2011 Boys Soccer Verbal Commitments

[Unregistered]

I used to think no one could top NEFC or Scorpions, but the Bolts apologists really take the prize by a landslide. The arrogance and smug indignance are beyond belief.

If this kid didn't make Bolts it has to be because he wasn't good enough. Hey, the Revs didn't take him either, right? But what no one is focusing on is that the Bolts and DAP also therefore cannot claim any role in the kid getting better, assuming that is what happened. Indeed, can anyone name ANY player who has skyrocketed in ability as a result of the "development" of Bolts/DAP? Seems it is always a player getting better on his own and/or with help of a "regular" club and then joining a DAP team after he already is really, really good.

Considering the DAP has only been around for three full years, would you want the DAp to take credit for the development of players before it existed?

No, the smugness is all in your comments as you obviously choose to not give the Bolts any positive acknowledgement, despite the fact that theu have been THE dominent boys club over the last 7 years.

It was mentioned (by the player himself) that the Revs cut him. If the Bolts offered him a Developmental spot, they must have seen something in him. I'm sure they knew of him since the Bolts played teh Stars in MAPLE and state cups up until DAP years.

And, presumably, the Revs coaches would have known of him in the ODP program, yes? And still chose not to put him on the roster?

The kid has been in club soccer since U12 or so. He's just on the radar now?

So the kid is on the cover of an ESPN publication, he gets a Globe puff piece written about him......he must have a hell of an agent or PR firm behind him.

[Unregistered]

How many times have we heard this refrain about "we've only been around for 3 years?"

So we shouldn't expect to see a huge difference in at least a few kids after two or three years out of the much-hyped and specialized training that is so superior to anything else out there? How many years need to go by before we can expect to see some really miraculous development?

[Unregistered]

Considering the DAP has only been around for three full years, would you want the DAp to take credit for the development of players before it existed?

No, the smugness is all in your comments as you obviously choose to not give the Bolts any positive acknowledgement, despite the fact that theu have been THE dominent boys club over the last 7 years.

It was mentioned (by the player himself) that the Revs cut him. If the Bolts offered him a Developmental spot, they must have seen something in him. I'm sure they knew of him since the Bolts played teh Stars in MAPLE and state cups up until DAP years.

And, presumably, the Revs coaches would have known of him in the ODP program, yes? And still chose not to put him on the roster?

The kid has been in club soccer since U12 or so. He's just on the radar now?

So the kid is on the cover of an ESPN publication, he gets a Globe puff piece written about him......he must have a hell of an agent or PR firm behind him.

kid is all hype, he can physically overpower hs kids and score, big deal, he's no phenom just an average division 1 prospect

[Unregistered]

How many times have we heard this refrain about "we've only been around for 3 years?"

So we shouldn't expect to see a huge difference in at least a few kids after two or three years out of the much-hyped and specialized training that is so superior to anything else out there? How many years need to go by before we can expect to see some really miraculous development?

Considering that the youth soccer development ages happen up to U14, you aren't going to see any development in the DAP. You are going to see the best training, the best competition, and the best exposure to national teams and colleges. Smarter people know this.

What you are seeing is a pretty good list of schools that DAP players are being exposed to, and attending. You're seeing a Revs DAP kid that has signed with the Revs. Take a look at the D1 verbal commit list from last year and see the DAP programs that these recruits are coming from.

Why don't you gpo to a DAP training? Or a game? Afraid it would put your MAPLE experience to shame? Afraid you might actually be forced to admit that the DAP program is worthwhile for the better players?

And you won't have to hear about DAP being around for only three years once this new season gets underway.

[Unregistered]

Considering that the youth soccer development ages happen up to U14, you aren't going to see any development in the DAP. You are going to see the best training, the best competition, and the best exposure to national teams and colleges. Smarter people know this.

What you are seeing is a pretty good list of schools that DAP players are being exposed to, and attending. You're seeing a Revs DAP kid that has signed with the Revs. Take a look at the D1 verbal commit list from last year and see the DAP programs that these recruits are coming from.

Why don't you gpo to a DAP training? Or a game? Afraid it would put your MAPLE experience to shame? Afraid you might actually be forced to admit that the DAP program is worthwhile for the better players?

And you won't have to hear about DAP being around for only three years once this new season gets underway.

"You aren't going to see any development in the DAP." What? Do we need to bring up all the past threads?

Thanks at least for being honest. You just confirmed what us other smart people always knew...it's about exposure and getting an edge with college recruiting... just like the other edges majority of Bolts kids take advantage of because they can.

[Unregistered]

I think what gets lost in this whole discussion is the fact that the players being discussed are athletes first and foremost. You can "develop" players tactically (i.e. positioning, game knowledge..), but no club or DAP program who practices 3x per week will turn an average player into a D1 prospect technically. Inherently the athlete has speed, agility, quickness, power.... the training only refines what the player already has acquired genetically. We can talk about "late bloomers", or kids who have over achieved because of work ethic ON THEIR OWN, but those players are the exception, not the norm. Discussions about 99% of the D1 players were amazing talents at young ages, and were certainly not "developed" or created by U-16 clubs or DAP.

[Unregistered]

I think what gets lost in this whole discussion is the fact that the players being discussed are athletes first and foremost. You can "develop" players tactically (i.e. positioning, game knowledge..), but no club or DAP program who practices 3x per week will turn an average player into a D1 prospect technically. Inherently the athlete has speed, agility, quickness, power.... the training only refines what the player already has acquired genetically. We can talk about "late bloomers", or kids who have over achieved because of work ethic ON THEIR OWN, but those players are the exception, not the norm. Discussions about 99% of the D1 players were amazing talents at young ages, and were certainly not "developed" or created by U-16 clubs or DAP.

