’t here to win but here to develop players) but wouldn’t inform them or the parents prior to the tournament that their DD would not get playing time and those families would spend another $1000 to $2000 in airfare, hotel costs.  The coach would say it’s a learning experience to dress and be on the sidelines.  Thinking back maybe that was the club’s way to get DD to leave but I don’t think the club’s cost model would work without the carrying cost players.  So parents looking for field hockey clubs, make sure you find the right fit for DD.  Don’t pay to be on a team where your DD won’t develop.  Don’t be the offset carrying costs.  Ask the questions to the club about number of players on the team, number of teams that attend a tournament by age group, how is playing time distributed at local, regional, vs National events.  For recruiting events, make sure you understand the amount of playing time  DD gets otherwise it’s a pointless money pit.  It’s okay for DD not to be on the A team or B team.  It’s not okay for DD to be an offset to carry the clubs costs.  It’s not okay to grow a player.  It’s mentally unhealthy to cultivate a single team with the core players and the outsiders (different when starters and subs).  These outside players know it and feel the pain of not truly being apart of the team.  In the end each of us are paying money for a service and you should know the service you will receive.[/quote]

This is so true.  [/quote]

This is only true if parents can accept that their kid is placed on a team they should be on. Many people think their kid is better than they are. Also, a negative if a large club is the lower level teams get worse coaching. So they won’t improve. There are not enough coaches in this are to support all the teams. There are also not enough facilities. [/quote]

The DMV has grown and coaches are available.  The number of public high school and private school field hockey coaching staff clearly shows that.  Facilities are a different story but clearly Warhawks, Freedom, Hussel, Next Level, and even H20 and Alpha have figured that issue out too as they are clearly running businesses as it’s not just the love of the game.  Being on a single large team with “strong” coaches doesn’t mean the coaches coach to the lowest common denominator.  Most of the low skilled players are sidelined even during practice.   I watched numerous practices back in the day where my DD would be standing with a group of  “lower tiered” players watching the same core group practice corners and other drills while the head coach ignored them and focused all attention to the top players all the while half the field is completely empty where other skill drills could be taking place.  I saw the same thing occur during practice scrimmages where the coach would forget to sub them in even at practice.  As for parents accepting what level their DD should be placed in is a problem in either situation:  1 large team or A/B/C team because either they won’t be happy with amount of playing time/development on large team or might not like having their child on a low team.  I can say with experience I prefer DD on the team that’s allows her time to touch the field and not be carried by the top players so she can learn and grow.  That has pushed DD every year to get better and retry-out during placement annually.  [/quote]

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