Stoddert boys travel coaches

[Anonymous]

It seems that there is some uncertainty about who the coaches will be for Stoddert's U11 and U12 teams next year, yet they're asking parents to confirm spots by tomorrow. For those of you who've been doing this for a while, would you accept a spot without knowing who the coach will be? TIA.

[Anonymous]

We have already accepted a spot and are not happy about the uncertainty. Deposits haven't been requested yet, however, so I don't see any way they could hold you to your decision.

[Anonymous]

Hello, I’m new to travel soccer and to Stoddert, and naturally have lots of questions. I did notice that the coaches for U11 and U12 aren’t listed, and yet we’re expected to contact the age-group director and cc: the specific coach by 5pm tomorrow. My son was just offered a place on Stoddert's U11 white team (I assume that this is their "C" team). Do you know whether players are able to move from a white to a red team, say, during a season? Do coaches regularly contemplate and act on this possibility? And my other question is whether there is a qualitative difference for a player, in terms of skills development, training, attention from coaches, etc., between the blue, red, or white team? My son says he is serious about soccer and loves the game. He has the option of playing travel with two other clubs and we're trying to decide which one to go with. There are other factors (like commuting time), but for right now I'm just trying to get a handle on the differences between playing on the first, second, or third team at Stoddert. Any remarks you can offer would be welcome. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello, I’m new to travel soccer and to Stoddert, and naturally have lots of questions. I did notice that the coaches for U11 and U12 aren’t listed, and yet we’re expected to contact the age-group director and cc: the specific coach by 5pm tomorrow. My son was just offered a place on Stoddert's U11 white team (I assume that this is their "C" team). Do you know whether players are able to move from a white to a red team, say, during a season? Do coaches regularly contemplate and act on this possibility? And my other question is whether there is a qualitative difference for a player, in terms of skills development, training, attention from coaches, etc., between the blue, red, or white team? My son says he is serious about soccer and loves the game. He has the option of playing travel with two other clubs and we're trying to decide which one to go with. There are other factors (like commuting time), but for right now I'm just trying to get a handle on the differences between playing on the first, second, or third team at Stoddert. Any remarks you can offer would be welcome. Thanks!

We are moving up from U10 which is a bit different but my understanding is that players only get moved around between years, not during the year. In U9-10 there was some significant variation in the experience of the coaches but I don't know if that was true for U11-12, and without knowing the coaching staff, it's impossible to tell what it will be like for next year either. Given the coaching situation it's possible that some kids won't accept their spots which might mean that there will be some movement among teams over the next few days.

[Anonymous]

The current U11/12 boy's white team coach is supposed to be great (not our son's team, but the boys and families love him and our son knows him from practices) but no one knows what the changes will be. Wish there was more info from the club. This isn't a great situation to put players, families, or coaches in.

[Anonymous]

My experience in general with Stoddert (year 3 now) is that their new hires are great.

[Anonymous]

I will also say that their new director is very good (light years better than the previous guy who left 18-24 months ago) and they recognize that the competition for soccer dollars is tighter than it's ever been. It's in their best interest to hire great and not just mediocre coaches. All recent hires that my kids have either had or observed (during shared practices) have been very good.

[Anonymous]

I'm not so sure about that. They hired a new coach for U9-10 a couple of years ago who really wasn't very experienced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not so sure about that. They hired a new coach for U9-10 a couple of years ago who really wasn't very experienced.

Yes, but plenty of experienced coaches aren't great with kids; people aren't resumes. The coach you're referring to was/is great with kids, and parents liked him a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello, I’m new to travel soccer and to Stoddert, and naturally have lots of questions. I did notice that the coaches for U11 and U12 aren’t listed, and yet we’re expected to contact the age-group director and cc: the specific coach by 5pm tomorrow. My son was just offered a place on Stoddert's U11 white team (I assume that this is their "C" team). Do you know whether players are able to move from a white to a red team, say, during a season? Do coaches regularly contemplate and act on this possibility? And my other question is whether there is a qualitative difference for a player, in terms of skills development, training, attention from coaches, etc., between the blue, red, or white team? My son says he is serious about soccer and loves the game. He has the option of playing travel with two other clubs and we're trying to decide which one to go with. There are other factors (like commuting time), but for right now I'm just trying to get a handle on the differences between playing on the first, second, or third team at Stoddert. Any remarks you can offer would be welcome. Thanks!

CCL allows this movement within the club and it all depends on your kid's performance and available spot. The lead coach for the age group will make that decision. I've found moving kids up is more likely than moving them down (politics).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will also say that their new director is very good (light years better than the previous guy who left 18-24 months ago) and they recognize that the competition for soccer dollars is tighter than it's ever been. It's in their best interest to hire great and not just mediocre coaches. All recent hires that my kids have either had or observed (during shared practices) have been very good.

