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Wednesday, September 25, 2013
U15G - U15 Girls Youth Soccer
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At Delco:
1. Game 1 Saturday at foot ball stadium field. Man standing by fence in matching jacket, hat and clipboard. Couldn't tell you who. Also saw 3 in stands dressed similar. They stood out. Hats , jacket and clipboard.
2. Yesterday we were back in football stadium. On the way home my daughter told me she was approached by a coach on her way to the car. He had St. Louis on his clip board , hat and jacket. He told her she played a very good game and mentioned a few things she did well. Then kept walking.
The coaches stand out because of the clip board and college gear. Plus they don't appear to fit in as family most times. Your question does make me think any creepo could get the gear and clip board and get his jollies off watching the girls. Or getting close.
- May 26, 2014 at 7:13 AM
Look up NCAA rules since coaches cannot address child directly until their junior year in September. You can call or email them but they cannot approach you directly.
- May 26, 2014 at 8:00 AM
I haven't seen much posted about the success of the VA teams at Delco this weekend. Are NJ/PA/NY people surprised about ABGC and Harkes to the final of the top bracket? VA with some success in the lower brackets as well.
And it seems there are some McLean parents up here. Why no tourney for the ECNL group this weekend?
- May 26, 2014 at 9:07 AM
The southern mid atlantic division will be much more competititve next year for sure. Harkes team plays some great soccer. Couple of standouts. ABGC has a few really outstanding players who drive that team's success. If your kid played in the top flight at delco and is not already rostered to an ECNL team next year, you might be missing the boat because it looks like its sailed.
- May 26, 2014 at 9:46 AM
Why are both teams (and coaches) trying to get into ECNL then? ABGC to FC VA and Chantilly into McLean. Have to ask yourself 9:07...
- May 26, 2014 at 9:49 AM
9:46 is exactly right. ECNL teams won't even be at Delco at U15 and U16, they will have ECNL games. The problem for both ABGC and Chantilly is that they will attract less and less talent going forward. ECNL is a magnet for players seriously considering playing in college and they know its a showcase league. Any team ECNL or not would falter by losing 3 or 4 of their best players, and the reality is a large number of really good players are going to ECNL teams for tryouts. ECNL teams will by in large get better not worse. Although there will will be ECNL players jumping from one ECNL team to a better one if it is geographically doable. Players and coaches all know this and it is exactly why Chantilly / Harkes and Gus/ ABGC are desperately trying to get into ECNL. They know their talent pool will quickly dry up and they ultimately will lose players.
That said congratulations to both teams on their success this weekend.
- May 26, 2014 at 10:40 AM
Chantilly & FC Bucks a great game to watch in semi-finals. 1-1 heading into OT. Chantilly took the game in the end. Hard fought by both teams. Congrats. Some good soccer.
- May 26, 2014 at 11:03 AM
11:03 I would have loved to been there.
- May 26, 2014 at 11:22 AM
Hershey elite team just misses going to national championships. Some of the best reading ever.
- May 27, 2014 at 2:43 PM
That's is way to funny. The Connecticut team that hasn't lost in 5 years has less then 300 points and has never played in a tournament I've heard of. The writer is amazing. He should be hooked up with a politician.
- May 27, 2014 at 2:48 PM
That is funny and a little embarrassing. How can a team be ranked 26th in the state of Connecticut and not lose a game in 5 years? If your team has beaten the all mighty Suffield Wildcats please let us know. I am sure CFC (ECNL) is looking to merge with them by now. One other note. I am sure most teams should hopefully win the game if they tack on 4 more "girls".
- May 27, 2014 at 2:55 PM
Who cares, let the coach feel good, it has not impact on you. The guy clearly has to portray himself in this way.
- May 27, 2014 at 3:16 PM
If you read this blog you know little discussed here has any affect on the authors. I'm not busting on anyone. I'm LMAO.
- May 27, 2014 at 3:21 PM
So Chantilly Elite 99 is holding tryouts this evening. Rumors of Harkes merging with Mclean ECNL may be premature......
as is news of ABGC moving as an entire team to FCV. Gus wants to pacify his parents and put the letters ECNL on his resume while giving FCV admin hope that if Premiere is playing Chesterfield in NPL/VPL and FCV ECNL is playing Mclean - that ABGC's Defensive Line and top player who show up to help FCV win it.
Plus the 5-6 ABGC players who have a legit chance at college, can go to the ECNL showcases.
It is really a win/win
a) Gus wins, he can promote his camps to more players and promote his ECNL experience
b) Premiere wins, the best players go to the ECNL Showcase events
c) FCV wins, they may get help in key positions of need.
- May 27, 2014 at 3:23 PM
I think it had an effect on the coach because last time the Hershey "ekite" team was discussed on the board, many posts were deleted.Is it true that the Penn Legacy Black team is disbanding and a bunch of former players are moving to the Hershey team? Propaganda like the above link will help in his recruiting efforts. But who cares about false advertising in youth sports since it happens all the time.
- May 27, 2014 at 3:29 PM
Penn legacy black is not disbanding. They are rebuilding:)
5 went to classics, 2 went to penn fusion and 2 went to Hershey.
- May 27, 2014 at 3:38 PM
Who wins if ABGC/FCV pull this off
1) Gus. His top players won't decide to leave him as they get older and tournaments like Delco are displayed by PDA.
2) ABGC Top Players - they get access to ECNL while staying with their team
3) FCV Players - they get much needed help.
4) ABGC Core Players - they may get more playing time against the Arlingtons and Kickers second teams plus access to a National Championship and NPL Showcase if they are able to win it.
5)HYS. If Annandale is force to leave ABGC to Ashburn to be considered the same club as FCV for dual roster, then ABGC loses its access to a USYS league and that would send Runner Up United from Colonial League to Premiere League.
- May 27, 2014 at 3:58 PM
As a local parent who lives in the DC metro area I would love to know if Harkes is coaching Mclean. If so he pulls the best Chantilly girls there. I heard from a "reliable source" that FC VA's director does not want anything to do with Gus but would love for the ABGC girls to come and tryout. We will see, both MD ECNL teams have announced new coaches and it should not be long before we hear from VA ECNL.
I've seen ABGC play many times, as I have MD United, Chantilly, McLean and Bethesda. I enjoy watching all these teams play when I get a chance they are all very nice teams. The ABGC girls are especially fun to watch because they come ready to battle every game. They might not be the most talented team as a whole but have incredible energy and very athletic. I'm not a big fan of the coach but won't criticize his results. I'm sure there are other coaches out there like Gus and his assistant but they teach their girls how to win on and off the field. I've seen them come to games purposely wearing wrong color jerseys just to make other team change. Run laps through a teams warmups and delay and sit on leads better than pro teams. They know the rules inside and out of every tournament and use whatever they can to eek out an advantage. At Delco they faked injuries because they knew the rules did not allow for time to be put back on the clock. Winning to them is very important, more so than most teams. It could be why Gus has a hard time finding a ECNL home. Most clubs refuse to teach these types of tactics and feel player development over a win is more important. Still think Gus is a good coach that plays to his players strengths which is a fast athletic team. But the win at any cost thing is a little embarrassing. Takes away from the true talent those girls have. His reputation in this area is well known and so are his tactics.
- May 27, 2014 at 4:04 PM
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- May 27, 2014 at 4:18 PM
Harkes going to McLean bank on it
- May 27, 2014 at 6:12 PM
Penn Fusion looked pretty thin this weekend with only 2 on the bench. Result against ABGC and Bethesda poor. the Penn Legacy kids look to be needed. Just wonder if they are top of the roster players who will add to the penn Fusion team.
- May 27, 2014 at 6:50 PM
They are a goalie who is very good. And a defender/midfielder. Both will help Penn Fusion.
- May 27, 2014 at 7:10 PM
saw some of the yms penn fusion game. Penn fusion had 4 or so little technical kids. one looked at most 12. were they play ups to fill the roster for the tournament since they were so short last weekend? they defintely could use some ball winners. wonder why they didnt really field a team for delco.
- May 27, 2014 at 7:29 PM
@1053, it will be a major Ambush on the parents wallet.
- May 27, 2014 at 7:30 PM
@1053, it will be a major Ambush on the parents wallet.
- May 27, 2014 at 7:30 PM
Smallest technical player is not playing up. She came from PA Strikers where her sister still plays.
- May 27, 2014 at 8:38 PM
PDA Shore had a lot of turndowns from good players i hear.
- May 27, 2014 at 10:02 PM
Exactly! Why would good players want to be on the D team. Look at Pride, no one came to tryouts. DOC has to keep the old regimen.
- May 27, 2014 at 10:20 PM
Penn Fusion looked bad. Should not have played this tournament. No bench and the head coach was missing. What is all this talk about small technical players? Can't a player be big and have technique? I would much prefer that over players that constantly get knocked off the ball. I saw a lot of this and then poor work rate to win the ball back. I understand the soccer landscape is constantly changing, but I came away from the weekend with a clear top 4 in the Region. World Class, PDA, FC Stars, and ABGC are the class of the Region. A big drop off after that.
- May 27, 2014 at 10:23 PM
If penn fusion gets the sister to leave strikers they would be upgraded. She is a physical ball winner with excellent skills. Will the ECNL call win out over the strikers free deal? Not to mention making it easier for the family. Odd. Might be a statement relative to the ECNL versus region 1 national league argument. Eggs in both baskets? Does the striker kid play also with penn fusion?
- May 27, 2014 at 10:26 PM
Showings at pda south tryouts was so bad the DOC had to contact previous players. Unheard of.
- May 27, 2014 at 10:29 PM
My daughter went to the PDA Shore tryout. They had about 40 girls there the first night....significantly less the second night. My daughter opted to not return on night two because the talent level at the tryout was not high level. Not sure how they are making a second team.
- May 27, 2014 at 11:12 PM
As long as parents are willing to write a check, PDA will always have a second team.
- May 27, 2014 at 11:19 PM
Who cares about talent level? Don't look at the talent level now.
Isn't it about development? Think about the talent 6 months from now ;)
- May 27, 2014 at 11:25 PM
Great: See you in six months!
- May 28, 2014 at 12:04 AM
10:26 rumor was the striker kid was headed to PF next season. Time will tell.
- May 28, 2014 at 6:45 AM
10:23, PDA and ABGC are not in the same class as World Class and FC Stars. PDA with their U15 girls playing back on age, yes but without them no. ABGC is not even close. WC, FC Stars and Charlotte are best teams on east coast.
DC Shore, any talent evaluator will tell you by age 16 the player is the player they are more or less going to be. They will continue to get better, but they are who they are. Players at U14 /15 who do not have good technical skills will really be exposed at this point. Every youth soccer player at U14 / 15 should be more or less technically sound and if they are not you can pick and choose who you want to blame.
- May 28, 2014 at 8:08 AM
Interesting about larger technical players. the most famous one was Zinadine Zidane. But they are rare for sure. However most of us could come up with a long list of smaller technical players- Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Luka Modric Eden Hazard, Mesut Ozil just to mention a few contemporary players. The best historical example might be George Best who was overlooked in the youth national programming due to his size. I think he was Irish. Wonder if there is some neurologic impedement to the coordination needed to be a top technical player.
Regarding Penn Fusion, it seems their bench was non existent so not really fair to judge work rates in that situation. The coach might have instructed the kids to take it easy and dont get hurt.
- May 28, 2014 at 8:23 AM
Having watched a pile of matches this weekend I saw one consistently big problem. It's called joist sticking. If your coach is yelling non stop telling players where to go and what to do he hasn't coached them correctly. He or she is supposed to be preparing them for playing at the next level. He or she will not be there to tell your child where to go or what to do. You coach and teach in practice they show you what they learned in games. Yes everybody has an off day and needs a wake up call. But coach if your mouth runs non stop telling players what to do and where to go you have not taught them correctly. Don't get mad at them you haven't prepared them. Isolated incident ok I'll give you that. The whole entire game? Every second?
- May 28, 2014 at 8:46 AM
Typical soccer stereotypes. Big means strong and not very good technical ability. Small means weak and very good technical ability. I have seen big kids with good ball skills who were weak and not aggressive. I have seen small "fire hydrant" types who can out muscle the biggest kids for the ball but have no idea what to do with it after they win it. If you ask me, I kind of have a soft spot for average sized kids myself. Seems to be many more of them. And if your lucky, you will find some that are strong, quick, athletic, smart, and yes even very good technically.
