Metro United having ID Sessions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I almost want my kid to go to Metro United to be part of a building up team. Maybe less toxic parents. What will we all do when looking at college? I have thought about this a lot. I am stressed around some of the parents on my kid’s team. The kids are stressed too. I wonder if Metro United would be happy to have my kid and my kid could be a kid again. Going out outside of DA/ECNl And playing CCL etc would not make sense because if your kids plays at a certain level already that would be strange to go back. Do any other parents feel the same way?

Compared to other programs there is less stress here. You will find the Metro parents to be pretty laid back, welcoming and friendly. The players get along well and your kid can be a kid. Coaches focus on helping players get better. I like how they challenge the players all the time. Whatever your DD's situation is they will find a way to challenge her. But coaches will also support and motivate her. She will have a good group of friends and lower stress along the way. All while playing DA teams. Good luck in your search.

I'm not sure this is accurate, except for maybe a few kids on the 06 team. Parents of the kids who have talent are not happy with the way things are going. Those families want competitive games and discipline. Don't make MU out to be a club for kids who aren't serious who just want to get some exercise.

Considering the challenges the club and teams have faced, I’d say the sidelines are calm. Winning sidelines can be full of individual back biting and finger pointing. There is lots of insecurities and star egos to go around on a winning sideline. Lots of clicks with the players too.

I’ll make sure to put my daughter on a losing team then.

Not the point at all. Sidelines can be crappy regardless of the team outcome.

Put your kid where they will play, be impactful and be respected. A teams record has little to do with any of those.

Playing time at metro is extremely related to impact, just not the way you are probably implying. Being treated with respect is very different than being respected. A team's record could very well be indicative of those three characteristics, I'm curious why a record doesn't/wouldn't provides significant insight into that in many cases?

Playing time is important and any kid should seek out the situation that meets that. Sometimes that may mean changing clubs or even possibly dropping a level of soccer. There are lots of things to weigh the balance of and playing time is on the top of the list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I almost want my kid to go to Metro United to be part of a building up team. Maybe less toxic parents. What will we all do when looking at college? I have thought about this a lot. I am stressed around some of the parents on my kid’s team. The kids are stressed too. I wonder if Metro United would be happy to have my kid and my kid could be a kid again. Going out outside of DA/ECNl And playing CCL etc would not make sense because if your kids plays at a certain level already that would be strange to go back. Do any other parents feel the same way?

Compared to other programs there is less stress here. You will find the Metro parents to be pretty laid back, welcoming and friendly. The players get along well and your kid can be a kid. Coaches focus on helping players get better. I like how they challenge the players all the time. Whatever your DD's situation is they will find a way to challenge her. But coaches will also support and motivate her. She will have a good group of friends and lower stress along the way. All while playing DA teams. Good luck in your search.

I'm not sure this is accurate, except for maybe a few kids on the 06 team. Parents of the kids who have talent are not happy with the way things are going. Those families want competitive games and discipline. Don't make MU out to be a club for kids who aren't serious who just want to get some exercise.

I never said that. It's a demanding program. They push the players to get better. I just think it's a very player centric model vs all about winning games. But we are at a different stage of development as well.

- Parent of a kid with no talent

NOW we get it

"very player centric model vs all about winning games."

Umm, what stage are we at?

PP didn't post anything about teams vis a vis players in this "very player centric model". Care to elaborate? other than "all about winning"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I almost want my kid to go to Metro United to be part of a building up team. Maybe less toxic parents. What will we all do when looking at college? I have thought about this a lot. I am stressed around some of the parents on my kid’s team. The kids are stressed too. I wonder if Metro United would be happy to have my kid and my kid could be a kid again. Going out outside of DA/ECNl And playing CCL etc would not make sense because if your kids plays at a certain level already that would be strange to go back. Do any other parents feel the same way?

