Best time of year to switch select teams

When is the best time to change from your current select team to a new team? I assume after the Spring season is over but not sure. What's the best approach...just contacting the coach of a team you are interested in or do you go through the club coordinator. We have been with same team for several years and looking to make change for the 2017-2018 year. Thanks

I am sure you will get lots of opinions here. Technically open practice is after league and state cup is over so mid May and June. My older DD switched last year but it was an open and honest communication with her coach. He knew we were leaving due to AP changes.

Once you get to open practice if you are still signed with a team you will still need a guest player release for any tourneys you do.

If you switch now you need a full release.

No full releases granted after April. Keep that in mind. June is the start of practicing with other teams without a release needed. I think it started in May last year I believe to give more time for the AP switch. No real good time to switch, if you really feel it is time, just switch.

KeeperCommander wrote:No full releases granted after April.  Keep that in mind.  June is the start of practicing with other teams without a release needed.  I think it started in May last year I believe to give more time for the AP switch.  No real good time to switch, if you really feel it is time, just switch.  

April 1 deadline on releases/transfers

I believe you are correct about the practice starting earlier due to AP changes last year.

PFSoccer wrote:When is the best time to change from your current select team to a new team?  I assume after the Spring season is over but not sure.  What's the best approach...just contacting the coach of a team you are interested in or do you go through the club coordinator.  We have been with same team for several years and looking to make change for the 2017-2018 year.  Thanks

Generally after the Spring season ends, but also depends on the relationship with your current coach and team, and your specific situation. Also depends on if you are leaving your current club or looking to move teams within the club. Unless it is a bad situation would say it is generally better to wait until season end.

Others will give the specific rules and regulations on practice dates, releases etc.

All your communication with potential teams should be directly with the coach. You do not want anyone else in the middle of the discussion.

You can start contacting coaches of teams that you have interest in at any point in time.

The best time to look for a new team starts the instant you contemplate changing teams - get on it now to identify prospective teams, the goal being, once rules allow, to practice and guest play to find the right fit for signing in July.  

You may freely practice with anyone who will have you after State Cup ends, May 15 this year, or the end of league play, whichever is later.  Guest play releases from current team are required through June. ( If coach says "no" in June and team is not playing in a tournament on that particular weekend, NTx will override. )

Being an 06 (not high school age), league play ends early relative to this process.  Assuming no desire to play in State Cup with current team, what you can do is after league play ends and on or before April 1, request an automatic "release to rec" from North Texas.  This gets you off the current roster, meaning TOTAL FREEDOM, the freedom to practice with any one who will have you long before the State Cup restriction, and guest play releases no longer have to be approved by the current coach.  Bottom line - more freedom and time to find the right fit.

Depending on the club directives and/or the personality of the coach, you may or may not (assume the latter) be allowed to guest play before signing in July. If this is a concern, opt for the April 1 release.

Great advice, only issue is LH has the last games scheduled for April 29th. This puts you leaving with about 1/3 of the seasons games left to play. So really there is no good time.....

Justbecause2016 wrote:Great advice, only issue is LH has the last games scheduled for April 29th. This puts you leaving with about 1/3 of the seasons games left to play. So really there is no good time.....

oops, could have looked that up. Boys' Classic is scheduled to be done before April 1.

assuming a desire to finish league play and no unbearable situation, have your targeted teams identified and hit the ground running the day after State Cup ends, May 15. I would make sure relationship with coach is good since you will need his permission to guest play. Beginning the search now is still recommended.

Lefty wrote:
All your communication with potential teams should be directly with the coach.  You do not want anyone else in the middle of the discussion.
 

That's for damn sure!

Thanks for all the responses. They were very helpful!

"If coach says "no" in June and team is not playing in a tournament on that particular weekend, NTx will override"

I believe NTSSA changed that rule. They will no longer sign any guest playing paperwork only the coach can do that as they allowed more time for open practice.