- May 28, 2014 at 9:39 AM
Of course you have, but there is clearly some validity that the significant majority of highly technical players (the dribblers that break down defenses)are relatively small. Whether its biological or a developmental defense mechanism to remain competitive is what's unclear. the opinion that small technical players are useless because they are "pushed off the ball" is common in the US and even elsewhere. I believe the opinion is holding back US soccer. Its cultural and I don't think is going to change anytime soon. Here's a guy who speaks to it better than I:
When did I equate EPL to high quality? Sorry but the game style is what attracts a lot of people. A lot of people prefer hard working grunts that give 110% to players with flare. Why? Because many, many people can identify with that. They appreciate it because that's the way they live their lives.
You see it in the youth soccer here too (as a predominantly Anglo-Saxon run sport). You see it in the English coaches that come here. I've spoken to many of them and for them 'technical kids just get pushed around'. They don't want technical kids with flare and creativity. They want hard working aggressive kids that give it their all. That's the culture and that's the identity. It's even part of the American Dream.
Most US youth soccer parents do not really understand the game. For example they couldn't understand a brilliant run that creates space because they just don't see it. But they appreciate the kid with the great work rate.
- May 28, 2014 at 10:22 AM
I think you might enjoy this article on identifying elite players and the discussion that follows:
- May 28, 2014 at 10:34 AM
Spot on
- May 28, 2014 at 11:08 AM
10:20 the regime you are speaking about is probably a new team and some dead weight is shed. happens every year. pretty simple math, get rid of your bttom thrd and bring in a new thrd. maybe your suzy q was in that bottom thrd or you are just a bitter person ticked off at a club with three letters and need a place to vent which would lead to your whining and complaining on this forum.
- May 28, 2014 at 11:24 AM
Decent article. The starting point for an elite player is one that "can retain possession far better than their colleagues". If this is the core principle, why does nearly every soccer coach (American and European) emphasize one and two touch passing? And when a player holds the ball and has it stolen away, they get yelled at for not getting rid of it sooner. It seems to me we are discouraging the types of possession skills that are required to be considered elite.
- May 28, 2014 at 11:43 AM
Relax pda dad!! Roster has been set so your suzy survived another year, hope she can stay out of the bottom. Let the development continue.
- May 28, 2014 at 12:00 PM
Only in this country would someone tell you that. Goo luck U.S. soccer.
Development continues at least throughout your early 20's. That feeling you stated is just ridiculous at best but more likely a total cop-out used by those focused on winning and not development. TRUTH
- May 28, 2014 at 1:34 PM
DC Shore
I generally agree with your comments, I disagree on this one. At 14, a coach has a lot less opportunity to develop individual skills of kids. If a new team of 11 brings on kids that have not been in pressure situations, have not been developing foot skills, first touch skills, seeing the field, etc. it will be difficult for a coach to catch those kids up. By the time many kids are 14/15 they have 10s if not hundreds of thousands of touches on the ball and kids that are catching up will be challenged. A coach then takes on these kids that he loses to high school from August to November where the worst habits are reinforced. For a new team to come together and compete at a reasonably high level, they will need the kids to come with a pretty could soccer base. I am sure you know this, but at this age a coach has little time with 1.5 hours twice a week to work on individual skills. They have to work on the team dynamic. So while development continues, Not every kid is cut out to play soccer at a competitive level, to a base level of talent does matter, and if you want to frustrate a very good player put them on a team with a weak player that is there for the sake of development. Your post seems to indicate that if you through any 11 kids on the field the talent will be developed.
- May 28, 2014 at 1:50 PM
11:43 I don't think possession and one-two touch play are mutually exclusive. Even one-two touch play during a game will find players under pressure and the best players keep possession for themselves and for their team when they are under pressure. There are players that when under pressure lose the ball and those that retain the ball.
- May 28, 2014 at 1:53 PM
You are right in the fact that I would not want the be part of such a team. I certainly would not want to leave an already productive environment/team. I understand your thinking and admit I would likely think in the same fashion.
I just wanted to highlight/expose what the expectations of PDA are (and those players/families looking at it). Collection of stud/top players usually from the surrounding area and surrounding clubs.
Not a place where weaker players are 'developed'.
No commitment to development before or after signing a player. Only a commitment to take a check and run things in an organized and professional manner.
- May 28, 2014 at 2:28 PM
I want to reaffirm my believe though that the mentality throughout US Soccer (Club, Academy or otherwise) is often short-sighted, wrongly focused and damaging to developed players. How many teams will dump a weaker player simply to take on a stronger player? Year after year? No commitment to development either do to lack of understanding how young athletes develop (mentally and physically) and total focus on winning.
This charge has nothing to do with forming of 'new teams'. Rather it is the lack of commitment organizations show to their developing players. In Europe players are often given into their early 20's time to develop both physically and mentally.
- May 28, 2014 at 2:35 PM
I agree with the team evaluations. I have
1) FC Stars ECNL
2) Worldclass ECNL
4) North Rockland (yes, not ECNL but very good - coach is a little nuts)
5) Charlotte ECNL
- May 28, 2014 at 2:46 PM
@1:50 - spot on and some of the challenges being faced with ECNL teams that are put together at age 14 with top players from multiple clubs, different training, different playing styles.
- May 28, 2014 at 2:53 PM
I'd like to get all Socratic and ask "What is a team?"
I am sure we will see several good answers on this.
And go...
- May 28, 2014 at 2:59 PM
Charlotte might very well be #1 right now. Definitely better than PDA. But they are not in Region 1. North Rockland is a good team, but they have not separated themselves from the pack (i.e. FC Bucks, Manhattan, PA Strikers, Bethesda, YMS, Chantilly, etc.) I believe ABGC is a notch above North Rockland as well as these other teams.
- May 28, 2014 at 3:10 PM
Sorry. I am old school. I guess the ECNL breaks down those regional boundaries.
- May 28, 2014 at 3:14 PM
Top 5 region 1.
2 FC Stars
If it were the east coast, Charlotte and Top Hat knock out bottom 2 and NEFC is 5th.
Rockland Rowdies? Come on man...
- May 28, 2014 at 4:33 PM
I don't know about nefc... pda beat them twice already this season. I would put charlotte at number 2(if we're talking about the east coast. Charlotte would be followed by wc, then stars, then pda, then nefc.
- May 28, 2014 at 4:43 PM
Youth Soccer Talk Guide – Section 1
Coaches ignore soccer IQ and technical ability = Parent of a small skilled player not getting enough playing time
Fast, strong, and big are what's necessary in soccer = Parent of a weaker technical player
Academies/ECNL teams (ie PDA) are required if you want to be seen by college coaches, and get the best coaching = Parent of an Academy Player
Go write your big checks we have great coaching and we pay half the price = Parent from a successful town team/parent of a player that left an Academy
It's freedom of choice, if I want to pay $2,500/per year plus travel, fundraising = No one is forcing me and you can leave = New Academy parent
They chase Got Soccer Points = Team with low Got Soccer Points
We are #1 in the country = Team with a lot of Got Soccer Points
The ECNL has a lot of poor quality teams = Non-ECNL Parent
The ECNL is the only to be if you want a scholarship and D1 = ECNL parent
Paul Gascoigne, George Best, Franz Beckenbauer, Johann Cruyff, etc = The arrogant guy with the British accent on the sidelines
Academies do not develop players, they build by recruiting other team's best players = Parent of a scorned teammate or player that was cut
Academies develop players but they cut the kids that can't hack it = Academy Parent
Academies suck by my daughter wants to play there = Player #18-26
Your little Mia = Everyone
The coach has favorites = Parent of a kid who is not one of the coach's favorites
D1 Coaches Scout 8th Graders = Teams that play college showcases at U-14
D1 Coaches really don't care for another 2 years = everyone else
A 26 person roster is good for competition and improves a team = Academy Parent
A 26 person roster is a cash grab plain and simple = A town team parent
A 14 team roster means our best kids are always playing = High Level town team
- May 28, 2014 at 6:36 PM
Funny :)
- May 28, 2014 at 6:53 PM
6:36 you forgot... Calling out former coach/team/parents/players wishing for their demise and whatever team we last lost to really weren't that much better than us = Anonymous
- May 28, 2014 at 7:52 PM
I think a true "TEAM' is one that has all types of players
1= some big strong players
2= some maybe smaller technical players
3= some players in between
4= some good passers that may lose the ball but create plays
When you look at professional teams that is what they all have.
Man U has all those types and so does Chelsea.
You don't see Barcelona having 9 players as short as Messi. Teams don't have 9 players all with Ranoldo's technical ability and speed.
They all have a mix of players that create a "TEAM".
Coaches in this country fall in love with a type of player to often they should look to find a way to make them play to strengths and away from weaknesses. That is a true coach and a good team.
- May 28, 2014 at 8:45 PM
636 - You rock. I would like to add a few more:
- They played kickball. A possession style team that lost to a direct, athletic team.
- Our opponent was soft - I don't know how we lost. An athletic, direct style team that lost to a possession style team.
- There was a personality (or style) conflict with the coach. Sally didn't get enough playing time.
- Getting into showcase events is critical. Family of a player that is not likely to play in college, but who think if college coaches see the player it could be the "big break".
- HS soccer is bad for high-level travel players. Kid did not make varsity.
- HS soccer is important for a well-rounded student-athlete. Kid made varsity.
- We are one or two players away from being a great team. Someone who is incorrect.
- We had about 75% of the possession. Parent describing an evenly played game.
- May 29, 2014 at 8:14 AM
Forgetting a critical one- "we dominated the game.".. Team that lost to a team they expected to beat.
- May 29, 2014 at 8:33 AM
Thanks for sharing your perspective. I'd like to hear from others. I am open to believing that there are several good 'working' definitions of what a team is.
These 'glossary' posts are funny and there is always a bit of truth to each...but that truth also goes both ways. Perhaps why many of us can chuckle.
How often do you hear a coach or parent, after a loss, simply say "we played a bad game?" Not often enough imho.
- May 29, 2014 at 8:33 AM
We lose when we can't control the midfield, if you can't control the midfield it is very hard to win a game. If midfield can't control the ball and win 50/50's you will be home early and beat the traffic every time… Says parent whose daughter plays defense.
- May 29, 2014 at 9:14 AM
DC SHORE - your question cuts through to several issues and is a good one. The short answer - stable teams with long-sighted coaches and patient families are much more likely to admit when the team simply has a poor performance. Those are few and far-between these days. Sadly, the culture of youth travel soccer promotes parental behavior that is so frequently extreme and really not in the best interest of the player in the long run, despite the intentions to the contrary. We want to build teams that are powerhouses, and we want it quickly. We want our kids to be perceived as star players on top teams. We would rather our child play on a good team than become a better player on a lower performing team 9 times out of 10. We rationalize that it is because the higher level will bring out the best in her, but that is not the real reason, unfortunately. Admitting that a poor game happened can open the door to others perceiving that the group or the kid may not be as good as hoped. Blaming the refs, style of play, etc. is a straw grasp at shifting the accountability away from the player/team. Exactly the opposite of what we should be showing our kids. If you think the kids who hear their parents blame so many other forces out there for things that go wrong (politics, coach's preferences, bad calls) don't pick up on it, you are mistaken.
As for what is a team, I think another hang-up we have is the need to pigeon-hole coaches/teams by style and then drop our kids into the "best" style. Jenny plays best in a one-touch style. Mary needs a direct team. My take is that you find a coach trying to teach fundamentals, including how to possess the ball when needed. The best teams/coaches will then blend the overall playing style to the players in the group and to the opponent's tactics. Teams that can possess but that can go direct at times, and can play in one touch as needed are what you are looking for. And I agree with the previous poster's notes about having a diverse group. You never know what you will be up against. You need to be able to succeed in different ways to win games against differing styles. Can you handle facing a physical group? A technical group? Direct style? A team with 1-2 superstars? You need to check a number of boxes to say yes to all of those.
