Selecting a Soccer Club: What to Do If You Selected the Wrong Club for You

Registering players is the priority for any youth soccer club. Unfortunately, on occasion, that means clubs over-promise and under-deliver. Sometimes, for whatever reason, that means a team’s regular coach can’t make it to games or a team is short a goalie. Other times, it’s worse.

Due to the chaos and complexity of tryout season and the registration process, it’s too common for players to think they’ve found the right club for their needs and preferences, only to realize they may have made a mistake.

The question is: what should you do when you realize you’re at the wrong club? While the answer needs to be individualized for every specific situation, this is the framework we encourage players to use.

What is the Worst-Case Scenario?

Typically in youth soccer, you commit to a club for a season (either Fall/Spring or August-May). Look at what the worst-case scenario is to stay at a club that is the wrong fit for a season before you take any action.

Say you’re a goalkeeper and you chose a specific club because of their goalkeeper coach…only to find out on the first day of the season that their keeper coach left over the summer. Before you ask for a release, take a few sessions with their new goalie coach and see what you think. If the coach you came for is still in town, ask if they’ll do private sessions with you. See what you can do to turn a bad situation into something a little better.

Once you’ve determined what the worst case scenario is then – and this is important – gauge how likely it is that scenario will come to pass.

The reality is that soccer is still a small community in the United States, and it’s even smaller at the elite level. There’s a chance that you’ll encounter the same people at a different club (or college program) a few years from now and you won’t want to have burned these bridges by leaving the club high and dry.  

Again, it bears repeating – this is the general thought process we recommend going through. If you feel physically unsafe in a specific club, skip right to getting released.

What Other Options Are There?

If the worst case scenario is too bad – and the risk of it coming to pass is too high – then you have to look at your options before you ask for a release. Start calling around to other coaches and clubs and see if there is room for you there. Make sure you know where you are going to land before you take the leap.

When & How to Ask For a Release

At the end of the day, most clubs don’t want a player to stick around that doesn’t want to be there. Ask your club director for a meeting and voice your concerns. Give them a chance to respond and find a solution. If it isn’t enough, ask if you can get released.

Often, we have seen clubs are willing to release players but not refund any fees paid. If having to pay again for a new club is better than the worst-case scenario, this is a good solution.

At Beyond Goals Mentoring, we know how frustrating it can be to feel like you’re on the wrong team for your priorities. That’s why we’re dedicated to helping young athletes adapt to adverse situations and stay focused on their long-term goals. Selecting the wrong club is just another bump in the unpredictable rollercoaster ride that is high-level soccer.

If you feel like they’re on the wrong team but don’t know what to do, let’s set up a mentoring session today.