Need help with how to get started with a team

My kiddo has decided she would like to play at a higher level than where she does currently. She is not affiliated with any local soccer club so she does not need a "release" from anything. I have been reading this forum and checking team/club sites trying to figure out what our next step is but could use some help. I have spoken to several friends who have sons in club soccer but have no connections or direction for my girl.

Is the only way to get her an opportunity with a team to wait until the summer open practices & tryouts?

How does the "guest player" situation work?

In anyone's opinion,would it be inappropriate to cold contact teams now knowing they are already formed until July? I ask because there's money and contracts involved. We don't have the expectation of trying to join the thing midstream. Just looking for a chance to get foot in the door or at least gauge where she might fit in.

Any help anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

To answer a question that has come up...we live in north Arlington near I-30

I think you have the right idea. The ability to get to know the coaches, guest play, and train will help you make a better decision come signing day! My suggestion would be to get on the phone contact teams of interest and get started looking for your DD best fit! Since you are not under contract use this time to your advantage to make a well thought out educated decision for DD.

Oh yeah, this decision is a big one! Don't be shy! Get out their!

First of all, change the name of this thread (or start another one) and call it "02 Free-Agent Anxious to Join a Team!" That should do it. Just be sure to check your personal messages regularly. There are always teams needing players, and the coaches of such teams would be happy to check out your daughter's potentail. If she's reasonably quick, athletic, and can play under pressure, there are lots of teams that would work.

Your daughter can practice with club teams and play in scrimmages/tournaments. She doesn't have to wait until summer. Being a guest player just involves a few simple forms and she would not be locked into a team. It would not be inappropriate at all to contact teams now given her situation. You are highly unlikely to encounter any sort of financial or contractual requests at this point in the season other than possibly chipping in for tournament expenses. It would be a nice gesture, however, to offer the coach of any team she decides to stick with a little something for the training. Some would disagree with that part, but it will certainly cast you in a positive light as a parent that is interested in the team and not just kicking tires.

My son's team currently has 3 rec players guesting with us. They played on our futsal teams and last tournament and will be playing at future tournaments. They want one last season of rec (one of the dads is the rec coach) so they aren't signing now, which is fine. They attend all practices and have indicated a 90+% possibility of signing in July. Frankly if it looks like they are going to sign it's in the team's best interest to have them a practices & tournaments, gives them familiarity with the team and vice versa.

copa44 wrote:My son's team currently has 3 rec players guesting with us. They played on our futsal teams and last tournament and will be playing at future tournaments. They want one last season of rec (one of the dads is the rec coach) so they aren't signing now, which is fine. They attend all practices and have indicated a 90+% possibility of signing in July. Frankly if it looks like they are going to sign it's in the team's best interest to have them a practices & tournaments, gives them familiarity with the team and vice versa.

Hold on, now. Are you suggesting these rec players could come onto a select team and actually help out? Man, don't you know that all select players have years of elite training by age 10-11 and will forever be vastly superior? Have you not begun to drink the Kool-Aid served up on here? For shame.

First step would be to hire an agent...it is select in NTX.

Xara wrote: and the coaches of such teams would be happy to check out your daughter's potentail.

tripped over this while reading it...
is it potential?, ponytail? or worse yet, the coaches would be happy to check out your daughter's "Potent Tail"..eek!

amazing how just switching 2 letters makes a difference.

Thank you all for the replies. Definitely open to all suggestions.

Xara wrote:

copa44 wrote:My son's team currently has 3 rec players guesting with us. They played on our futsal teams and last tournament and will be playing at future tournaments. They want one last season of rec (one of the dads is the rec coach) so they aren't signing now, which is fine. They attend all practices and have indicated a 90+% possibility of signing in July. Frankly if it looks like they are going to sign it's in the team's best interest to have them a practices & tournaments, gives them familiarity with the team and vice versa.

Hold on, now. Are you suggesting these rec players could come onto a select team and actually help out? Man, don't you know that all select players have years of elite training by age 10-11 and will forever be vastly superior? Have you not begun to drink the Kool-Aid served up on here? For shame.

I know of several players that got into competitive soccer extremely late (10-12) and were unable to compete. This just demoralized them and they ended up quitting. Maybe you should have started sooner.

"Hold on, now. Are you suggesting these rec players could come onto a select team and actually help out? Man, don't you know that all select players have years of elite training by age 10-11 and will forever be vastly superior? Have you not begun to drink the Kool-Aid served up on here? For shame."[/quote]

Good stuff X. To support what you are inferring with your sarcasm, I could offer personal testimony about my 00DD who is in her first year of select coming out of probably the "weakest" rec situation, but that may be viewed as bragging and it not time for that yet and wasn't the subject of this thread, but your comment hit a nerve so had to respond..

