Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big clubs lower teams usually have fine coaching and you may get a lot out of that coach and much playing time but let’s be honest, the big clubs are solely vested in their A teams performing well. You may pay the same as the A team yet get one less practice a week. How does a lower team player have a chance to elevate when the top teams get more practices more intense training and usuallly have the best coach in the club. The saying is the lower teams “pay the bills”. Then again a small club A team will often lose their best players to big clubs. Best thing to do is ask questions. And ask more. And then more

A good small club wants it players to succeed. I think a small club that is able to send players to MLSNext or ECNL teams when they're ready would consider itself successful. DD's coach from U9-U12 was very open with players about when it was time for them to leave and what they needed to work on if they wanted to move up.

We had this same experience, and I am grateful to the small club for it. I would recommend it whole heartedly to anyone U8-U12. They keep development front and center, and encouraged my kid to think bigger when they were outgrowing their peers at pace

Which small club in this age range gets your vote? Sounds like another good experience with a small club actually caring.

Juventus

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big clubs lower teams usually have fine coaching and you may get a lot out of that coach and much playing time but let’s be honest, the big clubs are solely vested in their A teams performing well. You may pay the same as the A team yet get one less practice a week. How does a lower team player have a chance to elevate when the top teams get more practices more intense training and usuallly have the best coach in the club. The saying is the lower teams “pay the bills”. Then again a small club A team will often lose their best players to big clubs. Best thing to do is ask questions. And ask more. And then more

A good small club wants it players to succeed. I think a small club that is able to send players to MLSNext or ECNL teams when they're ready would consider itself successful. DD's coach from U9-U12 was very open with players about when it was time for them to leave and what they needed to work on if they wanted to move up.

We had this same experience, and I am grateful to the small club for it. I would recommend it whole heartedly to anyone U8-U12. They keep development front and center, and encouraged my kid to think bigger when they were outgrowing their peers at pace

Which small club in this age range gets your vote? Sounds like another good experience with a small club actually caring.

Big club B team was a waste of time. Spent time talking to coaches during tryouts and moved to an A team of a small club. Coach is devoted. Spends extra time helping kids who want to be helped. Very satisfied.

Anonymous wrote:Big clubs lower teams usually have fine coaching and you may get a lot out of that coach and much playing time but let’s be honest, the big clubs are solely vested in their A teams performing well. You may pay the same as the A team yet get one less practice a week. How does a lower team player have a chance to elevate when the top teams get more practices more intense training and usuallly have the best coach in the club. The saying is the lower teams “pay the bills”. Then again a small club A team will often lose their best players to big clubs. Best thing to do is ask questions. And ask more. And then more

I have similar thoughts and experience. Our B team at a small club is nothing like the A team. A team coach is excellent, plans a lot of practices and holds a high standard. Participated in 3 spring tournaments. Holds a much better roster. Our B team, Coach sucks, no license, no productive drills, 1 spring tournament, small roster. Same price and little chance for 2nd team kids to get any better when compared to the A team. This is at U11.

8 years old? Team name and level doesn't matter at this time. Which team is a closer drive? This is for your sanity and your child not hating the commute if it's long. Which team is more organized where the kids understand coaches instructions? Which team does your child enjoy being around more? What's the difference in cost between the 2? Less is better but choose better coach at this age.

If your child was considered C/D level at big club, then invest in private training. Individual skills is the most important things to learn at this age. Regardless of team, the extra training will help your child improve more than team practices.

If your child is still interested in soccer at age 12 or 13, when teams play 11v11, that is the time to care about being on good teams.

Not sure club size is relevant, just the coach, the level of the players on the team, and how your child responds.

^ We had the same experience. My daughter wanted to play at the highest level she could. The coach, at the team meeting for the new team that summer, called her out by name and said that she would never be welcome back. We still had plenty of friends on the team and they were shocked. So was I, she had been telling him that she was going to explore options for a couple of months so he had to know it was a possibility.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big clubs lower teams usually have fine coaching and you may get a lot out of that coach and much playing time but let’s be honest, the big clubs are solely vested in their A teams performing well. You may pay the same as the A team yet get one less practice a week. How does a lower team player have a chance to elevate when the top teams get more practices more intense training and usuallly have the best coach in the club. The saying is the lower teams “pay the bills”. Then again a small club A team will often lose their best players to big clubs. Best thing to do is ask questions. And ask more. And then more

A good small club wants it players to succeed. I think a small club that is able to send players to MLSNext or ECNL teams when they're ready would consider itself successful. DD's coach from U9-U12 was very open with players about when it was time for them to leave and what they needed to work on if they wanted to move up.

