Travel Soccer Tryouts -- Post Your Club's Dates

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Arlington
http://www.arlingtonsoccer.com/travelsoccer/tryouts-fees-registration/

Anyone go to the Arlington U9 tryouts? Took my DS yesterday and seemed like there were 100 kids scrimmaging on over 10 fields. This was our first tryout experience and DS enjoyed it.

Yes. My child enjoyed them--but it was soooo late for the little boys. Many were not showing their best because they are usually asleep by 8pm. It's a very long day for kids that wake up at 6:30am, coupled with rec games the same day.

Comments:
1) time of tryouts was bad. the boys got stuck with the late times all 3 sessions.
2) My impression only (not sure if it will turn out to be the case) the second day a few of the evaluators really were just choosing pure physical Size of the players over Skill. Big kids toe-balling from one side to the other and just knocking kids down seemed to be in favor. It wasn't that way the first night, but it was almost a completely different group of evaluators. Hopefully, things will sort out.

But- they ran very smoothly, were well-organized and the kids really seemed to be having fun.

I thought it was run pretty smoothly too. I would agree that there was a lot of physical play. DS saw a lot of hard tackles and slide tackles that he normally does not see. I was glad that he was able to move up to play with the bigger kids because we started from what looked like the bottom of the ladder where my short DS was grouped with others similar in size. Actually I am glad he came out alive with some of the tackles he took lol. It seemed like he got settled on one field where he was neither moved up or down after multiple sessions.

I thought it was idiotic that the youngest kids in the program have the latest tryouts minus the '98s. The last ones are almost 7-8:15 again.

I have a short, skilled tough guy and agree with first poster. The big kids got away with just toe-balling or knocking kids over. I wish ball skill/moves and completed passes (no matter the players size) were valued higher. But--maybe they will be. After all, tryouts aren't even over yet.

Welcome to relative age affect and coaches looking at size and speed over skill. They always believe they can teach skill.

They also think they can teach athletic kids to LOVE soccer. They can't. They can ruin it, of course. But if kids don't already love soccer, they really shouldn't be trying out for travel. Let the kids who love it take those spots. They have a chance to develop. The kids who just see it as another manifestation of their athleticism ... no.

I can understand why they might try to push the athletic kids. One girl we know is a super athlete - anything she tries she does really well. She decided to give soccer a try this season just for fun to be with her friends and even though she's never played before she was by far the best player. Just a natural with her body. Anyway, nobody is pushing her into soccer because she has true passions in other sports, but I can see why someone might try. She was amazing without even trying.

(my own DD isn't a natural, but LOVES it and works hard to develop skills)

LOL amazing without even trying. I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Sure at 9 she looks amazing, but the dedication it takes to develop the footskills is where these "super athletic" kids get passed by later on. There is only so much that is "natural" about developing that if athleticism alone is relied upon then they just wasted time and resources.

That is the problem, smallish kids with the skills get pushed down and are not given access to the coaching while "athletes" are handed self-filling prophesies because coaches make the same stupid choices every year.

Well this girl is not doing Academy and definitely not trying out for travel soccer so no need to get worked up. She is great though. If she ever became interested and did ever develop skills she would be one of the best in ASA. She is all-in for another sport though and very invested in another. So save your bile for another day.

The kids who are at Academy and going to the festivals *are* getting access. And they are very focused on skills. At least on the girl's side.

Are you sure your kid is performing at Academy? Some boys seem very disinterested/disengaged. One of the coaches seems like a a-hole though so maybe that's why.

Not at your club and not worked up. Claiming if "she did ever develop her skills she would be one of the best in ASA" lol!

Well, that dedication to those skills is kinda the key. So since she isn't going to the speculation game is pointless. Dominating some 7 and 8 year old girls with size and speed is adorable though. Did you tell her parents she is throwing away her Women's National Team spot?

Sure sounds like you're getting worked up. Why else would you be such a jerk about a little kid with natural athletic ability?

Yes, the girl is extremely dedicated to her primary sports. She practices many hours per week for those. She is very passionate and dedicated to those sports. Soccer is just for fun with her friends. She might not even play after this season - sounds like she wants to give LAX a try next for fun. She enjoys using her body and is very good at it. Why does that bother you so much?

