Good Teams Developing in U11G

[Unregistered]

You have obvioulsy never had the ahem, privledge, of witnessing the parents of the Arsenal at a match.

What are they like?

[Unregistered]

Well behaved model citizens that encourage their children through positive reinforcement in a nurturing environment.

[ForzaAzzurri]

Good post, dad, and I don't mean that sarcastically. I really mean it is a good post.

Thank you.

BTW, for context, I'm not just a dad...I coach a competitive BU12 MAPLE team (home-grown) whose young players are no less athletically-minded than and dream the same dreams as kids from any top competitive team/club, such as those that travel all over creation, and whose coach (that would be me!) is no less anxious than his, ahem, "professional" peers, to take the team and develop the players to as high a level as can be reached.

We just don't think or buy (pun intended) into the notion you have to spend a small fortune and sacrifice so much to pursue those ambitions, certainly not for kids at the elementary and middle school age...and arguably not even later, for we accept what many apparently don't realize or won't acknowledge until much later (as is apparent on the TS forum)...that ultimately our respective players/kids will all end up essentially in the same "place" soccer-wise, and soccer ability/aspirations will be but one determinant, and dare I say hopefully of lesser importance than academics, of where our kids go to college.

[Unregistered]

Thank you.

BTW, for context, I'm not just a dad...I coach a competitive BU12 MAPLE team (home-grown) whose young players are no less athletically-minded than and dream the same dreams as kids from any top competitive team/club, such as those that travel all over creation, and whose coach (that would be me!) is no less anxious than his, ahem, "professional" peers, to take the team and develop the players to as high a level as can be reached.

We just don't think or buy (pun intended) into the notion you have to spend a small fortune and sacrifice so much to pursue those ambitions, certainly not for kids at the elementary and middle school age...and arguably not even later, for we accept what many apparently don't realize or won't acknowledge until much later (as is apparent on the TS forum)...that ultimately our respective players/kids will all end up essentially in the same "place" soccer-wise, and soccer ability/aspirations will be but one determinant, and dare I say hopefully of lesser importance than academics, of where our kids go to college.

You say you coach a BU12 team and here you are on a GU11 team thread giving your opinion where a coach should play his team and how their parents should spend their money. To me that's inexplicable. I'm not a coach or parent of this team but seems to me it's about time you focused on your team and super athlete and a liitle less giving your opinion on how another team should be run. Only my opinion.

[Unregistered]

You say you coach a BU12 team and here you are on a GU11 team thread giving your opinion where a coach should play his team and how their parents should spend their money. To me that's inexplicable. I'm not a coach or parent of this team but seems to me it's about time you focused on your team and super athlete and a liitle less giving your opinion on how another team should be run. Only my opinion.

So, people involved with a BU12 team should only comment on BU12 matters? And only people involved with the GU11 group should comment on their own group? Someone coaching kids in a slightly different age group and gender and offering an opinion on something is "inexplicable" ?

[Unregistered]

I do not blame the coaches for this travel but the parents. The parents need to say no to these clubs or coaches when they want them to travel more than 5 hours for U12 and under tournaments.

BB would of had better competition if he rented Forekicks and played Stars, Scorpions and SSS. All 4 teams would have been better off in the long run. The problem is that no clubs want to work together to better player development in this state.

Also, USYS needs to come up with a travel policy for youth soccer. Teams should not be flying halfway around the country to be playing soccer games. Current age and not playing age for teams that want to play up and bend the rules

U10 - State only
U11 and U12 - Regional Tournaments
U13 and up - National Tournaments

Good Post. All these teams would be better off in the winter months to play each other rather than avoid one another. I don't get why they seem to not want the competition all winter long. Fact is, NEFC, SSS and Scorpions all are excellent indoor teams and think of the benefits. NEFC won't have to travel 3000 miles, Scorps and Select can have a good look @ one another. All good indoor teams here. Why not?

[Unregistered]

So, people involved with a BU12 team should only comment on BU12 matters? And only people involved with the GU11 group should comment on their own group? Someone coaching kids in a slightly different age group and gender and offering an opinion on something is "inexplicable" ?

