ECNL forcing Brave & Union Partnership

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents with the means giving their kids all the advantages possible? What is surprising about that? It happens in every aspect of life not just club soccer. It happens in every country in the world not just US. If you were in a position to do it you would too.

if ur kid needs that much help to shine amongst true ballers ur kid is the ecnl/ga standard

ECNL and GA are not the same standard. Stop kidding yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents with the means giving their kids all the advantages possible? What is surprising about that? It happens in every aspect of life not just club soccer. It happens in every country in the world not just US. If you were in a position to do it you would too.

if ur kid needs that much help to shine amongst true ballers ur kid is the ecnl/ga standard

ECNL and GA are not the same standard. Stop kidding yourself.

ECNL or GA it really does not matter. There are way too may kids who are in ECNL or GA who can't even run let alone play. It is more of a bragging right for kids more than anything soccer. Or the parents/coaches playing a dirty game taking kids who don't deserve to be there. And the poor kid does not even know her helicopter parents sneaked in behind other kids who deserve to be there instead. The result? Teams that can't perform and then you go to nationals and you lose 10-0 to a California team LOL. Parents need to focus on development for the long run until college not get their kid to ECNL or GA for Instagram bragging in middle school.

So your position is there should be fewer kids in ECNL or GA. By what mechanism do you wish this to happen? Do you envision a world where some authority gets to dictate how many teams are allowed in a certain league? Who and why would anyone get this power?

ECNL/GA and soccer clubs are businesses. They wouldn't exist if there weren't demand and people willing to pay for them. It's strange that you would want to limit them. Do you also want to limit how many restaurants or cars exist because there are too many bad ones? I guarantee if people didn't want more soccer teams and leagues they would stop existing. They exist because that's what we want.

It's a want vs need argument. Parents want as many ECNL teams in the area so their kid has a better shot of making "the top team". but just like you said, they exist because that is what you want and are willing to pay for as parents. It's not what the players need, and the more teams in ECNL or GA dilutes each team and makes it more difficult to compete at a national level.

LOL National level? As a parent why should that be my concern? What parent wants to limit their own kid’s opportunities for the sake of the greater good of the national team?

who said anything about greater good of the national team? I guess you're good with paying all this money to travel across the country and then lose 0-10 in the opening match of playoffs - cause that is what happens when we dilute the talent pool in the area with too many ECNL/GA teams.

Yes, I am good paying money to travel across the country and then losing in the opening match of the playoffs. So is everyone else or they wouldn't be doing it. The point of these national playoff events is to be where the college coaches are so my kid can be seen. It makes little difference for that purpose whether they win, lose, or lose by a lot. We pay to attend showcase events all the time. Paying to attend playoffs are no different.

spoken like someone who has never won anything in life, pretty much summed up participation trophy mentality

Felt more like individual (vs team) mentality to me. This is the problem with the top-level teams at the top clubs - many of the players seem to be getting parent/outside advice to maximize their own touches and not play to help the team. Honestly, maybe they have the right idea, but the region as a whole gets less opportunities when players don't sacrifice for the team. I'd rather that my kids learn good values and a team mentality, but winning the ball and playing quick, two-touch soccer does not seem to impress area coaches as much as the kids who take more time on the ball, even when they lose it a good percentage of the time.

Until colleges, academies and professional clubs start recruiting and signing entire teams, it's all about the individual.

A major part of soccer at older ages is IQ and tactical prowess. So if you show a lack of both by dribbling like a lunatic trying to impress, you're only impressing your dad.

That's a cop out of an answer, not other sport recruits entire teams yet these issues aren't as prevalent in youth football, basketball and baseball/softball

You ever see an entire basketball team sitting at a table signing commitment letters to Duke?

Actually, close. Here are last year's Paul VI (South Riding, VA) senior signees: UConn, Duke, Duke, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents with the means giving their kids all the advantages possible? What is surprising about that? It happens in every aspect of life not just club soccer. It happens in every country in the world not just US. If you were in a position to do it you would too.

if ur kid needs that much help to shine amongst true ballers ur kid is the ecnl/ga standard

ECNL and GA are not the same standard. Stop kidding yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents with the means giving their kids all the advantages possible? What is surprising about that? It happens in every aspect of life not just club soccer. It happens in every country in the world not just US. If you were in a position to do it you would too.

if ur kid needs that much help to shine amongst true ballers ur kid is the ecnl/ga standard

ECNL and GA are not the same standard. Stop kidding yourself.

