Maple BU11 Spring 2010

[Unregistered]

The league needs to be more competitive, both of the Bolts U10 teams are undefeated and the Bolts U11 team only lost one game.

And your point is? BU11 Maple as 11 teams with 1 loss and 6 with NO losses. There is plenty of competition in Maple BU11!

[Unregistered]

And your point is? BU11 Maple as 11 teams with 1 loss and 6 with NO losses. There is plenty of competition in Maple BU11!

With 34 goals for the season for the BOLTS U11 and only 12 for their opponents is hardly any competition. Also, there is a much larger goal differential for both of the Bolts U10 teams as well.

All I am saying is that there are a lot of teams in MAPLE but not many teams that are competitive at this age group.

[Unregistered]

The more kids playing soccer the better.

MAPLE should stop with the "premier" focus and provide enough divisions for everyone to play at their level. If they did it right there would be no need for MASC.

I agree, the more playing the game the better, but there needs to be some way to differentiate so that the more advanced players and teams are competing against one another and the kids/teams who are behind in terms of their physical and technical development aren't getting slaughtered week in and week out. Some of the kids may be driven away from the sport if they are getting a smackdown every single week, and that's too bad because given time, many could become good players, but more importantly in the long run, big time supporters of the sport. If their early experiences sour them on the game, that isn't good for the sport.

[Unregistered]

I agree, the more playing the game the better, but there needs to be some way to differentiate so that the more advanced players and teams are competing against one another and the kids/teams who are behind in terms of their physical and technical development aren't getting slaughtered week in and week out. Some of the kids may be driven away from the sport if they are getting a smackdown every single week, and that's too bad because given time, many could become good players, but more importantly in the long run, big time supporters of the sport. If their early experiences sour them on the game, that isn't good for the sport.

I guess my question is at u10 and u11 what would be your suggestion to make this reality? Since there are no standings kept at u10, there is no way for MAPLE to know going into u11. Also, what would be your suggestion for doing this at u10? Instead of complaining about it, give a logical explanation as to how you think this could really work. I am not trying to attack but there is so much complaining on this site about a variety of subjects. The one thing that remains a constant though is noone offers up any suggestions for improvement. I am the coach at a club with some strong teams so I do agree but I feel it is fruitless for me to complain about it because I think given the information they have they do the best they can. Mistakes are made but all in all they do their best.

[Unregistered]

I guess my question is at u10 and u11 what would be your suggestion to make this reality? Since there are no standings kept at u10, there is no way for MAPLE to know going into u11. Also, what would be your suggestion for doing this at u10? Instead of complaining about it, give a logical explanation as to how you think this could really work. I am not trying to attack but there is so much complaining on this site about a variety of subjects. The one thing that remains a constant though is noone offers up any suggestions for improvement. I am the coach at a club with some strong teams so I do agree but I feel it is fruitless for me to complain about it because I think given the information they have they do the best they can. Mistakes are made but all in all they do their best.

Well, MAPLE should each year evaluate the U10 and U11 teams by keeping track of FALL season scores in the effort to place the teams in compeditive groups in the Spring.

[Unregistered]

Yes, and let's not forget that the mighty MPS Maple cellar dwellars LOST to JP "mom and pop" Kicks. If Maple is diluted because of these "mom and pop" clubs what does this say about MPS?

The funny thing there is MPS actually has a solid team in this age group.

[Unregistered]

Well, MAPLE should each year evaluate the U10 and U11 teams by keeping track of FALL season scores in the effort to place the teams in compeditive groups in the Spring.

Maple DOES keep track of U11 Fall scores and realligns the teams for the spring. For the Fall U11 and for U10 leagues, the teams are sort of alligned by area so there can be some really bad matchups leading to blowouts... Life goes on, parents shouldn't get so worked up about the scores at this age anyway.

One possible way to reduce blowouts at U10 and U11 Fall would be to allign teams based on club reputation from previous years but this would penalize a possible unknown team who is able to play a higher level...Bottom line is that no system is perfect and the current system is just fine for most teams.