We had this same experience, and I am grateful to the small club for it. I would recommend it whole heartedly to anyone U8-U12. They keep development front and center, and encouraged my kid to think bigger when they were outgrowing their peers at pace

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big clubs lower teams usually have fine coaching and you may get a lot out of that coach and much playing time but let’s be honest, the big clubs are solely vested in their A teams performing well. You may pay the same as the A team yet get one less practice a week. How does a lower team player have a chance to elevate when the top teams get more practices more intense training and usuallly have the best coach in the club. The saying is the lower teams “pay the bills”. Then again a small club A team will often lose their best players to big clubs. Best thing to do is ask questions. And ask more. And then more

A good small club wants it players to succeed. I think a small club that is able to send players to MLSNext or ECNL teams when they're ready would consider itself successful. DD's coach from U9-U12 was very open with players about when it was time for them to leave and what they needed to work on if they wanted to move up.

You would think so, the level of anger my daughter received at practice from the adults that she is leaving for a top team (We not in DC) in the fall when u13 starts was pretty disgraceful. I think our smaller team only cares they will now lose games next year, not the possibilities it means for more daughters future and that she had to accept.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big clubs lower teams usually have fine coaching and you may get a lot out of that coach and much playing time but let’s be honest, the big clubs are solely vested in their A teams performing well. You may pay the same as the A team yet get one less practice a week. How does a lower team player have a chance to elevate when the top teams get more practices more intense training and usuallly have the best coach in the club. The saying is the lower teams “pay the bills”. Then again a small club A team will often lose their best players to big clubs. Best thing to do is ask questions. And ask more. And then more

A good small club wants it players to succeed. I think a small club that is able to send players to MLSNext or ECNL teams when they're ready would consider itself successful. DD's coach from U9-U12 was very open with players about when it was time for them to leave and what they needed to work on if they wanted to move up.

What good small club do you recommend? It sounds like the coaches where your daughter played were invested in their players. I would love a recommendation.

That was Gunston, but it was a long time ago. DD is getting ready to go to college now

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big clubs lower teams usually have fine coaching and you may get a lot out of that coach and much playing time but let’s be honest, the big clubs are solely vested in their A teams performing well. You may pay the same as the A team yet get one less practice a week. How does a lower team player have a chance to elevate when the top teams get more practices more intense training and usuallly have the best coach in the club. The saying is the lower teams “pay the bills”. Then again a small club A team will often lose their best players to big clubs. Best thing to do is ask questions. And ask more. And then more

A good small club wants it players to succeed. I think a small club that is able to send players to MLSNext or ECNL teams when they're ready would consider itself successful. DD's coach from U9-U12 was very open with players about when it was time for them to leave and what they needed to work on if they wanted to move up.

What good small club do you recommend? It sounds like the coaches where your daughter played were invested in their players. I would love a recommendation.

My son played on a B team for a big club. It was great. The A team definitely got better perks and attention but the B team was very strong and had a technically proficient coach and talented kids. He grew a lot. The C team definitely was not prioritized for anything but there were some good players there. He bounced around for a few years playing on both A and B teams and here’s what I learned. The A team at a small club is often playing C teams from the big clubs. So the ABC doesn’t mean much in terms of level. Look at what league each team plays in and what division. Then look at if they are successful there. They don’t have to be the best in the division but you don’t want the bottom team or 2 as they will be relegated. On Got Soccer you can also see what tournaments they play in and who they play against in those tournaments. Do they win or lose? Once you have figured out the better teams that have made offers, look at the coaches. Who do you think has the best style for your child. My son is in HS and this is exactly the method he used to determine which teams to try out for (ignoring the letters) and to rank his offers. He is now very happily on the right level team with great coaches.

Anonymous wrote:Big clubs lower teams usually have fine coaching and you may get a lot out of that coach and much playing time but let’s be honest, the big clubs are solely vested in their A teams performing well. You may pay the same as the A team yet get one less practice a week. How does a lower team player have a chance to elevate when the top teams get more practices more intense training and usuallly have the best coach in the club. The saying is the lower teams “pay the bills”. Then again a small club A team will often lose their best players to big clubs. Best thing to do is ask questions. And ask more. And then more

A good small club wants it players to succeed. I think a small club that is able to send players to MLSNext or ECNL teams when they're ready would consider itself successful. DD's coach from U9-U12 was very open with players about when it was time for them to leave and what they needed to work on if they wanted to move up.

this right here

Big clubs lower teams usually have fine coaching and you may get a lot out of that coach and much playing time but let’s be honest, the big clubs are solely vested in their A teams performing well. You may pay the same as the A team yet get one less practice a week. How does a lower team player have a chance to elevate when the top teams get more practices more intense training and usuallly have the best coach in the club. The saying is the lower teams “pay the bills”. Then again a small club A team will often lose their best players to big clubs. Best thing to do is ask questions. And ask more. And then more