One of my sons is u11. Plays on the top team at his club and they play 2014 EA team this year. Team is very good. He plays defense 95% of the time and plays entire game. But he is miserable. He cant stand playing defense. It’s all he talks about how much he hates it.
The Coach for 3 years now has given him very little chances to play elsewhere (despite repeated promises that he would) and when he does my son does great. But it’s very seldom. We talked to the coach recently and he said this is what I think is best for your child’s development for him to play defense. But I think it’s really best because his team wins. Not for my son’s development.
I don’t know what to do as my other kids that play club soccer have never been in a situation like this.
So many questions….
1. Does he leave and go to tryouts? Or Does he not say he is leaving yet and go to tryouts?
2. Is it worth even trying to go to tryout for another team for him to try to play a different position?
3. If our coach finds out he wants to leave he will be very angry. I can already see it. Will he say bad things about my kid to the other clubs?
4. If a kid is a top player on an A team at a club and plays a lot, what are reasons for why the player would leave? Trying to understand why players leave if they are getting a lot of playing time on a top team. This is a serious question.
Any help or advice is appreciated.
My D is playing U18/19 and is heading off to play in college next year. She has played at 4 clubs from U8-U18/19 (11 years). We had different reasons for moving each time, and looking back I think they made sense.
U8 & U9- Played at a small club five minutes from our house, mostly with friends from school. Loved it, but got much more serious about soccer and wanted a more competitive environment. Also, the birth year switch came into effect going into U10 and the team was being split in two anyways.
U10-U12- Played on the top team in our area for her age. Team was very good, they traveled everywhere, but she did not like the coach. The club had DA and she wanted to play on her high school team (DA didn't allow it), so with ECNL starting at U13 and her dislike of the coach, she asked to move. Hard to leave her friends, but was excited for the opportunity.
U13-U16- Had a very good run on her ECNL team, but she tore her ACL, re-injured her knee towards the end of U16 and the coach wouldn't guarantee her a spot for U17 "until we see how the knee recovery goes." With an injured knee and no roster spot heading into U17 we told the disloyal coach (who cut a handful of other inured players) to FK off and we rolled the dice on finding a better environment. Scary decision because there were only two teams higher up the food chain (she refused to "go backwards") and one was a 90 minute drive.
U17-U18/19- She tried out for one of the two "better teams" in our area, earned a roster spot, got her scholarships and has enjoyed beating her old team and coach when she has played them. Soccer, wise, her current team is the best thing that ever happened to her.
If your kid isn't happy, or the coaching is not a good fit, don't be afraid to move if the opportunity presents itself. Change is hard, but sometimes it's necessary.
