Which team should my son join?

T

TXMomof3

BRONZE
Been training with a couple of teams and trying to decide between the two for my 2015 son.

There are a lot of differences between the two teams like cost (one is significantly cheaper than the other) and training location distance (one is a good bit closer to home than the other) among other things but if we were only considering "What is better for soccer development?" for the next year, what would be the better choice?

Disclaimer: I don't know what will actually happen but based on conversations with the coaches and guesting with both in the past, I'm making the best guesses below.

Team 1
  • Will get to play a number of different positions: probably central midfield along with both winger positions the most and then some wingback and even striker as well.
  • Will probably start almost every game, if not every game. (of course this could change but at least to begin with)
  • Will be one of the main pieces of the team.
  • Team itself would be decent but not great. The team will play in EA next year in their age group and you never know but I would say it'll be about mid table.

Team 2
  • Will primarily play right wing only. The team is very strong in most positions so would be very hard to break into other positions.
  • Think he'll start about half the time on the low end but could be 3/4th of the time on the high end. Definitely less than on Team 1 though.
  • Will be a good contributing member of the team and possibly one of the main pieces but not quite sure at least in the beginning.
  • The team will play up in EA in 2014 age bracket. Even playing up, I imagine they'll be top half or maybe even top 5 in the table.

This is the dilemma. Team 1 seems like a clear cut choice for development because he'll get to play a ton and play a bunch of different positions. He feels confident and would try to be creative and try unorthodox things in their trainings. But will lack of quality in certain positions on the team stunt his development? He's been with teams in the past where his teammates can't read the 1-2 he's trying to execute or he's making runs behind but the ball won't come. Also, will the environment make him complacent and not try as hard?

However, Team 2's talent level is noticeably higher and he seems pushed in their trainings and going against their tough defenders could also aid in his development. But will being stuck in one position and possibly only starting about half the games stunt his development? Also, will he try to play safe and simply play not to make mistakes and not take chances?

He enjoys both environments even though they're very different and has friends on both teams. Both coaches are solid. Both clubs have the same pathway.
 
TXMomof3 said:
Been training with a couple of teams and trying to decide between the two for my 2015 son.

There are a lot of differences between the two teams like cost (one is significantly cheaper than the other) and training location distance (one is a good bit closer to home than the other) among other things but if we were only considering "What is better for soccer development?" for the next year, what would be the better choice?

Disclaimer: I don't know what will actually happen but based on conversations with the coaches and guesting with both in the past, I'm making the best guesses below.

Team 1
  • Will get to play a number of different positions: probably central midfield along with both winger positions the most and then some wingback and even striker as well.
  • Will probably start almost every game, if not every game. (of course this could change but at least to begin with)
  • Will be one of the main pieces of the team.
  • Team itself would be decent but not great. The team will play in EA next year in their age group and you never know but I would say it'll be about mid table.

Team 2
  • Will primarily play right wing only. The team is very strong in most positions so would be very hard to break into other positions.
  • Think he'll start about half the time on the low end but could be 3/4th of the time on the high end. Definitely less than on Team 1 though.
  • Will be a good contributing member of the team and possibly one of the main pieces but not quite sure at least in the beginning.
  • The team will play up in EA in 2014 age bracket. Even playing up, I imagine they'll be top half or maybe even top 5 in the table.

This is the dilemma. Team 1 seems like a clear cut choice for development because he'll get to play a ton and play a bunch of different positions. He feels confident and would try to be creative and try unorthodox things in their trainings. But will lack of quality in certain positions on the team stunt his development? He's been with teams in the past where his teammates can't read the 1-2 he's trying to execute or he's making runs behind but the ball won't come. Also, will the environment make him complacent and not try as hard?

However, Team 2's talent level is noticeably higher and he seems pushed in their trainings and going against their tough defenders could also aid in his development. But will being stuck in one position and possibly only starting about half the games stunt his development? Also, will he try to play safe and simply play not to make mistakes and not take chances?

He enjoys both environments even though they're very different and has friends on both teams. Both coaches are solid. Both clubs have the same pathway.
Click to expand...
He’s nine or soon to be nine.
Pick the one close to home (bonus if it is also the cheaper one)
 
Paul Spacey said:
Unless there is a *massive* difference in the coaching and training environment, this is the correct take at the younger ages.

Nobody gets better sitting in a car.
Click to expand...
Agree. At 9, you just want the kid to have as much fun as possible.

P.S. - TXMom, you're over analyzing the shit out of this. You're saying things you shouldn't be saying for another 2-3 years. Let him have fun, enjoy the time you're in and give it another few years before you become a psychotic maniac like the rest of us.
 
TXMomof3 said:
Been training with a couple of teams and trying to decide between the two for my 2015 son.

There are a lot of differences between the two teams like cost (one is significantly cheaper than the other) and training location distance (one is a good bit closer to home than the other) among other things but if we were only considering "What is better for soccer development?" for the next year, what would be the better choice?

Disclaimer: I don't know what will actually happen but based on conversations with the coaches and guesting with both in the past, I'm making the best guesses below.

Team 1
  • Will get to play a number of different positions: probably central midfield along with both winger positions the most and then some wingback and even striker as well.
  • Will probably start almost every game, if not every game. (of course this could change but at least to begin with)
  • Will be one of the main pieces of the team.
  • Team itself would be decent but not great. The team will play in EA next year in their age group and you never know but I would say it'll be about mid table.

