Pros and Cons: One youth team versus multiples

[Unregistered]

I am curious about the opinions of others concerning what works best for your players:

1) Playing with the same club team throughout the entire youth soccer experience or

2) Playing with multiple teams, coaches and players

I can see pros and cons for both. On the one hand a team that is developed as a team rather than as individuals with the right players is most likely to have high level team success.

What I wonder is if there is a minus to the individual development of the player in these scenarios or is it outweighed by the continuity of their development by the same individuals?

Thoughts?

[Unregistered]

I am curious about the opinions of others concerning what works best for your players:

1) Playing with the same club team throughout the entire youth soccer experience or

2) Playing with multiple teams, coaches and players

I can see pros and cons for both. On the one hand a team that is developed as a team rather than as individuals with the right players is most likely to have high level team success.

What I wonder is if there is a minus to the individual development of the player in these scenarios or is it outweighed by the continuity of their development by the same individuals?

Thoughts?

It would be a rare occurrence for one team to stay intact throughout the recreation, select, premier development years. A single coach, especially a parent coach, would soon reach his/her limits on coaching abilities and knowledge. Players need to be exposed to a variety of coaching styles as they mature. Each new coach will have something different to offer. Staying put will soon max out individual opportunities for most players.

Exceptional players that continue to grow their athletic abilities and skill development need to advance on to bigger challenges. Staying put with a single team because of old friendships or "chemistry" will eventually limit advancement for most. Those yearly advanced competition tryouts are designed to facilitate change for those ready to move on.

[Unregistered]

One of the problems with staying on a team for one's entire development is that players have tendency to form a particular identity that is tied to the team. This identity could range from sub to role player to the/a star. Not one of these is beneficial to the individual players development. I coached a rec team that eventually supplied the core of the first team when they reached competitive age. A majority of the players still play together, but with different coaching, more players in the mix, and guest playing for other teams the players have grown in ways that wouldn't have been possible if they had stayed together as a team under the same coaching.

I try to get my child as many opportunities as possible to play in different environments so she can develop the skill and attitude of being a student of the game. In addition, as she continues to move on to higher levels of competition, she will be exposed to many new situations but she will have developed the skill of adaptability. She plays up, so I have her train and play occasionally with her own age and she has guest played with other clubs. I want her to enjoy new experiences w/o the many distractions that can occur.

If you do stay with the same player throughout, a change of coaching staff at U10/U11 and U14/15 would be recommended. Also, network and get your player exposed to different coaching and playing styles.

[Unregistered]

Your player should play on the best team s/he can make and still be a valuable contributor to the team. If that means switching clubs, then switch. It promotes not only development through new challenges, but exposes the player to different styles, tactics and teammates. It's also a good opportunity to meet new people and make new/more friends. The most important thing though is to remember that it's not about the parents. It's supposed to be fun and not work or a chore.

[OrSoccerMom]

I wonder how many families make these decisions based on the direction that their player pulls them. That has been our journey. My DD does play for a variety of different teams, coaches and players. I think it is what makes her tick. She has a club, has participated until this year in ODP and ODP regional, played with Rush select teams, two different WPSL teams, and now is a discovery player with Crossfire. There is little doubt in my mind that she takes away from these experiences several things:

Where she prefers to play on the field is dependent on who she is playing with and the style of play.

She likes some coaches better than others and visa versa.

She has witnessed a variety of approaches to being down at the half ranging from coaches who throw fits and don't even want to speak with the players to those who berate and then those who inspire.

She has been around very instructive coaches (which works very well with her) and then others who just let the game play itself.

She has been the target of poor officiating and has officiators who have spoken to her giving kudos and positive feedback.

She has played with players who are "ball hoggish" and those who are selfless.

My take it on all of this for her is that it has provided her some well rounded approaches to the game and respect, insight and empathy for her fellow players. I think it has made her not only a better player but a pretty good albeit not perfect person.

Having said all of that I don't know if her adaptation of differing styles is personality driven or if all players thrive on this. Certainly for her variety has in fact been the spice of life.

[Unregistered]

1 is not plausible, especially at one of the big clubs. Worse, if you develop a loyalty to a club remember they will not be loyal to you. You can be on a team for multiple years and then out of the blue, be cut or put on the B team. Just fact of life in club soccer. My son plays U17 and many of the teams have more than half of their players who have been with at least one other club at one time or another, maybe all of them.

Cultivate relationships with other clubs/coaches. Maybe have some individual training sessions with a coach at another club. You will be glad you did.

But, always note how your child feels about it. Regardless of what you read on this Forum, most of the kids playing Oregon club soccer aren't playing beyond high school, so enjoy the ride and dont get overly stressed out about wins/losses, ODP, being the best, etc.

[Unregistered]

1 is not plausible, especially at one of the big clubs. Worse, if you develop a loyalty to a club remember they will not be loyal to you. You can be on a team for multiple years and then out of the blue, be cut or put on the B team. Just fact of life in club soccer. My son plays U17 and many of the teams have more than half of their players who have been with at least one other club at one time or another, maybe all of them.

Cultivate relationships with other clubs/coaches. Maybe have some individual training sessions with a coach at another club. You will be glad you did.

But, always note how your child feels about it. Regardless of what you read on this Forum, most of the kids playing Oregon club soccer aren't playing beyond high school, so enjoy the ride and dont get overly stressed out about wins/losses, ODP, being the best, etc.

That's good advice and it's true, particularly on the boys side. There just aren't that many opportunities to move on.