Multiple Paths to Individual Excellence

[Anonymous]

Quality feedback requires the assessor to not only be able to see the details, good and bad of the player's current skillset, but also be able to explain it so the parents and player can understand.
Then the feedback should be accompanied with tangible clear improvement options.

Just critiquing and saying 'x' is bad is of no value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The obsession with so many to follow the brightly colored popular path kills the chances of so many kids to reach their full potential.

As we enter the tryouts season, so many suffering from FOMO are following their kid's teammates to change clubs, just because.
They do little or no research to see if its actually a better situation for their kid.

One of the myths people blindly follow is the one that, if your kid is the best player on the team, you must leave and go elsewhere.
Then they take a kid who's playing multiple positions, playing all game and working hard to make up for others shortcomings and move them to being a substitute left-back on a strong team.

Pros, semi-pros, colleges and Sunday leagues are populated with players from multiple individual paths. So obviously one size doesn't fit all.

The challenge is, if your kid is clearly the best player on the team, are they improving at the trajectory they can without like peers? Is there speed of play and field vision keeping up?

One thing I always wonder what makes a parent think there kid is the best on a team. Sometimes I think the kids that score all the goals do not make them the best. I prefer seeing what lead to the goal vs the goal itself. Does just being in front of the goal for a layup make you the best? What about the people who moved the ball to get that player into position to score. I've seen people move teams and score zero goals.

Score goals, get the glory. Watch ID sessions--a crap player that is sitting in front of goal and scores gets all kinds of check marks and positive ratings.

I know the point of the game is to score--duh. But a lot of these players have absolutely zero touch or iq and couldn't replicate it in a game anyways.

Sad part is the parent sees thisbe truly believes their child is the best player which hurts the kid in the long run. These same kids will have to do a 1 v1 or 1 v 2 and joke all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The obsession with so many to follow the brightly colored popular path kills the chances of so many kids to reach their full potential.

As we enter the tryouts season, so many suffering from FOMO are following their kid's teammates to change clubs, just because.
They do little or no research to see if its actually a better situation for their kid.

One of the myths people blindly follow is the one that, if your kid is the best player on the team, you must leave and go elsewhere.
Then they take a kid who's playing multiple positions, playing all game and working hard to make up for others shortcomings and move them to being a substitute left-back on a strong team.

Pros, semi-pros, colleges and Sunday leagues are populated with players from multiple individual paths. So obviously one size doesn't fit all.

The challenge is, if your kid is clearly the best player on the team, are they improving at the trajectory they can without like peers? Is there speed of play and field vision keeping up?

One thing I always wonder what makes a parent think there kid is the best on a team. Sometimes I think the kids that score all the goals do not make them the best. I prefer seeing what lead to the goal vs the goal itself. Does just being in front of the goal for a layup make you the best? What about the people who moved the ball to get that player into position to score. I've seen people move teams and score zero goals.

Score goals, get the glory. Watch ID sessions--a crap player that is sitting in front of goal and scores gets all kinds of check marks and positive ratings.

I know the point of the game is to score--duh. But a lot of these players have absolutely zero touch or iq and couldn't replicate it in a game anyways.

Well, if you're trying to join a proper team with knowledgeable good coaches, you don't have to worry about what wrongs kids are doing that their parents think is wonderful.
The good coach can see clearly who's doing what.

People are at games cheering because a kid who can't control the ball or beat an opponent 1v1 or make a proper pass just booted it upfield 90ft in the air.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The obsession with so many to follow the brightly colored popular path kills the chances of so many kids to reach their full potential.

As we enter the tryouts season, so many suffering from FOMO are following their kid's teammates to change clubs, just because.
They do little or no research to see if its actually a better situation for their kid.

One of the myths people blindly follow is the one that, if your kid is the best player on the team, you must leave and go elsewhere.
Then they take a kid who's playing multiple positions, playing all game and working hard to make up for others shortcomings and move them to being a substitute left-back on a strong team.

Pros, semi-pros, colleges and Sunday leagues are populated with players from multiple individual paths. So obviously one size doesn't fit all.

The challenge is, if your kid is clearly the best player on the team, are they improving at the trajectory they can without like peers? Is there speed of play and field vision keeping up?

One thing I always wonder what makes a parent think there kid is the best on a team. Sometimes I think the kids that score all the goals do not make them the best. I prefer seeing what lead to the goal vs the goal itself. Does just being in front of the goal for a layup make you the best? What about the people who moved the ball to get that player into position to score. I've seen people move teams and score zero goals.

Score goals, get the glory. Watch ID sessions--a crap player that is sitting in front of goal and scores gets all kinds of check marks and positive ratings.

I know the point of the game is to score--duh. But a lot of these players have absolutely zero touch or iq and couldn't replicate it in a game anyways.

Well, if you're trying to join a proper team with knowledgeable good coaches, you don't have to worry about what wrongs kids are doing that their parents think is wonderful.
The good coach can see clearly who's doing what.

People are at games cheering because a kid who can't control the ball or beat an opponent 1v1 or make a proper pass just booted it upfield 90ft in the air.

“knowledgeable coaches” where? What a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The obsession with so many to follow the brightly colored popular path kills the chances of so many kids to reach their full potential.

As we enter the tryouts season, so many suffering from FOMO are following their kid's teammates to change clubs, just because.
They do little or no research to see if its actually a better situation for their kid.

One of the myths people blindly follow is the one that, if your kid is the best player on the team, you must leave and go elsewhere.
Then they take a kid who's playing multiple positions, playing all game and working hard to make up for others shortcomings and move them to being a substitute left-back on a strong team.

