Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss Part II

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the thought process for many coaches/clubs is that "you can't teach speed, strength, and size but you can teach technical skills". I think that's why, if there is any debate, most coaches will go with the bigger, stronger, faster kid. Someone mentioned potential earlier. Well big, strong, fast kids have potential to become very technical as well. I don't know. That's why I don't coach. I just sit on the sidelines and complain. : )

Yea some coaches have their priorities all mixed up. The first thing we look for are players who are naturally gifted with technical ability. We emphasize that our players are athletes and so we make sure that they're whipped into the best shape possible. You can improve the fitness of a technical player so that they perform to the best of their ability. The coaches that choose speed and size over technical ability are clueless, and they will not develop those players technically. They'll just exploit their athletic abilities, making their teams play a style that resembles glorified volleyball more than soccer, and those players will look mediocre when they reach a certain age when most players have caught up to them physically. Just my 2 cents.

Very well said.

[Anonymous]

https://www.theringer.com/2018/2/28/17046268/soccer-christian-pulisic-rob-moore-agent-usmnt-america

So when we say a few players should go to Europe, we're not talking about a local club's first team or the DA team. It truly is a minute portion of the US player pool that can make it in Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the thought process for many coaches/clubs is that "you can't teach speed, strength, and size but you can teach technical skills". I think that's why, if there is any debate, most coaches will go with the bigger, stronger, faster kid. Someone mentioned potential earlier. Well big, strong, fast kids have potential to become very technical as well. I don't know. That's why I don't coach. I just sit on the sidelines and complain. : )

Yea some coaches have their priorities all mixed up. The first thing we look for are players who are naturally gifted with technical ability. We emphasize that our players are athletes and so we make sure that they're whipped into the best shape possible. You can improve the fitness of a technical player so that they perform to the best of their ability. The coaches that choose speed and size over technical ability are clueless, and they will not develop those players technically. They'll just exploit their athletic abilities, making their teams play a style that resembles glorified volleyball more than soccer, and those players will look mediocre when they reach a certain age when most players have caught up to them physically. Just my 2 cents.

Interesting. How do you define "technical ability"? There seems to be a tendency for some coaches to equate that purely with localized ball control independent of game context. DS has a friend who can bend throughpasses, loft perfect diagonal balls, kick 50-meter goal kicks, yet he always plays on a low team. Doesn't go 1 v. 1 well at all, but for what he does he's incredible. He's a husky kid, btw. But what is technical ability from your POV? Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the thought process for many coaches/clubs is that "you can't teach speed, strength, and size but you can teach technical skills". I think that's why, if there is any debate, most coaches will go with the bigger, stronger, faster kid. Someone mentioned potential earlier. Well big, strong, fast kids have potential to become very technical as well. I don't know. That's why I don't coach. I just sit on the sidelines and complain. : )

Yea some coaches have their priorities all mixed up. The first thing we look for are players who are naturally gifted with technical ability. We emphasize that our players are athletes and so we make sure that they're whipped into the best shape possible. You can improve the fitness of a technical player so that they perform to the best of their ability. The coaches that choose speed and size over technical ability are clueless, and they will not develop those players technically. They'll just exploit their athletic abilities, making their teams play a style that resembles glorified volleyball more than soccer, and those players will look mediocre when they reach a certain age when most players have caught up to them physically. Just my 2 cents.

Interesting. How do you define "technical ability"? There seems to be a tendency for some coaches to equate that purely with localized ball control independent of game context. DS has a friend who can bend throughpasses, loft perfect diagonal balls, kick 50-meter goal kicks, yet he always plays on a low team. Doesn't go 1 v. 1 well at all, but for what he does he's incredible. He's a husky kid, btw. But what is technical ability from your POV? Thanks

I think it means a wide variety of things, all having to do with their relationship with the ball. A good first touch, the ability to take your man on 1v1 and beat them on the dribble, the ability to play and accurate pass and add the perfect weight to it. The ability to locate the ball in the air and attack it, be it bringing it down cleanly, hit it first-time or head it with power and precision. The most important thing is if they can do allot this under duress, and they also should be fit physically if they wish to play at a high level. When you're tired, you're prone to lapses in concentration and your technique gets sloppy. Making sure you're in great shape allows you to play at your best level for a longer duration of the game, taking advantage of an opponent who is starting to not be able to control the ball as cleanly and is too tired to defend as resolutely as when the game started. I'd say your friend definitely has potential if he can do all the things you say, but I would definitely encourage him to take his fitness seriously so he can truly express his best form, and impose his passing range on others. The reason why he might always tend to play on a lower team could very well be the ability to beat his man 1v1, as even if you're the most accomplished passer, you need to able to stay calm under pressure and find yourself the space where you can play those pinpoint balls. This is of course just my opinion as a coach and the way I see the game.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, autocorrect butchered a lot of words on my post.

