I have noticed a lot of anxiety in the DMV (by parents) over their kids making a high school team, especially among the mid 40-50s (older/regular aged) parents.

My personal theory is that it stems from our youth when there weren't as many travel teams and HS was *the thing* to accomplish. Also when high schools were much smaller. Our local FCPS has 1000 more kids than when we grew up in this area. There is much more competition to make certain HS teams because there are so many more kids in some schools but also, it is less important than back in the day when travel teams didn't play year round and there weren't as many of them. No college coaches care about HS teams, but parents are not always aware of this. People also make a lot of valid points on this thread that while travel teams also make mistakes, HS coaches are generally a much lower level of pay/experience at coaching than travel coaches.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen some of this at my daughter's HS team. She is a skilled CM but the coach doesn't value technical ability. Their tryouts consisted of a bunch of fitness and a 1 mile run and sprints. The coach runs formations that just focus on playing long balls up to fast wings and forwards and even though they have a bunch of skilled club players, the coach wants to just play kick it and run. They wanted their midfielders to just be "chasers" not players to connect and possess with. The coaches were basically rec coaches and said that their main goal was to get the ball up to their wingers and try to earn corners and get a goal off of the scrum in the middle or a header. When my daughter told me that- I finally was ok with the truth that she wasn't going to be valued much and that we should just concentrate on club. HS- it is what it is

This is exactly what my son's private HS wanted them to do this Fall. He also is a CM. Painful. They'd rather lose 50-50 balls 90% of the time (because they don't have strong enough or skilled enough forwards to even control or win the fight for the long balls)...and they love to keep the ball in the air. Never met a ground through ball that they liked.

I'm just trying to understand the complaint here. You are disappointed that your kid's skillset doesn't match up with the way the HS coach chooses to play? Or you think the coach is doing it wrong and should do things the way you'd like which would favor your kid over some others that fit the coach's plan. Are you venting or complaining? Obviously none of this is applicable to all high schools, or all coaches, or all years depending on the makeup of the teams.

Kickball, yes. It's how most not very knowledgeable choose to play and how they select. And, it is ineffective when you don't even have the players capable of using that strategy.

And, let me distinguish this by saying. I'm fine with different styles. In fact, after watching my kids play possession (and painful passing back when the team could go forward) I relish a coach that wants to play a more aggressive style. But, English Premier Liverpool, etc., isn't just blindly kicking out to a wing anytime you get the ball either.

There are times to play possession and times to play kick ball. Learning kickball is easy, learning possession isn't. Kids that learn possession early are better off in the long run in terms of development.

++1 smart answer. I’d add that it seems hard for 15yo players to learn possession style at this age. Easier for those who learned to play correctly at U-little to play both styles.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen some of this at my daughter's HS team. She is a skilled CM but the coach doesn't value technical ability. Their tryouts consisted of a bunch of fitness and a 1 mile run and sprints. The coach runs formations that just focus on playing long balls up to fast wings and forwards and even though they have a bunch of skilled club players, the coach wants to just play kick it and run. They wanted their midfielders to just be "chasers" not players to connect and possess with. The coaches were basically rec coaches and said that their main goal was to get the ball up to their wingers and try to earn corners and get a goal off of the scrum in the middle or a header. When my daughter told me that- I finally was ok with the truth that she wasn't going to be valued much and that we should just concentrate on club. HS- it is what it is

This is exactly what my son's private HS wanted them to do this Fall. He also is a CM. Painful. They'd rather lose 50-50 balls 90% of the time (because they don't have strong enough or skilled enough forwards to even control or win the fight for the long balls)...and they love to keep the ball in the air. Never met a ground through ball that they liked.

I'm just trying to understand the complaint here. You are disappointed that your kid's skillset doesn't match up with the way the HS coach chooses to play? Or you think the coach is doing it wrong and should do things the way you'd like which would favor your kid over some others that fit the coach's plan. Are you venting or complaining? Obviously none of this is applicable to all high schools, or all coaches, or all years depending on the makeup of the teams.

