2011 Boys Soccer Verbal Commitments

[Unregistered]

this is a mass forum on 2011 mass kids that are commited to D1-D3 schools so maybe just start another thread titled "2011 bolts players college commits." these two pc recruits are the last guys in a big pc recruiting class so they will only be practice players anyway.

Let's face reality---there will be very few D1 boys "scholarship" players coming out of Mass for the 2011 HS Class. Some may "commit" to a D1 program, but how much "athletic aid" (if any) will they be receiving--probably not much if any. The vast majority of the Mass players will be heading to D2 and D3 schools--which is perfectly fine and probably for the best in the long run for them. Warning to the future boys classes and parents--don't go chasing the "athletic scholarship" for boys soccer because it is not going to happen. There is not enough athletic aid on the boys side and most programs are not fully funded as soccer takes a huge back seat to football, hockey and basketball on the men's side. Club soccer is a wonderful activity and if you can afford it and can use soccer to gain access/admission into a better college that's great, but don't expect the scholarship at the end of the rainbow. If you are one of the very few who is able to be offered one--congratulations.

[Unregistered]

Why is it most of you view D3 as a disappointment? There are some fanatstic colleges & universities in D3, and some of the soccer beiong played is excellent. There are some phenonominal experiences to be had outside of D1.

[Unregistered]

it actually is, only 6 schools on the espn list have more than 7 recruits and like 5 other schools have seven also. the avg class is about 5 so pc has a big class although not huge like radford. you should read things before you make a dumb, incorrect comment

ok, like if 5 is avg that means some have like 3 and some have like 7. still with me? The list is only as good as the players emailing the writer to be published. It is not, by any means, like official.

[Unregistered]

Why is it most of you view D3 as a disappointment? There are some fanatstic colleges & universities in D3, and some of the soccer beiong played is excellent. There are some phenonominal experiences to be had outside of D1.

Let's look at some of these D3 teams:

http://www.ncaa.com/brackets/2010/nc...occer_men.html

Amherst, Middleury, Williams, Suffolk, Hopkins to name a few. Pretty good academics if you ask me.

[Unregistered]

Jt34nr

Let's look at some of these D3 teams:

http://www.ncaa.com/brackets/2010/nc...occer_men.html

Amherst, Middleury, Williams, Suffolk, Hopkins to name a few. Pretty good academics if you ask me.

No one is denying that many D3's are top academic schools in the country and are extremely selective, but in reference to soccer talent and ability there is no comparing d3 to d1, skill level, athletiscm and speed of play are totally different. there are a few d3 players that could be reserves for lower d1 teams but those players are very rare.

[Unregistered]

No one is denying that many D3's are top academic schools in the country and are extremely selective, but in reference to soccer talent and ability there is no comparing d3 to d1, skill level, athletiscm and speed of play are totally different. there are a few d3 players that could be reserves for lower d1 teams but those players are very rare.

You haven't watched any games.

D1 has become a kick and run game. Coaches are under a lot of pressure to win at teh D1 level for recruiting purposes, so coaches employ whatever tactics will get them a win.

Over the last three years, I've seen many D3 games that were more shilled, more posession priented, and more pleasing to watch than many of the local highly regarded D1 teams.

Instead of relying on outdated 10 year old stereotypes to make your point, get off your backside and watch some games.

[Unregistered]

No one is denying that many D3's are top academic schools in the country and are extremely selective, but in reference to soccer talent and ability there is no comparing d3 to d1, skill level, athletiscm and speed of play are totally different. there are a few d3 players that could be reserves for lower d1 teams but those players are very rare.

I think this is for the most part true.

My personal analysis of the differences between the players that go to different divisions.

D1: Players are tactically and technically solid and a great athlete.
D2: Players that have two of these three traits.
D3: Players that just have one of these three traits.

Of course there are exceptions - like D1 athletes that couldn't get into a D1 school - but this is how my experience has gone.

I know plenty of D3 athletes that are as technically sound and tactically smart as any D1 athlete I have met but didn't have the physical ability to back it up.

