02 Boys on Multiple Academy Teams

Does anyone here have a son that plays on more than one Academy team? If so, how does the coach take it that your son is on multiple teams? I.E. does he get offended?

How do the teamates take it that he is also playing on other teams?

Do the two teams ever face each other?

thanks for any replies.

I did with my older son when he was U7-U9. When he got to U9 the coaches started getting a little pushy about committing to one team . . . so we stopped doing it about 1/2 way through U9.

There were never any problems with the kids. I always tried to choose teams that were playing in different leagues/days so they didn't play eachother. Sunday league for one team, Saturday league for the other team.

When the kids are U7-U8, I think many kids play on different teams. At U9 only a few play on more than one team that I noticed.

Then about 4-5 months before the Qualifying Tournament (end of U10 year), people started playing all over the place, at least 1/4 of the kids out there started playing on multiple teams leading up to signing day (July 1). They are trying to make a last minute decision on who to sign with.

Is your bb playing for 2 teams in the same club?
Different club?
Wouldn't be interested in paying double club fees.
With 2 more years before select I'd make a choice sometime this year for sure.
Good luck.

Running wrote:Does anyone here have a son that plays on more than one Academy team? If so, how does the coach take it that your son is on multiple teams? I.E. does he get offended?

How do the teamates take it that he is also playing on other teams?

Do the two teams ever face each other?

thanks for any replies.

My boy played on 3 different academy teams at the same time before going select, and played on 5 or 6 different teams from U8 to U9.
If your son is having fun and the schedule permits you to do this, go ahead.
Your coach may not like it, but you need to look at options, enjoy the freedom now because after select, you will lose it.

Thanks for the info. He only plays one team right now but he may start looking at other teams (different clubs)just to see what is out there.

Just wandered if there were any negative considerations in doing that.

Tequilapark, muchoTequila?

Keep in mind when deciding to play on multiple teams the stress put on the developing muscles and bones when playing two or three full games every weekend on top of three or four practices

Tequilapark wrote:

Running wrote:Does anyone here have a son that plays on more than one Academy team? If so, how does the coach take it that your son is on multiple teams? I.E. does he get offended?

How do the teamates take it that he is also playing on other teams?

Do the two teams ever face each other?

thanks for any replies.

My boy played on 3 different academy teams at the same time before going select, and played on 5 or 6 different teams from U8 to U9.
If your son is having fun and the schedule permits you to do this, go ahead.
Your coach may not like it, but you need to look at options, enjoy the freedom now because after select, you will lose it.

Sorry but I can't imagine having the energy or time, especially if you have more then 1 kid, to jump around 5 or 6 different soccer teams and at that age. Big potential for early burn-out. What about multiple club dues or am I missing something?

P1er wrote:

Tequilapark wrote:

Running wrote:Does anyone here have a son that plays on more than one Academy team? If so, how does the coach take it that your son is on multiple teams? I.E. does he get offended?

How do the teamates take it that he is also playing on other teams?

Do the two teams ever face each other?

thanks for any replies.

My boy played on 3 different academy teams at the same time before going select, and played on 5 or 6 different teams from U8 to U9.
If your son is having fun and the schedule permits you to do this, go ahead.
Your coach may not like it, but you need to look at options, enjoy the freedom now because after select, you will lose it.

Sorry but I can't imagine having the energy or time, especially if you have more then 1 kid, to jump around 5 or 6 different soccer teams and at that age. Big potential for early burn-out. What about multiple club dues or am I missing something?

Agree, this was a few years ago, my boy is a 97, back then he was our only kid playing so we managed with the time and cost.

I am not encouraging anyone to do the same, I mean, playing on so many teams, just sharing what we did back then, I can tell you, there are several players I know that were doing the same, burn out? yes, its possible, but as of today, he still loves the game and is in his 4th year in D1.

My point is, dont be afraid to look at different teams, kids signing contracts at 10 years old is absurd, unfortunately, those are the rules, so make sure you look around, talk to different coaches and most importantly, know where your kid stands on the team before you commit, because a year is a long time.

Can you play on multiple teams in a weekend.

Glad it worked out for you Tequilapark!
My bb is not interested in any change.
Loyalty to the coach/team started early I guess.

Running wrote:Does anyone here have a son that plays on more than one Academy team? If so, how does the coach take it that your son is on multiple teams? I.E. does he get offended?

How do the teamates take it that he is also playing on other teams?

Do the two teams ever face each other?

thanks for any replies.

If your attending all practices the coach should not get offended but that is not true for all coaches. Each coach wants a commitment and if your bb is good they will not care if they are winning. When they are losing they will complain the other coach is a hack and is teaching your kid poor habits when it really might mean the other coach is better and correcting deficiencies of his own.

Teammates do not care at all typically

They should never face each other as most leagues will not let them register for two teams in the same division. Now this is based on the leagues of course and each one is different. CAL, PT, and EAL would not allow it from what I know.

My BB plays on 2 teams but they are in different age groups 02/01 to ensure there are no issues with the exception of practices and we alternate the two to ensure they get significant practice time.
My feeling is that two coaches will give him a variety in skills and strategy which he needs.

Good Luck