Difference Between Clubs

[Unregistered]

I'm new to the whole idea of club soccer. In fact, until recently I had no idea it even existed. My daughter is 8 and is a very nice player compared to the girls she plays with and agianst in town soccer, some of whom I just learned also play club soccer. I am interested in having my daughter try out for a team for next season, but I don't know where to send her.

It's really hard to tell the difference between Club A and Club B and Club C from their websites. Watching games and seeing how the clubs play might tell me a little more than the websites, but it could simply mean that Club A attracts better players than Club B. How do I know where my daughter will get the best coaching? How can I find out which club will best develop her skills?

What are the real differences between the big clubs? I read lots on this forum about this club is better than that club, etc. and what I believe people are most often talking about are wins and losses, right?

Do clubs differ in other ways, though? Do they have different training philosophies? Do they teach different things to the players or stress certain skills more than other clubs do?

If, say hypothetically, I had a child that was good enough to make any of the club teams in Mass, and I was willing to move my family in order for her to play at my "club of choice" what would I use to determine the difference between Stars, NEFC, Scorpions, or MPS?

Assuming I understand that ultimately my child may not end up on the club that wins the most games/tournaments and that my child will get plenty of exposure playing on any of the afformentioned teams, where would I send her to get the "best" development? How would I find out what that is?

[Unregistered]

Honestly, club soccer at age 8 is a waste. Keep her playing town, working on her soccer skills/development and put the $2500 into a college savings plan. Wait til 12 and see if she even still likes soccer.

[Unregistered]

When my kid was around the same age we took her to a fantastic coach that few were even aware of because he coached at a no name club. Out of the group of players he had then, which was pretty much a mixed bag of talent, everyone that stuck with it made their high school varsity teams as freshman, some contributed to championship HS teams and are playing in college, some made ODP regional teams and are headed to top college teams. I think it was because of that early training.

It is hard to explain in a forum what to look for, but I think you know it when you see it. The word dynamic comes to mind as the best description. Perhaps the biggest thing to look for is a coach that demands excellence, but at the same time keeps it age appropriate and fun without turning "play" into "work". I would also suggest that the training at this young age doesn't have to be gender specific, in fact girls will benefit from playing with boys, so clinics can be of real value. Look for coaches, both of boys and girls teams, whose players demonstrate good footskills and if they offer clinics, take advantage of them.

[Unregistered]

When my kid was around the same age we took her to a fantastic coach that few were even aware of because he coached at a no name club. Out of the group of players he had then, which was pretty much a mixed bag of talent, everyone that stuck with it made their high school varsity teams as freshman, some contributed to championship HS teams and are playing in college, some made ODP regional teams and are headed to top college teams. I think it was because of that early training.

It is hard to explain in a forum what to look for, but I think you know it when you see it. The word dynamic comes to mind as the best description. Perhaps the biggest thing to look for is a coach that demands excellence, but at the same time keeps it age appropriate and fun without turning "play" into "work". I would also suggest that the training at this young age doesn't have to be gender specific, in fact girls will benefit from playing with boys, so clinics can be of real value. Look for coaches, both of boys and girls teams, whose players demonstrate good footskills and if they offer clinics, take advantage of them.

I agree. And, I would add two things. First, expose your daughter to some of these options--clinics, camps, clubs--and see what type of coach/environment SHE likes, the best players become that way because they develop a passion for the game and are self-motivated. Second, wherever you end up, make sure the technical training is excellent, it is the foundation of the game.

[Unregistered]

Don't worry about the club name at this age. Look for a coach that will develop your player and won't be concern about the Win and lost numbers. Make sure there will be more concern about practices then games. Do not do any distance travel for tournaments until u-12.

[Unregistered]

Honestly, club soccer at age 8 is a waste. Keep her playing town, working on her soccer skills/development and put the $2500 into a college savings plan. Wait til 12 and see if she even still likes soccer.

I don't agree with this. When my son was 8, he was running circles around the other kids in town soccer. He wanted something more challenging. It seems to me that keeping him in town soccer would have maximized the chances that he would get bored with soccer. So he started playing for a club. He liked that much better.

