2011 Boys Soccer Verbal Commitments

[Unregistered]

For the 432nd time, it was the college coaches who realized that DAp could be a one stop shop for recruiting since they realized that most of the better players were playing in one place. It certainly is more efficient than travelling all over the place hoping to see one or two good players in a game.

If the players/families then realize that this is where the college coaches are a going, and their goal is to be exposed to them, there isn't a single negative to playing there.

And you should take in a few DIII games. You'll be suprised at how good the players and teams can be.

Agree there is nothing wrong with using DAP for whatever your ultimate purposes are. However, have seen over 30 D3 games (NESCAC and others) last year and this year, the soccer is not as good as high level Club or DAP, much more direct game in college based on size, speed and physicality vs a possession game. Skill level (first touch, vision, decision making) overall at D3 is much worse/slower than high level Club or DAP. Not impressed by the skill or level of play. I am impressed by the tenacity/physicality/effort put forth in D3, but that's it. Fields i've seen in D3 are aweful, give me Lancaster any day for fields.

[Unregistered]

Agree there is nothing wrong with using DAP for whatever your ultimate purposes are. However, have seen over 30 D3 games (NESCAC and others) last year and this year, the soccer is not as good as high level Club or DAP, much more direct game in college based on size, speed and physicality vs a possession game. Skill level (first touch, vision, decision making) overall at D3 is much worse/slower than high level Club or DAP. Not impressed by the skill or level of play. I am impressed by the tenacity/physicality/effort put forth in D3, but that's it. Fields i've seen in D3 are aweful, give me Lancaster any day for fields.

We've obviously watched different games.

[Unregistered]

We've obviously watched different games.

I'm with you on this one. Most of the D3 games we've seen have been great games with talent on both sides. Pretty much all the fields have been terrific. We've been to some great D1 games and some that we were stunned at how badly they played (not that they were bad teams, just perhaps the games we saw) Our thoughts on a few D1 games were that our DAP team could beat them. I really think too much is being made on D1 and D3. It pretty much depends on who you are seeing play and our family has seen a lot of them.

[Unregistered]

We've obviously watched different games.

I guess we have watched different games, or more likely we have a different opinion/view how soccer should be played. I prefer a possession on the ground game, but 90% of what I've seen in D3 (mostly NESCAC) is in the air "bombs away".

[Unregistered]

I guess we have watched different games, or more likely we have a different opinion/view how soccer should be played. I prefer a possession on the ground game, but 90% of what I've seen in D3 (mostly NESCAC) is in the air "bombs away".

This is the same exact conversation I had with someone recently, except it was about two Div 1 schools playing. Schools, by the way, that were highly ranked. Couldn't believe what I was watching. I really expected so much more. Couldn't believe they were giving the ball away so much and just whacking it away when there were smarter options.

[Unregistered]

This is the same exact conversation I had with someone recently, except it was about two Div 1 schools playing. Schools, by the way, that were highly ranked. Couldn't believe what I was watching. I really expected so much more. Couldn't believe they were giving the ball away so much and just whacking it away when there were smarter options.

Agree. It's absolutely ugly soccer. Can't believe some of the backlines and mids can't accurately string together passes. It's always push it forward "over the top" and play in the air. No keeping it on the ground with a short pass and movement to create space east and west to open up north and south. Too many college coaches would rather have somone who will physically run someone over going for a header or tackle, but can't make a pass and distribute than a playmaker, or take someone who is lightning fast but has an aweful first touch and constantly looses the ball. You're right in both cases these teams just give away possession constantly and it is maddening to watch.

[Unregistered]

Agree. It's absolutely ugly soccer. Can't believe some of the backlines and mids can't accurately string together passes. It's always push it forward "over the top" and play in the air. No keeping it on the ground with a short pass and movement to create space east and west to open up north and south. Too many college coaches would rather have somone who will physically run someone over going for a header or tackle, but can't make a pass and distribute than a playmaker, or take someone who is lightning fast but has an aweful first touch and constantly looses the ball. You're right in both cases these teams just give away possession constantly and it is maddening to watch.

