My daughter plays soccer for a comp league. Her particular team isn't full on comp GOLD level. They are above recreational level, but still need more training for the gold level. She played at the rec level, since she was about 4, she has always had a love for soccer. We took her to the comp tryouts last year to see what they were about and let her see what she needed to work on if and when she decided to play at this level. They pretty much took all the girls who weren’t at gold level yet and put them on another team together. It was great training for her. She and I both know she is not aggressive enough or ready for gold. We don’t try and lie to her or pump her up for something she isn’t ready for. Heck as much as I love her playing soccer if she decided it wasn’t for her I would support her, mind you if it was in the middle of a season she would have to finish out her commitment. Here is my issue there was a girl on our team last year who in many of parents' opinions is not at level of the other players. This year they had to tryout again and there were A LOT of girls trying out this year. They ended up making more than one gold team and our team. A few of the girls from our team moved up to Gold . The girl who is not good made our team and one of our better players did not. My thing is we pay way more than rec and I would think we should have girls at at least the same skill level playing. If you have had or do have a child in more competitive sports and there is/has been a child on the team that really shouldn’t be there and brings the team down how do you or have you dealt with it?
The other girl who is good did make the team, for whatever reason her information was not availbale when the rest of us got our emails! I really DO understand what everyone is saying and thanks for the responses, it is just very frusterating.
You do nothing. You say nothing. You don't gossip or complain to other parents about a child. You let your daughter go and enjoy soccer for what it is...a game.
If there is truly and issue with a child's skill level, that is for the coach to deal with, not the parents.
You do nothing and that INCLUDES talking about this girl with the other parents. If you want a say you need to volunteer to coach. Otherwise you don't get to complain.
I manage a competitive soccer team. Many times there are reasons to keep a less skilled player that aren't shared with the parents: player plays a position no other player plays even if he/she isn't as skilled, player has great attitude and works hard, player shows good soccer iq (skills can be learned, good soccer iq is hard to teach), parents of player have committed to get player outside training to help player improve, team needs numbers to play, player offers something else to team (good sibling/relative/friend, better practice facilities, parent who will manage, etc).
Bottom line - it's the coach's decision and none of your business. You have to trust your coach to do the best thing for the team. If you don't you have bigger problems than one unskilled player.
Don't say anything.
Don't talk about it with your daughter, or with the other parents.
My kids have played all the way through varsity level high school sports and there are many reasons some kids make the team and some do not. It's not always clear to the parents but it doesn't need to be. The coaches are there to guide the team and make these decisions.
If this is a league and a program that your daughter enjoys and is learning from then that should be your only concern. Complaining about another player's abilities will only reflect negatively on you and your daughter, I promise.
This is a lesson in good sportsmanship for your daughter (and you.) Even when things seem unfair, which is going to happen a lot in the world of sports, you only worry about yourself and improving your own skills. Ultimately THAT's what good coaches are looking for.
Your kid is playing soccer because she loves to play soccer, right? That's really all you need to be concerned with - not how good the other kids on the team are.
My daughter was a softball player for ten years: rec ball, travel ball, all stars and high school ball. Sometimes drafts don't go how we hope but the coaches must see something about her ability to advance fast or another strength.
I don't think it will benefit anything to gossip about a nine year old with other parents. If you want it to be a bit more equal, recreation ball might be the best for you.
My daughter pitched and played third, two killer positions. I was able to hire an Olympic pitcher on my own for so me extra help with her pitching.
None of the parents are ever going to be happy but the chitter chatter of a nine year old has to stop. You wouldn't want to hear that stuff about your daughter. Be involved with practices, snacks and game set up to be more involved. You might then learn their thoughts because you don't know the entire story and you will be supporting the team.
Just wait until high school ball!!!
