Selecting the Right Soccer Club: Should You Leave Your Club If You Don’t Get the Team You Wanted

To cut to the chase: your team plays a massive role your progression as a  soccer player. Your club team can either make it so you look forward to every practice or make you fall out of love with the game.

So, if you truly love soccer and you have big goals, there may be certain circumstances in which it’s in your best interest to leave your team for the sake of your future. And while every situation is different and we tailor our mentorship to each player’s individual situation, here are some guidelines to think about whether you should leave your club depending on the team you get..

Which is More Important: Developmental Growth or Having Fun?

It’s no secret that college programs and pro teams  only have room for the best of the best.

For this reason, there’s a widespread belief that a player should be on track to meeting these incredibly high standards as early as possible. Under this mentality, a player who is under 11 years old should already be on a team that’s focused on developing their individual skills, athleticism, and soccer IQ.  If not, many think that player will be falling behind.

Having played professionally at the highest levels, we can tell you from personal experience that this mentality can actually hurt a player’s chances to reach their goals. Why? Because the most important way to foster development as a player for younger ages is by fostering a love for the game – and that means they need to be having fun. If it’s too much like work early on, players are more likely to burn out and not be interested in playing when they get older. Think about it: if you’re not enjoying yourself now, why would you want to keep doing this for years and years?

The point is, developmental growth is important, but not more important than loving the game. With that being said, if younger players are not having fun, it might be a good idea to leave and find a place where they do have fun.

When to Prioritize Personal Development

When a player gets to 12 or 13, this is the point in which personal development becomes the new top priority. College coaches typically start looking at potential recruits when they’re just 16 years old. A player is expected to have at least a few years of high-level competition under their belt in order to attract interest.  

So, if your athlete still loves soccer into their early teens, it’s time to sit them down and ask them how serious they are about pursuing high level soccer. The game tends to transition at that age from players excelling on technical ability alone to needing a balance of technical ability, mental resilience, athletically ability, and a high soccer IQ. If your player wants to go far, around the U14 age group is when they need to ensure they are on a team that’s capable of giving them the exposure as well as the mental and physical tools they need to reach the next level, whether that’s going pro or playing in college.

Preparing Your Athlete for High-Level Competition

If your athlete wants to leave their current team and try out for a higher team in your region, it’s crucial for them to understand the lifestyle changes that come with this decision. Is your athlete prepared to work on their skills when they get home from school, instead of just relaxing like a normal kid their age? Are they prepared to spend less time on things like video games, and more time on soccer?

This is the level of commitment elite soccer clubs expect from their players. In order to join their ranks, your athlete is going to have to put real time into developing their skills. 

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 the unique twists and turns of their soccer journeys and stay focused on their long-term goals.

So, if your athlete is struggling to stay motivated with their current team, let’s set up a mentoring session today.