New Soccer Parent - Need some advice on future

[RaeJaxx]

Right now my daughter plays on a U9 development team and she is also part of the Whitecaps prospect team. She's a solid player and of course daddy bias says she's a great player.

Regardless, she has some great talent for her age and her development trajectory has been super positive. She's always getting better. However, she is currently playing for a team that doesn't participate in the BCSPL. Now, I know for her that is a few years away, but I want to make sure that I at least set her on the right path in case that is an option for her a few years down the road.

So...should I be thinking of moving her to a district that is affiliated (even if I think the crop of girls her age are better where she is currently playing now) or should I just keep her where she is now? I need some advice. Much appreciated.

 

[easoccer]

If she is on a whitecaps prospect team that should be considered above bcspl wouldnt it? Also if she is on development she is playing the stronger teams at her age.

I personally woukdnt mover her right now. Maybe get some extra training at a reputable academy where they give her more focus.

 

[RaeJaxx]

If she is on a whitecaps prospect team that should be considered above bcspl wouldnt it? Also if she is on development she is playing the stronger teams at her age.

I personally woukdnt mover her right now. Maybe get some extra training at a reputable academy where they give her more focus.

Well it's not above BCSPL because she is only 9 so she is not even near the age to play in the BCSPL. haha. The Whitecaps prospects are just select girls who are chosen from Caps academy and are given an extra practice a week and play in tournaments in the Summer. From how I understand it.

But I just need to know if I should be moving her at 9 years old to an organization that is affiliated with the BCSPL now or should I just wait it out. The fear I have, and what I have been told by other parents is if I wait it out, her chances diminish every year I keep her on her current team. I have heard club teams prefer to have their own top-tier talent first before looking outside of their club. So I fee like moving her and having her grow on a club in front of coaches who make that decision a few years down the road might be a better way to go? So I wanted to ask what other parents thought in case I'm getting some bad advice or I'm not fully understanding how it all works as this is all new to me. Thanks

 

[ToonArmy]

Right now my daughter plays on a U9 development team and she is also part of the Whitecaps prospect team. She's a solid player and of course daddy bias says she's a great player.

Regardless, she has some great talent for her age and her development trajectory has been super positive. She's always getting better. However, she is currently playing for a team that doesn't participate in the BCSPL. Now, I know for her that is a few years away, but I want to make sure that I at least set her on the right path in case that is an option for her a few years down the road.

So...should I be thinking of moving her to a district that is affiliated (even if I think the crop of girls her age are better where she is currently playing now) or should I just keep her where she is now? I need some advice. Much appreciated.

 

[southsloper]

Well it's not above BCSPL because she is only 9 so she is not even near the age to play in the BCSPL. haha. The Whitecaps prospects are just select girls who are chosen from Caps academy and are given an extra practice a week and play in tournaments in the Summer. From how I understand it.

But I just need to know if I should be moving her at 9 years old to an organization that is affiliated with the BCSPL now or should I just wait it out. The fear I have, and what I have been told by other parents is if I wait it out, her chances diminish every year I keep her on her current team. I have heard club teams prefer to have their own top-tier talent first before looking outside of their club. So I fee like moving her and having her grow on a club in front of coaches who make that decision a few years down the road might be a better way to go? So I wanted to ask what other parents thought in case I'm getting some bad advice or I'm not fully understanding how it all works as this is all new to me. Thanks

Just curious what club & district your daughter plays with? Each club/district may have different "paths" to BCSPL.

Here in Burnaby, the BCSPL Mountain United FC draws players "primarily" from North Shore Youth Soccer Association district (NSYSA) & Burnaby District Youth Soccer Association (BDYSA). Some kids may make it directly from their community club, while some may go to Metro (BDMS in Burnaby) then try out for MUFC later.

That being said, I know of Burnaby girls who play for Vancouver BCSPL teams... and vice versa, there are out-of-district girls who play for MUFC. So here, there is no apparent advantage to belong to a specific club at least for what you're asking about. Ideally, kids are being invited to MUFC because of merit and not club affiliation. That's in an ideal world. It's possible some clubs may have a bit more influence by virtue of coach/TD networking, etc but I have not heard anyone complain about that as a reason why a specific player didn't get invited to a MUFC intake team.

"Results may vary..."

 

[RaeJaxx]

Currently, she is playing in Poco.
Much appreciated for that great explanation.

