U9 full of 2017 kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are a handful of 2015 teams playing U11. Rumor is its a recruiting tactic. It's all nonsense.

There are a few 2015s playing up, SYC, Mclean, Loudoun and Arlington are the ones I’m familiar with personally. For each of those teams, winning the majority of their games 6-1, 10-2 or worse, except when playing each other, (of course with a few exceptions) likely wasn’t helping their development at a macro level. I have no problem with teams playing up an age group if that is what is required to continue their development. Also, playing 9v9 alone will accelerate their development vs playing 7v7 if they weren’t being challenged.

Give me a break. They are joint aged teams pretending to be playing up a year. I know. We know the teams personally and it's ridiculous and laudable. A singular player that's advanced playing up? Cool sure. Playing a 'team up' is not a real thing. It's one of two kids carrying the team with kids of the right age also joining in to help. I know of one team worth playing up an age and they only did it one season before long to pre ecnl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are a handful of 2015 teams playing U11. Rumor is its a recruiting tactic. It's all nonsense.

There are a few 2015s playing up, SYC, Mclean, Loudoun and Arlington are the ones I’m familiar with personally. For each of those teams, winning the majority of their games 6-1, 10-2 or worse, except when playing each other, (of course with a few exceptions) likely wasn’t helping their development at a macro level. I have no problem with teams playing up an age group if that is what is required to continue their development. Also, playing 9v9 alone will accelerate their development vs playing 7v7 if they weren’t being challenged.

Give me a break. They are joint aged teams pretending to be playing up a year. I know. We know the teams personally and it's ridiculous and laudable. A singular player that's advanced playing up? Cool sure. Playing a 'team up' is not a real thing. It's one of two kids carrying the team with kids of the right age also joining in to help. I know of one team worth playing up an age and they only did it one season before long to pre ecnl.

I love how people come on here and speak with authority on things they know nothing about.

My son happens to play for one of those teams a previous poster highlighted that is playing up this year. I would concur that about 1/3 of the parents are disappointed and believe that they’re being pushed up too fast (skipping their last year of 7v7) while another 1/3 is excited to see them pushed and think 9v9 will accelerate their development. Then there is the other 1/3 who just don’t care and want their kids to have fun and play with their friends.

That being said, it is not a “joint age” team and there is not one “of age” kid on the team, nor is there any intent to do so. They took the 10 who have been together for almost 2 years since pre-travel academy and added 2 more from the “2nd team” to have a 12 man roster for 9v9 - all of whom are “playing up” in age. Some would argue that’s how roster management is supposed to work, flight your best players up when they’ve earned the opportunity (and down when they can no longer keep up technically or tactically).

They are not playing in the top division of u11, in fact they are buried somewhere in the middle of the NCSL divisions to gauge how they hold us against older kids (most of whom are also playing 9v9 for the first time ever). Time will tell how they do, but they’ve more than held their own so far.

Sorry to rain on some peoples parade that every club is doing nefarious things, but I can’t be any closer to the situation. That being said, I know nothing about what other clubs are doing - and will readily admit that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are a handful of 2015 teams playing U11. Rumor is its a recruiting tactic. It's all nonsense.

There are a few 2015s playing up, SYC, Mclean, Loudoun and Arlington are the ones I’m familiar with personally. For each of those teams, winning the majority of their games 6-1, 10-2 or worse, except when playing each other, (of course with a few exceptions) likely wasn’t helping their development at a macro level. I have no problem with teams playing up an age group if that is what is required to continue their development. Also, playing 9v9 alone will accelerate their development vs playing 7v7 if they weren’t being challenged.

Give me a break. They are joint aged teams pretending to be playing up a year. I know. We know the teams personally and it's ridiculous and laudable. A singular player that's advanced playing up? Cool sure. Playing a 'team up' is not a real thing. It's one of two kids carrying the team with kids of the right age also joining in to help. I know of one team worth playing up an age and they only did it one season before long to pre ecnl.

I love how people come on here and speak with authority on things they know nothing about.

My son happens to play for one of those teams a previous poster highlighted that is playing up this year. I would concur that about 1/3 of the parents are disappointed and believe that they’re being pushed up too fast (skipping their last year of 7v7) while another 1/3 is excited to see them pushed and think 9v9 will accelerate their development. Then there is the other 1/3 who just don’t care and want their kids to have fun and play with their friends.

That being said, it is not a “joint age” team and there is not one “of age” kid on the team, nor is there any intent to do so. They took the 10 who have been together for almost 2 years since pre-travel academy and added 2 more from the “2nd team” to have a 12 man roster for 9v9 - all of whom are “playing up” in age. Some would argue that’s how roster management is supposed to work, flight your best players up when they’ve earned the opportunity (and down when they can no longer keep up technically or tactically).

