So what do lower level players on top clubs do?

[Guest]

Don’t want a club battle here, but what do lower level players on big clubs B teams do? If you try out for another club, they cut you, and if you don’t tryout and get cut, you are screwed since it is kind of late to find a new club.

Seems like these clubs can cut a bunch of kids at lower ages each year. What do these kids do?

[Guest]

I always wondered where the kids on any of the top 5 or so clubs (pick any five you think are top) play college ball (if that is their goal). Can you make a big D1 team from a B team or are you playing for smaller D-1 schools (or lower)

[Guest]

Don’t want a club battle here, but what do lower level players on big clubs B teams do? If you try out for another club, they cut you, and if you don’t tryout and get cut, you are screwed since it is kind of late to find a new club.

Seems like these clubs can cut a bunch of kids at lower ages each year. What do these kids do?

My D was on a B team at a top club. Every spring, we would ask the coach if her roster spot was secure. In the one year the coach said no (entering U15), we told him she would try out at other clubs in case he decided to cut her and he said fine. Ultimately, he decided to keep her and she ended up finishing her youth soccer career with the same team.

[Guest]

I always wondered where the kids on any of the top 5 or so clubs (pick any five you think are top) play college ball (if that is their goal). Can you make a big D1 team from a B team or are you playing for smaller D-1 schools (or lower)

On D's B team, about half the team ended up playing in college. Most were strong D3, a couple of D2 and 1 low-level D1. Of those who didn't play in college, only 1 had wanted to (the rest decided they didn't want to play college soccer).

[Guest]

On D's B team, about half the team ended up playing in college. Most were strong D3, a couple of D2 and 1 low-level D1. Of those who didn't play in college, only 1 had wanted to (the rest decided they didn't want to play college soccer).

Similar experience. Except many went to play but did not finish, quit pretty fast. Same with many of the A team. In many ways it seems the getting in is the goal, but the actually having to play doesn’t really work for many of the kids. Playing a sport in college is hard, especially if you don’t have a goal to continue post college. Yes there are the few that want more but they are so few.

Which is why- none of this really matters. Just make sure you kid is happy.

[Guest]

Similar experience. Except many went to play but did not finish, quit pretty fast. Same with many of the A team. In many ways it seems the getting in is the goal, but the actually having to play doesn’t really work for many of the kids. Playing a sport in college is hard, especially if you don’t have a goal to continue post college. Yes there are the few that want more but they are so few.

Which is why- none of this really matters. Just make sure you kid is happy.

Your kid doesn't need to be a D1 superstar for all this to matter. You're spending loads of quality time with your kids and are giving them the opportunity to build critical life traits such as confidence, leadership, responsibility and time management. If I spent ten years getting my kid the best math tutors or violin instructors and they decided to go in a different direction with their lives, I wouldn't consider it a waste. The people who spend all day every day trying to calculate the ROI of every decision they make are the ones who miss out on the fun times. Life's too short. Let the kids play at as high a level as they can and enjoy the ride.

[Guest]

Similar experience. Except many went to play but did not finish, quit pretty fast. Same with many of the A team. In many ways it seems the getting in is the goal, but the actually having to play doesn’t really work for many of the kids. Playing a sport in college is hard, especially if you don’t have a goal to continue post college. Yes there are the few that want more but they are so few.

Which is why- none of this really matters. Just make sure you kid is happy.

I am actually really shocked at the number of kids I've seen who quit college soccer in the first 2 years. I recently took a look at a bunch of kids my D played with/against over her HS years, checking out the rosters of their colleges. MANY only played 1 year, some didn't even get on a roster in their freshman year (not sure if they didn't make the team or just decided not to play). And many of them who were highly-regarded don't get much playing time. The most surprising one was a kid on an ACC team who started almost every game as a freshman who ended up quitting because she didn't get along with a new coach and transferred to another school and is not playing anymore.

[Guest]

Your kid doesn't need to be a D1 superstar for all this to matter. You're spending loads of quality time with your kids and are giving them the opportunity to build critical life traits such as confidence, leadership, responsibility and time management. If I spent ten years getting my kid the best math tutors or violin instructors and they decided to go in a different direction with their lives, I wouldn't consider it a waste. The people who spend all day every day trying to calculate the ROI of every decision they make are the ones who miss out on the fun times. Life's too short. Let the kids play at as high a level as they can and enjoy the ride.

it's not what the parent wants, it is what the kid wants. If my kid wants to try and play D1, and I have the money, there is nothing wrong with her trying. To a lot of people in NJ, $5K-$10K/year is not something to worry too much about if the kid is having fun. People just asking for information.

[Guest]

Yea, a few kids just jumped our town team to play B level at one of these top clubs (U12 next season). I doubt they will ever make A (one because of how it works, plus their actual ability). Was asking someone how this team had this many spots for kids from one town, and they said that 4 or 5 of the kids on the team were just not invited back and are now scrambling to find a team for the fall. I could see if you were one of the handful of kids that could play at the top level, but most cant. Personally I would rather just be a "star" on a local "second tier" club then sit the bench on a top club B team. Cant imagine anything worst than driving to VA to have my kid watch other kids play soccer.

[Guest]

I am actually really shocked at the number of kids I've seen who quit college soccer in the first 2 years. I recently took a look at a bunch of kids my D played with/against over her HS years, checking out the rosters of their colleges. MANY only played 1 year, some didn't even get on a roster in their freshman year (not sure if they didn't make the team or just decided not to play). And many of them who were highly-regarded don't get much playing time. The most surprising one was a kid on an ACC team who started almost every game as a freshman who ended up quitting because she didn't get along with a new coach and transferred to another school and is not playing anymore.

None of that surprises me. Many girls spend most of their childhood on a field and when they get to college they realize it’s too much work with no more rewards at the end. They want to concentrate on their education, boyfriends and having fun.

[Guest]

None of that surprises me. Many girls spend most of their childhood on a field and when they get to college they realize it’s too much work with no more rewards at the end. They want to concentrate on their education, boyfriends and having fun.

Personally I could have played D-III, but academically there were no schools where I could play that I wanted to go to. I spoke with my D and told her that she has to pick a school based on the school, and IF you can play there, then go for it