Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^nope. There are really good kids spread out across all teams at 8/9. They just only pay attention to 8-12 of the 60 and those are the names they know. They don’t bother to watch development of any of the others. They only from then on look at new kids showing up.

TDS of most Clubs don’t go to practices and definitely don’t watch all games—and if they did it would be an older age group A team.

Travel clubs arent in the player development business. I should say ‘US Soccer” isn’t into player development.

Pick a new sport. This one is run horribly in the US—-definitely not a land of opportunities in the sport.

I’m pretty certain the DOC knows who you and your kid are and I can guess which one of the two reasons why.

Actually, what that pp said is spot on. The lower teams are just feeder teams. Never saw anyone even come over and look at a U9 silver/gold, etc. game. There are just too many kids for anyone initially placed in the bottom 2/3s of 65-70 players to get a fair shot going forward. And, the initial tryouts are like herding cats. It's near impossible to judge potential or even 'current' ability. Add in how unpredictable 7 and 8 year olds can be and it's even that much harder.

if a kid does dominate on those lower teams they say 'well they are playing odsl', etc. Nobody is advancing 5-6 teams in one year even if deserved. The team-by-team advancement would have the kid 14 and not getting challenged (self-fulfilling prophecy) if they stuck it out. The 'just need to work hard' line of crap is true---but it is so they can find a new spot elsewhere because they sure ain't getting a chance where they are.

True. Just look at all of the 'extras' the A team gets in those younger years--for the same, exact price. More training, more tournaments, better fields, more exposure, better challenge in leagues. The other teams are crammed in in a small space and don't even get a chance of other opportunities unless the parents go out and pay additional on their own to find some.

NP here. Yes, generally very true, with minor exceptions some times. And we have had kids on top and middle teams, at big clubs and small clubs. At a big club, you need to really be on the top team (or maybe 2nd team). The tryouts are semi-orchestrated and most parents don't understand that. It is not malice causing this, but that is just how it works.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^nope. There are really good kids spread out across all teams at 8/9. They just only pay attention to 8-12 of the 60 and those are the names they know. They don’t bother to watch development of any of the others. They only from then on look at new kids showing up.

TDS of most Clubs don’t go to practices and definitely don’t watch all games—and if they did it would be an older age group A team.

Travel clubs arent in the player development business. I should say ‘US Soccer” isn’t into player development.

Pick a new sport. This one is run horribly in the US—-definitely not a land of opportunities in the sport.

I’m pretty certain the DOC knows who you and your kid are and I can guess which one of the two reasons why.

Actually, what that pp said is spot on. The lower teams are just feeder teams. Never saw anyone even come over and look at a U9 silver/gold, etc. game. There are just too many kids for anyone initially placed in the bottom 2/3s of 65-70 players to get a fair shot going forward. And, the initial tryouts are like herding cats. It's near impossible to judge potential or even 'current' ability. Add in how unpredictable 7 and 8 year olds can be and it's even that much harder.

if a kid does dominate on those lower teams they say 'well they are playing odsl', etc. Nobody is advancing 5-6 teams in one year even if deserved. The team-by-team advancement would have the kid 14 and not getting challenged (self-fulfilling prophecy) if they stuck it out. The 'just need to work hard' line of crap is true---but it is so they can find a new spot elsewhere because they sure ain't getting a chance where they are.

True. Just look at all of the 'extras' the A team gets in those younger years--for the same, exact price. More training, more tournaments, better fields, more exposure, better challenge in leagues. The other teams are crammed in in a small space and don't even get a chance of other opportunities unless the parents go out and pay additional on their own to find some.

“Extras”! lol

Most A team kids get their own training on the side, go to multiple summer camps, Futsal, etc. These are not club provided and you are not subsidizing it. The club simply provides a coach, a field, a league and group of kids. If you think kids are better because the A team “provides” more at your expense then you don’t have a clue. No club coach, A or D team can make your kids footwork better. They can only provide a structure and a platform for your kid to get the minimum touches necessary.

Most of the best A team players put in the same hours away from the team as with the team.

A team gets the invitation to these things. They get the extra tournaments, the better competition, the special teams, etc...even if they have to pay for it, they are opportunities the other kids in the age group do not get. And, the club is invested in these kids, unlike the rest.

You mean these kids get special invitations to Coerver, HP, Golden Boot, Beast Mode? I wasn't aware that these were only offered by invitation only on the "dark soccer web".

