As a coach, it's crucial to define the type of team you want to lead and make early choices that align with your coaching objectives. While there is no absolute right or wrong path, your decisions around tournaments you play in, your willingness to acquire new players and part with current players, the caliber of your current players 

Timelines to consider:

• 12u: Take control of your journey—start determining the team's direction, whether it will be a National Schedule or a Regional Schedule.

• 14u: It's time to make a choice.

• 16u/18u: Work with your current roster and maximize the potential based on the team's skill.

For those coaches that have kids on the team, the first evaluation you need to make is on the skill set of your child.  This will be a barometer for the level of players you will acquire and retain. Your daughter does not have to be the best player on the team but she can't be the worst, or it will create perceptions of 'Daddy Ball', which can hamper your ability to get good players.

Choosing a specific direction may cause some players to leave your team and it may cause you to have to part ways with current players as you build your ideal team.