ANYWAY, my own kid is fairly athletic, but not a natural like her so she works hard because she loves soccer and would love to be on travel. We have done pre-academy/academy/festivals/camps. We shall see.

I'm not being a jerk about a little kid, I'm simply laughing at the adult that thinks a kid dominating some seven or eight year olds on a soccer field due to size and speed as being any kind of predictor of how good a soccer player the kid could be. I also think that coaches, who form similar baseless opinions on kids at eight years old are similarily short sighted and laughable.

I mean, seriously, barely over a year ago many of those same kids that she is "dominating" could barely tie their shoes. Did it ever occur to you that she is simply older than many of those same kids? That by the good fortune of being up to a year older she simply has the motor skills, size and speed of kid who is nothing more than more mature? Because that is what real coaches do at this age at tryouts, they base kids talent on nothing more than size and speed that has more to do with simple maturity than it has anything to do with "raw athleticism" or future talent.

But go ahead, and talk of her as being amazing, and perhaps she is, or perhaps she is nothing more than twelve months older than many of the little girls on the field.

She is on the younger side in the class - June birthday (not redshirted). She's on the taller side, but not huge. She has the most raw athletic talent out of the girls we know. Some kids are great at a sport or two. She is just really good at anything sporty that she tries. I had a friend in grade school like that - still an amazing athlete today.

Anyway, I'm not pushing for this girl to play soccer AT ALL. I was just pointing out that I can picture why a coach might want to recruit her. I have zero doubt that if she loved soccer and invested in her time into it she would be even more amazing.

Funny thing - beyond her, the two best players on the team are also the youngest.

[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:Arlington
http://www.arlingtonsoccer.com/travelsoccer/tryouts-fees-registration/

Anyone go to the Arlington U9 tryouts? Took my DS yesterday and seemed like there were 100 kids scrimmaging on over 10 fields. This was our first tryout experience and DS enjoyed it.

Yes. My child enjoyed them--but it was soooo late for the little boys. Many were not showing their best because they are usually asleep by 8pm. It's a very long day for kids that wake up at 6:30am, coupled with rec games the same day.

Comments:
1) time of tryouts was bad. the boys got stuck with the late times all 3 sessions.
2) My impression only (not sure if it will turn out to be the case) the second day a few of the evaluators really were just choosing pure physical Size of the players over Skill. Big kids toe-balling from one side to the other and just knocking kids down seemed to be in favor. It wasn't that way the first night, but it was almost a completely different group of evaluators. Hopefully, things will sort out.

But- they ran very smoothly, were well-organized and the kids really seemed to be having fun.

I thought it was run pretty smoothly too. I would agree that there was a lot of physical play. DS saw a lot of hard tackles and slide tackles that he normally does not see. I was glad that he was able to move up to play with the bigger kids because we started from what looked like the bottom of the ladder where my short DS was grouped with others similar in size. Actually I am glad he came out alive with some of the tackles he took lol. It seemed like he got settled on one field where he was neither moved up or down after multiple sessions.

I thought it was idiotic that the youngest kids in the program have the latest tryouts minus the '98s. The last ones are almost 7-8:15 again.

I have a short, skilled tough guy and agree with first poster. The big kids got away with just toe-balling or knocking kids over. I wish ball skill/moves and completed passes (no matter the players size) were valued higher. But--maybe they will be. After all, tryouts aren't even over yet.

Welcome to relative age affect and coaches looking at size and speed over skill. They always believe they can teach skill.

They also think they can teach athletic kids to LOVE soccer. They can't. They can ruin it, of course. But if kids don't already love soccer, they really shouldn't be trying out for travel. Let the kids who love it take those spots. They have a chance to develop. The kids who just see it as another manifestation of their athleticism ... no.

I can understand why they might try to push the athletic kids. One girl we know is a super athlete - anything she tries she does really well. She decided to give soccer a try this season just for fun to be with her friends and even though she's never played before she was by far the best player. Just a natural with her body. Anyway, nobody is pushing her into soccer because she has true passions in other sports, but I can see why someone might try. She was amazing without even trying.

(my own DD isn't a natural, but LOVES it and works hard to develop skills)

LOL amazing without even trying. I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Sure at 9 she looks amazing, but the dedication it takes to develop the footskills is where these "super athletic" kids get passed by later on. There is only so much that is "natural" about developing that if athleticism alone is relied upon then they just wasted time and resources.

