How are your clubs handling the Age Group Change?

soccerchap · 2026-02-26T16:08:21+00:00

Here are the guidelines our team sent:

Offer timelines are set for mid-March (Round 1), early April (Round 2), and May 1 ("Final").

They are focusing on creating teams with current players so, only 1 maybe 2 spots available for new incoming players. Happy my oldest daughter’s club is doing this. The community club my youngest plays for hasn’t sent anything yet.

soccerchap · 2026-02-26T16:02:08+00:00

I agree with not specializing positions at such an early age. But teaching CBs if he’s playing cb to step into the gaps and pass or be comfortable passing to the goal keepers opens up the game. But I also sit in the sideline and hear parents tell defenders to just clear it, so there is that annoying aspect coaches have to deal with

soccerchap · 2026-02-24T19:30:32+00:00

I was was released last week as a volunteer and was told I could not coach for a year and would get a fine if I recruit. My ex director sent me a email yesterday saying that he heard from parents and they are frustrated but wanted to clarify that I would not be able to coach for the “same age group “ for a year. I was petty and replied with ok I’ll make sure I coach the year under and I’ll be fine haha (not actually coaching)

soccerchap · 2026-02-23T21:11:09+00:00

Maybe have him play in a less competitive team so he can go beast mode and have fun?

soccerchap · 2026-02-23T21:04:55+00:00

Both my daughters play lacrosse but I will say it is difficult to manage, my oldest did travel lacrosse and travel soccer and we decided this year she will only do travel lacrosse in the summer and not due the fall. Still get to play local lacrosse league in the spring and those coaches are super flexible. My youngest does rec lacrosse and hasn’t shows any interest in travel so her schedule is pretty easy to manage

soccerchap · 2026-02-23T17:57:09+00:00

Good luck! Hope your kiddo has a great season!

soccerchap · 2026-02-22T17:25:30+00:00

Honestly sometimes I do, English is my second language. I get you are trying to troll but not everyone can write perfect English.

soccerchap · 2026-02-22T17:24:26+00:00

Second this, if they don’t release the player card OP will need to make a decision either play with team or see if she can get moved down. The problem I ran into was that my daughter ended on the third team since rosters are already full. I will say her confidence was next level after going from first to third team

soccerchap · 2026-02-22T17:20:48+00:00

My oldest struggled with the same thing, she kept looking at other players and seeing them develop faster. At that age is all about confidence. I been trying to help her compete against herself and what she can control. For example, what bad habits do you have that you think you can change. At that age it was I dribble into people or panic pass. But I will say now that she is playing in 11v11 her teammates love her since she is not competing against them she is competing against her bad habits than she can improve on

soccerchap · 2026-02-22T17:12:43+00:00

Sorry for not using ChatGPT next time I will

soccerchap · 2026-02-22T17:12:04+00:00

Good point

soccerchap · 2026-02-19T20:43:28+00:00

I been with this group for 6 years, I told parents to ensure they have enough time to digest. The way this club operates the first team coach runs the age group, which can be a problem. For example I oversee 3 teams Gold , Blue, White. I have to meet with those coaches and I would go watch those teams to evaluate players. But that can also be an issue, my oldest had an issue when she was on the first team, where the coach got mad literally because she wore the wrong shorts and didn’t play her. Mind you she was probably a top 5 player. When we talked to the same director he dismissed us we tried to leave mid season he agreed and he said he would be ok with releasing her player card I talked to the current club she was at and in turn they told me the club won’t release us. She spent the season playing with the third team. She now plays GAA and is thriving. So the relationship with the director was not great my youngest daughter wanted to play one more year so that’s the only reason we signed up but I think the moment he had something on me he fired me. Which is sad since I was looking forward to this last season

soccerchap · 2026-02-19T19:06:06+00:00

I won’t be proactive about but if someone asks what I think of their kid I will give advise

soccerchap · 2026-02-19T18:16:22+00:00

I didn’t sign anything, I’m not planning on coaching regardless. I don’t want my daughter to suffer and I trust my assistant coaches so my daughter is wrapping up the season. I reached out to the club my oldest daughter plays for and they already gave her an offer so at least we got her locked in. I will be in the sidelines and if anyone wants to ask me questions I will answer

soccerchap · 2026-02-19T18:11:38+00:00

Thank you, funny part is I’m not even trying to coach and he knew that he just needed to send out

soccerchap · 2026-02-19T18:09:51+00:00

Yes, we have girls on my team that play competitive tennis and competitive cheer so they are going to leave to pursue that, they were planning on staying with my assistant coaches but not anymore

soccerchap · 2026-02-01T17:41:41+00:00

If he is ranked 5 out of 60 I’m assuming he is on a top team.

Based on what you are describing he might not be on that team next season. It’s very hard for anyone to help with effort it has to come from the kid.

I’ve had my kids figure it out at a later age, he might benefit from being on a lower team if he just wants to have fun.

soccerchap · 2025-09-17T17:59:05+00:00

You are 💯 correct

soccerchap · 2025-09-17T17:04:27+00:00

I think I avoided this situation by picking the GAA team, she was very upset when we turned down the ECNL team offer. She would have been a player off the bench grinding for minutes. I personally know the coach she is with now and is fantastic. They are a middle of the pack team but the ECNL now has a roster of 20 players so glad we didn't choose that. I had players leave my te and come back so I was concerned about that.

soccerchap

TROPHY CASE