U15 + and potential college play

[Anonymous]

My son is a strong soccer player. Star of the top team on a decent club. Was not selected for Arlington academy. I’m not sure why. He was clearly in the top 1/3 of those trying out. Strong all round skills so no real “weakness”. Perhaps just needs to play with a better league. His team memebers aren’t as good. Looked at multiple teams but couldn’t find a better option. All the clubs have teams ranked 20-40 that are close to our house (reasonable commute), similar team members which means he’d just move from the star of one team to the other. No real affinity (really good or bad) experience with any coach. He’s a coaches dream - quiet, introvert, follows direction, does as told. Unemotional and hard working on the field. Maybe only negative is he gets injured a couple times. Some of the md teams are tough and go after him. Nothing super serious but some pain here and there 1x a season w dr says to rest a week.

What kind of options do we have? What is a realistic soccer goal for college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is a strong soccer player. Star of the top team on a decent club. Was not selected for Arlington academy. I’m not sure why. He was clearly in the top 1/3 of those trying out. Strong all round skills so no real “weakness”. Perhaps just needs to play with a better league. His team memebers aren’t as good. Looked at multiple teams but couldn’t find a better option. All the clubs have teams ranked 20-40 that are close to our house (reasonable commute), similar team members which means he’d just move from the star of one team to the other. No real affinity (really good or bad) experience with any coach. He’s a coaches dream - quiet, introvert, follows direction, does as told. Unemotional and hard working on the field. Maybe only negative is he gets injured a couple times. Some of the md teams are tough and go after him. Nothing super serious but some pain here and there 1x a season w dr says to rest a week.

What kind of options do we have? What is a realistic soccer goal for college?

Every option is open -- it just depends on how his development proceeds during the next 2-3 years. He is finishing 8th grade? Most college recruiting for boys does not kick in until the summer before junior year as boys develop physically much later than girls.

If his team is good enough to play in college showcases he will be seen by coaches in Div. 1, 2 and 3. And he can also attend ID camps at the colleges he becomes interested in to get in front of coaches at schools of interest to you/him.

Finally, ask yourself if you are an honest and knowledgeable judge of his talent. Unless your kid is a goal scoring machine, many parents don't accurately evaluate their own kids level of play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is a strong soccer player. Star of the top team on a decent club. Was not selected for Arlington academy. I’m not sure why. He was clearly in the top 1/3 of those trying out. Strong all round skills so no real “weakness”. Perhaps just needs to play with a better league. His team memebers aren’t as good. Looked at multiple teams but couldn’t find a better option. All the clubs have teams ranked 20-40 that are close to our house (reasonable commute), similar team members which means he’d just move from the star of one team to the other. No real affinity (really good or bad) experience with any coach. He’s a coaches dream - quiet, introvert, follows direction, does as told. Unemotional and hard working on the field. Maybe only negative is he gets injured a couple times. Some of the md teams are tough and go after him. Nothing super serious but some pain here and there 1x a season w dr says to rest a week.

What kind of options do we have? What is a realistic soccer goal for college?

Every option is open -- it just depends on how his development proceeds during the next 2-3 years. He is finishing 8th grade? Most college recruiting for boys does not kick in until the summer before junior year as boys develop physically much later than girls.

If his team is good enough to play in college showcases he will be seen by coaches in Div. 1, 2 and 3. And he can also attend ID camps at the colleges he becomes interested in to get in front of coaches at schools of interest to you/him.

Finally, ask yourself if you are an honest and knowledgeable judge of his talent. Unless your kid is a goal scoring machine, many parents don't accurately evaluate their own kids level of play.

We hear this from other parents at games, even other teams parents. . Because he doesn’t look like my husband (he’s biracial but looks the other race) parents say amazingly positive things , thinking his parent isn’t there. Plus he has been recruited etc. also he’s the fastest on the last 4 teams. . Speed and athleticism is obvious. Ball skills and decision making is more personal opinion but he’s the kid making plays. He also has been asked to guest quite regularly.

[Anonymous]

I worry ncsl sucks.

[Anonymous]

How tall is he, how much does he weigh?

[Anonymous]

If he can make the top teams in the area, he is at a good start. I serious coach can give you and idea of how strong your player is.

[Anonymous]

ECNL is an option at BRYC or McLean. I assume you are in northern Virginia since you mention Arlington. It is expensive but could get him college exposure. You would have to make sure that the club has a strong team at his age group.

Your post hits at something I wonder about DA. They start setting these teams at U-12 and how difficult is it for strong players outside the DA to break in at later ages unless they are really, jumps off the field at you extraordinary.

[Anonymous]

about DA, wouldn’t that be the hope?

[Anonymous]

Di you want him to play college ball or does he? My son got a scholarship to Clemson and an offer to play at UVA. He got into UVA based on academics. He wanted to be normal and NOT PLAY. It was a hard pill for me to swallow, but was a reality check for me to stop living vicariously through my kid and to stop dictating his dreams

[Anonymous]

^^strong enough to get into IMG? Because that is where the best are playing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^strong enough to get into IMG? Because that is where the best are playing.

What? iMG does not have a strong soccer program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How tall is he, how much does he weigh?

he's 13; he weights 120 @ 5'9"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How tall is he, how much does he weigh?

he's 13; he weights 120 @ 5'9"

is this good? or bad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Di you want him to play college ball or does he? My son got a scholarship to Clemson and an offer to play at UVA. He got into UVA based on academics. He wanted to be normal and NOT PLAY. It was a hard pill for me to swallow, but was a reality check for me to stop living vicariously through my kid and to stop dictating his dreams

LOL. yes it is more our hope. But we expect college to be more academic. He's gifted; straight As in 8th grade advanced classes. He didn't want to try to TJ, it was a long shot bc soccer is his extra curricular anyways. We are hoping, what someone mentioned before, his athleticism can get him into a college he might not have because of the competitiveness. Columbia, Clemson, Hopkins,

[Anonymous]

I think I must have fallen asleep, I thought ENCL was girls .. missed the ENCL tryouts.

Anonymous wrote:ECNL is an option at BRYC or McLean. I assume you are in northern Virginia since you mention Arlington. It is expensive but could get him college exposure. You would have to make sure that the club has a strong team at his age group.

Your post hits at something I wonder about DA. They start setting these teams at U-12 and how difficult is it for strong players outside the DA to break in at later ages unless they are really, jumps off the field at you extraordinary.