Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having a Dc Being a featured player at a smaller club is much more valuable for development than being mediocre on a large club. At least until U-15.

Practicing against mediocre or inferior teammates for the first six or seven years of travel is good for development? Really? More valuable for what?

Yes it doesn’t matter who you practice against or what league you play until U15. Playing center mid all game every game without getting subbed out matters. Taking every free kick, every corner, every Penalty matters.

Oh nonsense. If true play on a rec team. Valuable perhaps for parents who want their kids to play for their benefit and do it all and look great next to mediocre teammates and opponents. But not valuable for the kid at all.

I was just about to post that when my DD switched from a good, well-regarded club to a DA/ECNL team at U14/8th grade she had a lot of catch-up to do, and if your kid seems serious about soccer in middle school, you may want to consider moving to DA/ECNL at U12 or U13.

I don't disagree with making sure a kid doesn't stagnate. Pace of play says a lot about a player. That said, I can't disagree entirely with the PP's point. I've seen players spend all their youth as the 10 minute player on a "great" team, when there is value at being on the field and actually playing. That doesn't always mean dropping down a level. It could mean looking at another team or club at the same level but not as "highly regarded".

However, if it does mean playing at a lower level to not be over one's head or at the back of the pack, that's not necessarily a bad answer either.

I have watched a number of players dominate at a lower level under good coaching, move to a higher level team at u14 or u15 before dominating that team by u16. This player received more opportunities that players on stronger team and once the join the new team and get used to physicality, speed of play and technical demands, they flourish. The point is that it is possible to pursue such a strategy a strategy of finding a strong coach on a team at a small club where DC can really develop the technical and game IQ and then move to a stronger club/league later.

Playing on a smaller club makes it easier to earn more playing time, but any suggestion that small clubs offer all these amazing coaches is a myth. Finding a good coach is very, very difficult regardless the size of the club.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having a Dc Being a featured player at a smaller club is much more valuable for development than being mediocre on a large club. At least until U-15.

Practicing against mediocre or inferior teammates for the first six or seven years of travel is good for development? Really? More valuable for what?

Yes it doesn’t matter who you practice against or what league you play until U15. Playing center mid all game every game without getting subbed out matters. Taking every free kick, every corner, every Penalty matters.

Oh nonsense. If true play on a rec team. Valuable perhaps for parents who want their kids to play for their benefit and do it all and look great next to mediocre teammates and opponents. But not valuable for the kid at all.

I was just about to post that when my DD switched from a good, well-regarded club to a DA/ECNL team at U14/8th grade she had a lot of catch-up to do, and if your kid seems serious about soccer in middle school, you may want to consider moving to DA/ECNL at U12 or U13.

I don't disagree with making sure a kid doesn't stagnate. Pace of play says a lot about a player. That said, I can't disagree entirely with the PP's point. I've seen players spend all their youth as the 10 minute player on a "great" team, when there is value at being on the field and actually playing. That doesn't always mean dropping down a level. It could mean looking at another team or club at the same level but not as "highly regarded".

However, if it does mean playing at a lower level to not be over one's head or at the back of the pack, that's not necessarily a bad answer either.

I have watched a number of players dominate at a lower level under good coaching, move to a higher level team at u14 or u15 before dominating that team by u16. This player received more opportunities that players on stronger team and once the join the new team and get used to physicality, speed of play and technical demands, they flourish. The point is that it is possible to pursue such a strategy a strategy of finding a strong coach on a team at a small club where DC can really develop the technical and game IQ and then move to a stronger club/league later.

+100

Many great players go this route. It also avoids burnout and they tend to develop stronger relationships with coaches and mentors that are really invested in them as individuals—-vs coaches fixated on winning young and tossing out kids along the way.

We have some great coaches that my kids have stayed in touch with after moving on. They are excited and supportive of them even though they no longer play for the same club.

FPYCparent wrote:I wish I had known that I'd regularly find photos and videos of my kid and her teammates … via social media posted by clubs of opposing teams.

I wish the local club was a little more active on social media (or even on its own website) in the promotion of teams at other ages within the club.

Me too. I am also w FPYC. I've even volunteered to help with it...to no avail.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never stick around for a crappy coach, they will ruin it for the player for life.

Amen. It ruins their love of the game, and I have seen with my older kids: a coach that doesn't care for your player won't speak very highly to them if any college asks. You want a coach that will appreciate what your DC has to offer.

Did you notice any signs (yelling, bad attitude, etc.) that these are crappy coaches during tryouts? Asking other parents might not give a true and accurate description of the coach due to fear for their DC.

Coaches don't necessarily behave the same at tryouts as they do once the season starts.

Travel soccer is a money grab at the younger ages.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having a Dc Being a featured player at a smaller club is much more valuable for development than being mediocre on a large club. At least until U-15.

Practicing against mediocre or inferior teammates for the first six or seven years of travel is good for development? Really? More valuable for what?

Yes it doesn’t matter who you practice against or what league you play until U15. Playing center mid all game every game without getting subbed out matters. Taking every free kick, every corner, every Penalty matters.

Oh nonsense. If true play on a rec team. Valuable perhaps for parents who want their kids to play for their benefit and do it all and look great next to mediocre teammates and opponents. But not valuable for the kid at all.

