They all want your support, and they are going to great lengths right now to get your attention. You might have received their literature in the mail, noticed their signs popping up on neighborhood lawns or even started a conversation with a friend that felt like you were being lobbied to join their camp.
Of course, I’m talking about spring travel soccer tryouts.
It’s campaign season every year for area soccer clubs — all vying for the chance to tutor your young players on the fine points of this tremendous team-building sport. Full disclosure, I sit on the board of directors for one of those clubs, Lightning SC based in Lincolnshire, where my son has played for several years.
But instead of immediately trying to sell parents on our particular club, which I sometimes do, I usually provide general insights in trying to help them answer a simple question: What team should my kid play for?
Finding the answer always should start with your player.
For the girls and boys who mostly play soccer to have fun with their friends, a local park district is a great place to start. Many have dedicated parent coaches who enjoy teaching basic skills to younger players on teams competing in “house leagues,” where all games usually are played in the same park.
For players who really love soccer, enjoy being part of a team and want to improve their skills, a soccer club that “travels” to area communities to play other clubs might be a better option. Clubs hire professional, licensed coaches who are trained to mentor specific age groups. Clubs also expect players to compete in their fall, winter (indoor) and spring seasons. Club fees that cover training, tournaments, uniforms and other expenses can be about $2,000 or more.
Soccer clubs seem to be in one of two camps — either focused on player development or winning.
If you’re checking out a new club at tryouts, feel free to ask plenty of questions. Good coaches and program directors should provide straight answers about your player’s talent level and what skills they need to work on to make progress on their development timelines. Be cautious of coaches who constantly point out how many tournaments and trophies their teams have won. Great results, but they may be focused on developing young stars while everyone else rides the bench and plays sporadically.
Clubs have to be a good fit for players, and that may take some trial and error. After experiencing club soccer for a season and determining it hasn’t been a great experience for your soccer-loving player, you should definitely check out what other clubs have to offer during their spring tryouts this month. All clubs definitely are not the same!
The bottom line is that soccer should be fun for players of all ages, even high school students who may want to continue playing in college. Parents also need to monitor their players to make sure the passion for making progress is always kicking strong.
Eric Scott is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.