Anonymous wrote:Has anyone actually ever done a mid-season switch? If so, what was the experience like? How did the coach of the current team take the news?

We switched last winter. Worked out great for us...better team, better coach, more playing time.
Coach of current team was pissed, but that's nothing that you should ever worry about. Clubs/teams are ALWAYS going to do what's best for them, and you should always do what's best for you.

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone actually ever done a mid-season switch? If so, what was the experience like? How did the coach of the current team take the news?

Yes. Parents on the team we left were pissed and would no longer let their children interact with mine. It cemented the move being for the best. It was a toxic team and club.

New club and team was great for the spring season and we're still there a year later. Don't listen to the negative comments. They are trolls that are afraid of off season switches effecting their player's playtime. The grass was much greener on the other side.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a parent who just brings his kid to our practices, just showed up and asked the coach a few minuted ahead of time... the Coach was like sure, let's see how it goes. The player was average, not great, but not bad.... totally bypassed the tryouts all together. Fast forward 6 weeks, the kid is still here and making friends on the team. Still not on the team yet, but its very likely they will be come spring time or very least, they will have a leg-up at tryouts next March.

-Sometimes, it's the pushy parents that make things happen.

This sounds annoying.

This is PP, it is slightly annoying. Most parents aren’t thrilled and the lower team parents are rumored to be upset someone is jumping the queue to move up.

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone actually ever done a mid-season switch? If so, what was the experience like? How did the coach of the current team take the news?

It wasn't pretty. Kids and parents were upset we took time away from their players.

Has anyone actually ever done a mid-season switch? If so, what was the experience like? How did the coach of the current team take the news?

Anonymous wrote:We have a parent who just brings his kid to our practices, just showed up and asked the coach a few minuted ahead of time... the Coach was like sure, let's see how it goes. The player was average, not great, but not bad.... totally bypassed the tryouts all together. Fast forward 6 weeks, the kid is still here and making friends on the team. Still not on the team yet, but its very likely they will be come spring time or very least, they will have a leg-up at tryouts next March.

-Sometimes, it's the pushy parents that make things happen.

This sounds annoying.

Anonymous wrote:Question for those considering this: are you just willing to spend the few thousand bucks involved? We are pretty unhappy with our child’s current club but I don’t see how we would get our money back. And then we would be paying some kind of prorated fee plus cost of new uniform kit for the new club? I also don’t understand the logistics of whether our child would be allowed to play for a different team in the same league (VPSL). It all just seems daunting.

I am intrigued by the idea of being on the “practice squad” of a different club. Is that really a thing? We would at the very least like to get on the radar of a few clubs before spring tryouts. How early is too early for that? How many practices do they realistically let you attend? Do kids really pop in and out of practices for the same club over a period of months? We are at the point where our child would probably enjoy just being able to practice with a different group with better team dynamics, even if they have to stick it out at the current club until next year.

Hi, you sound like me last year. I would start as soon as possible. I believe our club pro-rates the new player fee if they join mid-season. Depending on your old club, they may make you pay the full fee for the year or call it good. You will have to make sure the old club is financially satisfied before they release your player card. The club staff 'registrar' (not the coach usually) can give you the financial details. VPSL is not as strict as ECNL RL/ ECNL and they will probably let your kid switch out mid-year, thus making them eligible to play elsewhere. You do have an Advocate at VYSA. You can call the VYSA office in Fredericksburg if your club registrars are not helping you. https://www.vysa.com/contact-us/

Secondly, if your kid has never switched teams before, they may or may not be intimidated or have some anxiety by coming out to a different club and have mixed feeling about leaving their old club -hopefully they are just as ready as you are to switch. (VPSL is 9-11 year olds) And, waiting until tryouts is not always the best strategy for a bigger club where lots of kids come out. I've seen girls walk off crying at tryouts for new clubs because it's overwhelming. And I've seen good players not even get on the coaches' radar and not even receive offers. Outstanding players will always get on the coaches' radar, so that is usually not an issue (just have them wear the Argentine Messi jersey and headband with their Name on it in big letters juggling a tennis ball while walking on the the tryout field, you're golden.) But for everyone else, a good strategy is to reach out to the club and explain you would like to switch, now is the time to brag and talk up your kid, then ask to come out to a practice. Just get the time and location of where the team(s) practice and come out. If the coach asks, just tell them the club said its ok. (Money talks after all.) And the reason you do this is to get on the coaches' radar before spring tryouts, otherwise you will probably get an offer for the bottom team if you just show up for tryouts.