I guess my main question would be how easy it is to find great coaches at this stage. Aren't they all committed to other teams already?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello, I’m new to travel soccer and to Stoddert, and naturally have lots of questions. I did notice that the coaches for U11 and U12 aren’t listed, and yet we’re expected to contact the age-group director and cc: the specific coach by 5pm tomorrow. My son was just offered a place on Stoddert's U11 white team (I assume that this is their "C" team). Do you know whether players are able to move from a white to a red team, say, during a season? Do coaches regularly contemplate and act on this possibility? And my other question is whether there is a qualitative difference for a player, in terms of skills development, training, attention from coaches, etc., between the blue, red, or white team? My son says he is serious about soccer and loves the game. He has the option of playing travel with two other clubs and we're trying to decide which one to go with. There are other factors (like commuting time), but for right now I'm just trying to get a handle on the differences between playing on the first, second, or third team at Stoddert. Any remarks you can offer would be welcome. Thanks!

CCL allows this movement within the club and it all depends on your kid's performance and available spot. The lead coach for the age group will make that decision. I've found moving kids up is more likely than moving them down (politics).

Thank you all for the informed comments. So being able to move to a new team within an age cohort depends on the league rules. I wonder, though, if such transfers, based on availability and performance, is something that Stoddert considers normal for the U11/12 age group, or if once you have accepted a spot on a team after tryouts, that's basically it--that's your team for the season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello, I’m new to travel soccer and to Stoddert, and naturally have lots of questions. I did notice that the coaches for U11 and U12 aren’t listed, and yet we’re expected to contact the age-group director and cc: the specific coach by 5pm tomorrow. My son was just offered a place on Stoddert's U11 white team (I assume that this is their "C" team). Do you know whether players are able to move from a white to a red team, say, during a season? Do coaches regularly contemplate and act on this possibility? And my other question is whether there is a qualitative difference for a player, in terms of skills development, training, attention from coaches, etc., between the blue, red, or white team? My son says he is serious about soccer and loves the game. He has the option of playing travel with two other clubs and we're trying to decide which one to go with. There are other factors (like commuting time), but for right now I'm just trying to get a handle on the differences between playing on the first, second, or third team at Stoddert. Any remarks you can offer would be welcome. Thanks!

CCL allows this movement within the club and it all depends on your kid's performance and available spot. The lead coach for the age group will make that decision. I've found moving kids up is more likely than moving them down (politics).

Thank you all for the informed comments. So being able to move to a new team within an age cohort depends on the league rules. I wonder, though, if such transfers, based on availability and performance, is something that Stoddert considers normal for the U11/12 age group, or if once you have accepted a spot on a team after tryouts, that's basically it--that's your team for the season.

In our experience with the Stoddert boys' teams in the first few age groupings, there is little or no movement between teams during the year, although occasionally a player is asked to be a guest player (for a match) on other teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello, I’m new to travel soccer and to Stoddert, and naturally have lots of questions. I did notice that the coaches for U11 and U12 aren’t listed, and yet we’re expected to contact the age-group director and cc: the specific coach by 5pm tomorrow. My son was just offered a place on Stoddert's U11 white team (I assume that this is their "C" team). Do you know whether players are able to move from a white to a red team, say, during a season? Do coaches regularly contemplate and act on this possibility? And my other question is whether there is a qualitative difference for a player, in terms of skills development, training, attention from coaches, etc., between the blue, red, or white team? My son says he is serious about soccer and loves the game. He has the option of playing travel with two other clubs and we're trying to decide which one to go with. There are other factors (like commuting time), but for right now I'm just trying to get a handle on the differences between playing on the first, second, or third team at Stoddert. Any remarks you can offer would be welcome. Thanks!

CCL allows this movement within the club and it all depends on your kid's performance and available spot. The lead coach for the age group will make that decision. I've found moving kids up is more likely than moving them down (politics).

Thank you all for the informed comments. So being able to move to a new team within an age cohort depends on the league rules. I wonder, though, if such transfers, based on availability and performance, is something that Stoddert considers normal for the U11/12 age group, or if once you have accepted a spot on a team after tryouts, that's basically it--that's your team for the season.

It's your team for the season. If you are good, they will have you guest to other colors. They saw your kid play, white is where he was placed, he might be the star of the white team...and then next year he will get moved and the white team will be sad to see him go.

[Anonymous]

I too am concerned about the coaches. My kid loves his coach and he has been amazing for U11, would love to know what the u11/12 academy is going to be over seen by...