[Anonymous]

I saw some 07 teams play at the ASIST this weekend...Arlington Red, Bethesda Pre-Academy, McLean Green, PWSI pre-NPL or something, and SAC White. I watched Arlington vs Bethesda and I thought it was interesting that neither team used their GK not even once to switch the field or to relieve pressure nor did I hear the coaches asking them to. Also, Both team had their CBs take the goal kicks and everyone else was up in the center circle waiting to fight for the big boot. No playing out from the back for either team. The Mclean Green vs PWSI game. Complete opposite. Both teams played out from the back and tried to build through the middle with short passes, etc. Looked like McLean tried to play the best soccer out of the bunch. I was just very surprised that Bethesda and Arlington are not teaching their 10 years olds to use their GK. Note my son does not play for any of these teams mentioned.

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering...if my son doesn't make the 1st or at least 2nd team of one the better clubs, I'm better off just pulling the plug and playing in SFL (aka inter club rec league). I know U12 is a little young to throw in the towel but when do others think it's time to throw in the towel of paying big travel costs? I don't see the point of playing on a club's 3rd or 4th team and paying the same amount as the 1st team? Any words of wisdom to keep me from throwing in the towel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm wondering...if my son doesn't make the 1st or at least 2nd team of one the better clubs, I'm better off just pulling the plug and playing in SFL (aka inter club rec league). I know U12 is a little young to throw in the towel but when do others think it's time to throw in the towel of paying big travel costs? I don't see the point of playing on a club's 3rd or 4th team and paying the same amount as the 1st team? Any words of wisdom to keep me from throwing in the towel?

Paying the same amount as the A team is generally not true. Some costs can't be avoided but by and large at very large clubs the 3rd and 4th teams pay less than their A team counterparts.

C and D teams also do not travel as far for tournaments so that cost is generally lower in regards to team fees.

Does any of this mean it is worth it? That's up to you but ask some A team parents what they pay in TOTAL and I think you will find they pay more overall.

There are also many small clubs that stick with NCSL or ODSL and can cost very little relatively speaking. Still more than rec but you can play travel for half the price than a big club A team if you look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw some 07 teams play at the ASIST this weekend...Arlington Red, Bethesda Pre-Academy, McLean Green, PWSI pre-NPL or something, and SAC White. I watched Arlington vs Bethesda and I thought it was interesting that neither team used their GK not even once to switch the field or to relieve pressure nor did I hear the coaches asking them to. Also, Both team had their CBs take the goal kicks and everyone else was up in the center circle waiting to fight for the big boot. No playing out from the back for either team. The Mclean Green vs PWSI game. Complete opposite. Both teams played out from the back and tried to build through the middle with short passes, etc. Looked like McLean tried to play the best soccer out of the bunch. I was just very surprised that Bethesda and Arlington are not teaching their 10 years olds to use their GK. Note my son does not play for any of these teams mentioned.

I am not exactly sure why this surprised you. They play exactly the way I have known them to play for over a decade.

[Anonymous]

If you don't think that physical and emotional maturation might change some things and recreational is enjoyable alternative then perhaps it's a good idea. But if your child is constantly working hard to improve outside of structured training, maybe it's helpful to continue or try out for another club. No one says you can't return to a club once left, but just talk to coach about your decision once you make it. If your child improves enough in out years, I'm pretty they'll not hold movement against you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't think that physical and emotional maturation might change some things and recreational is enjoyable alternative then perhaps it's a good idea. But if your child is constantly working hard to improve outside of structured training, maybe it's helpful to continue or try out for another club. No one says you can't return to a club once left, but just talk to coach about your decision once you make it. If your child improves enough in out years, I'm pretty they'll not hold movement against you.