Got to be a Democrat. ;)

[Unregistered]

Good Post. All these teams would be better off in the winter months to play each other rather than avoid one another. I don't get why they seem to not want the competition all winter long. Fact is, NEFC, SSS and Scorpions all are excellent indoor teams and think of the benefits. NEFC won't have to travel 3000 miles, Scorps and Select can have a good look @ one another. All good indoor teams here. Why not?

Because they don't want a good look at one another. These coaches feel they need to keep their teams highly guarded secrets so as not to give their competitors any kind of advantage including the opportunity to recruit away their stars.

[Unregistered]

You say you coach a BU12 team and here you are on a GU11 team thread giving your opinion where a coach should play his team and how their parents should spend their money. To me that's inexplicable. I'm not a coach or parent of this team but seems to me it's about time you focused on your team and super athlete and a liitle less giving your opinion on how another team should be run. Only my opinion.

Brrrrrahahahaha, not a parent of this team!

[Unregistered]

Because they don't want a good look at one another. These coaches feel they need to keep their teams highly guarded secrets so as not to give their competitors any kind of advantage including the opportunity to recruit away their stars.

Of course.

[Unregistered]

You say you coach a BU12 team and here you are on a GU11 team thread giving your opinion where a coach should play his team and how their parents should spend their money. To me that's inexplicable. I'm not a coach or parent of this team but seems to me it's about time you focused on your team and super athlete and a liitle less giving your opinion on how another team should be run. Only my opinion.

I am sure BB will have his own blog and site just for this team soon so no worries there. They are waiting on a final quote, but I think it is only going to be $225 per player for this team, but it does include an individual page for each of your daughter's and some great pictures form AZ!

[Unregistered]

If as rumored BB nefc is going to NEP in the fall it makes the decision to play 11v11 u12 a bit more confusing. I believe they along with SSS Elite will play in the u11 tournament. I have seen SSS play in a couple of tournaments and they have some excellent talent up front. The problem they have is they will not have the depth to compete at 11v11 whereas Nefc goes 10-12 deep SSS goes maybe 8 before there is a noticeable drop off. They should have stayed at u11 and battled in the blue division

Not sure if this is true. We have seen them indoor and outdoor now. They are pretty loaded now 10 or 11 deep. I agree they should have stayed in U11 Blue though but I am not a coach either. Our club believes 8v8 better through age 12. Let the kids grow a tad and gradually play the big kids game. As far as NEFC, I think the only team that is discussed here is the BB team. My only comment there is they are quite small. I am not questioning their ability as we played them twice now. Just my opinion that they are really small kids and unsure if that will affect the bigger field and more physical game that comes with playing 11v11.

[Unregistered]

Good Post. All these teams would be better off in the winter months to play each other rather than avoid one another. I don't get why they seem to not want the competition all winter long. Fact is, NEFC, SSS and Scorpions all are excellent indoor teams and think of the benefits. NEFC won't have to travel 3000 miles, Scorps and Select can have a good look @ one another. All good indoor teams here. Why not?

Really is too bad they can't play one another. Good competition year round by playing local. Another post commented that these teams do not want a good look @ one another because of recruiting players. I think this will happen anyway. I think everyone would benefit. NEFC, best team all around. SSS E , great team and one of the best indoor clubs anyway (I think the club has a national indoor championsip or two), and Scorpions a great indoor club. Could be a productive Winter but unless they meet up by chance in tourney play, not going to happen I guess.

Any good Winter tournaments left in February or March?

[Unregistered]

Not sure if this is true. We have seen them indoor and outdoor now. They are pretty loaded now 10 or 11 deep. I agree they should have stayed in U11 Blue though but I am not a coach either. Our club believes 8v8 better through age 12. Let the kids grow a tad and gradually play the big kids game. As far as NEFC, I think the only team that is discussed here is the BB team. My only comment there is they are quite small. I am not questioning their ability as we played them twice now. Just my opinion that they are really small kids and unsure if that will affect the bigger field and more physical game that comes with playing 11v11.

Don't worry. BB will recruit some big girls by U13.

[Unregistered]

Don't worry. BB will recruit some big girls by U13.

You mean, the current intact team is vulnerable to change????