Anonymous
09/04/2025 10:14
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For those of you on ECNL or MLSN teams with large rosters, is there a policy or norm of how far in advance a game day roster is announced? Is it always 18? Does the timing happen earlier for travel/away/overnight weekends or are you scrambling on Wednesday to make arrangements?
It is about the badge. Playtime does not matter. If you can go to insta and brag about being in a top league (although you are not playing in it) is all what matters to some.
People here are always saying bragging about being in a league is all that matters to some. But, I have yet to encounter anyone in real life like this. Where are these parents/players who are bragging about the league they are in? I'm not seeing it among the teams we've been on for years at multiple clubs and age groups. Nobody is doing this.
Agree completely. It screams sour grapes from someone who didn't make the top league.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 09:56
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:This is what’s wrong with the development piece. It’s only about winning and who cares if they pass the ball. MLS Next is another program running down the rabbit hole.
DS is doing great on his MLSNext team. I think there are only a few clubs (3) that are attempting to develop players with varying success. Most in MLSNext will know which clubs these are.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 09:41
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
This is what’s wrong with the development piece. It’s only about winning and who cares if they pass the ball. MLS Next is another program running down the rabbit hole.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 09:37
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For those of you on ECNL or MLSN teams with large rosters, is there a policy or norm of how far in advance a game day roster is announced? Is it always 18? Does the timing happen earlier for travel/away/overnight weekends or are you scrambling on Wednesday to make arrangements?
It is about the badge. Playtime does not matter. If you can go to insta and brag about being in a top league (although you are not playing in it) is all what matters to some.
People here are always saying bragging about being in a league is all that matters to some. But, I have yet to encounter anyone in real life like this. Where are these parents/players who are bragging about the league they are in? I'm not seeing it among the teams we've been on for years at multiple clubs and age groups. Nobody is doing this.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 09:32
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For those of you on ECNL or MLSN teams with large rosters, is there a policy or norm of how far in advance a game day roster is announced? Is it always 18? Does the timing happen earlier for travel/away/overnight weekends or are you scrambling on Wednesday to make arrangements?
It is about the badge. Playtime does not matter. If you can go to insta and brag about being in a top league (although you are not playing in it) is all what matters to some.
No one on DS MLSNext team that is not a starter has a social media presence. I think that’s more the norm than kids showing off that they are on a top team even though they don’t play much.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 08:47
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In high school, its fun just being part of the team.
For club, you are paying for your kid's soccer
development. Totally different.
HS soccer is not free either. Cheaper than club since it’s not year round. But between the cost and time commitment, it’s a lot to just sit on the bench.
What are your HS soccer costs?
NP. We pay dues for our public HS team which cover the costs of meals for the players after home games, food for host parents to serve to the kids at team dinners, and expenses of end of season celebrations. We also are expected to volunteer to sell tickets and handle the concessions stand. It’s far cheaper than club (several hundred dollars vs. several thousand) but not cheap for a season that only lasts a few months max.
These are all nice to have expenses- not costs associated with your kid playing HS soccer. Your kid can still play HS soccer without funding family meals. The cost to actually play the game in HS is covered (you can’t actually play without refs, fields coaches- none of which you are handing over a check for). So yes HS soccer is free and supported by your taxes. You may choose to pay for all this extra stuff but it’s not soccer costs.
Club soccer on the other hand you pay for the refs, the coach, the field- this is your dues. It’s not even in the same stratosphere
If you can’t see the difference between the two you have bigger problems….
I never understand why people feel the need to be hostile on here. Lots of people read this forum. I assume it will be useful for those with younger kids to know that many HS soccer programs have not insignificant costs associated with them. To get around those, you’ll either have to be the ahole who says you won’t pay, either letting your kid partake of the extras other team parents paid for or depriving them of the extras. Both those options suck for a kid, and telling the team treasurer you can’t afford to pay sucks for a parent.
Back on topic, our kid’s club coach announces game day rosters 4 or 5 days before games. We are in a situation surprising to me that our child enjoys the club practices and games a lot more than the HS ones, despite really enjoying playing with HS friends. I never played, but expected it to be the other way around.
You must pay club tuition and extras unless you're given a scholarship
What are the public HS fees you must pay to play HS soccer?
Anonymous
09/04/2025 08:40
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:For those of you on ECNL or MLSN teams with large rosters, is there a policy or norm of how far in advance a game day roster is announced? Is it always 18? Does the timing happen earlier for travel/away/overnight weekends or are you scrambling on Wednesday to make arrangements?
It is about the badge. Playtime does not matter. If you can go to insta and brag about being in a top league (although you are not playing in it) is all what matters to some.
Anonymous
09/03/2025 18:15
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In high school, its fun just being part of the team.
For club, you are paying for your kid's soccer
development. Totally different.
HS soccer is not free either. Cheaper than club since it’s not year round. But between the cost and time commitment, it’s a lot to just sit on the bench.
What are your HS soccer costs?
