2011 Boys Soccer Verbal Commitments

[Unregistered]

Development is all done by U16. Improvements can be made, but in terms of technique, that needs to ingrained by U14.

I don't recall anyone EVER suggesting that the DAP doesn't have HUGE advantages in terms of exposing players to colleges. After all, the majority of college coaches are focusing most of their recruiting travel budgets on DAP tournaments and games.

You missed my point and made my point all at the same time.

Perhaps you are an outlier, but DAP folks justified and championed DAP on this site ad nauseum specifically based on a "development" argument. And I agree with you, there is little evidence that DAP at least in this state has transformed players into another remarkable stratosphere. And it has been my contention all along that DAP mostly is about college exposure for those who are shrewd about taking advantage of such things. You may or may not recall that many insisted the purpose was something else...like creating international soccer players and improving the world cup team. Last time I checked world cup players don't go to Amherst or Bowdoin.

[Unregistered]

You missed my point and made my point all at the same time.

Perhaps you are an outlier, but DAP folks justified and championed DAP on this site ad nauseum specifically based on a "development" argument. And I agree with you, there is little evidence that DAP at least in this state has transformed players into another remarkable stratosphere. And it has been my contention all along that DAP mostly is about college exposure for those who are shrewd about taking advantage of such things. You may or may not recall that many insisted the purpose was something else...like creating international soccer players and improving the world cup team. Last time I checked world cup players don't go to Amherst or Bowdoin.

Your memory is hazy, or you misunderstood the posts.

The arguments that raged were about whether the DAP teams had the best players.

The DAP was created because you could only train 20 players at a time in residency at Bradenton, and US Soccer wanted to bring the best players together and have them all trainined in a similar way. Yes, this was done to greatly increase the size of the player pool for the national teams.

The college coaches all realized that since a vast majority of the best players were now concentrated in one playing area, they could get a look at a lot more really good players at DAP games and events. So it made sense as they could see a lot more quality players in a lot less time with a lot less travel. And since DAP play was at a higher level, the coaches felt the kids were better prepared to step in and make an immediate impact.

It's hard to blame a kid for wanting to play and train with and against the best players, and increasing their exposure to college coaches with the goal to play D1/D2/D3 in college.

[Unregistered]

Your memory is hazy, or you misunderstood the posts.

The arguments that raged were about whether the DAP teams had the best players.

The DAP was created because you could only train 20 players at a time in residency at Bradenton, and US Soccer wanted to bring the best players together and have them all trainined in a similar way. Yes, this was done to greatly increase the size of the player pool for the national teams.

The college coaches all realized that since a vast majority of the best players were now concentrated in one playing area, they could get a look at a lot more really good players at DAP games and events. So it made sense as they could see a lot more quality players in a lot less time with a lot less travel. And since DAP play was at a higher level, the coaches felt the kids were better prepared to step in and make an immediate impact.

It's hard to blame a kid for wanting to play and train with and against the best players, and increasing their exposure to college coaches with the goal to play D1/D2/D3 in college.

With all due respect I think your memory is hazy, or you are a relatively new poster. The "best players" debate did occur a few months ago, but some of the threads focusing on DAP for over a two year period insisted repeatedly that DEVELOPMENT was the key (and hence, compared to the awful left over club teams playing MAPLE or Region 1, DAP was superior because of the focus on development and not on winning and not playing too many games back to back, etc, etc).

Nobody's blaming the kids. Get whatever advantage you can. But in terms of the oft-quoted mission statement, the truth is that DAP, at least Bolts DAP, is closer to an extension of ISL and feeder to NESCAC than it is a path to national teams and national team improvement.

[Unregistered]

With all due respect I think your memory is hazy, or you are a relatively new poster. The "best players" debate did occur a few months ago, but some of the threads focusing on DAP for over a two year period insisted repeatedly that DEVELOPMENT was the key (and hence, compared to the awful left over club teams playing MAPLE or Region 1, DAP was superior because of the focus on development and not on winning and not playing too many games back to back, etc, etc).

Nobody's blaming the kids. Get whatever advantage you can. But in terms of the oft-quoted mission statement, the truth is that DAP, at least Bolts DAP, is closer to an extension of ISL and feeder to NESCAC than it is a path to national teams and national team improvement.

The other poster is correct. Either do a search, or scan back on the previous pages. The most hotly contested debate here about DAP has been whether the best kids are in it.