Kickball, yes. It's how most not very knowledgeable choose to play and how they select. And, it is ineffective when you don't even have the players capable of using that strategy.

And, let me distinguish this by saying. I'm fine with different styles. In fact, after watching my kids play possession (and painful passing back when the team could go forward) I relish a coach that wants to play a more aggressive style. But, English Premier Liverpool, etc., isn't just blindly kicking out to a wing anytime you get the ball either.

There are times to play possession and times to play kick ball. Learning kickball is easy, learning possession isn't. Kids that learn possession early are better off in the long run in terms of development.

Depending upon grade level, I think most kids on A or B Travel team players could make their high school JV/Varsity team.

I've been debating whether my DS should play in HS as well as Travel and I'm on the fence as I don't see public HS coaches trying to get their players recruited. In the end, the decision will be my DS's. But if getting recruited by a college is the goal stick with Travel unless you know of a HS Soccer Coach known for getting their players recruited. I'm sure private school Soccer coaches probably work to get their players recruited. I know MD pulls from a lot of local MD Travel clubs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen some of this at my daughter's HS team. She is a skilled CM but the coach doesn't value technical ability. Their tryouts consisted of a bunch of fitness and a 1 mile run and sprints. The coach runs formations that just focus on playing long balls up to fast wings and forwards and even though they have a bunch of skilled club players, the coach wants to just play kick it and run. They wanted their midfielders to just be "chasers" not players to connect and possess with. The coaches were basically rec coaches and said that their main goal was to get the ball up to their wingers and try to earn corners and get a goal off of the scrum in the middle or a header. When my daughter told me that- I finally was ok with the truth that she wasn't going to be valued much and that we should just concentrate on club. HS- it is what it is

This is exactly what my son's private HS wanted them to do this Fall. He also is a CM. Painful. They'd rather lose 50-50 balls 90% of the time (because they don't have strong enough or skilled enough forwards to even control or win the fight for the long balls)...and they love to keep the ball in the air. Never met a ground through ball that they liked.

I'm just trying to understand the complaint here. You are disappointed that your kid's skillset doesn't match up with the way the HS coach chooses to play? Or you think the coach is doing it wrong and should do things the way you'd like which would favor your kid over some others that fit the coach's plan. Are you venting or complaining? Obviously none of this is applicable to all high schools, or all coaches, or all years depending on the makeup of the teams.

Kickball, yes. It's how most not very knowledgeable choose to play and how they select. And, it is ineffective when you don't even have the players capable of using that strategy.

And, let me distinguish this by saying. I'm fine with different styles. In fact, after watching my kids play possession (and painful passing back when the team could go forward) I relish a coach that wants to play a more aggressive style. But, English Premier Liverpool, etc., isn't just blindly kicking out to a wing anytime you get the ball either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen some of this at my daughter's HS team. She is a skilled CM but the coach doesn't value technical ability. Their tryouts consisted of a bunch of fitness and a 1 mile run and sprints. The coach runs formations that just focus on playing long balls up to fast wings and forwards and even though they have a bunch of skilled club players, the coach wants to just play kick it and run. They wanted their midfielders to just be "chasers" not players to connect and possess with. The coaches were basically rec coaches and said that their main goal was to get the ball up to their wingers and try to earn corners and get a goal off of the scrum in the middle or a header. When my daughter told me that- I finally was ok with the truth that she wasn't going to be valued much and that we should just concentrate on club. HS- it is what it is

This is exactly what my son's private HS wanted them to do this Fall. He also is a CM. Painful. They'd rather lose 50-50 balls 90% of the time (because they don't have strong enough or skilled enough forwards to even control or win the fight for the long balls)...and they love to keep the ball in the air. Never met a ground through ball that they liked.

I'm just trying to understand the complaint here. You are disappointed that your kid's skillset doesn't match up with the way the HS coach chooses to play? Or you think the coach is doing it wrong and should do things the way you'd like which would favor your kid over some others that fit the coach's plan. Are you venting or complaining? Obviously none of this is applicable to all high schools, or all coaches, or all years depending on the makeup of the teams.

