Anonymous
Post 05/23/2016 15:26     Subject: Re:Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
Anonymous wrote:There is a new article on the proposed NCSL/WAGS merger up on Potomac Soccer Wire: http://www.soccerwire.com/news/clubs/youth-girls/wags-showdown-tempers-flare-as-girls-league-debates-ncsl-merger/?loc=psw

Reading that story, I'm really confused by what the former WAGS leaders are trying to accomplish by standing in the way of the merger. If NCSL actually plans to open registration up to girls' teams, it does seem like that would make it increasingly harder for WAGS to stay alive. Seems better to merge than fold completely to me.


Proving once again that soccer in the US is being run for adults not kids . . . hardly the thing needed with the age group shifts this year, which will create enough uncertainty and turmoil.

Yes - better for all involved if there's an orderly transition. Otherwise there's a huge collective action problem whereby some clubs stick with WAGS, some clubs switch, and it's a mess for all involved to reconstitute a single large league for girls. (Of course it will sort out over time - it will tip one way or the other as teams either all move to NCSL or move back to WAGS if Girls NCSL fails).
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2016 15:13     Subject: Re:Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
There is a new article on the proposed NCSL/WAGS merger up on Potomac Soccer Wire: http://www.soccerwire.com/news/clubs/youth-girls/wags-showdown-tempers-flare-as-girls-league-debates-ncsl-merger/?loc=psw

Reading that story, I'm really confused by what the former WAGS leaders are trying to accomplish by standing in the way of the merger. If NCSL actually plans to open registration up to girls' teams, it does seem like that would make it increasingly harder for WAGS to stay alive. Seems better to merge than fold completely to me.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2016 14:33     Subject: Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
Folks are too focused on the "leagues" and not the sport. We are a former NCSL family that is now happily in a CCL club. I don't benchmark a club by what league they choose to be in, I look at my kids and watch their passion for the sport grow and skills improve. For those who claim that CCL isn't "as" competitive, I'd urge you to look at the VA State Cup teams and results. Proof's in the pudding. 1st world problems!
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 11:30     Subject: Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:


Everything is watered down these days. Too many teams per club. Top talent spread too wide and diluted in too many different places/leagues.

Travel used to be an elite experience and not meant for every child. It used to mean something to play travel. Now anyone with a checkbook can find a team.

This has meant middle class families are needlessly shelling out 3k per kid for crappy training and sucky competition.

Jon Stossel should do an expose or Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on what robbery this is and how US soccer is not improving with more of this pay to play crap.





Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you .
Agree. I have seen some of the games of the "c" or "d" teams in our club. It saddens me that people are paying that much money to play. Not the fault of the parents - its easy to get sucked into the "travel" game. And not the fault of the kids. The club, though.... they have somehow brainwashed everyone into thinking that these kids are getting $3K worth of soccer out of this, and they are not. When you have 6 teams per age group, it's just about making money, not soccer development. There have been times where the "tryout" didn't even have enough participants to field the teams. Everyone makes it. (mostly on the girls side, I've never seen it on the boys side). It's sad.


I'm not sure I follow the point you are trying to make through your contradictions:

"Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you"

If this is common and true as you say, then exactly how has the system failed them? How have they "wasted their money"? By your own account, "those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8"

Didn't parents pay to have their kids be developed as soccer players?

That clubs identify athleticism over talent at young ages is no secret and is problem with travel soccer. It is also the reason why clubs have 6 teams per age group. Regardless of the cynicism people have regarding a clubs motives in fielding so many teams it does provide training and opportunities to as many players as possible.

And to bring this all back to the main topic of the thread, that is also why there are many leagues in the area. They all support varying levels of play so that as many kids as possible have the opportunity to play in a competitive environment that is appropriate to their skill level. I, frankly, do not subscribe to any of that as being a "rip-off".


Athleticism??? Well, yes, it certainly wasn't ball skill.

We have some fat, slow kids on our top two teams. They were fat and slow when tryouts were held, but they did have older siblings on top teams in the Club. Hmmm...



Oh nelly, this explains why so many teams in the top 3 at the young ages drop through the ranks as the kids age out. An athletic 8-year old----sometimes is a 5'2" fat and slow 15 year old.