I think where you are confused is about what subject the Development discussions were related to. That argument was taking place when discussing the Bolts moving to NEP and integrating a DAP mentality into the younger age groups for the purpose of development and DAP preparation.

[Unregistered]

The other poster is correct. Either do a search, or scan back on the previous pages. The most hotly contested debate here about DAP has been whether the best kids are in it.

I think where you are confused is about what subject the Development discussions were related to. That argument was taking place when discussing the Bolts moving to NEP and integrating a DAP mentality into the younger age groups for the purpose of development and DAP preparation.

No, I am correct, but you guys sure are going to make me work a lot harder than I wanted to. Before the discussions you cite there were pages and pages about dap and development (what's dap stand for? And pre-dap?) and a guy talking about how he could just enjoy the games now from his lawn chair so much more with the developmental focus. Now I'm going to have to research this to show you.

[Unregistered]

No, I am correct, but you guys sure are going to make me work a lot harder than I wanted to. Before the discussions you cite there were pages and pages about dap and development (what's dap stand for? And pre-dap?) and a guy talking about how he could just enjoy the games now from his lawn chair so much more with the developmental focus. Now I'm going to have to research this to show you.

Not sure why this is on the "2011 Committment" thread or why it needs to be rehashed again for an debate with no clear answer.

[Unregistered]

Not sure why this is on the "2011 Committment" thread or why it needs to be rehashed again for an debate with no clear answer.

Fair enough, but might help if someone posted some actual 2011 commits

[Unregistered]

Fair enough, but might help if someone posted some actual 2011 commits

See page 1

[Unregistered]

Fair enough, but might help if someone posted some actual 2011 commits

I agree about the commits. I'd post the names of a couple of boys I know who have been told they are in the coach's top five and will have the coach's "full support" with the admissions process at some very good D-3 programs, but I don't want to jinx them until after they have their actual admit letters. Full support and admissions don't always connect at the D-3 level. But surely the D1s out there have their letters?????

[Unregistered]

Fair enough, but might help if someone posted some actual 2011 commits

Still only 4 D1 commitments listed on ESPN Rise, and with each day that passes it's becoming less and less likely that we'll see much more activity.

Perhaps we'll see a lot of 2011s doing a PG year before moving on to college ball...

[Unregistered]

No, I am correct, but you guys sure are going to make me work a lot harder than I wanted to. Before the discussions you cite there were pages and pages about dap and development (what's dap stand for? And pre-dap?) and a guy talking about how he could just enjoy the games now from his lawn chair so much more with the developmental focus. Now I'm going to have to research this to show you.

No, you are not, and your research will prove it.

I don't think the "Development" part of the DAP program is any more relevent than "Olympic" is to ODP. Except I can see where US Soccer might call it that because the program was set up to develop candidates for the national team programs, not develop the individual technique of younger players.

[Unregistered]

I agree about the commits. I'd post the names of a couple of boys I know who have been told they are in the coach's top five and will have the coach's "full support" with the admissions process at some very good D-3 programs, but I don't want to jinx them until after they have their actual admit letters. Full support and admissions don't always connect at the D-3 level. But surely the D1s out there have their letters?????

Why wouldn't you simply mind your own business and let those players that choose to make it public decide whether or not to announce it?

[Unregistered]

Why wouldn't you simply mind your own business and let those players that choose to make it public decide whether or not to announce it?

Because those players have better things to do than hang around this board. They would never bother. The rest of us losers are curious and hope folks share information (good information, not speculation)

[Unregistered]

Why wouldn't you simply mind your own business and let those players that choose to make it public decide whether or not to announce it?

Because this thread is to acknowledge those players who have worked hard to be recruited and acheived their goal. That's why its call "2011 Boys Soccer Verbal Commitments". I hope folks do post. The boys deserve recognition.

[Unregistered]

Still only 4 D1 commitments listed on ESPN Rise, and with each day that passes it's becoming less and less likely that we'll see much more activity.

Perhaps we'll see a lot of 2011s doing a PG year before moving on to college ball...

Don't see how play during the PG year itself helps very much. Season is in the fall and the major, and some minor,D1's have pretty much got things lined up for the subsequent year.

At best I think a PG year serves as a placeholder for those players who are recruited late for whatever reason (senior year) such that there is no room in the subsequent year.

DII and DIII are a whole different ballgame, but why do a PG year to play D3 soccer?