U14 Girls - Winter Hiatus

[Unregistered]

Not really. ODP is taking almost anyone who can write a check these days.

I don't know much about other ODP age groups, but considering that this post came in a U-14 Girls thread, in my opinion it gets the "Head-Up-Your-Arse Post of the Year Award." U-14 ODP tryouts were more competitive this fall than any of the three years I have been involved.
"Anyone who can write a check?" At this age group alone, ODP turned away close to a dozen families with a long history of writing checks this year.
Try to stay in the same hemisphere with the facts, will you?

[Unregistered]

It doesn't matter how many licenses you have if you have the personality of a toad.

This guy's personality doesn't need defending. He is clearly dedicated to developing players and improving the quality of any organization he is involved with.
It's easy to criticize any coach who puts his reputation on the line week in and week out. Not that I expect anything more out of the juveniles who regularly post here, but if you are going to take a pot shot at the personality traits of a given individual, try to grow a set of stones big enough so that you at least dare to identify yourself.
Short of that you have zero credibility.

[Unregistered]

The truth is Blackwatch was a decent team with her, that wasn't going any further without the addition of lots of talent. Her parents made the right move. The Stars parents can whine all they want, but they would not have won state cup without adding more talent to their team. It has been said before, but the Stars are a well coached team but lacked individually talented players so these additions will help them. What will be interesting to watch is how Blackwatch and Scorpions do in Region 1 considering both are questionable choices with only 1 of the 2 earning their way in. The Scorpions have also added players to their team because their coach new they had no chance with their current roster despite what their parents think. In the end, most if not all will not make any difference because it will be the same teams into the semis and finals. Good luck to all teams and enjoy the games.

[Unregistered]

This guy's personality doesn't need defending. He is clearly dedicated to developing players and improving the quality of any organization he is involved with.

...if you are going to take a pot shot at the personality traits of a given individual, try to grow a set of stones big enough so that you at least dare to identify yourself.
Short of that you have zero credibility.

Well put.

[Unregistered]

Well put.

I happen to love it when posters who won't identify themselves and are anonymous criticize other posters for not identifying themselves and question their credibility.

Both of them are full of sh*t. And so am I.

[Unregistered]

Welcome back MPS basher. Remind us what age your child got axed from an MPS team?

He actually took his girl out of MPS because she was too good for them and not playing enough. He has now done it twice more since. Each time to a lesser club. He has trouble with reality and that reality is that his daughter is just not anywhere as good as he thinks she is. But he's really good at taking pointless erroneous shots at MPS all the time. It sctually commical how he can blend in a shot at MPS on any thread. Surprising he has not found a way to bash MPS on the Babson or Wheaton threads. Total loser.

[Unregistered]

I happen to love it when posters who won't identify themselves and are anonymous criticize other posters for not identifying themselves and question their credibility.

Both of them are full of sh*t. And so am I.

I know you are but what am I?

Sticks and stones will break my bones...

I'm rubber and you're glue...

Oh, and by the way, the aforementioned coach (TM) just got selected to join the Region 1 staff today. Not bad for an "average toad."

[Unregistered]

I know you are but what am I?

Sticks and stones will break my bones...

I'm rubber and you're glue...

Oh, and by the way, the aforementioned coach (TM) just got selected to join the Region 1 staff today. Not bad for an "average toad."

There are some coaches on the Region I staff I would not want working in my club.

[Unregistered]

"There are some coaches on the Region I staff I would not want working in my club."


I would agree with this poster. Great to for TM for making the region one pool coach and hopefully he does well.

Just because you have all these licenses and are on all these coaching staff does not make you a great coach. What makes great coaches are championships. I know its hard to swallow but it is reality. And Stars proven that. So until anyone else can prove it. There is really no discussion. But I forgot its Talking-soccer.

So lets see who will give the stars competetion tis year with all the additions. The mid from seacoast , mid from BW, goalie from Seacoast. The team is stacked with a lot of good players. I don't see any teams in maple competting with them in the spring.

[Unregistered]

Time for you to go finish the laundry and the shopping before your wife gets home.

[Unregistered]

"There are some coaches on the Region I staff I would not want working in my club."


I would agree with this poster. Great to for TM for making the region one pool coach and hopefully he does well.

Just because you have all these licenses and are on all these coaching staff does not make you a great coach. What makes great coaches are championships. I know its hard to swallow but it is reality. And Stars proven that. So until anyone else can prove it. There is really no discussion. But I forgot its Talking-soccer.

So lets see who will give the stars competetion tis year with all the additions. The mid from seacoast , mid from BW, goalie from Seacoast. The team is stacked with a lot of good players. I don't see any teams in maple competting with them in the spring.

