JV Soccer Coach Playing Varsity Players Not His JV Roster

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As I said, you're in way too much of a hurry. The odds are overwhelming that he's not going to play "at a high level." So it might behoove him to embrace other things about the sport, including the social aspect. Also, there's some value is learning humility and accepting that you have to pay your dues as a freshman on a school team.

Unless of course you are related to someone or your parents are big donors. lol

He loves those odds, we’re not delusional about it. He has the height, physique, strength, endurance, game instinct, reaction time, natural leadership and heart to become to an exceptional Goalkeeper. He has lots of work to do between here and there but that’s his dream. I’m honored to be along for the ride and will do everything I can as a parent to support him. No, we are not related and not a donor so he’ll have to make it based on merit or not at all. That’s the only way he would want it anyway is if he knew he earned it.

He's already in high school. If he's playing MLS next, he has a very very good chance of playing at some level in college. If he's playing ECNL, he has a good chance. At any other level, he has almost no chance.

Most of the players on our high school soccer teams do not play in either league. The kids that do usually phase out of HS soccer after Sophomore year because it becomes incompatible from a time and developmental standpoint. My older one plays MLSnext and every college coach told him that HS soccer does not matter. They won't come to HS games and the game tapes can't be from HS to be considered. They want to see game film from ECNL/MLSNext level games. Right now, the kids on the bench are the ECNL and MLSNext starters ironically. I just don't think it's compatible with HS soccer.

That's the point. The kid should know what his chances are of playing in college based on his club team.[/b] Working hard to start in high school is meaningless. [b]Working hard and imporving in general is meaningless if he doesn't play for a team that gets scouted .

It's meaningless because high school coaches aren't looking and selecting for the same qualities a high level MLSNext/ECNL coach would. It's like a different sport, HS vs Elite club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As I said, you're in way too much of a hurry. The odds are overwhelming that he's not going to play "at a high level." So it might behoove him to embrace other things about the sport, including the social aspect. Also, there's some value is learning humility and accepting that you have to pay your dues as a freshman on a school team.

Unless of course you are related to someone or your parents are big donors. lol

He loves those odds, we’re not delusional about it. He has the height, physique, strength, endurance, game instinct, reaction time, natural leadership and heart to become to an exceptional Goalkeeper. He has lots of work to do between here and there but that’s his dream. I’m honored to be along for the ride and will do everything I can as a parent to support him. No, we are not related and not a donor so he’ll have to make it based on merit or not at all. That’s the only way he would want it anyway is if he knew he earned it.

He's already in high school. If he's playing MLS next, he has a very very good chance of playing at some level in college. If he's playing ECNL, he has a good chance. At any other level, he has almost no chance.

Most of the players on our high school soccer teams do not play in either league. The kids that do usually phase out of HS soccer after Sophomore year because it becomes incompatible from a time and developmental standpoint. My older one plays MLSnext and every college coach told him that HS soccer does not matter. They won't come to HS games and the game tapes can't be from HS to be considered. They want to see game film from ECNL/MLSNext level games. Right now, the kids on the bench are the ECNL and MLSNext starters ironically. I just don't think it's compatible with HS soccer.

That's the point. The kid should know what his chances are of playing in college based on his club team. Working hard to start in high school is meaningless. Working hard and imporving in general is meaningless if he doesn't play for a team that gets scouted .

It's meaningless because high school coaches aren't looking and selecting for the same qualities a high level MLSNext/ECNL coach would. It's like a different sport, HS vs Elite club.

+1

[Anonymous]

Wow this forum rocks! The feedback, others personal experiences, comments and suggestions have been awesome. He will see how things play out, maybe things change for the better and if not, still a good learning experience that hopefully will motivate him even more to follow his dreams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Child got to play soccer wit friends instead of a boring tour trip with mom.

Yeah, unless they are a legit shot to play Div I they are better off playing on a HS team with friends instead of a travel team that no one will ever care about except the travel coach.

They don't have friends on the travel team?

Our HS team is like a sorority rush. Yes- it is very much a cliquey thing with the coaches too. It's disturbing. There are some boys that really relish in just this aspect and that's fine. It seems like the ones that live, eat and breath the sport prefer to be in an environment that is competitive and merit-based with future potential to support them in the future. Some kids don't have it in them to constantly suck up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As I said, you're in way too much of a hurry. The odds are overwhelming that he's not going to play "at a high level." So it might behoove him to embrace other things about the sport, including the social aspect. Also, there's some value is learning humility and accepting that you have to pay your dues as a freshman on a school team.

