jerk offs

[Unregistered]

Another solution would be to realign the teams after week 2. Not perfect but at least there would be more of a sense of hierarchy.

The large problem with the current U11, since going to 8 v 8, is the explosion in the number of teams. In the past there were three division of 9 or 10 looking for the 8 spots in the Blue Division; first and second place teams and two other per record and goal differential. Now there are 5-6 divsions of 9 or 10 teams each looking for the 8 spots in the Blue division.

Solution: Split the entire Fall U11 into two groups. Each of these two groups will be playing for their own respective first division in the Spring i.e. Two first divisions. From these first divisions will form the first division in the Fall of U12.

In other words don't let the Spring of U11 come down to just one first division....kind of like the different conferences in football only there will be two division 1 winners in the Spring of U11. From these two first divisions, the top four +/- 2 will make up the first division of the fall of U12.

[Unregistered]

The large problem with the current U11, since going to 8 v 8, is the explosion in the number of teams. In the past there were three division of 9 or 10 looking for the 8 spots in the Blue Division; first and second place teams and two other per record and goal differential. Now there are 5-6 divsions of 9 or 10 teams each looking for the 8 spots in the Blue division.

Solution: Split the entire Fall U11 into two groups. Each of these two groups will be playing for their own respective first division in the Spring i.e. Two first divisions. From these first divisions will form the first division in the Fall of U12.

In other words don't let the Spring of U11 come down to just one first division....kind of like the different conferences in football only there will be two division 1 winners in the Spring of U11. From these two first divisions, the top four +/- 2 will make up the first division of the fall of U12.

Great idea and do it geographically, to the extent possible, as well. I love the Cape and Western MA but not late on a Sunday afternoon at U11.

[Unregistered]

The large problem with the current U11, since going to 8 v 8, is the explosion in the number of teams. In the past there were three division of 9 or 10 looking for the 8 spots in the Blue Division; first and second place teams and two other per record and goal differential. Now there are 5-6 divsions of 9 or 10 teams each looking for the 8 spots in the Blue division.

Solution: Split the entire Fall U11 into two groups. Each of these two groups will be playing for their own respective first division in the Spring i.e. Two first divisions. From these first divisions will form the first division in the Fall of U12.

In other words don't let the Spring of U11 come down to just one first division....kind of like the different conferences in football only there will be two division 1 winners in the Spring of U11. From these two first divisions, the top four +/- 2 will make up the first division of the fall of U12.

How do you submit this to MAPLE???

[Unregistered]

How do you submit this to MAPLE???

Send multiple emails to Kathy Irwin and the other board members. Repeat every three months until you get tired of being ignored.

[Unregistered]

Does anyone know why they don't keep scores at U10? Is it a MA youth soccer ruling? If so then why is travel soccer like BAYS allowed to keep their scores at U9?

I agree with the last few quotes, by taking down scores in the spring of U10, not recording them on the internet, but keeping them in house within MAPLE. Then make a decision on where they are placed for U11 will help everyone.

The other ideas like the football conferences, the tournament in August or the coach is honest on where their team should be would also work.

We should all try and get along and actually make this thread a way of telling MA youth soccer or MAPLE there is a problem. Not keep calling each other out.

[MASC]

Not posting scores takes the pressure off of coaches to run up scores for future placements. The promotion/relegation mentality creates a dog eat dog system. Few coaches are brave enough to play their whole teams when they look at goal differentials.

MASC does not post scores for U10 per the recommendation of MassYouth and USYSA.

I have coached at all levels through D1 college (not soccer). There is a signifiant difference between the head and foot of the bench. To take the "best" players off the pitch and risk mistakes and the resulting goals being scored takes real courage on the part of the coach. With parents screaming about every move being made, a coach has to risk their ire when removing the "stars" and letting the end of the bench get fair playing time. At the collegiate level, we would many times purposely start the "end of the bench" against the other team's stars. It was humorous to see the "stars" taken out of their game. Sometimes these "weak" players would totally control play and score.

The end of the bench when properly trained can be extremely effective. In fact most times they play more intelligently than the "stars", since they are not necessarily as gifted so they have to rely on team play and communications.

The promotion/relegation starts way too early. It has my complaint about education and youth sport. We start placing players in developmental tracks before they have had a chance to develop.

Parents need to understand that the spots in Blue are important only to the club. The players just foot the bill. Once in Blue or D1 or whatever, then parents flock to those teams. The prodigies who got the team there generally have not developed since they mainly were effective due to size, speed and a Q4 birthday. After puberty there is a fall out. By U16 for the girls and U18 for the boys, the differences are much smaller and the player who was a step or two faster at U11 could be a full step slower at U16 so their speed advantage has been negated. Similarly they probably stopped growing at a very young age and the late developers have passed them in size, speed and strength. The early "stars" also tend not to have good technical or tactical skills, the other players not being gifted early tend to compensate for lack of size and speed by better skills.

[Unregistered]

Does anyone know why they don't keep scores at U10? Is it a MA youth soccer ruling? If so then why is travel soccer like BAYS allowed to keep their scores at U9?

