Private School Soccer Thread

[Anonymous]

Minor league for the colleges, not minor league in caliber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Academy soccer really worth it? Seems to deprive the kids of the high school team sports experience which is sad for both player and school.

It was designed to help the US produce 2-3 players per birth year with World Cup talent. In the meantime, it has decimated high school soccer; tilted the playing fields towards those who can pay and/or have easy transportation; and basically is just a minor league system for college coaches to recruit from.

My kids have done development soccer... it is just much better 'soccer' training than what's still coached in US high schools... (I played back in the day (& I was 'recruited' back then) & it's almost like it's a different sport.) It's an elite program, but calling it 'minor league' is a little over the top. But if your kid is top caliber, wants to be challenged & learn the sport at a higher level &/or might want to play at college (even many of the SLACs), it's 'worth' it. It's not that different than with swimming where the top swimmers really train and compete on club teams & the HS teams are more supplemental or for fun (the difference is the kids can compete at both). It is a bummer for the kids and the HS's not to have as strong teams & the top kids not playing, many of whom would like to ... the rationale is they don't just don't get as good training, they get 'bad' training and/or could get hurt from over competing (which is also more enlightened than back in our day where people pushed til injuries).

It is good soccer training. But it has made boys' soccer in the high schools effectively irrelevant. This is too bad in some ways -- Academy soccer still skews very white and affluent overall, for example, but it is more on the European model and that is where we are. Side effect: don't expect a skilled soccer player to get an admissions boost in applying for HS to a private school since the child probably cannot play for the school anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's talk about which private schools in the area have the best soccer programs. Is any program in striking distance of DeMatha?

The scheduled game between Dematha and St Albans was rained out. Hoping it gets rescheduled. Dematha would win, but St Albans would make it close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St Albans has had a strong soccer team for many years running. But with the departure of the head soccer coach who also happened to be the Admissions Director (yes, a symbiotic relationship) last year, the team is already much less dominant than it has been. Still a winning program, but with teams like Landon nipping at their heels, or paws as it were:

Congrats to St Albans for finishing first in the IAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Albans has had a strong soccer team for many years running. But with the departure of the head soccer coach who also happened to be the Admissions Director (yes, a symbiotic relationship) last year, the team is already much less dominant than it has been. Still a winning program, but with teams like Landon nipping at their heels, or paws as it were:

Congrats to St Albans for finishing first in the IAC.

Yes, St. Albans wrapped up the regular season championship. (If you win the regular season you get a "banner" for a league championship, but if there is a different winner of the post-season IAC tournament that team is considered a co-champion.) Landon had the inside track with a week left in the season, with only one loss against one loss and one tie for St. Albans, but then Landon lost a second game and STA closed out the regular season with wins. Landon still has a shot at the co-championship.

[Anonymous]

How is Flint Hill in girls soccer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is Flint Hill in girls soccer?

Generally pretty good, depending on the year. Eg, Good Counsel has been superb over the past several year (nationally ranked). This year not as good because of several key players. Same thing happened to NCS 2 yrs ago. The teams with the most high level travel team players are usually the best HS teams. The highest level girls travel team is called the ECNL and this league is where most of the college recruiting is done. Some is done at other non-ECNL travel teams and none is done on the HS level. The ECNL has and is still contemplating not allowing their players play HS soccer, like the Development Academy on the boys side. The girls really like playing with their friends on their HS teams so probably will be a tough sell. But a number of college coaches told my daughter that they dislike their recruits playing on HS teams (they cite high injury factor and poor training) and really discouraged her from doing so. She ended up still playing for her HS team and enjoyed it very much. She did not get injured, but a number of girls did get knee injuries or concussions. For a variety of reasons, these injuries are higher for girl soccer players than other sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is Flint Hill in girls soccer?