What's even more maddening is seeing that there are players on the field (and even on the bench) who do have the vision and the talent to do the right thing. This goes for all divisions, as well. You are right. This mentality that some coaches have hasn't changed from when the kids were just starting off. Size, physicality, speed - ooops can't control the ball, make a good pass, make a good decision or understand team. BUT they are big as heck. Future college players, right? On the flip side, I have seen some awesome play with wonderful players. Really enjoyable to watch those games.

[Unregistered]

I guess we have watched different games, or more likely we have a different opinion/view how soccer should be played. I prefer a possession on the ground game, but 90% of what I've seen in D3 (mostly NESCAC) is in the air "bombs away".

You might have your divisdions crossed. Or your eyes closed.

I have seen hundreds of college games over the last twenty years, and I am more likely to see D1 teams using the "bombs away" tactics becaise the pressure to win at D1 is immense. A team will do whatever it needs to do to win, and they don't give a rat's butt how it looks to the casual observer.

Over the past 5 years, D3 (and especially NESCAC schools) have played a lot of that possession soccer you claim to prefer. And that is because D3 is seeing far more of the better players (i.e. DAP) than it ever did. They are now getting players with advanced touch, skill, and field awareness.

[Unregistered]

You might have your divisdions crossed. Or your eyes closed.

I have seen hundreds of college games over the last twenty years, and I am more likely to see D1 teams using the "bombs away" tactics becaise the pressure to win at D1 is immense. A team will do whatever it needs to do to win, and they don't give a rat's butt how it looks to the casual observer.

Over the past 5 years, D3 (and especially NESCAC schools) have played a lot of that possession soccer you claim to prefer. And that is because D3 is seeing far more of the better players (i.e. DAP) than it ever did. They are now getting players with advanced touch, skill, and field awareness.

The "bombs away" approach at the D1 level is the product of few players having the technical skills equal to the speed of play athletes at that level bring. There are a few programs strong enough to field a team of players with such skills, but most will have weak links on the field of one sort or another.

At NESCAC level programs, there may be more time to possess the ball at lower rungs, but at the highest levels, there is so much pressure put on the ball there's no more time to "possess" the ball than at the D1 levels. I haven't seen 100s of these games, but I've seen Amherst, Babson, and Wheaton play and that's serious soccer.

[Unregistered]

You might have your divisdions crossed. Or your eyes closed.

I have seen hundreds of college games over the last twenty years, and I am more likely to see D1 teams using the "bombs away" tactics becaise the pressure to win at D1 is immense. A team will do whatever it needs to do to win, and they don't give a rat's butt how it looks to the casual observer.

Over the past 5 years, D3 (and especially NESCAC schools) have played a lot of that possession soccer you claim to prefer. And that is because D3 is seeing far more of the better players (i.e. DAP) than it ever did. They are now getting players with advanced touch, skill, and field awareness.

Don't disagree that D3 is getting a better quality of player than it was say 5 years ago. I expected to see a more possession on the ground skill game at D3 (especially the NESCAC's) albeit slower than D1, however I haven't seen it these past two years. Small glimpses of it, but overall much more of a direct North/south in the air game. Hopefully this will change next year, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[Unregistered]

My son and I were having a discussion that was a variation on some of the themes being discussed here after the Franklin Pierce-So. New Hampshire NCAA game this past week. Speed of play was there coupled with all out pressure on the ball ( except when Pierce was setting back at end, defending a lead). The skills to keep the ball on the ground and work it out and around pressure under control were evident but the constant pressure and speed of play worked against long periods of ball posession.

One thought--is it possible that 1)the small fields generally found in the US contribute to the feeling of " No Time! No Time!" that seems to pervade high level college soccer., coupled with 2)the ability to rest players and keep fresh legs pressuring? Watch an EPL game with its' larger spaces and basically no subs. Even in a pounder league like that ( compared to La Liga) there is more time/space on the ball then we saw last week. Just a thought re:structural contributimg factors. Should colleges use FIFA rules?