I agree with the last few quotes, by taking down scores in the spring of U10, not recording them on the internet, but keeping them in house within MAPLE. Then make a decision on where they are placed for U11 will help everyone.

The other ideas like the football conferences, the tournament in August or the coach is honest on where their team should be would also work.

We should all try and get along and actually make this thread a way of telling MA youth soccer or MAPLE there is a problem. Not keep calling each other out.

What percentage of hits on a score and standings page are from a U10 player? Conversely what percentage are by parents and coaches?

See if that helps you divine an answer.

Cujo

[Unregistered]

great post

Not posting scores takes the pressure off of coaches to run up scores for future placements. The promotion/relegation mentality creates a dog eat dog system. Few coaches are brave enough to play their whole teams when they look at goal differentials.

MASC does not post scores for U10 per the recommendation of MassYouth and USYSA.

I have coached at all levels through D1 college (not soccer). There is a signifiant difference between the head and foot of the bench. To take the "best" players off the pitch and risk mistakes and the resulting goals being scored takes real courage on the part of the coach. With parents screaming about every move being made, a coach has to risk their ire when removing the "stars" and letting the end of the bench get fair playing time. At the collegiate level, we would many times purposely start the "end of the bench" against the other team's stars. It was humorous to see the "stars" taken out of their game. Sometimes these "weak" players would totally control play and score.

The end of the bench when properly trained can be extremely effective. In fact most times they play more intelligently than the "stars", since they are not necessarily as gifted so they have to rely on team play and communications.

The promotion/relegation starts way too early. It has my complaint about education and youth sport. We start placing players in developmental tracks before they have had a chance to develop.

Parents need to understand that the spots in Blue are important only to the club. The players just foot the bill. Once in Blue or D1 or whatever, then parents flock to those teams. The prodigies who got the team there generally have not developed since they mainly were effective due to size, speed and a Q4 birthday. After puberty there is a fall out. By U16 for the girls and U18 for the boys, the differences are much smaller and the player who was a step or two faster at U11 could be a full step slower at U16 so their speed advantage has been negated. Similarly they probably stopped growing at a very young age and the late developers have passed them in size, speed and strength. The early "stars" also tend not to have good technical or tactical skills, the other players not being gifted early tend to compensate for lack of size and speed by better skills.

very interesting. Thanks for this.

[Unregistered]

Let see if JD croaks the Scorpions West team, this week.? Possibly?

[Unregistered]

Let see if JD croaks the Scorpions West team, this week.? Possibly?

What a difference a week makes in the unsorted Fall U11. Sorry to burst your balloon, 2-2 tie.

[Unregistered]

NEFC croaks Liverpool 15-0 in same division... NB team might of seen JD score last week and they want to make a statement especially on these boards, making it okay for NEFC to demolish a weak Liverpool squad. Welcome to MAPLE turf wars....

Rumor has it that JD was unlucky not to win 3-2, if not for a late offsides call which resulted in pulling back a goal. but Scorpions West team hung tough.... Cudos !

[Unregistered]

I feel bad for the Western Team they play next!

[Unregistered]

Don't beat Western by too much and don't play too physical..they don't like it when they lose.

[Unregistered]

What's your point?

Your daughter had a good team...congrats.

I'll take a stab at this one (not FO or DC by the way).

Here's one possible scenario that shows one potential benefit.

A couple of years ago, my daughter (U11 at the time) was on a very good team. In order to avoide the 16 - 0 type victories, the coach began playing better out of state competition, playing them up against older teams locally and sometimes older boys teams. Now granted, some of these teams were high school JV teams or other "B" club teams (U13/14), but older nonetheless.

Prior to one memorable game, parents and players from the opposing team were negatively commenting -- within earshot of my daughter's team -- "We shouldn't be playing these girls, we're going to crush them", "Look at how small they are", "What a waste of our time." and "Why do they even try. . . they don't have a chance." I'm sure you've all heard these types of comments. Very vocal and purposely said loudly to try to embarrass our girls.

This gave more than a little bit of a fire for our girls to "kick it up a knotch". They played with a little extra determination. In this particular game, I remember my daughter's team winning 11-0. It got to the point where the older players and parents were silenced and standing there with jaws dropped and nothing to say.

The benefit: Not only did our girls learn composure and to play in the face of negative comments and against much older, bigger players, but the older, bigger players (and parents) learned to be careful not to judge other teams by age or physical stature. I don't believe a 1-0 or even a 4-0 win would have accomplished what an 11-0 win did. You can't call an 11-0 game "lucky" or blame it on the refs. BOTH sides of this game learned a lesson that day.

This was one of many times where comments such as these before a game ended up being disproven. Over time, my daughter's team learned that "smack talk" and negativity shouldn't have any bearing on how you play. And I'm certain that many of the older teams (and boys teams!) and parents learned valuable lessons as well.

[Unregistered]

Thanks for this last post. Our daughter has been on both sides of these games. I, admittedly, have made similar comments. I was wrong. As I see my own kids play and develop, everything is coming full circle. Great teams and players get dissapointed as other teams catch up. We are living it. I never meant to embarass other players but really see your point.