"Trapped" player, recruitment question

[Guest]

What's been a bit surprising for my D is just how little chances you really get. Pre-season is short, season starts, and unless you shine in training and look better (not just as good) than what's out there, there are just no chances. I get the reasons, but hard to understand truthfully at times.

These players get plenty of opportunities at training, at lifting, at conditioning and in classroom tactical training (film work). The key words are “trust” and “experience”. Coaches -will only play those players that they trust especially bin season league matches. The more experience the player becomes either thru training or limited minutes playing is what matters.

[Guest]

These players get plenty of opportunities at training, at lifting, at conditioning and in classroom tactical training (film work). The key words are “trust” and “experience”. Coaches -will only play those players that they trust especially bin season league matches. The more experience the player becomes either thru training or limited minutes playing is what matters.

Agree it can take time. Plenty of freshmen won't see the field or a few token minutes, ut then work their way i to a regular rotation. If they're not getting more meaningful time sophomore year then it's time to worry. Plenty of kids don't get any time and either quit or transfer

[Guest]

These players get plenty of opportunities at training, at lifting, at conditioning and in classroom tactical training (film work). The key words are “trust” and “experience”. Coaches -will only play those players that they trust especially bin season league matches. The more experience the player becomes either thru training or limited minutes playing is what matters.

A lot of it also has to do with how much depth there is at each position..if there are a lot of strong upperclassmen at your kid's position, then it is harder to break into the rotation especially if you're not an obvious stand-out player.

[Guest]

A lot of it also has to do with how much depth there is at each position..if there are a lot of strong upperclassmen at your kid's position, then it is harder to break into the rotation especially if you're not an obvious stand-out player.

And 100x worse for a GK. Coaches usually have their starter and that's it. You have to wait for them to graduate or get injured. All players have be tenacious and earn their time. Recruits should study rosters and how many players are in their position, when they will graduate etc. Unfortunately the next year can bring in a stud to your position. The battle never ends.

[Guest]

And 100x worse for a GK. Coaches usually have their starter and that's it. You have to wait for them to graduate or get injured. All players have be tenacious and earn their time. Recruits should study rosters and how many players are in their position, when they will graduate etc. Unfortunately the next year can bring in a stud to your position. The battle never ends.

On D's team, there was a glut of really strong wingers. The starting defense was strong but had almost no depth, so one of the wingers (who was buried low on the depth chart) asked the coach to play outside back her sophomore year. Made enough of an impact that the coach actually moved her back to winger junior year and was the 1st or 2nd sub into the game, ahead of most of the wingers that were in front of her the previous year.

[Guest]

On D's team, there was a glut of really strong wingers. The starting defense was strong but had almost no depth, so one of the wingers (who was buried low on the depth chart) asked the coach to play outside back her sophomore year. Made enough of an impact that the coach actually moved her back to winger junior year and was the 1st or 2nd sub into the game, ahead of most of the wingers that were in front of her the previous year.

Moves can happen, just not often. A player willing to be flexible + the ability to is an asset

[AskTheCoach]

OP here. Thank you for the honest thoughts, I know TS can get nasty and volunteering information is often greeted with mean spirited comments.

Any tips on that recruiting process for that specific group of kids, "Hi coach xyz, you may have seen me from last year 's showcase, this year I am playing grade level at this event..," or in highlight reels marking grade level in addition to year? Would either of those help get attention? Or should they keep the graduation year quiet pre showcase? What would help get a freshman (2027) playing with 2026s get on the radar in your school?

Thank you again for responding!

As I said in my original post, if they are a 2027 currently playing with 2027s then they will get a lot of exposure now...and for the next year...as coaches are focusing on that age group. But, it's down the road when schools are done with their 2026 class and focusing on 2027s that it might hurt you more. If there is a player who is on our radar/on our recruiting board that we know of, or one we need to see based on video and/or coaches recommendation, then we will go to see them play whoever they are playing with, regardless of age group, but with so many recruits on our list, if it's just another "recruit who emailed us" and they are on an older age group that we happen to be done with, it's less likely we'll see them. Hope that makes sense

[AskTheCoach]

Dear coach; you are the problem ( along with your peers) in this.the average age of senior women soccer players for high level programs was 25.3. That is disgusting . This is what needs to be fixed. This is bad in all sports. The NCAA screwed the pooch. I know “Covid”. You and the NCAA leveraged 1 class to screw 6 years of athletes. You can deny it and say ;’we are just working under the rules but it behooves you to do it. 25 vs 18 , who wins? Info 25 should be playing in college sports except under certain conditions , veterans, medical waiver and maybe a couple other. Fix this and your “play up situation isn’t half as bad.

This response sounds like the poster was drunk lol. This post is hard to even decipher, but your comment has nothing to do with the original topic of 'trapped youth players"....you could start another thread in support of your rant. Second of all, there are very few, if any, college women's soccer players who are 25.3 years old. I have no idea where you are getting that data, but I can tell you as someone in Division 1, it's wrong. You do realize that a 25 year old would be in their 8th year of eligibility. Sure, there are some instances where internationals are a bit older, but the extra covid year puts players at 23, possibly 24 years old....and when combined with the rest of the team, who are half 18 and 19 year olds, well a 25.3 year old average is impossible. This was an NCAA call to allow the extra year, we coaches had nothing to do with it, and it results in some players being a bit older, yes. But, I still don't see how that has anything to do with the original post.

[AskTheCoach]

As I said in my original post, if they are a 2027 currently playing with 2027s then they will get a lot of exposure now...and for the next year...as coaches are focusing on that age group. But, it's down the road when schools are done with their 2026 class and focusing on 2027s that it might hurt you more. If there is a player who is on our radar/on our recruiting board that we know of, or one we need to see based on video and/or coaches recommendation, then we will go to see them play whoever they are playing with, regardless of age group, but with so many recruits on our list, if it's just another "recruit who emailed us" and they are on an older age group that we happen to be done with, it's less likely we'll see them. Hope that makes sense

Sorry I meant to say "if they are a 2027 playing with 2026...."