Generally pretty good, depending on the year. Eg, Good Counsel has been superb over the past several year (nationally ranked). This year not as good because of several key players. Same thing happened to NCS 2 yrs ago. The teams with the most high level travel team players are usually the best HS teams. The highest level girls travel team is called the ECNL and this league is where most of the college recruiting is done. Some is done at other non-ECNL travel teams and none is done on the HS level. The ECNL has and is still contemplating not allowing their players play HS soccer, like the Development Academy on the boys side. The girls really like playing with their friends on their HS teams so probably will be a tough sell. But a number of college coaches told my daughter that they dislike their recruits playing on HS teams (they cite high injury factor and poor training) and really discouraged her from doing so. She ended up still playing for her HS team and enjoyed it very much. She did not get injured, but a number of girls did get knee injuries or concussions. For a variety of reasons, these injuries are higher for girl soccer players than other sports.

Interesting to hear what you have to say about ECNL perhaps banning players from playing for the high school team. I actually do NOT think it will be a tough sell -- in my experience, the college or club system can really influence what girls do (fear of displeasing authority figures, etc.). It is too bad because there are great social/emotional advantages to girls playing for a school team. They'll still get the confidence from playing a sport, but too bad they won't get the experience of being on a team with classmates. Giving up fun and bonding today to please possible college coaches tomorrow. Sigh. High school sports was also an equalizer in terms of family resources, whereas the club circuit is SO expensive and not particularly diverse.

[Anonymous]

Most boring subject ever: parents talking about their kid's performance in some rando weekend club soccer tournament. Worse than grown men describing their recent golf game stroke by stroke.

Hope your kid play soccer in college, if so I will be happy to listen to stories about the college team. In the meantime, do you have any kids that are artistic? Have the kids read any good books lately?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Albans has had a strong soccer team for many years running. But with the departure of the head soccer coach who also happened to be the Admissions Director (yes, a symbiotic relationship) last year, the team is already much less dominant than it has been. Still a winning program, but with teams like Landon nipping at their heels, or paws as it were:

Congrats to St Albans for finishing first in the IAC.

Yes, St. Albans wrapped up the regular season championship. (If you win the regular season you get a "banner" for a league championship, but if there is a different winner of the post-season IAC tournament that team is considered a co-champion.) Landon had the inside track with a week left in the season, with only one loss against one loss and one tie for St. Albans, but then Landon lost a second game and STA closed out the regular season with wins. Landon still has a shot at the co-championship.

Glad to see Landon is challenging St Albans in soccer. There is a healthy rivalry between those two schools. Unfortunately, STA's strong sports don't necessarily line up with Landon's (despite a few STA dreamers who think lacrosse parity is not too far away). So it's great that soccer is so strong at both schools. Can't wait for the IAC tournament!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Albans has had a strong soccer team for many years running. But with the departure of the head soccer coach who also happened to be the Admissions Director (yes, a symbiotic relationship) last year, the team is already much less dominant than it has been. Still a winning program, but with teams like Landon nipping at their heels, or paws as it were:

Congrats to St Albans for finishing first in the IAC.

Yes, St. Albans wrapped up the regular season championship. (If you win the regular season you get a "banner" for a league championship, but if there is a different winner of the post-season IAC tournament that team is considered a co-champion.) Landon had the inside track with a week left in the season, with only one loss against one loss and one tie for St. Albans, but then Landon lost a second game and STA closed out the regular season with wins. Landon still has a shot at the co-championship.

Glad to see Landon is challenging St Albans in soccer. There is a healthy rivalry between those two schools. Unfortunately, STA's strong sports don't necessarily line up with Landon's (despite a few STA dreamers who think lacrosse parity is not too far away). So it's great that soccer is so strong at both schools. Can't wait for the IAC tournament!

There are often upsets in the IAC tournament. Both STA and Landon will need not to overlook earlier opponents in anticipation of a rematch. SSSAS pulled off an upset win against Landon and tied STA in one of their games, so they could be a factor. Episcopal often seems to get better as the season goes on also. Always a fun end to the season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most boring subject ever: parents talking about their kid's performance in some rando weekend club soccer tournament. Worse than grown men describing their recent golf game stroke by stroke.

Hope your kid play soccer in college, if so I will be happy to listen to stories about the college team. In the meantime, do you have any kids that are artistic? Have the kids read any good books lately?

There are plenty of athletes who are artistic and literate. They are not mutually exclusive qualities. IMO, I think sports and arts are both essential and apparently many other parents think so as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most boring subject ever: parents talking about their kid's performance in some rando weekend club soccer tournament. Worse than grown men describing their recent golf game stroke by stroke.

