Anonymous
05/09/2019 13:37
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Sincerely, I really see only downside to going over to a really small club. Fewer resources, much riskier proposition of team/program continuity, do they have reliable field allocation, etc. Not that bigger is better, but you are taking a fair amount of extra risk moving to a small outfit that does not have all the resources and infrastructure of your existing program.
I agree that there are risks when moving to a small club. But there can be huge benefits: a lot more attention, better coaching, more progress for your player. If you don't believe that those things will happen then it might not be worth the switch. But if you do, I don't know why people wouldn't try it, considering you can always switch back at a later date. I especially don't understand why people would choose to have their U9 or U10 kid on a third, fourth, fifth, sixth team rather than explore other options.
This makes sense theoretically, but where would you go specifically if you had say a current U10 on the 3rd/4th team at ASA and lived in the Falls Church area?
Anonymous
05/09/2019 13:37
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at two clubs - one BIG and one Little. Very different experiences. One is on a top team at a Big club - for him it's a good fit. But I really don't see that the club has done a great job of developing players. At the top teams they really mostly try to steal kids from other top teams. The players on the second team and below rarely get a look for the top team. The little club doesn't start with the same quality and depth of kids, so they have to develop them. He has had the same coach the last couple of years and developed nicely. The team is a nice friendly feel and not cut throat and stressful like at the big club.
The way you are breaking it down makes it seem like: competitive players belong in big club vs mid-tier/less serious players in small club. I can kind of see what you mean. Bug clubs have a more obvious "pathways" to elite soccer as they like to say. But it hasn't been my experience that the big club is all serious and the small club is relaxed. My experience of having two kids in two clubs, one big and one little, is that the kid in big club has pretty much remained C-team level and his team is so-so. The kid in the small club started out with a mix (some very strong players and some ok) players who have all grown and improved and compete against the big club's A team. So, over all, I not only have seen more personal growth but a lot more team growth with the small club.
Anonymous
05/09/2019 13:29
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
Anonymous wrote:Sincerely, I really see only downside to going over to a really small club. Fewer resources, much riskier proposition of team/program continuity, do they have reliable field allocation, etc. Not that bigger is better, but you are taking a fair amount of extra risk moving to a small outfit that does not have all the resources and infrastructure of your existing program.
I agree that there are risks when moving to a small club. But there can be huge benefits: a lot more attention, better coaching, more progress for your player. If you don't believe that those things will happen then it might not be worth the switch. But if you do, I don't know why people wouldn't try it, considering you can always switch back at a later date. I especially don't understand why people would choose to have their U9 or U10 kid on a third, fourth, fifth, sixth team rather than explore other options.
Anonymous
05/09/2019 13:22
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
I have a kid at two clubs - one BIG and one Little. Very different experiences. One is on a top team at a Big club - for him it's a good fit. But I really don't see that the club has done a great job of developing players. At the top teams they really mostly try to steal kids from other top teams. The players on the second team and below rarely get a look for the top team. The little club doesn't start with the same quality and depth of kids, so they have to develop them. He has had the same coach the last couple of years and developed nicely. The team is a nice friendly feel and not cut throat and stressful like at the big club.
Anonymous
05/09/2019 12:43
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
Anonymous wrote:I am seriously considering switching my U12 player to a very small soccer club in the fall. We are currently at a small/medium sized club. The reason for the move is that I feel he would play with players that are better than the players on his current team. The new club only has one team per age group and therefore they focus solely on that team. I see that as a huge positive because in my experience, in the bigger clubs if you are on a B or C team, you are often overlooked. The obvious cons would be no upward growth or progression as individual players become better. They also do not have a DA club, however our current club doesn’t have that either.
I am not a soccer expert. I am hoping that some of you can weigh in and tell me if there is anything else I need to think about before moving him. For those of you on clubs that are small, what has your experience been like? Thank you very much.
You're club gets sold and moved to Springfield?
Anonymous
05/09/2019 12:43
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
Sincerely, I really see only downside to going over to a really small club. Fewer resources, much riskier proposition of team/program continuity, do they have reliable field allocation, etc. Not that bigger is better, but you are taking a fair amount of extra risk moving to a small outfit that does not have all the resources and infrastructure of your existing program.
Anonymous
05/09/2019 11:27
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
Anonymous wrote:Go and watch the team play. If they are routinely connecting 5+ passes, then it is a good sign. If they just kick the ball downfield, there is no development. You have to look at the work product of the coach to make an intelligent move, the rest is just marketing.
Op here. Great advice. Thanks. I’ll get to a game.
Anonymous
05/09/2019 09:42
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
I have a kid at PAC, which has one to two teams per age group. It has been a great experience with a wonderful, committed coach who is very focused on developing the players. Some of the kids didn't make neighboring big clubs and now play at a higher level than the teams that turned them down. Player improvement has been phenomenal. The atmosphere is supportive and positive - it has been a great experience for my son.
