Anonymous wrote:We are a U9 C team in NCSL and getting blown out each week. It’s demoralizing for the kids, even though we do see some improvement in their play. These are kids who love to play soccer/ they practice hard 3x per week and show up ready to play on weekends. It’s a real shame that they are getting blown out. Even though they don’t keep score, the kids know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCSL does not begin seeding brackets/divisions on the girls side until I believe the spring of the U12 season. This is the kryptonite of the Pro/Relegation crowd because by the time NCSL finally gets around to seeding the talent has already left for DA or ECNL. So consequently NCSL suffers from the same types of blowouts in those younger age groups as every other league like CCL.

If NCSL would take some care in the early years to at least match clubs A teams vs A teams it would be a better experience. Sure CCL suffers blowouts and folks have to drive but at least you know you are playing another clubs A team.

NCSL could take club recommendations as well as loose GotSoccer results to at least put more competitive divisions together at younger ages.

NCSL does try to match A teams against A teams (though as you note re CCL, this is hardly an assurance that teams will play others of similar skill level). It also attempts to group somewhat geographically, and put teams from the same club in the same division, since at the younger ages some clubs practice academy-style and several teams have the same coaches. In my experience (granted, this is just an anecdote) we didn't experience major blowouts in the early years.

I don't exactly know why they wait til U12 to do pro/rel, but I suspect it may have to do with wanting to deemphasize winning and allow teams to focus on development. For example, for clubs with an academy-style system and fluid rosters between teams, not having pro/rel may make teams feel more comfortable mixing kids up and giving more kids a chance to play on the "A" team. This is beneficial given that the best players at U9 are not necessarily the best players at U12, and it behooves a club not to pigeonhole kids at U9.

We had same experience. At u9 and u10, they do group teams geographically and generally stick to A team v A team, etc. In face, they also accept feedback from coaches on matchups. So, for example, if one club's A team is vastly better than another club's A team, NCSL will take that into consideration and adapt as best they can. As least that was my experience as a team manager when my coach and I were muddling through those early years. Had maybe one blowout game before pro-rel kicked in.

That has not been my experience at all. At the younger ages we have seen severe blowouts and even the occasional club to club matches were backwards in regards to whether the A team played the other clubs A team. Travel was far from geographically locked with several games near the eastern shore and other points west. NCSL is mostly a mess at U9-U12.

Sorry to hear that. Maybe we just got lucky. I haven't heard your experience before from other clubs (have friends w soccer players in at least 5 other ncsl clubs), but I suppose anything is possible.

And much of this, other than logistics, has less to do with a particular league as it has to do with the wide variance of skill that is common at such young ages. But, I've never seen a wider range of talent variance than I have in NCSL. At least ODSL most of the teams are of a lower skill level but the teams are more on comparable footing. NCSL, not so much.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCSL does not begin seeding brackets/divisions on the girls side until I believe the spring of the U12 season. This is the kryptonite of the Pro/Relegation crowd because by the time NCSL finally gets around to seeding the talent has already left for DA or ECNL. So consequently NCSL suffers from the same types of blowouts in those younger age groups as every other league like CCL.

If NCSL would take some care in the early years to at least match clubs A teams vs A teams it would be a better experience. Sure CCL suffers blowouts and folks have to drive but at least you know you are playing another clubs A team.

NCSL could take club recommendations as well as loose GotSoccer results to at least put more competitive divisions together at younger ages.

NCSL does try to match A teams against A teams (though as you note re CCL, this is hardly an assurance that teams will play others of similar skill level). It also attempts to group somewhat geographically, and put teams from the same club in the same division, since at the younger ages some clubs practice academy-style and several teams have the same coaches. In my experience (granted, this is just an anecdote) we didn't experience major blowouts in the early years.

I don't exactly know why they wait til U12 to do pro/rel, but I suspect it may have to do with wanting to deemphasize winning and allow teams to focus on development. For example, for clubs with an academy-style system and fluid rosters between teams, not having pro/rel may make teams feel more comfortable mixing kids up and giving more kids a chance to play on the "A" team. This is beneficial given that the best players at U9 are not necessarily the best players at U12, and it behooves a club not to pigeonhole kids at U9.

We had same experience. At u9 and u10, they do group teams geographically and generally stick to A team v A team, etc. In face, they also accept feedback from coaches on matchups. So, for example, if one club's A team is vastly better than another club's A team, NCSL will take that into consideration and adapt as best they can. As least that was my experience as a team manager when my coach and I were muddling through those early years. Had maybe one blowout game before pro-rel kicked in.

That has not been my experience at all. At the younger ages we have seen severe blowouts and even the occasional club to club matches were backwards in regards to whether the A team played the other clubs A team. Travel was far from geographically locked with several games near the eastern shore and other points west. NCSL is mostly a mess at U9-U12.

Sorry to hear that. Maybe we just got lucky. I haven't heard your experience before from other clubs (have friends w soccer players in at least 5 other ncsl clubs), but I suppose anything is possible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCSL does not begin seeding brackets/divisions on the girls side until I believe the spring of the U12 season. This is the kryptonite of the Pro/Relegation crowd because by the time NCSL finally gets around to seeding the talent has already left for DA or ECNL. So consequently NCSL suffers from the same types of blowouts in those younger age groups as every other league like CCL.

If NCSL would take some care in the early years to at least match clubs A teams vs A teams it would be a better experience. Sure CCL suffers blowouts and folks have to drive but at least you know you are playing another clubs A team.

NCSL could take club recommendations as well as loose GotSoccer results to at least put more competitive divisions together at younger ages.

