What makes the A team of clubs so much better?

L

Lou789

SILVER
Why is the A team of a club always (or usually) the best choice as far as team to be on? Most parents that have been around a long time with kids playing on top teams that we talk to say this. Get on the A team. What does the A team get that the B team doesn’t?

Last year my son was on the B team and before we accepted he was promised to guest on A team for some games and possibly moving up at end of year. It never happened. Our B team parents were always looking up to the A team trying to see what could be done to try to get on it.

———
Trying to decide between:

A team or a less intense club X. Great coach. Playing their age group EA 2015

B team of a more intense club Y. Still great coach. Playing same league EA 2015 as the A team from Club X. (The A team of this club Y will play EA up a year).


I have read and heard that once you are on an A team into go to another A team if you are good is easier than going from a B team. I realize some people don’t like this terminology. But it seems to be the reality.
 
Speaking in general, I think a lot of parents (myself included) want their kids to have the experience of playing with/against the top tier players, because that can help with their development more than being able to "skate by" with their current size/skill. The other reason is obviously that playing on the top team is the perceived pathway to potential college scholarships, more opportunities, more visibility, etc.

I am in the same boat, more or less, although my son is much older (2011, on the B team). I'd love for him to get more scrimmage time with or against the A team players (but like you, while it was promised by the club, it never materialized). Personally I don't know that I'd want my son to be on the A team (as the players there are much more "hardcore" and less fun, and several kids have disliked playing on that team), but I'd love for him to get experience playing with higher quality players. I think he'd be fine, but clearly the club coaches do not agree, and I'm obviously biased.

All that said, though, I'm also much closer to the "off ramp" for club soccer, so it's less of a deal for me now than perhaps a couple years ago. If my son isn't playing at an A team level by the end of this year (ie: having started HS), we probably will not continue with club soccer; there's not much justification to pay $6k/yr for something which is essentially just recreational at that point.

Were I in your position, I'd pick the team which seems more skilled and/or fun, without regard to A/B ranking within the clubs. But that's just my 2c.
 
Lou789 said:
Why is the A team of a club always (or usually) the best choice as far as team to be on? Most parents that have been around a long time with kids playing on top teams that we talk to say this. Get on the A team. What does the A team get that the B team doesn’t?

Last year my son was on the B team and before we accepted he was promised to guest on A team for some games and possibly moving up at end of year. It never happened. Our B team parents were always looking up to the A team trying to see what could be done to try to get on it.

———
Trying to decide between:

A team or a less intense club X. Great coach. Playing their age group EA 2015

B team of a more intense club Y. Still great coach. Playing same league EA 2015 as the A team from Club X. (The A team of this club Y will play EA up a year).


I have read and heard that once you are on an A team into go to another A team if you are good is easier than going from a B team. I realize some people don’t like this terminology. But it seems to be the reality.
Click to expand...
One way to look at this

1739897809806.png
 
Lou789 said:
Why is the A team of a club always (or usually) the best choice as far as team to be on? Most parents that have been around a long time with kids playing on top teams that we talk to say this. Get on the A team. What does the A team get that the B team doesn’t?

Last year my son was on the B team and before we accepted he was promised to guest on A team for some games and possibly moving up at end of year. It never happened. Our B team parents were always looking up to the A team trying to see what could be done to try to get on it.

———
Trying to decide between:

A team or a less intense club X. Great coach. Playing their age group EA 2015

B team of a more intense club Y. Still great coach. Playing same league EA 2015 as the A team from Club X. (The A team of this club Y will play EA up a year).


I have read and heard that once you are on an A team into go to another A team if you are good is easier than going from a B team. I realize some people don’t like this terminology. But it seems to be the reality.
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that some coaches lie and make you think your kid has A Team potential. It's a big con.

Another way to look at it.

What would you do?

1739897894382.png
 
Lou789 said:
Why is the A team of a club always (or usually) the best choice as far as team to be on? Most parents that have been around a long time with kids playing on top teams that we talk to say this. Get on the A team. What does the A team get that the B team doesn’t?

Last year my son was on the B team and before we accepted he was promised to guest on A team for some games and possibly moving up at end of year. It never happened. Our B team parents were always looking up to the A team trying to see what could be done to try to get on it.

———
Trying to decide between:

A team or a less intense club X. Great coach. Playing their age group EA 2015

B team of a more intense club Y. Still great coach. Playing same league EA 2015 as the A team from Club X. (The A team of this club Y will play EA up a year).


I have read and heard that once you are on an A team into go to another A team if you are good is easier than going from a B team. I realize some people don’t like this terminology. But it seems to be the reality.
Click to expand...
Do both clubs get MLS next? If yes, the A team will get mls next at age 13. You still have two more years to go.
Even if you are on the B team, tell the coach you are on the A team when you go tryout. Coaches are lazy enough they don’t check.
 
Jamisfoes said:
Do both clubs get MLS next? If yes, the A team will get mls next at age 13. You still have two more years to go.
Even if you are on the B team, tell the coach you are on the A team when you go tryout. Coaches are lazy enough they don’t check.
Click to expand...

