The truth about High school and Club soccer!

Very well said. High School soccer is a blast. The stadium, lights, students at game, bus rides, et make it fun. The Club soccer can be a serious business for some.

High School vs Club soccer

I agree and there should be season for both with very little overlap from club to the HS. Unfortunately there isn't a break and the players are put in the middle of Club vs HS.

Some players are doing double duty with HS and their club teams. It's sad, but the players are the ones who are suffering. I'm not a doctor, but I'm sure it isn't healthy for a young player, who is still developing, to be playing and practicing with the HS team and then going to club practices after the HS practice, 2-3 nights aweek.

Most club leagues for the Under 15 and up are over in October. So why are the club teams still practicing? I feel for these kids because by the time they are ready to go college, they are completely burned out from soccer and just want to have fun. I can't tell you how players I've coached, who could have gone on and played at the collegiate level, get to their senior year of HS and decide they just don't want to play anymore.

I've been on both sides and as a club coach, I got paid when we were training. During high school season, if we weren't practicing or training, I wasn't getting paid. Something needs to be changed, because as I said before, it's only affecting the players and not the coaches.

I agree that both High school and Club soccer are essential for the development of players to play at the next level. But even kids who are training with Pro clubs in Europe, who later go on to sign pro contracts, aren't training two or three times a day during the season. More practice and more games isn't always the best for player development.

Just my thoughts!

Re: High School vs Club soccer

I agree and there should be season for both with very little overlap from club to the HS. Unfortunately there isn't a break and the players are put in the middle of Club vs HS.

Some players are doing double duty with HS and their club teams. It's sad, but the players are the ones who are suffering. I'm not a doctor, but I'm sure it isn't healthy for a young player, who is still developing, to be playing and practicing with the HS team and then going to club practices after the HS practice, 2-3 nights aweek.

Most club leagues for the Under 15 and up are over in October. So why are the club teams still practicing? I feel for these kids because by the time they are ready to go college, they are completely burned out from soccer and just want to have fun. I can't tell you how players I've coached, who could have gone on and played at the collegiate level, get to their senior year of HS and decide they just don't want to play anymore.

I've been on both sides and as a club coach, I got paid when we were training. During high school season, if we weren't practicing or training, I wasn't getting paid. Something needs to be changed, because as I said before, it's only affecting the players and not the coaches.

I agree that both High school and Club soccer are essential for the development of players to play at the next level. But even kids who are training with Pro clubs in Europe, who later go on to sign pro contracts, aren't training two or three times a day during the season. More practice and more games isn't always the best for player development.

Just my thoughts!

Nice posts, but where are you from? Our league play is over before HS season. The trainers spend more time with the younger teams during HS. Most top teams practice only once a week to stay ready for the big national tournaments that time of year. Other states don't have as much conflict because their HS season isn't in the winter.
Sure their are many competive teams that aren't very strong, but, as a whole there are more soccer players all the time. It's the fastest growing sport in the country. There are more high level players and high level teams than there were before. The top players don't all stay where they started. They gravitate to the top teams just as before. The caliber hasn't gone down, but up. There are just more teams. The level of HS, final four or not, doesn't compare to the level of the high performing club teams, and that includes a lot more than just the final four.
Your description sounds like it must apply to your part of the state or an interesting club. It's not how it is everywhere, especially in the populated soccer areas.

This started out about Score at the Shore conflicting with high school. I agree that one tourney doesn't make that much difference to quality players. What I don't understand is how those club teams with conflicts allowed it to happen. If you think you have a lot of HS players with a chance for the State final four, why would you even sign up for the Score at the Shore? Not only are they hurting their own team - the players left behind - but also the teams they are scheduled to play who now face a weak opponent, if not a forfeit, after travelling all the way to Florida at a considerable expense. For some teams, this is a case of very poor planning, but for a few it is probably another example of the extremely selfish behavior we see all too often in this country today.

