Depends on how good he is. There is always room for an exceptional player. If the coach is running the same handful of drills over and over and BB can execute them in his sleep, it's probably time for something new.

soccertime wrote:

whyme wrote:I keep seeing people write that our BBs should get private skills lessons, so let me reverse those statements into a different question: what should we expect from a team coach? How we decide whether it's our bb reaching a plateau within himself or if he's reaching a plateau with the coach/team?
What's the future look like? If we don't move him this year, will openings be few and far between in the future?

I think these are all valid questions. All ones I don't have the knowledge base to answer. This is my oldest child so this is my first experience. How fast does the option to move to a better team fall off or is there always enough movement to get your child on a top team?

I agree with GO99 there will always be room for a great player on a team. I think if your son is not a stand out it would be wise to find a home and work really hard to stay there.

soccertime wrote:My bb has played with his current team for about 2 years. We are at a cross road of what to do, he is one of the better players on his current team and enjoys all the friendships he has made. I think the coaching has been good over the last few years but I feel he is falling behind. I have been watching kids from many of the top teams over the last year and they seem to be improving rapidly yet my bb is improving at a slower pace. So as I see it we have two options:
1. Pay for some private skills outside of the club we are with.
2. Move to another team, disrupting our current team and hoping he fits in with a new one.
I would really appreciate anyones thoughts!

Just curious - what's the age of the player. The older you get the more likely is to move on, in my opinion.

ntxsoccerchat wrote:

soccertime wrote:My bb has played with his current team for about 2 years. We are at a cross road of what to do, he is one of the better players on his current team and enjoys all the friendships he has made. I think the coaching has been good over the last few years but I feel he is falling behind. I have been watching kids from many of the top teams over the last year and they seem to be improving rapidly yet my bb is improving at a slower pace. So as I see it we have two options:
1. Pay for some private skills outside of the club we are with.
2. Move to another team, disrupting our current team and hoping he fits in with a new one.
I would really appreciate anyones thoughts!

Just curious - what's the age of the player. The older you get the more likely is to move on, in my opinion.

He is a 99

There wil be alot of movement in the off season. Take him to several team practices and talk with the coaches and see where they see him. Try to find coach that is teaching him something fresh and new. Find a team that has a need for him. I have seen kids end up on a team with and identical type of player, playing in the same position who is better and then a good kid recieve limited playtime. I have also seen a kid with very good skills end up on a team that plays a different style that didn't fit his skills so he ended up with limited playtime.

What's more important....the individual coach or the overall soccer club in the long run?

Wish I could say the club, but the quality of coach varies greatly withing the clubs so I will go with the coach. Particuarly at younger ages I think it is more important. As the player gets older the club starts to matter more.

Ok, treat me like the idiot I am, and spell it out for me, please! At what age do you consider "getting older?" When does the club matter more?
We are currently at a club that we absolutely love, but our coach's game plan is more conservative than my bb's natural instincts (and abilities). We're having a tough time evaluating what's best in the long run for our bb. We like the coach, and can respect that coaches have different philosophies and understand that it's good for our bb to experience it, yet there's also a part of us that wonders if our bb would be better served with a coach who's game philosophy is closer to those natural instincts...would a different man use his natural instincts to push him up to the next level?

If these are what 'floats your boat' - here's an age chart, feel free to add to it
U13
Dallas Cup
U14
National Championship eligible
U16
Developmental Academy eligible (can be as low as U14 if NTX ever gets into it at that age)
U17+
College Scholarships

IMO, colleges will find you if you are good enough - so, it's probably not necessary to play on a better team, but I would imagine D1 or a D2 team that plays in a lot of tournaments would be a must. Obviously, the sooner you get your kid with a coach that works for him the better, but it can also ruin your kid if you chose wrong.

clueless wrote:If these are what 'floats your boat' - here's an age chart, feel free to add to it
U13
Dallas Cup
U14
National Championship eligible
U16
Developmental Academy eligible (can be as low as U14 if NTX ever gets into it at that age)
U17+
College Scholarships

IMO, colleges will find you if you are good enough - so, it's probably not necessary to play on a better team, but I would imagine D1 or a D2 team that plays in a lot of tournaments would be a must. Obviously, the sooner you get your kid with a coach that works for him the better, but it can also ruin your kid if you chose wrong.

