Clubs losing teams after tryouts this year

[Unregistered]

I'm witnessing some firsthand and hearing about much more secondhand that clubs are having major trouble this year. Teams disbanding and players leaving in amounts not ever seen before. Being blamed is the age group change. Team are splitting and reforming so players start looking more. Also blamed is the decline of maple league. It seems to hurt the smaller to mid size club the most. Sure there are more reasons ( coaches, club management)
What are you seeing and hearing?

[Unregistered]

Smaller/medium sized clubs are struggling more with this, not surprisingly. Teams that have the 8th/9th grade issue seem hardest hit, along with HS aged teams in general. I'm hearing of some just combining multiple ages to a U18 banner. Over time I think it will sort itself out but I think this will be a real test for some clubs this year, even those with good management/coaching

[Unregistered]

I'm witnessing some firsthand and hearing about much more secondhand that clubs are having major trouble this year. Teams disbanding and players leaving in amounts not ever seen before. Being blamed is the age group change. Team are splitting and reforming so players start looking more. Also blamed is the decline of maple league. It seems to hurt the smaller to mid size club the most. Sure there are more reasons ( coaches, club management)
What are you seeing and hearing?

Our club is getting a lot of new faces, probably from these smaller clubs that didn't plan well for the age group change. Our club made a few changes with team rosters over the winter so that the spring teams were more aligned with the age group changes, and hence, less transition at tryout time. There was some complaining in the winter about those who changed teams, but it made for an easier transition. Gradual change is usually better than abrupt change.

[Unregistered]

Our club is getting a lot of new faces, probably from these smaller clubs that didn't plan well for the age group change. Our club made a few changes with team rosters over the winter so that the spring teams were more aligned with the age group changes, and hence, less transition at tryout time. There was some complaining in the winter about those who changed teams, but it made for an easier transition. Gradual change is usually better than abrupt change.

DOn't assume that the smaller clubs weren't planning or trying. The simple fact is if you don't have teams at every age group it isn't easy to re-shuffle the deck of cards. I've heard of more than one well managed but small club losing a team over this. If parents are worried their kid might not have a team to play on they'll look outside; then other parents get wind of it and it can start a death spiral. Nor is it easy to attract new players - those looking into a club won't signup for tryouts if they're worried there won't be a team to play on. They'll go to a club that looks like a more sure bet.

[Unregistered]

Some of this is a normal part of child development and actually healthy for the competitive landscape. Statistics show that roughly 70% of kids quit sports during the middle school years. That's actually normal as they find other interests. Not everyone is destined for a life in sports. The resulting consolidation of teams and players makes for a more committed and competitive environment which is the long run everyone benefits from. The less 7-0 games the better. This drop off is nothing really new though and the reason it's so noticeable right now is because of the birth year change which is forcing a lot of people to rethink what they are doing and why. What they are seeing is that over the last couple of years there has been a large expansion in the number of teams with little upward player movement so the impact was it really watered the competitive landscape down as costs spiraled out of control. The recent announcements about the girls DA and boys ECNL functionally clean up the talent leveling and this is also causing people to question exactly where all of this fits for their family. Believe it or not all of this is a very good thing for everyone.

[Unregistered]

Some of this is a normal part of child development and actually healthy for the competitive landscape. Statistics show that roughly 70% of kids quit sports during the middle school years. That's actually normal as they find other interests. Not everyone is destined for a life in sports. The resulting consolidation of teams and players makes for a more committed and competitive environment which is the long run everyone benefits from. The less 7-0 games the better. This drop off is nothing really new though and the reason it's so noticeable right now is because of the birth year change which is forcing a lot of people to rethink what they are doing and why. What they are seeing is that over the last couple of years there has been a large expansion in the number of teams with little upward player movement so the impact was it really watered the competitive landscape down as costs spiraled out of control. The recent announcements about the girls DA and boys ECNL functionally clean up the talent leveling and this is also causing people to question exactly where all of this fits for their family. Believe it or not all of this is a very good thing for everyone.

Gee, thanks for this analysis, BTNT. Or is this one of those "shadows"? Your goal is to have as few participants as possible. Your rule of thumb is "No aspirations and/or talent for the WNT then get the heck off our fields." Noble.

