GDA and High School

[Unregistered]

OMG!

High school soccer is awful. Stop believing it is important.

Obviously not important to you, mom and dad! It is important to your player! Competitive HS teams do have fans in the stands. Kids love to play in front of their peers in HS! It means a lot to them and they enjoy the game, no matter how bad the soccer can be at some games. HS playoff soccer is another story. District teams are better as a whole, and it looks much more like "real" club soccer. They further they get in the playoffs the better the soccer. By the round of 16 all teams are normally very competitive, top to bottom. By the next rounds of the state playoffs, the teams and games are as good as any club soccer game you watch. So it is important to your player, and most of all it is FUN for your player!

[Unregistered]

I've had three kids now do club and HS and totally disagree. Club games have only some parents (most often just one parent per player and that's if they can't carpool) and a few siblings who get dragged along. Once kids are old enough to drive themselves it drops even more. HS games right after school have ok attendance but many parents have to work and other students have activities. Night or weekend games do well, and bigger events like senior night and playoffs do very well. No it isn't football numbers and it never will be but that's part of the lack of a soccer culture in this country.

However, more importantly the desire to play HS soccer isn't about fans in the stands (although that is fun). It's about representing your school, playing with lifelong friends, getting your name in the paper, team swag, getting a high five in the hallway from a classmate, winning awards. It may seem childish to an adult but it's perfectly natural for teenagers. If your kid doesn't want to play HS that's fine - many aren't great quality and some players are dedicated to the sport and want year round training. But the reality is nearly a million kids , including many top players, play HS soccer for a reason - they want to

And kids will play HS if it does not affect their college plans. If they have no hope of playing college then HS is important. If college is a factor it depends where they are in their recruitment timeline.

The School Spirit angle is highly overrated. It matters if the actual quality of play matters, like say football or basketball but most high quality players know that School Soccer simply sucks. And those kids that view it as their pinnacle simply don’t know the difference.

[Unregistered]

Again , it’s 1 or 2 people on here pushing the HS soccer is awesome, guarantee you it’s a coach from a private school who is worried the level will be so bad , when all GDA players stop Hs in a couple of years , that it will be a hobby and probably run by a teacher as a collateral duty.

I’m 49 years old and it’s aleays been bad even with all the “superstars” . Not a hater just stating facts

[Unregistered]

Obviously not important to you, mom and dad! It is important to your player! Competitive HS teams do have fans in the stands. Kids love to play in front of their peers in HS! It means a lot to them and they enjoy the game, no matter how bad the soccer can be at some games. HS playoff soccer is another story. District teams are better as a whole, and it looks much more like "real" club soccer. They further they get in the playoffs the better the soccer. By the round of 16 all teams are normally very competitive, top to bottom. By the next rounds of the state playoffs, the teams and games are as good as any club soccer game you watch. So it is important to your player, and most of all it is FUN for your player!

Umm, no. My kid thinks it is pretty terrible and does not wish to play. Anecdotally friends of ours who’s kids played high school soccer played one year and refused to go back. They did not enjoy playing thug ball with and against no skill hacks. The risk of serious injury was not worth the benefits of wearing some swag and “school spirit”.

[Unregistered]

And kids will play HS if it does not affect their college plans. If they have no hope of playing college then HS is important. If college is a factor it depends where they are in their recruitment timeline.

The School Spirit angle is highly overrated. It matters if the actual quality of play matters, like say football or basketball but most high quality players know that School Soccer simply sucks. And those kids that view it as their pinnacle simply don’t know the difference.

Playing GDA and giving up HS isn't a necessity to get recruited. People think it is because on the boys side it's harder to land top D1 spots if you're not in DA. But that's because
- there are fewer D1 men's D1 programs
- international players are competing for the same spots
- prep school plays a big role in top D1 programs also

But a boy wanting to play HS can still be recruited to mid to lower level D1, D2 and D3 as long as he's skilled and also plays top club soccer. Note I'm not claiming you can get recruited with HS only - you have to play good club soccer.

That is much less the case for women, where there are far more programs as well as much less international and prep school competition. For those that don't want HS they now have an option to train ten months a year (and they never HAD to play before). Those that want HS have options too. College coaches really don't care as long as you're skilled and are getting good club coaching and playing good competition. Over time top programs may start pushing players to go to GDA. But even college coaches know the quality of GDA coaching isn't consistent area to area.

[Unregistered]

Umm, no. My kid thinks it is pretty terrible and does not wish to play. Anecdotally friends of ours who’s kids played high school soccer played one year and refused to go back. They did not enjoy playing thug ball with and against no skill hacks. The risk of serious injury was not worth the benefits of wearing some swag and “school spirit”.

TS posters have a tendency of using their own small circles to extrapolate to the broader universe. Others can counter with opposite examples. Players can now chose what suits them best. There is no right or wrong answer except what is best for each individual player. Adults arguing about what they think is best for teenagers that aren't even their own is pretty sad.