A teams don't generally get "extra" tournaments. Most travel teams do 3 tournaments per season regardless of whether you are a A, B or C team. At younger ages a C team may only do 2 tourneys per season but the overall gain by doing a "extra" tourney is minimal when the real difference maker for pretty much every player at young ages is technical training. An extra tournament is not going to transform bad footwork into good footwork.

But, to address one point regarding players getting "invited". Well yes, good players are invited to guest play on other teams because they are good players and can help the other team. But in most cases, these opportunities are sought out by the parents who reach out to other coaches more than the other way around. Again, the common theme is, A team players seek out soccer opportunities outside of the club environment.

My best advice is control what YOU can control. Get your player extra training on the side if it is important to your player and you. If your player improves on their own they will be noticed, if not by your club then by another club.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^nope. There are really good kids spread out across all teams at 8/9. They just only pay attention to 8-12 of the 60 and those are the names they know. They don’t bother to watch development of any of the others. They only from then on look at new kids showing up.

TDS of most Clubs don’t go to practices and definitely don’t watch all games—and if they did it would be an older age group A team.

Travel clubs arent in the player development business. I should say ‘US Soccer” isn’t into player development.

Pick a new sport. This one is run horribly in the US—-definitely not a land of opportunities in the sport.

I’m pretty certain the DOC knows who you and your kid are and I can guess which one of the two reasons why.

Actually, what that pp said is spot on. The lower teams are just feeder teams. Never saw anyone even come over and look at a U9 silver/gold, etc. game. There are just too many kids for anyone initially placed in the bottom 2/3s of 65-70 players to get a fair shot going forward. And, the initial tryouts are like herding cats. It's near impossible to judge potential or even 'current' ability. Add in how unpredictable 7 and 8 year olds can be and it's even that much harder.

if a kid does dominate on those lower teams they say 'well they are playing odsl', etc. Nobody is advancing 5-6 teams in one year even if deserved. The team-by-team advancement would have the kid 14 and not getting challenged (self-fulfilling prophecy) if they stuck it out. The 'just need to work hard' line of crap is true---but it is so they can find a new spot elsewhere because they sure ain't getting a chance where they are.

True. Just look at all of the 'extras' the A team gets in those younger years--for the same, exact price. More training, more tournaments, better fields, more exposure, better challenge in leagues. The other teams are crammed in in a small space and don't even get a chance of other opportunities unless the parents go out and pay additional on their own to find some.

“Extras”! lol

Most A team kids get their own training on the side, go to multiple summer camps, Futsal, etc. These are not club provided and you are not subsidizing it. The club simply provides a coach, a field, a league and group of kids. If you think kids are better because the A team “provides” more at your expense then you don’t have a clue. No club coach, A or D team can make your kids footwork better. They can only provide a structure and a platform for your kid to get the minimum touches necessary.

Most of the best A team players put in the same hours away from the team as with the team.

The above PP is spot-on. Additional training away from the team is an essential part of 1. getting better 2. staying on an "A" team. 3. jumping up to an "A" team

^^ our A team got all of this. Now in the 2nd year, the 2nd team can routinely beat them in practice scrimmages. It is the 'prima donna' effect. The A team was used to being lauded for a year and 1/2 and being treated 'special' by the parents and the coaches. The other kids had the benefit of practicing against them and possess the grit to want to beat the crap out of them because they are goddamn sick of hearing how 'special' they are. The A kids were complete brats to all the other kids in the age group. Some wouldn't even talk to the lower team players. It is fun to now watch them all turn on each other and start screaming at teammates when they lose to the lower team. No unity amongst the masses.

Nobody is doing a kid any favors by anointing him/her at U8/9. Always better to go up, then down. Gives them something to work for.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^nope. There are really good kids spread out across all teams at 8/9. They just only pay attention to 8-12 of the 60 and those are the names they know. They don’t bother to watch development of any of the others. They only from then on look at new kids showing up.

TDS of most Clubs don’t go to practices and definitely don’t watch all games—and if they did it would be an older age group A team.

Travel clubs arent in the player development business. I should say ‘US Soccer” isn’t into player development.

Pick a new sport. This one is run horribly in the US—-definitely not a land of opportunities in the sport.

I’m pretty certain the DOC knows who you and your kid are and I can guess which one of the two reasons why.