This started out about Score at the Shore conflicting with high school. I agree that one tourney doesn't make that much difference to quality players. What I don't understand is how those club teams with conflicts allowed it to happen. If you think you have a lot of HS players with a chance for the State final four, why would you even sign up for the Score at the Shore? Not only are they hurting their own team - the players left behind - but also the teams they are scheduled to play who now face a weak opponent, if not a forfeit, after travelling all the way to Florida at a considerable expense. For some teams, this is a case of very poor planning, but for a few it is probably another example of the extremely selfish behavior we see all too often in this country today.

Oh please. You expect a club team to not register for the tourney because they might have players in the state finals? Ridiculous, especially if they're U17. I would be very angry if my kid's team didn't apply because he or some of his teammates might not be able to make it. Just bring guest players. There are plenty of teams that couldn't get in. I'm sure some of their players would appreciate the exposure. That would be unselfish, not selfish.

High School vs Club soccer

The Tampa Bay area. Where we have had our share of US soccer National Championships on the club side, boys and girls. I agree there are more players playing, better coaches coaching, than there once was. Ofcourse the top players will get better playing against better players. Just in our area, soccer teams have popped up everywhere, now the top players don't all play for one top club, they are spread out among 3-5 different teams.

I think comparing high school teams to clubs team would be a tough job, but I think you'd be surprised how well the top HS teams would do against some top club teams. Just my opinion.

Re: High School vs Club soccer

The Tampa Bay area. Where we have had our share of US soccer National Championships on the club side, boys and girls. I agree there are more players playing, better coaches coaching, than there once was. Ofcourse the top players will get better playing against better players. Just in our area, soccer teams have popped up everywhere, now the top players don't all play for one top club, they are spread out among 3-5 different teams.

I think comparing high school teams to clubs team would be a tough job, but I think you'd be surprised how well the top HS teams would do against some top club teams. Just my opinion.

I was about to make a similar point. That is, a "good" team is a "good" team no matter if club or HS.

This started out about Score at the Shore conflicting with high school. I agree that one tourney doesn't make that much difference to quality players. What I don't understand is how those club teams with conflicts allowed it to happen. If you think you have a lot of HS players with a chance for the State final four, why would you even sign up for the Score at the Shore? Not only are they hurting their own team - the players left behind - but also the teams they are scheduled to play who now face a weak opponent, if not a forfeit, after travelling all the way to Florida at a considerable expense. For some teams, this is a case of very poor planning, but for a few it is probably another example of the extremely selfish behavior we see all too often in this country today.

Oh please. You expect a club team to not register for the tourney because they might have players in the state finals? Ridiculous, especially if they're U17. I would be very angry if my kid's team didn't apply because he or some of his teammates might not be able to make it. Just bring guest players. There are plenty of teams that couldn't get in. I'm sure some of their players would appreciate the exposure. That would be unselfish, not selfish.

Oh please? One or two players no problem. We're talking about teams that have 7 or 8 players and might have to forfeit games. Get a clue! You ever try try to find 7 or 8 quality guest players.

club is grouped by age
i can destroy my younger brother
a u15 team is good, relative to u15 u14 u13 u12 uetc
everyone gets to play
yeah select soccer
you wanna play
that'll be fifty bucks and some effort

hs vs club= soccer vs soccer
soccer wins
yeah

this is poetry

This started out about Score at the Shore conflicting with high school. I agree that one tourney doesn't make that much difference to quality players. What I don't understand is how those club teams with conflicts allowed it to happen. If you think you have a lot of HS players with a chance for the State final four, why would you even sign up for the Score at the Shore? Not only are they hurting their own team - the players left behind - but also the teams they are scheduled to play who now face a weak opponent, if not a forfeit, after travelling all the way to Florida at a considerable expense. For some teams, this is a case of very poor planning, but for a few it is probably another example of the extremely selfish behavior we see all too often in this country today.

