Anonymous wrote:Alexandria U16 MLSNext parent. Team had the same group of kids for the first few years. His U16 team only has two kids from original U11 team. 11 new players this year. 25 kid roster, only 18 can dress out for games.

Whoa, is that typical particularly for that age group? Where did everyone else go?

Alexandria U16 MLSNext parent. Team had the same group of kids for the first few years. His U16 team only has two kids from original U11 team. 11 new players this year. 25 kid roster, only 18 can dress out for games.

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious how large the rosters are. A previous poster said “called up on the roster.” Does this mean there’s a pool and not everyone is “on the roster” for every game? If you don’t make the roster do you even suit up and come to game?

At our club, the pool is 24 for most age groups. 18 can be called up for game day roster. And the ones that are not in the game day roster do not suit up or go to the game. The subs do change regularly (everyone does suit up and play at some point; some more regularly than others) and can play on other teams at the club on the weekends they don’t make the roster.

I’m curious how large the rosters are. A previous poster said “called up on the roster.” Does this mean there’s a pool and not everyone is “on the roster” for every game? If you don’t make the roster do you even suit up and come to game?

We have a coach who does not know the rules. He plays his favorites, and his only goal is to win.

Anonymous wrote:typical dad trying to brag about how great his son is but truth is he's prob just sitting on the bench.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Troll

Anonymous wrote:DS went to practices at a few MLSNext clubs, offered spots at all of them and picked one. Was a starter from the beginning. So if your kid is good, all clubs will likely see that. However, the chances of that happening increases if you can finagle a practice invite as opposed to attending the open tryouts.

Good luck!

PP here. What’s troll like about that post? Is it unheard of? I think it’s pretty common to do it this way.

OP, seriously , just reach out to the coaches of the team you want to get on and request to attend a practice. Obviously talk about what an awesome player your kid is esp if you’re coming from a no name club like we were but we’ve never been declined a practice. The worst they can do is say no, just attend the open tryout.

But of course be realistic about your DS skill level. If your kid is not already the best one on their team, might be a harder sell.

I didn’t say he was the best player on the MLSNext team he got on. Just that he had a starting spot from the get go. You can still start all the time and not be a standout player.

A few years in, he is a much better player and a standout now but isn’t that the point in practicing with other clubs to find the right fit? The goal was to find a club where our kid will get playing time immediately and where they can get better bc of the skill level of teammates and the training.

Im not sure why you’re so triggered by my post, I thought I shared some practical advice! But good luck to you and your player.

typical dad trying to brag about how great his son is but truth is he's prob just sitting on the bench.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Troll

Anonymous wrote:DS went to practices at a few MLSNext clubs, offered spots at all of them and picked one. Was a starter from the beginning. So if your kid is good, all clubs will likely see that. However, the chances of that happening increases if you can finagle a practice invite as opposed to attending the open tryouts.

Good luck!

PP here. What’s troll like about that post? Is it unheard of? I think it’s pretty common to do it this way.

OP, seriously , just reach out to the coaches of the team you want to get on and request to attend a practice. Obviously talk about what an awesome player your kid is esp if you’re coming from a no name club like we were but we’ve never been declined a practice. The worst they can do is say no, just attend the open tryout.

But of course be realistic about your DS skill level. If your kid is not already the best one on their team, might be a harder sell.

Anonymous wrote:Troll

Anonymous wrote:DS went to practices at a few MLSNext clubs, offered spots at all of them and picked one. Was a starter from the beginning. So if your kid is good, all clubs will likely see that. However, the chances of that happening increases if you can finagle a practice invite as opposed to attending the open tryouts.

Good luck!

Some kids would be a top player at any team they try out for. Not understanding what is hard to believe about that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah but doesn't mean he plays. I've seen this with our team. Players who have been with the club, the team, the coach. They were good. They used to start but now with the new coach and with new players joining the team, they just ride the bench, and they are happy to do so cause they are still with the same team.

Anonymous wrote:My kid is with the same club he's been with since u-little. He's been on the top team for a few years and when he reached the age where MLS Next started he was offered a spot on the team.