[Unregistered]

Some of this is a normal part of child development and actually healthy for the competitive landscape. Statistics show that roughly 70% of kids quit sports during the middle school years. That's actually normal as they find other interests. Not everyone is destined for a life in sports. The resulting consolidation of teams and players makes for a more committed and competitive environment which is the long run everyone benefits from. The less 7-0 games the better. This drop off is nothing really new though and the reason it's so noticeable right now is because of the birth year change which is forcing a lot of people to rethink what they are doing and why. What they are seeing is that over the last couple of years there has been a large expansion in the number of teams with little upward player movement so the impact was it really watered the competitive landscape down as costs spiraled out of control. The recent announcements about the girls DA and boys ECNL functionally clean up the talent leveling and this is also causing people to question exactly where all of this fits for their family. Believe it or not all of this is a very good thing for everyone.

Wow. Now you're a child development specialist. You are a man of many superior talents obviously.

[Unregistered]

Some of this is a normal part of child development and actually healthy for the competitive landscape. Statistics show that roughly 70% of kids quit sports during the middle school years. That's actually normal as they find other interests. Not everyone is destined for a life in sports. The resulting consolidation of teams and players makes for a more committed and competitive environment which is the long run everyone benefits from. The less 7-0 games the better. This drop off is nothing really new though and the reason it's so noticeable right now is because of the birth year change which is forcing a lot of people to rethink what they are doing and why. What they are seeing is that over the last couple of years there has been a large expansion in the number of teams with little upward player movement so the impact was it really watered the competitive landscape down as costs spiraled out of control. The recent announcements about the girls DA and boys ECNL functionally clean up the talent leveling and this is also causing people to question exactly where all of this fits for their family. Believe it or not all of this is a very good thing for everyone.

Of course! I should have my child drop out now! After all he'll never make the national team so it just isn't worth pursuing.

What a sad little man you are

[Unregistered]

Gee, thanks for this analysis, BTNT. Or is this one of those "shadows"? Your goal is to have as few participants as possible. Your rule of thumb is "No aspirations and/or talent for the WNT then get the heck off our fields." Noble.

Yakety yak, the psycho's back. He's already made several dozen posts today over several different threads. Tells all one needs to know about him and this site. He's a troll that has mental issues and this site is not moderated so he is free to spew his insanity all over it without constraint. It's a 24/7/365 barrage of hate directed at one person.

[Unregistered]

Yakety yak, the psycho's back. He's already made several dozen posts today over several different threads. Tells all one needs to know about him and this site. He's a troll that has mental issues and this site is not moderated so he is free to spew his insanity all over it without constraint. It's a 24/7/365 barrage of hate directed at one person.

One of the shadows, right? Love that you always speak from a pulpit of authority. You sure seem be around here a lot.

[Unregistered]

DOn't assume that the smaller clubs weren't planning or trying. The simple fact is if you don't have teams at every age group it isn't easy to re-shuffle the deck of cards. I've heard of more than one well managed but small club losing a team over this. If parents are worried their kid might not have a team to play on they'll look outside; then other parents get wind of it and it can start a death spiral. Nor is it easy to attract new players - those looking into a club won't signup for tryouts if they're worried there won't be a team to play on. They'll go to a club that looks like a more sure bet.

Smaller clubs could have had their spring teams play up an age group. And then right now they'd all be on the same team and meet the age group change requirement. But it may have been difficult to tell parents that a few more losses on the spring record would pay off later on. All depends on when you want to feel the pain? Sounds like some are feeling it now.

[Unregistered]

I think most will stay just to play up a age group.
Every parents dream.

[Unregistered]

I think most will stay just to play up a age group.
Every parents dream.

and every club's nightmare. Ok if you're in some low level league. But if you play in anything quasi competitive and most of the other teams are all age appropriate you could find your record in the gutter and parents leaving. To most parents winning=development, losing = no development

[Unregistered]

Players = CASH. After next season they will use the age change excuse.

[Unregistered]

and every club's nightmare. Ok if you're in some low level league. But if you play in anything quasi competitive and most of the other teams are all age appropriate you could find your record in the gutter and parents leaving. To most parents winning=development, losing = no development

That's a cop out. No one likes to lose. It just isn't fun. So kids end up either wanting to quit or leave for another team. It's only the psycho coaches who can't seem to grasp that fun takes precedence over development for 99% of the kids