One downside is that the small size means that player departures have a big impact. By definition, there isn't as much depth as at other clubs. This has affected our team somewhat whereas I see some of the younger teams, who have managed more consistency, have very strong teams that play in the state cup and Jefferson cup, for example.
For us being in a small club has been overwhelmingly positive.
One downside is that the small size means that player departures have a big impact. By definition, there isn't as much depth as at other clubs. This has affected our team somewhat whereas I see some of the younger teams, who have managed more consistency, have very strong teams that play in the state cup and Jefferson cup, for example.
For us being in a small club has been overwhelmingly positive.
Anonymous
05/09/2019 09:29
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
Anonymous wrote:These are all good points. We are at a very small club in Fairfax County. Love the fact that the coaches across all age groups know my kids. We have the same turf field for all practices and home games. It is a tight knit group, and the kids are close. I plan to have the kids stay there until about U12 and then will reevaluate once I know their commitment to soccer.
We are also at a small club in Fairfax County that practices on the same turf fields (same for home games). We are probably at the same club. Anyway, I specifically chose this club over a large club where my child would have been placed on the C team. We are very happy with our choice for the same reason - close group, coaches know the kids, one team per age at most ages so no 'second class citizen' nonsense. The cons are that mobility is limited and the league (NCSL up to U12, not sure if any of the older groups have entered into any of the more competitive leagues). However, those are only cons if your child is you are trying to position your child for scholarships/playing at collegiate level.
Anonymous
05/09/2019 09:21
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
Go and watch the team play. If they are routinely connecting 5+ passes, then it is a good sign. If they just kick the ball downfield, there is no development. You have to look at the work product of the coach to make an intelligent move, the rest is just marketing.
Anonymous
05/09/2019 09:04
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
These are all good points. We are at a very small club in Fairfax County. Love the fact that the coaches across all age groups know my kids. We have the same turf field for all practices and home games. It is a tight knit group, and the kids are close. I plan to have the kids stay there until about U12 and then will reevaluate once I know their commitment to soccer.
Anonymous
05/09/2019 08:08
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
Lots of pro to small clubs and the cons can be mitigated with some commitment from coach and families.
- Big clubs have resources! Fields, larger player pool for recruiting, and depth.
- Small clubs - coaches are much more invested, but could be unstable if he/she decides to leave
- Development of team vs development of player, those two are not always aligned. Best players vs best team.
- Financials- this is where responsible adults need to step in. I've seen some small teams where the manager and sometimes the coach mismanaged the money so bad it was borderline criminal. However this is done, it needs to be transparent.
- Big clubs have resources! Fields, larger player pool for recruiting, and depth.
- Small clubs - coaches are much more invested, but could be unstable if he/she decides to leave
- Development of team vs development of player, those two are not always aligned. Best players vs best team.
- Financials- this is where responsible adults need to step in. I've seen some small teams where the manager and sometimes the coach mismanaged the money so bad it was borderline criminal. However this is done, it needs to be transparent.
Anonymous
05/09/2019 07:52
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
We've had a great experience at our small club. We've been through three good coaches since U9 (now rising U14) and they have only gotten better. If a team is good, small clubs can enter them into EDP for higher competition. If you and your player don't have your hearts set on DA, then I would say go for it. The closeknit, family feel of a small team with a good coach is worth it.
Having said that, cons are: less overall club marketing; tough to recruit; not great club communication....But these are higher-level issues that don't really affect your player's experience.
Having said that, cons are: less overall club marketing; tough to recruit; not great club communication....But these are higher-level issues that don't really affect your player's experience.
Anonymous
05/09/2019 02:16
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
If this team is good, then it's only because the coach is good. If that is the case, make sure that the coach plans to be there for a while.
Anonymous
05/09/2019 00:37
Subject: Pros/Cons of a small (tiny) soccer club
I am seriously considering switching my U12 player to a very small soccer club in the fall. We are currently at a small/medium sized club. The reason for the move is that I feel he would play with players that are better than the players on his current team. The new club only has one team per age group and therefore they focus solely on that team. I see that as a huge positive because in my experience, in the bigger clubs if you are on a B or C team, you are often overlooked. The obvious cons would be no upward growth or progression as individual players become better. They also do not have a DA club, however our current club doesn’t have that either.
I am not a soccer expert. I am hoping that some of you can weigh in and tell me if there is anything else I need to think about before moving him. For those of you on clubs that are small, what has your experience been like? Thank you very much.
I am not a soccer expert. I am hoping that some of you can weigh in and tell me if there is anything else I need to think about before moving him. For those of you on clubs that are small, what has your experience been like? Thank you very much.