What's up with Gotsport.com

[goldenboot]

The rankings on gotsport seem to change on a regular basis for no apparent reason. In the grand scheme it does not much matter. However, if they are going to lay out rankings, they might as well get them right.
For example, U13 girls in Mass - The first and second place finishers in the Irwin cup are not at the top. The Crusaders, Hamlets and Stars are ranked below teams that might not even be D1 teams? What is going on?
Team Championship State:Rank Region:Rank W-D-L Win %
FC STARS OF MASSACHUSETTS UNITED 96/97 MA: 1 Reg 1: 11
NEFC EXPRESS MA: 2 Reg 1: 35 12-0-9 57.1%
SOUTH SHORE SELECT SS SELECT U13 MA: 3 Reg 1: 78 3-1-0 75.0%
WESTERN MASS. JUNIOR PIONEERS JR. PIONEERS MA: 4 Reg 1: 88 8-1-1
DELTA FC G9697RED MA: 5 Reg 1: 94 3-1-2 50.0%
LIVERPOOL FSC LIVERPOOL MA: 5 Reg 1: 94 4-0-1 80.0%
MBM GRIFFINS AND FRIENDS MA: 5 Reg 1: 94 4-0-0 100%
96 FC STARS OF MASSACHUSETTS ATHLETIC 96/97 MA: 8 Reg 1: 106
UNITY WILDCATS UNITY WIDCATS MA: 9 Reg 1: 110 7-2-2 63.6%
GALWAY ROVERS FC ROVERS MA: 10 Reg 1: 136 4-0-0 100%
BROOKLINE S.C. THUNDER MA: 11 Reg 1: 138 5-0-0 100%
FULLER HAMLETS SC WHITE MA: 11 Reg 1: 138 6-3-3 50.0%
CRUSADERS UNITED GIRLS U-12 A MA: 13 Reg

[Unregistered]

I believe that points expire after 12 months so a team can lose points without doing anything. If you lose points, other teams can jump ahead of you.

Don't think that Irwin Cup resulted in any Gotsoccer points.

[Unregistered]

A good reason why you shouldn't put too much importance on rankings. But of course, parents still do. When will you learn?

[goldenboot]

I believe that points expire after 12 months so a team can lose points without doing anything. If you lose points, other teams can jump ahead of you.

Don't think that Irwin Cup resulted in any Gotsoccer points.

Good information, that seems to make sense. Although one month ago they actually had posted points for the Irwin cup. Of course they gave points to the wrong four teams, but they were posted. Instead of applying the points to the correct teams they simply removed them. In the end it does not matter, no one on my daughters team is losing sleep over the rankings.

[beentheredonethat]

I have found over the years that the gotsoccer rankings can be very misleading and the points that they award teams in some instances can be really be disproportionate to actual value of the tournament. Also, I may be mistaken but I believe that they don't include USL tournaments in their calculations so it is possible for teams to be really undervalued. All of that said these rankings really carry some weight as the kids get older.

[Unregistered]

The rankings on gotsport seem to change on a regular basis for no apparent reason. In the grand scheme it does not much matter. However, if they are going to lay out rankings, they might as well get them right.

Gotsport rankings are based on performance in tournaments they manage.

[Unregistered]

Gotsport rankings are based on performance in tournaments they manage.

Not true at all. Although they do not record points for every tournament and there does tend to be a bias toward tournaments they manage. Tournaments have to post their results on GotSoccer and then GotSoccer awards points based on competitive balance of the teams in the tournament. For instance a state cup win in RI is far less valuable in points thatn a state cup win in MA of NJ. They also make mistakes in how they allocate points based on how a tournament reports results - for example in showcases when there are no playoffs they may award points to a bracket winner, even if that bracket winner finished welll down the overall standings and they may award no points to a team that came in second in the bracket, but finished secon in the standings behind the winner of their bracket. Some tournaments will not report their results to GotSoccer, either out of laziness or a dispute with GotSoccer, or whatever.

At this age, though points are somewhat illusional anyhow, because unless you are from a state that plays a lot of tournaments (NJ, NYE, CA for example) your team does not get a lot of points until they start venturing out of MA regularly and frequently (and winning at tournaments).

And the poster was correct that GotSoccer drops points that are 12 months old and is comtinually updating their numbers so teams jump up based on their tournament schedule.