Unless of course you are related to someone or your parents are big donors. lol

He loves those odds, we’re not delusional about it. He has the height, physique, strength, endurance, game instinct, reaction time, natural leadership and heart to become to an exceptional Goalkeeper. He has lots of work to do between here and there but that’s his dream. I’m honored to be along for the ride and will do everything I can as a parent to support him. No, we are not related and not a donor so he’ll have to make it based on merit or not at all. That’s the only way he would want it anyway is if he knew he earned it.

He's already in high school. If he's playing MLS next, he has a very very good chance of playing at some level in college. If he's playing ECNL, he has a good chance. At any other level, he has almost no chance.

Most of the players on our high school soccer teams do not play in either league. The kids that do usually phase out of HS soccer after Sophomore year because it becomes incompatible from a time and developmental standpoint. My older one plays MLSnext and every college coach told him that HS soccer does not matter. They won't come to HS games and the game tapes can't be from HS to be considered. They want to see game film from ECNL/MLSNext level games. Right now, the kids on the bench are the ECNL and MLSNext starters ironically. I just don't think it's compatible with HS soccer.

That's the point. The kid should know what his chances are of playing in college based on his club team. Working hard to start in high school is meaningless. Working hard and imporving in general is meaningless if he doesn't play for a team that gets scouted .

It's meaningless because high school coaches aren't looking and selecting for the same qualities a high level MLSNext/ECNL coach would. It's like a different sport, HS vs Elite club.

+1

This was the conversation in our house. What could you do to change the situation? Pretty much nothing since the skill and goals did not align with the HS team/coaches and it was only getting in the way of the club team and academics. We saw our kid move onto a new MLSNext team and work his way into the starting line up within a few short weeks. This would never happen at the HS because the coaches don't look for the same things and the skill and style of the players around them were not suited for a more skilled style of play. The soccer IQ and first touch was not there for the majority of the HS players so the coaches have to just use 'bully through tactics' and long shots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As I said, you're in way too much of a hurry. The odds are overwhelming that he's not going to play "at a high level." So it might behoove him to embrace other things about the sport, including the social aspect. Also, there's some value is learning humility and accepting that you have to pay your dues as a freshman on a school team.

Unless of course you are related to someone or your parents are big donors. lol

He loves those odds, we’re not delusional about it. He has the height, physique, strength, endurance, game instinct, reaction time, natural leadership and heart to become to an exceptional Goalkeeper. He has lots of work to do between here and there but that’s his dream. I’m honored to be along for the ride and will do everything I can as a parent to support him. No, we are not related and not a donor so he’ll have to make it based on merit or not at all. That’s the only way he would want it anyway is if he knew he earned it.

He's already in high school. If he's playing MLS next, he has a very very good chance of playing at some level in college. If he's playing ECNL, he has a good chance. At any other level, he has almost no chance.

Most of the players on our high school soccer teams do not play in either league. The kids that do usually phase out of HS soccer after Sophomore year because it becomes incompatible from a time and developmental standpoint. My older one plays MLSnext and every college coach told him that HS soccer does not matter. They won't come to HS games and the game tapes can't be from HS to be considered. They want to see game film from ECNL/MLSNext level games. Right now, the kids on the bench are the ECNL and MLSNext starters ironically. I just don't think it's compatible with HS soccer.

That's the point. The kid should know what his chances are of playing in college based on his club team. Working hard to start in high school is meaningless. Working hard and imporving in general is meaningless if he doesn't play for a team that gets scouted .

It's meaningless because high school coaches aren't looking and selecting for the same qualities a high level MLSNext/ECNL coach would. It's like a different sport, HS vs Elite club.

+1

This was the conversation in our house. What could you do to change the situation? Pretty much nothing since the skill and goals did not align with the HS team/coaches and it was only getting in the way of the club team and academics. We saw our kid move onto a new MLSNext team and work his way into the starting line up within a few short weeks. This would never happen at the HS because the coaches don't look for the same things and the skill and style of the players around them were not suited for a more skilled style of play. The soccer IQ and first touch was not there for the majority of the HS players so the coaches have to just use 'bully through tactics' and long shots.

