There could be no standard answer. Everyone is different/have different needs and react different to different situations. Don't think just because your kid goes to a lesser team that your kid will play more. I am very familiar with the top 7 2021 teams and ALL of them have favorites and most of the playing time is just for the top 9 kids. Getting playing time and cracking the starting line up for a top 7 team will be almost impossible. If your kid sat on the bench with Black Ice, Express, Icon etc. your kid will sit on the bench with the next 4 - 7 teams on the list. Even if your kid starts for a top 3 or 4 team don't expect to start on one of the next best 4 teams. Those teams have starters for year and it is all politics. It is very risky changing teams at this age. The newer kids will also be placed at the bottom when it comes to picking kids to play in front of coaches.
Originally Posted by Anonymous
What is better riding the bench on a team like Black ice and Blaze in the "important games" that have great coaching and double the practices or getting playing time in the "important" games with less practices?
Good points and really can work both ways-
Kids/parents want to jump ship and find if grass is greener, like you said many times it's not. If your coach/program is dedicated, fair, and challenges you, stay with them. Practice hard, improve, you will play, puberty does a lot at this age and new starters emerge. They are loyal to you and you should do the same.
Coaches/directors want to upgrade players and try and form their super team. Sometimes they get a random better kid, but usually not, giving up one of their former players for nothing. By this age the better teams will remain the better teams, and the middle teams remain the middle, lower remains lower. If your players are dedicated, coachable, and working to get better, keep them. If you like the parents, keep them....They are loyal to you and you should do the same.
Having been around this for what seems many, many years.... to the coaches and players.....be loyal, work hard, get better, have fun. It goes by fast