ADHD also seems to help. The kids that run around like spazzes in no particular direction...and then the team has severe discipline problems that hinder the practices. Maybe they should start evaluating by other means.


Smart, thinking players never do well a these huge cattle-call tryouts in the early years. A kid running around the tiny field like a chicken with his head off is what they like to see. In fact, that's what all the prospective parents encourage their children to do at tryouts--even when their kid knows better. Some of these coaches think they are Pep Guardiola and can mold stars out of these spazzes. Take you kid to a small development club in the early years.


The premium that coaches place on athleticism is difficult to get past because at young ages it brings success. It is just that simple. Our club has all of the biggest and fastest kids on the A team, meanwhile the kid with the best footskills on the whole team sits on the B team, due to size. That said, the kid is placed properly within the context of the actual playing environment but given time, the kids body will grow into their skills.


And, that right there, describes a shitastic model. You know who was small for his age as a kid? Christian Pulisic. Fortunately, he had his dad coaching him so he was able to play with much older and bigger players. He was 12 playing with the U-14 Academy (much bigger kids) when he was recognized by Ramos. The small kid with the great ball skills will beat the bigger kid with now skill when given the opportunity. My neighbor's kid just turned 8 and he beat all of the U-10/11s in our neighborhood and he's teeny-tiny.

You describe a club set on game results and not player development.


I won't quibble too much with your assessment of the club, that said, the kid floats some between the A and B group at practices. So there is a concerted effort to manage confidence. But game days are certainly about results, that I cannot deny.


Ha! Tell me the name so I can avoid it with my rising U9 player . However, I can pretty much guess which one it is... no need to out them.


I wouldn't pin it on the club as I would on the coach. Your rising U9 would be safe.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 11:20     Subject: Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:


Everything is watered down these days. Too many teams per club. Top talent spread too wide and diluted in too many different places/leagues.

Travel used to be an elite experience and not meant for every child. It used to mean something to play travel. Now anyone with a checkbook can find a team.

This has meant middle class families are needlessly shelling out 3k per kid for crappy training and sucky competition.

Jon Stossel should do an expose or Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on what robbery this is and how US soccer is not improving with more of this pay to play crap.





Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you .
Agree. I have seen some of the games of the "c" or "d" teams in our club. It saddens me that people are paying that much money to play. Not the fault of the parents - its easy to get sucked into the "travel" game. And not the fault of the kids. The club, though.... they have somehow brainwashed everyone into thinking that these kids are getting $3K worth of soccer out of this, and they are not. When you have 6 teams per age group, it's just about making money, not soccer development. There have been times where the "tryout" didn't even have enough participants to field the teams. Everyone makes it. (mostly on the girls side, I've never seen it on the boys side). It's sad.


I'm not sure I follow the point you are trying to make through your contradictions:

"Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you"

If this is common and true as you say, then exactly how has the system failed them? How have they "wasted their money"? By your own account, "those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8"

Didn't parents pay to have their kids be developed as soccer players?

That clubs identify athleticism over talent at young ages is no secret and is problem with travel soccer. It is also the reason why clubs have 6 teams per age group. Regardless of the cynicism people have regarding a clubs motives in fielding so many teams it does provide training and opportunities to as many players as possible.

And to bring this all back to the main topic of the thread, that is also why there are many leagues in the area. They all support varying levels of play so that as many kids as possible have the opportunity to play in a competitive environment that is appropriate to their skill level. I, frankly, do not subscribe to any of that as being a "rip-off".


Athleticism??? Well, yes, it certainly wasn't ball skill.

We have some fat, slow kids on our top two teams. They were fat and slow when tryouts were held, but they did have older siblings on top teams in the Club. Hmmm...



Oh nelly, this explains why so many teams in the top 3 at the young ages drop through the ranks as the kids age out. An athletic 8-year old----sometimes is a 5'2" fat and slow 15 year old.

ADHD also seems to help. The kids that run around like spazzes in no particular direction...and then the team has severe discipline problems that hinder the practices. Maybe they should start evaluating by other means.


Smart, thinking players never do well a these huge cattle-call tryouts in the early years. A kid running around the tiny field like a chicken with his head off is what they like to see. In fact, that's what all the prospective parents encourage their children to do at tryouts--even when their kid knows better. Some of these coaches think they are Pep Guardiola and can mold stars out of these spazzes. Take you kid to a small development club in the early years.