Actually, the Development Academy doesn't have U14. It's not a NTX issue. USSF is studying it, but nothing concrete yet.

Acutally I thought they did have U14 just not in our area yet. The plan was also to bring it to the area next season. This also depends on enough qualifying teams in the area

go99 wrote:Acutally I thought they did have U14 just not in our area yet. The plan was also to bring it to the area next season. This also depends on enough qualifying teams in the area

I had heard the same thing, but can't find it anywhere on their website and there are no standing or schedules, so I assumed it was on hold.

looks like you are correct. USSF will not be doing it. Apparently an affilitate us club soccer is doing the pre academy league in the NE already with the blessing of the USSF. This is why FCD has a U14 juniors team already. In preparation for the league making it's way to the area next season.

soccerdoc wrote:Maybe it is just me... Does anyone have any loyalty anymore??? I'm starting to think that maybe loyalty does not apply to North Texas Soccer...

WOW - is soccerdoc talking about loyalty. I guess things changed from what I saw this weekend

My experience has been the players change so much physically over the years that level of league play is less important and more important is:

1. Coach - teaches possession soccer - players can develop good foot eye coordination pre-puberty and learn how to control possession - coach is good role model, treats players with respect has high standards and expectations - players admire coach and have fun playing soccer
   
2. Parents - Parents are patient and take long-term view that soccer development is focused on the player and their individual and technical development as a person and player
   
3. Progression in League Play - Parents and players want to make progress year over year and not be stagnant in league play - you would expect players to improve and develop and perform better over time since they play well together and hopefully are more cohesive
   
4. Loyalty to Player and Coach - It is better to be on a team with low turnover then one that is constantly upgrading half the team - your player gets to build long-term relationships for life and coaches are patient in developing talent not looking to replace a player when somebody better comes along - player and parent should not shop around if you did a good job in finding the right place to start with. The league has some players who are revolving door players they get worse each year because the move around so much eventually no coach wants them by U-16.
   
5. Friends and Fun - If it is all business all the time, players can get burned out. It is better if they like each other and have fun playing soccer you will almost never have to force them to go to practice. They will like going to practice.
   
   Lastly, I would not change teams to move to higher league unless your team is not a good fit with the items above. Your player is so young that what difference does it make what league they play in right now what is more important is that they are in the right environment for development. Alot of the teams and coaches in higher leagues are under alot of pressure to win to not get relegated and loose their best players. Winning becomes more important the higher the league and development usually takes a back seat to recruiting the most athletic players. There are exceptions though so do your own due diligence. A kid can play in Plano/Arlington with good coach until post-puberty then make a move if their team is not progressing. It is not till the junior year of High School that most college coaches start looking at most college prospects for soccer. Then it may be good to be on a DI or DII team. Your player should be ready for that opportunity if they get the proper development from U-11 onward.
   

Remember the best player on a lower level team may still get significantly less playing time on a higher level team. Playing 75% to 100% of each game is better than 30 to 50% of the game at a higher level player development is all about getting more touches in game situations on the ball.

Soccernovice wrote:
Remember the best player on a lower level team may still get significantly less playing time on a higher level team. Playing 75% to 100% of each game is better than 30 to 50% of the game at a higher level player development is all about getting more touches in game situations on the ball.

Sorry Soccernovice but that's the part I have to disagree. Part of becoming a better player is the challenge week in week out with equal talented kids and if you are the best player playing in a lower league your development will suffer IMO.

quickfeet wrote:

soccerdoc wrote:Maybe it is just me... Does anyone have any loyalty anymore??? I'm starting to think that maybe loyalty does not apply to North Texas Soccer...