Hope your kid play soccer in college, if so I will be happy to listen to stories about the college team. In the meantime, do you have any kids that are artistic? Have the kids read any good books lately?

There are plenty of athletes who are artistic and literate. They are not mutually exclusive qualities. IMO, I think sports and arts are both essential and apparently many other parents think so as well.

Good. If your club soccer-playing kid is active in the arts please FOR THE LOVE OF GOD only talk about their artistic accomplishments.

A non-exclusive list of topics I prefer to listen to rather than hearing parents drone on about their child's club soccer team:

1. Progress of their home renovations;
2. Their recent dental work;
3. Their successes or challenges at house-training the new pet;
4. Their new hot yoga class (if female) or cross-fit class (if male);
5. Their theories on why their IT band is hurting;
6. Their views on the proposed new development in their neighborhood;
7. Their brilliant acquisition of a new purse at a bargain price;
8. How having their golf clubs re-gripped has worked out for them;
9. Their views on how much homework is appropriate for their child* (*only if club soccer tournaments are not mentioned as a reason child is anxious about work).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most boring subject ever: parents talking about their kid's performance in some rando weekend club soccer tournament. Worse than grown men describing their recent golf game stroke by stroke.

Hope your kid play soccer in college, if so I will be happy to listen to stories about the college team. In the meantime, do you have any kids that are artistic? Have the kids read any good books lately?

There are plenty of athletes who are artistic and literate. They are not mutually exclusive qualities. IMO, I think sports and arts are both essential and apparently many other parents think so as well.

Good. If your club soccer-playing kid is active in the arts please FOR THE LOVE OF GOD only talk about their artistic accomplishments.

A non-exclusive list of topics I prefer to listen to rather than hearing parents drone on about their child's club soccer team:

1. Progress of their home renovations;
2. Their recent dental work;
3. Their successes or challenges at house-training the new pet;
4. Their new hot yoga class (if female) or cross-fit class (if male);
5. Their theories on why their IT band is hurting;
6. Their views on the proposed new development in their neighborhood;
7. Their brilliant acquisition of a new purse at a bargain price;
8. How having their golf clubs re-gripped has worked out for them;
9. Their views on how much homework is appropriate for their child* (*only if club soccer tournaments are not mentioned as a reason child is anxious about work).

If you are going to pile on the snark to mask your insecurities, at least be more clever about it. Fact is, sports success portends life success. Wrap up that sports success over academic, artistic and other success and you have a real leader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most boring subject ever: parents talking about their kid's performance in some rando weekend club soccer tournament. Worse than grown men describing their recent golf game stroke by stroke.

Hope your kid play soccer in college, if so I will be happy to listen to stories about the college team. In the meantime, do you have any kids that are artistic? Have the kids read any good books lately?

There are plenty of athletes who are artistic and literate. They are not mutually exclusive qualities. IMO, I think sports and arts are both essential and apparently many other parents think so as well.

Good. If your club soccer-playing kid is active in the arts please FOR THE LOVE OF GOD only talk about their artistic accomplishments.

A non-exclusive list of topics I prefer to listen to rather than hearing parents drone on about their child's club soccer team:

1. Progress of their home renovations;
2. Their recent dental work;
3. Their successes or challenges at house-training the new pet;
4. Their new hot yoga class (if female) or cross-fit class (if male);
5. Their theories on why their IT band is hurting;
6. Their views on the proposed new development in their neighborhood;
7. Their brilliant acquisition of a new purse at a bargain price;
8. How having their golf clubs re-gripped has worked out for them;
9. Their views on how much homework is appropriate for their child* (*only if club soccer tournaments are not mentioned as a reason child is anxious about work).

If you are going to pile on the snark to mask your insecurities, at least be more clever about it. Fact is, sports success portends life success. Wrap up that sports success over academic, artistic and other success and you have a real leader.

In other words, your nerdy non-athletic kid will always be, well, nerdy. Maybe a doctor or a lawyer or otherwise reasonably successful one day. But still a nerd. You need the confidence, leadership and everything else that goes with athletic success to be a true leader in life.