[LiParticipant]

After two years of experiment with low cost/no cost select club soccer, I’ll move back to pay-to-play club next season. The majority of our players were from recreational league, with a few from Hispanic league. Player only need to pay $80-$160 per season vs $500-$800 a season for other teams.  I donated my coach salary back to team and with couple of business sponsorship, we are able to keep the cost the same as recreational league.

We started at the bottom division of state select league at U11, then move up to division I the next season, play the top premier division starting U12 season. The top teams of our state play in neighboring state league. So premier division of our state is 2nd level.

We could not attract top players. 1) team has no track record, nor big club name; 2) other club/team offers scholarships to top players anyway. With cost so low, some players/parents do not care that much, i.e. commitment issues. Training attendance has been a constant challenge. Some players do not have family support, some parents do not or could not watch them play. Transportation to training and game was another challenge.

For next season U13, we’ll play 11 v 11, we just could not get enough players to stay independent. I’ll move to a bigger club and team will be merged with their B team. I can help the money issue, but not be able to deal with other social/family issues a player may have.

I tried for 2 years to find an alternative to pay-to-play system, along the way may have helped a few players to play highest level they can play, now have to face the reality and be back to the system.

 

[LiParticipant]

Due to snow and rain, we had to play on a football field converted turf field this weekend, quite small for 8v8 game, and speed much faster than we are used to.  It was much harder to control as opponents will pressure you quicker in smaller space. Obviously our level was not good enough to play possession successfully for that field condition.

[LiParticipant]

This big club A team is the only team in our city that plays in next level regional league. Their B team plays in highest level (Premier Division) of our state select league.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 10 months ago by  Li.

[LiParticipant]

Ultimately we want our players to make decisions on their own. Coach needs to adapt to situations. Play out of back is just one tool in the tool box, one option on the field. One video by Barsa USA is quite direct when playing against Barsa.

[LiParticipant]

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the insides. It’s all about options. I cant wait to run the drill with my team in the spring to experience those details.

Li

[Author]

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