They are not playing in the top division of u11, in fact they are buried somewhere in the middle of the NCSL divisions to gauge how they hold us against older kids (most of whom are also playing 9v9 for the first time ever). Time will tell how they do, but they’ve more than held their own so far.

Sorry to rain on some peoples parade that every club is doing nefarious things, but I can’t be any closer to the situation. That being said, I know nothing about what other clubs are doing - and will readily admit that.

So your U10 top team is playing against U11 4th and 5th teams? How does that help with development?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are a handful of 2015 teams playing U11. Rumor is its a recruiting tactic. It's all nonsense.

There are a few 2015s playing up, SYC, Mclean, Loudoun and Arlington are the ones I’m familiar with personally. For each of those teams, winning the majority of their games 6-1, 10-2 or worse, except when playing each other, (of course with a few exceptions) likely wasn’t helping their development at a macro level. I have no problem with teams playing up an age group if that is what is required to continue their development. Also, playing 9v9 alone will accelerate their development vs playing 7v7 if they weren’t being challenged.

Give me a break. They are joint aged teams pretending to be playing up a year. I know. We know the teams personally and it's ridiculous and laudable. A singular player that's advanced playing up? Cool sure. Playing a 'team up' is not a real thing. It's one of two kids carrying the team with kids of the right age also joining in to help. I know of one team worth playing up an age and they only did it one season before long to pre ecnl.

I love how people come on here and speak with authority on things they know nothing about.

My son happens to play for one of those teams a previous poster highlighted that is playing up this year. I would concur that about 1/3 of the parents are disappointed and believe that they’re being pushed up too fast (skipping their last year of 7v7) while another 1/3 is excited to see them pushed and think 9v9 will accelerate their development. Then there is the other 1/3 who just don’t care and want their kids to have fun and play with their friends.

That being said, it is not a “joint age” team and there is not one “of age” kid on the team, nor is there any intent to do so. They took the 10 who have been together for almost 2 years since pre-travel academy and added 2 more from the “2nd team” to have a 12 man roster for 9v9 - all of whom are “playing up” in age. Some would argue that’s how roster management is supposed to work, flight your best players up when they’ve earned the opportunity (and down when they can no longer keep up technically or tactically).

They are not playing in the top division of u11, in fact they are buried somewhere in the middle of the NCSL divisions to gauge how they hold us against older kids (most of whom are also playing 9v9 for the first time ever). Time will tell how they do, but they’ve more than held their own so far.

Sorry to rain on some peoples parade that every club is doing nefarious things, but I can’t be any closer to the situation. That being said, I know nothing about what other clubs are doing - and will readily admit that.

So your U10 top team is playing against U11 4th and 5th teams? How does That help with development?

Not the original poster but that comes down to the previous discussion re. if you think the 9v9 fosters development better than 7v7. Personally, I think the need to make quicker decisions in tighter spaces is a good thing. 7v7 allows for top players to literally dribble circles around others, that space disappears in 9v9 (and up).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are a handful of 2015 teams playing U11. Rumor is its a recruiting tactic. It's all nonsense.

There are a few 2015s playing up, SYC, Mclean, Loudoun and Arlington are the ones I’m familiar with personally. For each of those teams, winning the majority of their games 6-1, 10-2 or worse, except when playing each other, (of course with a few exceptions) likely wasn’t helping their development at a macro level. I have no problem with teams playing up an age group if that is what is required to continue their development. Also, playing 9v9 alone will accelerate their development vs playing 7v7 if they weren’t being challenged.

Give me a break. They are joint aged teams pretending to be playing up a year. I know. We know the teams personally and it's ridiculous and laudable. A singular player that's advanced playing up? Cool sure. Playing a 'team up' is not a real thing. It's one of two kids carrying the team with kids of the right age also joining in to help. I know of one team worth playing up an age and they only did it one season before long to pre ecnl.

I love how people come on here and speak with authority on things they know nothing about.

My son happens to play for one of those teams a previous poster highlighted that is playing up this year. I would concur that about 1/3 of the parents are disappointed and believe that they’re being pushed up too fast (skipping their last year of 7v7) while another 1/3 is excited to see them pushed and think 9v9 will accelerate their development. Then there is the other 1/3 who just don’t care and want their kids to have fun and play with their friends.

That being said, it is not a “joint age” team and there is not one “of age” kid on the team, nor is there any intent to do so. They took the 10 who have been together for almost 2 years since pre-travel academy and added 2 more from the “2nd team” to have a 12 man roster for 9v9 - all of whom are “playing up” in age. Some would argue that’s how roster management is supposed to work, flight your best players up when they’ve earned the opportunity (and down when they can no longer keep up technically or tactically).