Actually, what that pp said is spot on. The lower teams are just feeder teams. Never saw anyone even come over and look at a U9 silver/gold, etc. game. There are just too many kids for anyone initially placed in the bottom 2/3s of 65-70 players to get a fair shot going forward. And, the initial tryouts are like herding cats. It's near impossible to judge potential or even 'current' ability. Add in how unpredictable 7 and 8 year olds can be and it's even that much harder.

if a kid does dominate on those lower teams they say 'well they are playing odsl', etc. Nobody is advancing 5-6 teams in one year even if deserved. The team-by-team advancement would have the kid 14 and not getting challenged (self-fulfilling prophecy) if they stuck it out. The 'just need to work hard' line of crap is true---but it is so they can find a new spot elsewhere because they sure ain't getting a chance where they are.

True. Just look at all of the 'extras' the A team gets in those younger years--for the same, exact price. More training, more tournaments, better fields, more exposure, better challenge in leagues. The other teams are crammed in in a small space and don't even get a chance of other opportunities unless the parents go out and pay additional on their own to find some.

“Extras”! lol

Most A team kids get their own training on the side, go to multiple summer camps, Futsal, etc. These are not club provided and you are not subsidizing it. The club simply provides a coach, a field, a league and group of kids. If you think kids are better because the A team “provides” more at your expense then you don’t have a clue. No club coach, A or D team can make your kids footwork better. They can only provide a structure and a platform for your kid to get the minimum touches necessary.

Most of the best A team players put in the same hours away from the team as with the team.

A team gets the invitation to these things. They get the extra tournaments, the better competition, the special teams, etc...even if they have to pay for it, they are opportunities the other kids in the age group do not get. And, the club is invested in these kids, unlike the rest.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^nope. There are really good kids spread out across all teams at 8/9. They just only pay attention to 8-12 of the 60 and those are the names they know. They don’t bother to watch development of any of the others. They only from then on look at new kids showing up.

TDS of most Clubs don’t go to practices and definitely don’t watch all games—and if they did it would be an older age group A team.

Travel clubs arent in the player development business. I should say ‘US Soccer” isn’t into player development.

Pick a new sport. This one is run horribly in the US—-definitely not a land of opportunities in the sport.

I’m pretty certain the DOC knows who you and your kid are and I can guess which one of the two reasons why.

Actually, what that pp said is spot on. The lower teams are just feeder teams. Never saw anyone even come over and look at a U9 silver/gold, etc. game. There are just too many kids for anyone initially placed in the bottom 2/3s of 65-70 players to get a fair shot going forward. And, the initial tryouts are like herding cats. It's near impossible to judge potential or even 'current' ability. Add in how unpredictable 7 and 8 year olds can be and it's even that much harder.

if a kid does dominate on those lower teams they say 'well they are playing odsl', etc. Nobody is advancing 5-6 teams in one year even if deserved. The team-by-team advancement would have the kid 14 and not getting challenged (self-fulfilling prophecy) if they stuck it out. The 'just need to work hard' line of crap is true---but it is so they can find a new spot elsewhere because they sure ain't getting a chance where they are.

True. Just look at all of the 'extras' the A team gets in those younger years--for the same, exact price. More training, more tournaments, better fields, more exposure, better challenge in leagues. The other teams are crammed in in a small space and don't even get a chance of other opportunities unless the parents go out and pay additional on their own to find some.

“Extras”! lol

Most A team kids get their own training on the side, go to multiple summer camps, Futsal, etc. These are not club provided and you are not subsidizing it. The club simply provides a coach, a field, a league and group of kids. If you think kids are better because the A team “provides” more at your expense then you don’t have a clue. No club coach, A or D team can make your kids footwork better. They can only provide a structure and a platform for your kid to get the minimum touches necessary.

Most of the best A team players put in the same hours away from the team as with the team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^nope. There are really good kids spread out across all teams at 8/9. They just only pay attention to 8-12 of the 60 and those are the names they know. They don’t bother to watch development of any of the others. They only from then on look at new kids showing up.

TDS of most Clubs don’t go to practices and definitely don’t watch all games—and if they did it would be an older age group A team.

Travel clubs arent in the player development business. I should say ‘US Soccer” isn’t into player development.

Pick a new sport. This one is run horribly in the US—-definitely not a land of opportunities in the sport.

