GPS Kick Off Classic

[Unregistered]

The payoff is in the points my friend.

[Unregistered]

The payoff is in the points my friend.

Awesome! TS is giving points for stupid posts! You'll be the leader in the clubhouse any minute.

[Unregistered]

Awesome! TS is giving points for stupid posts! You'll be the leader in the clubhouse any minute.

GPS wins.. GPS gets points WOO Hoo !

[Unregistered]

You guys are complaining about this tourney. It could be worse in NH there were a TON of USYS State cup brackets that had only 1 team, that did NOT play any games or face any competition. They were "crowned" NH State Cup Champions and got 500 GS points.

[Unregistered]

Awesome! TS is giving points for stupid posts! You'll be the leader in the clubhouse any minute.

ha, ha, ha - you told me.

[Unregistered]

ha, ha, ha - you told me.

Doosh in Visor got a chuckle. I see that guy on most sidelines.

[Unregistered]

The U13G and U14G brackets are interesting, it looks like the best GPS teams are loaded on one side which should all allow the weaker GPS teams on the other side an easier opportunity to get Semi Finalist points for the tournament.


http://events.gotsport.com/events/re...r=Girls&Age=13

http://events.gotsport.com/events/re...r=Girls&Age=14

[Yablu]

The U13G and U14G brackets are interesting, it looks like the best GPS teams are loaded on one side which should all allow the weaker GPS teams on the other side an easier opportunity to get Semi Finalist points for the tournament.


http://events.gotsport.com/events/re...r=Girls&Age=13

http://events.gotsport.com/events/re...r=Girls&Age=14

Totally agree on groupings, but this also makes it harder for the top teams to get points. If GPS were point stuffing, wouldn't it serve the brand better to ensure the higher ranked teams stayed there?

Bracket A is a family feud. Fun to watch.

[Unregistered]

Totally agree on groupings, but this also makes it harder for the top teams to get points. If GPS were point stuffing, wouldn't it serve the brand better to ensure the higher ranked teams stayed there?

Bracket A is a family feud. Fun to watch.

Its not about the points--or the championship matches. Its a pre-season warm up and this structer ensures a few good games. Remember the GPS system not only includes these teams, but also their stratified regional and national teams, all of which are selected over the course of the fall. So getting all the players on the same field helps with that too.

[Yablu]

Its not about the points--or the championship matches. Its a pre-season warm up and this structer ensures a few good games. Remember the GPS system not only includes these teams, but also their stratified regional and national teams, all of which are selected over the course of the fall. So getting all the players on the same field helps with that too.

We share same view. My point was that GPS would have bracketed differently if it were about the points. Having top 4 GPS teams go head-to-head is a solid tune up for the players, and fun to watch for parents. Appreciate you pointing out that is also an opportunity for GPS to see all players on same field. Especially those strong players in the regions who for a variety of reasons don't play NPL

[Unregistered]

Totally agree on groupings, but this also makes it harder for the top teams to get points. If GPS were point stuffing, wouldn't it serve the brand better to ensure the higher ranked teams stayed there?

Bracket A is a family feud. Fun to watch.

The top teams are already in the 10,000 - 20,000 point range. They'll win their fair share of points in other tournaments and keep the GPS brand near the top. They're good teams.

For those GPS teams in the other bracket with about 1,000 points they'll beat up on the two punching bags they placed them with and one will get a nice fat bump for being a finalist while the other will get modest points for being in the semi finals. Both rise higher in the standings on GS. The more teams they can get on the first page of the GS board the better.

It isn't always about driving the top team. Sometimes it's boosting the lower teams. It's an awesome scam.

[Unregistered]

The brand needs its own points to stay to the top. Can not get them at other tournaments.

[Unregistered]

They certainly are in part. One of the best part of the GPS regional/NPL/National structure is that it provides opportunities for players to advance during the course of the year. Internal promotion and demotion creates healthy competition inside the club for spots. Makes for better practices and better games. They are one of the few clubs that can do so, due to their size.

Are you a GPS parent?

I am and have not seen any promotion/demotion among teams.

That's been a frustrating thing for us as my son is a top player on a B team and there was NO movement in his age bracket.

Bottom A players are less skilled, goof off, show up late, or don't show at all and were never moved down.