[Unregistered]

One thought--is it possible that 1)the small fields generally found in the US contribute to the feeling of " No Time! No Time!" that seems to pervade high level college soccer., coupled with 2)the ability to rest players and keep fresh legs pressuring? Watch an EPL game with its' larger spaces and basically no subs. Even in a pounder league like that ( compared to La Liga) there is more time/space on the ball then we saw last week. Just a thought re:structural contributimg factors. Should colleges use FIFA rules?

The substitutions that are allowed in the HS / college game clearly effect the way the game is played. I saw Anson Dorrance of UNC at a clinic earlier this year - hugely successful coach - he plays a 3-4-3 and said he needs 6 front runners to keep the high pressure up for an entire game.

DAP uses the FIFA rules on no re-entry. It definitely changes how the game is played.

[Unregistered]

Advice from the class of 2011 College Freshman boys.......

Let's put all the bluster, hyperbole, and blowhards aside.

The route these boys took to get where they are today is the least significant part of the discussion.

The ones who played their club ball on a DAP team did so because they could manage the schedule, and decided they wanted to play and train with and against better competition. They made their choices about what college or university was best for them, and presumably, they are happy.

The ones who chose to play on non DAP teams did so because they felt it was the right choice for them, whether it was because they wanted to do other things, liked their team/coach, didn't want to train or travel as extensively, or whatever their resons were. Similarly, these boys also made their choices about what college or university was best for them, and presumably, they are happy.


Why is this not enough?

We have people on a personal crusade against the DAP route. And we have people justifying their participation in DAP. Apart from the two idiots on the extreme sides of this discussion on this forum, the rest of us don't care a lick what boy played in what league. I think the majority of us are happy for all of them for surviving the grueling ane emotional process of identifying, visiting, applying, and selecting the right school for them. And if that wasn't stressful enough, they then have to assimilate themselves into a totally new living arrangement, adapt to living on their own (those that didn't live at a boarding school), deal with choosing classes, AND try and adapt to the more physical college game where they are back to being one to four years younger (and less developed) than the men they are playing with and against.

And when I look at the list of boys above, I see first and second team selections, I see boys who have stayed close to home and gone far away, I see boys who have started or played in all games, most games, a significant number of games, contributing to whatever success the team experienced. The only thing I can think when I see that is "Well Done - Congratulations". How any of you can't respect their achievements and continue to harp on and on about whether they played on a DAP team or not, why the played on a DAP or didn't, and who is better off, is completely off base.

This post was regarding the a list of the 2011 College Freshman boys - and their accomplishements. I really enjoyed this post and the poster really put some thought into it. I am hoping that the parents of both the classes of 2012 and 2013 read this and let it sink in. Well said.

[Unregistered]

The 2011 boys college listing

I thought I would start an update. Since the DAP is a hot subject today - I started with them. Please add on and maybe between us all, we can see how the MA players have done.

Originally Posted by Unregistered
Certainly not exhaustive, but presents a range of schools and backgrounds. Did not include rostered kids who have not played in more than 1-2 games (and who may be injured). Clubs not listed except where knew affiliated with DAP. Additions/revisions welcome.

College Town/HS GP/GS

Babson

BM -- Marlborough -- 14/0
PE -- Braintree -- 9/3

Bates

AN -- Concord-Carlisle -- 4/1
JS -- Whitman-Hanson -- 5/1

Brandeis

RL -- Weymouth -- DAP -- 21/15
TS -- Nauset -- 14/1
FA -- Lynn/Phillips Exeter -- 10/0

Bridgewater State

KG -- Uxbridge -- DAP -- 13/11
RA -- Canton -- 12/11
CN -- Braintree -- 3/2
JG -- Haverhill -- 9/7
SM -- Walpole -- 13/12

Catholic

CM -- Concord-Carlisle -- DAP --6/4

Chicago

MC -- Springfield/Loomis Chaffee -- DAP -- 17/15 UAA ROY First team UAA

Colby

JS -- Brooks -- DAP -- 15/11
KC -- Brookline -- 13/0
AW -- Phillips Andover -- 13/0
NR -- BBN -- 9/1
BS -- Duxbury -- 4/0
PQ -- Rivers -- 5/3