- May 29, 2014 at 9:33 AM
An excellent post.
Perhaps accidentally while you were addressing why some never admit to a bad game, you provided a solid answer to what makes a 'team'. I'm not sure if you intended this.
"stable teams with long-sighted coaches and patient families" I would substitute the word 'teams' with environment.
So a nice definition of a team might be "a stable environment, with long-sighted coaches and patient families"...I would think this must be included in any definition of what a 'team' is.
Great stuff!
- May 29, 2014 at 12:02 PM
A team is one of those things that is hard to describe but you know when you see it. The players like and have fun together and it shines through win or lose.
- May 29, 2014 at 12:37 PM
I think you need to look outside of the restriction of the specific sport when trying to define a team. A team is a group of individuals who share a common goal, and work together to accomplish that goal. A team is a group of individuals that share the responsibility when things go good as well as when things go bad and are accountable for their performance/contributions. You can even look to business examples to find things like good communication, and good leadership.
Thinking of a team in purely soccer (or any other sport) terms is a bit shortsighted.
It's cliche, but in some cases the group may operate at a level greater then the sum of its parts (players). This is clear evidence of a "Team".
- May 29, 2014 at 2:30 PM
I agree with all of this but would hope that this philosophy would and should be a "club" one and not just a single team one. Good model for youth soccer as a whole.
- May 29, 2014 at 2:30 PM
School ball vs club ball-
Our school ball team had a meeting yesterday. The coach handed out lots of info. As I read it I see such a huge contrast with club ball. It seams his biggest concern is fitness. Tryouts each day will start on the track. They will go to the gym twice a week. 1 team bonding function a week. The high school Varsity will be made up of all club ball players. Why is the formula for success so different then club ball.
- May 29, 2014 at 4:20 PM
I started typing a novel. It's not worth it.
Simply put most High School coaches DO NOT know the game. Therefore they cannot teach it.
Thousands of dollars of training money and thousands of hours of development time flushed down the drain each Fall in High School.
Short of one team winning and one team losing I don't know how anything related to High School soccer can be related to having 'success'.
- May 29, 2014 at 5:32 PM
Is ABGC going to forego their trip to Region 1 Championships and Premiere League with they move to FC Virginia?
- May 29, 2014 at 7:02 PM
My daughter played in the Fc Delco Players cup this past weekend. I saw quite a few games of the top two brackets. Let me start by saying I was not born in this country and am no expert. But have played this game the whole of my life.
I just wanted to say that Most (not all) of the teams played really good soccer this weekend. There were some really competitive games.
The team that really stood out to me was ABGC. My daughters team did not play them. They seem to have the right combination of the types of players in the right positions to make the game very pleasing to watch as did most of teams.
I just wanted to say that for girls at this age of all the teams to play that type of soccer was something that all parents and players very proud.
With all the negative comments on this forum that have gone on before this is just one positive opinion that people can take or leave. Great work to all the girls that have put in the time and hard work.
Soccer Addict
- May 29, 2014 at 9:23 PM
School ball vs club ball...
The reason for the strength and
fitness training is the ratio of games to practices in high school. What do they play, 18 games in an 8 or 9 week season? Have to be I more durable. Not that you will ever be overwhelmed by the high school game. Talent level is too diverse even with all club players on roster. High school should never be confused with any type of player development. It is all about representing your school colors with your classmates and maybe crosstown bragging rights. If your kid is going to play, just know her touch and soccer IQ will not improve during those two months without outside help.
- May 29, 2014 at 10:55 PM
I'm not convinced that is the reason for the strength and fitness ratio. Not when you have tournaments packing in 4 games into two days.
I will admit that the inside joke with our team is that the girls going to school ball will certainly come back in the best shape of their life, that is assuming they come back in one piece. It's a joke...but it really isn't unfortunately.
Also suspect, at least in some High Schools, is a true development path from Freshman - Varsity.
Often Freshman and JV are just holding pens for players who 'do not have it'. That's kind of sad too.
From the outside I can think of at least a half dozen ways to improve things. Perhaps this is unfair of me to think so but I believe it anyway.
- May 30, 2014 at 7:43 AM
Yes Kickball is so fun to watch !!!!! you Donkey !!!!
- May 30, 2014 at 12:37 PM
Anyone know what happened at Delco between FC Bucks and North Rockland. I heard it was a wild finish with a NR kid yelling at the Delco coach and there may or may not have been punches thrown.
- May 30, 2014 at 5:24 PM
Say goodbye to the Chantilly Elite 99. Dissolving. Final tryout was cancelled. Elite girls have been all over NOVA and MD trying out for top teams.
- May 30, 2014 at 7:55 PM
5:24 - go to back of the net's U14 blog and start on p. 111. Conflicting reports of who did what between opposing players and the one coach.
- May 30, 2014 at 10:12 PM
been dead on here. To add some spark:
From the PDA results last week its hard not to believe that the tide is clearly turned and there is a clear movement toward the ECNL. Manhattan loses a couple at PDA with a -6 goal differential (in 2 games). The top teams are very strong already. Who could argue that World Class Stars, Bucks and PDA aren't the class of the northeast? The south mid Atlantic was previously less clear, but with FC VA picking up ABGC and Chantilly going to McLean along with an already strong Bethesda team, the south is now all ECNL. The relatively weaker teams are clearly also getting stronger as kids migrate from NJ town teams, SJEB, and NJSA to PDA, Match Fit, Bucks and Penn Fusion. In PA the same is happening, kids going from Warrington and Yardley to Bucks and kids from Harrisburg and Lancaster to Penn Fusion. In new England, the top kids from NEFC are going to Scorpions (Boston Breakers)and NEFC wont be able to do State cup next year as part of the NPL anyway). They already send their b team to region 1. Will the best Manhattan Santos players go to world Class now that their clubs have merged? North Rockland has announced some merger also. Massapequa and Albertson or East meadow are talking (I cant remember which it is).
ABGC kids go to FC Virginia ECNL. Chantilly to McLean ECNL. That leaves Pittsburgh and Strikers in region 1. This year 2 b teams in region 1 league. Next year how many? further, even the b teams will be playing NPL and might even be precluded from participating. Will region 1 become the equivalent of the presidents cup? Will anyone but town travel, less their top players to ECNL teams, be left for Region 1 league and State cups?
USYSA doesn't care- don't look for a response. They are the kings of the rec and town travel leagues. The loss of the few top teams means nothing economically to them. The only effect will be felt if several teams fold as their top players leave. Otherwise the percent lost will be inconsequential from a financial standpoint. Do they care that they will become the equal to AYSO in the west? I don't think so as long as their margins remain. Look for them to further turn their attention to rec and town travel programming. That's their niche. US Club has taken the premier programming without much of a fight.
Where does that leave the Strikers? If they go to Continental (logical choice as for years the FC Delco model was exactly that- move an entire team and its coach in to form an age group) there really can't be a substantial argument any longer.
From new England through VA, there wont be much for the top college D1 programs to see outside of the ECNL any longer. Showcases will largely be attended only by lower level college coaches. The bus has clearly left the station.
- June 2, 2014 at 10:59 AM
So all this means is parents are taking out second mortgages on their homes to fund the empty dream of sending their daughters to college for free. Not going to happen for the 99.9%. Much better spending that money on a school tutor.
- June 2, 2014 at 11:39 AM
10:59 It will be interesting to see as PDA is hosting an NPL Showcase in December just before Disney. It will be interesting to see if coaches attend both or one or the other.
- June 2, 2014 at 11:59 AM
So all this means is parents are taking out second mortgages on their homes to fund the empty dream of sending their daughters to college for free. Not going to happen for the 99.9%. Much better spending that money on a school tutor.
Translation: "My daughter plays for a town team so let me put down the ecnl so that I can feel better about my decisions."
- June 2, 2014 at 12:31 PM
If the NPL showcase in in Zaraphath then I bet the coaches attend Disney. They will already be planning to be there for the ECNL event to easy to arrive early/late and attend Disney too. Already have the flight only a couple more days in an hotel. The national league plays at Disney so I am guessing the coaches will go and watch the last gasp of the national league games before or after the Sanford ECNL event (not sure which is first Christmas week).
- June 2, 2014 at 12:51 PM
Got it wrong. I have 3 daughters. One just graduated after playing 4 years at a D1 program (pre-ECNL). One is currently graduating from high school this year that plays on an ECNL team. FYI- Nothing better than being forced to travel to San Diego at U18 after pretty much the entire team has committed. Thousands of dollars wasted. My youngest daughter doesn't play ECNL, but could play for any team in the Northeast. Also very talented Lacrosse player. Just don't see the need to pay the big bucks for ECNL just yet. U16 is the major year for most. So still have time to decide. In the mean time I will save my money. What I have learned so far, is grades will open many more doors. Scholarships are available, but they are mostly small partials for many. If your daughter can combine that with an academic scholarship, you will be golden. Otherwise you will still be spending a hefty penny if you are chasing that dream of playing out of state in the best soccer conferences.
- June 2, 2014 at 12:58 PM
12:51 PDA has an affiliate 1-2 hours from DIsney and they will be holding the showcase there the week between New Years and Christmas.
- June 2, 2014 at 1:06 PM
Made a mistake, the NPL Showcase is December 31 to Jan 2 so it is in direct conflict with Disney. It is in Palm Coast FLorida.
- June 2, 2014 at 1:09 PM
Made a mistake, the NPL Showcase is December 31 to Jan 2 so it is in direct conflict with Disney. It is in Palm Coast FLorida.
- June 2, 2014 at 1:09 PM
Given the choice, NPL or DIsney, what would you choose if you were a coach?
- June 2, 2014 at 1:11 PM
Why would coaches flock to see a bunch of B teams?
- June 2, 2014 at 1:16 PM
Strikers are fine for at least another year. Playing in USYS National League against teams from other regions(i.e Tophat. Legends, Grand Rapids Crew, Ponte Vedra, etc.)where ECNL hasn't saturated the landscape will make for very good competition. Not sure where all the talk of joining forces with Continental FC is coming from. But I could see where this might be mutually beneficial at U16 and beyond. For some reason the draw of the ECNL alone has not been enough to help that club on the girls side. The rising U15 team is just not that strong. Could you imagine a "free" ECNL option? Would the Strikers remain free under the Continental FC umbrella? Now that would be something to get excited about.
- June 2, 2014 at 1:18 PM
Do you expect ENCL clubs to only attend ECNL exclusive showcase events in the future? Will showcase events such as PDA, Jeff Cup, and Bethesda to name a few become exclusively ECNL? I think they would be turning away extra revenue if they no longer accept entry of US Youth Soccer teams. As long as these showcases continue to accept all comers, then the college coaches will still be around to see your daughter regardless of where she plays. Does the ECNL make things easier on college coaches? Definitely! Will your daughter still get looks if she plays on a high level US Youth Soccer team? Yes.
- June 2, 2014 at 1:33 PM
I do think that ECNL Clubs and US Club Soccer are actively trying to carve out "Elite Soccer" to be like the US Development Academies for boys, The reality is that at the Jeff Cup type tournaments, you daughter will have to work harder to get a coach to see her. It would be great if we had a true open competition. I can't see the model excluding kids if they are good players because if you take NJ as the example, you have 2 ECNL choices and in a state of our size, there is no way that there are only enough quality kids to fill 2 ECNL teams.
- June 2, 2014 at 1:58 PM
If you are a high quality player and you want to be seen by college coaches, is it better to be #15-28 on an ECNL club or #1-4 on a 2nd or 3rd tier club?
- June 2, 2014 at 1:59 PM
1258. Confident or arrogant- my kid could play on any team in the northeast.. there are only 25 or so kids in region 1 who could legitimately claim that at this point. Most are true goal scorers proven at the highest level. Not a goal scorer against the low budget teams you seem to favor at u15. the ECNL teams will only add an immediate impact player at u16 only a couple kids per team will be swapped out. they wont exchange role players.
The showcases are increasingly including ECNL only flights. Not mixing the cards so much at these. I am not saying its a good thing, just that its happening. PDA already there. I think jeff cup is already or is seriously considering now with the Striker/kicker merger. Bethesda likely to follow PDA lead.