I think the other posts here give good advice. One thing I'd add: talk to the parents of the other kids in the club. You'll be spending a lot of time around them. Talking to them will let you know if they're the type of people you want to be hanging around with (and whose kids your daugher will be hanging around with).

[Unregistered]

I don't agree with this. When my son was 8, he was running circles around the other kids in town soccer. He wanted something more challenging. It seems to me that keeping him in town soccer would have maximized the chances that he would get bored with soccer. So he started playing for a club. He liked that much better.

I think the other posts here give good advice. One thing I'd add: talk to the parents of the other kids in the club. You'll be spending a lot of time around them. Talking to them will let you know if they're the type of people you want to be hanging around with (and whose kids your daugher will be hanging around with).

I disagree too with the premise that club soccer is a waste at that age, but I want to gag when some parent says their 8 year old wants more of a challenge. What normal 8 year olds want is to have fun with their friends.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;616608]

If, say hypothetically, I had a child that was good enough to make any of the club teams in Mass, and I was willing to move my family in order for her to play at my "club of choice" what would I use to determine the difference between Stars, NEFC, Scorpions, or MPS?


I read this one sentence and I htink this post is not serious. OP would move sell his house and move to get the best coaching for his 8 year old child, then asks about the 4 clubs that are very easy to learn more about...you have been had!

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;616905]

If, say hypothetically, I had a child that was good enough to make any of the club teams in Mass, and I was willing to move my family in order for her to play at my "club of choice" what would I use to determine the difference between Stars, NEFC, Scorpions, or MPS?


I read this one sentence and I htink this post is not serious. OP would move sell his house and move to get the best coaching for his 8 year old child, then asks about the 4 clubs that are very easy to learn more about...you have been had!

You are onto something there. Got to be comng from an MPS troll. Not much presence at the Stars Cup last weekend shows the continuing decline for them.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;616923]

You are onto something there. Got to be comng from an MPS troll. Not much presence at the Stars Cup last weekend shows the continuing decline for them.

MPS Mates has gone and found weaker tournaments to attend to reduce the amount of blow outs against them preparing to get slammed in NEPBLAH league

[Unregistered]

OP Here

No troll here. It's a hypothetical! Of course I wouldn't move my family in order for my 8 year old daughter to train. The point was to eliminate geographic considerations and get down to soccer specific reasons to choose a club. I just want to know how to tell differences between clubs. I simply listed the 4 that are discussed most in this forum. My perception is that those 4 in some order are generally considered the best. I'm looking to understand why and what makes one club different than another. As someone who never played the game growing up, I want to know what I should be looking for.

Some of the replies have been very helpful. I still have questions, though. Do clubs have different philosophies? Different techniques they teach? What should I look for on a coach's resume?

[Unregistered]

I disagree too with the premise that club soccer is a waste at that age, but I want to gag when some parent says their 8 year old wants more of a challenge. What normal 8 year olds want is to have fun with their friends.

Why are the two mutually exclusive?

An 8 year old that os running circles around everyone may quickly bore of the game and it will not be fun for them. Those children are still normal, they can still have fun with their friends, just not on the soccer field.

If they have of that mindset, find them a new challenge, if they are happy playing with their friends, leave them be.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;616943]

MPS Mates has gone and found weaker tournaments to attend to reduce the amount of blow outs against them preparing to get slammed in NEPBLAH league

MPS had the most success when they hid from the other Mass clubs and didn't play them. The more exposure the MPS teams have had to the other competition out there, the weaker their results.

[Unregistered]

And I'm the troll?!!?

[QUOTE=Unregistered;616960]

MPS had the most success when they hid from the other Mass clubs and didn't play them. The more exposure the MPS teams have had to the other competition out there, the weaker their results.

Is it impossible to start a thread looking for some answers about club soccer without it turning into a bashing session on one of the clubs?

Thank you to those that took the time to provide actual answers to my questions. Please keep them coming. I'm trying to learn more about this whole new world of club soccer.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;616973]

Is it impossible to start a thread looking for some answers about club soccer without it turning into a bashing session on one of the clubs?

Yes it is.