Is club becoming a prerequisite for playing HS soccer?

[Unregistered]

Just have your dad the club owner become the assistant coach, then you surely will have a spot

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=dd2;
I think it's pretty hard for freshmen to make a truly strong (i.e. state section semifinalist level) team at all. Some programs just won't do it and will take inferior upperclassmen to skilled freshmen. It's even rare to be a team stud as a freshman. Pretty much every freshman I know who has made a big team has also been a strong club player. There must be those who don't fit the rule, and I'd wager that those kids are the bigger, terrific athlete types.

I guess I disagree with this. In my town freshman often play and start as Freshman and these team have done very well in High School tournament. And yes most if not all have played club Soccer

[Unregistered]

I think it's pretty hard for freshmen to make a truly strong (i.e. state section semifinalist level) team at all.

Well, that only leaves about 200 other teams in Eastern Mass., then.

[Unregistered]

I don't know of a single girls team, even some of the very best programs, that does not take and play freshman, when its warranted. Maybe it happens with boys, but certainly not with girls. There are examples of girls that play little to no club, but have outstanding high school careers. But these girls are always outstanding athletes that also compete at the upper levels in other sports. I would say that it is very rare to find a girl that starts for four years, makes a couple of E-Mass or C-Mass All-Star teams and doesn't play for a better club team. So what you are shooting ofr makes a big diference.

[Unregistered]

It would be interesting to see the club resumes of the girls that have had many years of high school success. There can't be that many seniors that have made the Eastern Mass or All-State teams in multiple years. I know that there is politics regarding the selection of the E Mass, C Mass, W Mass and All-State teams, but it would still seem to be the most reliable method of determing ultimate personal success in high school. Making it one year may be a bit of an anomoly, but two or three (or even four?) would be a pretty solid indication of the state's best high school performers. I assume that these kids play for the state's best club teams - but really who knows unless the lists are provided.

[Unregistered]

It would be interesting to see the club resumes of the girls that have had many years of high school success. There can't be that many seniors that have made the Eastern Mass or All-State teams in multiple years. I know that there is politics regarding the selection of the E Mass, C Mass, W Mass and All-State teams, but it would still seem to be the most reliable method of determing ultimate personal success in high school. Making it one year may be a bit of an anomoly, but two or three (or even four?) would be a pretty solid indication of the state's best high school performers. I assume that these kids play for the state's best club teams - but really who knows unless the lists are provided.

the D2 State girls champs from Medfield were led by a Freshman. Anyone know if she plays club and if so, which one?

[Unregistered]

the D2 State girls champs from Medfield were led by a Freshman. Anyone know if she plays club and if so, which one?

Come on dad, you really need props for her? Ok, I will fill everyone in. Played for Blackwatch and then left in the winter last year to play for the stars. She plays u15 and has been to national camp. Not sure if she is on the U15 national olympic team, dad can you fill us in on that?

[Unregistered]

Not sure I would ever justify the expense, family commitment, etc of club sport for the purpose of a high school sport career.

IMO if your child has an interest in the sport beyond what the town program can provide and it fits into what you and your family can support financially, time wise and emotionally, then give it a try.

If you decide to have your child become involved the best advice I would give is to do as much research on the clubs that you are considering - beyond this forum.

[Unregistered]

Come on dad, you really need props for her? Ok, I will fill everyone in. Played for Blackwatch and then left in the winter last year to play for the stars. She plays u15 and has been to national camp. Not sure if she is on the U15 national olympic team, dad can you fill us in on that?

I'm not Dad, I work with someone who's daughter is a senior on the team and he told me about her. Sorry for upsetting you for asking a question in a soccer forum.

[Unregistered]

I'm not Dad, I work with someone who's daughter is a senior on the team and he told me about her. Sorry for upsetting you for asking a question in a soccer forum.

I'm sure your friend told you all about her and the team. :)

[Unregistered]

I'm sure your friend told you all about her and the team. :)

Nope, just that she led the team. Brief discussion, he was happy they won. He didn't know if she played club when I asked. Nothing more to it, Mr. Negative

[Unregistered]

Not sure I would ever justify the expense, family commitment, etc of club sport for the purpose of a high school sport career.

IMO if your child has an interest in the sport beyond what the town program can provide and it fits into what you and your family can support financially, time wise and emotionally, then give it a try.

If you decide to have your child become involved the best advice I would give is to do as much research on the clubs that you are considering - beyond this forum.

Thanks, this is my feeling as well. At 10 yo I'm just more interested to see if she continues to enjoy the sport. If she does...great. If she doesn't...that's OK too. My original question was to try and get a sense of what's really necessary to make one's high school team these days.

[Unregistered]

Does a player have to have club experience to play on a varsity HS team? No, but it depends on a lot of variables.

There are many HS varsity teams with players that don't play club, but they could make a club team if they wished to pursue that.