Yes both MLS next
 
Lou789 said:
Last year my son was on the B team and before we accepted he was promised to guest on A team for some games and possibly moving up at end of year. It never happened.
Click to expand...
Of the big lies that club's tell, this is one of the most common. Clubs will always take an A team player from another club before moving up a B team player from the same club; regardless of the skill and potential of the B team player.
 
sigmabody said:
Speaking in general, I think a lot of parents (myself included) want their kids to have the experience of playing with/against the top tier players, because that can help with their development more than being able to "skate by" with their current size/skill. The other reason is obviously that playing on the top team is the perceived pathway to potential college scholarships, more opportunities, more visibility, etc.
Click to expand...
100%!!! Most of the rich parents I ran into also wanted their kid to experience playing against the best of the best. What money can buy in youth soccer can make your dream come true. That's right folks. If you pay enough, your child can play with the best. All you have to do is pay and the coach will guarantee your kid 25% starts against the top tier. That's why the GDA failed. It's what all elite parents dreamed about and the GDA made sure those dreams came true, if you pay.
 
watfly said:
Of the big lies that club's tell, this is one of the most common. Clubs will always take an A team player from another club before moving up a B team player from the same club; regardless of the skill and potential of the B team player.
Click to expand...

This I have seen myself. With no tryout no going to practice. Nothing. Kid just moved over
 
watfly said:
Of the big lies that club's tell, this is one of the most common. Clubs will always take an A team player from another club before moving up a B team player from the same club; regardless of the skill and potential of the B team player.
Click to expand...
more sign-ups = more money and a way to poach even more players because A team players are usually leaders and others will follow. B Team players and their parents get really pissed off because loyalty and hard work is thrown out the window when cash is involved. Cash is King!!!
 
Carlsbad7 said:
B teams, both players and parents are usually more fun to be around.

A teams everyone is always worried about minutes, position, coach, other parents, etc, etc, etc.

It all depends on what you want out of playing and what you're willing to do to get it.
Click to expand...
B team players parents are humble most of the time. I've seen some jealous sneers from a few as I walked by with a hiss and a little chip. The A Team parents (not all, just a few) will smile at you as you walk by and 100% will throw a few knives your way with your back turned. I'm still recovering from my wounds. The worst A Team parent is the A Team TM. Not all, so don't get all in a hissy with my generalizations. I had one that was nasty, a snitch and a bitch......
 
Jamisfoes said:
Do both clubs get MLS next? If yes, the A team will get mls next at age 13. You still have two more years to go.
Even if you are on the B team, tell the coach you are on the A team when you go tryout. Coaches are lazy enough they don’t check.
Click to expand...
crushes inside tip of the day 👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

I know one parent (Mexican heritage:cool:) tells dumb coach he just moved from Brazil with his 12-year-old son, Prodigy. It works every time. That's automatic A team selection and you don't have to pay for extra privates. That's my best advice I have ever given, and it works. He got one coach to offer half off dues too.
 
In theory, the A team is a better group of players so your kids will train at a higher, faster and more intelligent level of soccer. In reality, it's more a stigma than anything. Opportunities are less likely to come your way if your kid is on the B team. It's the haves and have nots.

I've always been in favor of a relegation system because most kids, once on the A team, rarely get demoted and, if they do, generally leave and go find a different team. I always wanted to see kids get rewarded for working their asses off and getting a push to the A squad. And don't kid yourself... the players and parents of Team A, with some exceptions, look down their noses at Team B.
 
Slobodan said:
In theory, the A team is a better group of players so your kids will train at a higher, faster and more intelligent level of soccer. In reality, it's more a stigma than anything. Opportunities are less likely to come your way if your kid is on the B team. It's the haves and have nots.

I've always been in favor of a relegation system because most kids, once on the A team, rarely get demoted and, if they do, generally leave and go find a different team. I always wanted to see kids get rewarded for working their asses off and getting a push to the A squad. And don't kid yourself... the players and parents of Team A, with some exceptions, look down their noses at Team B.
Click to expand...
Mr. Snobs is always looking down on the B Team parents. I experienced this in Pony League. Mr. Snobs had a kid that said he was 10 and swear he was 13. Dude was just bigger and better, and his dad walked around like he was the one that produced this future MLB player. Dad pride was insane. Dude maybe said hi to me once all season. He started a travel ball team and my kid was left off even the invite to his tryouts.
 
crush said:
B team players parents are humble most of the time. I've seen some jealous sneers from a few as I walked by with a hiss and a little chip. The A Team parents (not all, just a few) will smile at you as you walk by and 100% will throw a few knives your way with your back turned. I'm still recovering from my wounds. The worst A Team parent is the A Team TM. Not all, so don't get all in a hissy with my generalizations. I had one that was nasty, a snitch and a bitch......
Click to expand...
This comment from Crush is so true. If I had a dime for every time "A" team parents crapped on "B" team kids I could retire. Given the quite mediocre level of most top teams, it's comical. Especially in the top national leagues. Parents aren't exactly excited about your kid taking playing time away from Johnny's Division 1 College highlight reel.
As to the difference between A and B teams, generally speaking the first team should present a higher paced, technically advanced, physically and mentally challenging training environment to develop their game. In a quality club, the age group presents opportunities for select kids from the second teams to train and/or guest play with the first team. This is often promised, yet seldomly delivered.
To be honest, if your kid isn't watching/studying the game, and putting in work on their own time to improve their skills, then the whole narrative of expecting to play on the "A" team is a moot point. Expecting coaches and teams to develop your players is understandable, but from my experience, even in top national teams, half or more of the kids don't even watch the sport or put in time on their own training their skills and playing the game. So what's the point? Just setting yourself up for disappointment and empty pockets.
The absolute best teams I have developed have been second teams with a great supportive parent group, kids who love to play with each other, and push each other as a group regardless of skill level. It really depends on the situation and the quality of the group/coach/team.
 
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