Here is the Scenario: No matter how hard you try and how long you train, you still struggle to make the “TOP TEAM” in your club. You are not the most athletic player at your club, but you work hard but never seem to make it to the next tier.

If this is your case, you are just one of thousands of frustrated parents, goalkeepers and field players who’ve tried for years to make the “top” team and still can’t make it!!   WHY?

Now this post is not about that athletic player with great skills that everyone knows is a first team player.  Here we are talking about the athletes that have struggled to make higher teams.

Here is the very sad news:

Unfortunately in many cases, it comes down to who you know, and many times, it will depend on what coach or club is willing to spend time DEVELOPING YOU, which it should be a priority in every club in the country. But it seems that winning & accolades is becoming more important for many clubs. 

As I travel around the State of Colorado and around the US, often times, youth club coaches ALREADY know or they’ve pre-selected who they want on their teams, even before the kids show up to tryouts.  So when the new kid comes to tryouts, they are basically trying out for the lower teams.  Unless you are simply and exceptional player or goalkeeper then you will be looked at differently.

I decided to interview several coaches and I’ve also spoken to hundreds of parents from the area who are dying to have their kids in a higher team for the following reasons:

• Bragging rights: some kids & parents only want to say “I play for the highest team”
• “College showcase”, kids are promised that if you play for X,Y,Z team you will go to these tournaments and you will get recruited by colleges. (expensive trips)
• Promises that their kid will get to play for the National Team.
• They think the best team mean the best training
• Better coaches (If you ask EVERY club, they will say they have the best coaches in the State.  Everyone will tell you the same thing.)

There is also another serious and unfair issue:

There are goalkeeping organizations or coaches who work for a certain youth club on the weekly basis. However,   they also have their own private or independent camps outside their club, If you are NOT participating in their private weekly programs, more than likely you will NEVER make those teams, specially if these coaches are in a position to make teams.

So who you know, plays a big part.  What if you don’t have the money to pay for expenses weekly sessions from these outside organizations or coaches? Then I guess you will never make the team!..

At the same time, if you are just an average player who is not really making much progress & not improving, then there’s work that you must do…

NOTE:

Many of these youth clubs and organizations are managed by former athletes  or former players with no business experience or even very young directors who make decisions based emotions and popularity.  

Also, lots of clubs have coaches that are more interested in having winning seasons than spending time on DEVELOPING  players. After all, that’s what youth clubs are supposed to do. Remember: YOU PAY LOTS OF MONEY TO THESE CLUBS!!!

Plus, there are only few “TOP” level teams in every club but there are more than 500 kids enrolled in these youth clubs. Therefore, chances are that only few will make it to a top team and the rest of you will need to simply figure it out on your own.

Whatever the reason, there is a problem in how clubs select players for top teams. As result, there are so many great keepers & field players who will NEVER play for top teams.

If you are one of those goalkeepers or field players, you must focus on things that are in your control rather than things that are out of your control.  You can continue to train and push yourselves but also do your own work and search for better opportunities. If your goal is to play in college there are so many ways to do that that are not just about what team you play on…Here are some tips

Please know that there are hundreds of frustrated parents & goalkeepers going through this.  Parents have the power to manipulate this problem and change the way things are done in clubs today. As parents, you must demand better of the clubs and coaches you are paying.  As players, you must keep working to improve and focus on that alone.  Hard work and dedication must be your mantra, so focus on that and move on!!