Want away players

[sw1169]

I found out (by chance) at the weekend that two of my players have approached another club. They have been training with them for the last few weeks as well as training and playing matches as normal with my club.

My initial thought is to have a word with the two boys and their parents and try and find out why they are also training elsewhere and what their objectives are for next season. Depending on the reply I will;
a) suspend them for a couple of matches so I can be sure their loyalty lies with the team
b) tell them they are free to go so i can concentrate on the players I have who want to play for the club

What do you think?

[Val]

How old are the kids?

Tough situation, I know. I'd just go with the first thought in your thread, talking with parents and kids. Could be lots of reasons for this, i.e. friends may be on the team, may be closer, better schedules, etc. Of course, it could be dissatisfaction with you, too.

I wouldn't suspend them, though, as long as they are still a part of your team. If they're not missing practices, playing hard at games, are positive, and they paid their money, then don't they have a right to be there, even if they still want to play more soccer?

Let us know how it works out...

[lanesra]

I have 14 boys this spring, and 10 of them play another sport. If I expected exclusivity, I'd not have a team. so long as they meet my times/dates, then I'm OK with this. I understand the feeling that your boys have been "poached", but it seems to me you just have to live with it.

[sw1169]

It's not as if they're playing another sport, they've approahed another team hoping that they will get taken on. But just in case they don't they are coming along to me so they'll always get a game.
By doing this they are showing no comittment to the team or their teamates and they are stopping a couple of other lads who come training week in week out who are not signed-on from playing in matches as we're restricted to having 10 players signed on per season.
If there was a problem with me or my assistant I'd of rather they said so, rather than go off to another club without giving us a chance to resolve any problems
I'd rather play players who want to play for the team rather than players who think the grass may be greener on the other side.

[74offsuit]

With which team are the players most likely to improve with?

This is the question that all coaches should be concerned with.

[sw1169]

An update on last weeks events.

The father of one of the boys came around to my house to apologise about going behind the clubs back. Also saying that they will no longer go to training with the other club and is it possible to carry on playing as they want to carry on with us for the rest of the season and next season. I of course accepted their apology.

The other lad though turned up to training as if nothing was going on. I had a chat with his mother who confirmed their intention is to leave our club and play for the other club but to continue playing for us until the summer. I said I'm only concerned about the players and if they feel the time is right to move on then thats fine with me. I also said it was probably best to leave the club now and make a clean break of it so I can concentrate on the lads who want to play for the club and give them more match or as much time on the pitch as this lad did. The lad has now gone to the other club with our best wishes for the future.

[Jerzy]

Thanks for the update, sounds like it worked out well for you.

[mcolwell1959]

Another season comes to an end so the rumours start about who is leaving etc! It all depends on how many players you have and need? Do not forget that they may leave you but there may be other boys with other clubs wanting to move and so advertise and put out feelers amongst your boys and take the opportunity to improve your squad whilst still remaining loyal to those who want to stay with you. Use the end of a season positively.