 

[easoccer]

Currently, she is playing in Poco.
Much appreciated for that great explanation.

So you are very close to coquitlam metro ford. Its not that big of a deal to switch there. Take your daughter to tryouts/evals in the spring and see where it goes.

 

[TKBC]

Right now my daughter plays on a U9 development team and she is also part of the Whitecaps prospect team. She's a solid player and of course daddy bias says she's a great player.

Regardless, she has some great talent for her age and her development trajectory has been super positive. She's always getting better. However, she is currently playing for a team that doesn't participate in the BCSPL. Now, I know for her that is a few years away, but I want to make sure that I at least set her on the right path in case that is an option for her a few years down the road.

So...should I be thinking of moving her to a district that is affiliated (even if I think the crop of girls her age are better where she is currently playing now) or should I just keep her where she is now? I need some advice. Much appreciated.

If she is developing well in her current program - don't consider any changes - especially if the group of girls she trains with every week is stronger than the alternative.

Almost every lower mainland club is directly associated with a BCSPL team - what club are you currently with?

 

[TKBC]

If she is on a whitecaps prospect team that should be considered above bcspl wouldnt it? Also if she is on development she is playing the stronger teams at her age.

I personally woukdnt mover her right now. Maybe get some extra training at a reputable academy where they give her more focus.

No. Whitecaps Prospect is not "above" BCSPL. Kids in prospects just also happened to go to the skills program and were then selected from there. Vancouver Prospects Academy
(please note - residency players don't HAVE to come from BCSPL as it says on this site).

Agreed - don't move her. If you live near a good academy that she can get an additional 1 session a week (3 max per week) then do that rather than move. Good suggestion, EA.

 

[easoccer]

Thats where the confusion was. Prospect team vs academy training. I took it to mean a team that was run by the whitecaps like the older groups that are actually above bcspl.

 

[TKBC]

Well it's not above BCSPL because she is only 9 so she is not even near the age to play in the BCSPL. haha. The Whitecaps prospects are just select girls who are chosen from Caps academy and are given an extra practice a week and play in tournaments in the Summer. From how I understand it.

But I just need to know if I should be moving her at 9 years old to an organization that is affiliated with the BCSPL now or should I just wait it out. The fear I have, and what I have been told by other parents is if I wait it out, her chances diminish every year I keep her on her current team. I have heard club teams prefer to have their own top-tier talent first before looking outside of their club. So I fee like moving her and having her grow on a club in front of coaches who make that decision a few years down the road might be a better way to go? So I wanted to ask what other parents thought in case I'm getting some bad advice or I'm not fully understanding how it all works as this is all new to me. Thanks

"The other parents" are not totally correct. If your daughter is truly a BCSPL-level player you can be sure a BCSPL team will take her when she is 12 regardless of what team she was on when she was 11. Hometown bias may come into it, sure, but if your daughter is better and they don't pick her than that's not a team you want to play for.

I'll suggest this tho - the drop out rate for girls when they are 15-16 is far greater than boys. Some think it may have to do with the "pressure" from BCSPL. Also, I know a kid on the u18 Whitecaps - he played a small handful of games in BCSPL for u18 and none at all before that. Everyone has a different path - if you have questions about the various options I would suggest contacting your club TD when your daughter enters u11.

 

[TKBC]

Just curious what club & district your daughter plays with? Each club/district may have different "paths" to BCSPL.

Here in Burnaby, the BCSPL Mountain United FC draws players "primarily" from North Shore Youth Soccer Association district (NSYSA) & Burnaby District Youth Soccer Association (BDYSA). Some kids may make it directly from their community club, while some may go to Metro (BDMS in Burnaby) then try out for MUFC later.

That being said, I know of Burnaby girls who play for Vancouver BCSPL teams... and vice versa, there are out-of-district girls who play for MUFC. So here, there is no apparent advantage to belong to a specific club at least for what you're asking about. Ideally, kids are being invited to MUFC because of merit and not club affiliation. That's in an ideal world. It's possible some clubs may have a bit more influence by virtue of coach/TD networking, etc but I have not heard anyone complain about that as a reason why a specific player didn't get invited to a MUFC intake team.

"Results may vary..."

well said

 

[TKBC]

So you are very close to coquitlam metro ford. Its not that big of a deal to switch there. Take your daughter to tryouts/evals in the spring and see where it goes.