Most of the boys on his team are also most homegrown -- most of them have been with the club playing on the top team (in the youth years before MLS Next) for several years now. We have a couple new kids that joined the first year of MLS Next, but not many.

I guess every club, even clubs in MLS Next, approaches playing time differently. In my experience, every player seems to play at least 50% of the time, on average; that means some games a player might play a bit more than half and other games a bit less than half, but on average at least half a game. Of course, some players play far more than that - even the full game.

So yes, playing time is not identical for each player once you reach MLS Next in my experience, but no player in my experience just "rides the bench." Not saying it doesn't happen at some clubs, but certainly not every club.

On DS team, everyone called up on the roster gets playing time. Of course how much time varies widely but even some players who are not regularly on the roster end up playing a lot when they are called. So I think everyone does have an opportunity to shine and earn more regular playing time.

Anonymous wrote:Troll

Anonymous wrote:DS went to practices at a few MLSNext clubs, offered spots at all of them and picked one. Was a starter from the beginning. So if your kid is good, all clubs will likely see that. However, the chances of that happening increases if you can finagle a practice invite as opposed to attending the open tryouts.

Good luck!

PP here. What’s troll like about that post? Is it unheard of? I think it’s pretty common to do it this way.

OP, seriously , just reach out to the coaches of the team you want to get on and request to attend a practice. Obviously talk about what an awesome player your kid is esp if you’re coming from a no name club like we were but we’ve never been declined a practice. The worst they can do is say no, just attend the open tryout.

But of course be realistic about your DS skill level. If your kid is not already the best one on their team, might be a harder sell.

Troll

Anonymous wrote:DS went to practices at a few MLSNext clubs, offered spots at all of them and picked one. Was a starter from the beginning. So if your kid is good, all clubs will likely see that. However, the chances of that happening increases if you can finagle a practice invite as opposed to attending the open tryouts.

Good luck!

DS went to practices at a few MLSNext clubs, offered spots at all of them and picked one. Was a starter from the beginning. So if your kid is good, all clubs will likely see that. However, the chances of that happening increases if you can finagle a practice invite as opposed to attending the open tryouts.

Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:Yeah but doesn't mean he plays. I've seen this with our team. Players who have been with the club, the team, the coach. They were good. They used to start but now with the new coach and with new players joining the team, they just ride the bench, and they are happy to do so cause they are still with the same team.

Anonymous wrote:My kid is with the same club he's been with since u-little. He's been on the top team for a few years and when he reached the age where MLS Next started he was offered a spot on the team.

Most of the boys on his team are also most homegrown -- most of them have been with the club playing on the top team (in the youth years before MLS Next) for several years now. We have a couple new kids that joined the first year of MLS Next, but not many.

I guess every club, even clubs in MLS Next, approaches playing time differently. In my experience, every player seems to play at least 50% of the time, on average; that means some games a player might play a bit more than half and other games a bit less than half, but on average at least half a game. Of course, some players play far more than that - even the full game.

So yes, playing time is not identical for each player once you reach MLS Next in my experience, but no player in my experience just "rides the bench." Not saying it doesn't happen at some clubs, but certainly not every club.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to all who replied. It is so hard to know what is the best path. I want to believe that if a player is talented and works hard, they will be brought in, regardless of where they play, who they know. I think that it can happen. Some of the examples support that.

But it is hard to keep the faith, and as the coaches love to say, trust the process, given all the politicking / currying of favor that goes on in the region. How kids get pigeonholed, etc., don't get a real look.

It's just the effects of supply and demand in play. It's not politicking so much as hey look, there are 4-5 really good kids coming from other clubs trying out for the same spot my kid plays in!

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to all who replied. It is so hard to know what is the best path. I want to believe that if a player is talented and works hard, they will be brought in, regardless of where they play, who they know. I think that it can happen. Some of the examples support that.

But it is hard to keep the faith, and as the coaches love to say, trust the process, given all the politicking / currying of favor that goes on in the region. How kids get pigeonholed, etc., don't get a real look.

How old is your son? I would say, don't wait to be moved up to the MLSNEXT team. Have a talk with the coach. And go try out at other clubs, MLSN or ECNL.