Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
Yes. I agree that roster management was poor. That said, MAPLE is just another league without great importance. Its purpose, although in essence no different than other leagues, is to allow game time. Given the participation in EDP, MAPLE was even less significant and therefore allowed 'roster manipulation'. Since we do not participate in the NEP, I cannot compare.
Valeo now has all their boys teams U11-U14 in EDP's first division. While I don't know how much value there is at the youngest ages, I can say for sure that the older divisions are very competitive with top teams participating.
It is the end-game that is important and it remains to be seen what each of these leagues does to win that game. The end-game being, for our family, college soccer and placement. Whether or not the EDP adds to this is not known but certainly there are claims to such.
This is where a club (that many hate) like the Blazers has been successful by attending tournaments to which many many college coaches visit. With regard to Boys tournaments and the NEFC kick off classic, the Scorpion Bowl, any Stars tournament, or the Needham Memorial Tournament, the attendance of coaches outside of the New England Area is lacking.
I suspect that the participation with the EDP leagues has some requirement to attend EDP tournaments. So be it. It doesn't prevent participation with local tournaments, however, if I had to choose which tournament to attend, I would prefer to have my son play in a competitive tournament where there were many college coaches attending........for the end-game of course.
As a legitimate discussion -- do you envision your son going into college for a degree that requires a graduate degree or more? i.e. PT, Dr, Pharmacist, etc.
If you do, what impact do you think will soccer have on his grades?
Also do you think soccer will be the sweetner on the application or do you think it is the hindrance on his HS grades?
BTW -- nice post
There was a study a long time ago that showed that elite gymnasts had the highest grade point averages amongst any other group including race, sport, SES. The theory was that the gymnast developed their brains differently and had higher capacity. At the time, youth soccer was not that big. I wonder though if other sports including soccer have this impact on elite athlete brain development. Maybe for soccer athletes they have increased O2 in their brains or they just have something to do afterschool. Or they've learned how to work hard early in life. I would bet that the elite athletes in general will have better grades.
There is no data to suggest that 'elite athletes in general have better grades'. Although there might specific sports in which a different athlete is attracted to, I doubt that the top US basketball or even football players have better grades than the top gymnasts...
To address the general point, however, as to future goals and how sports impact on them, I have this to add regarding the pros of playing college sports:
1. Social skill development
2. Learn how to win
3. Learn how to lose
4. Learn how to deal with a huge array of personalities
5. Stay physically fit
6. A chance to feel good about participating
7. Perhaps as or more important than any other....the opportunity to learn how to prioritize, how to become more efficient, how to work hard or harder.....
There are many life's skills that are learned/acquired by participating in a high school or college sport.....or any other club for that matter.
Lots of data actually:
http://www.sciedu.ca/journal/index.p...load/4052/2755
Yes. I agree that roster management was poor. That said, MAPLE is just another league without great importance. Its purpose, although in essence no different than other leagues, is to allow game time. Given the participation in EDP, MAPLE was even less significant and therefore allowed 'roster manipulation'. Since we do not participate in the NEP, I cannot compare.
Valeo now has all their boys teams U11-U14 in EDP's first division. While I don't know how much value there is at the youngest ages, I can say for sure that the older divisions are very competitive with top teams participating.
It is the end-game that is important and it remains to be seen what each of these leagues does to win that game. The end-game being, for our family, college soccer and placement. Whether or not the EDP adds to this is not known but certainly there are claims to such.
This is where a club (that many hate) like the Blazers has been successful by attending tournaments to which many many college coaches visit. With regard to Boys tournaments and the NEFC kick off classic, the Scorpion Bowl, any Stars tournament, or the Needham Memorial Tournament, the attendance of coaches outside of the New England Area is lacking.
I suspect that the participation with the EDP leagues has some requirement to attend EDP tournaments. So be it. It doesn't prevent participation with local tournaments, however, if I had to choose which tournament to attend, I would prefer to have my son play in a competitive tournament where there were many college coaches attending........for the end-game of course.
As a legitimate discussion -- do you envision your son going into college for a degree that requires a graduate degree or more? i.e. PT, Dr, Pharmacist, etc.
If you do, what impact do you think will soccer have on his grades?
Also do you think soccer will be the sweetner on the application or do you think it is the hindrance on his HS grades?
BTW -- nice post
There was a study a long time ago that showed that elite gymnasts had the highest grade point averages amongst any other group including race, sport, SES. The theory was that the gymnast developed their brains differently and had higher capacity. At the time, youth soccer was not that big. I wonder though if other sports including soccer have this impact on elite athlete brain development. Maybe for soccer athletes they have increased O2 in their brains or they just have something to do afterschool. Or they've learned how to work hard early in life. I would bet that the elite athletes in general will have better grades.
There is no data to suggest that 'elite athletes in general have better grades'. Although there might specific sports in which a different athlete is attracted to, I doubt that the top US basketball or even football players have better grades than the top gymnasts...
To address the general point, however, as to future goals and how sports impact on them, I have this to add regarding the pros of playing college sports:
1. Social skill development
2. Learn how to win
3. Learn how to lose
4. Learn how to deal with a huge array of personalities
5. Stay physically fit
6. A chance to feel good about participating
7. Perhaps as or more important than any other....the opportunity to learn how to prioritize, how to become more efficient, how to work hard or harder.....
There are many life's skills that are learned/acquired by participating in a high school or college sport.....or any other club for that matter.
Lots of data actually:
http://www.sciedu.ca/journal/index.p...load/4052/2755
Comment