- June 2, 2014 at 2:02 PM
It depends on which ECNL team. By your question, it is clear that your kid is probably not ACC type player. Hence it depend on the specific ECNL team. 15-18 on PDA or WC will get seen as long as the coaches put them on the field. However, if they are not playing at least 15 minutes/half then their chances of being evaluated positively are small. 15-18 on a bottom of the table ECNL team will get no attention from D1. Best to try and stand out in region 1 league and target a lower level D1 program or D3 with academic/grant money.
- June 2, 2014 at 2:13 PM
I'd say 1-5 on a lower tier club because at least she will be playing over the next 4 years and not essentially being a practice player.
- June 2, 2014 at 2:33 PM
Any teams looking for players for the Fall in the shore area?
- June 2, 2014 at 8:53 PM
TR may be looking for maybe 1 more.
- June 2, 2014 at 10:27 PM
Nice article on college recruiting.
It is interesting that only 6 of the top 40 Academic schools offer athletic scholarships. This is also a good quote "Unfortunately, for most girls, obtaining an athletic scholarship is perhaps one of the worst reasons for pursuing college soccer, and the myths surrounding athletic scholarships are well documented. First of all, this is primarily a parent motivation, since they are generally the one who has to pay tuition. Second, the average women's soccer scholarship is under $9000; whereas, parents can easily drop $5000-$10,000 a year starting at age 13 to play premier soccer – the math doesn't add up."
This document comes from an ECNL and NPL Club.
- June 3, 2014 at 11:05 AM
Rumor is that another team in Virginia has fallen apart. State Cup semifinalist and Colonial League member LMVSC (Lee Mount Vernon). So it seems like Virginia might be a big huge shakeup.
- June 3, 2014 at 11:40 AM
@11:40 - I had heard similar rumors, but I did not think they had any truth. With some of CSC Elite looking for a team, I figured they (LMVS) might pick up a couple. With the influx of the girls from CSC Elite that try to move to McLean, there might be some McLean girls turning to 'free agency' unless they want to play on the CCL or Green team,
Pending the ABGC-FCV showdown between GD & CC, there will certainly be a much different landscape come August.
I suspect that McLean's ECNL team will be one of the biggest beneficiaries. With the talent they already have, plus some additional girls, and the possibility of JH as the new coach, that's a win-win-win for them.
Overall, I think there's going to be some kids left in the dust. You've got 5 teams turning into 3, possibly 4. That will trickle down and cause a lot of shuffling.
- June 3, 2014 at 12:39 PM
One thing in common with these rumors. ECNL teams get better. all other teams get weaker
- June 3, 2014 at 12:56 PM
EDP, ECNL, EIEIO, blah, blah blah
Back to what matters...
How many folks out there see a disconnect with what their training may be teaching vs what their coaches may be coaching?
We don't need to know team, coaches or trainers names. Just would like to hear what your experience might be?
Both of my children have had multiple trainers with the same coach. Two different cases as to why there was a split. In one case the trainer was teaching a possession/patience game that the coach was not crazy about. Came game day the coach would take a direct soccer approach. The trainer quite the team (LOL)...my other child had a trainer (with boat loads of credentials) basically come in, talked a good game, taught 'some' stuff but at the end of the season his only real contribution was a 'cut list' for the coach and the recommendation that he find himself some real athletes. The coach cut this trainer and the team now works with a trainer teaching a small/possession type game that is in line with what the coach is looking for.
Both teams are doing a decent job of playing what the trainer is teaching without any real conflict (ok a couple of parents just don't get it) but that is to be expected on any team.
Any similar experiences? Would you coach have the guts to can a trainer with 100x the credentials more than his own? How about a trainer to say "this is not what I am about" and walk away?
I can only take so much "Isn't' this team/league just full of talent" talk. It's nice to hear about teams having success...but self praise stinks.
- June 3, 2014 at 1:23 PM
12:56 How do you draw the conclusion that when Clubs fold or consolidate that the other teams get weaker. There are a few incorrect premises that I assume underly your conclusion.
Premise 1: That the bottom of the ECNL clubs will get cut and replaced by top kids from another club. This may strengthen an ECNL club but I am not sure how other clubs get weakened. First, the bottom kid on an ECNL club is still very good and if they get cut, then they are likely going to make the team they go to stronger not weaker even if it is not a prestigious ECNL Club. Also, the determination as to who is at the bottom of an ECNL club is usually left to the determination of one coach. I would bet that there are some incredible players from #11-28 on ECNL clubs that for one reason or another were not a coach's favorite. There is a long history of players that were cut by a youth coach only to become hall of famers in their sport. It is actually unfortunate that many of our kid's soccer future can be determined by one individual, many of whom are very poor at what they do.
Premise 2 must be that when a kid gets cut from an ECNL team that they soccer career goes into the ether and we never hear from those kids again. I think if you do some homework, that at age 14-18 there is actually a consolidation of good teams and regardless of the prestige of being in an ECNL club all clubs improve. That is because with high school many teams fold or lose players. That didn't just start in 2014 . The kids that remain at every level are the kids that love the sport, have some skill, and want to keep playing.
The ECNL gives kids an advantage, no doubt, but to suggest that if you are not on an ECNL team than the team your kid plays for is getting weaker is ridiculous.
- June 3, 2014 at 2:01 PM
I applaud your effort but do you really think logic will come from such an irrational post to begin with.
Those who 'know', can see the premise as faulty. The intent was ill intended.
We should do a collective yawn and just ignore.
- June 3, 2014 at 2:10 PM
DC Shore, you are probably right, but it's is one thing to come on this blog and disparage a team that didn't do well at a tournament or even a coach who has a thankless job and can never make all parents happy. But sometimes something strikes a chord and you feel the need to respond. To some how suggest that non ECNL teams are weaker demeans the effort of the majority of kids that do not play for an ECNL club. Also, don't come on here as people continually do that a kid who is not a starter somehow has less worth than an starter. The starting lineups are generally set by one individual and many kids are lucky they have the support of that one individual. Just like there are stronger and weaker soccer players, there are stronger and weaker coaches that make bad decisions. It is possible to be proud of your kid's ECNL accomplishments without demeaning others in the process.
- June 3, 2014 at 2:26 PM
12:39 John Harkes is not coaching Mclean. Cindi is coaching Mclean U16 ECNL. Look for some of her players to go there.
- June 3, 2014 at 2:40 PM
The trainer and the coach are two different people?
- June 3, 2014 at 3:00 PM
2:26. You demean kids when you state
"The starting lineups are generally set by one individual and many kids are lucky they have the support of that one individual. Just like there are stronger and weaker soccer players, there are stronger and weaker coaches that make bad decisions."
Do coaches make mistakes, yes but by in large the starters are starting for a reason and those on the bench are there for a reason as well. Please stop with all the nonsense...
- June 3, 2014 at 4:22 PM
How did you feel about the USFL? Did you think it was equal to the NFL or did you think the teams were a little weaker?
By saying the NFL is a stronger league didn't it demeans the effort of the majority of players playing in the USFL?
I agree with you in regards to lineups. A good team will dress 18 Starters but only 11 can actually start a game. So which players start and which don't is controlled by one individual, I agree.
- June 3, 2014 at 4:35 PM
The NFL was a stronger league and the USFL folded up shop? It has nothing to do with "demeaning" just not enough support to be a viable product.
If you think a coach that spends countless hours over several years watching and training a team just picks names out of a hat as to who starts is frankly ludicrous. If you are a really good team your worst player #18 is almost as good as your best player #1. Unfortunately that is not always the case and the gap between the best and worse is bigger. Regardless of who starts and who doesn't I still believe it is in the players best interest to be (practicing) with the best players they can. I have seen a number of girls who get moved from an A team to a B team with the promise of more playing time. They do get more playing time in games but the practices are so much slower and less focused with B team that the player ultimately loses skills and quickness. Maybe they are happier playing in games I don't know but I do know they are constantly trying to get back on A team.
- June 3, 2014 at 5:21 PM
The NFL/USFL analogy is non-sensical. The correct analogy would be when the USFL folded yes the NFL got stronger, but then the remaining players from the USFL and those cut by NFL teams then went to the CFL. In that case, the NFL got stronger, but so would have the Canadian Football teams. The original comment was that the ECNL got stronger and everyone else got weaker. I don't buy. The only people hurt were the disbanded clubs and the players that had to find new clubs. The whole pool of players however is stronger for both the ECNL clubs and other clubs.
In terms of the coach, every coach has their biases and 2 coaches can see the same kid and draw a different conclusion. Both may be very good coached or very bad coaches or average. I doubt that 2 coaches will see the starting 11 the same way, and as stated, there is often a very fine line between 1-11 and 11-15 or even 11-18.
- June 3, 2014 at 6:46 PM
I have no issue with saying the ECNL clubs got stronger, which is true based on the USFL analogy, but how does that mean everyone else is weaker. Did all the kids suddenly lose their skill because teams disbanded and players moved to ECNL clubs and probably many other non-ECNL clubs.
- June 3, 2014 at 6:49 PM
Did NJSA form a team this age group and other age groups for next year?
- June 3, 2014 at 7:01 PM
The season is over in a week and I can't wait to go out and celebrate. I'm taking my child out this horrible mess. She may not continue playing since we 4 tired of the BS and broken promises. Training has been awful and players development and fair treatment is non-existant.
My child has learned nothing on this team and to the parents who think their child is a stud and should play the whole game. We r paying too just like you who make every practice! Your child makes tons of errors and stays in the game due to politics!! Good luck with the 12 players left and to the ones who r staying. Run while you can this team is not going anywhere. Last year at this time they had 11 players left. Now I can see why!!!!!
- June 3, 2014 at 7:42 PM
There is an old saying that on every team there are really only 6-7 happy players.
You full roster is not happy because you only get to start 11, one of whom is a keeper.
Teams usually build off a core of 6-7 players. No matter what team you are on that is usually the case. At least on a travel/competitive level.
These 6-7 tend to not be substituted as much. So those 3-4 that are the first subs are usually not happy about it. (anyone disagree with the above)
Do I disagree with my child'ss coach from time to time? Sure I do. But I also disagree with my boss, wife and mother from time to time. You still have to live with these people and be productive about things.
Any beef I have with the coach however is not enough for me to ruin my child's good time. The fact is she is always growing as a player too. That is an expectation that has to be me and honestly has been. I also believe there are more than one right and wrong answer to things. I accept the fact that the coaches are the only one's who get to make the 'big people' decisions as THEY are the coach.
But back to the main point. There are always going to be unhappy player's and parents. What should matter is are expectations overall being met or not? If yes, your situation is not terrible, if not you are insane for not leaving. Why be miserable? Worse yet, why be a poison and make others around you miserable and jump on a blog to complain about it?
At the end of the day any coach with the 18 best players in the state (as absurd as it sounds) would still only be able to start 11 and may likely still have the same 'happiness ratio' I detailed above.
Any thoughts?
- June 3, 2014 at 8:31 PM
So how many people have taken on the "DC Shore" monikor at this point, 7 or 8.
- June 3, 2014 at 9:06 PM
The fact that the "coach" and the "trainer" are seperate people in your world speaks volumes. I am confused as to how anyone could believe that taking the top players from ABGC and adding them to FC VAs top players and taking the top players from Chantilly and adding them to McLean will not strengthen the ECNL teams at the expense of the USYSA teams. Unless of course you believe other national/regional quality players are going to materialize from the town teams to replace the studs (sic- since they are girls).
This happened last year with PA Classics team a year older. Their top 3 players went to Penn Fusion and Strikers. No magical materialization occurred and their level dropped significantly. Similar to Penn Legacy that year: 2 players in the top 5 go to Penn Fusion and Strikers- they drop a level. Now their other top couple of players are unhappy that no magic occurred to replace the kids with like level players and they look around. Beneficary- Penn Fusion. Penn Legacy replaces them with their b team kids. You really think that there wasnt a strengthening of an ECNL club (Penn Fusion) at the expense of the USYSA club Classics and Penn Legacy and the same is not about to happen in VA, NY and Massachusettes? There are many more examples available- Warrington and FC Bucks, Manhattan and World Class, NEFC and FC Stars, name a team in NJ and PDA...