I’m pretty certain the DOC knows who you and your kid are and I can guess which one of the two reasons why.

Actually, what that pp said is spot on. The lower teams are just feeder teams. Never saw anyone even come over and look at a U9 silver/gold, etc. game. There are just too many kids for anyone initially placed in the bottom 2/3s of 65-70 players to get a fair shot going forward. And, the initial tryouts are like herding cats. It's near impossible to judge potential or even 'current' ability. Add in how unpredictable 7 and 8 year olds can be and it's even that much harder.

if a kid does dominate on those lower teams they say 'well they are playing odsl', etc. Nobody is advancing 5-6 teams in one year even if deserved. The team-by-team advancement would have the kid 14 and not getting challenged (self-fulfilling prophecy) if they stuck it out. The 'just need to work hard' line of crap is true---but it is so they can find a new spot elsewhere because they sure ain't getting a chance where they are.

True. Just look at all of the 'extras' the A team gets in those younger years--for the same, exact price. More training, more tournaments, better fields, more exposure, better challenge in leagues. The other teams are crammed in in a small space and don't even get a chance of other opportunities unless the parents go out and pay additional on their own to find some.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^nope. There are really good kids spread out across all teams at 8/9. They just only pay attention to 8-12 of the 60 and those are the names they know. They don’t bother to watch development of any of the others. They only from then on look at new kids showing up.

TDS of most Clubs don’t go to practices and definitely don’t watch all games—and if they did it would be an older age group A team.

Travel clubs arent in the player development business. I should say ‘US Soccer” isn’t into player development.

Pick a new sport. This one is run horribly in the US—-definitely not a land of opportunities in the sport.

I’m pretty certain the DOC knows who you and your kid are and I can guess which one of the two reasons why.

Actually, what that pp said is spot on. The lower teams are just feeder teams. Never saw anyone even come over and look at a U9 silver/gold, etc. game. There are just too many kids for anyone initially placed in the bottom 2/3s of 65-70 players to get a fair shot going forward. And, the initial tryouts are like herding cats. It's near impossible to judge potential or even 'current' ability. Add in how unpredictable 7 and 8 year olds can be and it's even that much harder.

if a kid does dominate on those lower teams they say 'well they are playing odsl', etc. Nobody is advancing 5-6 teams in one year even if deserved. The team-by-team advancement would have the kid 14 and not getting challenged (self-fulfilling prophecy) if they stuck it out. The 'just need to work hard' line of crap is true---but it is so they can find a new spot elsewhere because they sure ain't getting a chance where they are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^nope. There are really good kids spread out across all teams at 8/9. They just only pay attention to 8-12 of the 60 and those are the names they know. They don’t bother to watch development of any of the others. They only from then on look at new kids showing up.

TDS of most Clubs don’t go to practices and definitely don’t watch all games—and if they did it would be an older age group A team.

Travel clubs arent in the player development business. I should say ‘US Soccer” isn’t into player development.

Pick a new sport. This one is run horribly in the US—-definitely not a land of opportunities in the sport.

I’m pretty certain the DOC knows who you and your kid are and I can guess which one of the two reasons why.

Actually, what that pp said is spot on. The lower teams are just feeder teams. Never saw anyone even come over and look at a U9 silver/gold, etc. game. There are just too many kids for anyone initially placed in the bottom 2/3s of 65-70 players to get a fair shot going forward. And, the initial tryouts are like herding cats. It's near impossible to judge potential or even 'current' ability. Add in how unpredictable 7 and 8 year olds can be and it's even that much harder.

Anonymous wrote:^^nope. There are really good kids spread out across all teams at 8/9. They just only pay attention to 8-12 of the 60 and those are the names they know. They don’t bother to watch development of any of the others. They only from then on look at new kids showing up.

TDS of most Clubs don’t go to practices and definitely don’t watch all games—and if they did it would be an older age group A team.

Travel clubs arent in the player development business. I should say ‘US Soccer” isn’t into player development.

Pick a new sport. This one is run horribly in the US—-definitely not a land of opportunities in the sport.

I’m pretty certain the DOC knows who you and your kid are and I can guess which one of the two reasons why.

^^nope. There are really good kids spread out across all teams at 8/9. They just only pay attention to 8-12 of the 60 and those are the names they know. They don’t bother to watch development of any of the others. They only from then on look at new kids showing up.