WOW - is soccerdoc talking about loyalty. I guess things changed from what I saw this weekend

Interesting comment... Quickfeet see the new thread I'm starting on loyalty...

The German wrote:

Soccernovice wrote:
Remember the best player on a lower level team may still get significantly less playing time on a higher level team. Playing 75% to 100% of each game is better than 30 to 50% of the game at a higher level player development is all about getting more touches in game situations on the ball.

Sorry Soccernovice but that's the part I have to disagree. Part of becoming a better player is the challenge week in week out with equal talented kids and if you are the best player playing in a lower league your development will suffer IMO.

Gonna agree and disagree with both. Play time is most important, but it is also important that a kid play at a level that challenges him. The balance is the key. It's not just who he practices with but also who he plays against. He should try to play at a level that challenges him but also find a team that he can hold significant playtime and most importantly be in a position that what he does on the field actually matters.

soccerdoc wrote:

quickfeet wrote:

soccerdoc wrote:Maybe it is just me... Does anyone have any loyalty anymore??? I'm starting to think that maybe loyalty does not apply to North Texas Soccer...

WOW - is soccerdoc talking about loyalty. I guess things changed from what I saw this weekend

Interesting comment... Quickfeet see the new thread I'm starting on loyalty...

Loyalty? Don't we actually pay for this? We are customers not members. Loyalty plays on the fact that we are here for the greater good of the club. Your loyalty should be to your kid and whatever you think is best for HIM not the club.

LCHANDLER wrote:This is all great advice..if my BB is the best player on his team and I could say top player in the league for his age group. At what age should he move to the "top team?"

If he's the best in the league, then I'd probably move him up to the next league, not just move him to a top team.

If he's the best in the league, then I'd probably move him up to the next league, not just move him to a top team. [/quote]
Already playing the top league for his age group. Are you saying to move to the next age group?

LCHANDLER wrote:If he's the best in the league, then I'd probably move him up to the next league, not just move him to a top team.

Already playing the top league for his age group. Are you saying to move to the next age group?[/quote]
Then move him up to play with older kids. We had to do that with our youngest one because he got really frustrated playing with his own age group. If your kid is the best, then it's really hard to challenge him.

lchandler-what age ae we talking about? What league is he in?

I am talking about Classic Div. 1. Maybe there is some mis-understanding with what I am requesting advice for. Just because you are the best in the league does not mean you are not being challenged. Just curious at what age should all the best boys be playing together? If you have a kid that is outstanding, when do you want to put him with the best?

LCHANDLER wrote:I am talking about Classic Div. 1. Maybe there is some mis-understanding with what I am requesting advice for. Just because you are the best in the league does not mean you are not being challenged. Just curious at what age should all the best boys be playing together? If you have a kid that is outstanding, when do you want to put him with the best?

So I take it your son is a 99 and you believe he is the best 99???

I was under the impression the best 99 already plays for Solar 98

chandler- You are just stupid or clueless or drunk. Explain yourself other than just spouting off ridiculous comments. Is your kid not being challenged in d1 99? Please! Stop the maddness.

CLUB31 wrote:chandler- You are just stupid or clueless or drunk. Explain yourself other than just spouting off ridiculous comments. Is your kid not being challenged in d1 99? Please! Stop the maddness.

Quite frankly who cares what this person thinks about his sons' abilities. If you want the "madness" to stop; then STOP giving him any attention.

You guys are stupid! If you wouldn't be so darn focused on who my kid is you wouldn't be getting so frustrated. I rarely read these blogs but I thought you guys had a intersting thread going for once. (just kidding!) I am not that clueless, I know that the first two years are about developing and basically for fun and after that is when it becomes more serious. I have heard that nothing counts until Premier league so basically just asking is that true? At what age should the best boys play together? But forget it! Just so you guys can relax my BB is NOT a 99 and I do not have any scoop on 99's.