Anonymous wrote:OP - How much did you research PPA before you joined? It sounds like your expectations might not have been realistic, given PPA’s reputation and philosophy.

We are also with PPA and it’s a perfect fit for us. Our DD is thriving and learning with them, but we’re also not interested in pushing her too much at her age. PPA travel is only about a step up from developmental, and that works for some families. It’s not for super high-achieving soccer players, at least on the girls’ side. I can’t speak to boys.

It sounds like you might be happier at Bethesda or one of the other more aggressive/ambitious clubs.

Anonymous wrote:OP - How much did you research PPA before you joined? It sounds like your expectations might not have been realistic, given PPA’s reputation and philosophy.

We are also with PPA and it’s a perfect fit for us. Our DD is thriving and learning with them, but we’re also not interested in pushing her too much at her age. PPA travel is only about a step up from developmental, and that works for some families. It’s not for super high-achieving soccer players, at least on the girls’ side. I can’t speak to boys.

It sounds like you might be happier at Bethesda or one of the other more aggressive/ambitious clubs.

Anonymous wrote:OP I could have written this post last year, except that it was most kids’ first year of travel soccer. But what you say about being on the cusp of A/B and the issues with the B team… all the same. Because it was our first year I didn’t really understand the whole “go to other clubs’ practices before tryouts” thing, and only ended up being able to go to one that would not have been a better fit for our kid. We ended up staying put and things have been better this year. Some kids got moved up from the C team who are actually pretty good, and overall the team’s strengths and weaknesses are a better balance than last year. The kids are also starting to understand how to play like a team and not like a bunch of rec all stars used to doing everything on their own. They still lose plenty of games but they’ve had some really nice wins too. That being said, we will probably ask to attend practice at a few other clubs in the spring. There was some talk about our kid possibly moving up to A at some point, but I think it’s just as likely they bring in kids from outside to fill those spots. If our kid does well at practices or tryouts with another club, maybe they have a better chance at top team there.

Question for those with more experience, that might also help OP: do the clubs always ask what club/team your kid currently plays on when you ask to attend a practice? What if it’s a team that lost to their team? Do they automatically think your kid wouldn’t be a good fit in that case? For a couple of the clubs we would look at, my kid’s team played their top team and lost (not surprising since it was their A vs. our B). Will they always let a kid practice once with the top team or would they say nope your kid can only practice with B or lower?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of a second club team. Work hard Get private training. ask how to improve. Put in hours. Third team, second team, starter on the first team. Varsity at a competitive HS. But he has put in an incredible amount of work.

That works, but the quicker way is to jump clubs. It's much easier to make a top team from outside than to get promoted from within.

Maybe. but most kids are placed where they should be. I find that kids that keep moving are always bench players.

OP - If your kid was better than the existing girls, then they would play her. They won't care how long you have been there.

Not quite. What coach would take a bench player from another club to bring them on as a bench player for their team? Coaches want impact players; kids that can start or at least make their team better. They wouldn't invite a player who doesn't have "a certain set of skills".

There are many coaches who won't play some players because of ego, politics, favoritism, and strategy (as silly as that sounds).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of a second club team. Work hard Get private training. ask how to improve. Put in hours. Third team, second team, starter on the first team. Varsity at a competitive HS. But he has put in an incredible amount of work.

That works, but the quicker way is to jump clubs. It's much easier to make a top team from outside than to get promoted from within.

Maybe. but most kids are placed where they should be. I find that kids that keep moving are always bench players.

OP - If your kid was better than the existing girls, then they would play her. They won't care how long you have been there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of a second club team. Work hard Get private training. ask how to improve. Put in hours. Third team, second team, starter on the first team. Varsity at a competitive HS. But he has put in an incredible amount of work.

That works, but the quicker way is to jump clubs. It's much easier to make a top team from outside than to get promoted from within.

Maybe. but most kids are placed where they should be. I find that kids that keep moving are always bench players.

OP - If your kid was better than the existing girls, then they would play her. They won't care how long you have been there.

Anonymous wrote:So the OP thinks their DD should be talking to the top team even though the are getting a lack of playing time on the second team? I gotta say I'm skeptical that the club has screwed up this bad when evaluating this player.