^ btw, which would not work at all in MLSNext

[Anonymous]

The problem is that most kids want to play HS, so if your kid doesn't play HS, there's noone at club practice except a few stragglers that might not have HS practice that day....so you kind of have to do HS and just deal with the crap. Of course MLS Next kids can't play HS. Some teams don't let the players play HS (I think I heard some VDA teams didn't allow some of the teams to play HS), but in general, just about all the kids play HS, so you are stuck. Of course, you can train on your own.

[Anonymous]

How does a coach justify four keepers? That is insane and in what situation would three be down and they would have to rely on the 4th.
My son was a keeper on his JV team last year. He got 8 minutes of playing time the whole year. It was ludicrous. He switched to a field position this year and is starting.
HS coaches are a waste and they typically have no idea how to coach the goal keeper position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that most kids want to play HS, so if your kid doesn't play HS, there's noone at club practice except a few stragglers that might not have HS practice that day....so you kind of have to do HS and just deal with the crap. Of course MLS Next kids can't play HS. Some teams don't let the players play HS (I think I heard some VDA teams didn't allow some of the teams to play HS), but in general, just about all the kids play HS, so you are stuck. Of course, you can train on your own.

Not true. A lot of the ECNL players on my son’s team gave up HS soccer while a few MLSNext kids on other son’s team have private school waivers and play 1 year of HS usually- before it gets too much and too frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I had high hopes it wasn’t a shit-show. My son has been saying that the practices are a joke, only a couple players taking it seriously, errant passes and intercepted weak, of target, low velocity kicks abound.

It seems like your son just got unlucky. HS soccer is different from club. You don’t get the very top players from club and you have more variation in skill. However, my son’s experience with HS soccer is nothing like you describe. His JV coach ran very serious practices and there was no joking around. His current varsity coach is extremely strict. Any player who misses a practice is benched. They have almost 100% attendance. Kids who goof off are benched. Only the strongest players start and kids who are sloppy find themselves not playing more than a few minutes a game if that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I had high hopes it wasn’t a shit-show. My son has been saying that the practices are a joke, only a couple players taking it seriously, errant passes and intercepted weak, of target, low velocity kicks abound.

It seems like your son just got unlucky. HS soccer is different from club. You don’t get the very top players from club and you have more variation in skill. However, my son’s experience with HS soccer is nothing like you describe. His JV coach ran very serious practices and there was no joking around. His current varsity coach is extremely strict. Any player who misses a practice is benched. They have almost 100% attendance. Kids who goof off are benched. Only the strongest players start and kids who are sloppy find themselves not playing more than a few minutes a game if that.

Ha. ^This is the exception, not the rule. Our coaches are strict with attendance, but that’s where any similarity stops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think season is over a month from now and on the off chance it is not where you live you shouldn't accept your child quitting in the middle of the season.

I'd be annoyed too but HS soccer is a social club and that's one of the great things about it. If your child does not want to be part of it by all means he should not try out next year and give up the space to someone who actually appreciates it.

I hear you, he aspires to play college and maybe even pro one day and only has so many hours in the day to practice to level up his game. One of the other JV GK didn’t even want to warm up during half time because he said he’s not going to get to play anyway so I feel bad for him and his parents as well. if he chooses to withdraw after giving it his all to demonstrate his skills, he would at least potentially give that kid a chance to play. It just seems that they have too many GK on both rosters. Next year he would try out for Varsity only which he says has a great coach and team. Will let time tell and really appreciate everyone’s input. We didn’t know that JV would be more like rec so it’s been a learning experience for him that he wouldn’t have known if he wasn’t on the team. Always looking for the silver lining.

He only has travel practice twice a week and he wants to do college or pro?

[Anonymous]

The top girl players do play HS. It’s so fun to be on your HS team and so many things to learn about leadership and sportsmanship not to mention time management. Not sure why boys side is different?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The top girl players do play HS. It’s so fun to be on your HS team and so many things to learn about leadership and sportsmanship not to mention time management. Not sure why boys side is different?

It’s school dependent and I think it’s a better environment and a bigger deal in public school. Single sex privates not as much.

[Anonymous]

^ no opposite sex to impress so less likely to put up with BS.