They are not playing in the top division of u11, in fact they are buried somewhere in the middle of the NCSL divisions to gauge how they hold us against older kids (most of whom are also playing 9v9 for the first time ever). Time will tell how they do, but they’ve more than held their own so far.

Sorry to rain on some peoples parade that every club is doing nefarious things, but I can’t be any closer to the situation. That being said, I know nothing about what other clubs are doing - and will readily admit that.

So your U10 top team is playing against U11 4th and 5th teams? How does That help with development?

Not the original poster but that comes down to the previous discussion re. if you think the 9v9 fosters development better than 7v7. Personally, I think the need to make quicker decisions in tighter spaces is a good thing. 7v7 allows for top players to literally dribble circles around others, that space disappears in 9v9 (and up).

Playing against 4th and 5th team kids even if a little older the Littles with speed are still going to be able to dribble circles around them. If this was actually about being challenged you would be in the top divisions playing against teams that can pass and move the ball. This is all just bragging nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are a handful of 2015 teams playing U11. Rumor is its a recruiting tactic. It's all nonsense.

There are a few 2015s playing up, SYC, Mclean, Loudoun and Arlington are the ones I’m familiar with personally. For each of those teams, winning the majority of their games 6-1, 10-2 or worse, except when playing each other, (of course with a few exceptions) likely wasn’t helping their development at a macro level. I have no problem with teams playing up an age group if that is what is required to continue their development. Also, playing 9v9 alone will accelerate their development vs playing 7v7 if they weren’t being challenged.

Give me a break. They are joint aged teams pretending to be playing up a year. I know. We know the teams personally and it's ridiculous and laudable. A singular player that's advanced playing up? Cool sure. Playing a 'team up' is not a real thing. It's one of two kids carrying the team with kids of the right age also joining in to help. I know of one team worth playing up an age and they only did it one season before long to pre ecnl.

I love how people come on here and speak with authority on things they know nothing about.

My son happens to play for one of those teams a previous poster highlighted that is playing up this year. I would concur that about 1/3 of the parents are disappointed and believe that they’re being pushed up too fast (skipping their last year of 7v7) while another 1/3 is excited to see them pushed and think 9v9 will accelerate their development. Then there is the other 1/3 who just don’t care and want their kids to have fun and play with their friends.

That being said, it is not a “joint age” team and there is not one “of age” kid on the team, nor is there any intent to do so. They took the 10 who have been together for almost 2 years since pre-travel academy and added 2 more from the “2nd team” to have a 12 man roster for 9v9 - all of whom are “playing up” in age. Some would argue that’s how roster management is supposed to work, flight your best players up when they’ve earned the opportunity (and down when they can no longer keep up technically or tactically).

They are not playing in the top division of u11, in fact they are buried somewhere in the middle of the NCSL divisions to gauge how they hold us against older kids (most of whom are also playing 9v9 for the first time ever). Time will tell how they do, but they’ve more than held their own so far.

Sorry to rain on some peoples parade that every club is doing nefarious things, but I can’t be any closer to the situation. That being said, I know nothing about what other clubs are doing - and will readily admit that.

So your U10 top team is playing against U11 4th and 5th teams? How does That help with development?

Not the original poster but that comes down to the previous discussion re. if you think the 9v9 fosters development better than 7v7. Personally, I think the need to make quicker decisions in tighter spaces is a good thing. 7v7 allows for top players to literally dribble circles around others, that space disappears in 9v9 (and up).

Playing against 4th and 5th team kids even if a little older the Littles with speed are still going to be able to dribble circles around them. If this was actually about being challenged you would be in the top divisions playing against teams that can pass and move the ball. This is all just bragging nonsense.

My child is older, so I am not involved with these teams, but what do you do with teams that are destroying other teams in Division 1 of their age group for 2-4 seasons in a row? Just leave them in Division 1 for another year? Or move them up? And when you move teams up, it creates issues for NCSL that doesn't necessarily want multiple teams from the same club in the same division. The club doesn't have full say as to which division their teams will be in. So these teams are in the middle of NCSL for the fall. If they do well, they will move up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are a handful of 2015 teams playing U11. Rumor is its a recruiting tactic. It's all nonsense.

There are a few 2015s playing up, SYC, Mclean, Loudoun and Arlington are the ones I’m familiar with personally. For each of those teams, winning the majority of their games 6-1, 10-2 or worse, except when playing each other, (of course with a few exceptions) likely wasn’t helping their development at a macro level. I have no problem with teams playing up an age group if that is what is required to continue their development. Also, playing 9v9 alone will accelerate their development vs playing 7v7 if they weren’t being challenged.

Give me a break. They are joint aged teams pretending to be playing up a year. I know. We know the teams personally and it's ridiculous and laudable. A singular player that's advanced playing up? Cool sure. Playing a 'team up' is not a real thing. It's one of two kids carrying the team with kids of the right age also joining in to help. I know of one team worth playing up an age and they only did it one season before long to pre ecnl.