Compared to other programs there is less stress here. You will find the Metro parents to be pretty laid back, welcoming and friendly. The players get along well and your kid can be a kid. Coaches focus on helping players get better. I like how they challenge the players all the time. Whatever your DD's situation is they will find a way to challenge her. But coaches will also support and motivate her. She will have a good group of friends and lower stress along the way. All while playing DA teams. Good luck in your search.

I'm not sure this is accurate, except for maybe a few kids on the 06 team. Parents of the kids who have talent are not happy with the way things are going. Those families want competitive games and discipline. Don't make MU out to be a club for kids who aren't serious who just want to get some exercise.

I never said that. It's a demanding program. They push the players to get better. I just think it's a very player centric model vs all about winning games. But we are at a different stage of development as well.

- Parent of a kid with no talent

NOW we get it

"very player centric model vs all about winning games."

Umm, what stage are we at?

PP didn't post anything about teams vis a vis players in this "very player centric model". Care to elaborate? other than "all about winning"?

We are at the building stage. You have to develop the players first before winning games. All parents want competitive games but it takes time to get there. Ask yourself this, is your DD better than the beginning of the season? Is the team better? Which matters the most?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I almost want my kid to go to Metro United to be part of a building up team. Maybe less toxic parents. What will we all do when looking at college? I have thought about this a lot. I am stressed around some of the parents on my kid’s team. The kids are stressed too. I wonder if Metro United would be happy to have my kid and my kid could be a kid again. Going out outside of DA/ECNl And playing CCL etc would not make sense because if your kids plays at a certain level already that would be strange to go back. Do any other parents feel the same way?

Compared to other programs there is less stress here. You will find the Metro parents to be pretty laid back, welcoming and friendly. The players get along well and your kid can be a kid. Coaches focus on helping players get better. I like how they challenge the players all the time. Whatever your DD's situation is they will find a way to challenge her. But coaches will also support and motivate her. She will have a good group of friends and lower stress along the way. All while playing DA teams. Good luck in your search.

I'm not sure this is accurate, except for maybe a few kids on the 06 team. Parents of the kids who have talent are not happy with the way things are going. Those families want competitive games and discipline. Don't make MU out to be a club for kids who aren't serious who just want to get some exercise.

I never said that. It's a demanding program. They push the players to get better. I just think it's a very player centric model vs all about winning games. But we are at a different stage of development as well.

- Parent of a kid with no talent

NOW we get it

"very player centric model vs all about winning games."

Umm, what stage are we at?

PP didn't post anything about teams vis a vis players in this "very player centric model". Care to elaborate? other than "all about winning"?

We are at the building stage. You have to develop the players first before winning games. All parents want competitive games but it takes time to get there. Ask yourself this, is your DD better than the beginning of the season? Is the team better? Which matters the most?

I’m not sure just asking if your DD is better than she was earlier is sufficient. The real question is, is she improving more quickly at her current club than she would at an alternative club. One way to see this is to measure team results against clubs that play each other consistently. It’s not perfect, but it helps keep perspective on the rate of development. For example, if we are losing by a bigger margin against clubs this year as compared to last year/season, maybe development at the club trails its peer group. Alternatively, if we are now winning or losing by a smaller margin, maybe development is faster than the peer group. So although I agree it is about individual player situations, team results are necessary to understand the environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I almost want my kid to go to Metro United to be part of a building up team. Maybe less toxic parents. What will we all do when looking at college? I have thought about this a lot. I am stressed around some of the parents on my kid’s team. The kids are stressed too. I wonder if Metro United would be happy to have my kid and my kid could be a kid again. Going out outside of DA/ECNl And playing CCL etc would not make sense because if your kids plays at a certain level already that would be strange to go back. Do any other parents feel the same way?

Compared to other programs there is less stress here. You will find the Metro parents to be pretty laid back, welcoming and friendly. The players get along well and your kid can be a kid. Coaches focus on helping players get better. I like how they challenge the players all the time. Whatever your DD's situation is they will find a way to challenge her. But coaches will also support and motivate her. She will have a good group of friends and lower stress along the way. All while playing DA teams. Good luck in your search.