The premium that coaches place on athleticism is difficult to get past because at young ages it brings success. It is just that simple. Our club has all of the biggest and fastest kids on the A team, meanwhile the kid with the best footskills on the whole team sits on the B team, due to size. That said, the kid is placed properly within the context of the actual playing environment but given time, the kids body will grow into their skills.


And, that right there, describes a shitastic model. You know who was small for his age as a kid? Christian Pulisic. Fortunately, he had his dad coaching him so he was able to play with much older and bigger players. He was 12 playing with the U-14 Academy (much bigger kids) when he was recognized by Ramos. The small kid with the great ball skills will beat the bigger kid with now skill when given the opportunity. My neighbor's kid just turned 8 and he beat all of the U-10/11s in our neighborhood and he's teeny-tiny.

You describe a club set on game results and not player development.


I won't quibble too much with your assessment of the club, that said, the kid floats some between the A and B group at practices. So there is a concerted effort to manage confidence. But game days are certainly about results, that I cannot deny.


Ha! Tell me the name so I can avoid it with my rising U9 player . However, I can pretty much guess which one it is... no need to out them.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 11:17     Subject: Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:


Everything is watered down these days. Too many teams per club. Top talent spread too wide and diluted in too many different places/leagues.

Travel used to be an elite experience and not meant for every child. It used to mean something to play travel. Now anyone with a checkbook can find a team.

This has meant middle class families are needlessly shelling out 3k per kid for crappy training and sucky competition.

Jon Stossel should do an expose or Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on what robbery this is and how US soccer is not improving with more of this pay to play crap.





Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you .
Agree. I have seen some of the games of the "c" or "d" teams in our club. It saddens me that people are paying that much money to play. Not the fault of the parents - its easy to get sucked into the "travel" game. And not the fault of the kids. The club, though.... they have somehow brainwashed everyone into thinking that these kids are getting $3K worth of soccer out of this, and they are not. When you have 6 teams per age group, it's just about making money, not soccer development. There have been times where the "tryout" didn't even have enough participants to field the teams. Everyone makes it. (mostly on the girls side, I've never seen it on the boys side). It's sad.


I'm not sure I follow the point you are trying to make through your contradictions:

"Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you"

If this is common and true as you say, then exactly how has the system failed them? How have they "wasted their money"? By your own account, "those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8"

Didn't parents pay to have their kids be developed as soccer players?

That clubs identify athleticism over talent at young ages is no secret and is problem with travel soccer. It is also the reason why clubs have 6 teams per age group. Regardless of the cynicism people have regarding a clubs motives in fielding so many teams it does provide training and opportunities to as many players as possible.

And to bring this all back to the main topic of the thread, that is also why there are many leagues in the area. They all support varying levels of play so that as many kids as possible have the opportunity to play in a competitive environment that is appropriate to their skill level. I, frankly, do not subscribe to any of that as being a "rip-off".


Athleticism??? Well, yes, it certainly wasn't ball skill.

We have some fat, slow kids on our top two teams. They were fat and slow when tryouts were held, but they did have older siblings on top teams in the Club. Hmmm...



Oh nelly, this explains why so many teams in the top 3 at the young ages drop through the ranks as the kids age out. An athletic 8-year old----sometimes is a 5'2" fat and slow 15 year old.

ADHD also seems to help. The kids that run around like spazzes in no particular direction...and then the team has severe discipline problems that hinder the practices. Maybe they should start evaluating by other means.


Smart, thinking players never do well a these huge cattle-call tryouts in the early years. A kid running around the tiny field like a chicken with his head off is what they like to see. In fact, that's what all the prospective parents encourage their children to do at tryouts--even when their kid knows better. Some of these coaches think they are Pep Guardiola and can mold stars out of these spazzes. Take you kid to a small development club in the early years.


The premium that coaches place on athleticism is difficult to get past because at young ages it brings success. It is just that simple. Our club has all of the biggest and fastest kids on the A team, meanwhile the kid with the best footskills on the whole team sits on the B team, due to size. That said, the kid is placed properly within the context of the actual playing environment but given time, the kids body will grow into their skills.