That is the problem, smallish kids with the skills get pushed down and are not given access to the coaching while "athletes" are handed self-filling prophesies because coaches make the same stupid choices every year.

Well this girl is not doing Academy and definitely not trying out for travel soccer so no need to get worked up. She is great though. If she ever became interested and did ever develop skills she would be one of the best in ASA. She is all-in for another sport though and very invested in another. So save your bile for another day.

The kids who are at Academy and going to the festivals *are* getting access. And they are very focused on skills. At least on the girl's side.

Are you sure your kid is performing at Academy? Some boys seem very disinterested/disengaged. One of the coaches seems like a a-hole though so maybe that's why.

Not at your club and not worked up. Claiming if "she did ever develop her skills she would be one of the best in ASA" lol!

Well, that dedication to those skills is kinda the key. So since she isn't going to the speculation game is pointless. Dominating some 7 and 8 year old girls with size and speed is adorable though. Did you tell her parents she is throwing away her Women's National Team spot?

Sure sounds like you're getting worked up. Why else would you be such a jerk about a little kid with natural athletic ability?

Yes, the girl is extremely dedicated to her primary sports. She practices many hours per week for those. She is very passionate and dedicated to those sports. Soccer is just for fun with her friends. She might not even play after this season - sounds like she wants to give LAX a try next for fun. She enjoys using her body and is very good at it. Why does that bother you so much?

ANYWAY, my own kid is fairly athletic, but not a natural like her so she works hard because she loves soccer and would love to be on travel. We have done pre-academy/academy/festivals/camps. We shall see.

I'm not being a jerk about a little kid, I'm simply laughing at the adult that thinks a kid dominating some seven or eight year olds on a soccer field due to size and speed as being any kind of predictor of how good a soccer player the kid could be. I also think that coaches, who form similar baseless opinions on kids at eight years old are similarily short sighted and laughable.

I mean, seriously, barely over a year ago many of those same kids that she is "dominating" could barely tie their shoes. Did it ever occur to you that she is simply older than many of those same kids? That by the good fortune of being up to a year older she simply has the motor skills, size and speed of kid who is nothing more than more mature? Because that is what real coaches do at this age at tryouts, they base kids talent on nothing more than size and speed that has more to do with simple maturity than it has anything to do with "raw athleticism" or future talent.

But go ahead, and talk of her as being amazing, and perhaps she is, or perhaps she is nothing more than twelve months older than many of the little girls on the field.

She is on the younger side in the class - June birthday (not redshirted). She's on the taller side, but not huge. She has the most raw athletic talent out of the girls we know. Some kids are great at a sport or two. She is just really good at anything sporty that she tries. I had a friend in grade school like that - still an amazing athlete today.

Anyway, I'm not pushing for this girl to play soccer AT ALL. I was just pointing out that I can picture why a coach might want to recruit her. I have zero doubt that if she loved soccer and invested in her time into it she would be even more amazing.

Funny thing - beyond her, the two best players on the team are also the youngest.

That is really a very lovely story, and you tell it so well, with such enthusiasm.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Pretty soon I had 12 Jenn-nays.....

Sounds like a damn good U9 roster to me!!

[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:Arlington
http://www.arlingtonsoccer.com/travelsoccer/tryouts-fees-registration/

Anyone go to the Arlington U9 tryouts? Took my DS yesterday and seemed like there were 100 kids scrimmaging on over 10 fields. This was our first tryout experience and DS enjoyed it.

Yes. My child enjoyed them--but it was soooo late for the little boys. Many were not showing their best because they are usually asleep by 8pm. It's a very long day for kids that wake up at 6:30am, coupled with rec games the same day.

Comments:
1) time of tryouts was bad. the boys got stuck with the late times all 3 sessions.
2) My impression only (not sure if it will turn out to be the case) the second day a few of the evaluators really were just choosing pure physical Size of the players over Skill. Big kids toe-balling from one side to the other and just knocking kids down seemed to be in favor. It wasn't that way the first night, but it was almost a completely different group of evaluators. Hopefully, things will sort out.