I'm not sure this is accurate, except for maybe a few kids on the 06 team. Parents of the kids who have talent are not happy with the way things are going. Those families want competitive games and discipline. Don't make MU out to be a club for kids who aren't serious who just want to get some exercise.

I never said that. It's a demanding program. They push the players to get better. I just think it's a very player centric model vs all about winning games. But we are at a different stage of development as well.

- Parent of a kid with no talent

NOW we get it

"very player centric model vs all about winning games."

Umm, what stage are we at?

PP didn't post anything about teams vis a vis players in this "very player centric model". Care to elaborate? other than "all about winning"?

We are at the building stage. You have to develop the players first before winning games. All parents want competitive games but it takes time to get there. Ask yourself this, is your DD better than the beginning of the season? Is the team better? Which matters the most?

I’m not sure just asking if your DD is better than she was earlier is sufficient. The real question is, is she improving more quickly at her current club than she would at an alternative club. One way to see this is to measure team results against clubs that play each other consistently. It’s not perfect, but it helps keep perspective on the rate of development. For example, if we are losing by a bigger margin against clubs this year as compared to last year/season, maybe development at the club trails its peer group. Alternatively, if we are now winning or losing by a smaller margin, maybe development is faster than the peer group. So although I agree it is about individual player situations, team results are necessary to understand the environment.

I agree with that. You said it better than I could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I almost want my kid to go to Metro United to be part of a building up team. Maybe less toxic parents. What will we all do when looking at college? I have thought about this a lot. I am stressed around some of the parents on my kid’s team. The kids are stressed too. I wonder if Metro United would be happy to have my kid and my kid could be a kid again. Going out outside of DA/ECNl And playing CCL etc would not make sense because if your kids plays at a certain level already that would be strange to go back. Do any other parents feel the same way?

Compared to other programs there is less stress here. You will find the Metro parents to be pretty laid back, welcoming and friendly. The players get along well and your kid can be a kid. Coaches focus on helping players get better. I like how they challenge the players all the time. Whatever your DD's situation is they will find a way to challenge her. But coaches will also support and motivate her. She will have a good group of friends and lower stress along the way. All while playing DA teams. Good luck in your search.

I'm not sure this is accurate, except for maybe a few kids on the 06 team. Parents of the kids who have talent are not happy with the way things are going. Those families want competitive games and discipline. Don't make MU out to be a club for kids who aren't serious who just want to get some exercise.

I never said that. It's a demanding program. They push the players to get better. I just think it's a very player centric model vs all about winning games. But we are at a different stage of development as well.

- Parent of a kid with no talent

NOW we get it

"very player centric model vs all about winning games."

Umm, what stage are we at?

PP didn't post anything about teams vis a vis players in this "very player centric model". Care to elaborate? other than "all about winning"?

We are at the building stage. You have to develop the players first before winning games. All parents want competitive games but it takes time to get there. Ask yourself this, is your DD better than the beginning of the season? Is the team better? Which matters the most?

I’m not sure just asking if your DD is better than she was earlier is sufficient. The real question is, is she improving more quickly at her current club than she would at an alternative club. One way to see this is to measure team results against clubs that play each other consistently. It’s not perfect, but it helps keep perspective on the rate of development. For example, if we are losing by a bigger margin against clubs this year as compared to last year/season, maybe development at the club trails its peer group. Alternatively, if we are now winning or losing by a smaller margin, maybe development is faster than the peer group. So although I agree it is about individual player situations, team results are necessary to understand the environment.

I agree with that. You said it better than I could.

Changes are coming then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I almost want my kid to go to Metro United to be part of a building up team. Maybe less toxic parents. What will we all do when looking at college? I have thought about this a lot. I am stressed around some of the parents on my kid’s team. The kids are stressed too. I wonder if Metro United would be happy to have my kid and my kid could be a kid again. Going out outside of DA/ECNl And playing CCL etc would not make sense because if your kids plays at a certain level already that would be strange to go back. Do any other parents feel the same way?