I was just about to post that when my DD switched from a good, well-regarded club to a DA/ECNL team at U14/8th grade she had a lot of catch-up to do, and if your kid seems serious about soccer in middle school, you may want to consider moving to DA/ECNL at U12 or U13.

I don't disagree with making sure a kid doesn't stagnate. Pace of play says a lot about a player. That said, I can't disagree entirely with the PP's point. I've seen players spend all their youth as the 10 minute player on a "great" team, when there is value at being on the field and actually playing. That doesn't always mean dropping down a level. It could mean looking at another team or club at the same level but not as "highly regarded".

However, if it does mean playing at a lower level to not be over one's head or at the back of the pack, that's not necessarily a bad answer either.

I have watched a number of players dominate at a lower level under good coaching, move to a higher level team at u14 or u15 before dominating that team by u16. This player received more opportunities that players on stronger team and once the join the new team and get used to physicality, speed of play and technical demands, they flourish. The point is that it is possible to pursue such a strategy a strategy of finding a strong coach on a team at a small club where DC can really develop the technical and game IQ and then move to a stronger club/league later.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never stick around for a crappy coach, they will ruin it for the player for life.

Amen. It ruins their love of the game, and I have seen with my older kids: a coach that doesn't care for your player won't speak very highly to them if any college asks. You want a coach that will appreciate what your DC has to offer.

Did you notice any signs (yelling, bad attitude, etc.) that these are crappy coaches during tryouts? Asking other parents might not give a true and accurate description of the coach due to fear for their DC.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Play multiple sports and cross train. Your DD can handle a busy schedule

Does their school grades and activities suffer from this?

Anonymous wrote:Never stick around for a crappy coach, they will ruin it for the player for life.

Amen. It ruins their love of the game, and I have seen with my older kids: a coach that doesn't care for your player won't speak very highly to them if any college asks. You want a coach that will appreciate what your DC has to offer.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Play multiple sports and cross train. Your DD can handle a busy schedule

Never stick around for a crappy coach, they will ruin it for the player for life.

Anonymous wrote:That there are several smaller clubs with excellent coaches and that playing for a larger club is not the only route to later soccer success.

Yes. Paying big money for a big club unless your kid is a top player is a total waste. You will do much better with a smaller one.

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]That BSC favors big fast athletes with marginal soccer IQ. [/quote]

Isn't this all clubs in the years before puberty?

IME it gets much better around mid and post puberty. U14 (girls) is when the girls tend to even out in size and the size advantage disappears completely.

[/quote]

Ummm. Did you watch the Women’s World Cup? [/quote]

On the girls side, it never disappears completely, speed continues to attract, height continues to attract.. and without technical skills, either are obvious preference and a big letdown when played.[/quote]


A girl can learn technical skills with a bit of outside training in addition to practice. You cannot teach the required size and speed. Go to all the speed training you want.. it's a gift that cant be bought. [/quote]

Concerning straight line speed, my son was always one of the slowest kids on the teams U6-U11. He was painfully slow. Starting sometime during U12, he grew and, probably more importantly, his running mechanics improved. He's now one of the fastest players on his U13 team. I am a believer that kids can get faster with some work on mechanics and sprinting. I've seen it happen.

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]That BSC favors big fast athletes with marginal soccer IQ. [/quote]

Isn't this all clubs in the years before puberty?

IME it gets much better around mid and post puberty. U14 (girls) is when the girls tend to even out in size and the size advantage disappears completely.

[/quote]

Ummm. Did you watch the Women’s World Cup? [/quote]

On the girls side, it never disappears completely, speed continues to attract, height continues to attract.. and without technical skills, either are obvious preference and a big letdown when played.[/quote]


A girl can learn technical skills with a bit of outside training in addition to practice. You cannot teach the required size and speed. Go to all the speed training you want.. it's a gift that cant be bought.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having a Dc Being a featured player at a smaller club is much more valuable for development than being mediocre on a large club. At least until U-15.

Practicing against mediocre or inferior teammates for the first six or seven years of travel is good for development? Really? More valuable for what?

Yes it doesn’t matter who you practice against or what league you play until U15. Playing center mid all game every game without getting subbed out matters. Taking every free kick, every corner, every Penalty matters.

Oh nonsense. If true play on a rec team. Valuable perhaps for parents who want their kids to play for their benefit and do it all and look great next to mediocre teammates and opponents. But not valuable for the kid at all.

I was just about to post that when my DD switched from a good, well-regarded club to a DA/ECNL team at U14/8th grade she had a lot of catch-up to do, and if your kid seems serious about soccer in middle school, you may want to consider moving to DA/ECNL at U12 or U13.

I don't disagree with making sure a kid doesn't stagnate. Pace of play says a lot about a player. That said, I can't disagree entirely with the PP's point. I've seen players spend all their youth as the 10 minute player on a "great" team, when there is value at being on the field and actually playing. That doesn't always mean dropping down a level. It could mean looking at another team or club at the same level but not as "highly regarded".

However, if it does mean playing at a lower level to not be over one's head or at the back of the pack, that's not necessarily a bad answer either.