[Unregistered]

TS posters have a tendency of using their own small circles to extrapolate to the broader universe. Others can counter with opposite examples. Players can now chose what suits them best. There is no right or wrong answer except what is best for each individual player. Adults arguing about what they think is best for teenagers that aren't even their own is pretty sad.

I’m not arguing what I think is right for any kid. I’m simply countering the claim that, as you just did, not all kids are motivated by the things parents believe. As a kid I played high school sports, mostly because in the particular sports they were the best option available and it was convenient. School pride had zero to do with it. Remember, just as many kids can’t wait to get the hell out of high school as their are parents here who can’t wait to re-live high school even if it is through their kids.

[Unregistered]

Or they will drop the ridiculous no HS rule.

Instead of dropping the ridiculous no HS rule, DA could end its regular season in mid October so the DA player could be a full time HS player.

[Unregistered]

Instead of dropping the ridiculous no HS rule, DA could end its regular season in mid October so the DA player could be a full time HS player.

You understand that in most states soccer is not a winter sport. So not only is DA going to concede to HS Soccer they also are not going to adjust their schedule to accommodate a state.

[Unregistered]

Instead of dropping the ridiculous no HS rule, DA could end its regular season in mid October so the DA player could be a full time HS player.

Different states play at different times. Doing DA and HS simultaneously is a recipe for burnout and injuries. Besides, some states restrict doing HS and club at the same time.

Big picture you need to understand/embrace the fact that USSF doesn't care about HS. Not one bit. Never has, never will. The only reason they bend their own rules is so clubs can keep players. USSF needs clubs to be happy to sustain this national league that benefits only a few players. NT prospects can easily be strong armed into moving to DA and most would anyway. Beyond those top players USSF and clubs need warm bodies who write checks.

[Unregistered]

Different states play at different times. Doing DA and HS simultaneously is a recipe for burnout and injuries. Besides, some states restrict doing HS and club at the same time.

Big picture you need to understand/embrace the fact that USSF doesn't care about HS. Not one bit. Never has, never will. The only reason they bend their own rules is so clubs can keep players. USSF needs clubs to be happy to sustain this national league that benefits only a few players. NT prospects can easily be strong armed into moving to DA and most would anyway. Beyond those top players USSF and clubs need warm bodies who write checks.

If GDA loses a few players in its program due to high school then so be it. It needs to be firm and consistent on rules across all high schools and in all states that no high school can be played unless they choose to drop out of GDA for the entirety of the high school season. It should not be a special thing for Florida DA players to hop on HS rosters for a month to be ringers for HS playoffs. GDA, have a backbone!

[Unregistered]

If GDA loses a few players in its program due to high school then so be it. It needs to be firm and consistent on rules across all high schools and in all states that no high school can be played unless they choose to drop out of GDA for the entirety of the high school season. It should not be a special thing for Florida DA players to hop on HS rosters for a month to be ringers for HS playoffs. GDA, have a backbone!

Agreed. They greatly damage their credibility in allowing some forms of HS, either through waivers or this comical start to GDA. Separate the wheat from the chafe and as you said accept you won't get everyone.

[Unregistered]

If GDA loses a few players in its program due to high school then so be it. It needs to be firm and consistent on rules across all high schools and in all states that no high school can be played unless they choose to drop out of GDA for the entirety of the high school season. It should not be a special thing for Florida DA players to hop on HS rosters for a month to be ringers for HS playoffs. GDA, have a backbone!

Does that rule exist for other leagues that kids play in? Boy, you really have a unhealthy axe to grind against DA.

[Unregistered]

I've had three kids now do club and HS and totally disagree. Club games have only some parents (most often just one parent per player and that's if they can't carpool) and a few siblings who get dragged along. Once kids are old enough to drive themselves it drops even more. HS games right after school have ok attendance but many parents have to work and other students have activities. Night or weekend games do well, and bigger events like senior night and playoffs do very well. No it isn't football numbers and it never will be but that's part of the lack of a soccer culture in this country.

However, more importantly the desire to play HS soccer isn't about fans in the stands (although that is fun). It's about representing your school, playing with lifelong friends, getting your name in the paper, team swag, getting a high five in the hallway from a classmate, winning awards. It may seem childish to an adult but it's perfectly natural for teenagers. If your kid doesn't want to play HS that's fine - many aren't great quality and some players are dedicated to the sport and want year round training. But the reality is nearly a million kids , including many top players, play HS soccer for a reason - they want to

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/socce...team_163524664

There are some players that are at a very high level that want the H.S. experience. That decision is even easier when the GDA clubs nearby are lower quality.

[Unregistered]

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/socce...team_163524664

There are some players that are at a very high level that want the H.S. experience. That decision is even easier when the GDA clubs nearby are lower quality.

Didn't mention her Club. Where does she play club?