Being the whole package is very important to D1 - while being a solid role-player is acceptable at D3.

[Unregistered]

I think this is for the most part true.

My personal analysis of the differences between the players that go to different divisions.

D1: Players are tactically and technically solid and a great athlete.
D2: Players that have two of these three traits.
D3: Players that just have one of these three traits.

Of course there are exceptions - like D1 athletes that couldn't get into a D1 school - but this is how my experience has gone.

I know plenty of D3 athletes that are as technically sound and tactically smart as any D1 athlete I have met but didn't have the physical ability to back it up.

Being the whole package is very important to D1 - while being a solid role-player is acceptable at D3.

And to add onto my post:

This is, in a nutshell, why the US soccer system is so far behind Europe.

Our college teams are so focused on immediate results and look past players that may have higher long term potential than some of the top D1 recruits.

When we compare this to the academy system of Europe, where your investment can last longer than 4 years, developing potential is paramount.

It is easier to turn a great tactician into an athlete, than a great athlete into a great tactician. This is just one of the major hurdles for the US soccer system and the introduction of the nation wide academy structure is a great first step.

[Unregistered]

I think this is for the most part true.

My personal analysis of the differences between the players that go to different divisions.

D1: Players are tactically and technically solid and a great athlete.
D2: Players that have two of these three traits.
D3: Players that just have one of these three traits.

Of course there are exceptions - like D1 athletes that couldn't get into a D1 school - but this is how my experience has gone.

I know plenty of D3 athletes that are as technically sound and tactically smart as any D1 athlete I have met but didn't have the physical ability to back it up.

Being the whole package is very important to D1 - while being a solid role-player is acceptable at D3.

Having seen a number of D1, D2 and D3 games over the past 3 years the above comment is spot on. Unless you have the overall "athletic package" of size or speed or hopefully both the D1 community tends to shy away as it has become a "bombs away" type of game with the need for size and speed. Technical and tactical ability is wonderful and you do see some "beautiful possession soccer" style played in the D3's at some schools, but the D1's are handing out their "athletic aid" to the ATHLETES (and usually keepers and strikers). Doesn't mean that D2 or D3 college soccer should be seen as a negative---the fact that any student/athlete is able to play a college sport at any level is huge accomplishment given the amount of time and committment it takes. There are a number of the boys of 2011 Class who will likely play D2 or D3 and are heading in that direction rather than be a practice player at a D1 school. However, very rarely do you have a top level D1 calibre recruit playing in D3. Sure you have some D3 players who could be reserves/depth players at some levels of D1, but if the D1 college coaching community thought they were worthy of high D1 level interest they would have been pursuing them diligently since the summer.

[Unregistered]

6tffyj

Having seen a number of D1, D2 and D3 games over the past 3 years the above comment is spot on. Unless you have the overall "athletic package" of size or speed or hopefully both the D1 community tends to shy away as it has become a "bombs away" type of game with the need for size and speed. Technical and tactical ability is wonderful and you do see some "beautiful possession soccer" style played in the D3's at some schools, but the D1's are handing out their "athletic aid" to the ATHLETES (and usually keepers and strikers). Doesn't mean that D2 or D3 college soccer should be seen as a negative---the fact that any student/athlete is able to play a college sport at any level is huge accomplishment given the amount of time and committment it takes. There are a number of the boys of 2011 Class who will likely play D2 or D3 and are heading in that direction rather than be a practice player at a D1 school. However, very rarely do you have a top level D1 calibre recruit playing in D3. Sure you have some D3 players who could be reserves/depth players at some levels of D1, but if the D1 college coaching community thought they were worthy of high D1 level interest they would have been pursuing them diligently since the summer.

great insight, that's exactly what it is. you have to be technically sound to play d1 and be strong and athletic becuse the game is played at break neck speed and sometimes turns into a direct style. since the players are skillfull and athletic, players are closed out very quickly so the need for skill is important. there is rarely a line of confrontation in d1, the strikers just attack defenders right away, so this makes it difficult to build up and create possesion.

only about 5% of senior soccer players in u.s. play college ball, so the chances of getting a d1 athletic scholarship, or any athletic scholarship for that matter is pretty slim

[Unregistered]

Ahem, this thread is to announce 2011 Boy's commitments. Not to rehash the old D1/D2/D3 argument. Been hashed out a hundred times before on other threads.

