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Post by justsayin on Aug 20, 2014 8:35:10 GMT -6
I'm not sure if this issue has been addressed before, but does any other club teams have the issue of 'half a year' players?
Last year, before high school season started we had a roster of 21 players and after it ended our roster had dropped to 16 players. At the time 16 players were enough, but in one year our roster has dropped from 21 (almost all players returned the week of state and then for tryouts) to 16 players (and retained almost all of the half-year players).
I know at least four players that will not be playing in the spring season, but do plan to return for state and tryouts.
Honestly, I hadn't run aground of this issue until spring of last club year. Has anyone else dealt with this and how did you manage it?
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Post by 0coachchris0 on Aug 20, 2014 8:53:41 GMT -6
What age group? The older the kids get, the more distractions and other commitments they have. I starting running into Spring dropouts around the U14 age. Seemed to be a growing problem, so the Club instituted a Commitment Letter that players must sign before the season starts. It explains that Club soccer is a full-year (Fall/Spring) commitment. Of course, it doesn't prevent people from bailing, but it at least sets the expectation up front.
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Post by laffysoccermom on Aug 20, 2014 10:36:40 GMT -6
Unfortunately, I think a lot look at club as a way to get ready for high school. I worry this year because we picked up some players who were strongly encouraged by high school coaches to play select. Hoping they will not do this.
Our club does have everyone sign a commitment letter too.
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Post by Steven Gerrard on Aug 20, 2014 10:36:51 GMT -6
I am assuming that you are talking about players who have other commitments, like, for example, softball. A few years back, our club had a problem with girls who wanted to play soccer in the fall, and then drop it in the spring for high school softball (their softball coach would not let them play other sports in the spring). We had decided that we were not going to "save" roster spots for those players. Either you were in for the whole season, or you were not on the team.
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Post by SFC Retired on Aug 20, 2014 13:26:13 GMT -6
Softball Coaches are known for that..
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Post by Tordad35 on Aug 20, 2014 13:34:34 GMT -6
My daughter has been playing up at the U17/u18 age group for the last three seasons. We lost almost 1/4 of the girls in the spring after school ball on the U18 team. The club has started commitment letters, but has also started splitting the club fees to where we pay more in the fall than the spring. Makes it a little harder for the parents to let their kid quit.
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Post by laffysoccermom on Aug 20, 2014 13:50:59 GMT -6
We have to pay all fees in the fall.
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Post by justsayin on Aug 20, 2014 18:00:58 GMT -6
What age group? The older the kids get, the more distractions and other commitments they have. I starting running into Spring dropouts around the U14 age. Seemed to be a growing problem, so the Club instituted a Commitment Letter that players must sign before the season starts. It explains that Club soccer is a full-year (Fall/Spring) commitment. Of course, it doesn't prevent people from bailing, but it at least sets the expectation up front. We are moving into the U16 age group this year, and we'd been warned for years about the inevitable drop in participation, it's why our club kept the rosters so large. However, at u-14 we actually had 62 girls in our age group at our club. |
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Post by justsayin on Aug 20, 2014 18:07:15 GMT -6
Unfortunately, I think a lot look at club as a way to get ready for high school. I worry this year because we picked up some players who were strongly encouraged by high school coaches to play select. Hoping they will not do this. Our club does have everyone sign a commitment letter too. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using proboards We also have a year round contract, but a lot of parents worry less about the fees than they do about their "freedom." We have a few "payment plans" but we typically get a bill before tryouts that also entails all of the unforeseen charges like tournament, coaching, travel, and ref fees. |
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Post by justsayin on Aug 20, 2014 18:16:00 GMT -6
I am assuming that you are talking about players who have other commitments, like, for example, softball. A few years back, our club had a problem with girls who wanted to play soccer in the fall, and then drop it in the spring for high school softball (their softball coach would not let them play other sports in the spring). We had decided that we were not going to "save" roster spots for those players. Either you were in for the whole season, or you were not on the team. At our club track and field and cross country are the extra sports, only a couple play softball, but according to their parents a lot of the players that quit until state and tryouts, are simply "burned out on soccer" after high school ball. Not saving roster spots seems like a really great idea. I agree that a roster spot contract/commitment would be better than a monetary contract/commitment. |
