OP back to say DC is in the exact boat we thought they would end up in. Staying on A team of current club is definitely not happening, because DC now has an offer for the A team at another smaller club with seemingly better team dynamics and coaching. There is a big drop off between the A team and B team there. DC also has an offer to start out on B at a big club. The big club moves players up and down based on how they’re developing, but realistically there is a lot of competition for the A team. There is less of a drop off between A and B at the big club, so presumably this competitive environment would push DC a little more than the small club. On the other hand, maybe it’s a little too competitive in terms of all the kids on A essentially competing with each other all the time. We have seen that a bit among the B team players at the current club and it seems it comes with some drama… people talking about who was asked to guest play with A, being asked to guest play multiple times but then not being moved up, etc. I see pros and cons to each.

Anonymous wrote:The age old question. DC is rising U12 and on an A team. But the program isn’t super strong and the team does not do very well in games against competition of a similar level. DC is frustrated with teammates who seem not to care. DC has attended practices at a couple of other places and gotten some positive feedback. But it feels like the offers will not be for the A team. These are good clubs and I could tell right away the coaching was better. DC held their own with the A team players, but I know the reality is they have to be that much better than many of the existing players in order to break onto a team.

DC wants to make their HS team eventually, at a school where it’s very competitive to even make JV. I worry that staying at the weaker club means they won’t get the development needed. But on the other hand it’s a bummer to think about stepping down to a lower competition level even if it’s a better club. Plus the possibility of less attention/resources on a B team.

What is the best option for U12? DC feels sort of torn right now. Would love to hear some real life experiences if your DC was ever in a similar situation.

We were in the exact same situation. My son was prepared to take B or C and then fight his way up but is landing A offers right now which just validates we were in the wrong club.

Get B team, accept extra coaching and training and earn a call-up with the A team, prove yourself and take someone’s spot.

Look at the coaching and if you can, watch the B teams play. Listen to parents and the way the coach communicates with the kids, and see how they are with each other and the opponent on the field. If DC could land on the B team and it's a good fit, U13 is around the corner with bigger rosters. It is really all about fit and the player being happy; development won't happen if the player feels like an outsider or does not like the environment.

Stay with the current team. Doesn’t really matter as they are a B team player on an A team in name only. At least the current club will prioritize coaching and resources for the “A” team. B teams at big places fall off around u11-13 as pathways start to actualize and many kids realize that it’s not in the cards.

Anonymous wrote:Op, please realize the coaching might not be better at a bigger club on a B team. That was my point at 20:05. B teams matter much less at some clubs. Go where you are played. Ask to guest play up.

PP who is on a B team. I agree with this position also. Our A team has a much better coach and they get priority for training and bigger tournaments, the A team kids are getting better-faster. Our B team is good, but it has been lower level experience. Its still better than our old A team, so we're staying and waiting in the shadows for now for an opportunity to move up.

Op, please realize the coaching might not be better at a bigger club on a B team. That was my point at 20:05. B teams matter much less at some clubs. Go where you are played. Ask to guest play up.

I have a boy a few years older and I would recommend moving your son. Don’t just try for the bigger club where you think he’ll be on B team but look further and attend more tryouts. Maybe there is a small club that has a good coach and competitive team that your son can try out for. Even if he doesn’t make these A teams the experience could motivate him to work harder. But B team in large club is a better option than his current team IMO. There is a good amount of player movement at U12-U14. Some boys stop developing and others improve significantly.
Just realized OP didn’t say it was a son oops sorry

OP, tough decision. I think knowing who the coach will be is the bigger question. We were on the A team in a small club and left to the B team at a power house. The B Team is stacked and my kid starts, but subs out also. At the A team, my kid was a star player, but the club was so weak...it was apparent at all the tournaments. At the B team, we dominate. The coaching isn't much better, but the other kids are a lot better and more dedicated.

We are going to stay and my silver lining is to be around other kids that are good and dedicated to extra training. At our old club, no one was doing extra training -it showed often, the A team lost a lot. At the B team, kids are doing all kinds of stuff to get better, it is lot more competitive. Although we have less playing time, we do more training and play more games and enter more tournaments.

I wish my kid could play center-mid & striker the whole game like she did at her old club, but she was not surrounded by good players, so it was frustrating (and the coach was not that great)...so we left. Now, she plays winger & striker and plays half the game, the coach is bit better, but the other kids she practices with 3x per week are much better and we can find kids to do extra training with.

So, it's better and she could easily go back to her old A team...but at this point she wouldn't want to.

OP here. Thanks for the input so far. DC gets a lot of playing time where they are now. But the team just isn’t competitive in their league and I can tell it’s wearing on DC. I think they could get an offer for an A team at another club that is slightly more competitive on the league, and probably be a decent contributor. But I just feel like it will be a stretch to make it to A on these very established teams at the bigger clubs. I really don’t know how to weigh the developmental benefits of playing time in games/playing against better competition vs a better training environment.

I’ve seen some opposing teams with a lot of players on the bench and don’t get much playing time. I think that would be very frustrating and don’t see how players can improve with 5 to10 mins playing time per game.

DC was in a similar situation last year and we decided to stay with smaller club mainly because of more playing time that he gets. The coach is great but I do worry that the practice sessions are not as strong due to only a couple teammates at his level. We have supplemented with clinics here and there that have helped DC improve. He is going to attend a couple tryouts this spring but it’s a hard decision.

B team at a bigger club if they are playing in a higher level league and the coaching is good. A team at a small club otherwise. My DC has played at small and large clubs. He started on A at a big club but was moved to B team and that team was quite competitive and he developed a lot. Then he moved to another club where he was rostered B but guest played every A game. If not for the opportunity to play with the A team, it would have been a complete disaster as the B team was completely non-competitive and the coach focused solely on the A team. He left and went to an A team at a small club with good coaching but the kids lacked commitment and they played in a low level league so that wasn’t great. Finally he moved to an A team at a large club that provides good coaching, competition and commited players. My point is that you have to look at the individual team environment rather than A or B.

Stay where they are and, sorry to say, get a private trainer. Once on a B team always on a B team for nearly everyone. We made that mistake.

What’s better for DS is the team where he’s going to improve the most, and get playing time.

The age old question. DC is rising U12 and on an A team. But the program isn’t super strong and the team does not do very well in games against competition of a similar level. DC is frustrated with teammates who seem not to care. DC has attended practices at a couple of other places and gotten some positive feedback. But it feels like the offers will not be for the A team. These are good clubs and I could tell right away the coaching was better. DC held their own with the A team players, but I know the reality is they have to be that much better than many of the existing players in order to break onto a team.

DC wants to make their HS team eventually, at a school where it’s very competitive to even make JV. I worry that staying at the weaker club means they won’t get the development needed. But on the other hand it’s a bummer to think about stepping down to a lower competition level even if it’s a better club. Plus the possibility of less attention/resources on a B team.

What is the best option for U12? DC feels sort of torn right now. Would love to hear some real life experiences if your DC was ever in a similar situation.