But- they ran very smoothly, were well-organized and the kids really seemed to be having fun.

I thought it was run pretty smoothly too. I would agree that there was a lot of physical play. DS saw a lot of hard tackles and slide tackles that he normally does not see. I was glad that he was able to move up to play with the bigger kids because we started from what looked like the bottom of the ladder where my short DS was grouped with others similar in size. Actually I am glad he came out alive with some of the tackles he took lol. It seemed like he got settled on one field where he was neither moved up or down after multiple sessions.

I thought it was idiotic that the youngest kids in the program have the latest tryouts minus the '98s. The last ones are almost 7-8:15 again.

I have a short, skilled tough guy and agree with first poster. The big kids got away with just toe-balling or knocking kids over. I wish ball skill/moves and completed passes (no matter the players size) were valued higher. But--maybe they will be. After all, tryouts aren't even over yet.

Welcome to relative age affect and coaches looking at size and speed over skill. They always believe they can teach skill.

They also think they can teach athletic kids to LOVE soccer. They can't. They can ruin it, of course. But if kids don't already love soccer, they really shouldn't be trying out for travel. Let the kids who love it take those spots. They have a chance to develop. The kids who just see it as another manifestation of their athleticism ... no.

I can understand why they might try to push the athletic kids. One girl we know is a super athlete - anything she tries she does really well. She decided to give soccer a try this season just for fun to be with her friends and even though she's never played before she was by far the best player. Just a natural with her body. Anyway, nobody is pushing her into soccer because she has true passions in other sports, but I can see why someone might try. She was amazing without even trying.

(my own DD isn't a natural, but LOVES it and works hard to develop skills)

LOL amazing without even trying. I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Sure at 9 she looks amazing, but the dedication it takes to develop the footskills is where these "super athletic" kids get passed by later on. There is only so much that is "natural" about developing that if athleticism alone is relied upon then they just wasted time and resources.

That is the problem, smallish kids with the skills get pushed down and are not given access to the coaching while "athletes" are handed self-filling prophesies because coaches make the same stupid choices every year.

Well this girl is not doing Academy and definitely not trying out for travel soccer so no need to get worked up. She is great though. If she ever became interested and did ever develop skills she would be one of the best in ASA. She is all-in for another sport though and very invested in another. So save your bile for another day.

The kids who are at Academy and going to the festivals *are* getting access. And they are very focused on skills. At least on the girl's side.

Are you sure your kid is performing at Academy? Some boys seem very disinterested/disengaged. One of the coaches seems like a a-hole though so maybe that's why.

Not at your club and not worked up. Claiming if "she did ever develop her skills she would be one of the best in ASA" lol!

Well, that dedication to those skills is kinda the key. So since she isn't going to the speculation game is pointless. Dominating some 7 and 8 year old girls with size and speed is adorable though. Did you tell her parents she is throwing away her Women's National Team spot?

Sure sounds like you're getting worked up. Why else would you be such a jerk about a little kid with natural athletic ability?

Yes, the girl is extremely dedicated to her primary sports. She practices many hours per week for those. She is very passionate and dedicated to those sports. Soccer is just for fun with her friends. She might not even play after this season - sounds like she wants to give LAX a try next for fun. She enjoys using her body and is very good at it. Why does that bother you so much?

ANYWAY, my own kid is fairly athletic, but not a natural like her so she works hard because she loves soccer and would love to be on travel. We have done pre-academy/academy/festivals/camps. We shall see.

I'm not being a jerk about a little kid, I'm simply laughing at the adult that thinks a kid dominating some seven or eight year olds on a soccer field due to size and speed as being any kind of predictor of how good a soccer player the kid could be. I also think that coaches, who form similar baseless opinions on kids at eight years old are similarily short sighted and laughable.

I mean, seriously, barely over a year ago many of those same kids that she is "dominating" could barely tie their shoes. Did it ever occur to you that she is simply older than many of those same kids? That by the good fortune of being up to a year older she simply has the motor skills, size and speed of kid who is nothing more than more mature? Because that is what real coaches do at this age at tryouts, they base kids talent on nothing more than size and speed that has more to do with simple maturity than it has anything to do with "raw athleticism" or future talent.

But go ahead, and talk of her as being amazing, and perhaps she is, or perhaps she is nothing more than twelve months older than many of the little girls on the field.