- June 3, 2014 at 10:47 PM
Speaks volumes how? In what way?
Does Barcelona have a Coaxh and a Trainer? Or only a coach?
- June 3, 2014 at 10:58 PM
Coach= dad
Trainer= someone the dad hires to teach skills to the kids because he has none and doesnt have any idea how to teach them. After all he played basketball in high school or debate team. sometimes someone who can teach the game other times just a guy with an accent.
- June 4, 2014 at 7:07 AM
Way to not answer the question.
How does it speak volumes?
Does Barcelona have a coach and a trainer(s) or just a coach?
I know the High School team only has a coach (who also trains) does that speak volumes?
Let me know when you want to have a serious discussion about soccer because even your definitions above are very poor. My 12 year old son would love to sit and teach you about THE GAME.
Lastly, let me know what team you are associated with. I'll arrange for a scrimmage. I will video tape it and post it for those on this board to see. That will also speak volumes. Win/Lose/Draw
- June 4, 2014 at 7:11 AM
Before anything else though. Please answer the question about Barcelona. Make it easier on yourself check out the staff profiles of the NY Red Bulls, A Head Coach, several assistances, several trainers, technical directors, etc.
I told you not to be stupid. - Ben Stern
- June 4, 2014 at 7:16 AM
10:47 your exactly right. There is a scenario where a ECNL team gets weaker and that is when 2 or 3 of their best players move to a better neighboring ECNL club.
- June 4, 2014 at 7:42 AM
DC Shore has his pants in a twist. Your true colors are showing with the name calling and posturing you are doing.
I will concede at the highest youth levels there may be a grandpa age or bad knees super brain coach who relies on a trainer to demonstrate skills he can no longer perform. The difference between this coach/ trainer situation is that at one point in his life he could have. There would be no disconnect between the coach and the trainer in this situation. The trainer would clearly be subservient to the coach or the coach would find another trainer. Similarly, if a technical trainer disagreed (past tense since you may not even know that he resigned in May and I don't think a new coach has been named yet) with Gerardo (Tato)Martino last year do you think he wouldn't find a pink slip in his box immediately? Your question has no relevance to the professional game because the situation just wouldn't exist.
To try and draw a comparison to the very common dad coach and technical trainer model ubiquitous through lower level youth soccer to a professional coach/trainer model is absurd.
By the way Barcelona does have an equivalent girls aged team. they have a coach and an assistant coach. Similar to our American common higher level model.
- June 4, 2014 at 8:34 AM
DCShore you are clearly talking out your bottom sir. Here at June 4 7:11am you challenge a person to tell you what team they are associated with so that you can arrange a scrimmage lol lol lol and yet video tape it. How come when I challenged you to do the same and not for a scrimmage but only to discuss your comments about…………here we go PDA and yes I am a parent. You totally balked on the conversation and never totally turned your head as I wasn't talking to you. It's a shame that you try to call this person to the table when you can't even come to the table yourself. I am not talking about your son's team but since this is a U14 GIRLS forum I am only speaking about what's your affiliation regarding U14 Girls soccer. No response to this is just a message to the person you were trying to call out that you are basically a fraud and you're not really here to discuss but more or less to try and give us your opinion in which I feel you consider LAW………Get out of here with that NONSENSE….and I am a PDA Parent if you need my name I have no problem with that either.
- June 4, 2014 at 10:19 AM
As someone said yesterday, there are probably multiple DC Shore's on this site, so who at this point knows who is writing on this blog. I will show show what I mean in my next post.
- June 4, 2014 at 10:33 AM
I am a PDA Parent and I find it laughable some of the things written on this site. The fact is that if you are not playing ECNL, you are just playing high-level rec soccer. That's why we have 8 kids willing to to try to crack the top 18 because PDA is the only place that they will get strong quality professional training.
- June 4, 2014 at 10:38 AM
I am a PDA Parent and you are fooling yourself if you think coaches at college showcases will watch anyone but an ECNL player.
- June 4, 2014 at 10:39 AM
Everything I learned about youth soccer I learned debating with strangers on Youth Soccer Talk.
PDA Parent
- June 4, 2014 at 10:40 AM
PDA has 8 kids willing to try to crack the top 18 at World Class....
- June 4, 2014 at 11:42 AM
touché 1019
- June 4, 2014 at 12:48 PM
To be honest its not touche' at all. Im just calling it as it is. Sure DCShore has some good opinions and I am sure they can be valid for many teams or clubs ranging from Rec to Academy level. What I like most about it that is that he will clearly talk about someone's club and throw darts at them and ask them to reveal themselves but once that mirror is turned on him or her.....they seem to run away or give you that ol' saying "No one really cares about my club routine...... in order to turn the attention back on the other person but that ain't working with me lol lol I am right back at him with it.
- June 4, 2014 at 12:55 PM
1255 that response is difficult to follow. What are you saying?
- June 4, 2014 at 1:29 PM
Im talking about and to DCShore about how he uses this blog and the fact that earlier he tried to call out someone or really call their bluff by asking them to tell what club their kid played for. When this type of questioning was given to DCShore weeks ago by myself asking him to do the same he just ignored it and gave the excuse that nobody cares about his club so no need to disclose that. I then again said that it mattered to me that I wanted to know because it would be interested to see how his club ran things due to the fact that he had so many things to say about PDA.
- June 4, 2014 at 1:50 PM
As far as i can tell, all DCShore posts have been made by me.
A post was made about how 'telling' it was, presumably about the team and/or poster that the discussion was about separate coaches and trainers. A practice, based on facts, is more common than not from small club travel teams through HUGE international clubs.
I asked for clarification and have yet to receive any. Presumably because the person, lets call him/her The Big Dummy, simply is only repeating what they know and/or have heard rarher than taking at least some time to think and do some research. I helped out by doing both with my rhetorical questioning.
As far as the other charges go i only would take back yhe scrimmage invite. Purely because i have likely seen this persons team already play. I cannot really trust if they are a PDA parent (or any team for that mater). If they happen to be though, my contrarian opinion (not law) is supported by two club teams who not only played equal if nit better games to their PDA opponents in US Cup. They also won. Except for a handful of teams, based on their actual games and play i have ovserved, the major difference between most teans is athleticism. I remind everyone that both Freehold and TRE had coaches and trainers working with their teams. So i ask again, what is 'telling' about this set up?
If anything the one coach approaxh resembles more of a school ball set up. Which does not necessitate it being bad, but we know school ball :/
Lastly i do not throw darts. I lay down opinion (like everyone else) with some thinking behind it.
I do not understand the mirror comment.
- June 4, 2014 at 1:55 PM
I get this strange impression you actually do not take the time to read, rather comprehend, the arguments and statements people are making.
VERY OFTEN, I talk about the way things 'should' be as opposed to the way they are. This includes my own club.
But it appears you only focus on my talk regarding PDA, which is really not all that much except for a specific point or two.
I am also the same guys who was told to 'calm down' when I was defending what I saw as the pejorative use of the 'A, B, C' team tags assigned to PDA teams. I was corrected, by (supposed) PDA parents that those designations were used internally and thus not offensive.
So PLEASE, do not just read the occasional criticism as I have for PDA. Which is really only one aspect but I am done repeating myself. Maybe you can take the time to read the previous posts and understand what is being said. I have had plenty of positives to say.
I much prefer to talk about the game and what 'should be done' as opposed to 'who is doing what'.
- June 4, 2014 at 4:30 PM
DC shore:
Why do you feel it necessary to call posters names such as "big dummy"? That type of behavior only hurts your credibility. Why did you not respond to the 834 post?
- June 4, 2014 at 4:58 PM
I usually do not feel it necessary. In this case i felt a little right about it.
What part of that post do you want me to respond to?
- June 4, 2014 at 5:09 PM
DCShore see what you are missing is that even if you say one thing about PDA, and I am a PDA parent as I have been saying all along you must know that I am going to respond to it especially if it is something negative. Am I defending them…no but my child plays there and I am defending her choice of where she is playing at the moment. Yes you are entitled to you opinion and I would never say that you can't say what you think. This is a free country to some degree lol and our freedom of speech is something that I would never want taken away. I have read your selective criticism of PDA as well as others but when I have asked you what about your club so we can compare you balk on that because believe it or not your club is just as guilty if not worse than PDA. I do know that your kids just don't play for a normal town team……..NOPE no way in heck would I even believe that you do. I find it funny that now you apologize or you take back the point that you invited someone out on the floor and challenge them to bring his or her son's team to scrimmage. I find it funny that you even did that but what I find even more funny is that you now retract that statement because I was watching and I called you out on how it was easy it was for you to do that and how difficult it was when I asked you. Well DCShore my kid is the PDA Gunners and she is proud of that at the moment that she has the opportunity to play for the club. I mean she is proud of it and if my kid is proud of it then I support it right now. I sit here and no I don't have to call you names like DUMMY which I don't think by far you but I think you are wrong in your opinion and I think you are blinded by your dislike of PDA because they are the focus of most of your conversations. Remember when you look in that mirror its tough sometimes to see that reflection when you know that I may be correct about you. So DCShore you wanna scrimmage PDA ABCDEFG team. I will pass on your request to the coaches if you like. By the way what is the name of your U14G team………lol lol that REFLECTION is bright isn't it cause I aint going away……
- June 5, 2014 at 9:17 AM
PDA Gunners guy - lots of your team trying out at another ECNL club? What's going on there?
- June 5, 2014 at 9:33 AM
That's a fair question and I will give you my honest opinion. The reason why this is occurring is that parents are looking for the best situation for their child. Is PDA for everyone….if you want my selfish opinion I will say yes but my honest opinion I would say no. Sure its great training and you got kids coming in every year that haven't been seen or been playing elsewhere that are very talented. Does this mean that these kids are better……….no but if you know anything about sports you will know that sometimes it's not that talent that gets seen all the time but more sometimes the relationship that the play and coach have and what that particular coach is seeing in that kid. Does this mean that the girls that are deciding to leave are bad players……..heck no and not by far. They are very talented and that's what makes it a bitter sweet thing to see parents make the switch but I know the girls will be okay and I know they will shine where ever they go because the parents have it together and they are doing what's best for their kid. The girls that are leaving will still have a relationship with the girls that are staying. As I said before this team is like no other. For the most part all the families really get along and we do cheer for each other's kid and we support them as parents. The girls that have left prior to this are still part of the circle meaning that when we see them at games we hug, kiss and talk about old times and new times and just continue to enjoy each other. We all know that youth sports can be cut throat but I will say that we as parent of the Gunners and previous Gunners and Gunners that are leaving we will always continue to be connected and we will still continue to cheer the success of the kids regardless of where they play or end up. I don't know if that answers your question but all the moving about is just to get a better situation for their children which they should be doing. Remember folks you all pay to be where you at and you have choices. These are not "CONTRACTS" that you are signing and no one owns your child. If you are happy where you are then stay and if you not make the best decision for your kid because at the end of the day that is what matters and hopefully at the end of the day those that you called friend, associate etc will still remain the same regardless of soccer. Those that have left and those that continue to leave I will never miss them. Nope I will not miss them at all because I know I will see them again soon. Either on the soccer field, Gunnerque, get together etc.
- June 5, 2014 at 9:52 AM
Where do you get I dislike PDA? Honestly I tire of this. If you have been following all along, I have basically sang praise for the things they do VERY very well. I am not going to repeat myself here.
I will repeat that my only criticism is the false advertising that they are a DEVELOPMENT academy. They are not. IT DOES NOT MAKE IT A BAD PLACE OR ORGANIZATION, but I stand behind this criticism. Also the predatory behavior displayed with the TRE situation. It's just wrong...but hey every Academy would do the same so this is not just on PDA.
PLEASE go out and read about the European Club and Academy programs (if you have not done so already). It's also ok to admit that beyond visiting a few web sites you may not really know all that much. This would not make you a dummy. Making silly statements would. I say this without an ounce of venom. I'll even take back my dummy comment. I do get the opinion that you only see things through the context of your own personal experience and that of your child. Have you even watched a youth soccer match that did not involve your child? Their age bracket or league? You might be missing quite a bit. Why am I able to talk so confidently (and I'll add accurately) about so many teams? Because I am a genius? A former professional player? A former celebrated coach? NO. It's because I watch, read, listen and learn as much as i can. I can tell that many others on this board do too.
