Questions to Ask Before Joining a Soccer Club
Say that you are done with the research and selection process of the soccer club for your kid. Now you have decided and are just about to finalize your kid’s admission to the club. You will still have a lot of questions in your mind that you must ask the management of that youth soccer club. Many parents fail to ask the most important things in excitement.
So, here we have listed the most important questions every parent must ask before choosing one of the soccer clubs for kids.
Top 10 questions to ask before joining a soccer club
Here are the top 10 questions before joining the youth soccer club.
1.Will you be my kid’s coach? OR Who will be coaching my kid?
First and foremost, you must know who your kid’s coach and there will be no better way than asking it. In most cases, the youth soccer club management person will not be coaching your kid. Since they don’t have a huge role in your kid’s development, you must know who will be coaching your kid since you can discuss all the details, habits, or weaknesses of your kid.
Additionally, knowing their coach from the very first day gives you a better overview of your kid’s progress.
2.How many players are in one team at this level?
Different soccer clubs for kids have different strategies about players, and knowing the one where your kid plays is important. Asking how many players will be there on one team and how many substitute players will be there is important.
It gives you a basic idea about the playing experience your kid will enjoy at the club. Another thing you can ask is if your kid will get equal playing time as all kids if he is better than or worse than the average players.
3.How do you define your coaching philosophy?
Another thing to ask from the youth soccer club management is the coaching philosophy. Every club is different, and they either follow the philosophy of the club’s growth or the players’ growth. If they have the philosophy of the club’s growth, they will make kids mentally and physically burn out just to ensure their club never loses. It is all about winning vs development.
That’s not good for the players. The other option is better since the club will be focusing more on the players’ learning in the long term.
4.What strengths and weaknesses do you see in my kid?
Soccer clubs for kids often have a transparent ideology about admitting kids, and they select players according to their strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes coaches see in your kids that you can’t. So, asking the coach about your kid’s strengths and weaknesses will let you work more on the kid, which will eventually help them excel at their game.
It also tells what type of attention the coach pays to your kid.
5.At what position should my kid start playing?
Youth soccer is not where you define one position for the kid. Instead, it is the time when you can try and test multiple things on the field. So, ask the coach where your kid should be playing. If they mention one specific position, that’s a huge red flag since your kid won’t be learning a lot. However, if the coach tells you they will test your kid in different soccer positions, that’s what you want to hear.
6.Will your soccer club ever cut off my kid?
There are two main types of soccer clubs, depending on their culture and structure. Some have goals to keep the player with them no matter what, while some clubs have merit for the players. Asking if the club will cut off your kid tells you what will happen to your kid if his performance ever drops due to study pressure or any personal reason.
7.What is your club’s policy about moving players between teams?
Some clubs are skeptical about the kids moving to other teams, while others are not. There will be a situation where your kid will stop learning anything at the current club. That’s when he must move to a better team at a better club. It is important for better learning opportunities, but it will only be possible if the club allows it. So, you must ask about the club’s policy about moving children from one team to another.
8.What competitive opportunities will my kid get at your soccer club?
Asking about the competition your child must expect from the club is essential. When you ask this question from management, they will tell you about the competitions and tournaments coming up with the teams and clubs. Hence you know about the geography of this club, i.e., its links with other nearby clubs. Moreover, it talks about the competitive learning opportunities your kid can expect.
9.How will the soccer club and staff keep my kid engaged in soccer?
At the early stages of youth soccer, keeping kids engaged in the sport is difficult. It is because kids focus more on their enjoyment rather than learning the skill. When you ask this question, and the other person replies with a set of rules, then you must stay away from that club. However, if they answer that they will keep kids engaged by making it a fun sport, then that’s the ideal club.
10.Does the training atmosphere here allow kids to show their talent?
Ask the coach if they allow kids to showcase their talent or should that only follows the training given by the coaching staff. The best answer will be a combination of both; coaches will learn about your kid and polish their strengths while countering their weaknesses more efficiently.
Conclusion
There are many soccer clubs for kids, and each one states to be the best. However, the one that offers the best experience for your kid and you will be the best for you. So, when selecting a youth soccer club, you must ensure that you don’t have any confusion, which will be done by questioning. If you have any questions, you can add them to the list above to better clarify the soccer clubs for kids and their management.
However, we can assure you Barcelona Premier Soccer Club will be the best option for your kid.
