As many people here predicted, tryout numbers were good for all academy teams except the 99's/00's. That age group is so close to graduating and there were not enough skilled takers in a new and unproven program that requires giving up so much.
So now coaches are scrambling trying to figure out which 01's get the honor(?) of playing up. It's an unsustainable solution because taking too many 01's this year (enough for the 01/02 team and enough to fill the substantial gaps on the 00/99 team) mean many 01's will do academy this year and not have a spot next year. It will be interesting to see if coaches fill the 99/00 team with the strongest 01's, as is traditionally done with playups, or if they keep their very strong 01/02 team intact and fill the 99/00 team with girls who would have otherwise been cut. Sources say the 01 families from last year are pretty loud about not wanting to play up (understandable considering the 02's are the strongest players on that team).
A bit of a shaky start for academy. Remember they are mandated to field four teams. So one way or another they have to pull it together with that oldest team.
So now coaches are scrambling trying to figure out which 01's get the honor(?) of playing up. It's an unsustainable solution because taking too many 01's this year (enough for the 01/02 team and enough to fill the substantial gaps on the 00/99 team) mean many 01's will do academy this year and not have a spot next year. It will be interesting to see if coaches fill the 99/00 team with the strongest 01's, as is traditionally done with playups, or if they keep their very strong 01/02 team intact and fill the 99/00 team with girls who would have otherwise been cut. Sources say the 01 families from last year are pretty loud about not wanting to play up (understandable considering the 02's are the strongest players on that team).
A bit of a shaky start for academy. Remember they are mandated to field four teams. So one way or another they have to pull it together with that oldest team.
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