Better team vs. more play time

N

NotFromCali

BRONZE
My kid is 9 years old, playing on a 2014 team (playing up). Currently on a large Club soccer team. 2nd year playing. He currently plays 2nd line defense. During games he plays maybe 1/3 of the game. During tournaments he plays only 1/4 barely of the game. I think the lack of playing time is hurting his confidence. This club mainly wants to win and develop the top players. Contract season is up.

A newer smaller club team is now in our area (with a director from his old team joining this team). I feel like the new club will give him more playing time and play him at different positions (which he wants)

So should we move from a good team/ limited playing time to a newer club team with more opportunity?

I feel his current team isn’t developing him, just coming off bench to rest current players. We are kinda frustrated. (We my bore you with the other drama).

But isn’t the point a this age to develop?
 
If a player is playing a quarter of the game at age 9 - they are on the wrong team. Have him play his age where he is playing 50% or more of the game, or play up on a different team where he's playing 50% or more of the game. Any less just isn't the right environment, regardless of the underlying reasons (coach, club, skill, parent, whatever)
 
NotFromCali said:
My kid is 9 years old, playing on a 2014 team (playing up). Currently on a large Club soccer team. 2nd year playing. He currently plays 2nd line defense. During games he plays maybe 1/3 of the game. During tournaments he plays only 1/4 barely of the game. I think the lack of playing time is hurting his confidence. This club mainly wants to win and develop the top players. Contract season is up.

A newer smaller club team is now in our area (with a director from his old team joining this team). I feel like the new club will give him more playing time and play him at different positions (which he wants)

So should we move from a good team/ limited playing time to a newer club team with more opportunity?

I feel his current team isn’t developing him, just coming off bench to rest current players. We are kinda frustrated. (We my bore you with the other drama).

But isn’t the point a this age to develop?
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People think about this the wrong way. You should move him to the place where he has the most fun. This isn't just a platitude. Most kids quit soccer, but the more fun he has, the more he'll play and the better he'll get.
 
NotFromCali said:
My kid is 9 years old, playing on a 2014 team (playing up). Currently on a large Club soccer team. 2nd year playing. He currently plays 2nd line defense. During games he plays maybe 1/3 of the game. During tournaments he plays only 1/4 barely of the game. I think the lack of playing time is hurting his confidence. This club mainly wants to win and develop the top players. Contract season is up.

A newer smaller club team is now in our area (with a director from his old team joining this team). I feel like the new club will give him more playing time and play him at different positions (which he wants)

So should we move from a good team/ limited playing time to a newer club team with more opportunity?

I feel his current team isn’t developing him, just coming off bench to rest current players. We are kinda frustrated. (We my bore you with the other drama).

But isn’t the point a this age to develop?
Click to expand...
You can’t develop without playing. At 9 yrs old it’s all about having fun, and through that he will grow his game.
 
Thanks all, the 2015 team on his club is below his skill level he would be the best on that team. My boy is basically going in when the 1st line defenders get tired on his current team.

My boy has the same skill level of his 2014 team just not the same intensity/aggression yet, but he gets the job done.

Plus at this age I don’t want him playing just defender.

The coaches on this club are aggressive and they are parents of kids who are on the team or on another team in the club.
 
My wife thinks if we leave this club (probably best club around), it will ruin his chances for advancement up to High School possibly college.

But my thoughts if he’s not playing now and advancing as a player and getting better/having fun then he won’t get better/hurting his confidence.

I think we are overthinking this. Probably should just move clubs and get a fresh start. This current club is just too aggressive too early.
 
NotFromCali said:
My wife thinks if we leave this club (probably best club around), it will ruin his chances for advancement up to High School possibly college.

But my thoughts if he’s not playing now and advancing as a player and getting better/having fun then he won’t get better/hurting his confidence.

I think we are overthinking this. Probably should just move clubs and get a fresh start. This current club is just too aggressive too early.
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If it makes you feel any better I know of 2 players male and female who quit playing for one of the top clubs in SD. Now they just play Futsal and with local league teams for fun.

It will be interesting to see what happens to them in the next couple of years. Will they play in college? Do they even want to play in college? I'm fairly certain both could find a college team to play for if they want to.

If players are choosing to quit playing for big field clubs but not all together it makes you wonder if clubs have their priorities straight.
 
Carlsbad7 said:
If it makes you feel any better I know of 2 players male and female who quit playing for one of the top clubs in SD. Now they just play Futsal and with local league teams for fun.

It will be interesting to see what happens to them in the next couple of years. Will they play in college? Do they even want to play in college? I'm fairly certain both could find a college team to play for if they want to.

If players are choosing to quit playing for big field clubs but not all together it makes you wonder if clubs have their priorities straight.
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Thx yeah this big club, just develops the top players. Really just care about winning small local games and tournaments.

This last tournament my boy played 15 mins (max first game). Then the second game didn’t matter so he played most of the 2nd game. But during the final he only played 10-15mins.
 
RandomSoccerFan said:
If a player is playing a quarter of the game at age 9 - they are on the wrong team. Have him play his age where he is playing 50% or more of the game, or play up on a different team where he's playing 50% or more of the game. Any less just isn't the right environment, regardless of the underlying reasons (coach, club, skill, parent, whatever)
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My philosophy has always been to aim for a team where the kid is the weakest starter -- he will get his playing time and will learn from the better players on the team.
 
NotFromCali said:
My kid is 9 years old, playing on a 2014 team (playing up). Currently on a large Club soccer team. 2nd year playing. He currently plays 2nd line defense. During games he plays maybe 1/3 of the game. During tournaments he plays only 1/4 barely of the game. I think the lack of playing time is hurting his confidence. This club mainly wants to win and develop the top players. Contract season is up.

A newer smaller club team is now in our area (with a director from his old team joining this team). I feel like the new club will give him more playing time and play him at different positions (which he wants)

So should we move from a good team/ limited playing time to a newer club team with more opportunity?

I feel his current team isn’t developing him, just coming off bench to rest current players. We are kinda frustrated. (We my bore you with the other drama).

But isn’t the point a this age to develop?
Click to expand...
Play time play time play time. This question is really just a thing for elite players in elite conferences high school recruiting age…

Otherwise why the torture ?
 
Carlsbad7 said:
If it makes you feel any better I know of 2 players male and female who quit playing for one of the top clubs in SD. Now they just play Futsal and with local league teams for fun.

It will be interesting to see what happens to them in the next couple of years. Will they play in college? Do they even want to play in college? I'm fairly certain both could find a college team to play for if they want to.

If players are choosing to quit playing for big field clubs but not all together it makes you wonder if clubs have their priorities straight.
Click to expand...
I really hope they stop playing futsal at like 13. When your younger to quicken up your feet and thought process but when you get bigger and stronger all that moment with your feet on concrete. Not a good idea IMO
 
espola said:
My philosophy has always been to aim for a team where the kid is the weakest starter -- he will get his playing time and will learn from the better players on the team.
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Caveat at this age: unless a gk. Then he should be the top 1-4 players (and therefore shielded from the usual criticism), or less ideally (since they won’t develop as fast) on a team that wins 2/3 of the games. Prob same for full time cb in most cases.
 
rainbow_unicorn said:
Sounds like he should be playing his own year. Players should only play up if they are dominant in their own age group AND they are one of the better players playing a year up. Anything other than that is parent ego.
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Thx yeah the 2015 team isn’t the right fit. He would be dominant in that group. It’s more of a rotating players issue
 
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