ECNL or GA it really does not matter. There are way too may kids who are in ECNL or GA who can't even run let alone play. It is more of a bragging right for kids more than anything soccer. Or the parents/coaches playing a dirty game taking kids who don't deserve to be there. And the poor kid does not even know her helicopter parents sneaked in behind other kids who deserve to be there instead. The result? Teams that can't perform and then you go to nationals and you lose 10-0 to a California team LOL. Parents need to focus on development for the long run until college not get their kid to ECNL or GA for Instagram bragging in middle school.

So your position is there should be fewer kids in ECNL or GA. By what mechanism do you wish this to happen? Do you envision a world where some authority gets to dictate how many teams are allowed in a certain league? Who and why would anyone get this power?

ECNL/GA and soccer clubs are businesses. They wouldn't exist if there weren't demand and people willing to pay for them. It's strange that you would want to limit them. Do you also want to limit how many restaurants or cars exist because there are too many bad ones? I guarantee if people didn't want more soccer teams and leagues they would stop existing. They exist because that's what we want.

It's a want vs need argument. Parents want as many ECNL teams in the area so their kid has a better shot of making "the top team". but just like you said, they exist because that is what you want and are willing to pay for as parents. It's not what the players need, and the more teams in ECNL or GA dilutes each team and makes it more difficult to compete at a national level.

LOL National level? As a parent why should that be my concern? What parent wants to limit their own kid’s opportunities for the sake of the greater good of the national team?

who said anything about greater good of the national team? I guess you're good with paying all this money to travel across the country and then lose 0-10 in the opening match of playoffs - cause that is what happens when we dilute the talent pool in the area with too many ECNL/GA teams.

Yes, I am good paying money to travel across the country and then losing in the opening match of the playoffs. So is everyone else or they wouldn't be doing it. The point of these national playoff events is to be where the college coaches are so my kid can be seen. It makes little difference for that purpose whether they win, lose, or lose by a lot. We pay to attend showcase events all the time. Paying to attend playoffs are no different.

spoken like someone who has never won anything in life, pretty much summed up participation trophy mentality

Felt more like individual (vs team) mentality to me. This is the problem with the top-level teams at the top clubs - many of the players seem to be getting parent/outside advice to maximize their own touches and not play to help the team. Honestly, maybe they have the right idea, but the region as a whole gets less opportunities when players don't sacrifice for the team. I'd rather that my kids learn good values and a team mentality, but winning the ball and playing quick, two-touch soccer does not seem to impress area coaches as much as the kids who take more time on the ball, even when they lose it a good percentage of the time.

Until colleges, academies and professional clubs start recruiting and signing entire teams, it's all about the individual.

A major part of soccer at older ages is IQ and tactical prowess. So if you show a lack of both by dribbling like a lunatic trying to impress, you're only impressing your dad.

That's a cop out of an answer, not other sport recruits entire teams yet these issues aren't as prevalent in youth football, basketball and baseball/softball

You ever see an entire basketball team sitting at a table signing commitment letters to Duke?

Actually, close. Here are last year's Paul VI (South Riding, VA) senior signees: UConn, Duke, Duke, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame.

That's impressive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After the roster's came out for the FU teams, at least on the boys side, some of these teams are weaker. A few teams took a bit more McLean union players than Brave when the McLean union teams were not good. Interesting to see how this will unfold.

What years are you referring to? The 2007 team is mostly Brave. The 2008 team is mostly Union. The 2009 team is neither. Are you referring to the two youngest teams?

The 2007/06 team doesn't have a single player from Brave.

Umm no. How about the coaches son? Don’t know where you are getting your information from but it has nothing to do with reality.

You must be referring to boys, not girls.

I was referring to the question…boys…
After the roster's came out for the FU teams, at least on the boys side, some of these teams are weaker. A few teams took a bit more McLean union players than Brave when the McLean union teams were not good. Interesting to see how this will unfold.