And, that right there, describes a shitastic model. You know who was small for his age as a kid? Christian Pulisic. Fortunately, he had his dad coaching him so he was able to play with much older and bigger players. He was 12 playing with the U-14 Academy (much bigger kids) when he was recognized by Ramos. The small kid with the great ball skills will beat the bigger kid with now skill when given the opportunity. My neighbor's kid just turned 8 and he beat all of the U-10/11s in our neighborhood and he's teeny-tiny.

You describe a club set on game results and not player development.


I won't quibble too much with your assessment of the club, that said, the kid floats some between the A and B group at practices. So there is a concerted effort to manage confidence. But game days are certainly about results, that I cannot deny.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 11:08     Subject: Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:


Everything is watered down these days. Too many teams per club. Top talent spread too wide and diluted in too many different places/leagues.

Travel used to be an elite experience and not meant for every child. It used to mean something to play travel. Now anyone with a checkbook can find a team.

This has meant middle class families are needlessly shelling out 3k per kid for crappy training and sucky competition.

Jon Stossel should do an expose or Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on what robbery this is and how US soccer is not improving with more of this pay to play crap.





Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you .
Agree. I have seen some of the games of the "c" or "d" teams in our club. It saddens me that people are paying that much money to play. Not the fault of the parents - its easy to get sucked into the "travel" game. And not the fault of the kids. The club, though.... they have somehow brainwashed everyone into thinking that these kids are getting $3K worth of soccer out of this, and they are not. When you have 6 teams per age group, it's just about making money, not soccer development. There have been times where the "tryout" didn't even have enough participants to field the teams. Everyone makes it. (mostly on the girls side, I've never seen it on the boys side). It's sad.


I'm not sure I follow the point you are trying to make through your contradictions:

"Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you"

If this is common and true as you say, then exactly how has the system failed them? How have they "wasted their money"? By your own account, "those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8"

Didn't parents pay to have their kids be developed as soccer players?

That clubs identify athleticism over talent at young ages is no secret and is problem with travel soccer. It is also the reason why clubs have 6 teams per age group. Regardless of the cynicism people have regarding a clubs motives in fielding so many teams it does provide training and opportunities to as many players as possible.

And to bring this all back to the main topic of the thread, that is also why there are many leagues in the area. They all support varying levels of play so that as many kids as possible have the opportunity to play in a competitive environment that is appropriate to their skill level. I, frankly, do not subscribe to any of that as being a "rip-off".


Athleticism??? Well, yes, it certainly wasn't ball skill.

We have some fat, slow kids on our top two teams. They were fat and slow when tryouts were held, but they did have older siblings on top teams in the Club. Hmmm...



Oh nelly, this explains why so many teams in the top 3 at the young ages drop through the ranks as the kids age out. An athletic 8-year old----sometimes is a 5'2" fat and slow 15 year old.

ADHD also seems to help. The kids that run around like spazzes in no particular direction...and then the team has severe discipline problems that hinder the practices. Maybe they should start evaluating by other means.


Smart, thinking players never do well a these huge cattle-call tryouts in the early years. A kid running around the tiny field like a chicken with his head off is what they like to see. In fact, that's what all the prospective parents encourage their children to do at tryouts--even when their kid knows better. Some of these coaches think they are Pep Guardiola and can mold stars out of these spazzes. Take you kid to a small development club in the early years.


The premium that coaches place on athleticism is difficult to get past because at young ages it brings success. It is just that simple. Our club has all of the biggest and fastest kids on the A team, meanwhile the kid with the best footskills on the whole team sits on the B team, due to size. That said, the kid is placed properly within the context of the actual playing environment but given time, the kids body will grow into their skills.


And, that right there, describes a shitastic model. You know who was small for his age as a kid? Christian Pulisic. Fortunately, he had his dad coaching him so he was able to play with much older and bigger players. He was 12 playing with the U-14 Academy (much bigger kids) when he was recognized by Ramos. The small kid with the great ball skills will beat the bigger kid with now skill when given the opportunity. My neighbor's kid just turned 8 and he beat all of the U-10/11s in our neighborhood and he's teeny-tiny.

