What to avoid/look for when searching for a new team

I have a few questions for the seasoned soccer parents. Last two years have not been good at Sting. Coaches (AC) say one thing just get you to sign a contract. 2nd year the club changes the team 8 days after signing coach (AC/KM) say nothing and lose every game in league. Are there still clubs/coaches that care about development and not money/trophies? Are there still parents that want to see their kids grow as a soccer player, not just to say their DD play "club ball"? I have 3 DDs and my youngest which is a 04 took this soccer serious, came to me and asked to find tougher competition, so we came over to competitive soccer. This year I want to take my time and find a good fit for her but i also don't want to wait to long. What is the date where we can start looking without a asking current club? I see several clubs offering tryouts for TCL/ECNL/DA but unfortunately we are not ready for that level yet but DD wants to play in one of those leagues eventually. What is some advise you would share to make this year smooth? Or is that even possible? Please tell me clubs/coaches still care about development? Any opinions, knowledge, words of advise is greatly appreciated.

did any of the teams you all lose to impress you? check them out.

Unfortunately, this is all too common here in NTX.  One must learn the political rules and structure of NTX soccer ........it will make the process a little easier.

My advice is you should go out to those practices.....Quite a few (Non-DA/ECNL) coaches are out there.  If you don't get picked, you can ask if any other coaches are looking for players.

So, first evaluate where you want to drive to as far as practices go if that is something of importance. From your list of clubs you want to drive to, call them up and say you have an interested player. They will then tell you, hey, go ahead and come out at such and such time. Some will tell you to come to tryouts, others will invite you to their current practices. Its better to always go attend their current practices because tryouts are a joke because its too hard to really pick out talent unless somehow you really stand out. There are coaches that care about development. Another reason why its good to attend current practices because you can see what they are actually trying to teach.

YoQuieroSoccer wrote:I have a few questions for the seasoned soccer parents. Last two years have not been good at Sting. Coaches (AC) say one thing just get you to sign a contract. 2nd year the club changes the team 8 days after signing coach (AC/KM) say nothing and lose every game in league. Are there still clubs/coaches that care about development and not money/trophies? Are there still parents that want to see their kids grow as a soccer player, not just to say their DD play "club ball"? I have 3 DDs and my youngest which is a 04 took this soccer serious, came to me and asked to find tougher competition, so we came over to competitive soccer. This year I want to take my time and find a good fit for her but i also don't want to wait to long. What is the date where we can start looking without a asking current club? I see several clubs offering tryouts for TCL/ECNL/DA but unfortunately we are not ready for that level yet but DD wants to play in one of those leagues eventually. What is some advise you would share to make this year smooth? Or is that even possible? Please tell me clubs/coaches still care about development? Any opinions, knowledge, words of advise is greatly appreciated.

Good afternoon

I am a seasoned parent as I have had two go onto college already.

First and most important question to ask is FRIENDS. Any coach can testify by the time Junior year settles in and Senioritis is in full affect the thing that will motivate your kid the most will be friends. Coaches are moving away from the team events and things that make a team a TEAM! You pretty much know when you are in the right place when your child doesn't want to leave because of friendships!

Secondly - addressing your NOW question on tryouts. Yes the coaches and staff are peaches and ice cream and roses when it comes to addressing anything and everything non-offensive during tryouts. Sadly Coaches/Clubs care about the development of the team on one pace to achieve a Championship of some sort. To ask a Club/Coach to care about each and every individual player comes from what STEMS from Friendships. Again referring to number#1.

Thirdly - Wanting tougher competition! Your DD is at age where she may have peeked and moving her into another environment doesn't necessarily fix your scenario. Many kids still have to hit a growth spurt which can challenge your kids Speed and Strength in a few years. Moving her now at 04 could get her what she wants and hamper her what she wants and hurt her possibly ( reference 1 and 2 ). I made many mistakes but the one I wish I had never made was keeping her with Friends. I pushed mine to the highest levels even National team and in the end its dog eat dog and the coaches do not care - be careful treading where you want her and what she wants because once it backfires its very hard to get the mentality where it needs to be.

Multivitamin wrote: You pretty much know when you are in the right place when your child doesn't want to leave because of friendships!  

I know it doesn't necessarily answer the questions being asked, but I love this.

Avoid any club that has FC in its title and any coach that brings up DA or ECNL in your first meeting. Your best bet is to check out volleyball or softball because this whole soccer thing might collapse under incompetence and corruption.

Best of luck. Hope to see you on the pitch.