Anonymous wrote:I am giggly at the thought of some loser black-balling a kid. All hail--the almighty youth soccer coach. Adults with advanced degrees really worry about this shit? Oh no--coach denied us now will never make a FIFA first team or play for that shitty soccer college. In the big picture, does it really matter?

When you put it that way, it sounds stupid.

But let's put it another way ...

Suppose you have enough commitments to field two teams. Then five of your players bail.

Would you be pissed off? Would other parents be pissed off if the club could no longer field two teams?

If we're talking Arlington or Loudoun or McLean or Vienna or some other club that would just call No. 45 on the list to take No. 23's spot, sure, it's not a big deal. At other clubs, a couple of parents shopping around can create a lot of chaos.

I wish I had a solution short of forcing every travel club to make its offers on the same day.

If your DC can play and is at the top of their age group throughout the area, then it doesn't matter, they will always take you unless the parents are insane troublemakers. Coaches do blackball, but only the players that don't matter anyway, and those players can easily go elsewhere.

I am giggly at the thought of some loser black-balling a kid. All hail--the almighty youth soccer coach. Adults with advanced degrees really worry about this shit? Oh no--coach denied us now will never make a FIFA first team or play for that shitty soccer college. In the big picture, does it really matter?

Anonymous wrote:You either make the commitment or you don't. If decisions are made that affect other kids based on your commitment - and then you back out - who's the a$$hole?

Many under 13 rosters are short this year, and the entire team gets affected. It's not an automatic blackball in US soccer dude, just how some clubs handle it. Some don't care. A lot depends on the league of play and how the parents handle the cancel. Like a mid-year switch.

Rosters are short because greedy clubs field too many teams. There are too many clubs and too many leagues.

My kid moved up a team since somebody bailed--so it benefited us.

They want to be a business, then treat it like a goddamn business and keep emotion out of it.

You can always ask lol. It probably depends on how you handled the initial rejection - if you just said sorry this other team is a better fit, and then midyear you said no actually it's not - vastly different then committing, leaving, and then asking to join

A midyear switch is more of a problem for the team you are leaving then the team you are joining

In general, variables are: player quality, team/league quality, club personalities, coach personalities, parent personalities. Not in that order.

Some coaches are about egos, yes. Some clubs are also about egos - and will override a coach's wish. Sometimes parents are just not welcome back bc of how they handled the roster process. Sometimes parents are forgiven. Sometimes club admin and or a coach moves across town to another club and the grudge travels. Sometimes it gets buried in the past.

Is it also a breach of unwritten travel club protocol or something more serious to reject an offer for the full year only to ask six months later to be able to join the team just for the spring? Wouldn't want to get three generations of our family blackballed, even if we richly deserve it.

You either make the commitment or you don't. If decisions are made that affect other kids based on your commitment - and then you back out - who's the a$$hole?

Many under 13 rosters are short this year, and the entire team gets affected. It's not an automatic blackball in US soccer dude, just how some clubs handle it. Some don't care. A lot depends on the league of play and how the parents handle the cancel. Like a mid-year switch.

Anonymous wrote:IMO you are better off not responding at all then accepting and then backing out. When you accept, you automatically deny another kid a spot - and the clubs take it very seriously, many will consider it a burned bridge - some even take it as far as the entire family since it's the parents who are making the final decisions about things

If you simply don't respond to an acceptance, eventually you will be contacted - it depends on if the roster is basically full and you're the last person to go on, they probably won't press too hard. But if you're occupying a key slot and they are afraid of losing their alternate if you decline, expect some pressure because they need to extend an offer to the alternate if you're declininc

Once you commit, you commit. It's ok to express your concerns about not committing (practice logistics, a chance for a better league, etc) - but don't back out once you've said yes.

GL!

