High School Soccer is the new teen recreational soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more I look at how high schools handle their programs, the more I feel like I’m seeing recreational soccer for teens.

The problem is that the quality of play is usually like rec, but the schools *handle their programs like it was the most important athletic event in the world. In the large public schools in Moco at least, it is pretty hard to get on the team. You have to go to the "optional" summer games and somehow make a name for yourself with the coach before tryouts, and then you can still get cut if you have a bad time at tryouts. They load up the squads with over 20 players and then most the kids just sit and watch all the time. There is no emphasis on participation even though the whole idea is that this is just a fun activity you can do to represent your school.

The time commitment is MUCH larger than for high-level club during the season. It's not unusual for HS athletes to have to devote 15-20 hours a week to the team when you factor in travel, required team activities, etc. Players are often punished for missing team events, regardless of the reason. It ends up discouraging a lot of kids from doing soccer at all, which is the opposite of the rec mindset.

And somehow with a few small exceptions, the level of play is still awful and high-level players actually get worse during the season because the coaching is so bad. A lot of the big schools do have many players with high-level travel experience, but in most cases they end up playing down to the level of their competition.

The organization, at least in Maryland, is ridiculous. You have some schools that go undefeated or have great records because they only play against smaller, disadvantaged schools and never challenge themselves. They get a free pass to the state tournament. And they get rewarded with high seeds based on their win ratio - so winning is the only thing that matters, which again is the opposite of rec.

It drives me crazy that there is taxpayer funding for this.

Haha in CA club soccer is 15-20 hours a week year round and top players also do private lessons. Futsal, Mexican leagues, etc on top of that.

Thise private school idiots are out of their minds.

Club Soccer is a disease

The difficult thing about private school people is that theyre arrogant, entitled and generally clueless. They have no idea what it takes to play at the highest levels but for some reason feel they should be included in the discussion.

Your money and held back kids won't open doors in competitive soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more I look at how high schools handle their programs, the more I feel like I’m seeing recreational soccer for teens.

The problem is that the quality of play is usually like rec, but the schools *handle their programs like it was the most important athletic event in the world. In the large public schools in Moco at least, it is pretty hard to get on the team. You have to go to the "optional" summer games and somehow make a name for yourself with the coach before tryouts, and then you can still get cut if you have a bad time at tryouts. They load up the squads with over 20 players and then most the kids just sit and watch all the time. There is no emphasis on participation even though the whole idea is that this is just a fun activity you can do to represent your school.

The time commitment is MUCH larger than for high-level club during the season. It's not unusual for HS athletes to have to devote 15-20 hours a week to the team when you factor in travel, required team activities, etc. Players are often punished for missing team events, regardless of the reason. It ends up discouraging a lot of kids from doing soccer at all, which is the opposite of the rec mindset.

And somehow with a few small exceptions, the level of play is still awful and high-level players actually get worse during the season because the coaching is so bad. A lot of the big schools do have many players with high-level travel experience, but in most cases they end up playing down to the level of their competition.

The organization, at least in Maryland, is ridiculous. You have some schools that go undefeated or have great records because they only play against smaller, disadvantaged schools and never challenge themselves. They get a free pass to the state tournament. And they get rewarded with high seeds based on their win ratio - so winning is the only thing that matters, which again is the opposite of rec.

It drives me crazy that there is taxpayer funding for this.

You know the coaches already have their minds up before going into summer league or tryouts right? DS scored goals, had assists, didn’t matter at all. The coaches were fixated on younger players and of course weren’t going to cut returning seniors.

It would be better if they just told you at the end of the JV season not to bother coming back.

Even worse - the coaches asked him to come back, play summer (where injuries happen a lot), and try out again senior year. I’m quite sure they will cut him again for younger players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more I look at how high schools handle their programs, the more I feel like I’m seeing recreational soccer for teens.

The problem is that the quality of play is usually like rec, but the schools *handle their programs like it was the most important athletic event in the world. In the large public schools in Moco at least, it is pretty hard to get on the team. You have to go to the "optional" summer games and somehow make a name for yourself with the coach before tryouts, and then you can still get cut if you have a bad time at tryouts. They load up the squads with over 20 players and then most the kids just sit and watch all the time. There is no emphasis on participation even though the whole idea is that this is just a fun activity you can do to represent your school.