Ha. I think you underestimate the pettiness of US travel soccer coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw some 07 teams play at the ASIST this weekend...Arlington Red, Bethesda Pre-Academy, McLean Green, PWSI pre-NPL or something, and SAC White. I watched Arlington vs Bethesda and I thought it was interesting that neither team used their GK not even once to switch the field or to relieve pressure nor did I hear the coaches asking them to. Also, Both team had their CBs take the goal kicks and everyone else was up in the center circle waiting to fight for the big boot. No playing out from the back for either team. The Mclean Green vs PWSI game. Complete opposite. Both teams played out from the back and tried to build through the middle with short passes, etc. Looked like McLean tried to play the best soccer out of the bunch. I was just very surprised that Bethesda and Arlington are not teaching their 10 years olds to use their GK. Note my son does not play for any of these teams mentioned.

I am not exactly sure why this surprised you. They play exactly the way I have known them to play for over a decade.

Arlington's 06 DA doesn't play this way. Weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw some 07 teams play at the ASIST this weekend...Arlington Red, Bethesda Pre-Academy, McLean Green, PWSI pre-NPL or something, and SAC White. I watched Arlington vs Bethesda and I thought it was interesting that neither team used their GK not even once to switch the field or to relieve pressure nor did I hear the coaches asking them to. Also, Both team had their CBs take the goal kicks and everyone else was up in the center circle waiting to fight for the big boot. No playing out from the back for either team. The Mclean Green vs PWSI game. Complete opposite. Both teams played out from the back and tried to build through the middle with short passes, etc. Looked like McLean tried to play the best soccer out of the bunch. I was just very surprised that Bethesda and Arlington are not teaching their 10 years olds to use their GK. Note my son does not play for any of these teams mentioned.

I am not exactly sure why this surprised you. They play exactly the way I have known them to play for over a decade.

Arlington's 06 DA doesn't play this way. Weird.

Arlington Red and Bethesda Pre-Academy I are both playing out of the back at earlier age levels (perhaps in part because of the buildout line and goalie restrictions). My sons are at a different club, so I do not know whether Arlington and Bethesda coaches are encouraging a different style of play systematically at older ages, but I really doubt it. Also, and contrary to stereotype, their top U9 teams are not the tallest or fastest we see in those age groups. But definitely among the most skilled. Perhaps that also changes as time goes on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw some 07 teams play at the ASIST this weekend...Arlington Red, Bethesda Pre-Academy, McLean Green, PWSI pre-NPL or something, and SAC White. I watched Arlington vs Bethesda and I thought it was interesting that neither team used their GK not even once to switch the field or to relieve pressure nor did I hear the coaches asking them to. Also, Both team had their CBs take the goal kicks and everyone else was up in the center circle waiting to fight for the big boot. No playing out from the back for either team. The Mclean Green vs PWSI game. Complete opposite. Both teams played out from the back and tried to build through the middle with short passes, etc. Looked like McLean tried to play the best soccer out of the bunch. I was just very surprised that Bethesda and Arlington are not teaching their 10 years olds to use their GK. Note my son does not play for any of these teams mentioned.

I am not exactly sure why this surprised you. They play exactly the way I have known them to play for over a decade.

Arlington's 06 DA doesn't play this way. Weird.

Arlington Red and Bethesda Pre-Academy I are both playing out of the back at earlier age levels (perhaps in part because of the buildout line and goalie restrictions). My sons are at a different club, so I do not know whether Arlington and Bethesda coaches are encouraging a different style of play systematically at older ages, but I really doubt it. Also, and contrary to stereotype, their top U9 teams are not the tallest or fastest we see in those age groups. But definitely among the most skilled. Perhaps that also changes as time goes on.

I don't know what the coach encourages but what I'm telling you is what I saw. In the U11 game (I'm not sure if this is considered the "older ages") between these two teams at the ASIST, neither team played their GK once and every goal kick was taken by a CB with everyone else up at or near the center circle. Just sayin'.

[Anonymous]

New Question. How much influence does the current travel coach have on selecting players for the next year's travel team that they will continue to coach? Is it truly a cattle call, everyone gets a chance? is it the next year's coach who selects which players they want and has already seen them all year? Or is it a neutral coach/coaches (not the next year's coach) that objectively selects the players ?