Nothing the least bit interesting about it

Ok McLean mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents with the means giving their kids all the advantages possible? What is surprising about that? It happens in every aspect of life not just club soccer. It happens in every country in the world not just US. If you were in a position to do it you would too.

if ur kid needs that much help to shine amongst true ballers ur kid is the ecnl/ga standard

ECNL and GA are not the same standard. Stop kidding yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents with the means giving their kids all the advantages possible? What is surprising about that? It happens in every aspect of life not just club soccer. It happens in every country in the world not just US. If you were in a position to do it you would too.

if ur kid needs that much help to shine amongst true ballers ur kid is the ecnl/ga standard

ECNL and GA are not the same standard. Stop kidding yourself.

ECNL or GA it really does not matter. There are way too may kids who are in ECNL or GA who can't even run let alone play. It is more of a bragging right for kids more than anything soccer. Or the parents/coaches playing a dirty game taking kids who don't deserve to be there. And the poor kid does not even know her helicopter parents sneaked in behind other kids who deserve to be there instead. The result? Teams that can't perform and then you go to nationals and you lose 10-0 to a California team LOL. Parents need to focus on development for the long run until college not get their kid to ECNL or GA for Instagram bragging in middle school.

So your position is there should be fewer kids in ECNL or GA. By what mechanism do you wish this to happen? Do you envision a world where some authority gets to dictate how many teams are allowed in a certain league? Who and why would anyone get this power?

ECNL/GA and soccer clubs are businesses. They wouldn't exist if there weren't demand and people willing to pay for them. It's strange that you would want to limit them. Do you also want to limit how many restaurants or cars exist because there are too many bad ones? I guarantee if people didn't want more soccer teams and leagues they would stop existing. They exist because that's what we want.

It's a want vs need argument. Parents want as many ECNL teams in the area so their kid has a better shot of making "the top team". but just like you said, they exist because that is what you want and are willing to pay for as parents. It's not what the players need, and the more teams in ECNL or GA dilutes each team and makes it more difficult to compete at a national level.

LOL National level? As a parent why should that be my concern? What parent wants to limit their own kid’s opportunities for the sake of the greater good of the national team?

who said anything about greater good of the national team? I guess you're good with paying all this money to travel across the country and then lose 0-10 in the opening match of playoffs - cause that is what happens when we dilute the talent pool in the area with too many ECNL/GA teams.

Yes, I am good paying money to travel across the country and then losing in the opening match of the playoffs. So is everyone else or they wouldn't be doing it. The point of these national playoff events is to be where the college coaches are so my kid can be seen. It makes little difference for that purpose whether they win, lose, or lose by a lot. We pay to attend showcase events all the time. Paying to attend playoffs are no different.

spoken like someone who has never won anything in life, pretty much summed up participation trophy mentality

Felt more like individual (vs team) mentality to me. This is the problem with the top-level teams at the top clubs - many of the players seem to be getting parent/outside advice to maximize their own touches and not play to help the team. Honestly, maybe they have the right idea, but the region as a whole gets less opportunities when players don't sacrifice for the team. I'd rather that my kids learn good values and a team mentality, but winning the ball and playing quick, two-touch soccer does not seem to impress area coaches as much as the kids who take more time on the ball, even when they lose it a good percentage of the time.

Until colleges, academies and professional clubs start recruiting and signing entire teams, it's all about the individual.

A major part of soccer at older ages is IQ and tactical prowess. So if you show a lack of both by dribbling like a lunatic trying to impress, you're only impressing your dad.

That's a cop out of an answer, not other sport recruits entire teams yet these issues aren't as prevalent in youth football, basketball and baseball/softball

You ever see an entire basketball team sitting at a table signing commitment letters to Duke?

Actually, close. Here are last year's Paul VI (South Riding, VA) senior signees: UConn, Duke, Duke, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame.

That is impressive, but not surprising for a Private School who recruits talent for a money generating sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After the roster's came out for the FU teams, at least on the boys side, some of these teams are weaker. A few teams took a bit more McLean union players than Brave when the McLean union teams were not good. Interesting to see how this will unfold.

What years are you referring to? The 2007 team is mostly Brave. The 2008 team is mostly Union. The 2009 team is neither. Are you referring to the two youngest teams?