The time commitment is MUCH larger than for high-level club during the season. It's not unusual for HS athletes to have to devote 15-20 hours a week to the team when you factor in travel, required team activities, etc. Players are often punished for missing team events, regardless of the reason. It ends up discouraging a lot of kids from doing soccer at all, which is the opposite of the rec mindset.

And somehow with a few small exceptions, the level of play is still awful and high-level players actually get worse during the season because the coaching is so bad. A lot of the big schools do have many players with high-level travel experience, but in most cases they end up playing down to the level of their competition.

The organization, at least in Maryland, is ridiculous. You have some schools that go undefeated or have great records because they only play against smaller, disadvantaged schools and never challenge themselves. They get a free pass to the state tournament. And they get rewarded with high seeds based on their win ratio - so winning is the only thing that matters, which again is the opposite of rec.

It drives me crazy that there is taxpayer funding for this.

Haha in CA club soccer is 15-20 hours a week year round and top players also do private lessons. Futsal, Mexican leagues, etc on top of that.

Thise private school idiots are out of their minds.

Club Soccer is a disease

The difficult thing about private school people is that theyre arrogant, entitled and generally clueless. They have no idea what it takes to play at the highest levels but for some reason feel they should be included in the discussion.

Your money and held back kids won't open doors in competitive soccer.

Once again, the private school MIAA A conference in Maryland has had the number one ranked boys high school team the majority of the past five years and also the Gatorade player of the year. A good number of D1 recruits, including several that now play professionally. Best not to make sweeping statements about private school leagues when your knowledge is limited.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s just a power/ego trip for these coaches. To have so many high quality players come out, spend time playing summer league (if you think quality is bad during the season, watch summer league!), do workouts, tryout .., then sorry. We have some younger players who we don’t know at all, and have given nothing to the program, but we just like them better.

[Anonymous]

Nothing like shiny new players!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But what about Glenelg?

Genuine question...is anyone actually scouted through high school soccer? Are there even talented players only doing high school soccer and not club as well?

Teh most talented kids do not play HS - they dont want to get hurt by some field hockey kid from another team trying outside back for the first time.

This is absolutely not true. I would bet 90+% of ECNL boys play and 75% of MLS Next kids. Some DC United players risk repercussions and play against their coaches instructions. They all LOVE playing HS.

Calling BS on this

I don’t know if they LOVE it. But being Varsity Captain, MVP, all Met, all state, maybe even Gatorade player of the year etc is very impressive to college coaches. High school is the only path to those accolades.

Add a state championship to this list and you have not just a D1 player, but P4.

Nope. I call BS. I know a few players with Gatorade POY to their names and state champs etc. If you didn't get seen in club - you will not be P4. Not if HS is your only experience.

Correct. You need both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But what about Glenelg?

Genuine question...is anyone actually scouted through high school soccer? Are there even talented players only doing high school soccer and not club as well?

Teh most talented kids do not play HS - they dont want to get hurt by some field hockey kid from another team trying outside back for the first time.

This is absolutely not true. I would bet 90+% of ECNL boys play and 75% of MLS Next kids. Some DC United players risk repercussions and play against their coaches instructions. They all LOVE playing HS.

Calling BS on this

I don’t know if they LOVE it. But being Varsity Captain, MVP, all Met, all state, maybe even Gatorade player of the year etc is very impressive to college coaches. High school is the only path to those accolades.

Add a state championship to this list and you have not just a D1 player, but P4.

Nope. I call BS. I know a few players with Gatorade POY to their names and state champs etc. If you didn't get seen in club - you will not be P4. Not if HS is your only experience.

Correct. You need both.

You only need club soccer.

HS BS doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But what about Glenelg?

Genuine question...is anyone actually scouted through high school soccer? Are there even talented players only doing high school soccer and not club as well?

Teh most talented kids do not play HS - they dont want to get hurt by some field hockey kid from another team trying outside back for the first time.