You describe a club set on game results and not player development.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 10:58     Subject: Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:


Everything is watered down these days. Too many teams per club. Top talent spread too wide and diluted in too many different places/leagues.

Travel used to be an elite experience and not meant for every child. It used to mean something to play travel. Now anyone with a checkbook can find a team.

This has meant middle class families are needlessly shelling out 3k per kid for crappy training and sucky competition.

Jon Stossel should do an expose or Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on what robbery this is and how US soccer is not improving with more of this pay to play crap.





Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you .
Agree. I have seen some of the games of the "c" or "d" teams in our club. It saddens me that people are paying that much money to play. Not the fault of the parents - its easy to get sucked into the "travel" game. And not the fault of the kids. The club, though.... they have somehow brainwashed everyone into thinking that these kids are getting $3K worth of soccer out of this, and they are not. When you have 6 teams per age group, it's just about making money, not soccer development. There have been times where the "tryout" didn't even have enough participants to field the teams. Everyone makes it. (mostly on the girls side, I've never seen it on the boys side). It's sad.


I'm not sure I follow the point you are trying to make through your contradictions:

"Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you"

If this is common and true as you say, then exactly how has the system failed them? How have they "wasted their money"? By your own account, "those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8"

Didn't parents pay to have their kids be developed as soccer players?

That clubs identify athleticism over talent at young ages is no secret and is problem with travel soccer. It is also the reason why clubs have 6 teams per age group. Regardless of the cynicism people have regarding a clubs motives in fielding so many teams it does provide training and opportunities to as many players as possible.

And to bring this all back to the main topic of the thread, that is also why there are many leagues in the area. They all support varying levels of play so that as many kids as possible have the opportunity to play in a competitive environment that is appropriate to their skill level. I, frankly, do not subscribe to any of that as being a "rip-off".


Athleticism??? Well, yes, it certainly wasn't ball skill.

We have some fat, slow kids on our top two teams. They were fat and slow when tryouts were held, but they did have older siblings on top teams in the Club. Hmmm...



Oh nelly, this explains why so many teams in the top 3 at the young ages drop through the ranks as the kids age out. An athletic 8-year old----sometimes is a 5'2" fat and slow 15 year old.

ADHD also seems to help. The kids that run around like spazzes in no particular direction...and then the team has severe discipline problems that hinder the practices. Maybe they should start evaluating by other means.


Smart, thinking players never do well a these huge cattle-call tryouts in the early years. A kid running around the tiny field like a chicken with his head off is what they like to see. In fact, that's what all the prospective parents encourage their children to do at tryouts--even when their kid knows better. Some of these coaches think they are Pep Guardiola and can mold stars out of these spazzes. Take you kid to a small development club in the early years.


The premium that coaches place on athleticism is difficult to get past because at young ages it brings success. It is just that simple. Our club has all of the biggest and fastest kids on the A team, meanwhile the kid with the best footskills on the whole team sits on the B team, due to size. That said, the kid is placed properly within the context of the actual playing environment but given time, the kids body will grow into their skills.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 10:46     Subject: Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:


Everything is watered down these days. Too many teams per club. Top talent spread too wide and diluted in too many different places/leagues.

Travel used to be an elite experience and not meant for every child. It used to mean something to play travel. Now anyone with a checkbook can find a team.

This has meant middle class families are needlessly shelling out 3k per kid for crappy training and sucky competition.

Jon Stossel should do an expose or Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on what robbery this is and how US soccer is not improving with more of this pay to play crap.





Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you .
Agree. I have seen some of the games of the "c" or "d" teams in our club. It saddens me that people are paying that much money to play. Not the fault of the parents - its easy to get sucked into the "travel" game. And not the fault of the kids. The club, though.... they have somehow brainwashed everyone into thinking that these kids are getting $3K worth of soccer out of this, and they are not. When you have 6 teams per age group, it's just about making money, not soccer development. There have been times where the "tryout" didn't even have enough participants to field the teams. Everyone makes it. (mostly on the girls side, I've never seen it on the boys side). It's sad.


I'm not sure I follow the point you are trying to make through your contradictions:

"Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you"

If this is common and true as you say, then exactly how has the system failed them? How have they "wasted their money"? By your own account, "those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8"

Didn't parents pay to have their kids be developed as soccer players?

