I am a frustrated parent trying to understand the rationale for a dual sport athlete wanting to play a spring HS sport and club soccer. Player's team consists of several serious 'soccer only' athletes who want to play soccer in college (with realistic expectations) and a good amount of HS athletes playing lacrosse, running track or other. While these athletes are good players they miss many training sessions and several games, tournaments, etc. over the course of the short spring season, and look much worse at the end of the season than they do at the start of the season.

The team manager is often forced to schedule participation at events, games and training sessions around the HS athlete schedule and when they DO participate they are often very tired and sore and/or injured and can't play. Neither results in good play. This brings down the level of play of the team in general.

It is late in the game to be changing clubs for a more serious atmosphere but I am wondering for those parents who have kids who do this what the draw is to pay club fees and play in a league when your player cannot fully participate and/or risks injury by over training. Are these HS spring athletes trying to also play college soccer? What is the motivation for doing both? And for coaches, why don't you set expectations at the beginning of tryouts? Would clubs fold if coaches said players must attend all practices and games? OR, if they simply said do not try out for this team if you are playing a Spring HS sport.

Completely understand and support the desire to play soccer for your high school. But WHY play club and risk the overtraining---not to mention letting your team down on numerous occasions because you can't be there, can't train, or are too tired to give 100%.