The system is very clear with all travel youth sports. Start with the biggest and oldest programs first. Try to make them first. And then go from there until your kid makes a team. The worst thing you can do is go for the new upstart club. They never hold up. And even if that club can have that one team that is really good they never can keep it up with the younger ages. The next trick is the club should have as little Parents involved as possible. Look for the club to be linked to a big private school,store, or something that does not say I got my son and I am building this so he has somewhere to play. I agree new clubs do work out and become great clubs but you only have so many kids is the risk worth it?