The 2007/06 team doesn't have a single player from Brave.

Umm no. How about the coaches son? Don’t know where you are getting your information from but it has nothing to do with reality.

You must be referring to boys, not girls.

I was referring to the question…boys…
After the roster's came out for the FU teams, at least on the boys side, some of these teams are weaker. A few teams took a bit more McLean union players than Brave when the McLean union teams were not good. Interesting to see how this will unfold.

I think the combined teams will be better overall due to depth. In most cases, BRAVE boys teams had a issue with depth, which was also the case for many of the McLean Union teams that I saw play. When the starters came out of the games, bad things used to happen. Plus coaches were reluctant to play the non-starters that many minutes. So last year, by the second half of games the Brave teams were getting more tired and beat up. I think this year teams will not have a big drop off of talent after their starting 11. This means coaches will be more comfortable resting players, pulling players that are not playing well, or motivating players with starting based on practice intensity.

[Anonymous]

Why are there 23 players on the boys U13 team? I know large rosters are par for the course for high school ages, but what would be the reason for such a large roster size for this age group apart from $?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents with the means giving their kids all the advantages possible? What is surprising about that? It happens in every aspect of life not just club soccer. It happens in every country in the world not just US. If you were in a position to do it you would too.

if ur kid needs that much help to shine amongst true ballers ur kid is the ecnl/ga standard

ECNL and GA are not the same standard. Stop kidding yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents with the means giving their kids all the advantages possible? What is surprising about that? It happens in every aspect of life not just club soccer. It happens in every country in the world not just US. If you were in a position to do it you would too.

if ur kid needs that much help to shine amongst true ballers ur kid is the ecnl/ga standard

ECNL and GA are not the same standard. Stop kidding yourself.

ECNL or GA it really does not matter. There are way too may kids who are in ECNL or GA who can't even run let alone play. It is more of a bragging right for kids more than anything soccer. Or the parents/coaches playing a dirty game taking kids who don't deserve to be there. And the poor kid does not even know her helicopter parents sneaked in behind other kids who deserve to be there instead. The result? Teams that can't perform and then you go to nationals and you lose 10-0 to a California team LOL. Parents need to focus on development for the long run until college not get their kid to ECNL or GA for Instagram bragging in middle school.

So your position is there should be fewer kids in ECNL or GA. By what mechanism do you wish this to happen? Do you envision a world where some authority gets to dictate how many teams are allowed in a certain league? Who and why would anyone get this power?

ECNL/GA and soccer clubs are businesses. They wouldn't exist if there weren't demand and people willing to pay for them. It's strange that you would want to limit them. Do you also want to limit how many restaurants or cars exist because there are too many bad ones? I guarantee if people didn't want more soccer teams and leagues they would stop existing. They exist because that's what we want.

It's a want vs need argument. Parents want as many ECNL teams in the area so their kid has a better shot of making "the top team". but just like you said, they exist because that is what you want and are willing to pay for as parents. It's not what the players need, and the more teams in ECNL or GA dilutes each team and makes it more difficult to compete at a national level.

LOL National level? As a parent why should that be my concern? What parent wants to limit their own kid’s opportunities for the sake of the greater good of the national team?

who said anything about greater good of the national team? I guess you're good with paying all this money to travel across the country and then lose 0-10 in the opening match of playoffs - cause that is what happens when we dilute the talent pool in the area with too many ECNL/GA teams.

Yes, I am good paying money to travel across the country and then losing in the opening match of the playoffs. So is everyone else or they wouldn't be doing it. The point of these national playoff events is to be where the college coaches are so my kid can be seen. It makes little difference for that purpose whether they win, lose, or lose by a lot. We pay to attend showcase events all the time. Paying to attend playoffs are no different.

spoken like someone who has never won anything in life, pretty much summed up participation trophy mentality

Felt more like individual (vs team) mentality to me. This is the problem with the top-level teams at the top clubs - many of the players seem to be getting parent/outside advice to maximize their own touches and not play to help the team. Honestly, maybe they have the right idea, but the region as a whole gets less opportunities when players don't sacrifice for the team. I'd rather that my kids learn good values and a team mentality, but winning the ball and playing quick, two-touch soccer does not seem to impress area coaches as much as the kids who take more time on the ball, even when they lose it a good percentage of the time.

