Insiders view of tryouts

[Anonymous]

Is the helmets a reference to kids with disabilities? You are a disgusting pig.

[Anonymous]

Or perhaps the coaches wanted you to leave because you sound unbearable...

Anonymous wrote:We just went through an annoying club experience.

My oldest is a 2010 and on top team and has been for 10+ years.

My youngest is a 2016. She started playing a little older but tore up the rec league and was moved into their all stars program and did the same.

They invited us to the competitive cattle call tryouts and my 2016 was put into the 4th group with the players wearing helmets.

I couldn't believe it. There was definitely a disconnect. I suppose I should have shmuzed up to the youngers doc or just went directly to the top team coach. But I thought the club was tracking success + would be a little more accommodating with top players younger siblings.

Meh, big deal. Their loss we went down the street to a smaller club. The parents are way nicer. The practice facilities are better. Coach played in college and is doing everything right. My kid has done the same thing at the new club and is scoring all the goals. Eventually we'll play and likely beat the big club the put my daughter in the "helmet crew" during tryouts and I fully expect coaches to be waiting to say hi in the parking lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the helmets a reference to kids with disabilities? You are a disgusting pig.

+1000000. GTFO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just went through an annoying club experience.

My oldest is a 2010 and on top team and has been for 10+ years.

My youngest is a 2016. She started playing a little older but tore up the rec league and was moved into their all stars program and did the same.

They invited us to the competitive cattle call tryouts and my 2016 was put into the 4th group with the players wearing helmets.

I couldn't believe it. There was definitely a disconnect. I suppose I should have shmuzed up to the youngers doc or just went directly to the top team coach. But I thought the club was tracking success + would be a little more accommodating with top players younger siblings.

Meh, big deal. Their loss we went down the street to a smaller club. The parents are way nicer. The practice facilities are better. Coach played in college and is doing everything right. My kid has done the same thing at the new club and is scoring all the goals. Eventually we'll play and likely beat the big club the put my daughter in the "helmet crew" during tryouts and I fully expect coaches to be waiting to say hi in the parking lot.

2016 is just the beginning of a long journey. And soccer at that age is absolute crap, regardless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While entire teams are not pre-made, the majority of them are. Perhaps 70-80% of the roster. This spring I knew two of the three coaches in my kid's age group. Both coaches told me exactly which kids were getting offers to which teams and exactly which kids were not getting offers.

So, while there is perhaps 1-4 potential open spots it's not uncommon for teams to be "pre-made". Now, the issue comes when clubs don't always place the best players with the top teams because they want all their teams to perform well so they spread out the bubble players. This is unfair to those players because proper development requires players to be around players of even skill (usually). Otherwise, it's a wasted season.

That’s because of positioning requirements.

18 person teams don’t need 4 keepers right? Same is true of other positions, they don’t need 6 forwards or 4 center backs. So yes, the top 6 forwards in a club’s age bracket are going to get broken up across the top two teams, even if forward number 5 is - on a 4 corners eval - better than 14 of the players on the top team.

\

Not really, and especially not for something ENCL or MLSnext. There is a good chance that the 4th or fifth best forward at tryouts is a better left back than the second best left back. Talent tends to go to striker, center mid, and, to a lesser degree, center back. The top team is not going to keep a right mid when another kid who calls themselves a center mid could play the right mid better than them. The best teams are mostly former strikers and center mids who learned a new position.

You’re blending old positions with new positions in order to be right on this subject.

Almost every 7yo that goes ends up in club later is a striker at 7yo. As the a-side increases, the positions to do. 5aside is a 6, a 7, 10 and 11. All middies.

7aside you get a couple of defenders, but it’s still middle driven ball with an increased popularity of a 1-3-2 formation, you might only get one back - so basically everyone is still a middie…until 11v11.

And to top it off, teams don’t carry two “left backs.” Whoever is the backup left back, is a something else primarily. And chances are it’s another back or a middie.

If your kid is the number 5 forward in a club (in your mind), and is on the top team as a left back - they’re not a forward…they’re a left back…even if they were “so amazing” as a striker at 10. I promise you, the club doesn’t even have your DC labeled as a fwd in PlayMetrics at that point on the club’s blackend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While entire teams are not pre-made, the majority of them are. Perhaps 70-80% of the roster. This spring I knew two of the three coaches in my kid's age group. Both coaches told me exactly which kids were getting offers to which teams and exactly which kids were not getting offers.

So, while there is perhaps 1-4 potential open spots it's not uncommon for teams to be "pre-made". Now, the issue comes when clubs don't always place the best players with the top teams because they want all their teams to perform well so they spread out the bubble players. This is unfair to those players because proper development requires players to be around players of even skill (usually). Otherwise, it's a wasted season.

That’s because of positioning requirements.

18 person teams don’t need 4 keepers right? Same is true of other positions, they don’t need 6 forwards or 4 center backs. So yes, the top 6 forwards in a club’s age bracket are going to get broken up across the top two teams, even if forward number 5 is - on a 4 corners eval - better than 14 of the players on the top team.