Compared to other programs there is less stress here. You will find the Metro parents to be pretty laid back, welcoming and friendly. The players get along well and your kid can be a kid. Coaches focus on helping players get better. I like how they challenge the players all the time. Whatever your DD's situation is they will find a way to challenge her. But coaches will also support and motivate her. She will have a good group of friends and lower stress along the way. All while playing DA teams. Good luck in your search.

I'm not sure this is accurate, except for maybe a few kids on the 06 team. Parents of the kids who have talent are not happy with the way things are going. Those families want competitive games and discipline. Don't make MU out to be a club for kids who aren't serious who just want to get some exercise.

Considering the challenges the club and teams have faced, I’d say the sidelines are calm. Winning sidelines can be full of individual back biting and finger pointing. There is lots of insecurities and star egos to go around on a winning sideline. Lots of clicks with the players too.

I’ll make sure to put my daughter on a losing team then.

Not the point at all. Sidelines can be crappy regardless of the team outcome.

Put your kid where they will play, be impactful and be respected. A teams record has little to do with any of those.

Playing time at metro is extremely related to impact, just not the way you are probably implying. Being treated with respect is very different than being respected. A team's record could very well be indicative of those three characteristics, I'm curious why a record doesn't/wouldn't provides significant insight into that in many cases?

My DD plays at MU and I would not say the situation is as rosy as some PPs have implied (although I agree that the sidelines are largely good). The thing is, the issues they have are the same as you would find at any club -- and the grass isn't always greener. Yes, there are kids who are favorites who get more play time even when it may not be deserved. Yes, there are other kids who get called out for weaknesses that their peers also share but are not called on. Yes, there are a few players who sometimes make you say "hmm". And yes, at times the entire atmosphere is actually quite high pressure (e.g., "this should be your whole life, why are you complaining about wanting to do something social on a Friday night in the pre-season - you should be all in on soccer" -- so those who are saying it's all happy happy and they just want your DD to be happy, I'm not sure I agree there). But while I don't like any of these issues (and they affect my DD just as much as everyone else), I just am not sure it would be any better anywhere else. So singling out MU for having them doesn't necessarily resonate.

I agree with everything you said. That says it all. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Which local DA teams have similar issues of team results based on similarly rostered players?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I almost want my kid to go to Metro United to be part of a building up team. Maybe less toxic parents. What will we all do when looking at college? I have thought about this a lot. I am stressed around some of the parents on my kid’s team. The kids are stressed too. I wonder if Metro United would be happy to have my kid and my kid could be a kid again. Going out outside of DA/ECNl And playing CCL etc would not make sense because if your kids plays at a certain level already that would be strange to go back. Do any other parents feel the same way?

Compared to other programs there is less stress here. You will find the Metro parents to be pretty laid back, welcoming and friendly. The players get along well and your kid can be a kid. Coaches focus on helping players get better. I like how they challenge the players all the time. Whatever your DD's situation is they will find a way to challenge her. But coaches will also support and motivate her. She will have a good group of friends and lower stress along the way. All while playing DA teams. Good luck in your search.

I'm not sure this is accurate, except for maybe a few kids on the 06 team. Parents of the kids who have talent are not happy with the way things are going. Those families want competitive games and discipline. Don't make MU out to be a club for kids who aren't serious who just want to get some exercise.

I never said that. It's a demanding program. They push the players to get better. I just think it's a very player centric model vs all about winning games. But we are at a different stage of development as well.

- Parent of a kid with no talent

NOW we get it

"very player centric model vs all about winning games."

Umm, what stage are we at?

PP didn't post anything about teams vis a vis players in this "very player centric model". Care to elaborate? other than "all about winning"?

We are at the building stage. You have to develop the players first before winning games. All parents want competitive games but it takes time to get there. Ask yourself this, is your DD better than the beginning of the season? Is the team better? Which matters the most?