I 'may' have had the advantage of working out in Europe for over 8 years. 20+ countries. While my time there was not tied to soccer...do you think I poked around a bit, followed a few matches and spoke to a few coaches? Three guesses and your first two do not count.
A great book to get would be SOCCERNOMICS. Specifically focus on the chapters regarding the Barcelona system. Do you REALLY think they do not have trainers working with the young players? Do you really think they they are out to create 'stud' U12, U13, U14 teams? U6? Learn what they do with 'stud' players. Learn that their coaches are not paid on winning, but rather development. Etc.
Why i retracted the invite was also addressed. I have already seen your team play. REMEMBER the PDA Gunners are a team that I have not seen play in 2 years but when I did they pretty much played THE GAME. The only PDA team that actually plays a very-good to great game. The other, like most teams, play a good-very good game. PDA is just able to recruit stronger athletes and thus those teams are stronger. But there is NOTHING overly telling about the PDA system vs a solid Town Club system with at least some support and structure.
Looking back, the invite to scrimmage is silly and not in my traditional spirit. We all have moments of weakness.
You can believe what you want. My children play for town teams. Teams that are well coached and trained. Not EVERYTHING is done the way I wish it were but those are not realistic expectations. The program itself is solid and the players are left alone to develop. And they are a happy bunch. I would be the world's worst dad if I pulled them from their teams for any ambitions of mine. Also, I'm not sure they are cut out for it.
My interest is in soccer. That's why I tend to ask soccer questions and focus on the structure and play more than who is winning, who beat who, etc. Being greeted with "well that is very telling" and NEVER even getting a response (up to the time I am writing this) is aggravating.
You are free to have whatever last words you wish.
- June 5, 2014 at 10:24 AM
The Gunners have the perfect situation. Perhaps it's a consequence of having a highly competitive and successful team. I don't know that the Gunners nirvana exists everywhere at PDA. The South team has far less of a nirvana which would indicate it is the Gunners not PDA as whole. The situation in the South is a bit of a mess, and doesn't seem like it will improve any time soon. It's been mismanaged from the start. People call it a "B" team but it was meant to be a team that would be competitive with the Gunners. Now we are traveling up and down the East Coast, to play non-competitive games, the Gunners carrot has been dangled with little follow-through, and the DOC threatened tryouts for 3 months which completely destabilized things a bit. The DOC told us how great the tryout turnout would be and that turned out to be a near completer failure. So we should be clear that your team's success as group is not everywhere at PDA.
- June 5, 2014 at 10:33 AM
DC Shore You are exactly right on the development. The US is the only place in the world that people view games and the outcome as the essential measure of team success. In Europe, the focus is on training first with a training to game ratio well in excess of the US. Although it is about 10 years old this situation has probably only gotten worse:
In a study of 1500 ODP level female players, the average number of games reported played over the previous twelve months was 116. With an average game duration of 80 minutes and a maximum roster of 18, and with the ball out of play for an average 33%, the typical player would experience 1.5 minutes of active play per game for a total of 174 minutes per year. Less than 3 hours of ball contact! (Turner, 2003)
Under FIFA-3 substitution rules, a young soccer player competing in 100 games per year will only come into contact with the ball for a maximum of 300 minutes, or 5 hours. The recommended ratio of training sessions to games for 9-12 year-old players is 70% training and 30% games.
- June 5, 2014 at 10:49 AM
ECNL to ECNL = net 0 of talent in ECNL
USYSA to ECNL= net loss of talent at USYSA
DC shore
Do you think that the red bull technical director who is listed on their DA team page trains the team- is the equivalent of a "trainer"?
No they have the same structure as any other high level team. A head coach who largely trains the team and several assistants who also serve as head coaches of the other teams and fill in for the head coach when conflicts arise. The technical director sets the training curriculum and administers it throughout the year.
No the coach/trainer structure to which the original question "How many folks out there see a disconnect with what their training may be teaching vs what their coaches may be coaching?"
This situation can only occur when a "coach" most frequently the father of one of the players on the team, disagreed with the paid "trainer"- someone who purports to have played and understands the game well enough to teach it. The "coach" frequently does not have a playing background and may have been athletic as a child but primary sport was football basketball or baseball. He frequently played all three through high school. or he's an athlete want to be.
The "coach" hires a trainer to train the team because he doesn't have the knowledge or ability to teach the kids. Give him credit because he recognizes this fact. In this common circumstance, DC shore recognizes that there could be conflict because the trainer wants to play one style while the coach another. Usually the conflict arises because the coach wants to win games to keep kids from leaving to greener pastures and to maintain his own bragging rights.
The higher level teams usually have a coach and assistant coach (like do the redbulls) to train the kids. The coach was usually a high level player who has attended coaching courses and achieved licensures from various entities. Unless the head coach is older or has a nagging injury, he can demonstrate to the kids as well s offer instruction. He doesn't need a trainer to do this for him. The assistants are there as another set of eyes and to fill in in the head coach's absence. They frequently also are head coaches of other teams in the clubs. The head coach and assistant don't generally disagree on style and if they did the assistant would defer to the head. Perhaps if the assistant was concerned that the head coach was not following the curriculum set by the training director or was encouraging play against the philosophy of the club, then he might discuss his concerns with the DOC. However I am sure that this is an uncommon event.
Barcelona's 1st team's coach (currently without one since Geraldo Martino resigned) dictates the style of play and hires and fires his assistants (trainers) as he sees fit. The professional coaches were outstanding players in their time (Pep Guardioloa) though sometimes (Sir Alex) their coaching success far exceeds their playing success. The set the rules there is no dissent. To make an analogy between barcelon's 1st team's structure and our own commonplace coach/trainer structure is not valid- apples to oranges.
On the other hand it would be legitimate to compare Barcelon's youth teams structure to ours and if done so you will see a coach and assistant coach the same as red bulls, PDA and other well known and respected clubs.
Since you took such great offense as to start name calling and insulting people on the board. I assume that you are the "coach" of a team that employs a "trainer". Which team was that?
- June 5, 2014 at 11:38 AM
I am not the Coach or proponent of any one system.
I appreciate your feedback regarding the coach/training scenario. Which, you admit yourself, exists in our universe and beyond (to varying capacities).
Or is this boards just about the PDA universe? Which it seems that parent is so interested in defending despite the fact there is no attack. At least coming from me.
To reply to my initial inquiry with; "yep, have seen it", "nope, have never seen it", "our coach is also our trainer" are all acceptable answers.
To answer with "that question is very telling" is just nonsense and YOU know it. Based on everything you just wrote.
You provided some great insight with your answer and is probably most accurate in most situations. I would argue that there are also instances where two great minds come together. Sometimes these relationships change too. How about trainers who oversell what they have done? Or what they are capable of? Or, just want to win too and do not want to be associated with teams that lose? There is so much more to be discussed, if people are interested in.
What do you think the parent meant by "it is telling" with regards to the coach/trainer relationship. Was he/she interested in discussion? Or just another chance to draw spotlight on the fact their child plays for PDA? Maybe you can accept some of us are interested in more than such discussions.
I feel I am in my right and it is perfectly fair to make comparisons so everyone's overall level of understanding is increased. As you clearly admit yourself, there may be reasons, even economic reasons, as to why teams/clubs do or do not use trainers. ON ANY LEVEL.
I can point to Barcelona (wither Messi's side, or the equivalent youth level team) in order to make comparison's. In truth, why would the reason to use a trainer differ? Simply based on age? Or need? For whatever that need/desire may be.
"Since you took such great offense as to start name calling and insulting people on the board. I assume that you are the "coach" of a team that employs a "trainer". Which team was that?"
---> It's a shame you want to look at it this way.
I took offense to what I thought was the start of a potentially healthy discussion, even if just trading war stories, turned into yet another discussion as to why one set of things 'sucks' while the other 'rules. If you read my post you will see that intent.
I am ok with you taking offense to the name calling. Not something I normally do. Emotionally I felt it was warranted. I could be wrong about that.
I admire a great many teams, including this parents PDA team. I also recognize that success/failure comes in many different forms and that most of the 'problem's teams have are shared by 100% of the teams sometimes and 95% of the teams on a regular basis. From Rec to the Champions League.
- June 5, 2014 at 12:25 PM
Answer me this question.
You seem to have insight.
Beyond the coach/trainer organization.
What other comparisons can you make. Positive and negative with regards to US Academy programs and Barcelona.
What are the arrangements? Ambitions?
How are teams arranged? How are players moved? What do they do with super talented players? Players who may have skill but are a little slow? Fast but with little skill?
Now if you do not know I'll accept that as an answer. But something tells me you know.
- June 5, 2014 at 12:30 PM
To the great PDA model, I am currently living it in the South. There is supposed to be a head coach and an assistant coach, but we rarely if ever see an assistant coach. Despite our $2500 price tag it is mainly one coach and one team.
- June 5, 2014 at 12:42 PM
@1242, then why stay? Everyone knows the issues and empty promises at PDA south but you were all still scared your daughters were going to get cut. Now that the roster is set, you want to complain?
- June 5, 2014 at 2:23 PM
Happened upon this EXCELLENT article.
- June 5, 2014 at 5:10 PM
I was commenting on the Coach/Assistant model and the comments of how terrific things are with the Gunners and they aren't true in all of PDA. Why stay? It is a good question but it mainly has to do with the number of choices that are out their for high level soccer especially in South Jersey.
- June 5, 2014 at 7:51 PM
DC Shore, here is another article that argues against the dangers of a Pyramid and closed structure that currently exists in the US. This was a quote that speaks to the European model rather than the current US closed system.
"We must strenuously protect the pyramid structure of our sport against any potential breakaway groups, or elitist closed leagues with no chance of promotion or relegation,'' says Uefa.
The European governing body adds that "we remain totally committed to the European model of sport, a model characterised by promotion and relegation, the solidarity principle, as well as open competitions and opportunity for all. This is what sport – and especially football – is all about. We have to protect this model because sport is not simply a business like any other and we cannot allow it to be treated as such. We will continue to defend the specificity of sport and are convinced that our arguments will prevail for the good of football.
- June 5, 2014 at 8:31 PM
Here is the link, promotion and relegation would be great.
- June 5, 2014 at 8:38 PM
Great Article and I noticed from the same author as my link.
Seeing the forrest through the trees I found the most 'telling' statement was:
"Of course, not meeting in competition is not a bad idea for those, "elite clubs" awarded the "golden ticket" to an ECNL, US Developmental Academy or WCDA competition - all closed competitions. For these clubs and their directors enjoy a membership not enjoyed by their competitors - many of whom have teams which are their equal on the field - whose players they want and often get - due to their membership in a closed league. Its a nice place to be – if you get in – unless you can't afford the money "necessary" to travel to compete against the other "elite" players in "elite" clubs."
Definitely one problem to the system in the U.S.
- June 5, 2014 at 9:38 PM
To 5;10 .
Much has been learned since my first daughter has gone through the PDA system.
We are blessed with an 8 year old that will take a different path.
You can indeed work through the current system and find a model that mimics the european model , but you must be very specific in the turns you make for development and ignore US conventional training and team methodology.. not sure where this different path will take my youngest but am willing to give a try.
- June 5, 2014 at 10:06 PM
8;38 The ECNL clubs would never accept an open system of promotion and relegation. It would make sense that a US CLub teams could earn it's way up to the NP up to the ECNL level. But that would threaten the nice position they have today which is basically that we are the only ECNL game in town. People wouldn't be rushing to ECNL clubs in an open system. It actually is sad for soccer because it is exclusionary. We know that many teams in the ECNL: at current have nor right being there and same with the NPL. One only needs to look at the score differentials to see that the leagues would benefit from promotion and relegation.
- June 6, 2014 at 8:59 AM
Doesn't ECNL and NPL drop clubs and add new ones from time to time? I know at least one club in MD that is trying to become an ECNL club. Just remember when you judge an ECNL club don't just look at the U14 age group, look at all the age groups for that club to see how they are doing. Any one age group could be a struggling group.