Until colleges, academies and professional clubs start recruiting and signing entire teams, it's all about the individual.

A major part of soccer at older ages is IQ and tactical prowess. So if you show a lack of both by dribbling like a lunatic trying to impress, you're only impressing your dad.

That's a cop out of an answer, not other sport recruits entire teams yet these issues aren't as prevalent in youth football, basketball and baseball/softball

You ever see an entire basketball team sitting at a table signing commitment letters to Duke?

Actually, close. Here are last year's Paul VI (South Riding, VA) senior signees: UConn, Duke, Duke, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame.

Is that the list for girl's soccer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are there 23 players on the boys U13 team? I know large rosters are par for the course for high school ages, but what would be the reason for such a large roster size for this age group apart from $?

No one will know except for the players on the team. Maybe they have injuries. Maybe they kept players on the team and added new players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are there 23 players on the boys U13 team? I know large rosters are par for the course for high school ages, but what would be the reason for such a large roster size for this age group apart from $?

If you’re part of the Club ask, if you plan to join the Club next year ask before you join.
If neither of the above, what would be the reason for you beating a dead horse if it doesn’t affect you?
Focus on your kid, let the season play out and stop trolling around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are there 23 players on the boys U13 team? I know large rosters are par for the course for high school ages, but what would be the reason for such a large roster size for this age group apart from $?

If you’re part of the Club ask, if you plan to join the Club next year ask before you join.
If neither of the above, what would be the reason for you beating a dead horse if it doesn’t affect you?
Focus on your kid, let the season play out and stop trolling around.

My bad. Thanks SOOOOOOO much for correcting my error in thinking I could ask a question. On a forum. Where people ask questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents with the means giving their kids all the advantages possible? What is surprising about that? It happens in every aspect of life not just club soccer. It happens in every country in the world not just US. If you were in a position to do it you would too.

if ur kid needs that much help to shine amongst true ballers ur kid is the ecnl/ga standard

ECNL and GA are not the same standard. Stop kidding yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents with the means giving their kids all the advantages possible? What is surprising about that? It happens in every aspect of life not just club soccer. It happens in every country in the world not just US. If you were in a position to do it you would too.

if ur kid needs that much help to shine amongst true ballers ur kid is the ecnl/ga standard

ECNL and GA are not the same standard. Stop kidding yourself.

ECNL or GA it really does not matter. There are way too may kids who are in ECNL or GA who can't even run let alone play. It is more of a bragging right for kids more than anything soccer. Or the parents/coaches playing a dirty game taking kids who don't deserve to be there. And the poor kid does not even know her helicopter parents sneaked in behind other kids who deserve to be there instead. The result? Teams that can't perform and then you go to nationals and you lose 10-0 to a California team LOL. Parents need to focus on development for the long run until college not get their kid to ECNL or GA for Instagram bragging in middle school.

So your position is there should be fewer kids in ECNL or GA. By what mechanism do you wish this to happen? Do you envision a world where some authority gets to dictate how many teams are allowed in a certain league? Who and why would anyone get this power?

ECNL/GA and soccer clubs are businesses. They wouldn't exist if there weren't demand and people willing to pay for them. It's strange that you would want to limit them. Do you also want to limit how many restaurants or cars exist because there are too many bad ones? I guarantee if people didn't want more soccer teams and leagues they would stop existing. They exist because that's what we want.

It's a want vs need argument. Parents want as many ECNL teams in the area so their kid has a better shot of making "the top team". but just like you said, they exist because that is what you want and are willing to pay for as parents. It's not what the players need, and the more teams in ECNL or GA dilutes each team and makes it more difficult to compete at a national level.

LOL National level? As a parent why should that be my concern? What parent wants to limit their own kid’s opportunities for the sake of the greater good of the national team?

who said anything about greater good of the national team? I guess you're good with paying all this money to travel across the country and then lose 0-10 in the opening match of playoffs - cause that is what happens when we dilute the talent pool in the area with too many ECNL/GA teams.