Conn College

KO -- Wellesley -- 13/12
DG -- Bishop Fenwick -- 7/2
DK -- St Sebs -- 4/0

Curry

ED -- Belmont -- 14/1
JH -- Foxborough -- 19/2
CB -- Andover -- 6/1
NG -- Longmeadow -- 18/16
SB -- Bridgewater -- 13/4
BD -- Winchester -- 5/1
CD -- Canton/Simsbury -- 6/1

Elizabethtown

PS (2010) -- BBN -- DAP -- 16/9

Elms

CR -- Agawam -- 15/15
JC -- Easthampton -- 15/15
AN -- Agawam -- 12/12
DG -- Belchertown -- 9/7
JR -- Lynn Classical -- 14/14
AR -- Fitchburg --15/15
AK -- Foxborough -- 4/4
LB -- Lynn English -- 12/2

Emmanuel

GC -- West Springfield -- 11/9
TD -- Oxford -- 17/13

Endicott

AJ -- Billerica -- 10/8
RS -- Millbury -- 9/1
CG -- Westborough -- 15/5
JL -- King Philip Reg -- 14/0
PG -- Brookline -- 11/4

Keene State

YE -- Newburyport -- 11/0
NG -- Wilmington -- 8/0
NB -- Monson -- 13/12
PA -- Hampshire -- 7/5
MK -- Monson -- 8/4

Kenyon

RM -- Natick -- 13/2
NP -- Silver Lake -- 12/9

Lesley

HB -- Brighton -- 12/1
BH -- Lowell -- 12/0

Mass Maritime

SK -- Granville/Southwick-Tolland -- 13/2
JK -- Newburyport -- 8/0
RR -- Braintree -- 12/10

Nichols

AU -- Milford -- 3/2
IA -- Marlborough -- 13/9
JS -- Framingham -- 11/0
MP -- King Philip Reg -- 16/16
RF -- Wachusett -- 6/1

Rochester

AS -- Marshfield -- 11/7

Salve Regina

NC -- Quincy -- 6/1

Springfield

TA -- Tantasqua -- 10/0
BD -- Williston Northampton -- 8/0

Trinity

TS -- Somerset/Deerfield -- 11/3

Tufts

MM -- Middlesex -- 11/0
KV -- St Marks -- 13/0
GS (2010) -- Framingham/NMH -- DAP -- 14/13 NESCAC ROY First team NESCAC

Wentworth

NC -- Sandwich -- 9/8

Wesleyan

BB -- Winchester -- 13/12

Wheaton

LF -- Peabody -- DAP -- 19/19 NEWMAC ROY Second Team NEWMAC
MR (2010) -- Framingham/Bridgeton -- DAP -- 19/19
DD -- Bourne -- 12/11
SG -- Belchertown -- 7/0

Williams

ABC -- Brooks -- DAP -- 14/13
ZG (2010) -- Thayer/Hotchkiss -- 12/7

Worcester State

MJ (2010?) -- Ludlow -- 13/13
BG -- Wachusett -- 15/1

WPI

TR -- N. Attleboro -- 3/1
TM -- Groton-Dunstable -- 9/0
TM - Acton-Boxborough -- 12/2

UMass-Boston

KJ -- Archbishop Williams -- 12/1
OG -- Revere -- 6/1
KM -- East Boston -- 13/12
DS -- Watertown -- 13/11
AM -- Boston International -- 3/3
AJ -- Haverhill -- 7/0

UMass-Dartmouth

TW -- Marian -- 5/3
GD -- New Bedford -- 14/11
RFB -- Catholic Memorial -- 14/4
MS -- Leicester -- 5/1
JS -- New Bedford -- 15/15
NG -- Hudson -- 14/14
EB -- Burke -- 15/9
JC -- Madison Park -- 15/6
JM -- New Bedford -- 13/1

What's not to be proud of here?

[Unregistered]

What's not to be proud of here?

Very proud. Good luck to HS Class of 2012. Hope freshman year is as rewarding for you.