Here is a question I would like to see answered. A few years back Mount pleasant Soccer Club instituted a Commitment Fee at tryouts $50 or $60 plus a try out fee I think. What this essentially said was if you are placed on a team and decided not to play for that team your forfeit your commitment fee. I find this absurd for the following reasons.
If a kid tries out in Mount P and makes the team they are stuck there or forfeit 50 or 60 dollars.
If Bridge FA or another club has tryouts for a Premier Team (better opportunity and better exposure) and you elect to tryout only there and don't make the team you have nowhere to play if you didn't post your commitment fee.
What is up with trying to hold kids hostage? If I have a kid playing for me and they have a chance to got to a Premier Team, play in a better league, play in better tournaments and get more exposure; why would I dream of holding them back.
I encourage my players to tryout for as many teams as possible and see which result gives them the best opportunity to develop and succeed. That means weighing your options. I've talked with other coaches for them, if you are going to be the last off the bench or in slot 16 through 18 respectively on a premier team that may not be the best opportunity for development. You may be better off starting every game and playing more minutes with the challenge team. It bothers me to not see coaches weighing these options with the players. I would rather carry a roster of 15 than have three 3 players that get little game time throughout the year.
This applies heavily to U-15 through U-18 as those are the years they get looked at by most colleges.
Mount Pleasant, The Bridge FA and CUSC all need to give some. Mount Pleasant had the best facilities and some good coaches as well. They should have equal status on the board and input into the running of the club.
I guess for now we will continue to try to divide the baby 3 ways and let the kids suffer because the adults can't play nice!!!!!!