Yes, I am good paying money to travel across the country and then losing in the opening match of the playoffs. So is everyone else or they wouldn't be doing it. The point of these national playoff events is to be where the college coaches are so my kid can be seen. It makes little difference for that purpose whether they win, lose, or lose by a lot. We pay to attend showcase events all the time. Paying to attend playoffs are no different.

spoken like someone who has never won anything in life, pretty much summed up participation trophy mentality

Felt more like individual (vs team) mentality to me. This is the problem with the top-level teams at the top clubs - many of the players seem to be getting parent/outside advice to maximize their own touches and not play to help the team. Honestly, maybe they have the right idea, but the region as a whole gets less opportunities when players don't sacrifice for the team. I'd rather that my kids learn good values and a team mentality, but winning the ball and playing quick, two-touch soccer does not seem to impress area coaches as much as the kids who take more time on the ball, even when they lose it a good percentage of the time.

Until colleges, academies and professional clubs start recruiting and signing entire teams, it's all about the individual.

A major part of soccer at older ages is IQ and tactical prowess. So if you show a lack of both by dribbling like a lunatic trying to impress, you're only impressing your dad.

That's a cop out of an answer, not other sport recruits entire teams yet these issues aren't as prevalent in youth football, basketball and baseball/softball

You ever see an entire basketball team sitting at a table signing commitment letters to Duke?

Actually, close. Here are last year's Paul VI (South Riding, VA) senior signees: UConn, Duke, Duke, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame.

Is that the list for girl's soccer?

What do you think...?

No, its basketball clown!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are there 23 players on the boys U13 team? I know large rosters are par for the course for high school ages, but what would be the reason for such a large roster size for this age group apart from $?

No one will know except for the players on the team. Maybe they have injuries. Maybe they kept players on the team and added new players.

Fair point. I just honestly was surprised that they’d be in a situation where they’d have to sit 5 every game in a year that’s supposed to be about development. I know there’s other threads with debate about how games contribute to development but regardless of how important playing in games is, it still stinks to be 12/13 and sitting games week after week. It doesn’t have to be my kid to feel for the kid who sits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are there 23 players on the boys U13 team? I know large rosters are par for the course for high school ages, but what would be the reason for such a large roster size for this age group apart from $?

No one will know except for the players on the team. Maybe they have injuries. Maybe they kept players on the team and added new players.

Fair point. I just honestly was surprised that they’d be in a situation where they’d have to sit 5 every game in a year that’s supposed to be about development. I know there’s other threads with debate about how games contribute to development but regardless of how important playing in games is, it still stinks to be 12/13 and sitting games week after week. It doesn’t have to be my kid to feel for the kid who sits.

I'll assume this question was asked with no malice intent to stir things up.

This happened at my son's team also many years ago.

At U13, some teams may want to have a roster size that is a little bigger for several reasons besides the obvious reasons that players get hurt/sick/or go on vacation or players play multiple sports and may not be as available year round. There is a lot that players at this age are going through both mentally and biologically.

Some boys are starting to question if they want to stick with soccer, but are still playing because of their parents. Plus, mentally some boys get very moody and will play well or bad depending on how they feel. Some boys that were smaller or slower, become giants overnight and become fast and physically dominate. Another group of boys grow and become slightly more awkward than they were when they were younger and need some time to get used to their new size. And then there is the group of boys that haven't started their growth spurt yet, but still have the technical and tactical skills to compete against bigger players.

All of this creates an interesting time for players, parents and teams.

I think most teams don't want to cut or drop players to a lower team if the players show promise at U13. They want to have players that show a similar level of talent and drive to practice together at these tween ages so that they can keep developing the players together and to the best of their abilities. And practice is where that is really happening. Players who aren't getting enough playing time can often just ask their coach about also playing for a lower level team on occasion.

U13 is still an age that kids can have fun, develop by playing and practicing as much as possible and without the pressure of winning or getting seen by college coaches.

And I think most teams enlarge their rosters at U13 to allow the players to develop together so that when the players are in HS and being looked at by coaches, the teams and players are competitive. I've been told by college coaches that for an ECNL team, their goal should be to make the ECNL National Playoffs during the HS years. So, the U12, U13, U14 years are the years when teams can develop their players for that time period.