Many of the strongest clubs in the country have their teams playing 8-10 tournaments or even more a year. Unheard of level of travel for even the top 3 clubs in MA (who get a good deal of points from region 1, subregional and state cup and regional play). But it's common in a state where top players are driving 2 hours or more regularly to practices 2-3 times a week, weekdays btw, and think nothing of driving 8-10 hours to tournaments almost every weekend. The more the team plays the more the points and the higher the rankings and the higher the tournament level the higher the tournament points and the higher the rankings the farther the club/teams' reach is to players willing to travel to be a part of the team. SoCal and PDA and Chantilly are great teams, but if you are playing in a tournament that gets you points a couple of times a month you will always be a top 10 team on the rankings. Not even the Stars families will do that level of travel.

[Unregistered]

The rankings on gotsport seem to change on a regular basis for no apparent reason. In the grand scheme it does not much matter. However, if they are going to lay out rankings, they might as well get them right.
For example, U13 girls in Mass - The first and second place finishers in the Irwin cup are not at the top. The Crusaders, Hamlets and Stars are ranked below teams that might not even be D1 teams? What is going on?
Team Championship State:Rank Region:Rank W-D-L Win %
FC STARS OF MASSACHUSETTS UNITED 96/97 MA: 1 Reg 1: 11
NEFC EXPRESS MA: 2 Reg 1: 35 12-0-9 57.1%
SOUTH SHORE SELECT SS SELECT U13 MA: 3 Reg 1: 78 3-1-0 75.0%
WESTERN MASS. JUNIOR PIONEERS JR. PIONEERS MA: 4 Reg 1: 88 8-1-1
DELTA FC G9697RED MA: 5 Reg 1: 94 3-1-2 50.0%
LIVERPOOL FSC LIVERPOOL MA: 5 Reg 1: 94 4-0-1 80.0%
MBM GRIFFINS AND FRIENDS MA: 5 Reg 1: 94 4-0-0 100%
96 FC STARS OF MASSACHUSETTS ATHLETIC 96/97 MA: 8 Reg 1: 106
UNITY WILDCATS UNITY WIDCATS MA: 9 Reg 1: 110 7-2-2 63.6%
GALWAY ROVERS FC ROVERS MA: 10 Reg 1: 136 4-0-0 100%
BROOKLINE S.C. THUNDER MA: 11 Reg 1: 138 5-0-0 100%
FULLER HAMLETS SC WHITE MA: 11 Reg 1: 138 6-3-3 50.0%
CRUSADERS UNITED GIRLS U-12 A MA: 13 Reg

I'm sorry your daughter's U13 team dropped in the rankings. This must be a terrible blow to your ego, and it obviously has a terrible negative impact on your life. Now that your daughter's team is lower in the rankings, your life has significantly less meaning, and I am sure you are already plotting a move to one of the higher ranked clubs. Just don't tell your daugheter until it's a done deal. You may also want to consider calling the coach and recommending that he enter the team in a few easy-to-win tournaments so that the team can pad its points and climb the rankings. Then you can start to feel good abou yourself again, even though you don't play on the team.

Please get some perspective then get a life, you U13 parental nitwit.

[goldenboot]

I'm sorry your daughter's U13 team dropped in the rankings. This must be a terrible blow to your ego, and it obviously has a terrible negative impact on your life. Now that your daughter's team is lower in the rankings, your life has significantly less meaning, and I am sure you are already plotting a move to one of the higher ranked clubs. Just don't tell your daugheter until it's a done deal. You may also want to consider calling the coach and recommending that he enter the team in a few easy-to-win tournaments so that the team can pad its points and climb the rankings. Then you can start to feel good abou yourself again, even though you don't play on the team.

Please get some perspective then get a life, you U13 parental nitwit.

Wow, sounds like you need a hug. Actually the girls on the team do not look at these rankings nor do they care. Most of the parents do not know they even exist. The girls play to learn, develop their skills, all while having fun, and yes we can play with the top teams in the state without skipping a beat. Many folks who are on this site seem to be interested in rankings and many refer to the gotsport website when they want to boast about their club. I guess if you are boasting about your daughter it's OK, when you are asking about the rationale for the rankings you are a nitwit. I've met your type on the sidelines and feel confident you're a true positive influence and inspiration to all of those around you.