NP. We pay dues for our public HS team which cover the costs of meals for the players after home games, food for host parents to serve to the kids at team dinners, and expenses of end of season celebrations. We also are expected to volunteer to sell tickets and handle the concessions stand. It’s far cheaper than club (several hundred dollars vs. several thousand) but not cheap for a season that only lasts a few months max.
These are all nice to have expenses- not costs associated with your kid playing HS soccer. Your kid can still play HS soccer without funding family meals. The cost to actually play the game in HS is covered (you can’t actually play without refs, fields coaches- none of which you are handing over a check for). So yes HS soccer is free and supported by your taxes. You may choose to pay for all this extra stuff but it’s not soccer costs.
Club soccer on the other hand you pay for the refs, the coach, the field- this is your dues. It’s not even in the same stratosphere
If you can’t see the difference between the two you have bigger problems….
I never understand why people feel the need to be hostile on here. Lots of people read this forum. I assume it will be useful for those with younger kids to know that many HS soccer programs have not insignificant costs associated with them. To get around those, you’ll either have to be the ahole who says you won’t pay, either letting your kid partake of the extras other team parents paid for or depriving them of the extras. Both those options suck for a kid, and telling the team treasurer you can’t afford to pay sucks for a parent.
Back on topic, our kid’s club coach announces game day rosters 4 or 5 days before games. We are in a situation surprising to me that our child enjoys the club practices and games a lot more than the HS ones, despite really enjoying playing with HS friends. I never played, but expected it to be the other way around.
Anonymous
09/03/2025 16:53
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In high school, its fun just being part of the team.
For club, you are paying for your kid's soccer
development. Totally different.
HS soccer is not free either. Cheaper than club since it’s not year round. But between the cost and time commitment, it’s a lot to just sit on the bench.
What are your HS soccer costs?
NP. We pay dues for our public HS team which cover the costs of meals for the players after home games, food for host parents to serve to the kids at team dinners, and expenses of end of season celebrations. We also are expected to volunteer to sell tickets and handle the concessions stand. It’s far cheaper than club (several hundred dollars vs. several thousand) but not cheap for a season that only lasts a few months max.
These are all nice to have expenses- not costs associated with your kid playing HS soccer. Your kid can still play HS soccer without funding family meals. The cost to actually play the game in HS is covered (you can’t actually play without refs, fields coaches- none of which you are handing over a check for). So yes HS soccer is free and supported by your taxes. You may choose to pay for all this extra stuff but it’s not soccer costs.
Club soccer on the other hand you pay for the refs, the coach, the field- this is your dues. It’s not even in the same stratosphere
If you can’t see the difference between the two you have bigger problems….
Anonymous
09/03/2025 16:40
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In high school, its fun just being part of the team.
For club, you are paying for your kid's soccer
development. Totally different.
HS soccer is not free either. Cheaper than club since it’s not year round. But between the cost and time commitment, it’s a lot to just sit on the bench.
What are your HS soccer costs?
NP. We pay dues for our public HS team which cover the costs of meals for the players after home games, food for host parents to serve to the kids at team dinners, and expenses of end of season celebrations. We also are expected to volunteer to sell tickets and handle the concessions stand. It’s far cheaper than club (several hundred dollars vs. several thousand) but not cheap for a season that only lasts a few months max.
+1 And the time involved for families to help keep the costs down is also a commitment.
You have a problem being an involved parent?
Not the poster you responded to, but someone said HS soccer is free. It’s not, for most of us. Doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile. Also doesn’t mean it’s necessarily worth it—depends how much your kid enjoys the experience.
Anonymous
09/03/2025 16:26
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:It sounds really stressful and unpleasant frankly.
It can be but a players club experience is heavily dependent on setting expectations and that’s something that the parents should be doing before every season and especially for those joining a new club.
Anonymous
09/03/2025 15:49
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
It sounds really stressful and unpleasant frankly.
Anonymous
09/03/2025 15:47
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:It’s only been a couple of weeks of the season starting. Most teams have done a preseason tournament. Isn’t it too early to worry about being rostered? I mean do players feel already that based on practices and preseason games that they will struggle to make the roster?
Season starts this weekend, someone isn’t getting rostered. 2 games this weekend, no hotels involved. I’d guess we’ll hear Thursday after practice. Normally it’s different kids on a two game weekend. We need three not rostered each game. My kid never not been rostered but doesn’t always start so I know there are nerves.
Anonymous
09/03/2025 12:49
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
It’s only been a couple of weeks of the season starting. Most teams have done a preseason tournament. Isn’t it to early to worry about being rostered? I mean do players feel already that based on practices and preseason games that they will struggle to make the roster?
Anonymous
09/03/2025 12:09
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Our coach usually gives a few days notice but still expects all players to be there even the ones not dressing for the game. It's a little humiliating.
So the kids not dressing just hang out with the parents like spectators? good God.
Sounds ridiculous. Go find yourself a team where you can at least dress.
Consider it a preview of how it would be like in college soccer. With rosters of 28 there are many who don’t get to dress at least for the away games. Home games they will be there standing on the sidelines.
Not just college but even in high school it works like that.
+1
Yup, HS game day rosters can be even bigger than 18 and often times a third or over don’t get any playing time
Sounds like most kids need more practice.