Anonymous wrote:My kid's U12 team is not doing any pre-season tournaments, but they are playing scrimmages on their home field. Love it!
FPYCparent wrote:I'm not suggesting that all competition be banned prior to U12 Spring. I believe league play and scrimmages/friendlies have a place in these age groups. Reserve the tournaments for the later years when the results can mean a little more.
Having been through the early years (DD is now U14), I'm wondering if the tournaments really added anything during those early years. I've had to get DD to the 7:30AM tournament matches on frozen ground at Muldoon's in November and she's had other tournament matches cancelled due to rain-soaked, non-turf fields. DD and her teammates still choose to play ... even with moderate tournament success (no "championships"). Given that tournament outcomes can be manipulated more than league results, I'm trying to look back and assess the benefits of the tournament structure at those ages, especially when compared to league games and scrimmages.
Anyone think that the quality of play would actually improve if tournaments didn't start until late U12?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Many young kids would miss out on an enjoyable and useful experience.
Agree. I have three highly competitive kids who all quit lacrosse because they utilized the proposed 'development' model. My kids wanted to compete.
FPYCparent wrote:I'm not suggesting that all competition be banned prior to U12 Spring. I believe league play and scrimmages/friendlies have a place in these age groups. Reserve the tournaments for the later years when the results can mean a little more.
Having been through the early years (DD is now U14), I'm wondering if the tournaments really added anything during those early years. I've had to get DD to the 7:30AM tournament matches on frozen ground at Muldoon's in November and she's had other tournament matches cancelled due to rain-soaked, non-turf fields. DD and her teammates still choose to play ... even with moderate tournament success (no "championships"). Given that tournament outcomes can be manipulated more than league results, I'm trying to look back and assess the benefits of the tournament structure at those ages, especially when compared to league games and scrimmages.
Anyone think that the quality of play would actually improve if tournaments didn't start until late U12?
Anonymous wrote:Many young kids would miss out on an enjoyable and useful experience.
FPYCparent wrote:
What if, prior to a team's U12 spring season ...
Contests were limited to regular league seasons (results recorded as they are now). Teams can still have/host scrimmages and friendlies with other clubs, just with no results recorded. Clubs could hold tournaments that remain within the club.
Would youth soccer be in a "better" place?
Theoretically, more field space would be available for U12+ tournaments. Perhaps more refs would be available. No magical guest players that show up out of nowhere just for the tourney (again, for the years indicated). Would there be less club-hopping trying to place players on a "winning" team or chasing GotSoccer/YSR points?
I'm trying to come up with arguments against this, if it were a policy.
Thoughts?