That is completely asshole-ish. It takes them 2 seconds to fill the slot of kids that end up changing their mind. This is about EGOS. There are a host of family reasons that have nothing to do with these stupid clubs. Sometimes it's you want siblings in same place. Sometimes you aren't sure if you will be able to hack the commute. Sometimes you tryout a few places and like the style of one place better by the tryout sessions are weeks apart. If you are talking about an upper age group A team---it makes a little more sense. But--anything below U13-come on---give me a break. I would not want to be part of any Club that penalize players for that crap.

IMO you are better off not responding at all then accepting and then backing out. When you accept, you automatically deny another kid a spot - and the clubs take it very seriously, many will consider it a burned bridge - some even take it as far as the entire family since it's the parents who are making the final decisions about things

If you simply don't respond to an acceptance, eventually you will be contacted - it depends on if the roster is basically full and you're the last person to go on, they probably won't press too hard. But if you're occupying a key slot and they are afraid of losing their alternate if you decline, expect some pressure because they need to extend an offer to the alternate if you're declininc

Once you commit, you commit. It's ok to express your concerns about not committing (practice logistics, a chance for a better league, etc) - but don't back out once you've said yes.

GL!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FPYC tryouts: http://fpycsports.com/travel-team-try-outs/

Does anyone have an idea of FPYC player needs for rising U12 Boys (2006) teams.

They have two 2006 teams with relatively small rosters. They are always looking to add players. I think their "A" team is in like Division 5 or 6 of NCSL and their "B" team is obviously lower, so I think it'[s fair to say that they have all sorts of needs.

Yes, we are looking for more 2006s. We have an excellent coach for this age group and each player gets great one-on-one attention and training.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FPYC tryouts: http://fpycsports.com/travel-team-try-outs/

Does anyone have an idea of FPYC player needs for rising U12 Boys (2006) teams.

They have two 2006 teams with relatively small rosters. They are always looking to add players. I think their "A" team is in like Division 5 or 6 of NCSL and their "B" team is obviously lower, so I think it'[s fair to say that they have all sorts of needs.

Is schedule posted anywhere for CYA tryouts?

Anonymous wrote:FPYC tryouts: http://fpycsports.com/travel-team-try-outs/

Does anyone have an idea of FPYC player needs for rising U12 Boys (2006) teams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The 24-48 hours timeline to accept is so tricky. DD is trying out at several places, but of course the place she really wants is the last tryout on the list. So we'd have to decline any other spot in order to pursue tryouts there, possibly ending up with nothing. Either that, or accept a spot, then back out later if she gets in where she really wants. Do people do that often, accept a spot and then back out? Is that burning a bridge or is it very common?

We didn't accept and hedged our bets for a tryout that was a month away. It worked out. I think until you actually pay a deposit you are good. It happens a lot. If they are the type of place that is going to hold it against a little kid, then you are better off somewhere else anyways. It's a personal decision and has no reflection on the Club. People are just trying to find the best fit and environment for their kid.

I would also recommmend contacting the coach of the desired team to see if your daughter could attend a practice. Based on that the coach may be able to give you an idea if your daughter would be a good fit for the team. Let the coach know about your situation. I would hope that most coaches would give you honest feedback.

Anonymous wrote:The 24-48 hours timeline to accept is so tricky. DD is trying out at several places, but of course the place she really wants is the last tryout on the list. So we'd have to decline any other spot in order to pursue tryouts there, possibly ending up with nothing. Either that, or accept a spot, then back out later if she gets in where she really wants. Do people do that often, accept a spot and then back out? Is that burning a bridge or is it very common?

Agree. It's tough all around. Our kids just got offers for first choice in every aspect--except commute. I still am trying to weigh if it's feasible or will just be a nightmare in travel time. Other tryouts aren't until end of month/early June. It's not exactly chump change we'll lose if we pay non-refundable deposit and then go somewhere else. Some of it is also dependent on which team.

If clubs were more transparent life would be easier. My kids can take constructive criticism--they just need to know where they stand. I know clubs don't know who will ultimately show up at tryouts-but "we see you mostly likely on x team"--or something !