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Post by alto1smom on Dec 14, 2014 8:41:02 GMT -6
Our club team has only lost 2 players mid year in its history and we are u18s. One kid was not even a true quit, but a team veto for missing a game. The girls set the tone and the standards based on their core values. I believe family values and how children are raised will determine if they are committed. My children would never have the option to QUIT any commitment mid stream when others depend on you. Quitting is NEVER an option. Once the commitment is seen to the end of the cycle don't go back if you didn't enjoy it. I recall a region weekend being cancelled as soon as we arrived in Shreveport and the tentative reschedule weekend was homecoming weekend for 5 of the girls. Before any date was set while still in the lobby, 3 of them were already texting their dates saying I AM NOT GOING TO HOMECOMING I HAVE A GAME! No tears, no frustration--it just wasn't even a dilemma. I am a softball coach and I advocate for kids playing multiple sports. Soccer, my personal children's reason to live, is too long! The mindset in soccer is "more is better", but high quality and less is proven to be better in every sport. Children need to recover and cross train. Parents need a break as well  even though I am about to drive with my u18 to a training because she wants me there. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2014 16:15:43 GMT -6
Our club team has only lost 2 players mid year in its history and we are u18s. One kid was not even a true quit, but a team veto for missing a game. The girls set the tone and the standards based on their core values. I believe family values and how children are raised will determine if they are committed. My children would never have the option to QUIT any commitment mid stream when others depend on you. Quitting is NEVER an option. Once the commitment is seen to the end of the cycle don't go back if you didn't enjoy it. I recall a region weekend being cancelled as soon as we arrived in Shreveport and the tentative reschedule weekend was homecoming weekend for 5 of the girls. Before any date was set while still in the lobby, 3 of them were already texting their dates saying I AM NOT GOING TO HOMECOMING I HAVE A GAME! No tears, no frustration--it just wasn't even a dilemma. I am a softball coach and I advocate for kids playing multiple sports. Soccer, my personal children's reason to live, is too long! The mindset in soccer is "more is better", but high quality and less is proven to be better in every sport. Children need to recover and cross train. Parents need a break as well even though I am about to drive with my u18 to a training because she wants me there. Soccer isn't 'too long'. I don't hear too many complaining about year round baseball or basketball.
At u15-u18, 20-25 high school games and a manageable number of club games are fine. I agree 'more isn't better'. But common sense should come into play here. An appropriate year round soccer schedule should look like this:
Fall club=8-10 games High school=18-22 Spring 10 games max
So, around 40 games a year.
Sorry, but soccer isn't a sport where you can put the ball away for 3-4 months at a time.
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Post by alto1smom on Dec 16, 2014 14:17:12 GMT -6
Your formula sounds sensible, but it is just my opinion. Let me also say, my children play soccer 3-5 times EVERY week! Other sports are more fogiving with missing dates for school functions as well. Great soccer also requires out of state travel regularly!! You just can't get good quality in state so road trip at least once a month. National League alone would take up half of your allotted games and ODP would be out of this equation as well. Don't put the ball away, but play other sports and a few soccer pick up games!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2014 8:40:32 GMT -6
Your formula sounds sensible, but it is just my opinion. Let me also say, my children play soccer 3-5 times EVERY week! Other sports are more fogiving with missing dates for school functions as well. Great soccer also requires out of state travel regularly! You just can't get good quality in state so road trip at least once a month. National League alone would take up half of your allotted games and ODP would be out of this equation as well. Don't put the ball away, but play other sports and a few soccer pick up games! Understand your unique situation. (National league play.) That said, while I agree with recovery time and emphasizing quality over quantity, the softball thing doesn't make sense to me. I get the impression that soccer is their primary sport. (And obviously they are good at it.)
It sounds like there isn't time to do anything else. So, why softball at all?
If anything, I would think track would make more sense...as well as being more beneficial in terms of cross training.
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even though I am about to drive with my u18 to a training because she wants me there.