If you have commitments please post. If you really need to rehash the what makes a D1 v D2 v D3 and education v. ranking again please start another post. Or update one of the old ones.

[Unregistered]

And to add onto my post:

This is, in a nutshell, why the US soccer system is so far behind Europe.

Our college teams are so focused on immediate results and look past players that may have higher long term potential than some of the top D1 recruits.

When we compare this to the academy system of Europe, where your investment can last longer than 4 years, developing potential is paramount.

It is easier to turn a great tactician into an athlete, than a great athlete into a great tactician. This is just one of the major hurdles for the US soccer system and the introduction of the nation wide academy structure is a great first step.

You've got this all wrong.

Ther best European players are in academies from age 9 (and sometimes younger). They get technical, non results based training through U15. They don't play for a high school, so there is no other bad habits to undo. If the kid is good, he barel;y attends high school while in an academy, and there are working agreements netween the high schools and the academies to make sure that the schedule doesn't conflkict with training, and that the courseload isn't too hard.

College soccer is nothing to aspire to in Europe. That's why you see many Europeans coming to the US to play and get an education.

In a 4 year program of college aged kids, you aren't looking at potential and development. The only thing coaches are worried about is : can the kid play at this level? If he can't, he is never going to be.

Where we fall behind is the that winning mentality you talk about. Theproblem is we put that on kids/coaches/teams/ at U12 when all the kids should be taught is technique and development. This is the fault of the parents, and that attitude permeates every thread on this board. The parents want therir kids on winning teams. They want them in state cups. they want them on ODP. In Europe, the parents drop the kids off, go for a coffee, and come back at the end of training.

You want to change the culture, you have to do it at the youngest age groups, not the oldest.

[Unregistered]

Ahem, this thread is to announce 2011 Boy's commitments. Not to rehash the old D1/D2/D3 argument. Been hashed out a hundred times before on other threads.

If you have commitments please post. If you really need to rehash the what makes a D1 v D2 v D3 and education v. ranking again please start another post. Or update one of the old ones.

Or, people could just go to the ESPN Rise web site, where the committments are already posted, instead of rehashing it here.

[Unregistered]

You've got this all wrong.

Ther best European players are in academies from age 9 (and sometimes younger). They get technical, non results based training through U15. They don't play for a high school, so there is no other bad habits to undo. If the kid is good, he barel;y attends high school while in an academy, and there are working agreements netween the high schools and the academies to make sure that the schedule doesn't conflkict with training, and that the courseload isn't too hard.

College soccer is nothing to aspire to in Europe. That's why you see many Europeans coming to the US to play and get an education.

In a 4 year program of college aged kids, you aren't looking at potential and development. The only thing coaches are worried about is : can the kid play at this level? If he can't, he is never going to be.

Where we fall behind is the that winning mentality you talk about. Theproblem is we put that on kids/coaches/teams/ at U12 when all the kids should be taught is technique and development. This is the fault of the parents, and that attitude permeates every thread on this board. The parents want therir kids on winning teams. They want them in state cups. they want them on ODP. In Europe, the parents drop the kids off, go for a coffee, and come back at the end of training.

You want to change the culture, you have to do it at the youngest age groups, not the oldest.

I am not sure how I have this all wrong. You are 100% correct and I don't think our comments come from different positions.

[Unregistered]

http://rise.espn.go.com/boys-soccer/...uit=BoysSoccer

looks like first d3 committ has been posted on espn rise, although i don't know what they are commiting to since they get no athletic money. i'm sure the top d3 players will start commiting soon.