Rocky Mountain Soccer’s Guide to Competitive Youth Soccer Clubs
Soccer is the most popular youth sport in Colorado. It can also be the most confusing. At Rocky Mountain Soccer (RMS), we are asked every day about participation in youth soccer.
This question is especially popular to ask for boys and girls entering 5th grade next fall and might be transitioning from recreational or developmental soccer to competitive “tryout” based soccer.
Before we offer some advice about competitive youth soccer we want to share why we think youth soccer is great!
Kids who play youth soccer perform better academically on average than kids that do not play sports. Soccer helps develop important healthy lifestyle habits; reduce chances of behavioral issues; develop social skills; create a sense of community; inspire increased confidence; and enhance character development. Ultimately, youth soccer is a great way to make friends, enjoy the camaraderie of teams, and have a ton of fun!
Many kids develop specific skills via youth soccer that help them succeed in high school athletics. A few aspiring and dedicated young athletes even go on to play in college and beyond. Many of the top professional athletes in basketball (Kobe Bryant) and football (Ochocinco) played youth soccer.
Just one of the reasons we love soccer is that it’s a global game connecting the world to you and you to the world. A great way to travel is to toss a pair of soccer shoes in your bag, find a park in a foreign land and meet new people playing the beautiful game. Soccer truly is a global handshake that crosses borders and cultural divides.
Soccer is also one of the few team sports that you can play well into adulthood. Organized leagues exist for all levels and pick-up games happen nearly every day in Colorado.
So obviously at Rocky Mountain Soccer we are passionate about soccer and youth soccer. Following is some advice to the most frequently asked question at Rocky Mountain Soccer.
Question: Where should I sign up my child for competitive youth soccer? What soccer program should my child play in?
Many kids that continue to play the game from 5th grade and beyond move onto competitive youth soccer where teams are formed based on tryouts and the recruitment of players. In competitive youth soccer there are significant increases in registration/coaching fees compared to recreational soccer. Before making the commitment to a soccer club we recommend getting answers to the following questions. Every child is unique, the key is finding the best fit for your child and family.
Every organization has a different culture or personality based on its leadership, values, mission and vision. Myriad programs exist, so here are some tips to choosing the right one for you and your family:
Rocky Mountain Soccer’s 10 Most Important Questions to ask a Competitive Soccer Program:
(1) THE COACH
Who is the coach of the team your child will be playing on? No other person in the organization will have a greater impact on your child’s soccer experience than the team’s coach. This is more important than the Director(s) of the club, what colleges the alumni went on to play soccer at or how many years the staff did or did not play professional soccer. This will be the most important answer to the most important question a parent/guardian should ask the club before making a commitment to the season.
(2) COACHING BACKGROUND & SUPPORT
What is the coaching background of the coach? Are they experienced with this age and gender? Ask for references from the parents of former players who played under this coach. If he/she is a novice or a new coach, how much direct supervision and mentoring will the coach receive from the senior staff coaches in the club?
(3) COACHING PHILOSOPHY
Does the club have a specific coaching and player development philosophy and how will the club assure that your child’s coach supports the policies, best practices, and coaching philosophy of the organization? A “club” implies a unified philosophy of values, vision and player development methods. Does the club assure that each team works with the structure and philosophy of the organization or will the team be an island unto themselves?
(4) SAFETY
Is the environment for your child safe? Does the organization conduct background checks on the coaches and staff that interact with your child? This should include volunteer coaches and administrators. Are the playing surfaces and areas at practices and games appropriate and safe for soccer? Are the goals secured and safe (especially on windy days)? Are all the coaches and staff aware of the best practices for risk management? Are coaches expected to be CPR/First-Aid certified?
(5) ORGANIZED
Is the program organized well? Is the registration process simple and organized? Does the club have clear communication? The state of the program’s website will often give you an idea of how well the club is organized. Is the information clear, current and concise? Are phone calls answered and messages returned in an appropriate time?
(6) SKILLS
Do kids in the program have the opportunity to receive regular fundamental skills development as they progress through the program? Is that included in the fees or is it extra? When kids learn the skills to be successful at soccer they often enjoy playing the game more.
(7) FUN
Is fun and enjoyment a priority for the program and do the adults involved project a fun culture for youth soccer? If the kids have fun then they will want to return to the game. A fun environment is inspiring. Regardless of the level of play, from youth, high school, college to professional, soccer should be fun to play.
(8) PROGRAM GOALS
What are the specific goals and philosophy of the club’s competitive program? How will they work toward achieving those goals for your child and are those goals an appropriate fit for your child and family? How will the season be structured for the team and is the structure consistent with the goals of the program? How many tournaments will the team play and why? Will the team travel out-of-state? Is yes, where and why? If no, why not? How many practices a week will the team have and is the practice frequency enough to assure your child’s continued development and enjoyment in the game? Will the team play over holidays and spring break?
(9) FEES AND SERVICES
What specifically will the fees include and will you be able to hold the program accountable toward delivering? What “extra” fees will be added during the year? Does the club have a policy for assisting kids that need financial assistance for participation or is that up to each individual team? If the team is not the right fit for your child or the club does not meet their promises will you be able to move to a different team, club and will you receive a pro-rated refund?
(10) EVALUATION
What formal evaluation will your child and you the parent/guardian receive each season from the organization? You and your child should not have to guess what the coaches are think about your child’s progress within the program. Some coaches give verbal feedback, some give end of the season report cards, some do not give any feedback and others meet with players and parent together.
Again, the most important question you can ask and have answered is who will coach your child?
Below are links to competitive soccer tryout information.
TRYOUT INFORMATION DATES FOR BOULDER COUNTY/NORTH METRO SOCCER CLUBS
Boulder Athletic
http://www.boulderathletic.com/doclib/tryout%20registration2.pdf
Boulder County Force
http://www.bcforce.com/competitive/190081.html
Broomfield Blast
http://www.broomfieldsoccerclub.org/tryouts_blast
Colorado Edge
http://www.edgesoccer.net/page/show/17984-edge-competitive-program
Colorado Rapids
http://www.coloradorapids.com/sites/default/files/Tryout_Info_Spring2011.pdf
Colorado Storm North
http://www.coloradostorm.com/home.php?layout=1240
St Vrain FC
http://www.stvrainfc.com/tryouts/index_E.html
Trebol
http://www.trebolsoccer.org/tryouts.php
Westminster FC
http://westminsterafc.com/Teams/PlayerPlacement/tabid/9841/Default.aspx
We hope you find this information helpful. This article is part of our ongoing series and support of youth soccer.