She is on the younger side in the class - June birthday (not redshirted). She's on the taller side, but not huge. She has the most raw athletic talent out of the girls we know. Some kids are great at a sport or two. She is just really good at anything sporty that she tries. I had a friend in grade school like that - still an amazing athlete today.

Anyway, I'm not pushing for this girl to play soccer AT ALL. I was just pointing out that I can picture why a coach might want to recruit her. I have zero doubt that if she loved soccer and invested in her time into it she would be even more amazing.

Funny thing - beyond her, the two best players on the team are also the youngest.

That is really a very lovely story, and you tell it so well, with such enthusiasm.

Now you see what the coaches have to put up with. I'm sure she will passionately plead her and her daughter's friend case to the coaching staff...and be heard.

[Anonymous]

Good grief, the hype. Queen of the seven year olds!!

Just admit that she is your kid and you're super proud of her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good grief, the hype. Queen of the seven year olds!!

Just admit that she is your kid and you're super proud of her.

"I might be biased, but she is clearly the greatest player since Mia Hamm. But with some changes to your coaching style, she could be even better."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gETP14z515Q

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good grief, the hype. Queen of the seven year olds!!

Just admit that she is your kid and you're super proud of her.

"I might be biased, but she is clearly the greatest player since Mia Hamm. But with some changes to your coaching style, she could be even better."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gETP14z515Q

Perfect!

[Anonymous]

J.F.C! Definitely not my kid.

I'm having serious doubts about my own kid on travel if all of the parents are pathetic jerks like this. WTF is wrong with you all?!

[Anonymous]

Are the parents for the girls travel like this? I might seriously push her to stick with rec if travel is like this. Our rec parents are all laid back and supportive. No one has issues.

Although I do remember one bitchy mom at Academy earlier this year. Thought it was a fluke, but...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are the parents for the girls travel like this? I might seriously push her to stick with rec if travel is like this. Our rec parents are all laid back and supportive. No one has issues.

Although I do remember one bitchy mom at Academy earlier this year. Thought it was a fluke, but...

Some, yes; others no. Unfortunately it's hard to know until the players are selected and you meet the other parents.

And of course it builds on itself, because if one parent does it others feel they need to as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:J.F.C! Definitely not my kid.

I'm having serious doubts about my own kid on travel if all of the parents are pathetic jerks like this. WTF is wrong with you all?!

Actually travel parents are pretty well adjusted in comparison to rec parents. It is pretty simple, travel parents see what really strong soccer players actually look like, whether your kid is on a top team or not. We have the opportunity to see the kids at all levels in the club. The level of talent at the top can be quite humbling so when a blowhard like yourself brags about their rec league super athletic super star you will be mocked soundly.

The kid likely should pursue the sport if she shows promise but your comments trivilize the amount of work it takes to be a top player, even just within your club not to mention regionally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good grief, the hype. Queen of the seven year olds!!

Just admit that she is your kid and you're super proud of her.

"I might be biased, but she is clearly the greatest player since Mia Hamm. But with some changes to your coaching style, she could be even better."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gETP14z515Q

Never seen that before. Hilarious! So am I right that booting the ball as hard as you can is not a real tactic??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:J.F.C! Definitely not my kid.

I'm having serious doubts about my own kid on travel if all of the parents are pathetic jerks like this. WTF is wrong with you all?!

Seriously, this is the craziest thing I've ever seen. Why do these parents find this so offensive? I know exactly what this poster talking about--a kid I grew up with who was just a magical athlete in every sport she tried. Fact is, natural athleticism counts. Life is not fair. Fwiw, I have a kid on a lower team and I admit, it was a lot more fun when he was in rec and dominating. I wish he were better. I hate myself for it but there it is. Still, I'm not going to take it as a personal insult to hear about kids that are just naturally more talented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are the parents for the girls travel like this? I might seriously push her to stick with rec if travel is like this. Our rec parents are all laid back and supportive. No one has issues.

Although I do remember one bitchy mom at Academy earlier this year. Thought it was a fluke, but...

The following is what a really strong U9 girl would look like. If your amazing girl can play at this level, then she absolutely should pursue soccer.

https://youtu.be/t-9maB9m6YY