What about 12 roster teams? Also, you're missing the point. The point is coaches already know who they want back regardless. So, the tryouts are not really tryouts. I do feel bad for some kids who try hard to get onto a team, only not to be selected because they were overlooked (even if they are better than an existing team player).

In the end the point was coaches already know who they want on the roster and do they do not. And most team managers are aware of this because they have to work together on rosters and guest players, etc.

12 person rosters are mainly for 7v7 and on occasion you’ll see short rosters on 9v9 with only 12 (it should really be closer to 15 at 9v9 though) - that is really a different soccer team and coaches are very limited because of the structure of 7 and 9 sided football. They need a bunch of middies. 9v9 is even tougher, because the game adds 4 field players but doesn’t adequately expand the pitch.

We agree! Coaches absolutely know who they want on their teams if the kids are already on the team or exposed to the coach. But most solid coaches are aware of their own blind spots and want the best team they can put together. The bubble is really always at risk, and the top players are most at risk from outside players - which come from ID/tryouts/kids that move and scouts (yes…clubs have scouts that pull players from out of the area / state to come play, especially on the boys side).

My point was mainly in addition to yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While entire teams are not pre-made, the majority of them are. Perhaps 70-80% of the roster. This spring I knew two of the three coaches in my kid's age group. Both coaches told me exactly which kids were getting offers to which teams and exactly which kids were not getting offers.

So, while there is perhaps 1-4 potential open spots it's not uncommon for teams to be "pre-made". Now, the issue comes when clubs don't always place the best players with the top teams because they want all their teams to perform well so they spread out the bubble players. This is unfair to those players because proper development requires players to be around players of even skill (usually). Otherwise, it's a wasted season.

That’s because of positioning requirements.

18 person teams don’t need 4 keepers right? Same is true of other positions, they don’t need 6 forwards or 4 center backs. So yes, the top 6 forwards in a club’s age bracket are going to get broken up across the top two teams, even if forward number 5 is - on a 4 corners eval - better than 14 of the players on the top team.

\

Not really, and especially not for something ENCL or MLSnext. There is a good chance that the 4th or fifth best forward at tryouts is a better left back than the second best left back. Talent tends to go to striker, center mid, and, to a lesser degree, center back. The top team is not going to keep a right mid when another kid who calls themselves a center mid could play the right mid better than them. The best teams are mostly former strikers and center mids who learned a new position.

You’re blending old positions with new positions in order to be right on this subject.

Almost every 7yo that goes ends up in club later is a striker at 7yo. As the a-side increases, the positions to do. 5aside is a 6, a 7, 10 and 11. All middies.

7aside you get a couple of defenders, but it’s still middle driven ball with an increased popularity of a 1-3-2 formation, you might only get one back - so basically everyone is still a middie…until 11v11.

And to top it off, teams don’t carry two “left backs.” Whoever is the backup left back, is a something else primarily. And chances are it’s another back or a middie.

If your kid is the number 5 forward in a club (in your mind), and is on the top team as a left back - they’re not a forward…they’re a left back…even if they were “so amazing” as a striker at 10. I promise you, the club doesn’t even have your DC labeled as a fwd in PlayMetrics at that point on the club’s blackend.

Phrase it however you want to, but telling yourself it's a position crunch is wrong. Aside from goalies, teams will take the most talented kids and figure out positions later

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the helmets a reference to kids with disabilities? You are a disgusting pig.

Hurry, let's all get pitchforks and roast the guy for calling it like it is.

The internet keyboard wartiors are so annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just went through an annoying club experience.

My oldest is a 2010 and on top team and has been for 10+ years.

My youngest is a 2016. She started playing a little older but tore up the rec league and was moved into their all stars program and did the same.

They invited us to the competitive cattle call tryouts and my 2016 was put into the 4th group with the players wearing helmets.

I couldn't believe it. There was definitely a disconnect. I suppose I should have shmuzed up to the youngers doc or just went directly to the top team coach. But I thought the club was tracking success + would be a little more accommodating with top players younger siblings.

Meh, big deal. Their loss we went down the street to a smaller club. The parents are way nicer. The practice facilities are better. Coach played in college and is doing everything right. My kid has done the same thing at the new club and is scoring all the goals. Eventually we'll play and likely beat the big club the put my daughter in the "helmet crew" during tryouts and I fully expect coaches to be waiting to say hi in the parking lot.

2016 is just the beginning of a long journey. And soccer at that age is absolute crap, regardless.

I think it depends on the coach, players, and parents involved.

For the most part I agree. But a terrible coach will make them hate playing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just went through an annoying club experience.

My oldest is a 2010 and on top team and has been for 10+ years.

My youngest is a 2016. She started playing a little older but tore up the rec league and was moved into their all stars program and did the same.

They invited us to the competitive cattle call tryouts and my 2016 was put into the 4th group with the players wearing helmets.

I couldn't believe it. There was definitely a disconnect. I suppose I should have shmuzed up to the youngers doc or just went directly to the top team coach. But I thought the club was tracking success + would be a little more accommodating with top players younger siblings.

