I read your article on try-outs and have pretty much experienced what your talking about. I have been coaching in a recreational soccer league that travels around our county for a few years. What I can't seem to figure out is how to tell your neighbors kid that he/she didn't make the travel team... The kid's seem to get over it quicker than their parents. No matter what you do, you did it wrong. Is there any wonder you can't get people to involve themselves in these programs...

You speak words of wisdom. There is no easy way to tell the neighbor's kid that he-she didn't make the cut. The only advice I have is that you need to make the right decision for the team. If the kid isn't good enough for your team, the kid doesn't play. You can't do favors for neighbors at the expense of the team. If it helps any, you are doing the right thing. If your neighbors dislike you because their children aren't good enough, it is their problem, not yours. Besides, the neighbor kid won't have fun if he/she isn't playing with kids of equal skill. You aren't doing anything wrong, you are doing the job of a coach.