KnKsDad wrote:Hold on, now. Are you suggesting these rec players could come onto a select team and actually help out? Man, don't you know that all select players have years of elite training by age 10-11 and will forever be vastly superior? Have you not begun to drink the Kool-Aid served up on here? For shame.

Good stuff X. To support what you are inferring with your sarcasm, I could offer personal testimony about my 00DD who is in her first year of select coming out of probably the "weakest" rec situation, but that may be viewed as bragging and it not time for that yet and wasn't the subject of this thread, but your comment hit a nerve so had to respond..[/quote]

"Select" is a loose term.

My bad people. I just screwed up this thread with my poor use of the quote function and I don't know how to go back and fix without running risk of making it worse.. :-(

Xara wrote:

copa44 wrote:My son's team currently has 3 rec players guesting with us. They played on our futsal teams and last tournament and will be playing at future tournaments. They want one last season of rec (one of the dads is the rec coach) so they aren't signing now, which is fine. They attend all practices and have indicated a 90+% possibility of signing in July. Frankly if it looks like they are going to sign it's in the team's best interest to have them a practices & tournaments, gives them familiarity with the team and vice versa.

Hold on, now. Are you suggesting these rec players could come onto a select team and actually help out? Man, don't you know that all select players have years of elite training by age 10-11 and will forever be vastly superior? Have you not begun to drink the Kool-Aid served up on here? For shame.

LOL. After going through academy-select with our son we had every intention of letting our 04 play rec (great coach) and do skills till spring U10, but one of our favorite coaches put together an academy team so we took a cup of koolaid and signed her up. We've learned that for good players there are always spots available somewhere; unless your criteria is that your kid has to be a starter on the top team in D1 in which case good luck. If you just want your kid to have fun and improve and don't let parents egos get involved there are plenty of places to play.

Couple of suggestions. As has been mentioned change the name of the thread. You WILL get "hits" Also might include what position your DD likes to play. I know of a couple of teams looking for a fast forward who can score--aren't they all though There are teams out there that are short a player and a new player, I believe, can be added to a select team's roster if they have room.

sideline fan wrote:Couple of suggestions. As has been mentioned change the name of the thread. You WILL get "hits" Also might include what position your DD likes to play. I know of a couple of teams looking for a fast forward who can score--aren't they all though There are teams out there that are short a player and a new player, I believe, can be added to a select team's roster if they have room.

A couple thread titles to consider, sure to get a PM:
"Parents looking for place to send $2000 for half year of club dues"
"My DD is in rec, but she is the biggest kid in her class, a track superstar and is not afraid to foul out in basketball"

santos.l.halper wrote:

sideline fan wrote:Couple of suggestions. As has been mentioned change the name of the thread. You WILL get "hits" Also might include what position your DD likes to play. I know of a couple of teams looking for a fast forward who can score--aren't they all though There are teams out there that are short a player and a new player, I believe, can be added to a select team's roster if they have room.

A couple thread titles to consider, sure to get a PM:
"Parents looking for place to send $2000 for half year of club dues"
"My DD is in rec, but she is the biggest kid in her class, a track superstar and is not afraid to foul out in basketball"

i was able to get my DD placed by having the title..."Looking to write a blank check so my DD can ride the bench"

you should try it, worked like a charm. now i have a fat dd because of no playing time but she gets trophies and medals up the wazoo.

"Billionaire Absentee Parent Looking for Team for Brazilian-born BSF DD"

bigtex75081 wrote:"Billionaire Absentee Parent Looking for Team for Brazilian-born BSF DD"

"Recently separated soccer Mom / model looking for an excuse to spend my slimy, despicable, soon to be ex-husbands money on soccer fees, private lessons and soccer travel excursions for my beautiful, sweet, very well behaved DD - who happens to be a super star athlete in every sport other than soccer (which her father hates)."

flygirl wrote:

bigtex75081 wrote:"Billionaire Absentee Parent Looking for Team for Brazilian-born BSF DD"

"Recently separated soccer Mom / model looking for an excuse to spend my slimy, despicable, soon to be ex-husbands money on soccer fees, private lessons and soccer travel excursions for my beautiful, sweet, very well behaved DD - who happens to be a super star athlete in every sport other than soccer (which her father hates)."