North Texas Soccer is Out of Control

I think I’ve mentioned before that North Texas Soccer is both good and bad. Good in that it is one of the most competitive regions in the country for youth soccer. Bad in that it is one of the most competitive regions in the country for youth soccer. (See what I did there?) What makes it great is what makes it bad. But aside from all the macro, structural problems, Madysen and Speed have really enjoyed their time playing select soccer–both of them growing tremendously as players.

July 1 is a big day in the local select soccer circle. It is the first day of new soccer year when kids officially, legally sign or re-sign with their team for the coming year. Speed had decided back in mid-May that he wanted to look for a new team. So we spent lots of time analyzing other teams and coaches. He practiced with a handful of teams, but we concentrated on one particular team. But the coach could never reach a decision about Speed and several other boys–he was paralyzed with indecision. On July 1, we had to tell him to take a hike and move on to another team. Speed is very excited about the new team and coach. It is relatively close to the house, and Speed knows many of the boys.

Compared to the drama surrounding Madysen’s old team, Speed’s transition was smooth as glass. Way back in mid-May, Madysen and three other girls followed their coach from the “second” team to the “first” team in the club. Several of the remaining parents were upset by the moves, but things appeared to have settled down by early June. Madysen’s new team was largely complete and looking good. Madysen’s old team had replaced the girls that left with very capable girls. As of the last week of June, two key parents backed out of their commitments and all hell broke loose. Several of the new players left to find other teams, several of the remaining players looked for opportunities for the group and individually. As of now, it looks as though seven to ten players are moving together to form the core of a new team at a different club.

Though Madysen wasn’t directly impacted by these happenings, she was upset to see these things happen to the girls she had just left. It was really disappointing that so many girls were thrown into disarray just before July 1. We wish them good luck next year.

Update: Just moments after I finished writing this, I got word that Madysen’s old team has disbanded and won’t be moving en masse to a new club.  Now these girls are scrambling to find room on nearly full teams.  Best of luck to them in their search.