My son played club from age six. It is sad to watch HS soccer and see very athletic kids running around the field lost making numerous mistakes while my son didn't. My son became a Div 1 soccer player. His co-captain very athletic friend, who never played club, went nowhere. If he had been taught to play soccer in club, no doubt it would have been different.

[Unregistered]

Take a look at the D1 verbal commit list from last year and see the DAP programs that these recruits are coming from..

Not many Revs, many from FCGB

[Unregistered]

My son played club from age six. It is sad to watch HS soccer and see very athletic kids running around the field lost making numerous mistakes while my son didn't. My son became a Div 1 soccer player. His co-captain very athletic friend, who never played club, went nowhere. If he had been taught to play soccer in club, no doubt it would have been different.

My point exactly, I am talking about specifically soccer players. I am not saying you can take any "athlete" and put them out on the field and they will succeed. What I am saying is that given the proper foundation early on, and given that the kid has interest in the sport, the athletic piece is what matters. You wrote your kid has played club from age six. Are you saying that he does not have athletic ability as well? (speed, strength, coordination, agility..) You also mentioned that "if he had been taught to play soccer in club, no doubt it would have been different". The difference is the innate athletic ability. My point is that at U-16, if they don't already have that athletic piece, no amount of training (club/DAP) will make a difference.

[Unregistered]

My point exactly, I am talking about specifically soccer players. I am not saying you can take any "athlete" and put them out on the field and they will succeed. What I am saying is that given the proper foundation early on, and given that the kid has interest in the sport, the athletic piece is what matters. You wrote your kid has played club from age six. Are you saying that he does not have athletic ability as well? (speed, strength, coordination, agility..) You also mentioned that "if he had been taught to play soccer in club, no doubt it would have been different". The difference is the innate athletic ability. My point is that at U-16, if they don't already have that athletic piece, no amount of training (club/DAP) will make a difference.

You've got it backwards. Without that training, no amount of athletic ability will make a difference at U16. Why? Because usually most kids have reach puberty by 16 and you can finally judge who really is the "soccer athlete" and who's been just faking it due to entering puberty earlier than all the rest. And the reason I put "soccer athlete" in quotes is because the athleticism that is required is a bit different than the standard athleticism required to play traditional American sports. A big portion of that athleticism is based on muscle memory that is developed before puberty.

[Unregistered]

I think what gets lost in this whole discussion is the fact that the players being discussed are athletes first and foremost. You can "develop" players tactically (i.e. positioning, game knowledge..), but no club or DAP program who practices 3x per week will turn an average player into a D1 prospect technically. Inherently the athlete has speed, agility, quickness, power.... the training only refines what the player already has acquired genetically. We can talk about "late bloomers", or kids who have over achieved because of work ethic ON THEIR OWN, but those players are the exception, not the norm. Discussions about 99% of the D1 players were amazing talents at young ages, and were certainly not "developed" or created by U-16 clubs or DAP.

And your post outlines why American soccer sux.

[Unregistered]

You've got it backwards. Without that training, no amount of athletic ability will make a difference at U16. Why? Because usually most kids have reach puberty by 16 and you can finally judge who really is the "soccer athlete" and who's been just faking it due to entering puberty earlier than all the rest. And the reason I put "soccer athlete" in quotes is because the athleticism that is required is a bit different than the standard athleticism required to play traditional American sports. A big portion of that athleticism is based on muscle memory that is developed before puberty.

So, what you are saying is I can put "Slow Joe" in a club program at U-6, get the best training possible, develop muscle memory, and he has a better chance of playing D1 soccer, than say "Fast Freddie" all-around athlete who started playing at U-12 and received the same comparable training from that point on? Genetics and overall athleticism has nothing to do with it? I will also say that "muscle memory" is a short term benefit. A good golf swing for example requires muscle memory. Put the clubs down for a couple of weeks and that "muscle memory" is only a memory.

[Unregistered]

"You aren't going to see any development in the DAP." What? Do we need to bring up all the past threads?

Thanks at least for being honest. You just confirmed what us other smart people always knew...it's about exposure and getting an edge with college recruiting... just like the other edges majority of Bolts kids take advantage of because they can.

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.

[Unregistered]

My point exactly, I am talking about specifically soccer players. I am not saying you can take any "athlete" and put them out on the field and they will succeed. What I am saying is that given the proper foundation early on, and given that the kid has interest in the sport, the athletic piece is what matters. You wrote your kid has played club from age six. Are you saying that he does not have athletic ability as well? (speed, strength, coordination, agility..) You also mentioned that "if he had been taught to play soccer in club, no doubt it would have been different". The difference is the innate athletic ability. My point is that at U-16, if they don't already have that athletic piece, no amount of training (club/DAP) will make a difference.

And this is why DAP is for the best players. Not the athletes that teams use in kick and run games to win MAPLE.

[Unregistered]

And this is why DAP is for the best players. Not the athletes that teams use in kick and run games to win MAPLE.

Not everyone in MAPLE plays kick and run. It will be interesting to see how many Mass players this year class of 2011 end up in D1 and how many have actually played DAP for the full 3 years--my guess not many have played the full 3 years.