If a player is at Poco, I'd be quite surprised if CMFSC BCSPL would turn any player away from within their district with the requisite skill sets.

 

[TKBC]

Right now my daughter plays on a U9 development team and she is also part of the Whitecaps prospect team. She's a solid player and of course daddy bias says she's a great player.

Regardless, she has some great talent for her age and her development trajectory has been super positive. She's always getting better. However, she is currently playing for a team that doesn't participate in the BCSPL. Now, I know for her that is a few years away, but I want to make sure that I at least set her on the right path in case that is an option for her a few years down the road.

So...should I be thinking of moving her to a district that is affiliated (even if I think the crop of girls her age are better where she is currently playing now) or should I just keep her where she is now? I need some advice. Much appreciated.

I want to encourage you. It seems to me you are on the right path - and you are also questioning the training your daughter is receiving. Since you are asking here I somewhat assume you don't have a personal history in the sport or at least not one here? Forgive me if that's a terrible assumption please! So I'll encourage you to read this: https://www.redsports.sg/2016/12/03/youth-athlete-development-conference/

This game must always be fun first. Whether your daughter is 9, 19, or 99. Just look at Chelsea under Mourinho compared to Conte. The players are clearly having fun now at Chelsea (worth noting Mourinho and MUFC are clearly also now having fun at Carrington!).

 

[soccer mom]

Currently, she is playing in Poco.
Much appreciated for that great explanation.

uhhh she is 9! why not play for fun and with her friends. What a concept?

 

[easoccer]

uhhh she is 9! why not play for fun and with her friends. What a concept?

If the op looks over my posts. I also have a daughter. She is 7 though. I had her on a team last year. Fun. Friends. But I was kind of iffy on the coach. So laid back. Not too technical. But she played well. Scored goals, etc. I took her to another club in the spring and she was put on a team. The team she was on was 1 of 2 teams the coaches were running. She went to every practice, every game. But those coaches had the top players playing both teams. My daughters time decreased. Her play dropped. Maybe 1 goal all spring season. They formed a dev team for the fall. She went to evals and made the roster. First game of the season she didnt play the 1st half. I took her out immediately. LTPD at this age says equal time. Anyway, I took her back to her old team. Immediately she starts scoring again. 2 and 3 goal games. Getting assists. She scored in both games against the team I pulled her from. Shes having a blast. Loves her friends. And even though the coach is not that technical she is good with the girls and they respond to her. She gives them all equal time.

Im done tampering. Lol

Maybe Ops daughter is much better, but she is on a dev team already so thats a good start. I'd leave it for now. BCSPL is a way off yet.

 

[CanadianSpur]

If a player is at Poco, I'd be quite surprised if CMFSC BCSPL would turn any player away from within their district with the requisite skill sets.

Knowing the technical staff at both PoCo and CMFSC I wouldn't worry. There is sufficient communication between the two clubs that if your daughter is good enough she will get proper consideration for the BCSPL team.

If she is having fun, don't move her.

 

[soccer mom]

The kids will always find their place. When parents tamper and chase the dream or have a grass us greener over there approach it only hurts the kids. I have seen many instances where parents think their little Johnny at 10 years old is going to be the next Messi so they move year after year to new clubs and new teams because they don't feel their existing situation is up to little Johnny's standards.
Eventually the child gets a reputation as being not a team player and unreliable as a longer term team mate and starts getting overlooked when it comes to rep selections.

My advice is keep the child in the club you are geographically supposed to be at and play with her friends. She will develop at her pace no matter what the circumstances. If she really is enjoying soccer and can't wait to get to the field to play than consider an outside Academy program or extra camps or whatever. There are many offered.

At 13 if your daughter still seems to be enjoying and excelling than I suspect she will be recognized by Rep teams or hpl teams. Even uf your existing club doesn't have those programs. At 13 it us time to start making harder decisions such as choosing between friends and community vs a different team at a different club with like minded players.

If you choose the latter well than she will make new or more friends.

 

[TKBC]

well said

 

[jmoulins]

Don't let your daughter fall into the "high performance" trap, and be wary of any coach or club that tells you it's better suited to develop a 9 year old than the team where she's having fun now. Having fun is the ONLY thing that matters at that age. If she's having fun, she'll keep playing. Breaks my heart to see kids I coached at age 8 or 9 burned out on soccer at 14 because their parents got caught up in the hype.