<p>We are facing a dilemma with our kid, a recruited athlete in a low profile sport. A new team is forming in our area and kid is thinking of making the switch, mainly because of needs not being met on current team. Current team is not strong and with new athletes coming in each season, experienced athletes do not get a lot of attention. The new team will be all beginners, but the coach is experienced, enthusiastic and keen on working with my kid.</p>
<p>Kid is torn, doesn't want to let down teammates, but needs more specific training than is available from current team. New team has better facilities, plus training opportunities and possible summer training that is not available with current team. Also, my kid has no real connection with current coach. They get along just fine, but no real rapport. New team coach seems to be a better personality for my kid, they hit it off right from the start. New team coach really wants to work with my kid and is confident will be able to provide the type of training my kid needs. I'm not so sure, given it is a brand new program. But the coach does have a track record of success. Also, the new team coach has a strong connection with the school my kid will be attending in the fall.</p>
<p>So, any words of wisdom? Change is good? Or grass is always greener? Thanks!</p>
<p>You said it is a low profile sport… is it an individual sport like golf, swimming, track etc? or a team sport where you all have to work together? Yes I realize they are all team sports in the big picture but to me that might factor into a decision. It sounds like from what you are writing that you really feel the new program would be best. I do believe kids leave schools to go to others in many sports all the time for various reasons. I don’t think it is necessarily a bad thing, just be careful how you go about it, make sure you are within NCAA compliance rules so you don’t chance losing a year in your sport.</p>
<p>Sorry I wasn’t clear. My kid is 18, a senior in high school and signed a letter of intent in November. The sport is a team sport and my kid plans to compete all through college.</p>
<p>I say do what’s best for the kid, which I think means making the switch. My only hesitation would be if kid’s loyalty to current teammates is too big an issue, or if current coach was instrumental in getting kid into college.</p>
<p>The karma of the deal has to set right with the kid.</p>
<p>Teammates are also close friends, so could be an issue. One may make the sitch also. Current coach had nothing to do with kid getting signed. If anything, was a hinderance, so definitely not worried about that. </p>
<p>Wondering if kid should run it by college coach?</p>
<p>If he signed an NLI you are stuck for the first year. You need to go to the NCAA website and read about the NLI, it is a contract. I expect there are rare occasions that you can get out of it perhaps with the the school but the NCAA is very strict and clear on the rules. You son would probably have to sit out a year.</p>
<p>^ I think the OP is talking about switching teams and training locations for the next 8 months, not switching colleges.</p>
<p>OP–based only on the information you’ve given, I would recommend switching, because it sounds like it would be a better overall experience for your child. The advantages seem to be: more specific training, summer training, better facilities, connection to his college, and–most importantly–a coach who wants to help, not hinder, your child. Disadvantage: leaving teammates.</p>
<p>I would recommend helping your son handle the transition well, and planning in advance how he will explain this to his teammates without denigrating his current team or coach.</p>
<p>it’s a team sport and his teammates are close friends, seems like he should stay.</p>
<p>And he’s already signed at the college he wants to go to so the current coach must have done something right. As far as leaning more from the new coach at the new club I’m sure that would be valuable however when he gets to college he’s probably going to start over with technique etc.</p>
<p>Most college coaches don’t think much of junior coaches.</p>