Pros, semi-pros, colleges and Sunday leagues are populated with players from multiple individual paths. So obviously one size doesn't fit all.

The challenge is, if your kid is clearly the best player on the team, are they improving at the trajectory they can without like peers? Is there speed of play and field vision keeping up?

One thing I always wonder what makes a parent think there kid is the best on a team. Sometimes I think the kids that score all the goals do not make them the best. I prefer seeing what lead to the goal vs the goal itself. Does just being in front of the goal for a layup make you the best? What about the people who moved the ball to get that player into position to score. I've seen people move teams and score zero goals.

Score goals, get the glory. Watch ID sessions--a crap player that is sitting in front of goal and scores gets all kinds of check marks and positive ratings.

I know the point of the game is to score--duh. But a lot of these players have absolutely zero touch or iq and couldn't replicate it in a game anyways.

Well, if you're trying to join a proper team with knowledgeable good coaches, you don't have to worry about what wrongs kids are doing that their parents think is wonderful.
The good coach can see clearly who's doing what.

People are at games cheering because a kid who can't control the ball or beat an opponent 1v1 or make a proper pass just booted it upfield 90ft in the air.

“knowledgeable coaches” where? What a joke.

ask the knowledgeable parents, they seem to be able to find them, because they know what to look for versus following hype and name brand

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem with being honest for these companies around here is that, honesty = potentially losing customers, and that affects their bottom line.

Glad some people take the initiative and do some self-evaluation and research rather than play into the system.

I see this concept glibly mentioned a lot on this board - the idea that clubs will “lose customers”, but from our children’s experience in the Arlington system, there’s never a shortage of bodies willing to play (and pay). I am sure there are parents who are good at working the system, but from what we have seen parents have little to no power, because there’s 50 kids right behind yours game to take the spot.

In younger age groups, Arlington goes six teams deep, and from the tryouts it appears there are dozens of kids who don’t even make that 6th place team.

My assumption is that Loudoun and Bethesda are much the same, but that MYS/Union didn’t quite develop that kind of depth. Are there other clubs that are just behemoths in terms of size? Because I don’t think the majority of parents at Arlington feel like they are in the driver’s seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with being honest for these companies around here is that, honesty = potentially losing customers, and that affects their bottom line.

Glad some people take the initiative and do some self-evaluation and research rather than play into the system.

I see this concept glibly mentioned a lot on this board - the idea that clubs will “lose customers”, but from our children’s experience in the Arlington system, there’s never a shortage of bodies willing to play (and pay). I am sure there are parents who are good at working the system, but from what we have seen parents have little to no power, because there’s 50 kids right behind yours game to take the spot.

In younger age groups, Arlington goes six teams deep, and from the tryouts it appears there are dozens of kids who don’t even make that 6th place team.

My assumption is that Loudoun and Bethesda are much the same, but that MYS/Union didn’t quite develop that kind of depth. Are there other clubs that are just behemoths in terms of size? Because I don’t think the majority of parents at Arlington feel like they are in the driver’s seat.

Wealthy areas are immune to a LOT. Enough money to pay just because they can and quite frankly don't care about anything other than their kid is on a team like their peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP this is really useful, esp the 4 areas of assessment. I'd like our kid to take it easy another year, but they are fed up with teammates who don't care enough to put in harder work, more time commitment, etc. In the end, I see an internal drive and ambition and think that's a good reason to look for a different opportunity.

PP here. I certainly also wouldn't want your kid to get bored/ frustrated. That often results in bringing a quality player down. I think it's difficult to find the right team for some players. I am in that boat also, my kid is bored/ frustrated and it shows in a lack of motivation. The coach recommend to move my kid up this spring season, but that didn't happen. So we're stuck making the best out of a less than ideal situation. In the mean time this year, we supplement team practice with clinics. Then, the next step for us will be to attend a few practices with better teams to look for the right fit before tryouts come around in April/ May. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

The challenge is, if your kid is clearly the best player on the team, are they improving at the trajectory they can without like peers? Is there speed of play and field vision keeping up?

One thing I always wonder what makes a parent think there kid is the best on a team. Sometimes I think the kids that score all the goals do not make them the best. I prefer seeing what lead to the goal vs the goal itself. Does just being in front of the goal for a layup make you the best? What about the people who moved the ball to get that player into position to score. I've seen people move teams and score zero goals.

This happened to us. Coach left my kid as striker, she scored a lot of goals. Now all my kid wants to do is hang out up top and poach goals. Have to convince her to practice/ play midfield now just to round out her skills. The Coach won't put her in other positions in games. It definitely hurts her growth as player.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The obsession with so many to follow the brightly colored popular path kills the chances of so many kids to reach their full potential.

As we enter the tryouts season, so many suffering from FOMO are following their kid's teammates to change clubs, just because.
They do little or no research to see if its actually a better situation for their kid.

One of the myths people blindly follow is the one that, if your kid is the best player on the team, you must leave and go elsewhere.
Then they take a kid who's playing multiple positions, playing all game and working hard to make up for others shortcomings and move them to being a substitute left-back on a strong team.

Pros, semi-pros, colleges and Sunday leagues are populated with players from multiple individual paths. So obviously one size doesn't fit all.

The challenge is, if your kid is clearly the best player on the team, are they improving at the trajectory they can without like peers? Is there speed of play and field vision keeping up?

Ding, ding, ding.