That clubs identify athleticism over talent at young ages is no secret and is problem with travel soccer. It is also the reason why clubs have 6 teams per age group. Regardless of the cynicism people have regarding a clubs motives in fielding so many teams it does provide training and opportunities to as many players as possible.

And to bring this all back to the main topic of the thread, that is also why there are many leagues in the area. They all support varying levels of play so that as many kids as possible have the opportunity to play in a competitive environment that is appropriate to their skill level. I, frankly, do not subscribe to any of that as being a "rip-off".


Athleticism??? Well, yes, it certainly wasn't ball skill.

We have some fat, slow kids on our top two teams. They were fat and slow when tryouts were held, but they did have older siblings on top teams in the Club. Hmmm...



Oh nelly, this explains why so many teams in the top 3 at the young ages drop through the ranks as the kids age out. An athletic 8-year old----sometimes is a 5'2" fat and slow 15 year old.

ADHD also seems to help. The kids that run around like spazzes in no particular direction...and then the team has severe discipline problems that hinder the practices. Maybe they should start evaluating by other means.


Smart, thinking players never do well a these huge cattle-call tryouts in the early years. A kid running around the tiny field like a chicken with his head off is what they like to see. In fact, that's what all the prospective parents encourage their children to do at tryouts--even when their kid knows better. Some of these coaches think they are Pep Guardiola and can mold stars out of these spazzes. Take you kid to a small development club in the early years.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 10:45     Subject: Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:


Everything is watered down these days. Too many teams per club. Top talent spread too wide and diluted in too many different places/leagues.

Travel used to be an elite experience and not meant for every child. It used to mean something to play travel. Now anyone with a checkbook can find a team.

This has meant middle class families are needlessly shelling out 3k per kid for crappy training and sucky competition.

Jon Stossel should do an expose or Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on what robbery this is and how US soccer is not improving with more of this pay to play crap.





Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you .
Agree. I have seen some of the games of the "c" or "d" teams in our club. It saddens me that people are paying that much money to play. Not the fault of the parents - its easy to get sucked into the "travel" game. And not the fault of the kids. The club, though.... they have somehow brainwashed everyone into thinking that these kids are getting $3K worth of soccer out of this, and they are not. When you have 6 teams per age group, it's just about making money, not soccer development. There have been times where the "tryout" didn't even have enough participants to field the teams. Everyone makes it. (mostly on the girls side, I've never seen it on the boys side). It's sad.


I'm not sure I follow the point you are trying to make through your contradictions:

"Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you"

If this is common and true as you say, then exactly how has the system failed them? How have they "wasted their money"? By your own account, "those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8"

Didn't parents pay to have their kids be developed as soccer players?

That clubs identify athleticism over talent at young ages is no secret and is problem with travel soccer. It is also the reason why clubs have 6 teams per age group. Regardless of the cynicism people have regarding a clubs motives in fielding so many teams it does provide training and opportunities to as many players as possible.

And to bring this all back to the main topic of the thread, that is also why there are many leagues in the area. They all support varying levels of play so that as many kids as possible have the opportunity to play in a competitive environment that is appropriate to their skill level. I, frankly, do not subscribe to any of that as being a "rip-off".


Athleticism??? Well, yes, it certainly wasn't ball skill.

We have some fat, slow kids on our top two teams. They were fat and slow when tryouts were held, but they did have older siblings on top teams in the Club. Hmmm...



Sigh.....Your life is pretty terrible. Why does it bother you? Is your kid getting good training and developing? Because that is all that should concern you especially if your kid is in the U9-U12 range.

If your kid is not getting good training then leave. Again, you complain about a great many things that are in your control to make better but it seems to me that you are more concerned that your kid is on a A team in a "top league" than you are concerned with finding the right coach and the right level of play.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 10:39     Subject: Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:


Everything is watered down these days. Too many teams per club. Top talent spread too wide and diluted in too many different places/leagues.

Travel used to be an elite experience and not meant for every child. It used to mean something to play travel. Now anyone with a checkbook can find a team.

This has meant middle class families are needlessly shelling out 3k per kid for crappy training and sucky competition.

Jon Stossel should do an expose or Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on what robbery this is and how US soccer is not improving with more of this pay to play crap.





Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you .
Agree. I have seen some of the games of the "c" or "d" teams in our club. It saddens me that people are paying that much money to play. Not the fault of the parents - its easy to get sucked into the "travel" game. And not the fault of the kids. The club, though.... they have somehow brainwashed everyone into thinking that these kids are getting $3K worth of soccer out of this, and they are not. When you have 6 teams per age group, it's just about making money, not soccer development. There have been times where the "tryout" didn't even have enough participants to field the teams. Everyone makes it. (mostly on the girls side, I've never seen it on the boys side). It's sad.


I'm not sure I follow the point you are trying to make through your contradictions:

"Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you"

If this is common and true as you say, then exactly how has the system failed them? How have they "wasted their money"? By your own account, "those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8"

Didn't parents pay to have their kids be developed as soccer players?

That clubs identify athleticism over talent at young ages is no secret and is problem with travel soccer. It is also the reason why clubs have 6 teams per age group. Regardless of the cynicism people have regarding a clubs motives in fielding so many teams it does provide training and opportunities to as many players as possible.

And to bring this all back to the main topic of the thread, that is also why there are many leagues in the area. They all support varying levels of play so that as many kids as possible have the opportunity to play in a competitive environment that is appropriate to their skill level. I, frankly, do not subscribe to any of that as being a "rip-off".


Athleticism??? Well, yes, it certainly wasn't ball skill.

We have some fat, slow kids on our top two teams. They were fat and slow when tryouts were held, but they did have older siblings on top teams in the Club. Hmmm...



Oh nelly, this explains why so many teams in the top 3 at the young ages drop through the ranks as the kids age out. An athletic 8-year old----sometimes is a 5'2" fat and slow 15 year old.

ADHD also seems to help. The kids that run around like spazzes in no particular direction...and then the team has severe discipline problems that hinder the practices. Maybe they should start evaluating by other means.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 10:37     Subject: Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:


Everything is watered down these days. Too many teams per club. Top talent spread too wide and diluted in too many different places/leagues.

Travel used to be an elite experience and not meant for every child. It used to mean something to play travel. Now anyone with a checkbook can find a team.

This has meant middle class families are needlessly shelling out 3k per kid for crappy training and sucky competition.

Jon Stossel should do an expose or Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on what robbery this is and how US soccer is not improving with more of this pay to play crap.





Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you .
Agree. I have seen some of the games of the "c" or "d" teams in our club. It saddens me that people are paying that much money to play. Not the fault of the parents - its easy to get sucked into the "travel" game. And not the fault of the kids. The club, though.... they have somehow brainwashed everyone into thinking that these kids are getting $3K worth of soccer out of this, and they are not. When you have 6 teams per age group, it's just about making money, not soccer development. There have been times where the "tryout" didn't even have enough participants to field the teams. Everyone makes it. (mostly on the girls side, I've never seen it on the boys side). It's sad.


I'm not sure I follow the point you are trying to make through your contradictions:

"Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you"

If this is common and true as you say, then exactly how has the system failed them? How have they "wasted their money"? By your own account, "those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8"

Didn't parents pay to have their kids be developed as soccer players?

That clubs identify athleticism over talent at young ages is no secret and is problem with travel soccer. It is also the reason why clubs have 6 teams per age group. Regardless of the cynicism people have regarding a clubs motives in fielding so many teams it does provide training and opportunities to as many players as possible.

And to bring this all back to the main topic of the thread, that is also why there are many leagues in the area. They all support varying levels of play so that as many kids as possible have the opportunity to play in a competitive environment that is appropriate to their skill level. I, frankly, do not subscribe to any of that as being a "rip-off".


Athleticism??? Well, yes, it certainly wasn't ball skill.

We have some fat, slow kids on our top two teams. They were fat and slow when tryouts were held, but they did have older siblings on top teams in the Club. Hmmm...

Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 10:30     Subject: Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:


Everything is watered down these days. Too many teams per club. Top talent spread too wide and diluted in too many different places/leagues.

Travel used to be an elite experience and not meant for every child. It used to mean something to play travel. Now anyone with a checkbook can find a team.

This has meant middle class families are needlessly shelling out 3k per kid for crappy training and sucky competition.