- June 6, 2014 at 11:21 AM
PWSI in Virginia wants to become an ECNL club. Same with Loudoun and BYRC. Very little chance of Maryland getting a third team. For a club to get accepted, they need a current strong slate from U14 to U18 and that is what is holding back PWSI. The 99 group is average and 98 team just left for NVSC. Rumor is Virginia Rush has been kicked out of ECNL.
- June 6, 2014 at 12:36 PM
Can you argue for development & training over winning and also talk about promotion and relegation?
- June 6, 2014 at 1:13 PM
11:21 The fact that it is club based in my opinion makes it more of a closed system, because it protects clubs that have weaker teams in an age group that are otherwise undeserving. I personally can't see a good argument for a closed system accept that it keeps a gatekeeper deciding who gets in and who doesn't. A good town or academy team that's not an ECNL Club has little chance of getting the exposure. I also believe this is what PDA and other large influential clubs wants because it creates an artificial elite system that draws people to certain clubs at the exclusion of others because of the value the ECNL brings. As the article states, outside of the US it is hard to find any soccer system that is not open to all based on performance.
- June 6, 2014 at 1:19 PM
DCSHORE @June5, 10:24am
First I have to only respond to what applies to me. Oh and by the way I am not the one you called "Dummy" or this conversation and the previous responses would've been a lot different from me. Yes in my opinion you dislike PDA I will say that and I will stand by it. I don't know it's just something that I feel gets under your skin the way they do things. I truly feel that from your post and your written attitude toward them. They are falsely advertising anything. They have developed kids. For one mine has been developed at PDA since she has been here since 7 years of age. So how is that false when I can clearly prove that statement wrong and it's not an opinion but that's a fact. No can you say that they haven't developed "EVERYONE"…….okay I will agree but certainly that would apply for every other team /club in the country.
You ask me to go look at the European Club and Academy programs. Thanks but no thanks and not because I refuse to educate myself or gain knowledge but more for the simple fact that I am not European and my kid does not play there. How would what they do apply to my child. Lets speak about women's soccer not men's. I think that's a big problem for Americans now is that we are too much trying to be like someone else and not just be who we are. In soccer all everyone talks about is the EUROPEAN way…………..sure there are a lot of talent in Europe I will give them that but I ask where does it come from. South America, Brazil, China, Japan….etc. Not everyone in Europe has been developed in Europe in my opinion. Who takes claim to the Messi, Ronaldo's the Neymar's etc EUROPE……I think not.
Why you retracted your comment of the scrimmage invite it was not of something you now say was foolish it was because you were called out for being what you claim others are. In my eyes it was your ego and chest beating mentality that your kid's team is better than his or hers and you were willing to take them out in the backyard and show them who's boss. Sounds like a bully to me but hey no name calling right. You say that the Gunners actually play the game which I would say thank you for noticing but what you don't know or probably seen in the last two years has been DEVELOPMENT, but what kills me about that statement is that I could name of the top of my head about 20 other U14G New Jersey teams that play the game or same game as PDA but what the difference is that DEPTH that PDA has. Most teams top 11 are right there for most part. It's after that 11 where the talents is off or just below what PDA can bring to the table and that is what makes the difference in most cases in my true opinion.
You child playing for a town team sure………………and you are correct "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU" nope not for one bit. What I will tell you is that your child means something to me because she represents the beautiful state of NJ and when she goes out there and do well and hopefully makes it to that next level she will be representing not just her family but mine also and instead of knocking her DEVELOPMENT and saying that she is in the wrong place I am going to say girl keep getting it in and trust me the letters on your chest never matter………….it's the person inside that jersey that does.
I don't need the last word DCSHORE because as I told you before……your not here to have a conversation really, you are just hear to tell us the LAW and how we are soooooo under you……….anyway when you look in that MIRROR in the morning or night……don't worry that reflection will have the last word always because you are who you are and I know it.
- June 6, 2014 at 1:46 PM
You have the last word.
Good Day
- June 6, 2014 at 2:11 PM
@1:19 - i agree. I'm no expert, but I've been around long enough to gather enough information to form some (hopefully) intelligent opinions. There are some issues too large to address in this format, but I think that US Club Soccer and USYS need to work together to work towards the end goal of producing quality players. Each group also needs to have their own "piece if the pie" so to speak. Make USYS the "development" branch and USCS the "showcase" branch.
First, let's assume that ECNL retains the sanctioning of the top level leagues. Ditch the exclusionary practices of the past and allow teams in if they are deserving. Make ECNL the "A" league and NPL the "B" league. Use USYS regional leagues as feeder leagues. If a team makes it to the top of a USYS feeder league, promote them to NPL regardless of their parent organization (USYS or USCS). Relegate the bottom of the ECNL and NPL leagues down one step so that NPL teams move down to USYS regional leagues.
This way the ECNL will truly have the top teams in all age groups and will have much more parity across the board. Club membership in either USYS or USCS is a much more difficult nut to crack so I won't bother dealing with that. But if the two organizations honor each other's rosters, teams can move freely between leagues. USYS could then open up state cup competition to USCS teams.
Just some wild ideas.
- June 6, 2014 at 2:13 PM
After reading 1:19's post again, what's wrong with having "independent" clubs for adopting teams that want to play in (and are good enough) the USYS leagues? That would open up USCS membership for clubs that don't have strong teams at every age. PWSI might not currently have strong teams at some age groups, but thy have historically had strong teams at most age groups. Having a regional independent club would allow for strong teams from smaller (or non-USCS) clubs to participate.
Maybe put the management of the independent clubs under a coalition of the existing area USCS clubs so they don't feel like they're being infringed upon. Or make them non-voting members, or the equivalent - I'm not sure how the manager if the USCS clubs works.
- June 6, 2014 at 2:26 PM
That last statement should be: I'm not sure how the management of the USCS clubs works.
- June 6, 2014 at 2:28 PM
Can you argue for development & training over winning and also talk about promotion and relegation?
June 6, 2014 at 1:13 PM
I am going to avoid the DC Shore PDA Parent fight, but yes you can have Promotion and Relegation and development and training. I would hope that winning is a consequence of development and training and not just strong recruiting which I believe has gotten stronger for the ECNL Clubs because of the closed system. Part of training and development is by playing against competitive teams that challenge other teams especially other teams that can expose your team's weaknesses to force you to improve. If you look at some of the scores in the ECNL and NPL leagues there is a great disparity between the top 1-2 teams and the rest. It is a generalization but one that holds true. It doesn't do a team any good when they have nearly every game where the goalie is a spectator and the defense is never challenged. There are NPL teams that are consistently beating ECNL teams. Those NPL teams are pitched at the wrong level. Take NEFC, they are NPL only but are highly competitive when they do play ECNL teams, yet due to the closed system they can't play ECNL and they will be challenged to keep their best kids because thee ECNL is where many kids want to play. The PDA Pride has walked through their NPL league and have beaten a few ECNL teams including a few teams that the Gunners compete against in their ECNL league. I don't equste the Pride with NEFC but they too based on being pitched at the right competitive level should not be in their current NPL league or new teams should be brought into their NPL league. The same could be said for FC Stars that play in the same NPL league. While ultimately the records are the best objective measure to determine promotion and relegation and it takes politics out of decision making, but ultimately every team should be playing in leagues that are by and large competitive. In the Gunners NPL League The Goal differential by team is WC 66, PDA, 50 Bucks 19, Fusion 15, Match Fit 7, Delco -26 - the goal differential for the bottom 3 teams in Virginia ECNL range from -24 to -32. In the Northeast NPL in 14 games FS Stars has given up 5 goals and PDA 3 against 45 and 40 goals for. They are winning, but I would argue that those games have done little to develop and improve the players when playing in competitive situations.
- June 6, 2014 at 2:31 PM
Sometimes you don't need to speak..........The Reflection will say it all......see sometimes people can recognize the light but can't handle the glare..........
- June 6, 2014 at 2:33 PM
NOVA, I am not from your area so I don't understand it as much, but even in the closed system, what's wrong with having 1-2 at-large teams enter an ECNL league based on an objective system or have an ECNL at large qualifying tournament for US Club Carded teams. I don't think you'll ever see such a thing because it would go contra to the purpose of the ECNL if suddenly independent teams were regularly beating ECNL teams in their leagues.
- June 6, 2014 at 2:36 PM
You are starting to see regional groupings like this. Richmond United FC in Virginia, NC Fusion in NC. FC Virginia in the DC area is trying to do this, but the powerful clubs like PWSI, Loudoun, BYRC are fighting tool and nail against FC Virginia. FC Virginia was formed because of Terry Foley's reputation. Had Foley not lived in Loudoun County, the natural evolution would have taken place and probably Loudoun, Mclean, and PWSI would be the ECNL clubs. But FCV was formed without a large talent pool. They don't have a rec program. They didn't have fields. Alot of those issues have been addressed. Foley is now trying to build a regional partnership with ABGC, CYA, Ashburn, and more. The problem is that ECNL clubs are not interested in recruiting top teams. They are interested in having teams form at U9. Develop players.
- June 6, 2014 at 2:53 PM
@2:36 - At-large teams or a qualifier is actually a good idea. Who cares if an independent team beats a "regular" team? Go to the ECNL's overview page and you'll see the following listed in their mission statement:
- Improving the competitive environment through creation of a true national competitive league with multiple flights;
- Improving the process for identifying elite female soccer players for the U.S. Soccer youth national teams through a systematic scouting and identification program based on national competitions;
There's nothing in this that would be violated by having independent teams. The assertion that the top teams in every age group will belong to member clubs is just not true in all cases. Now it may hold true in a majority of the cases.
- June 6, 2014 at 2:59 PM
@2:53 - I think the opposite is true. Not all (or not too many many) ECNL clubs are interested in developing players. They are recruiting players that have been developed at other clubs. They are concerned with forming teams that have the top (already developed) talent so they can be competitive.
And even with the regional model, there will (or could) be holes at certain age groups from time to time.
- June 6, 2014 at 3:27 PM
I might have generalized too much. I have seen cases where a majority of the team's rosters were made up of players from outside the club. There are clubs that promote from within when forming their ECNL teams.
- June 6, 2014 at 3:49 PM
I think many of you are missing the point as to what ECNL is trying to do. ECNL was not established to promote "teams" it was set up to promote and showcase "players". I realize that all the best players are not in ECNL but if you set up a league (yes exclusive) and start by theoretically giving the exclusive rights to clubs that have the resources and history of promoting and developing players thats a good start. Its set up so that the best "players" come to ECNL not ECNL looking for good teams.
- June 6, 2014 at 5:07 PM
I would say exactly right...but we know it is not really about showcasing players. It is about showcasing clubs/teams.
But even if we assume your stated ambitions are correct, the lack of vision/development in the whole process is what keeps us wanting and criticizing.
There are plenty of 'fine' player to showcase but not in a closed league where 'Clubs' are protecting their most valuable assets, increasing their attractiveness to outside players, and colluding with others to keep others out. I cannot accept such a narrow vision of how things should work.
NO, this is not Europe. YES, we are talking about developing the beautiful game.
- June 6, 2014 at 9:54 PM
5:07 I think most people recognize what they are trying to do, and you are probably right about what their stated goals are. You can search long and hard and I think you will find few experts that support an ECNL type exclusive system. One of the ECNL's first problems is that they have a Board of Directors that is all made up of member club representatives. There are no independent Board members, there are no US Soccer representatives, just ECNL members so clearly they will serve their own best interests. Outside of ECNL members, show me an expert that supports a closed exclusive system. There are quite a few experts supporting an open pyramid system. Here are a couple of links to read, the first is Klinsmann, the second argues the number one problem with US soccer is the lack of a pyramid system and the existence of a monopolistic anti-competitive system, instead of listening to people on the blog listen to the experts, and I'd welcome to see if there exists outside of the ECNL members anyone supporting the CLosed ECNL type system:
- June 7, 2014 at 12:02 AM
Here is the second link:
- June 7, 2014 at 12:11 AM
Now on another level, and i have mentioned this befire, what is also missing is whst the Germans call "strasse fussball" or what we would refer to as 'pickup games'. It seems that everything now is about organized play. Very few opportunities, and i bet in some cases desire, to just play for the sake of playing (love) of the game. It is tiugh to develop a pasiin for the game when everything is in a 'workman' type setting. No chance to try for creativity, increase their decision/making, and see others plat the game.