Meh, big deal. Their loss we went down the street to a smaller club. The parents are way nicer. The practice facilities are better. Coach played in college and is doing everything right. My kid has done the same thing at the new club and is scoring all the goals. Eventually we'll play and likely beat the big club the put my daughter in the "helmet crew" during tryouts and I fully expect coaches to be waiting to say hi in the parking lot.

It is 2024. Your elder child was born in 2010. They are 13-14 years old.

According to you, they have been on the top team for ten+ years. You were there being disingenuous or, no offense meant, foe finding a travel program for the child at four.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just went through an annoying club experience.

My oldest is a 2010 and on top team and has been for 10+ years.

My youngest is a 2016. She started playing a little older but tore up the rec league and was moved into their all stars program and did the same.

They invited us to the competitive cattle call tryouts and my 2016 was put into the 4th group with the players wearing helmets.

I couldn't believe it. There was definitely a disconnect. I suppose I should have shmuzed up to the youngers doc or just went directly to the top team coach. But I thought the club was tracking success + would be a little more accommodating with top players younger siblings.

Meh, big deal. Their loss we went down the street to a smaller club. The parents are way nicer. The practice facilities are better. Coach played in college and is doing everything right. My kid has done the same thing at the new club and is scoring all the goals. Eventually we'll play and likely beat the big club the put my daughter in the "helmet crew" during tryouts and I fully expect coaches to be waiting to say hi in the parking lot.

It is 2024. Your elder child was born in 2010. They are 13-14 years old.

According to you, they have been on the top team for ten+ years. You were there being disingenuous or, no offense meant, foe finding a travel program for the child at four.

Been playing rec since 3.

Club did a "elite" team starting at 5.

Rec All Star players are funneled into the elite team which becomes letter league at u13.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just went through an annoying club experience.

My oldest is a 2010 and on top team and has been for 10+ years.

My youngest is a 2016. She started playing a little older but tore up the rec league and was moved into their all stars program and did the same.

They invited us to the competitive cattle call tryouts and my 2016 was put into the 4th group with the players wearing helmets.

I couldn't believe it. There was definitely a disconnect. I suppose I should have shmuzed up to the youngers doc or just went directly to the top team coach. But I thought the club was tracking success + would be a little more accommodating with top players younger siblings.

Meh, big deal. Their loss we went down the street to a smaller club. The parents are way nicer. The practice facilities are better. Coach played in college and is doing everything right. My kid has done the same thing at the new club and is scoring all the goals. Eventually we'll play and likely beat the big club the put my daughter in the "helmet crew" during tryouts and I fully expect coaches to be waiting to say hi in the parking lot.

It is 2024. Your elder child was born in 2010. They are 13-14 years old.

According to you, they have been on the top team for ten+ years. You were there being disingenuous or, no offense meant, foe finding a travel program for the child at four.

Been playing rec since 3.

Club did a "elite" team starting at 5.

Rec All Star players are funneled into the elite team which becomes letter league at u13.

Also has been playing Futsal since u6 (now u14)

[Anonymous]

I'm not worried been though all this before. If coaches want to play favorites fine.

But, you'd better hope youre favorites are better than my 2016. Because she scored all the goals for new team over the weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the helmets a reference to kids with disabilities? You are a disgusting pig.

Hurry, let's all get pitchforks and roast the guy for calling it like it is.

The internet keyboard wartiors are so annoying.

No need to sockpuppet. Literally no one except you thinks your post is acceptable. You are a gross, sad dinosaur.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just went through an annoying club experience.

My oldest is a 2010 and on top team and has been for 10+ years.

My youngest is a 2016. She started playing a little older but tore up the rec league and was moved into their all stars program and did the same.

They invited us to the competitive cattle call tryouts and my 2016 was put into the 4th group with the players wearing helmets.

I couldn't believe it. There was definitely a disconnect. I suppose I should have shmuzed up to the youngers doc or just went directly to the top team coach. But I thought the club was tracking success + would be a little more accommodating with top players younger siblings.

Meh, big deal. Their loss we went down the street to a smaller club. The parents are way nicer. The practice facilities are better. Coach played in college and is doing everything right. My kid has done the same thing at the new club and is scoring all the goals. Eventually we'll play and likely beat the big club the put my daughter in the "helmet crew" during tryouts and I fully expect coaches to be waiting to say hi in the parking lot.

It is 2024. Your elder child was born in 2010. They are 13-14 years old.

According to you, they have been on the top team for ten+ years. You were there being disingenuous or, no offense meant, foe finding a travel program for the child at four.

Been playing rec since 3.

Club did a "elite" team starting at 5.

Rec All Star players are funneled into the elite team which becomes letter league at u13.

Also has been playing Futsal since u6 (now u14)

Um ok my kid was “rec elite” at 4 and even then we knew it wasn’t something to be taken seriously so get over yourself. Btw my kid now plays center mid for U14 national team in Germany - a year up (so he’s actually U13). You and I both know that internationally the US sucks in soccer so a kid from a small local club would be laughed off the field.