You don’t owe your coach or club anything. You are signing 1 year renewable agreements for your kids (& family). As another poster wrote, if another skilled player came along, they wouldn’t hesitate to drop your kid’s time or roster slot.

Find the best team, coach, and environment for your player. That may mean tryouts at several clubs.

Anonymous wrote:I learned with my first kid that several people do this, some people narc on other families (not sure why they use that info as currency but I believe they think if they narc it will some how give an advantage to their family, not sure), and there is zero loyalty in club sports. Zero. And I am not talking exclusively about soccer.

Typical rat behavior. Backfires a lot. People with talented kids don’t rat. They don’t need to try to squash others to make top teams.

Snitches get stitches. Lol

Seems normal to try out for multiple clubs. I wouldn’t worry about it at all as long as youre honest and not sneaky or talking about others.

I learned with my first kid that several people do this, some people narc on other families (not sure why they use that info as currency but I believe they think if they narc it will some how give an advantage to their family, not sure), and there is zero loyalty in club sports. Zero. And I am not talking exclusively about soccer.

Anonymous wrote:Our DD already received her offer and we accepted with deposit only. She's 90% staying with this club, but she's still trying out for three other clubs in the area.

1) It's good practice.
2) Always nice to see where you stand in other clubs.
3. Might find yourself more comfortable with another team/coach.

In the end, it doesn't hurt. However, I wouldn't flaunt that information around. I'd keep it quiet.

If you have already committed by making a deposit, how can you accept a better offer?

Club directors know each other too. I know for a fact that directors have reported kid from “your” club are registered at “‘mine”. Not sure why they do it, but overheard them as I walked by them at a regional league game earlier this month.
Be honest with the coach about why you’re looking around. Higher level, more playing time, wary of the new coach the team will have next year, closer to home, whatever your reasons are they are valid to you.

Yep. There are rats. We also had 1 or 2 travel coaches threaten the kids with 'if you tryout elsewhere I will find out, it does get back to me'. The entire thing is such BS and intimidation when they don't afford the kids the same transparency going into tryouts. Club loyalty is complete BS.

When parents are being asked to pay $3k+/year, they should shop around as you would with any purchase that large. If a coach/club were confident in their development/coaching, etc., they wouldn't be afraid to welcome that.

My kid talked to 1 or 2 teammates about trying out at another club. Seems that both teams and their parents and coaches all knew it in about 1 week's time.

Remains to be seen if it will affect her offer for next year. But I suspect it will. Out coaches have-not been very communicative otherwise, i.e. not proactive with their communication and development.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, sometimes it hurts your kid (if coaches don't like them) and sometimes it helps your kid (if coaches like them).

If the coach or club says anything to you just say "it's our policy to try out at multiple clubs every season".

Clubs hold tryouts every season.

all this….. keeps clubs in their toes if your kid is a game changer. Motivated game changing kids on the other side of the pitch …. Coaches nightmare. Especially at older ages when clubs need publicity. You always remember and wonder about the ones that go away… ( and embarrassed you and ur team)

Easy cowboy lol probably best to let your coach know at some point. When that is, is your business.

Who cares what your current coach or club thinks if you go to another team's practice? Do they guarantee that your kid has a spot and won't get bumped for the full year you've paid for? When a new shiny kid shows up, they're not told to wait until next year because your kid paid in full and deserves the coaching attention and game time you thought you're getting.

Our DD already received her offer and we accepted with deposit only. She's 90% staying with this club, but she's still trying out for three other clubs in the area.

1) It's good practice.
2) Always nice to see where you stand in other clubs.
3. Might find yourself more comfortable with another team/coach.

In the end, it doesn't hurt. However, I wouldn't flaunt that information around. I'd keep it quiet.

Anonymous wrote:After thinking about it I'm wondering if word gets to the coaches that their kids are trying out for other clubs. Do coaches even care?

This is going to be coach-dependent, of course. But bear in mind that even though there are a number of clubs in the area, a lot of coaches know each other. And certainly parents/players know each other. If your DC is a great player and/or a favorite player of your current coach, then maybe trying out elsewhere doesn't have any negative consequences. If you decide not to tell your current coach that you're looking around, then you run the risk of them finding out from another coach, parent or player. Some coaches will take that negatively. Others might not care. Also, you shouldn't discount the very real possibility that another parent or player "reports" back to your current coach that your DC was at another club's tryouts in an attempt to curry favor with the coach. The "politics" of youth soccer can be pretty nauseating sometimes.

Yes, sometimes it hurts your kid (if coaches don't like them) and sometimes it helps your kid (if coaches like them).

If the coach or club says anything to you just say "it's our policy to try out at multiple clubs every season".

Clubs hold tryouts every season.

Was at a practice last night and a few parents were talking about trying out at other clubs either just for fun or to see what happens. We're all within 2011-2013. My kid already made the travel team for next fall but I already planned to attend two other club tryouts just for practice and to see what happens. After thinking about it I'm wondering if word gets to the coaches that their kids are trying out for other clubs. Do coaches even care?