[Unregistered]

From what I understand, an explosion of new teams applied to MAPLE and despite trying to block it, a legal component prevented MAPLE from controlling how many clubs may join. Now you have a ridiculous number of clubs in the system and a huge dilution of play. A few years ago there were three U11 divisions. The first two from each and the next three best records went to the blue division. Now you will get the first place teams and only 3-4 of the second place teams. This is ridiculous.

There ARE many weak teams this season in each division, but there are also enough strong teams for 3 divisions of good competition in the spring.

[Unregistered]

I guess my question is at u10 and u11 what would be your suggestion to make this reality? Since there are no standings kept at u10, there is no way for MAPLE to know going into u11. Also, what would be your suggestion for doing this at u10? Instead of complaining about it, give a logical explanation as to how you think this could really work. I am not trying to attack but there is so much complaining on this site about a variety of subjects. The one thing that remains a constant though is noone offers up any suggestions for improvement. I am the coach at a club with some strong teams so I do agree but I feel it is fruitless for me to complain about it because I think given the information they have they do the best they can. Mistakes are made but all in all they do their best.

First, I think the idea of geographically based leagues and 8v8 is correct at the U11 age. To be honest, i think the responsibility lies in several areas - 1) with MAPLE just accepting everyone who applies and not setting more stringent standards on what it means to be a club. 2) It also lies with the clubs, big & small, who just throw their teams into the fire without giving more thought to where they should actually be - many of these teams would be much better off matched up with one another in MASC. 3) Coaches need to be able to take their teams' foot of the gas a little bit. I'm not a believer in telling kids not to shoot to score when they have a chance, but just by throwing in a rule like you can only score with your weak foot, it might take a couple of goals in a 9-0 rout off the board.

I think those factors contribute to the discrepancy that is causing there to be so many blowouts. And, blowouts are going to happen no matter what is done, they just shouldn;t be happening with such regularity.

[Unregistered]

There ARE many weak teams this season in each division, but there are also enough strong teams for 3 divisions of good competition in the spring.

If you are talking about levels of play, there is generally only one division of good competition in the spring, one of OK, and one of just fair. So what happens to the 30 iffy teams?

[Unregistered]

With 34 goals for the season for the BOLTS U11 and only 12 for their opponents is hardly any competition. Also, there is a much larger goal differential for both of the Bolts U10 teams as well.

All I am saying is that there are a lot of teams in MAPLE but not many teams that are competitive at this age group.

The BU11 Blue div., which is where the Bolts U11 team is, has teams with 34, 42, 20, 20, 19, etc. goals for. Only the bottom three out of the 10 teams have 12 goals or less. Maybe they did try to put the best in the blue rather than just throw in random teams according to location, but many of those games looked competitive to me, and I was on the sidelines all fall.

[Unregistered]

If you are talking about levels of play, there is generally only one division of good competition in the spring, one of OK, and one of just fair. So what happens to the 30 iffy teams?

By 3 divisions of good competition, I mean not only will there be developmentally appropriate competition provided for 26-28 teams, but I expect several in "red" and most in "green" would be able to take down any in "blue" on any given Sunday. Just look at the number of ties and upsets among the top 4 in each division this season. The Andre Cup should be very interesting.

For the remaining 32-34 teams, it would appear orange, purple, and white is the new red.

[Unregistered]

guest

I agree there is an unbelievable amount of talent in the BU-11 age group this year. Part of the blowout problem is greedy clubs who enter teams that need to be in a developement program instead of in Maple. They have a hard time charging $1500 plus a year when the kids are not wearing a uniform.

[Unregistered]

I didn't agree until I looked. FC Blazers,Inter, Stars, Benfica, NSU, Aztecs, NEFC, Scorpions,Rovers,Fuller Hamlets, and Blackwatch has 2 teams that have won only 3 or in most cases less games so far this year with some pretty bad GD stats. Maybe some of these clubs should put the kids first instead of their wallets.

[Unregistered]

You just managed to piss off 95% of the posters on this site, watch your back.