Anonymous wrote:Is she aggressive? Does she win the 50/50 balls? is she clever so while not the fastest can predict what is going to happen? I would think she would if she is central defender.

Is she taller than other girls? Coaches often like height for a central defender.

This. OP, I enjoyed your post.

My DD is an ECNL CB and I used to think a little like you (other players stuck out to me to be moved up). She has size, is hyper aggressive, wins 50/50s 90% of the time, is extremely unselfish, and has a great attitude.

In recent years, her speed has improved from one of the slowest on the team to 3rd or 4th fastest. That made a huge difference, and only happened from diligently working on it. She also improved her long ball service, and is the best player on the team, by far, in the air.

She may never have the polish of some of her peers, but now vastly outplays the majority of girls who were better than her at younger ages.

Trust me, most of the girls who are dominant at younger ages are not dominant by the time they are in middle school and high school. A few select remain the best players. Many top players quit of move on to other sports. Don't count your blessing yet. She may do well, she may not. Being on the top team means nothing.

Anonymous wrote:Op here - the “point” is to process my feelings / share my experience. I have mixed feelings / some worry as she moves to more competitive levels but I just want to show support to her and if I tell people about this in real life they’ll probably find it a humble brag, so I’d rather come across that way to internet strangers.

Rofl sure. Doubt this is even real. The trolling on here is top notch. Why are you posting about a Cali kid in a DMV group? Nothing about this applies to this area

Humble bragging isn't real. It's just bragging stated in a way to make the person think they don't sound sound smug. 😉

Anonymous wrote:What is the point of this post besides bragging about how 'great' your DD is?

Congratulations to your DD OP, and congratulations to upsetting a local DCforum troll in the process 😎. The board could use some more positive stories like this.

Is she aggressive? Does she win the 50/50 balls? is she clever so while not the fastest can predict what is going to happen? I would think she would if she is central defender.

Is she taller than other girls? Coaches often like height for a central defender.

CB is a core position that takes a lot of flak when mistakes are made and doesn't get the glory of goals often. Great that your DD enjoys it and is thriving.

Anonymous wrote:Op here - the “point” is to process my feelings / share my experience. I have mixed feelings / some worry as she moves to more competitive levels but I just want to show support to her and if I tell people about this in real life they’ll probably find it a humble brag, so I’d rather come across that way to internet strangers.

Be happy she's in a system that recognizes the work she puts in and her talent. Sounds like all the moves have been warranted if she's in the Top 5 of her current team. Not surprising if she's still being considered to move up as a solid central defender, that can be tough to find, particularly on the girls side. The fact that she plays there means she's trusted not only technically but with her decision making, so don't discount that even if she isn't the most athletic or technical.

It may not be as flashy as a Striker, or a true "10" but it's a key position in the spine of the team.

Bravo! Maybe get a diary and write your feelings down there lol

Anonymous wrote:Op here - the “point” is to process my feelings / share my experience. I have mixed feelings / some worry as she moves to more competitive levels but I just want to show support to her and if I tell people about this in real life they’ll probably find it a humble brag, so I’d rather come across that way to internet strangers.

Maybe we should all move to California where the majority of the girls are sub-par 😂😂😂

Op here - the “point” is to process my feelings / share my experience. I have mixed feelings / some worry as she moves to more competitive levels but I just want to show support to her and if I tell people about this in real life they’ll probably find it a humble brag, so I’d rather come across that way to internet strangers.

Anonymous wrote:What is the point of this post besides bragging about how 'great' your DD is?

Just to piss off a**holes like you, hopefully.

What is the point of this post besides bragging about how 'great' your DD is?

Good for your kid, OP, that's nice to hear!

Congratulations, sounds like she is a deserving player who should be considered to move up! Hopefully, she is with the top team now after a few promotions? Anyway, a player who is 'Coachable' is seen as one who has a lot of potential; combine that with her obvious dedication and it seems like you have a great case on why she was picked!

We have a girl on our U11 team who is bigger and slower and has little in the way of foot skills when compared to most of the other girls, but she is on the top team because she is so coachable and has a positive attitude all the time.

But I will say, the players who arrive early to practice and are on the field warming up before the coach arrives are mostly all on our top team. (Now that has more to do with the parents driving them early than it does the players... but thats another discussion.)

Regardless, congratulations and that's exciting!

My 11 year old started club soccer (after one season of rec soccer) three years ago.

After her first season she was one of about 8 girls who moved up and I wasn’t shocked. After her second season she was one of two girls who moved up and I didn’t think she was ready, but she’s proved me wrong. Now she’s the only girl from her team moving up for next season.

I’m not entirely shocked (for instance, she played almost all of every game this season) but I am surprised.

I appreciate this, but it seems her coaches are rewarding dedication / love of game and trusting the rest will come. Just because of a love of the game, she goes to every extra practice / clinic she’s invited to, asks for notes after games and practices and then asks me and my DH to practice those skills. But if one picked the most technical or physical or fastest on the team I wouldn’t pick her. (She’s probably around top 5 on her current team in any of those, but not the best.)

The only other girl who coaches said might get moved up plays the same position as DD (defensive line - they switch off being central defender) so some if it may be her position is needed.

Were in CA now (moved from DC before she started soccer) where soccer is year-round and her coaches generally have been non-American so maybe that’s a factor, but I feel like generally on this forum it seems coaches are picking for technical skills or speed over grit / heart / support of team. (She cheers for her teammates all the time either on the field or from the bench and has been selected as team captain a few times.)

Anyway, I’m excited for her and proud of her but I wouldn’t say to her “huh, that’s surprising” so figured I could say it here.