Kickball, yes. It's how most not very knowledgeable choose to play and how they select. And, it is ineffective when you don't even have the players capable of using that strategy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen some of this at my daughter's HS team. She is a skilled CM but the coach doesn't value technical ability. Their tryouts consisted of a bunch of fitness and a 1 mile run and sprints. The coach runs formations that just focus on playing long balls up to fast wings and forwards and even though they have a bunch of skilled club players, the coach wants to just play kick it and run. They wanted their midfielders to just be "chasers" not players to connect and possess with. The coaches were basically rec coaches and said that their main goal was to get the ball up to their wingers and try to earn corners and get a goal off of the scrum in the middle or a header. When my daughter told me that- I finally was ok with the truth that she wasn't going to be valued much and that we should just concentrate on club. HS- it is what it is

This is exactly what my son's private HS wanted them to do this Fall. He also is a CM. Painful. They'd rather lose 50-50 balls 90% of the time (because they don't have strong enough or skilled enough forwards to even control or win the fight for the long balls)...and they love to keep the ball in the air. Never met a ground through ball that they liked.

I'm just trying to understand the complaint here. You are disappointed that your kid's skillset doesn't match up with the way the HS coach chooses to play? Or you think the coach is doing it wrong and should do things the way you'd like which would favor your kid over some others that fit the coach's plan. Are you venting or complaining? Obviously none of this is applicable to all high schools, or all coaches, or all years depending on the makeup of the teams.

Anonymous wrote:I have seen some of this at my daughter's HS team. She is a skilled CM but the coach doesn't value technical ability. Their tryouts consisted of a bunch of fitness and a 1 mile run and sprints. The coach runs formations that just focus on playing long balls up to fast wings and forwards and even though they have a bunch of skilled club players, the coach wants to just play kick it and run. They wanted their midfielders to just be "chasers" not players to connect and possess with. The coaches were basically rec coaches and said that their main goal was to get the ball up to their wingers and try to earn corners and get a goal off of the scrum in the middle or a header. When my daughter told me that- I finally was ok with the truth that she wasn't going to be valued much and that we should just concentrate on club. HS- it is what it is

This is exactly what my son's private HS wanted them to do this Fall. He also is a CM. Painful. They'd rather lose 50-50 balls 90% of the time (because they don't have strong enough or skilled enough forwards to even control or win the fight for the long balls)...and they love to keep the ball in the air. Never met a ground through ball that they liked.

PP, is your DD's HS team winning most of its games?

I have seen some of this at my daughter's HS team. She is a skilled CM but the coach doesn't value technical ability. Their tryouts consisted of a bunch of fitness and a 1 mile run and sprints. The coach runs formations that just focus on playing long balls up to fast wings and forwards and even though they have a bunch of skilled club players, the coach wants to just play kick it and run. They wanted their midfielders to just be "chasers" not players to connect and possess with. The coaches were basically rec coaches and said that their main goal was to get the ball up to their wingers and try to earn corners and get a goal off of the scrum in the middle or a header. When my daughter told me that- I finally was ok with the truth that she wasn't going to be valued much and that we should just concentrate on club. HS- it is what it is

It is what it is.

I can't tell you how many times my oldest was not moved up on team or not looked at a tryout---only to go elsewhere--make the top team and then beat the team (and score himself) that shafted him.

It's the story of soccer.

He's in the regionals against a team he tried out for that put him on the third field with no coaches watching. And he is the star of this team.

Club, high school, etc., it doesn't matter. It happens. You just have to roll with it and as I told my kid "they did you favor. things happen for a reason'. For both of my kids, every situation where they felt 'screwed over' or they got treated poorly---wherever they ended up or what they ended up doing after was much better for them and they ultimately ended up in a higher place.

