Question re: changing clubs

What is the procedure & timeline for changing clubs? Of course 7/1 is signing day, but when is it considered “legal” to start visiting/practicing with other teams? Do all clubs post their try-out dates? When does this occur? TIA!

Im getting emails from another club having tryouts for next years NPL team, starting... today!  

If you trying out for a NTX registered team(LHGCL/PPL/APL) then after your team/age group is done w state cup. Thus mid May.

If you are trying out for an 07 or above ECNL, then I have heard a handshake agreement for May 1 for outside current club. ECNL is US Club so NTX(USYS) rules don't apply. Though I've heard Sting is already looking outside.

So its clear as mud.  Someone else like DTX can provide more details than I, Im sure.

Can an 08 really play on an 07 ECNL team?

I'm on my way out, so I may not be 100% up on the latest rules, but, based on my knowledge:

If you are currently on a team registered through NTSSA (this would typically be a team playing in LHGCL, PPL, or APL), then the day after State Cup ends, you are allowed to practice and guest play (with some restrictions) with another NTSSA registered team.

If you are on an NTSSA registered team, but truly unhappy, you can got to NTSSA and request a "release to rec" before April 1st.  This will allow your kid to practice with other NTSSA teams, and guest play in tournaments anytime (with some restrictions), but you will not be able to play in any league matches until after July 1st.

If your kid is currently on an ECNL team, my understanding is that the ECNL clubs have a gentleman's agreement that they will not allow kids from other ECNL teams to practice/tryout until after May 1st.  Some ECNL clubs may hold "internal" tryouts prior to May 1st, but most wait until May 1st.

There are no rules that prohibit an '08 from playing up on an '07 ECNL team, provided your '08 is good enough to make an '07 ECNL squad and warrant playing time.

That 07 NPL team starting tryouts today claims you can play on that team next year even if you are rostered to another club.

Yo wrote:That 07 NPL team starting tryouts today claims you can play on that team next year even if you are rostered to another club.

Which could be true. If your kid is playing in LH, thus registered w NTX(USYS)... sure. NPL is USClub so different organization. I would make sure your coach knows as they often get registered with both. A big surprise when your LH team tries to register the girl might not end positively.

My kid will play ECNL, thus would not be able to do what they say since ECNL is US Club.

So you can't be registered to 2 rosters in either USYS or US Club, but you can be rostered to 1 in each?

She should probably clarify when that question is asked.

We are currently NTSSA and would be looking to move to another NTSSA team...LHGCL D1.

I would not try out until May unless you plan on losing all playing time for your current team....they will find out because people talk. Technically suppose to wait until after State Cup

Yo wrote:So you can't be registered to 2 rosters in either USYS or US Club, but you can be rostered to 1 in each?

She should probably clarify when that question is asked.

Technically yes. Actually doing so could prove to be a challenge.

If LH to LH, wait until state cup is over. Dont want to break rules, most coaches won't allow it cause they could get in trouble as well.

For NTSSA it's not just State Cup ending, it's at the conclusion of your league play or after State Cup, whichever is later. If you want to do it sooner you'll have to get permission from your coach to train or try out with another NTSSA team. If it's NTSSA to US Club there are no restrictions.

caden is correct.

Beware that even though you are free to practice elsewhere after the StateCup/League ending date, you must get a guest play release for tournaments from current coach through June. Depending on relationship with coach and club policies (some do not sign guest releases), the right move is total freedom with the "release to rec" by April 1.

technically a player can only be signed with 1 club.. I have heard where a player can be rostered to USClub with with one team and USYS with another team within the same club. If you try it while belonging to multiple clubs it's a really gray area.. Be careful.

Just dont play somewhere where the coaches will rat you out or club. If you are registered in both organizations you are relaistically looking at 4 teams max if they like your play and need you.

You forgot parents. When a player shows up at another training session, news travels as fast as......well, what's the speed of a text message?

Yo Yo

TxFutbal wrote:technically a player can only be signed with 1 club..  I have heard where a player can be rostered to USClub with with one team and USYS with another team within the same club.  If you try it while belonging to multiple clubs it's a really gray area.. Be careful.  

That's not exactly correct either. Both allow for "player pass", which means a player can participate with other teams within the same club. They handle it a bit differently, but it's allowed under both governing bodies.

The "gray area" is playing or participating with a different club than the one your player registered with initially. You can go from an NTSSA club to a different club under US Club without restriction, but you can't go from a US Club club to an NTSSA club. NTSSA bylaws restrict a club or team from participating in soccer activities with any player not considered a "free agent". A player rostered to another team is not considered a "free agent" under NTSSA rules. US Club does not have the same restriction. It get really muddy when you talk about a club with teams (not necessarily the same team) under US Club and NTSSA. I don't know if NTSSA would try to enforce NTSSA rules on a coach/player/team rostered under US Club, but not NTSSA, if the club has other teams rostered under NTSSA.

To answer the original poster directly, you can't do it without your current coach's permission until after State Cup or you league play, whichever is later, has concluded since you are going from one NTSSA club to another NTSSA club.

What if a team is not playing State Cup? Can the team hold open tryouts as soon as their league play is over? For ex.. Say league play is over April 15th and State Cup is over May 15th. If the team is not playing State Cup can they hold tryouts on April 16th? Is the rule just for the team or is it for everyone in North Texas (league play or state cup which ever is later).

It applies to all teams rostered under NTSSA regardless of participation in State Cup.

Copied and pasted from NTSSA bylaws.

The period of August 1 of the prior soccer year through completion of State Cup competition for their age group, whether or not their team is participating in State Cup, or completion of league play for their team, whichever is last of the current soccer year is considered the soccer-playing year for competitive players.

Thanks! That's what I was looking for.

Yo yo yo yo

great info