Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

U16 +

Collapse
X
  •  
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    #16
    Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
    No, it isn't all clubs. Perhaps most, but not all. It is entirely possible for large clubs to serve this group (shame on them if they don't bother), challenging for mid-size clubs, and extremely difficult for smaller clubs. Because the solution relies on numbers. Which is why you see a lot of combined U16/17, U18/19 teams for example.

    It works best if a club can roster at least two teams in each age group, separated out by both ability and personal goals. As the year goes on, the two teams can be collapsed into one as kids drop out. And it's not just the non-college players who drop. I've seen plenty give up on their club team once they sign with a school.

    I know of at least one club in the state that has a fall-only program for seniors who want to continue playing at the competitive league level (DA/ECNL purists can call comp leagues rec ball all they want, it's still a competitive environment head and shoulders above true rec for the players), but are realistic and know they probably won't return to club after the high school season. The coach for that team was one of the professionally licensed staff coaches, not a daddy volunteer. The club took that team as seriously as any other wearing their jersey.

    The program costs less than half the full-year fees. The kids on the squad and their parents came to the end of the child's youth soccer career on excellent terms with a club that met their unique needs rather than push for a full-year commitment that wasn't going to happen. Worked well for all parties.

    This is also an opportunity for clubs to stop being so darned territorial and money-grubbing. Clubs in decent proximity to one another could easily partner to pool players for teams in these older age brackets and alternate or rotate which club rosters and trains the players each year depending upon how many clubs are involved in the joint venture. Even years ABC Football Club has the U18/19s and odd years DEF United has them. Something like that.

    Unfortunately, DOCs are often evaluated on how many players they get signed. They also see online commentary like the stuff posted here and develop a skewed perspective that all or most competitive soccer players intend to pursue playing in college. Sometimes it really doesn't dawn on them that most of the competitive players going through their programs just want to play at a highly competitive level now and have no intention of playing in college. That seems counter-intuitive to them, but it's true.

    At any rate, there are creative and affordable solutions to serve the needs of older youth soccer players if clubs and coaches will just check their egos at the door.
    Very accurate evaluation. Yet another way the system fails kids. It isn't just about the top players but all players, top to bottom, playing the game and keeping that love for the game.

    Comment


      #17
      Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
      Very accurate evaluation. Yet another way the system fails kids. It isn't just about the top players but all players, top to bottom, playing the game and keeping that love for the game.
      YES. So sad and depressing for these aged-kids. It's a shame.

      Comment


        #18
        Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
        YES. So sad and depressing for these aged-kids. It's a shame.
        stop being sad and depressed! these kids are 16 or 17 years old. they have their lives in front of them. so they play a little less soccer on the weekends. big deal. if your kid really wants to play, there is always a way to do so, either through school, combined aged teams, or pick up. or if you can't get it done that way get him into track, basketball, flag football, something to supplement. many colleges have intramural or club level programs where they continue playing in a non-competitive environment while in school, purely for fun.

        are kids and parents at these ages unreliable? yes. but you must not have been paying much attention since early because parents have been unreliable and flaky since u9.

        Comment


          #19
          Sure ECNL has a emphasis on college but its not a requirement. I like the fact that the club is involved with the college and not sitting on the sidelines. Our son does not see college soccer in his future but ECNL allows him to play against and with higher level competition. Plus if he does decide college soccer he has the foundation in place. My suggestion and we did this is look at a few clubs with Club and ECNL and decided based on what your looking for and being offered to you. The last club we were at seemed like a revolving door and #"s were the main priority over looking to future. I left off DA for have little knowledge on it.

          Comment


            #20
            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
            Sure ECNL has a emphasis on college but its not a requirement. I like the fact that the club is involved with the college and not sitting on the sidelines. Our son does not see college soccer in his future but ECNL allows him to play against and with higher level competition. Plus if he does decide college soccer he has the foundation in place. My suggestion and we did this is look at a few clubs with Club and ECNL and decided based on what your looking for and being offered to you. The last club we were at seemed like a revolving door and #"s were the main priority over looking to future. I left off DA for have little knowledge on it.
            Not all families can afford ECNL or other pricey leagues, particularly if college isn't the end goal.

            Comment


              #21
              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
              stop being sad and depressed! these kids are 16 or 17 years old. they have their lives in front of them. so they play a little less soccer on the weekends. big deal. if your kid really wants to play, there is always a way to do so, either through school, combined aged teams, or pick up. or if you can't get it done that way get him into track, basketball, flag football, something to supplement....
              You're missing the point. There are lots of teenage players out there capable of playing competitive level soccer for a club who would like to do so without the expectation that they are aiming for a college playing career. It's an under-served need that pick up games aren't going to meet.

              Comment


                #22
                Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                You're missing the point. There are lots of teenage players out there capable of playing competitive level soccer for a club who would like to do so without the expectation that they are aiming for a college playing career. It's an under-served need that pick up games aren't going to meet.
                I agree there's definitely a market for it. Problem is the price has to be right. Most families won't want to spend real coin. However, if they only do maybe one tournament, if even, that isn't too far they shouldn't have to charge too much.

                Comment


                  #23
                  Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                  You're missing the point. There are lots of teenage players out there capable of playing competitive level soccer for a club who would like to do so without the expectation that they are aiming for a college playing career. It's an under-served need that pick up games aren't going to meet.
                  if you live in certain more rural areas of the state, i can see how this may be a problem. if you live in south florida, orlando, tampa/clearwater, you can find a team that is not DA or ecnl and that competes at local tournaments. dont understand the problem.

                  Comment


                    #24
                    Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                    if you live in certain more rural areas of the state, i can see how this may be a problem. if you live in south florida, orlando, tampa/clearwater, you can find a team that is not DA or ecnl and that competes at local tournaments. dont understand the problem.
                    This is true...just as the talent tends to be concentrated at certain clubs or teams as players reach these ages and move to where the best opportunity is, the same can happen for the players who don’t aspire to play at the next level. They may have to change clubs or travel farther but the opportunities are there.

                    Comment

                    Previously entered content was automatically saved. Restore or Discard.
                    Auto-Saved
                    x
                    Insert: Thumbnail Small Medium Large Fullsize Remove  
                    x
                    Working...
                    X