Anonymous wrote:I have a player who was put in an incomplete soccer team ( he’s U12). Only 8 kids on roster. And his teammates are beginners and he’s not. He is extremely unhappy and wants to switch leagues. Trying to get my son’s player card but club won’t release it unless we pay for the entire year. He is not going to the practices. What do I do?

Full disclosure: im not in DC area.

Why not name the team. This sounds like a terrible practice and at the very least, people should know to avoid them or at least be informed so they ask first and do their research before getting stuck like you did.

Anonymous wrote:So does it not bother anyone that if the OP does puller kid, the entire team will probably have to dissolve?! Why not not at least stick it out until the season ends. My god, it's only about 8-9 weeks anyway! Then the club can 1. release all players at the end or 2. try like heck to recruit players over the winter.

No, because it is not OP's responsibility to fill the team roster. That's the club's responsibility and it failed OP and the other team members. It is not OP's job to resolve that situation or stay when the club did not deliver. There's also the issue of the team not being at an appropriate level for her son. This doesn't just impact games. The training will be diluted as well since the coach will have to focus on more basic skills that what her son needs.

My child was in a similar situation once and I did not leave due to concern about the players who would be left behind. It was subsequently demonstrated to me repeatedly that the decision in this type of situation to put what's best for others' kids above my own was a mistake.

Another issue with finishing the fall season is that the club clearly is looking for the full year's fees to be paid (not just the fall season). OP may have a much more difficult time getting out if her son participates in the fall.

So does it not bother anyone that if the OP does puller kid, the entire team will probably have to dissolve?! Why not not at least stick it out until the season ends. My god, it's only about 8-9 weeks anyway! Then the club can 1. release all players at the end or 2. try like heck to recruit players over the winter.

Anonymous wrote:If the parents and kid don't want to be there---and it was a bit under false pretense since they don't have a full roster--why hold a little kid hostage? That is such an *sshole thing to do. I would not go quietly. I'd fight like hell about it.

I know somebody that got a lawyer and the Club was ordered to refund and return card. If you have somebody you know--and don't need to pay in arm and a leg to do this---it's something to think about.

If the parents and kid don't want to be there---and it was a bit under false pretense since they don't have a full roster--why hold a little kid hostage? That is such an *sshole thing to do. I would not go quietly. I'd fight like hell about it.

Playing with 8 players in a 9v9 game is NOT a full team. This rule is in place to prevent a team from forfeiting a game if a few players are late arriving to the game.

.....and that’s way too much playing time. Teams should have at least 11 players so the kids have time for a little rest and get hydrated.

I somewhat agree with the not knowing about beginners on the team but some coaches do tryouts without the team or current players there. I was suspicious when my daughter showed up for a tryout and only 3 kids were there trying out.
We didn’t join this team.

I hate to be the devil's advocate here, but 1. It IS a full team. The rules are very clear that 8 players are enough to play a 9v9 game. 2. How you ended up on a team with all beginners is something you could have/should have easily discovered in tryouts. 3. Having low numbers means LOTs of playing time! There are so many teams here in our area where kids would be begging for that much playing time.

The only 'unfairness' I see here on the club's part is that they treated another family differently.

Publicize their douchiness.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I’m in Colorado. I called Colorado soccer association to help but I’m not sure what can be done. I signed some contract saying I would pay for 10 months. I pay using a payment plan and I’m paid up until this weekend when they will change my card again. At this stage the club won’t release him. My son is devastated. This is actually turning somewhat traumatic for him as he just wants to play with a full team. Ugh. I’m frustrated because he’s a child and I can’t believe the club could be so cruel to punish us. Another family we know left a few weeks ago and they were not required to pay any money.

Look at that age they should release your son. I went through this with a local club. As soon as the state soccer association called over, we were leased in an hour and got out card. Raise hell over at the association.

Time to get the local TV news to help out. In the DC area, WJLA channel 7 has a program called “seven on your side” which helps people get out of screwed up situations.

The minute the TV show indicates how devastated your son is, the soccer team will immediately release him.

Wow! That sounds terrible. They should release him because technically they don’t have enough kids for a team so they aren’t honoring their end of the contract. Or are they filling the roster with kids from higher teams so they can field a team on game days?

The whole situation is just wrong!

Anonymous wrote:OP - are you in Maryland by any chance? Sounds familiar.

Does the club have higher teams at your son's age level that he could play or train with? Is there a technical director you can speak with?

The technical director won’t release him. He can’t play higher, I’ve asked. He’s playing 9 v 9 now so they don’t want him playing 11 v 11 yet

Op here. I’m in Colorado. I called Colorado soccer association to help but I’m not sure what can be done. I signed some contract saying I would pay for 10 months. I pay using a payment plan and I’m paid up until this weekend when they will change my card again. At this stage the club won’t release him. My son is devastated. This is actually turning somewhat traumatic for him as he just wants to play with a full team. Ugh. I’m frustrated because he’s a child and I can’t believe the club could be so cruel to punish us. Another family we know left a few weeks ago and they were not required to pay any money.