Anonymous wrote:There's not much upside to talking to your current coach/club about changing teams, especially before you're 100% sure about your next step. Our experience is that sometimes coaches to think that they're the ones in the driver's seat regarding out kids' futures, i.e. we should let them know about trying out somewhere else.

That being said, there's no reason to burn bridges. Just try to keep it a positive experience.

Plus--some are real pr*cks about anyone looking around, even out of curiosity. My kid wanted to check out other Clubs just to see what they were like after two year. All these mo-fos talk to one another, some have scouts at other tryouts or scroll the Clubs tryout pics on Social Media to see if any of their players are there. Then, they take it out on the kid and freeze him/her out for being a 'traitor'. Like they have any sense of loyalty and may have royally screwed the kid over in the past---but it's only for them to do, not another Club.

It is so ridiculous. Any Club confidant in what they deliver and how they treat players and their families would welcome them shopping around. It's no small expenditure and parents making a $1500-3900k investment should reassess every year. And by reassess see if their kids is having fun and learning. Watch some training sessions, etc.

We are leaving the current club in FFX, U9 coach is a prick and knew it was time when my DS got into the car after practice and said, "I don't like soccer anymore, it's not fun".

He gives up on the kids when they loose during games, but yet claims he's all about development. He scolds the kids with back handed sarcastic comments during the games. Just an overall bad coach and shouldn't be working with kids. Club however keeps giving him new teams/jobs with hte club. We've paid so we will stay until the end of spring.

Anonymous wrote:Question:

As a parent, do you make the decision to switch clubs, or does your kid make the decision?

Have you ever switched to a different club even though your kid was having fun on their current team?

We make it together. He has to live with the coach, but I have to pay and drive. It's important too that he wants the travel and competition. There is nothing wrong with playing at a lower level if a kid mentally just wants to have fun. We as parents always feel we need to put our kids in the best old the best, but when it comes to sports, does the kid want all that hype?

Anonymous wrote:Question:

As a parent, do you make the decision to switch clubs, or does your kid make the decision?

Have you ever switched to a different club even though your kid was having fun on their current team?

We left at the younger ages after u9 because the club philosophy didnt match up with what we were sold on. They favored larger stronger kids vs skilled smaller kids. They also moved to an academy style format and kids just got lost in the shuffle of kid to coach ratio. At those ages it is hard to leave because most kids make ties to other kids much easier. After a talk, he was open to trying out at new clubs and made the move after we had a couple of offers. Best decision ever and I hope things keep going smoothly. I look at clubs at an investment and at the price tag re-evaluate options every year. I expect a return on my investment.

Anonymous wrote:So how many of you that are leaving clubs escalated to the coach/TD etc. Did you share your concerns? If you didn't, the situation is just as much your fault.

I did this when DS was planning to leave his club last year. I only did it because there had been a number of issues with DS' team last year and the TD ended up asking me for help with the issues and with communicating with the parents. Because I had had a number of conversations with the TD over the course of that year (about team issues, none about DS), I felt like a personal communication was appropriate. It was helpful in the sense that it confirmed that leaving was the right decision. Also spoke with the coach who did try to convince DS to stay, although he would not have been DS' coach this year. Four months later, that coach also was gone from the club.

I'm in LMVSC. We're staying. My DD may stop playing travel soccer for other reasons (School, job, friends, HS sports) but not because of a coach or a club issue. My DS loves the club and the atmosphere and I don't follow coaches. I have no intention of driving all over the map because a coach switches jobs.

Anonymous wrote:Question:

As a parent, do you make the decision to switch clubs, or does your kid make the decision?

Have you ever switched to a different club even though your kid was having fun on their current team?

We made a switch even though my DS was happy (and we weren't psyched but weren't Unhappy either.) It was mainly due to family logistics -- closer practice field, possibility of a carpool with a neighbor on another age group team etc.

Question:

As a parent, do you make the decision to switch clubs, or does your kid make the decision?

Have you ever switched to a different club even though your kid was having fun on their current team?

Left for a new club over the winter that doesn’t cut existing players, precisely to avoid this merry go round of players, coaches, clubs each year.

Anonymous wrote:There's not much upside to talking to your current coach/club about changing teams, especially before you're 100% sure about your next step. Our experience is that sometimes coaches to think that they're the ones in the driver's seat regarding out kids' futures, i.e. we should let them know about trying out somewhere else.

That being said, there's no reason to burn bridges. Just try to keep it a positive experience.

Totally agree. Most coaches won't hesitate to drop a player if they got someone who (they think) is better than their current player. You have to do the tryouts first and until you have a good offer from elsewhere there is no need to talk about it. Don't burn any bridges, but look for an upgrade. If none materializes, then stay with your current club.

There's not much upside to talking to your current coach/club about changing teams, especially before you're 100% sure about your next step. Our experience is that sometimes coaches to think that they're the ones in the driver's seat regarding out kids' futures, i.e. we should let them know about trying out somewhere else.

That being said, there's no reason to burn bridges. Just try to keep it a positive experience.

In the past, a coach told me they would appreciate the heads up. I’m not inclined to offer up any information to anyone.

Yes. Leaving without drama and bridge burning makes much more sense. There are no amazing options out there..lots and lots of adequate clubs and teams and nothing special. So why create drama and possibly create negativety for the kids and families staying put. Try to find a reasonable team and coach, manage expectations and stay positive for your kid and the other players. Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do any of you give the coach a heads up?

Depends on reason to leave.

Yes, if we are moving, going to a higher league like DA, etc.

No, if we don't like the coach/club. We just don't show up to tryouts.

Yes. To any team Alan Portillo will be coaching in my kids age groups. Had him before and want him again. Fingers crossed.

Anonymous wrote:Do any of you give the coach a heads up?

Depends on reason to leave.

Yes, if we are moving, going to a higher league like DA, etc.

No, if we don't like the coach/club. We just don't show up to tryouts.