I have a huge decision coming up. I am going to be a U-15 player next year, and I have made a very elite team with amazing training and coaches. It will be a great oppurtunity for me, but there are a couple problems. One problem is it's in another city, and I have to travel there once a week, not including games and our 6 tournaments. Another problem is my best friend from soccer also tried out and it doesn't look like he is going to make it, but I made another not as elite team that he also made. This other team has a lot of my friends on it. It is also here in town, but the coaches are nowhere near as good. It looks like the only other kid from here I strongly dislike. I don't want to be associated with him. I'm not sure what the people who I don't know will think of me, but it's such a good oppurtunity. What would you all do in this situation? I'm leaning towards playing on the elite team, but it's hard! Help Please... I have to make my decision soon!
Honestly, if I were you...I'd go with the elite team. Like you said, it's a great opportunity! The coaches are better, and if it's a more competative team and harder to get on, then chances are more likely that you'll get scouted. I know it might be hard leaving your friends and not knowing anyone on this new team, you'll get to know your new team in time. And I think you might regret not going with the better team in the end just because your friends aren't on it and it's a little farther away. Whatever decision you make, just make sure you won't regret it later.
Sometimes to get the best coaching etc you have to travel for it. If you dont like it you can always leave but i think you should at least give it a whirl! appleCORR
Go on the elite team, clear choice i'd think. To me, with football, you kind of have to put a divide between friends and sport. In saying that, after trials are over and you join the team chances are you'll just make some good new friends.
exactly. I regret not moving to better teams when I was younger, because I wanted to be with my friends. I was always miles better than them, so sticking around pretty much hinder some earlier progression. high school is more of a time to play at a slightly competitive level with your friends. if you can make an elite club, take it the opportunity. the team I played for last, I look at a lot of the guys and didn't think I'd like any of them. I was completely different from all of them. but, after playing and being around one another we all became close knit and everything. a new experience can't hurt.
Yeah, go for the big team. Although it may be fun to play with your friends, its alot more fun playing well with a strong team.
As everyone else said, I'd go with the big team. This is a nice oppurtunity, and you can always just go kick-about with your friends. This might be the beginning of something and if they have good coaches, they can start forming you right now. You will be able to adapt to a new team, but you will always regret it if you only play with your friends and keep on reminding yourself "What if i'd have gone to the elite club?". I know it's not easy, but this will make you more mature and you will learn to adapt better (something you will need later). Great quote from Eric Cantona: "Forward! my friend, forward!" Go for it mate.
I trained with a Super Y league team in the area, and for one reason or another I stopped going (even though the coach spefically invited me to practice with them); and I also got to train with the #4 team in the state here, and I also stopped going to their practices for whatever reasons. I can personally tell you that I regret making those decisions, specially the one for the 2nd team. And if there is a kid that you don't like, trust me, in just about every team you'll play there are gonna be dudes you won't like, but if you're gonna be in the team, you gotta find a way to look past that. If you're good enough, and I think you probably are based on what you've told us, skills alone will be necessary to make up for any "bad blood" or whatnot. If for whatever reasons, things "go wrong" with the better team, you can always go back to the other team with your friends, but it won't work the other way around (if you decide that you wanna play with the better team when you're on the one with your friends). Metro
I just recently did the same exact thing, I went from about the 25th Team in NC to play for the best team in NC, like you, its far away (2 hours for me). To top it off, another kid from my town made the team as well, and I dislike him. But I am going to play for the team b/c it is going to get me into college, and that is worth it. Also, I have earned the respect of my teamates by playing well in Super Y. I went from being a new player that no one knew, to being a starter on the best team in the state and one of the best in the region.