Medfield and Walpole are towns that make good examples. I don't know their HS team rosters, but both have good in-town travel programs that have Select teams where many of the players choose to play there instead of club. They feel they are getting some good coaching and the player commitment is required to be high. Given this, it is perfectly reasonable to expect some decent players out of this pool which could end up on the local HS team.

There is also a large disparity in the strength/experience of the HS varsity teams. Some really don't have good coaches and their ability to select teams is suspect at best. I know of one D1 Maple player that chooses not to play for their HS program because the quality of play frustrates her.

I can also say from experience that some lower to mid level club players 'assumed' they would make their HS team only to find they got cut for someone else. The primary reason....they simply assumed their "club" pedigree would have weight in the selection process.

Bottom line.....If your player can develop appropriate skills and gather appropriate experience without going the club route, they may be just fine. The key for your player is gain skills and feed their passion for the sport. On top of that, treat every minute on a field as if it is a tryout. That latter part is often forgotten or never learned.

[Unregistered]

Does a player have to have club experience to play on a varsity HS team? No, but it depends on a lot of variables.

There are many HS varsity teams with players that don't play club, but they could make a club team if they wished to pursue that.

Medfield and Walpole are towns that make good examples. I don't know their HS team rosters, but both have good in-town travel programs that have Select teams where many of the players choose to play there instead of club. They feel they are getting some good coaching and the player commitment is required to be high. Given this, it is perfectly reasonable to expect some decent players out of this pool which could end up on the local HS team.

There is also a large disparity in the strength/experience of the HS varsity teams. Some really don't have good coaches and their ability to select teams is suspect at best. I know of one D1 Maple player that chooses not to play for their HS program because the quality of play frustrates her.

I can also say from experience that some lower to mid level club players 'assumed' they would make their HS team only to find they got cut for someone else. The primary reason....they simply assumed their "club" pedigree would have weight in the selection process.

Bottom line.....If your player can develop appropriate skills and gather appropriate experience without going the club route, they may be just fine. The key for your player is gain skills and feed their passion for the sport. On top of that, treat every minute on a field as if it is a tryout. That latter part is often forgotten or never learned.

In today's club world, MAPLE D1 is second tier. So that is quite a bit of hubris if a player at this level is of the belief that the quality of play in HS is beneath her. Certainly that is her choice, but people should know that essentially every player in the upper tier of girls HS soccer (Regional and National Leagues) does play in HS. That includes every Massachusetts player in the NP. There are many HS teams with multiple players at the upper club level, joined by players at the mid-level and then some excellent athletes that don't currently play club. That is the make-up of the top 10% of the girls HS world. HS isn't club, but from what I have seen, the very best HS teams would be very competitive with most MAPLE D1 teams. Why? Because the best HS teams will almost always have one or two high end players that offer real match-up problems for the club team. That isn't the case for the top club teams, (which are much better than their HS counterparts)but that really only represents 8-10 teams in the state. I've seen a lot of both, and I just don't believe that what you now find in MAPLE is superior to what you see with a lot of HS. There are some awful HS teams, but also some pretty bad club teams.

[Unregistered]

In today's club world, MAPLE D1 is second tier. So that is quite a bit of hubris if a player at this level is of the belief that the quality of play in HS is beneath her. Certainly that is her choice, but people should know that essentially every player in the upper tier of girls HS soccer (Regional and National Leagues) does play in HS. That includes every Massachusetts player in the NP. There are many HS teams with multiple players at the upper club level, joined by players at the mid-level and then some excellent athletes that don't currently play club. That is the make-up of the top 10% of the girls HS world. HS isn't club, but from what I have seen, the very best HS teams would be very competitive with most MAPLE D1 teams. Why? Because the best HS teams will almost always have one or two high end players that offer real match-up problems for the club team. That isn't the case for the top club teams, (which are much better than their HS counterparts)but that really only represents 8-10 teams in the state. I've seen a lot of both, and I just don't believe that what you now find in MAPLE is superior to what you see with a lot of HS. There are some awful HS teams, but also some pretty bad club teams.

There are some really awful club, HS, and town programs out there. You have to be honest and open minded about your player's talent and devotion to the sport and the quality of the programs available to you. The best measurement of how it's going for your particular player is their happiness. If they are frustrated or intimidated, find them something else. Unless you have money to spare, do realize that being accepted on a "club team" has no intrinsic value. There are 100's of club teams out there. No matter what your player's level of play, you can find a club team that will give them a roster spot in exchange for your money.

As far as club needed for HS varsity, that really depends on the talent of your player and the quality of your HS & town programs. The irony here is that if your player is so talented that they don't need club to develop their skills to play for a top HS program, chances are they will want to join a club by U11 or U12 anyway because that is where the concentration of best players is, and they are one of them. There are gifted multi-sport athletes that never go the club route, but they are the exception that make the rule.