High school situation sucks because it's not like you can switch high schools or want to for getting shafted---but it just might be that it frees you up for better soccer experiences outside of high school or new and different experiences not related to soccer in high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question: I have experience with girls soccer only, but from
what I see on the boys side is that some good players may also be developing in the Latin American leagues. They don’t have the flashy ECNL lablel, but have been playing against older skilled players. It may be a different style of play, but HS coaches are trying to win. These players could be “taking” varsity spots away from the ECNL boys.

This does not happen as much on the girls side. Hispanic families usually do not support girls playing soccer as much as for boys.

Signed: Hispanic mother.

Can you share some information on some latin american leagues? Such as name of league. Website. Thanks

My kids play in a Latino club and while the club fields EDP teams, often times, they run their own leagues or play in Latino-run leagues. Their online presence is minimal. Maybe a FB page but it’s often word of mouth to get into these clubs. But they have been able to field competitive teams however so I have no doubt nor am I surprised that some of those kids are taking spots from ECNL or MLSNEXT kids in high school. And they are usually too small to field girls teams so the talented girls play on the boys team.

If you are interested in these clubs, if you play against one and are impressed by the quality of play, just approach the coach and ask abt how your kid can join. FWIW, we are not Hispanic but we knew the club owner/league organizer from way back before we had kids and he had been encouraging us to join after seeing our kids play. We were also at another small Latino club previously. That one we joined bc someone from our daycare saw my boys playing and suggested they join the club. So needless to say, your kid does have to be good or a solid player still.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question: I have experience with girls soccer only, but from
what I see on the boys side is that some good players may also be developing in the Latin American leagues. They don’t have the flashy ECNL lablel, but have been playing against older skilled players. It may be a different style of play, but HS coaches are trying to win. These players could be “taking” varsity spots away from the ECNL boys.

This does not happen as much on the girls side. Hispanic families usually do not support girls playing soccer as much as for boys.

Signed: Hispanic mother.

Can you share some information on some latin american leagues? Such as name of league. Website. Thanks

PP here. Sorry, I really don’t have any info on Latin American leagues. However, I have seen some good games going on very early in the morning at EC Lawerence and Hutchison (Herndon) on the grass fields. I have two daughters that play EDP and CCL. Our club sponsors many low income kids (mostly boys due to demand). On the girls side we have two sort of Hispanic girls (one parent) one of my daughter’s teams, and there are four on the other. The club coaches are about 80% Hispanic on the boys side. There are no Hispanic coaches on the girls side. This is a cultural thing. I have heard male Hispanic coaches say they are not interested in coaching girls, because, “what is the point? They will will not go pro.” Many Latin American families around here do not have enough time or money to support their kids in sports. If there are any resources, that money with go to the boys, who might have a chance of “making it”. It is sad, but true. I do enjoy seeing more and more Hispanic girls playing soccer though. There finally are national female teams south of the border, but they get very little support. Add onto that, many reports of sexual abuse and harassment.

Anonymous wrote:Question: I have experience with girls soccer only, but from
what I see on the boys side is that some good players may also be developing in the Latin American leagues. They don’t have the flashy ECNL lablel, but have been playing against older skilled players. It may be a different style of play, but HS coaches are trying to win. These players could be “taking” varsity spots away from the ECNL boys.

This does not happen as much on the girls side. Hispanic families usually do not support girls playing soccer as much as for boys.

Signed: Hispanic mother.

Can you share some information on some latin american leagues? Such as name of league. Website. Thanks

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Totally agree.

Anonymous wrote:Question: I have experience with girls soccer only, but from
what I see on the boys side is that some good players may also be developing in the Latin American leagues. They don’t have the flashy ECNL lablel, but have been playing against older skilled players. It may be a different style of play, but HS coaches are trying to win. These players could be “taking” varsity spots away from the ECNL boys.

This does not happen as much on the girls side. Hispanic families usually do not support girls playing soccer as much as for boys.

Signed: Hispanic mother.

I wish there was more support for Hispanic girl players at the younger ages from their families bc there are many talented girls out there.

My kid's boys team played a very talented "boys" team in EDP that had two girls on the team. They were far and away the best two players on the team.