Oh please. You expect a club team to not register for the tourney because they might have players in the state finals? Ridiculous, especially if they're U17. I would be very angry if my kid's team didn't apply because he or some of his teammates might not be able to make it. Just bring guest players. There are plenty of teams that couldn't get in. I'm sure some of their players would appreciate the exposure. That would be unselfish, not selfish.

Oh please? One or two players no problem. We're talking about teams that have 7 or 8 players and might have to forfeit games. Get a clue! You ever try try to find 7 or 8 quality guest players.

Dude, parent like this to can't get a clue.

This started out about Score at the Shore conflicting with high school. I agree that one tourney doesn't make that much difference to quality players. What I don't understand is how those club teams with conflicts allowed it to happen. If you think you have a lot of HS players with a chance for the State final four, why would you even sign up for the Score at the Shore? Not only are they hurting their own team - the players left behind - but also the teams they are scheduled to play who now face a weak opponent, if not a forfeit, after travelling all the way to Florida at a considerable expense. For some teams, this is a case of very poor planning, but for a few it is probably another example of the extremely selfish behavior we see all too often in this country today.

Oh please. You expect a club team to not register for the tourney because they might have players in the state finals? Ridiculous, especially if they're U17. I would be very angry if my kid's team didn't apply because he or some of his teammates might not be able to make it. Just bring guest players. There are plenty of teams that couldn't get in. I'm sure some of their players would appreciate the exposure. That would be unselfish, not selfish.

Oh please? One or two players no problem. We're talking about teams that have 7 or 8 players and might have to forfeit games. Get a clue! You ever try try to find 7 or 8 quality guest players.

Dude, parent like this to can't get a clue.

English please?

I think he means that a parent like that is not capable of getting a clue - just a guess.

geez, creeks clash strikes again. we now have the players groveling for their hs teamates to come home. if these so called teamates actually had a good hs team then they would understand where it's at. that would be fort lauderdale not paxon park. the local hs team is better then the bs club team, period end of sentence

Score at the Shore is not the only showcase tournament in the country. It just happens to be close to home for some teams. If there are potential conflicts with HS playoffs, schedule your club team to go to a showcase at another time of year in anoher geographic area. It cost more $ but...

It is possible for club and HS to coexist, it just requires communication between, and respect for, each program. Too many people don't realize that the complete player needs the developmental atmosphere that is provided by a combination of the two (HS and Club). Not many clubs or schools (although there are a few) can provide the entire package.

On another note, many of the out of town teams that are going to score at the shore are playing outdoors for the first time all winter. In some ways that is as challenging as picking up guest players.

Re: High School vs Club soccer

I agree and there should be season for both with very little overlap from club to the HS. Unfortunately there isn't a break and the players are put in the middle of Club vs HS.

Some players are doing double duty with HS and their club teams. It's sad, but the players are the ones who are suffering. I'm not a doctor, but I'm sure it isn't healthy for a young player, who is still developing, to be playing and practicing with the HS team and then going to club practices after the HS practice, 2-3 nights aweek.

Most club leagues for the Under 15 and up are over in October. So why are the club teams still practicing? I feel for these kids because by the time they are ready to go college, they are completely burned out from soccer and just want to have fun. I can't tell you how players I've coached, who could have gone on and played at the collegiate level, get to their senior year of HS and decide they just don't want to play anymore.

I've been on both sides and as a club coach, I got paid when we were training. During high school season, if we weren't practicing or training, I wasn't getting paid. Something needs to be changed, because as I said before, it's only affecting the players and not the coaches.

I agree that both High school and Club soccer are essential for the development of players to play at the next level. But even kids who are training with Pro clubs in Europe, who later go on to sign pro contracts, aren't training two or three times a day during the season. More practice and more games isn't always the best for player development.

Just my thoughts!

This is the type of posts that drive me crazy, as the parent of the player you decide what and when they do it. If you feel club is to much during the HS season then step up and so no club ubntil HS is over, grow a set!