Jon Stossel should do an expose or Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on what robbery this is and how US soccer is not improving with more of this pay to play crap.





Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you .
Agree. I have seen some of the games of the "c" or "d" teams in our club. It saddens me that people are paying that much money to play. Not the fault of the parents - its easy to get sucked into the "travel" game. And not the fault of the kids. The club, though.... they have somehow brainwashed everyone into thinking that these kids are getting $3K worth of soccer out of this, and they are not. When you have 6 teams per age group, it's just about making money, not soccer development. There have been times where the "tryout" didn't even have enough participants to field the teams. Everyone makes it. (mostly on the girls side, I've never seen it on the boys side). It's sad.


I'm not sure I follow the point you are trying to make through your contradictions:

"Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you"

If this is common and true as you say, then exactly how has the system failed them? How have they "wasted their money"? By your own account, "those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8"

Didn't parents pay to have their kids be developed as soccer players?

That clubs identify athleticism over talent at young ages is no secret and is problem with travel soccer. It is also the reason why clubs have 6 teams per age group. Regardless of the cynicism people have regarding a clubs motives in fielding so many teams it does provide training and opportunities to as many players as possible.

And to bring this all back to the main topic of the thread, that is also why there are many leagues in the area. They all support varying levels of play so that as many kids as possible have the opportunity to play in a competitive environment that is appropriate to their skill level. I, frankly, do not subscribe to any of that as being a "rip-off".
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 10:14     Subject: Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:


Everything is watered down these days. Too many teams per club. Top talent spread too wide and diluted in too many different places/leagues.

Travel used to be an elite experience and not meant for every child. It used to mean something to play travel. Now anyone with a checkbook can find a team.

This has meant middle class families are needlessly shelling out 3k per kid for crappy training and sucky competition.

Jon Stossel should do an expose or Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on what robbery this is and how US soccer is not improving with more of this pay to play crap.





Newsflash: many if those C/D team players are better than what got marked as 'A' team at 8. That is what you should sadden you .
Agree. I have seen some of the games of the "c" or "d" teams in our club. It saddens me that people are paying that much money to play. Not the fault of the parents - its easy to get sucked into the "travel" game. And not the fault of the kids. The club, though.... they have somehow brainwashed everyone into thinking that these kids are getting $3K worth of soccer out of this, and they are not. When you have 6 teams per age group, it's just about making money, not soccer development. There have been times where the "tryout" didn't even have enough participants to field the teams. Everyone makes it. (mostly on the girls side, I've never seen it on the boys side). It's sad.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 10:11     Subject: Soccer: WAGS and NCSL to merge this Fall
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:


Everything is watered down these days. Too many teams per club. Top talent spread too wide and diluted in too many different places/leagues.

Travel used to be an elite experience and not meant for every child. It used to mean something to play travel. Now anyone with a checkbook can find a team.

This has meant middle class families are needlessly shelling out 3k per kid for crappy training and sucky competition.

Jon Stossel should do an expose or Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on what robbery this is and how US soccer is not improving with more of this pay to play crap.




Agree. I have seen some of the games of the "c" or "d" teams in our club. It saddens me that people are paying that much money to play. Not the fault of the parents - its easy to get sucked into the "travel" game. And not the fault of the kids. The club, though.... they have somehow brainwashed everyone into thinking that these kids are getting $3K worth of soccer out of this, and they are not. When you have 6 teams per age group, it's just about making money, not soccer development. There have been times where the "tryout" didn't even have enough participants to field the teams. Everyone makes it. (mostly on the girls side, I've never seen it on the boys side). It's sad.


This depends greatly on the age that you are talking about. Soccer, and the access to training should be as inclusive as possible from U9-U13 at least. It is the "competitiveness" that parents bring into the equation that ruins it. Could prices be cheaper? Sure, but to brand a kid at 9 as not good enough is what is sad.


If it were inclusive for everyone at 9, you wouldn't need to pay $3k. Right there you are excluding many, many kids.

Further, we are at one if these clubs and any player below the B team is ignored. They are written off. It is a very toxic environment as the club seems to foster this in-fighting amongst the different teams in age group at the youngest ages. You lose a lot of kids this way. And, when, hard work and results aren't rewarded since rosters almost never move, it does further damage.