You, I, or coaches will not be able foresee a U13s future in soccer. There are just too many variables. But many of those variables are removed once players have gone through puberty and have matured. And I think the academies want to get a core group of players with promise together and have them practice and grow together for a number of years so that the core group of players are peaking during the HS years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents with the means giving their kids all the advantages possible? What is surprising about that? It happens in every aspect of life not just club soccer. It happens in every country in the world not just US. If you were in a position to do it you would too.

if ur kid needs that much help to shine amongst true ballers ur kid is the ecnl/ga standard

ECNL and GA are not the same standard. Stop kidding yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents with the means giving their kids all the advantages possible? What is surprising about that? It happens in every aspect of life not just club soccer. It happens in every country in the world not just US. If you were in a position to do it you would too.

if ur kid needs that much help to shine amongst true ballers ur kid is the ecnl/ga standard

ECNL and GA are not the same standard. Stop kidding yourself.

ECNL or GA it really does not matter. There are way too may kids who are in ECNL or GA who can't even run let alone play. It is more of a bragging right for kids more than anything soccer. Or the parents/coaches playing a dirty game taking kids who don't deserve to be there. And the poor kid does not even know her helicopter parents sneaked in behind other kids who deserve to be there instead. The result? Teams that can't perform and then you go to nationals and you lose 10-0 to a California team LOL. Parents need to focus on development for the long run until college not get their kid to ECNL or GA for Instagram bragging in middle school.

So your position is there should be fewer kids in ECNL or GA. By what mechanism do you wish this to happen? Do you envision a world where some authority gets to dictate how many teams are allowed in a certain league? Who and why would anyone get this power?

ECNL/GA and soccer clubs are businesses. They wouldn't exist if there weren't demand and people willing to pay for them. It's strange that you would want to limit them. Do you also want to limit how many restaurants or cars exist because there are too many bad ones? I guarantee if people didn't want more soccer teams and leagues they would stop existing. They exist because that's what we want.

It's a want vs need argument. Parents want as many ECNL teams in the area so their kid has a better shot of making "the top team". but just like you said, they exist because that is what you want and are willing to pay for as parents. It's not what the players need, and the more teams in ECNL or GA dilutes each team and makes it more difficult to compete at a national level.

LOL National level? As a parent why should that be my concern? What parent wants to limit their own kid’s opportunities for the sake of the greater good of the national team?

who said anything about greater good of the national team? I guess you're good with paying all this money to travel across the country and then lose 0-10 in the opening match of playoffs - cause that is what happens when we dilute the talent pool in the area with too many ECNL/GA teams.

Yes, I am good paying money to travel across the country and then losing in the opening match of the playoffs. So is everyone else or they wouldn't be doing it. The point of these national playoff events is to be where the college coaches are so my kid can be seen. It makes little difference for that purpose whether they win, lose, or lose by a lot. We pay to attend showcase events all the time. Paying to attend playoffs are no different.

spoken like someone who has never won anything in life, pretty much summed up participation trophy mentality

Felt more like individual (vs team) mentality to me. This is the problem with the top-level teams at the top clubs - many of the players seem to be getting parent/outside advice to maximize their own touches and not play to help the team. Honestly, maybe they have the right idea, but the region as a whole gets less opportunities when players don't sacrifice for the team. I'd rather that my kids learn good values and a team mentality, but winning the ball and playing quick, two-touch soccer does not seem to impress area coaches as much as the kids who take more time on the ball, even when they lose it a good percentage of the time.

Until colleges, academies and professional clubs start recruiting and signing entire teams, it's all about the individual.

A major part of soccer at older ages is IQ and tactical prowess. So if you show a lack of both by dribbling like a lunatic trying to impress, you're only impressing your dad.

That's a cop out of an answer, not other sport recruits entire teams yet these issues aren't as prevalent in youth football, basketball and baseball/softball

You ever see an entire basketball team sitting at a table signing commitment letters to Duke?

Actually, close. Here are last year's Paul VI (South Riding, VA) senior signees: UConn, Duke, Duke, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame.

That is impressive, but not surprising for a Private School who recruits talent for a money generating sport.

All those kids are from the DMV, so whether they recruit or not...there's development that takes place. One year Paul VI had four kids on three teams in the NCAA Final 4. All of those kids came into the high school as freshmen. Recruiting is part of it. But hard work and know how is also part.

[Anonymous]

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