In this case soccer is far from unique, especially at the youth level. Heck, in many areas you have a better chance of finding a hobbit than a 'decent' rec league.
As I (and many others) have maintained, there is too much money, especially in the wrong areas, with the support. A superior checkbook can have as nuch influence on where , how often, and what level a child plays as much as theur technical playing level. Same goes for some teams.
Overall not healthy for a developing program.
- June 7, 2014 at 6:15 AM
The USSF created the closed system in the USA by creating the DA. The clubs, specifically PDA, saw how the DA brought players (money) flocking to the club and said, "hey we dont really need the USSF to sanction the 'uber' league for girls we only need a critical mass of the top clubs to do it.
And they were right it worked for those clubs smart or political eniough to get in. Doesnt work for small clubs with one or two great coaches with great teams.Subject to much debate on whether it works for the kids or the USNT success.
- June 7, 2014 at 8:57 AM
8:57 There is debate on blogs like this, but where is there real debate? If you search out articles, there is a lot of criticism from people who should know (Klinsmann) speaking about how the US soccer stucture inhibits development, but very little debate from people in the know supporting a closed non-pyramid system. Share the reference if you find support.
I think the ECNL Board speaks volumes, there is no independent representation, there is no external high level soccer representation.
As someone who runs a company with 2 independent Directors, I am aware that when you run a business with no independent representation, you live in an insular environment and you begin to believe your own BS.
- June 7, 2014 at 9:52 AM
And it is always about the bottom line $'s. You follow the money and it becomes evident.
- June 7, 2014 at 10:54 AM
There are those small non-ecnl clubs out there with great teams, but simply not enough to make a difference. Probably a handful in every region.
Once players get to college, if they are difference makers, they will get noticed.
- June 7, 2014 at 12:15 PM
Difference maker on a college team, sure.
But I think the focus is on the overall development strategy...or lack of.
I see a tremendous amount of kickball being played in soccer. Why? Answer: Money, Jobs, and the wrong incentives.
College play is not really about being a feeder system for beyond school play. It's all about recruiting top athletes/players (order may vary) and winning each and every year. An extension of much of the 'Academy' model.
- June 7, 2014 at 2:35 PM
Mid atlantic cup shaping up with some good competition. Last year was a little weak. Nice are for a summer family vacation(Hershey Park)/ tournament.
- June 7, 2014 at 2:58 PM
The problem with youth soccer has nothing to do with ECNL and or a "closed non pyramid system. The problem with youth soccer is we have too many clubs and not enough really good coaches teaching technical skills. High schools are littered with club players who have presumably played for years and still can't control a hard ball passed to them. So if your honest you have to blame the coach / club for not teaching or the player not working hard enough to achieve basic skills. I laugh when I hear all the horrors regarding HS's "direct kickball" game. Well - many of these players are club players and what's a HS coach to do? If you are not technically inclined you have to resort to kickball to win, and HS has a mandate to win.
The answer is fewer clubs, and more control over what is being taught at very young ages. If you are not a technical player by U14 you have missed your window.
- June 8, 2014 at 4:34 PM
As legitimate as your point about not enough quality coaches (certainly true to an extent) you lose me with the ""has nothing to do with ECBL and a closed statem".
A pretty incredible statement.
Perhaps you can explain the benefits of a closed system. Who it benefits and how it promotes development. Provide some supporting papers and research.
- June 8, 2014 at 8:17 PM
Well that's a simple answer. It benefits the owners of those clubs. Stinks like money and payoffs.
- June 8, 2014 at 10:55 PM
High School will always be what it is which is a place for kids from the the same town to play together. However, there are hundreds (I think close to 600) of high schools in NJ. There are not enough kids playing soccer and playing soccer where the club has the resources to or desire to build a top soccer program. The best high school teams are the best because they have a very high population in their town to draw from. There is a lot of good training out there, but when it comes to high school, especially in smaller towns, you don't get a team of kids that have had an equal level of desire or commitment to the sport and a coach has to do the best with what they have.
- June 8, 2014 at 11:13 PM
I can't produce any scientific evidence… All I can tell you is I have seen a lot of youth soccer and I can share with you what I have seen and my daughters own experiences. My daughter started in rec, then went to a medium size town club team, now she plays for a ECNL team at a large club (by far her best experience / coaching to date). I have seen the full gambit of coaching, from horrible to what I would consider very good.
I will stick by what I have said earlier because of what I have seen with my own eyes, and that is there is NO set standard as to how kids are taught to play soccer - even within the same club. That is why girls youth soccer is mostly kickball and ECNL has nothing to do with that fact. In a nutshell and not wanting to write a novel, I can tell you youth soccer is driven by winning and its a lot easier to teach a team to win than it is to teach a truly possession style game. To do that the whole team needs to be comfortable with the ball at their feet. If you have 3 or 4 kids that struggle with this the team will breakdown at times during the game and yes lose games. It takes a lot of practice and great coaching to become that kind of team. That is something that a vast majority of parents / kids don't even understand, if they did we would never see the soccer we do now. Only when the parents / kids demand that the product change, either by leaving to play with possession style teams or hiring possession style coaches to coach their teams will we ever see a fundamental change in the product we see now. Like I said most clubs, kids, and parents are not that patient. Teaching this style of possession style soccer is the model I believe is best suited to developing exceptional soccer players while at the same time improving the game. ECNL provides that structure and "space" to teach that game. True possession style teams might not win all the tournaments or frankly win much at all at the youth level but they are being taught how to play the game correctly. They don't rely on 2 or 3 incredible athletes to win games. They are teams that can plug in anyone of their 18 players and keep possession of the ball
You and others seem to want to blame ECNL for all the ills you see in soccer. ECNL has nothing to do with the fact that most teams play kickball or that most of the U14 youth girl players are not adequate with the ball at their feet. To me ECNL is trying to solve that problem by teaching technical skill sets or at a minimum trying to set a standard where others have not.
ECNL is not a (closed league) it is open to every player in the US that tries out and makes a team once a year. ECNL provides an option for truly dedicated hard working soccer players to train and play together in a league. I find it hard to believe that that is bad for soccer.
- June 9, 2014 at 12:02 AM
12:22am to doc
Clearly have drank the Cool Aid if you truly believe that everyone except for the ECNL teams play kickball. My daughter to plays on an Academy Team and we have played ECNL teams, NPL teams as well as large club teams and I have witnessed kickball played by some ECNL teams and the other teams also play kickball. However some very good non ECNL teams, NEFC, MANHATTAN, STALLIONS And NJSA seem to play a pretty good possession game in my opinion. Even some club teams, Toms River, Freehold, SJEB are also capable of playing a possession game.
Sure these teams will struggle against the likes of the top ECNL team, Gunners, Stars and World class but beyond theses teams I would say any of. The teams I mentioned could compete with any of the other ECNL teams in the region.
Also, you say possession style is something taught at the youth level. Being that most kids on a ECNL roster were not on that team since the ripe young age of 8 or 9, wouldn't some credit have to go to some of theses so called clubs that you say are not capable of playing anything other than kickball?
Lastly, you say ECNL is not a closed system but you are fooling yourself is you believe that two ECNL teams in NJ covers all of the good soccer players in this state. Yes it is open to everyone but you can only take so many on a roster. Furthermore, the cost and travel factors are to much of a burden for some so you miss a lot of talent there as well.
You are correct that ECNL is a good league and the academy teams are good places for your child to continue to grow, because most are developed before they get to academies. What most people want is a league where the best teams compete regardless of affiliation which would allow those clubs that are capable of teaching something other than kickball a chance to compete with the academy teams.
- June 9, 2014 at 7:41 AM
I did not say ECNL was perfect, just a league that is trying to set a standard. There are kickball teams everywhere including the vast majority of colleges. I agree that NJ should have another ECNL team, hopefully they will get one. I'm speaking from the MD / VA area so I'm more familiar with the soccer in that area.
But the model is working; at least as far as attracting good players to tryout for ECNL clubs. Hopefully those clubs continue to develop those girls into great players.
As far as drinking the "Cool Aid" like I said I know there are other non ECNL teams out there that play nice soccer, but the overall majority don't play the game as it was intended to be played (including like you said some ECNL teams). With that said, the arguments I keep hearing are based on "expanding" or "swapping" better teams into ECNL not doing away with it? So grab a cup of "Cool Aid" and come join us - the water is warm...
- June 9, 2014 at 8:18 AM
12:02 At this point, I think many of the people of this blog have seen a lot of youth soccer. I wonder if you actually took the time to read the articles posted. No one says that the ECNL system does not have good soccer development. The argument by FIFA, UEFA< Jurgen Klinsmann and others is that a close system like the ECNL, and it is closed (just look at NJ, there are about 50 ECNL spots available), is bad for the development of soccer. We know why the ECNL is done this because rather than have a pyramid where anyone can compete, the ECNL has created a funnel to get kids to their programs. It is a simple question I asked previously as well, why does an organization like the ECNL have no independent representation but rather all club heads? The ECNL is good for a few kids, but good for overall soccer development.
- June 9, 2014 at 9:46 AM
6:18 actually the ecnl model only appears to be working - the model is not sustainable or suited for long term growth of US soccer. A better description would be "privileged" or "elite", as in Pay to Play. Unless USYS or some large corporation like Nike or Adidas is going to underwrite expenses for families to play in the ECNl, the model will never scale. (And let's not get into a discussion about corporate sponsorships).
It's obvious today - the USA has by far the most resources to throw at it's World Cup teams, yet we are not dominate. You can't buy your way into soccer.
ECNL represents the privileged elite for kids who can afford all the training and travel. And ODP is just as bad in NJ - not singling out ECNL. How many folks can afford the $3K+ ECNL tuition, plus private training and camps, and then the $2500+ ODP expense? This is all for one kid - families with multiple children can multiply that expense x3.
The system is like not scalable and not geared to develop the best - only the wealthiest. In reality, the output if the system is to make things nice and tidy for college coaches to come recruit those who can afford to pay the tuition. In essence.
- June 9, 2014 at 11:30 AM
Have you ever looked at ECNL costs and ODP costs in other states? My family is considering a move to GA to follow a job. ECNL costs and ODP costs are 1/3 of what they are here in NJ.
- June 9, 2014 at 12:13 PM
You can't argue that ECNL is a closed system, at least geographically. How many gifted girls live in states without ECNL clubs? In the millions I'm guessing. Why limit our chances for a stronger USWNT or D1 program like this?
- June 9, 2014 at 12:50 PM
I get the terrible impression that never actually take the time to read/understand the arguments of others.
I never blamed ECNL for "all the ills" of present day US soccer development. But its creation certainly exacerbates the problem.
It is a CLOSED system by any reasonable definition. If you can't see that you can't see that.
Any positives from ECNL (and there are some as folks above have pointed out) are done within a vacuum.
We do not have a comprehensive system in the U.S. I have and will continual to blame cronyism for this. Those presently banking on the bucks want to continue to do so and realize that their programs may not be included if more organization were brought to it by the Federation.
As far as any 'kickball' goes. MY GAWD 90% of teams (any level) play it. Even some of the names mentioned above abandon THE GAME until they have a healthy lead in hand.
As a percentage I see almost as much garbage from ECNL teams as I do many of the higher travel leagues. Some have more athletes or are able to 'out-kick' a kick ball team. VERY little commitment to playing the game. That is worth repeating. I will quote a high profile Academy Coach who once told me that "he cannot afford to lose" when in inquired as to why he played a direct game and did not work the ball back to his keeper with any regularity. YIKES!!!
- June 9, 2014 at 2:09 PM
To the guy who talked about costs in Georgia, while the people at PDA in NJ pay $2500 per year, the costs of the PDA Branch in Florida is $1195 for ages 13-18 and $875 fo ages 11-12. So soccer is a market based economy, price it to what the market will bear. Or are we to assume that PDA in Florida is only half of the quality as PDA in NJ.
- June 9, 2014 at 4:59 PM
What a joke. And yet the people keep coming.
- June 9, 2014 at 5:09 PM