NCSL does try to match A teams against A teams (though as you note re CCL, this is hardly an assurance that teams will play others of similar skill level). It also attempts to group somewhat geographically, and put teams from the same club in the same division, since at the younger ages some clubs practice academy-style and several teams have the same coaches. In my experience (granted, this is just an anecdote) we didn't experience major blowouts in the early years.

I don't exactly know why they wait til U12 to do pro/rel, but I suspect it may have to do with wanting to deemphasize winning and allow teams to focus on development. For example, for clubs with an academy-style system and fluid rosters between teams, not having pro/rel may make teams feel more comfortable mixing kids up and giving more kids a chance to play on the "A" team. This is beneficial given that the best players at U9 are not necessarily the best players at U12, and it behooves a club not to pigeonhole kids at U9.

We had same experience. At u9 and u10, they do group teams geographically and generally stick to A team v A team, etc. In face, they also accept feedback from coaches on matchups. So, for example, if one club's A team is vastly better than another club's A team, NCSL will take that into consideration and adapt as best they can. As least that was my experience as a team manager when my coach and I were muddling through those early years. Had maybe one blowout game before pro-rel kicked in.

That has not been my experience at all. At the younger ages we have seen severe blowouts and even the occasional club to club matches were backwards in regards to whether the A team played the other clubs A team. Travel was far from geographically locked with several games near the eastern shore and other points west. NCSL is mostly a mess at U9-U12.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So for my U11 DS, does this mean their current 'bracket' (I believe they go by letters) doesn't really mean anything? Or is being at the latter end of the alphabet equivalent to being a Division 6?

U11 current bracket means nothing.

Anonymous wrote:So for my U11 DS, does this mean their current 'bracket' (I believe they go by letters) doesn't really mean anything? Or is being at the latter end of the alphabet equivalent to being a Division 6?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCSL does not begin seeding brackets/divisions on the girls side until I believe the spring of the U12 season. This is the kryptonite of the Pro/Relegation crowd because by the time NCSL finally gets around to seeding the talent has already left for DA or ECNL. So consequently NCSL suffers from the same types of blowouts in those younger age groups as every other league like CCL.

If NCSL would take some care in the early years to at least match clubs A teams vs A teams it would be a better experience. Sure CCL suffers blowouts and folks have to drive but at least you know you are playing another clubs A team.

NCSL could take club recommendations as well as loose GotSoccer results to at least put more competitive divisions together at younger ages.

NCSL does try to match A teams against A teams (though as you note re CCL, this is hardly an assurance that teams will play others of similar skill level). It also attempts to group somewhat geographically, and put teams from the same club in the same division, since at the younger ages some clubs practice academy-style and several teams have the same coaches. In my experience (granted, this is just an anecdote) we didn't experience major blowouts in the early years.

I don't exactly know why they wait til U12 to do pro/rel, but I suspect it may have to do with wanting to deemphasize winning and allow teams to focus on development. For example, for clubs with an academy-style system and fluid rosters between teams, not having pro/rel may make teams feel more comfortable mixing kids up and giving more kids a chance to play on the "A" team. This is beneficial given that the best players at U9 are not necessarily the best players at U12, and it behooves a club not to pigeonhole kids at U9.

We had same experience. At u9 and u10, they do group teams geographically and generally stick to A team v A team, etc. In face, they also accept feedback from coaches on matchups. So, for example, if one club's A team is vastly better than another club's A team, NCSL will take that into consideration and adapt as best they can. As least that was my experience as a team manager when my coach and I were muddling through those early years. Had maybe one blowout game before pro-rel kicked in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCSL does not begin seeding brackets/divisions on the girls side until I believe the spring of the U12 season. This is the kryptonite of the Pro/Relegation crowd because by the time NCSL finally gets around to seeding the talent has already left for DA or ECNL. So consequently NCSL suffers from the same types of blowouts in those younger age groups as every other league like CCL.

If NCSL would take some care in the early years to at least match clubs A teams vs A teams it would be a better experience. Sure CCL suffers blowouts and folks have to drive but at least you know you are playing another clubs A team.

NCSL could take club recommendations as well as loose GotSoccer results to at least put more competitive divisions together at younger ages.

NCSL does try to match A teams against A teams (though as you note re CCL, this is hardly an assurance that teams will play others of similar skill level). It also attempts to group somewhat geographically, and put teams from the same club in the same division, since at the younger ages some clubs practice academy-style and several teams have the same coaches. In my experience (granted, this is just an anecdote) we didn't experience major blowouts in the early years.

I don't exactly know why they wait til U12 to do pro/rel, but I suspect it may have to do with wanting to deemphasize winning and allow teams to focus on development. For example, for clubs with an academy-style system and fluid rosters between teams, not having pro/rel may make teams feel more comfortable mixing kids up and giving more kids a chance to play on the "A" team. This is beneficial given that the best players at U9 are not necessarily the best players at U12, and it behooves a club not to pigeonhole kids at U9.

Anonymous wrote:NCSL does not begin seeding brackets/divisions on the girls side until I believe the spring of the U12 season. This is the kryptonite of the Pro/Relegation crowd because by the time NCSL finally gets around to seeding the talent has already left for DA or ECNL. So consequently NCSL suffers from the same types of blowouts in those younger age groups as every other league like CCL.

If NCSL would take some care in the early years to at least match clubs A teams vs A teams it would be a better experience. Sure CCL suffers blowouts and folks have to drive but at least you know you are playing another clubs A team.

NCSL could take club recommendations as well as loose GotSoccer results to at least put more competitive divisions together at younger ages.