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**Unregistered** · 11-08-2010, 07:42 AM

Try these:

http://nationalsoccerranking.com/ran...&mf=G&state=MA

**Unregistered** · 11-08-2010, 07:47 AM

U12 and U13 teams shouldn't be ranked. Probably not U14s either. If you've got to rank mteams, don't start until high school. This is a contributing part of the problem with youth soccer in the US.

**Unregistered** · 11-08-2010, 07:57 AM

I agree. I came into this thread thinking it was high school rankings. It's so sad, that parents get all excited, and peacock proud, that their 12 year old daughter's, or 14 year old son's,club soccer team, is ranked. Those things don't even mean anything to their friends, family and neighbors that they bore with these meaningless facts. The only people that care, are some (not all) of the other parents on that pay big bucks for their kids to play. Most of the times the players themselves don't even know their ranked. When parents are more into it than the kids - there is a problem.

**Unregistered** · 11-08-2010, 08:04 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I agree. I came into this thread thinking it was high school rankings. It's so sad, that parents get all excited, and peacock proud, that their 12 year old daughter's, or 14 year old son's,club soccer team, is ranked. Those things don't even mean anything to their friends, family and neighbors that they bore with these meaningless facts. The only people that care, are some (not all) of the other parents on that pay big bucks for their kids to play. Most of the times the players themselves don't even know their ranked. When parents are more into it than the kids - there is a problem.

I disagree that nobody really cares. Too many people, not just the parents, do care and that's why we have a problem.

**beentheredonethat** · 11-08-2010, 08:10 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I agree. I came into this thread thinking it was high school rankings. It's so sad, that parents get all excited, and peacock proud, that their 12 year old daughter's, or 14 year old son's,club soccer team, is ranked. Those things don't even mean anything to their friends, family and neighbors that they bore with these meaningless facts. The only people that care, are some (not all) of the other parents on that pay big bucks for their kids to play. Most of the times the players themselves don't even know their ranked. When parents are more into it than the kids - there is a problem.

The thing that gets me about posts like this is I don't know who you are angrier at, the clubs for being competitive or parents taking part. This environment is what it is. Lists and rankings are all part of the culture. You are mocking the entire environment and I have to wonder that if you have this much disdain for it, why are you even here? Listen if this is not your cup of tea then why don't you save your money and stay at a recreational level. If you are here, then you are part of the culture and your comments are a little like the pot calling the kettle black.

**Unregistered** · 11-08-2010, 08:33 AM

Originally posted by beentheredonethat View Post

The thing that gets me about posts like this is I don't know who you are angrier at, the clubs for being competitive or parents taking part. This environment is what it is. Lists and rankings are all part of the culture. You are mocking the entire environment and I have to wonder that if you have this much disdain for it, why are you even here? Listen if this is not your cup of tea then why don't you save your money and stay at a recreational level. If you are here, then you are part of the culture and your comments are a little like the pot calling the kettle black.

I think the point being made is that rankings for youth U-14 teams are about as valid as the Globe's top 20 for HS. It's not a valid ranking system, and therefore means squat. Nothing wrong with the competitive environment, that's why kids play elite/club, but don't get "hung up" over the rankings. Results speak for themselves.

**beentheredonethat** · 11-08-2010, 08:58 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I think the point being made is that rankings for youth U-14 teams are about as valid as the Globe's top 20 for HS. It's not a valid ranking system, and therefore means squat. Nothing wrong with the competitive environment, that's why kids play elite/club, but don't get "hung up" over the rankings. Results speak for themselves.

Rankings are what they are. They are just a snap shot in time. If you want to put them into perspective go compare a listing of top high school athletes with a similar ranking 4 years later. They are rarely if ever the same. That is one of the reasons why I battle against the tendency to minimize these sort of lists. For some of these kids it may end up to be the highlight of their sports career. I would rather applaud their success than lament their inevitable failure.

**Unregistered** · 11-08-2010, 09:05 AM

Originally posted by beentheredonethat View Post

Rankings are what they are. They are just a snap shot in time. If you want to put them into perspective go compare a listing of top high school athletes with a similar ranking 4 years later. They are rarely if ever the same. That is one of the reasons why I battle against the tendency to minimize these sort of lists. For some of these kids it may end up to be the highlight of their sports career. I would rather applaud their success than lament their inevitable failure.

Perhaps, but there needs to be perspective. If this is why they play a sport, thet are in it for all the wrong reasons

**Unregistered** · 11-08-2010, 09:42 AM

With a nearly total lack of common opponents, rankings such as these are a joke.

And more for PR for clubs or massaging the egos of parents.

**Unregistered** · 11-08-2010, 09:46 AM

Originally posted by beentheredonethat View Post

Rankings are what they are. They are just a snap shot in time. If you want to put them into perspective go compare a listing of top high school athletes with a similar ranking 4 years later. They are rarely if ever the same. That is one of the reasons why I battle against the tendency to minimize these sort of lists. For some of these kids it may end up to be the highlight of their sports career. I would rather applaud their success than lament their inevitable failure.

The youth players are not the issue. It is the importance adults put on rankings that make them a danger to youth sports.

Your last sentence "For some of these kids it may end up to be the highlight of their sports career" comes across as no different than "everybody gets a medal".

**Unregistered** · 11-08-2010, 10:15 AM

The ranking systems are a joke....especially the national rankings system listed above. This does not even list how they come about the rankings. There are no formulas recorded for the reader to see.
At least GotSoccer has a formula for which they award points. However, for the 2009/2010 year they mistakenly awarded teams 10x what they should have received. Once that ball got rolling all subsequent tournaments were off by a decimal point.

Furthermore, the East Coast teams do not play the West Coast teams on any kind of regular basis. Many clubs attend 8-10 tournaments per year and gain more ranking points.

All in all, the rankings get used by clubs to advertise. Some tournaments use them to seed. It is my feeling that they should not be part of the training nor direction of any team or club