Originally posted by Unregistered
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I agree with your last comment 100%. Merging leagues solely to win, and not for the benefit of the players, serves the egos of parents and coaches.
Having been involved with local soccer now for 20+ years I have seen most of the best girls teams. The top ones look great against local and occasionally regional competition, especially at the younger ages. As they age out most stagnate, become predictable, and rely on one style of play or a couple key players. Few have had the skills and abilities to change tactics and employ different strategies against top regional and national squads.
Various reasons. Injuries, lack of depth, lack of competition, tuning out their coach, boredom, less intensity or focus, to name just a few.
A clearly defined couple teams, pulling the majority of top 30 players from an age group solves most, if not all of these issues. The goal is not to win a national title, but rather to provide the training and play environment necessary for those driven to be their best to achieve it with a group of like minded players. This really doesn't happen often now.
This doesn't start at U-little. Young players should stick close to home and have the ball at their feet for as many hours of smiling, happy play they can stand. At U15 or so there should be a couple, well coached, clear top teams that have the goal of developing for D1 or higher play. The curriculum should include high expectations, with occasional play against professional women or boys teams as necessary to provide a glimpse of the possible.
Spreading the top 30-40 kids among 8 or 10 teams as happens now benefits coaches, clubs and parental egos more than individual player development.
I realize this suggestion is unlikely to happen, and that people will say this was the original goal of ODP (Which even at its height didn't spend enough time with the players as a team.), which failed. But that doesn't mean it isn't right.
Having been involved with local soccer now for 20+ years I have seen most of the best girls teams. The top ones look great against local and occasionally regional competition, especially at the younger ages. As they age out most stagnate, become predictable, and rely on one style of play or a couple key players. Few have had the skills and abilities to change tactics and employ different strategies against top regional and national squads.
Various reasons. Injuries, lack of depth, lack of competition, tuning out their coach, boredom, less intensity or focus, to name just a few.
A clearly defined couple teams, pulling the majority of top 30 players from an age group solves most, if not all of these issues. The goal is not to win a national title, but rather to provide the training and play environment necessary for those driven to be their best to achieve it with a group of like minded players. This really doesn't happen often now.
This doesn't start at U-little. Young players should stick close to home and have the ball at their feet for as many hours of smiling, happy play they can stand. At U15 or so there should be a couple, well coached, clear top teams that have the goal of developing for D1 or higher play. The curriculum should include high expectations, with occasional play against professional women or boys teams as necessary to provide a glimpse of the possible.
Spreading the top 30-40 kids among 8 or 10 teams as happens now benefits coaches, clubs and parental egos more than individual player development.
I realize this suggestion is unlikely to happen, and that people will say this was the original goal of ODP (Which even at its height didn't spend enough time with the players as a team.), which failed. But that doesn't mean it isn't right.
Well said!
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