[Unregistered]

Wow, sounds like you need a hug. Actually the girls on the team do not look at these rankings nor do they care. Most of the parents do not know they even exist. The girls play to learn, develop their skills, all while having fun, and yes we can play with the top teams in the state without skipping a beat. Many folks who are on this site seem to be interested in rankings and many refer to the gotsport website when they want to boast about their club. I guess if you are boasting about your daughter it's OK, when you are asking about the rationale for the rankings you are a nitwit. I've met your type on the sidelines and feel confident you're a true positive influence and inspiration to all of those around you.

Your second and third sentences prove you are incredibly naive. And the rest is a complete lie, considering you started this thread to discuss your daughter's team's standing in the rankings.

If you met really had me on the sideline, then you'd know I'm the one on a chair with a good novel, sitting as far away from the group of your type who yell and scream and referees, other players, and their own 13 year olds as if the fate of the universe hangs on whether your daughter's team wins a MAPLE game. I implore you to find your own hobby and stop living through your daughter's rise and fall through a total meaningless ranking system.

[Unregistered]

I DO have a hobby!

and it is playing vicariously through my daughter since I'm too old and too fat to play myself!

[Unregistered]

Your second and third sentences prove you are incredibly naive. And the rest is a complete lie, considering you started this thread to discuss your daughter's team's standing in the rankings.

If you met really had me on the sideline, then you'd know I'm the one on a chair with a good novel, sitting as far away from the group of your type who yell and scream and referees, other players, and their own 13 year olds as if the fate of the universe hangs on whether your daughter's team wins a MAPLE game. I implore you to find your own hobby and stop living through your daughter's rise and fall through a total meaningless ranking system.

Different poster here. I look at the rankings to see what different teams are doing. Our team has done tournaments that don't matter much other than getting some tune up games in. If we've gotten points from those games, its only because we played teams that had points. Gone to untracked tournament where we've played ranked teams and gotten no points - that wasn't the point of the tournament. No the rankings at the young ages don't matter much, but then again, neither does anything people say on this forum other than discussion (the commitments thread has some pretty informed opinions). Somebody wants to know how the logic of the rankings and it bothers you? Back to your chair and book and blackberry where you can post. Hopefully you take a few moments from your novel to sneak a look at your kids performance during games.

[Unregistered]

Different poster here. I look at the rankings to see what different teams are doing. Our team has done tournaments that don't matter much other than getting some tune up games in. If we've gotten points from those games, its only because we played teams that had points. Gone to untracked tournament where we've played ranked teams and gotten no points - that wasn't the point of the tournament. No the rankings at the young ages don't matter much, but then again, neither does anything people say on this forum other than discussion (the commitments thread has some pretty informed opinions). Somebody wants to know how the logic of the rankings and it bothers you? Back to your chair and book and blackberry where you can post. Hopefully you take a few moments from your novel to sneak a look at your kids performance during games.

Look: the poster was concerned because their team dropped - that's why they wanted to know how they were calculated.

As for watching my daughter's performance - I watch her PLAY, without the added pressure of worrying what the perforemance will mean in the rankings.

[goldenboot]

Your second and third sentences prove you are incredibly naive. And the rest is a complete lie, considering you started this thread to discuss your daughter's team's standing in the rankings.

If you met really had me on the sideline, then you'd know I'm the one on a chair with a good novel, sitting as far away from the group of your type who yell and scream and referees, other players, and their own 13 year olds as if the fate of the universe hangs on whether your daughter's team wins a MAPLE game. I implore you to find your own hobby and stop living through your daughter's rise and fall through a total meaningless ranking system.

OK, if the girls and parents view the rankings website, they do not comment or complain. Believe what you wish, that is the truth. If you noticed, I started the thread, not the team, I guess I'm the only fool who looks at the rankings page (a guide but not a ranking you can take to the bank). Regardless of who's game I may be watching you will not hear me complain to the ref or the other team. Although we all get frustrated when things do not go our way, I lead by example. You might try to ref a game to get a better understanding of how easy it is to make a mistake. You can make 100 great calls followed up by 1 bad call and the fans will remember you for the mistake.

You are the type of person who makes this website less enjoyable and less worth viewing. If you are not bashing a particular team or coach, you are trying to degrade people who ask pretty simple and straightforward questions. I hope your kids can live up to your high standards. Obviously you have been unfulfilled thus far so you must anonymously take shots at whomever you can. I'm happy I was able to help you feel better about yourself today.