Anonymous
08/26/2023 11:32
Subject: U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the responses. I talked with people from 7 different clubs, and none had this approach to the season. So it is somewhat reassuring to hear that some clubs do this.
I am not sure that my DS will play HS ball, so he - and any other kids like him - will lose out. That just doesn't sit well with me so we may be moving clubs - not exactly an ideal thing to do at this stage.
Why wouldn’t he play high school? Most kids who play club want to play in high school. That’s almost the point of playing club - to be good enough come high school.
The only kids we know who don’t play in high school are on MLSNext teams.
So false.
Every college coach told my son they do not care about high school soccer. They will not come to HS games abd any film take they want at the ECNL/MLSNext level.
Junior year he decided to focus only on club which plays at such a higher level than HS.
Anonymous
08/26/2023 11:29
Subject: U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
Anonymous wrote:Our HS practices 5 days a week and occaisionally has a weekend game or practice. Do you really want them practicing on top of that? Our sons club had one optional practice per week in the Fall, but most of the kids didn't attend.
My son plays for a VA ECNL team and plays a private HS Fall season. The schedule is brutal. We keep telling him he’s going to get injured, but he doesn’t want to jeopardize his place on either team.
His brother a Senior- is just doing mlsnext this year. It is too impossible to do two full season/teams in AP/Honors and also not get injured from overuse.
Anonymous
08/26/2023 10:49
Subject: U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
OP, I read the post more carefully and I think your best bet is to ask if your child can practice with the MLSNext team for the fall.
I wouldn't necessarily call what your club is doing a scam if they are making up the training later in the year. I know some clubs start right away in early November with intense training, league games and tournaments to try to cram what they missed in Sept./October into the early winter. Maybe that is your club's plan?
For younger age groups they would be winding down in Nov. in preparation for the winter season.
I wouldn't necessarily call what your club is doing a scam if they are making up the training later in the year. I know some clubs start right away in early November with intense training, league games and tournaments to try to cram what they missed in Sept./October into the early winter. Maybe that is your club's plan?
For younger age groups they would be winding down in Nov. in preparation for the winter season.
Anonymous
08/26/2023 10:46
Subject: U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
There are tons of kids not playing HS in the fall. The big schools have more than 120 players try out for only a few open spots.
Can you ask your club if your player can practice with the 09 team or another younger age group?
DC's small club combines age groups during the fall for practices and they also play friendlies in a league that does not count for rankings or other "official" purpose since they are not an actual curated team. A lot of kids enjoy this as much as the regular season because there's a lot of playing time for everyone, less pressure and you are challenged by the older kids but can also help mentor the younger kids.
Can you ask your club if your player can practice with the 09 team or another younger age group?
DC's small club combines age groups during the fall for practices and they also play friendlies in a league that does not count for rankings or other "official" purpose since they are not an actual curated team. A lot of kids enjoy this as much as the regular season because there's a lot of playing time for everyone, less pressure and you are challenged by the older kids but can also help mentor the younger kids.
Anonymous
08/26/2023 10:06
Subject: U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
Our club team 08 is playing in EDP this fall. I’m so glad because our Hs JV team basically did not take any freshman. I thought there were a lot of kids around here not playing on their HS teams because the schools are so massive.
Anonymous
08/26/2023 08:14
Subject: U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
DC’s 08 team took off the HS season last year although the B team played and they could have played with them.
Switched clubs and they are playing a full schedule this fall.
Not sure which is better.
Switched clubs and they are playing a full schedule this fall.
Not sure which is better.
Anonymous
08/26/2023 07:29
Subject: U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
Anonymous wrote:Our HS practices 5 days a week and occaisionally has a weekend game or practice. Do you really want them practicing on top of that? Our sons club had one optional practice per week in the Fall, but most of the kids didn't attend.
I’m in my 40s now, but played HS and club at the same time when I was a teen. It was exhausting, but so worth it, and I was in insane shape. None of us that did it had any overuse injuries. Compare that to the training schedules for elite athletes, college athletes, swimmers, etc, and it’s not too bad.
In hindsight, both coaches probably took it a little easy on us with conditioning, knowing we were on the field so much.
Anonymous
08/26/2023 06:28
Subject: U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the responses. I talked with people from 7 different clubs, and none had this approach to the season. So it is somewhat reassuring to hear that some clubs do this.
I am not sure that my DS will play HS ball, so he - and any other kids like him - will lose out. That just doesn't sit well with me so we may be moving clubs - not exactly an ideal thing to do at this stage.
Why wouldn’t he play high school? Most kids who play club want to play in high school. That’s almost the point of playing club - to be good enough come high school.
The only kids we know who don’t play in high school are on MLSNext teams.
Anonymous
08/26/2023 06:27
Subject: U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
Our HS practices 5 days a week and occaisionally has a weekend game or practice. Do you really want them practicing on top of that? Our sons club had one optional practice per week in the Fall, but most of the kids didn't attend.
Anonymous
08/26/2023 06:26
Subject: U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the responses. I talked with people from 7 different clubs, and none had this approach to the season. So it is somewhat reassuring to hear that some clubs do this.
I am not sure that my DS will play HS ball, so he - and any other kids like him - will lose out. That just doesn't sit well with me so we may be moving clubs - not exactly an ideal thing to do at this stage.
If you’re at hs age in DMV this is generally how things are run unless you play mls next. Some clubs will offer tournaments and an additional practice, but at this age you really only have hs soccer.
Anonymous
08/26/2023 00:28
Subject: U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
OP here - thanks for the responses. I talked with people from 7 different clubs, and none had this approach to the season. So it is somewhat reassuring to hear that some clubs do this.
