I'll add a communications technique that I find very helpful. Once you've decided what you are going to tell the coach, just repeat it whenever asked and add nothing even if ppl ask follow-up questions.

so

You: "Larla is going to start working with Coach Kristin, because we wanted her to have experience adjusting to different coaching styles."

Coach: "What? Why would you do that"

You: "we wanted her to have experience adjusting to different coaching styles."

Coach: Are you mad becuase x, y, z?

You: shrug . . . "we wanted her to have experience adjusting to different coaching styles."

Thien do the exact same thing when friends/competitors ask about the coach change.

What sport?

Easiest to blame driving distance (moving to a team that is closer to your home or kid’s school), finances, practice times etc.

Don’t say a negative word about the current coach or team to anyone (if you need to vent, do it to family or a trusted friend) and there shouldn’t be any bad blood.

When did you know that it was time to switch coaches? DD’s Coach has fought her from the beginning but has become increasingly negative and unhelpful. This has demoralized DD. I am concerned that switching will create bad blood. How would you handle this? Any excuse I can give - like it’s not you, it’s us?