Our coach even shared his frustration with this.

We're giving GPS one more year and possibly moving on next year.

[Unregistered]

Are you a GPS parent?

I am and have not seen any promotion/demotion among teams.

That's been a frustrating thing for us as my son is a top player on a B team and there was NO movement in his age bracket.

Bottom A players are less skilled, goof off, show up late, or don't show at all and were never moved down.

Our coach even shared his frustration with this.

We're giving GPS one more year and possibly moving on next year.

We are with GPS girls - are your referring to A/B movement within a GPS region at the Elite level or movement between Elite and NPL? We saw two very different models.

Elite exposure to NPL was great. Deserving girls from regions were given open invites to practice, select game invites, and tourney and camp inclusion. This was clearly in preparation for U13 move to 11v, and offers were extended to add players to NPL for U13. Don't know if any were relegated.

Movement within Region was painful. There were two tiered elite teams playing different NEP brackets with names distinguished by color. The top of "B" was clearly better than bottom of "A". This was frustrating, but it should be noted that the girls who developed most were the those that built confidence and leadership in Top of B, not the ones who lost confidence at bottom of A (2 are now leaving club soccer)

My opinion is the problem lies with the parents and not the clubs. Clubs would prefer a fluid environment in which to develop girls by balancing challenging conditions with confidence building opportunities. The parents demand offers/contracts specifying that D is on the Rosy Red or Wicked White team. Parents want the status, and mistakenly think their D will only develop on A team.

Parent Meetings are coming up. Make it a point to publicly ask about this issue. Be sure to frame it as a player development issue and equal opportunity issue. Everyone deserves to have game experience that balances confidence with challenge. After the heads all nod... Specifically ask if A/B interchange is possible or if they have bound themselves with contractual commitments. Get a Y or a N, and then re-state it. So we should expect...

[Unregistered]

We are with GPS girls - are your referring to A/B movement within a GPS region at the Elite level or movement between Elite and NPL? We saw two very different models.

Elite exposure to NPL was great. Deserving girls from regions were given open invites to practice, select game invites, and tourney and camp inclusion. This was clearly in preparation for U13 move to 11v, and offers were extended to add players to NPL for U13. Don't know if any were relegated.

Movement within Region was painful. There were two tiered elite teams playing different NEP brackets with names distinguished by color. The top of "B" was clearly better than bottom of "A". This was frustrating, but it should be noted that the girls who developed most were the those that built confidence and leadership in Top of B, not the ones who lost confidence at bottom of A (2 are now leaving club soccer)

My opinion is the problem lies with the parents and not the clubs. Clubs would prefer a fluid environment in which to develop girls by balancing challenging conditions with confidence building opportunities. The parents demand offers/contracts specifying that D is on the Rosy Red or Wicked White team. Parents want the status, and mistakenly think their D will only develop on A team.

Parent Meetings are coming up. Make it a point to publicly ask about this issue. Be sure to frame it as a player development issue and equal opportunity issue. Everyone deserves to have game experience that balances confidence with challenge. After the heads all nod... Specifically ask if A/B interchange is possible or if they have bound themselves with contractual commitments. Get a Y or a N, and then re-state it. So we should expect...

It is a game that the clubs play. The larger clubs (boys or girls) like GPS, NEFC, Stars, Bolts etc, have their very top team which for the first three (boys) is the NPL and for the Bolts is the DAP. After that each club has regions of players, within each there is an A (elite) and a B (select) team. The Bolts have the DAP, then an NPL team followed by regional NEP teams. Even Valeo, at the younger ages have multiple tiered teams (EDP followed by MAPLE). For younger ages (U12 and younger) parents should look for playtime, ball-time, a great coach, and less travel. These kids are still developing.

However, for the older kids (U15 and older) the clubs are clearly taking advantage of the parents, especially those who are hoping that their kid will move up. At these ages, those kids that are still on the B teams will unlikely make any kind of splash on an A team. If you are happy with that notion then great. If you are really waiting for promotion of your child, then reconsider the clubs.

For the ages U13 and U14.......start thinking about where your player should be and what club your kid really should be with.

Players need to play whether it be on the A or B team. Sitting on the bench is not helping develop your child. I would prefer to have my younger child play on the B team and be rostered with the A team than sit on the Bench with the A team.