I’m not sure just asking if your DD is better than she was earlier is sufficient. The real question is, is she improving more quickly at her current club than she would at an alternative club. One way to see this is to measure team results against clubs that play each other consistently. It’s not perfect, but it helps keep perspective on the rate of development. For example, if we are losing by a bigger margin against clubs this year as compared to last year/season, maybe development at the club trails its peer group. Alternatively, if we are now winning or losing by a smaller margin, maybe development is faster than the peer group. So although I agree it is about individual player situations, team results are necessary to understand the environment.

I agree with that. You said it better than I could.

Changes are coming then?

Not for us. We are improving relative to others at our age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I almost want my kid to go to Metro United to be part of a building up team. Maybe less toxic parents. What will we all do when looking at college? I have thought about this a lot. I am stressed around some of the parents on my kid’s team. The kids are stressed too. I wonder if Metro United would be happy to have my kid and my kid could be a kid again. Going out outside of DA/ECNl And playing CCL etc would not make sense because if your kids plays at a certain level already that would be strange to go back. Do any other parents feel the same way?

Compared to other programs there is less stress here. You will find the Metro parents to be pretty laid back, welcoming and friendly. The players get along well and your kid can be a kid. Coaches focus on helping players get better. I like how they challenge the players all the time. Whatever your DD's situation is they will find a way to challenge her. But coaches will also support and motivate her. She will have a good group of friends and lower stress along the way. All while playing DA teams. Good luck in your search.

I'm not sure this is accurate, except for maybe a few kids on the 06 team. Parents of the kids who have talent are not happy with the way things are going. Those families want competitive games and discipline. Don't make MU out to be a club for kids who aren't serious who just want to get some exercise.

I never said that. It's a demanding program. They push the players to get better. I just think it's a very player centric model vs all about winning games. But we are at a different stage of development as well.

- Parent of a kid with no talent

NOW we get it

"very player centric model vs all about winning games."

Umm, what stage are we at?

PP didn't post anything about teams vis a vis players in this "very player centric model". Care to elaborate? other than "all about winning"?

We are at the building stage. You have to develop the players first before winning games. All parents want competitive games but it takes time to get there. Ask yourself this, is your DD better than the beginning of the season? Is the team better? Which matters the most?

I’m not sure just asking if your DD is better than she was earlier is sufficient. The real question is, is she improving more quickly at her current club than she would at an alternative club. One way to see this is to measure team results against clubs that play each other consistently. It’s not perfect, but it helps keep perspective on the rate of development. For example, if we are losing by a bigger margin against clubs this year as compared to last year/season, maybe development at the club trails its peer group. Alternatively, if we are now winning or losing by a smaller margin, maybe development is faster than the peer group. So although I agree it is about individual player situations, team results are necessary to understand the environment.

That's very true. I think that's the real question to ask. What makes this a little challenging in the case of MU. The club itself is new. But even if you want to lump in the Spirit years because some of the players remained, the rosters haven't stayed the same. The U19 group of 01s/02s is vastly different than the original 01s/02s of the first year of U17s. The U17 group of 03s is also almost completely changed. The U16 group of 04s is also very different. The U14s is a brand new team, with only a couple of players from last year. The most consistent might be the past two years of the U15 team, and that team isn't a copy of last year either.

So as parents, many of us think about that, and I talk about it with my DD. The spring may be helpful at least in comparing to the fall when we replay some of the same teams.

[Anonymous]

Back to the question, Metro United expects different results after not making any changes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I almost want my kid to go to Metro United to be part of a building up team. Maybe less toxic parents. What will we all do when looking at college? I have thought about this a lot. I am stressed around some of the parents on my kid’s team. The kids are stressed too. I wonder if Metro United would be happy to have my kid and my kid could be a kid again. Going out outside of DA/ECNl And playing CCL etc would not make sense because if your kids plays at a certain level already that would be strange to go back. Do any other parents feel the same way?