TDS of most Clubs don’t go to practices and definitely don’t watch all games—and if they did it would be an older age group A team.

Travel clubs arent in the player development business. I should say ‘US Soccer” isn’t into player development.

Pick a new sport. This one is run horribly in the US—-definitely not a land of opportunities in the sport.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Question. How much influence does the current travel coach have on selecting players for the next year's travel team that they will continue to coach? Is it truly a cattle call, everyone gets a chance? is it the next year's coach who selects which players they want and has already seen them all year? Or is it a neutral coach/coaches (not the next year's coach) that objectively selects the players ?

Definitely not a third party, i think its a complement of new and old coach input.

TD and new coach at our Club. What is f@cked up is they don’t take current coach recs (you know the guy that saw them play 100% of the time in every practice and game for an entire year and knows players work rate/behavior, etc). Several coaches have been pretty pissed. A few departed. The current coach gives them their top 3 players and then they move up a different 6. Inevitably, some Club lifers/donors. You see at the final tryout the TD and coaches that ha e never seen these kids play watch for 10 minutes and then switch everything around.

Tryouts are truly for “show” after U9 at most Clubs and teams are set before they are even held.

Real clubs with DCs who earn their money don't need tryouts after U9 to figure out where their own club's players belong. It's asinine (and horrible business) to put 50 kids on a field with only 5 new ones for 90 minutes 2 or 3 times at best, and pick from scratch from there. You're right, it's all a show. Any DoC should be able to name every travel player in their club / age group on site and talk about their strengths and weaknesses. If they can't it's probably because they're too busy coaching their own teams and just pocketing the extra salary for a title.

Oh please. I get confused with the names of players on my own kids team and am much worse figuring the parents out. The DOC will know your kid for one of two reasons, they are really good or the parents are a major pain in the ass. And these are not mutually exclusive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Question. How much influence does the current travel coach have on selecting players for the next year's travel team that they will continue to coach? Is it truly a cattle call, everyone gets a chance? is it the next year's coach who selects which players they want and has already seen them all year? Or is it a neutral coach/coaches (not the next year's coach) that objectively selects the players ?

Definitely not a third party, i think its a complement of new and old coach input.

TD and new coach at our Club. What is f@cked up is they don’t take current coach recs (you know the guy that saw them play 100% of the time in every practice and game for an entire year and knows players work rate/behavior, etc). Several coaches have been pretty pissed. A few departed. The current coach gives them their top 3 players and then they move up a different 6. Inevitably, some Club lifers/donors. You see at the final tryout the TD and coaches that ha e never seen these kids play watch for 10 minutes and then switch everything around.

Tryouts are truly for “show” after U9 at most Clubs and teams are set before they are even held.

Real clubs with DCs who earn their money don't need tryouts after U9 to figure out where their own club's players belong. It's asinine (and horrible business) to put 50 kids on a field with only 5 new ones for 90 minutes 2 or 3 times at best, and pick from scratch from there. You're right, it's all a show. Any DoC should be able to name every travel player in their club / age group on site and talk about their strengths and weaknesses. If they can't it's probably because they're too busy coaching their own teams and just pocketing the extra salary for a title.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Question. How much influence does the current travel coach have on selecting players for the next year's travel team that they will continue to coach? Is it truly a cattle call, everyone gets a chance? is it the next year's coach who selects which players they want and has already seen them all year? Or is it a neutral coach/coaches (not the next year's coach) that objectively selects the players ?

Definitely not a third party, i think its a complement of new and old coach input.

TD and new coach at our Club. What is f@cked up is they don’t take current coach recs (you know the guy that saw them play 100% of the time in every practice and game for an entire year and knows players work rate/behavior, etc). Several coaches have been pretty pissed. A few departed. The current coach gives them their top 3 players and then they move up a different 6. Inevitably, some Club lifers/donors. You see at the final tryout the TD and coaches that ha e never seen these kids play watch for 10 minutes and then switch everything around.

Tryouts are truly for “show” after U9 at most Clubs and teams are set before they are even held.

Anonymous wrote:New Question. How much influence does the current travel coach have on selecting players for the next year's travel team that they will continue to coach? Is it truly a cattle call, everyone gets a chance? is it the next year's coach who selects which players they want and has already seen them all year? Or is it a neutral coach/coaches (not the next year's coach) that objectively selects the players ?

Definitely not a third party, i think its a complement of new and old coach input.