Team 2
  • Will primarily play right wing only. The team is very strong in most positions so would be very hard to break into other positions.
  • Think he'll start about half the time on the low end but could be 3/4th of the time on the high end. Definitely less than on Team 1 though.
  • Will be a good contributing member of the team and possibly one of the main pieces but not quite sure at least in the beginning.
  • The team will play up in EA in 2014 age bracket. Even playing up, I imagine they'll be top half or maybe even top 5 in the table.

This is the dilemma. Team 1 seems like a clear cut choice for development because he'll get to play a ton and play a bunch of different positions. He feels confident and would try to be creative and try unorthodox things in their trainings. But will lack of quality in certain positions on the team stunt his development? He's been with teams in the past where his teammates can't read the 1-2 he's trying to execute or he's making runs behind but the ball won't come. Also, will the environment make him complacent and not try as hard?

However, Team 2's talent level is noticeably higher and he seems pushed in their trainings and going against their tough defenders could also aid in his development. But will being stuck in one position and possibly only starting about half the games stunt his development? Also, will he try to play safe and simply play not to make mistakes and not take chances?

He enjoys both environments even though they're very different and has friends on both teams. Both coaches are solid. Both clubs have the same pathway.
Click to expand...
Agree with all the previous comments and just add that "What team does your son want to play for, which one will he have more fun?". More important than development at this age is gaining a passion for the game, and having fun is a big part of that.

(Disclaimer: there are some kids that thrive in the competitive environment fighting for play time and position, but those kids are rare.)
 
Paul Spacey said:
Unless there is a *massive* difference in the coaching and training environment, this is the correct take at the younger ages.

Nobody gets better sitting in a car.
Click to expand...

What would you do if the closer one is the where he'll be on the bench...
And the farther one is where he'll play all the time?
 
watfly said:
Agree with all the previous comments and just add that "What team does your son want to play for, which one will he have more fun?". More important than development at this age is gaining a passion for the game, and having fun is a big part of that.

(Disclaimer: there are some kids that thrive in the competitive environment fighting for play time and position, but those kids are rare.)
Click to expand...

Well, that's the part that we are torn and he's torn.

He says he doesn't know. He says playing for the "better" team is fun because they'll win a lot and winning is fun and there's pride in playing for that team.

But he says the other team is also fun because trainings aren't as intense and he's more relaxed and he gets to play more.

So he says they're both fun... but for different reasons and he can't decide which one's more fun.
 
watfly said:
Agree with all the previous comments and just add that "What team does your son want to play for, which one will he have more fun?". More important than development at this age is gaining a passion for the game, and having fun is a big part of that.

(Disclaimer: there are some kids that thrive in the competitive environment fighting for play time and position, but those kids are rare.)
Click to expand...
Them days are long gone. The last 6 years was all about greasing the Doc and or coach's slimy pockets with our hard earn cash. $20,000 a year to play travel ball soccer. I see a light at the end of the dark tunnel though but more change needs to happen. I say go with the best coach that is honest with a fair market price. Stay local at all costs and just like coach Paul said, you sure in the heck don't get better sitting in a car looking at other kids going to their traveling specialized sport that cost and arm, a leg, a lot of gas and time.
 
TXMomof3 said:
Well, that's the part that we are torn and he's torn.

He says he doesn't know. He says playing for the "better" team is fun because they'll win a lot and winning is fun and there's pride in playing for that team.

But he says the other team is also fun because trainings aren't as intense and he's more relaxed and he gets to play more.

So he says they're both fun... but for different reasons and he can't decide which one's more fun.
Click to expand...
Whatever decision you make, don't second guess it. You will drive yourself crazy if you follow the other team, etc. It's meaningless for 9 year olds and you can always switch the following year.
 
watfly said:
Whatever decision you make, don't second guess it. You will drive yourself crazy if you follow the other team, etc. It's meaningless for 9 year olds and you can always switch the following year.
Click to expand...
I remember looking back (Don't look back is good advice) after a heart wrenching decision about leaving a #1 team in the country and a championship team, tier 1 by the way and a chance to make, "The List," all the way back to tier 2 and no chance to make it big in youth soccer all because public school kids were forbidden to participate with the rich elite children because, well, they changed the rules after the other kids followed the rules.

I dedicated this song to all those who look back and wonder if you were lied to and wonder why all the other kids get all the fun and prizes but not public school kids.

 
TXMomof3 said:
What would you do if the closer one is the where he'll be on the bench...
And the farther one is where he'll play all the time?
Click to expand...
Stick with the closer team for a season and use the saved time on travel to train privately or on your own to improve.

This will increase your chances of getting more playing time.

That said, playing games is the main reason every kid goes to practice so you can’t stick around forever if you don’t play.
 
My son is also a 2015 and probably not as skilled as yours but my philosophy is to find a good coach locally and minimize the costs until he get middle school cause I do not even know whether he wants to play soccer (or at what level) by the time he hits puberty. I notice that the kids who are good at the u-10/u-11 stages are those who are more aggressive and more passionate...a lot of them are also physically bigger than the other kids. That may not be true in 2 to 3 years.

Finally, I always make it a point to ask my son what he wants and whether he is having fun. Some kids need that higher level of competition to stay engaged...others do not.
 
Based on my experience starting my child in club soccer at age 7, the most important thing is to prioritize playing time. Winning shouldn't be the focus if it means sacrificing your child's development. When he was 8, he tried out and made a top team, but he wasn’t getting enough playing time. We were there for two years, and he rarely started. Looking back, I would have chosen a Flight 2 or 3 team instead, where he could have played more and developed his skills.
 
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