It would be a wee bit crazy if it all didn't come together. It will.

[Unregistered]

"There are some coaches on the Region I staff I would not want working in my club."


I would agree with this poster. Great to for TM for making the region one pool coach and hopefully he does well.

Just because you have all these licenses and are on all these coaching staff does not make you a great coach. What makes great coaches are championships. I know its hard to swallow but it is reality. And Stars proven that. So until anyone else can prove it. There is really no discussion. But I forgot its Talking-soccer.

So lets see who will give the stars competetion tis year with all the additions. The mid from seacoast , mid from BW, goalie from Seacoast. The team is stacked with a lot of good players. I don't see any teams in maple competting with them in the spring.

I'm going to have to disagree with you somewhat here. Stars have clearly assembled some impressive talent this winter, but that has as much to do with being a good recruiter and a good manager as it has to do with being a good coach. In my opinion, a good coach should be judged on the players he develops under his tutelage, much more so than on how well he does recruiting top-notch, accomplished players from other teams.

In TM's case, he built what is now the current U-14 Inter team from scratch back in 2006-2007. Of the 18 girls on that original U-11 Inter roster, no less than eight of them have made ODP (Six remain -- including one Regional player-- one left voluntarily and one was cut after winter pool). I know the ODP bashers will say "so what," but 8-for-18 playing at that level is a pretty impressive statistic.

So I guess you could say that if your kid is already top-notch, send her to GC and let her get great exposure with the Stars juggernaut. There's no arguing with his past success or the fact that he has built an apparent super-team this winter. But if you want a coach who will focus on developing your player to her fullest potential, there are other good destinations out there.

[Unregistered]

The truth is Blackwatch was a decent team with her, that wasn't going any further without the addition of lots of talent.

Probably true

Her parents made the right move.

I don't think anyone is second guessing the move to Stars, although time will tell. The issue is not the move, but the timing of the move.

The Stars parents can whine all they want, but they would not have won state cup without adding more talent to their team.

I strongly disagree. The Stars were by far the most talented team in the age group even without her. I stated earlier that she makes them incrementally better therefore increasing their chances of winning state cup, but they were the odds-on favorites before this move.

What will be interesting to watch is how Blackwatch and Scorpions do in Region 1 considering both are questionable choices with only 1 of the 2 earning their way in.

I don't think it will be interesting. I think its predictable. Without their best player who was both a ball winner in the midfield and an offensive force, BW will struggle in Region 1. They will be near the bottom. They are one injury away from being totally out of their league.

Scorpions will be middle of the pack. They will be competitive in most games but the Stars are 3 goals better than they are. Given the difficulties of playing in two leagues at once, it won't surprise me if the Scorpion's finish in MAPLE is similar to their finish in Region 1 - middle of the pack.

In the end, most if not all will not make any difference because it will be the same teams into the semis and finals. Good luck to all teams and enjoy the games.

We agree on this. Stars, Western, Explosion, and Scorpions are the teams to beat, in that order. Fuller or Bolts might sneak up on one of them. I think MPS is just behind them, but they have an unlucky draw and probably will not get past Explosion in the Spring.

[Unregistered]

I'm going to have to disagree with you somewhat here. Stars have clearly assembled some impressive talent this winter, but that has as much to do with being a good recruiter and a good manager as it has to do with being a good coach. In my opinion, a good coach should be judged on the players he develops under his tutelage, much more so than on how well he does recruiting top-notch, accomplished players from other teams.

In TM's case, he built what is now the current U-14 Inter team from scratch back in 2006-2007. Of the 18 girls on that original U-11 Inter roster, no less than eight of them have made ODP (Six remain -- including one Regional player-- one left voluntarily and one was cut after winter pool). I know the ODP bashers will say "so what," but 8-for-18 playing at that level is a pretty impressive statistic.

So I guess you could say that if your kid is already top-notch, send her to GC and let her get great exposure with the Stars juggernaut. There's no arguing with his past success or the fact that he has built an apparent super-team this winter. But if you want a coach who will focus on developing your player to her fullest potential, there are other good destinations out there.

Oh, and, by the way. I'm not overlooking the talent that Stars have developed on this team and at other age groups as well. I'm well aware of the fact that it hasn't all been hired help.

[Unregistered]

What makes great coaches are championships.

At the professional level, yes.

At the youth level, no.

Wins and championships are easy to measure.

Getting the most out of the talent, teaching players the lessons of teamwork and hard work, keeping them excited about practice and focussed at games, showing them the joys that come from working together toward a goal and being part of a TEAM- those are all hard to measure, but they are the true measures of a great youth coach.

When our kids are done with soccer, which 99.9 % will be after age 22, the trophy at U14 will have been in garbage long ago. These memories and lessons will not.