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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]They keep score for a reason. Standings too. Tournaments cups are given to the winners not the most technical. I hear everyones complaints but even if you work to develop virtually all these kids to their maximum. They will almost all fall in the below average for a soccer player in the grand scheme of things. Everyone loves the game but the facts are in the USA soccer is thought of as the sport your less athletic kid has a chance at. Not tall enough or athletic enough for basketball. Not big enough or strong enough for football . Soccer is that great equalizer just teach them to be  technical learn possession play, etc. The fact remains the 1% of soccer players that make it to the pros are exceptional athletes first. Which make becoming a technical player that much easier. Just enjoy you kids being competitive and learning life lessons in the process. Let your kids enjoy the process no matter how far it takes them. It may end at U10 or U19 but its their journey and they are the talent you are just the supporting cast know your role and stay in your lane.[/quote]

I understand the point of view, but have you never seen the superstars at U10 and U11 who do not hold up through puberty, yet maintain that status in the eyes of the coach? While late bloomers are overlooked and remain in their supporting role? I have seen those supporting role kids leave teams for just that reason, only to have the coach and whole team suffer, learning the hard way that they had been relying on those kids to make their superstars shine. It does not make sense to pigeonhole pre-pubescent athletes as stars or supporting roles, and craft your team and their development around that.[/quote]

Good coaches know how this works, as do good players.  Parents rarely understand any of this.  But the question is why are supporting role players leaving?  Because they are not getting enough publicity?  Respect from the coach?  Respect from teammates?  Because they would rather be playing a different role?  (Doesn't everybody?)  Isn't the satisfaction of knowing how good you are sufficient?  Why does recognition of others mean so much to people on this board?  I can understand if the coach and club are making poor decisions and favoring kids whom nonexpert parents think are overrated.  But I think a lot of parents are struggling with the idea there should be any favoritism in travel soccer.  And if you think all of this is irrelevant at U13 or younger, I assume you also object to the assortment of teams into first, second, third fourth, etc?  Why don't a lot of the same points apply to placing kids on different teams based on their perceived level?  We know there are observable differences in skill and athletic ability at any given point in time -- that's why.  Nobody is saying those are locked in.  And most clubs have no problems rotating kids among these teams depending on their performance, at least the good ones.  [/quote]

I was the PP you just quoted. In my experience, there have been superstar kids who are just not held to the same standards. At U13, it becomes frustrating from an emotional and even egotistical standpoint. But after that, it becomes frustrating because you lose games you could have won if those kids had been held to the same standards. If they were pulled out of games when not performing, and those who worked hard on their own and everyone else recognized as now better had been given a chance to play. If the superstar kid had been taught to pass and create opportunities for teammates as they had been taught to do for him/her, instead of trying to force the ball because they are the goal scorer, not the supporting cast. It becomes frustrating for the kids who sit on the bench as backup to that superstar, watching him play like it is still 7 v 7 or 9 v 9, where "give it to Jimmy" is effective even in high level competition, instead of 11 v 11 where you need more than one goal scorer. My experience is obviously limited, but we had a much, much better time on a team where everyone is taught to be both the supporting cast and the superstar, and those roles become fluid to account for injuries, growth spurts, different teams with different formations, etc. The teams we knew who had a superstar faltered when either the superstar left or the supporting cast left.

Now, at U16 or U17, I can see where having that superstar and utilizing them based on that team, that year, can be a good strategy. But before that, I think it is a great way to hold a team and most of the kids on it back, serving the interests of the "superstar" at most (and sometimes, hurting that kid as well).[/quote]

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