I am not sure that my DS will play HS ball, so he - and any other kids like him - will lose out. That just doesn't sit well with me so we may be moving clubs - not exactly an ideal thing to do at this stage.
I am not sure that my DS will play HS ball, so he - and any other kids like him - will lose out. That just doesn't sit well with me so we may be moving clubs - not exactly an ideal thing to do at this stage.
Anonymous
08/26/2023 00:17
Subject: Re:U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
Maryland United did something like this. Really disappointing.
Anonymous
08/26/2023 00:08
Subject: Re:U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
My son is an 07. His team last year (06 USYS team) had one optional practice on weekends, sparsely attended. My son plays or practices 5-6 days a week (6 now, 5 once the season starts) with his HS team, so I'd rather not have club practice. His new team is the same - little to no club during the school season. Both last teams coach and current team coach feel the HS season is demanding enough that they don't want to risk overuse injuries.
Once school season is over he will play plenty of club - I think 6 or 7 showcases and the full club season.
Once school season is over he will play plenty of club - I think 6 or 7 showcases and the full club season.
Anonymous
08/26/2023 00:00
Subject: U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
Anonymous wrote:Have you ever heard of a team flat out not having any training for a fall or spring season? I know that some clubs will relax things a bit during HS seasons - maybe only have 1-2 practices a week - but I have never heard of a team taking a season off from training, league games, and tournaments completely while expecting parents to pay full price for the year.
My DS is in his 2nd year at a small club in DC. They have 2 07 teams - one in the top EDP division and one in a USYS National League division. He's an 08 that is playing up a year on the USYS 07 team because they did not have an 08 team a year ago. (They now have an 08 MLS Next team but he did not get selected for that). We hadn't heard anything from the coach about practices, and when I asked, he came back with a message that there is no training, league games, or tournaments until after the HS season.
I understand that some of these kids will play on their HS varsity, JV, or even freshman teams. Some of the kids did a year ago on this same team, and we still had 3 practices a week and 3 tournaments through early Dec with a lot of kids showing up. The composition of the team changed with more 07 kids than 08 kids (due to the MLS Next departures). But not sure why the change in practices. It's a shame because my DS really enjoyed the team last year, even though his playing time dipped, and was looking forward to breaking out and improving more this season.
Have you ever experienced this with any of your clubs? Do you know of clubs that have this as their norm during the HS season. This doesn't feel right to me, but a lot of the other parents don't seem to care and aren't raising a fuss like I am. It feels like they don't have the coaching bandwidth for the team or something. Fields aren't ever an issue with this team. Whatever it is, there's zero transparency and communication on the situation. I feel like we've been scammed. And I'm sure they'll raise a stink if players try to leave about releasing their player cards.
We are at a small club in MD and they also suspend practices for this age group until after the high school season is over.
Anonymous
08/25/2023 23:38
Subject: U17 team not practicing for the Fall - Scam Alert?
Have you ever heard of a team flat out not having any training for a fall or spring season? I know that some clubs will relax things a bit during HS seasons - maybe only have 1-2 practices a week - but I have never heard of a team taking a season off from training, league games, and tournaments completely while expecting parents to pay full price for the year.
My DS is in his 2nd year at a small club in DC. They have 2 07 teams - one in the top EDP division and one in a USYS National League division. He's an 08 that is playing up a year on the USYS 07 team because they did not have an 08 team a year ago. (They now have an 08 MLS Next team but he did not get selected for that). We hadn't heard anything from the coach about practices, and when I asked, he came back with a message that there is no training, league games, or tournaments until after the HS season.
I understand that some of these kids will play on their HS varsity, JV, or even freshman teams. Some of the kids did a year ago on this same team, and we still had 3 practices a week and 3 tournaments through early Dec with a lot of kids showing up. The composition of the team changed with more 07 kids than 08 kids (due to the MLS Next departures). But not sure why the change in practices. It's a shame because my DS really enjoyed the team last year, even though his playing time dipped, and was looking forward to breaking out and improving more this season.
Have you ever experienced this with any of your clubs? Do you know of clubs that have this as their norm during the HS season. This doesn't feel right to me, but a lot of the other parents don't seem to care and aren't raising a fuss like I am. It feels like they don't have the coaching bandwidth for the team or something. Fields aren't ever an issue with this team. Whatever it is, there's zero transparency and communication on the situation. I feel like we've been scammed. And I'm sure they'll raise a stink if players try to leave about releasing their player cards.
My DS is in his 2nd year at a small club in DC. They have 2 07 teams - one in the top EDP division and one in a USYS National League division. He's an 08 that is playing up a year on the USYS 07 team because they did not have an 08 team a year ago. (They now have an 08 MLS Next team but he did not get selected for that). We hadn't heard anything from the coach about practices, and when I asked, he came back with a message that there is no training, league games, or tournaments until after the HS season.
I understand that some of these kids will play on their HS varsity, JV, or even freshman teams. Some of the kids did a year ago on this same team, and we still had 3 practices a week and 3 tournaments through early Dec with a lot of kids showing up. The composition of the team changed with more 07 kids than 08 kids (due to the MLS Next departures). But not sure why the change in practices. It's a shame because my DS really enjoyed the team last year, even though his playing time dipped, and was looking forward to breaking out and improving more this season.
Have you ever experienced this with any of your clubs? Do you know of clubs that have this as their norm during the HS season. This doesn't feel right to me, but a lot of the other parents don't seem to care and aren't raising a fuss like I am. It feels like they don't have the coaching bandwidth for the team or something. Fields aren't ever an issue with this team. Whatever it is, there's zero transparency and communication on the situation. I feel like we've been scammed. And I'm sure they'll raise a stink if players try to leave about releasing their player cards.