Compared to other programs there is less stress here. You will find the Metro parents to be pretty laid back, welcoming and friendly. The players get along well and your kid can be a kid. Coaches focus on helping players get better. I like how they challenge the players all the time. Whatever your DD's situation is they will find a way to challenge her. But coaches will also support and motivate her. She will have a good group of friends and lower stress along the way. All while playing DA teams. Good luck in your search.

I'm not sure this is accurate, except for maybe a few kids on the 06 team. Parents of the kids who have talent are not happy with the way things are going. Those families want competitive games and discipline. Don't make MU out to be a club for kids who aren't serious who just want to get some exercise.

I never said that. It's a demanding program. They push the players to get better. I just think it's a very player centric model vs all about winning games. But we are at a different stage of development as well.

- Parent of a kid with no talent

NOW we get it

"very player centric model vs all about winning games."

Umm, what stage are we at?

PP didn't post anything about teams vis a vis players in this "very player centric model". Care to elaborate? other than "all about winning"?

We are at the building stage. You have to develop the players first before winning games. All parents want competitive games but it takes time to get there. Ask yourself this, is your DD better than the beginning of the season? Is the team better? Which matters the most?

I’m not sure just asking if your DD is better than she was earlier is sufficient. The real question is, is she improving more quickly at her current club than she would at an alternative club. One way to see this is to measure team results against clubs that play each other consistently. It’s not perfect, but it helps keep perspective on the rate of development. For example, if we are losing by a bigger margin against clubs this year as compared to last year/season, maybe development at the club trails its peer group. Alternatively, if we are now winning or losing by a smaller margin, maybe development is faster than the peer group. So although I agree it is about individual player situations, team results are necessary to understand the environment.

That's very true. I think that's the real question to ask. What makes this a little challenging in the case of MU. The club itself is new. But even if you want to lump in the Spirit years because some of the players remained, the rosters haven't stayed the same. The U19 group of 01s/02s is vastly different than the original 01s/02s of the first year of U17s. The U17 group of 03s is also almost completely changed. The U16 group of 04s is also very different. The U14s is a brand new team, with only a couple of players from last year. The most consistent might be the past two years of the U15 team, and that team isn't a copy of last year either.

So as parents, many of us think about that, and I talk about it with my DD. The spring may be helpful at least in comparing to the fall when we replay some of the same teams.

+1. Our team is better than last year in results but only 4-5 players returned so the team is mostly new. We played only one team twice this fall and results improved in game 2. That is a small sample size so spring season will tell us more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back to the question, Metro United expects different results after not making any changes?

There is a large market of clubs to choose from. Pick one and live your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back to the question, Metro United expects different results after not making any changes?

There is a large market of clubs to choose from. Pick one and live your life.

I'd like to see a viable DA club in Metro United, gives my DD another choice for the future, but it appears from this thread that there is a communication issue at the team level from the coach and HC about trends from past results and future expectations outside of status quo so players & parents understand and aren't surprised. Maybe they are doing that, and kudos to them, but that's not the impression from this thread. Good luck to you in the Spring!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back to the question, Metro United expects different results after not making any changes?

There is a large market of clubs to choose from. Pick one and live your life.

I'd like to see a viable DA club in Metro United, gives my DD another choice for the future, but it appears from this thread that there is a communication issue at the team level from the coach and HC about trends from past results and future expectations outside of status quo so players & parents understand and aren't surprised. Maybe they are doing that, and kudos to them, but that's not the impression from this thread. Good luck to you in the Spring!

This is a DA question. Are clubs required to field a team at every age? My friend has a DD 2008 at GFR and she is claiming they are going to be doing 2008 DA next year. None of the girls parents want them to "play up". The club has told them they plan to field a 2008 team but may not be able to field a 2007 team. Are you allowed to not have a team at certain age groups? Maybe the few 2007 players can continue to play 2006?