This is absolutely not true. I would bet 90+% of ECNL boys play and 75% of MLS Next kids. Some DC United players risk repercussions and play against their coaches instructions. They all LOVE playing HS.

Calling BS on this

I don’t know if they LOVE it. But being Varsity Captain, MVP, all Met, all state, maybe even Gatorade player of the year etc is very impressive to college coaches. High school is the only path to those accolades.

Add a state championship to this list and you have not just a D1 player, but P4.

Nope. I call BS. I know a few players with Gatorade POY to their names and state champs etc. If you didn't get seen in club - you will not be P4. Not if HS is your only experience.

Correct. You need both.

You only need club soccer.

HS BS doesn't matter.

But the recruiting forms ask for the HS Coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But what about Glenelg?

Genuine question...is anyone actually scouted through high school soccer? Are there even talented players only doing high school soccer and not club as well?

Teh most talented kids do not play HS - they dont want to get hurt by some field hockey kid from another team trying outside back for the first time.

This is absolutely not true. I would bet 90+% of ECNL boys play and 75% of MLS Next kids. Some DC United players risk repercussions and play against their coaches instructions. They all LOVE playing HS.

Calling BS on this

I don’t know if they LOVE it. But being Varsity Captain, MVP, all Met, all state, maybe even Gatorade player of the year etc is very impressive to college coaches. High school is the only path to those accolades.

LOL. College coaches don't care one bit about HS accolades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more I look at how high schools handle their programs, the more I feel like I’m seeing recreational soccer for teens.

The problem is that the quality of play is usually like rec, but the schools *handle their programs like it was the most important athletic event in the world. In the large public schools in Moco at least, it is pretty hard to get on the team. You have to go to the "optional" summer games and somehow make a name for yourself with the coach before tryouts, and then you can still get cut if you have a bad time at tryouts. They load up the squads with over 20 players and then most the kids just sit and watch all the time. There is no emphasis on participation even though the whole idea is that this is just a fun activity you can do to represent your school.

The time commitment is MUCH larger than for high-level club during the season. It's not unusual for HS athletes to have to devote 15-20 hours a week to the team when you factor in travel, required team activities, etc. Players are often punished for missing team events, regardless of the reason. It ends up discouraging a lot of kids from doing soccer at all, which is the opposite of the rec mindset.

And somehow with a few small exceptions, the level of play is still awful and high-level players actually get worse during the season because the coaching is so bad. A lot of the big schools do have many players with high-level travel experience, but in most cases they end up playing down to the level of their competition.

The organization, at least in Maryland, is ridiculous. You have some schools that go undefeated or have great records because they only play against smaller, disadvantaged schools and never challenge themselves. They get a free pass to the state tournament. And they get rewarded with high seeds based on their win ratio - so winning is the only thing that matters, which again is the opposite of rec. [b]

It drives me crazy that there is taxpayer funding for this.

This is the WCAC. It's ridiculous. There is only 1 or 2 teams--and yeah--the are the larger schools competing against tiny schools....and the co-ed schools have even less 'males' available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But what about Glenelg?

Genuine question...is anyone actually scouted through high school soccer? Are there even talented players only doing high school soccer and not club as well?

Teh most talented kids do not play HS - they dont want to get hurt by some field hockey kid from another team trying outside back for the first time.

This is absolutely not true. I would bet 90+% of ECNL boys play and 75% of MLS Next kids. Some DC United players risk repercussions and play against their coaches instructions. They all LOVE playing HS.

Calling BS on this

I don’t know if they LOVE it. But being Varsity Captain, MVP, all Met, all state, maybe even Gatorade player of the year etc is very impressive to college coaches. High school is the only path to those accolades.

Not anymore. Former Gatorade player. It just isn't a big deal now with MLS Next. We know Gatorade, al Met, etc. that got zero offers. It doesn't even matter for regular application-- colleges don't care if your accolades are for Club or for HS. They don't care if you played HS vs Club for admissions. Parents really don't know today's landscape. Many find out the hard way. The kid would have been better off priortizing academics and choosing one or the other 'club or HS'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more I look at how high schools handle their programs, the more I feel like I’m seeing recreational soccer for teens.