Some kids do just come to practices until they are registered with the club and some kids on the lower teams just come to practice enough times until the upper level coaches accept them on the team also. You can come as much as the club and coach is willing to have your kid. It will be obvious if your kid is not a good fit after 1-3 practices. But if they are, just commit to the new team until you're either registered or until spring tryouts come around.

This is the best advice I can give you. If you see a dead end with your current club and the moral/ environment has stagnated and you are not getting your money's worth.... I'd get your kid used to the idea of switching sooner rather than later. It will make for an easier transition when you do switch, you'll be more successful in switching this way, especially for an average player. -Good luck!

As stated above you email the club director for your kids age group and a specific coach if you are set on a certain team if you want. Every club will let you come to a practice or two normal with the top team or second team. A coach will know if they want your kid normally within the first 15 minutes of practice. So after the first practice that the idea when you talk to the coach, if they don't seem actually interested, I'd move along unless your willing to entertain the next team down if you're looking to actually move mid-year instead of looking for a switch for next year. Also, you will have to make sure you are fully paid up at your current club for the year year, pay at least half fees for the new club for the spring season and possibly even winter season, and purchase new uniforms. So be prepared to draw over two grand.

Question for those considering this: are you just willing to spend the few thousand bucks involved? We are pretty unhappy with our child’s current club but I don’t see how we would get our money back. And then we would be paying some kind of prorated fee plus cost of new uniform kit for the new club? I also don’t understand the logistics of whether our child would be allowed to play for a different team in the same league (VPSL). It all just seems daunting.

I am intrigued by the idea of being on the “practice squad” of a different club. Is that really a thing? We would at the very least like to get on the radar of a few clubs before spring tryouts. How early is too early for that? How many practices do they realistically let you attend? Do kids really pop in and out of practices for the same club over a period of months? We are at the point where our child would probably enjoy just being able to practice with a different group with better team dynamics, even if they have to stick it out at the current club until next year.

Anonymous wrote:We have a parent who just brings his kid to our practices, just showed up and asked the coach a few minuted ahead of time... the Coach was like sure, let's see how it goes. The player was average, not great, but not bad.... totally bypassed the tryouts all together. Fast forward 6 weeks, the kid is still here and making friends on the team. Still not on the team yet, but its very likely they will be come spring time or very least, they will have a leg-up at tryouts next March.

-Sometimes, it's the pushy parents that make things happen.

our club will let players like this join our "practice squad" (pays less, not eligible for games). Helps us out in practices when we want to do some things 11v11

We have a parent who just brings his kid to our practices, just showed up and asked the coach a few minuted ahead of time... the Coach was like sure, let's see how it goes. The player was average, not great, but not bad.... totally bypassed the tryouts all together. Fast forward 6 weeks, the kid is still here and making friends on the team. Still not on the team yet, but its very likely they will be come spring time or very least, they will have a leg-up at tryouts next March.

-Sometimes, it's the pushy parents that make things happen.

Email the club you are interested in. Ask them about the try out process. Many clubs have try outs on a rolling basis and they will invite kids to train.

We've seen an uptick in kids in the last couple of weeks.

Anonymous wrote:How good is your kid? Email the coach of the top team in your age group and ask if you can come check out a training

+1

You don’t have to be a top player to do this though. Just be realistic about your players skills and aim for the team on the level where you think they can fit in.

How good is your kid? Email the coach of the top team in your age group and ask if you can come check out a training

The fall season is complete for most kids and they have a winter break from soccer. What is the best way to approach other teams that we are interested in about a mid-season move?