I love how people come on here and speak with authority on things they know nothing about.

My son happens to play for one of those teams a previous poster highlighted that is playing up this year. I would concur that about 1/3 of the parents are disappointed and believe that they’re being pushed up too fast (skipping their last year of 7v7) while another 1/3 is excited to see them pushed and think 9v9 will accelerate their development. Then there is the other 1/3 who just don’t care and want their kids to have fun and play with their friends.

That being said, it is not a “joint age” team and there is not one “of age” kid on the team, nor is there any intent to do so. They took the 10 who have been together for almost 2 years since pre-travel academy and added 2 more from the “2nd team” to have a 12 man roster for 9v9 - all of whom are “playing up” in age. Some would argue that’s how roster management is supposed to work, flight your best players up when they’ve earned the opportunity (and down when they can no longer keep up technically or tactically).

They are not playing in the top division of u11, in fact they are buried somewhere in the middle of the NCSL divisions to gauge how they hold us against older kids (most of whom are also playing 9v9 for the first time ever). Time will tell how they do, but they’ve more than held their own so far.

Sorry to rain on some peoples parade that every club is doing nefarious things, but I can’t be any closer to the situation. That being said, I know nothing about what other clubs are doing - and will readily admit that.

So your U10 top team is playing against U11 4th and 5th teams? How does That help with development?

Not the original poster but that comes down to the previous discussion re. if you think the 9v9 fosters development better than 7v7. Personally, I think the need to make quicker decisions in tighter spaces is a good thing. 7v7 allows for top players to literally dribble circles around others, that space disappears in 9v9 (and up).

The space definitely disappears in 9v9, especially for clubs that use the smaller pitch limits, it’s like 7v7 with 4 extra kids.

But it reappears in 11v11 when the pitch expands, and each field player has almost 2x space as they would on the largest 9v9 fields. 11v11 can definitely benefit dribblers. The biggest problem dribblers have is that most coaches don’t understand how to utilize a dribbler in their “pass only” dollar-store tiki-taka knockoff systems - and most players have it coaches out of them by MS / HS age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are a handful of 2015 teams playing U11. Rumor is its a recruiting tactic. It's all nonsense.

There are a few 2015s playing up, SYC, Mclean, Loudoun and Arlington are the ones I’m familiar with personally. For each of those teams, winning the majority of their games 6-1, 10-2 or worse, except when playing each other, (of course with a few exceptions) likely wasn’t helping their development at a macro level. I have no problem with teams playing up an age group if that is what is required to continue their development. Also, playing 9v9 alone will accelerate their development vs playing 7v7 if they weren’t being challenged.

Yeah I was watching that same McLean team getting whipped by Bethesda last weekend. I think it was 4-0 before the first half was over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are a handful of 2015 teams playing U11. Rumor is its a recruiting tactic. It's all nonsense.

There are a few 2015s playing up, SYC, Mclean, Loudoun and Arlington are the ones I’m familiar with personally. For each of those teams, winning the majority of their games 6-1, 10-2 or worse, except when playing each other, (of course with a few exceptions) likely wasn’t helping their development at a macro level. I have no problem with teams playing up an age group if that is what is required to continue their development. Also, playing 9v9 alone will accelerate their development vs playing 7v7 if they weren’t being challenged.

Yeah I was watching that same McLean team getting whipped by Bethesda last weekend. I think it was 4-0 before the first half was over.

Interesting- because Mclean 2015B-green hasn’t played Bethesda this year.

[Anonymous]

Samba Boyzz 2.0

[Anonymous]

Most clubs have realized taking a team or at least a core group of 7yo. players and training them for one year and introducing them to 7v7 tactics they will become next year's top team at U9 for their club and yes this strategy works well even if the coaching is just average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Top teams are playing up a year because there isnt enough competition in their age group. The top teams will play 2-3 competitive games max if they stay in their age group at u littles and the other 6 games will be 8-0 10-0 or even 15-0. Its not fun for either team.

U9 is already 4 teams deep. It’s all about money, of course. Parents are willing to pay because they think it’s a “leg up” for their kids. Which it is - they plan on U9 this year and again next year. Except next year they will know the coach and easily get into the top team.

It is a LEGIT leg up for an average to slightly above average player when compared to the training they would get as a Rec player getting informal training one time a week by a parent of unknown ability/knowledge, playing one game a week against 7 year-olds that might be doing cart wheels or not paying attention in a 4v4 game.

Travel environment is 2-3 practice per week, 4-6 tournaments, 8 league matches, in a 7v7 environment. It is more expensive and time consuming then Rec AND they will develop from the shear volume of play even if the coaching is just average.