The problem is that the quality of play is usually like rec, but the schools *handle their programs like it was the most important athletic event in the world. In the large public schools in Moco at least, it is pretty hard to get on the team. You have to go to the "optional" summer games and somehow make a name for yourself with the coach before tryouts, and then you can still get cut if you have a bad time at tryouts. They load up the squads with over 20 players and then most the kids just sit and watch all the time. There is no emphasis on participation even though the whole idea is that this is just a fun activity you can do to represent your school.

The time commitment is MUCH larger than for high-level club during the season. It's not unusual for HS athletes to have to devote 15-20 hours a week to the team when you factor in travel, required team activities, etc. Players are often punished for missing team events, regardless of the reason. It ends up discouraging a lot of kids from doing soccer at all, which is the opposite of the rec mindset.

And somehow with a few small exceptions, the level of play is still awful and high-level players actually get worse during the season because the coaching is so bad. A lot of the big schools do have many players with high-level travel experience, but in most cases they end up playing down to the level of their competition.

The organization, at least in Maryland, is ridiculous. You have some schools that go undefeated or have great records because they only play against smaller, disadvantaged schools and never challenge themselves. They get a free pass to the state tournament. And they get rewarded with high seeds based on their win ratio - so winning is the only thing that matters, which again is the opposite of rec.

It drives me crazy that there is taxpayer funding for this.

Haha in CA club soccer is 15-20 hours a week year round and top players also do private lessons. Futsal, Mexican leagues, etc on top of that.

Thise private school idiots are out of their minds.

Club Soccer is a disease

The difficult thing about private school people is that theyre arrogant, entitled and generally clueless. They have no idea what it takes to play at the highest levels but for some reason feel they should be included in the discussion.

Your money and held back kids won't open doors in competitive soccer.

I take offense--lol. My kids are private, but only play MLSNext and adult league--not HS. The politics at the private HS was off-the charts and it was like 'sorority rush'. Really douchey.

[Anonymous]

It’s like this at our public too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But what about Glenelg?

Genuine question...is anyone actually scouted through high school soccer? Are there even talented players only doing high school soccer and not club as well?

Teh most talented kids do not play HS - they dont want to get hurt by some field hockey kid from another team trying outside back for the first time.

This is absolutely not true. I would bet 90+% of ECNL boys play and 75% of MLS Next kids. Some DC United players risk repercussions and play against their coaches instructions. They all LOVE playing HS.

Calling BS on this

I don’t know if they LOVE it. But being Varsity Captain, MVP, all Met, all state, maybe even Gatorade player of the year etc is very impressive to college coaches. High school is the only path to those accolades.

LOL. College coaches don't care one bit about HS accolades.

+1 This was stressed at every ID camp and by every college coach my kids talked to. They truly don't care about HS. The good coaches are very transparent about this. I have boys--not sure about the girls since they are ECNL not MLSnext.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But what about Glenelg?

Genuine question...is anyone actually scouted through high school soccer? Are there even talented players only doing high school soccer and not club as well?

Teh most talented kids do not play HS - they dont want to get hurt by some field hockey kid from another team trying outside back for the first time.

This is absolutely not true. I would bet 90+% of ECNL boys play and 75% of MLS Next kids. Some DC United players risk repercussions and play against their coaches instructions. They all LOVE playing HS.

Calling BS on this

I don’t know if they LOVE it. But being Varsity Captain, MVP, all Met, all state, maybe even Gatorade player of the year etc is very impressive to college coaches. High school is the only path to those accolades.

Add a state championship to this list and you have not just a D1 player, but P4.

Nope. I call BS. I know a few players with Gatorade POY to their names and state champs etc. If you didn't get seen in club - you will not be P4. Not if HS is your only experience.

Correct. You need both.

You only need club soccer.

HS BS doesn't matter.

But the recruiting forms ask for the HS Coach.

My kid left it blank. He’s playing D1. They are recruiting at showcases - nobody cares about some form that thousands of kids fill out anyway. It’s there because some kids will only have HS. It doesn’t mean they care.