This week's R1 premier

[Unregistered]

Let's play Jeopardy! OK, Stars for $100, Alex!

ANSWER: Eighteen

QUESTION: How many players were on the 2002-03 Stars U11 roster?

That's right! Stars for $200, Alex!

ANSWER: Two

QUESTION: How many members of the 2002-03 Stars U11 team are currently on the Stars U16 United team?

Correct, go again! Stars for $300!

ANSWER: Zero

QUESTION: How many of those U11 players are currently on other Stars U16 teams?

Right you are! Stars for $400, Alex!

The poster above is a blockhead who apparently can't count.

If you look at the Stars 2003-04 U-11 roster, you will find seven players who are currently on Stars United GU16. That doesn't count H. Brock, who was playing up in 2002-03.

Eight players still on the team since U11 is pretty good in my book!

[Unregistered]

The poster's numerical answers were correct. HB and CR were on the Stars 02-03 U11 roster and they are the only ones on the U16 team or any U16 team within the club. Of course this is no surprise since most of those players would have to play U17 now.

I think the poster was trying to be cute (certainly can't be that stupid to use the wrong roster year and get all the numbers wrong as well?) and maybe was trying to get a response involving the numbers of players on the Scorpions true U11 team from 02-03 still with that club?

You can never tell with posts here and that post was definitely forum over substance.

[Unregistered]

What is the importance of being on a team since U11? Are the players on the Stars, or any other team, less valued because they joined later? Do we need to have classes in the soccer world? True bloods are those who have played for only one club, mud bloods have mixed club involvement? Personally I find that players joined clubs 6 or 7 years ago because of geography, family and friendships. It would be as much about luck as coaching skill to expect that a team intending to compete with the best in the country would mostly come from Acton or Duxbury. Only in parochial greater Boston would we honestly believe that you earn a life-time spot on one of these teams because you were an "original" member. Some could argue that part of the reason that these teams are starting to slip is because they have been too loyal to original players. How many PDA or Syosett players were with those teams at U11? I bet if you asked them the answer would be a resounding.. who cares! I've seen pass cards, I don't think they have a spot on them that says "member since 2002". I've never seen a sub refused entry into a game because they only have been with a team for 6 months. I've never heard a college coach remark, "true, but she has been with the team since U11." I've never seen a goal disallowed because the player got some early training with another club - "oh I'm sorry we need to award that goal to the Bolts because that's where little Cindy played as an U11!!"

[Unregistered]

It's ironic that the guy writing this note is the same one who complains when his Stars U16 GK daughter is mentioned on this site. Do you really think your kid ("ready to compete on the national stage") is better than the kids she left on MPS? So none of the kids on MPS is top? Do you read what you write? I hope your daughter gets to play on the national stage in college that you dream about. But, please, stop feeling the need to put down the club and girls that you left. It is unnecessary and certainly inappropriate in a public forum.

not me!

[Unregistered]

What is the importance of being on a team since U11?

Absolutely nothing - unless you're from Scorpions and you can say you have more and then it becomes critically important. So important that you are willing to list players' names on a public forum known for bashing of kids.

Stupidity reigns.

[Unregistered]

QUOTE: "I've seen pass cards, I don't think they have a spot on them that says 'member since 2002'."

Apparently your kid does not have a Gold Pass Card.

[Unregistered]

I've been trying to get my kid one of those since U11! Imagine - a parking spot reserved out at Lancaster with her name and number in lights, plus airline mileage to pay for the tournament trips! Yee-haw!

[Unregistered]

It's ironic that the guy writing this note is the same one who complains when his Stars U16 GK daughter is mentioned on this site. Do you really think your kid ("ready to compete on the national stage") is better than the kids she left on MPS? So none of the kids on MPS is top? Do you read what you write? I hope your daughter gets to play on the national stage in college that you dream about. But, please, stop feeling the need to put down the club and girls that you left. It is unnecessary and certainly inappropriate in a public forum.

How can you possibly tell??? You are making an assumption with absolutely nothing to go on. Very irresponsible to do ESPECIALLY in this forum.

[Unregistered]

Let's play Jeopardy! OK, Stars for $100, Alex!

ANSWER: Eighteen

QUESTION: How many players were on the 2002-03 Stars U11 roster?

That's right! Stars for $200, Alex!

ANSWER: Two

QUESTION: How many members of the 2002-03 Stars U11 team are currently on the Stars U16 United team?

Correct, go again! Stars for $300!

ANSWER: Zero

QUESTION: How many of those U11 players are currently on other Stars U16 teams?

Right you are! Stars for $400, Alex!

ANSWER: A Stars parent

QUESTION: Who wrote the post quoted above?

Correct! ;-)

Whoever wrote this is a sad pathetic idiot, I really hope your kid does well on their own because they cannot be getting any good advice from a loser like you. Where do you get this rubbish from? I am a Scorpions parent and I know many of the girls that are still on the Stars U16 team that where there at U11 because my daughter used to play against them at U11. This forum just gets worse.

[Unregistered]

What is the importance of being on a team since U11?

I'm not here to bash anybody, but I do think it is important because it means that at younger age groups you do not necessarily have to play for one of the major clubs. You may want to consider moving to one around high school age, but if your kid is getting what they need closer to home, it may actually be a bigger benefit to your kid to stay with a lesser club where they get lots of playing time and spend more time on the field then in a car traveling.

[Unregistered]

What is the importance of being on a team since U11? Are the players on the Stars, or any other team, less valued because they joined later? Do we need to have classes in the soccer world? True bloods are those who have played for only one club, mud bloods have mixed club involvement? Personally I find that players joined clubs 6 or 7 years ago because of geography, family and friendships. It would be as much about luck as coaching skill to expect that a team intending to compete with the best in the country would mostly come from Acton or Duxbury. Only in parochial greater Boston would we honestly believe that you earn a life-time spot on one of these teams because you were an "original" member. Some could argue that part of the reason that these teams are starting to slip is because they have been too loyal to original players. How many PDA or Syosett players were with those teams at U11? I bet if you asked them the answer would be a resounding.. who cares! I've seen pass cards, I don't think they have a spot on them that says "member since 2002". I've never seen a sub refused entry into a game because they only have been with a team for 6 months. I've never heard a college coach remark, "true, but she has been with the team since U11." I've never seen a goal disallowed because the player got some early training with another club - "oh I'm sorry we need to award that goal to the Bolts because that's where little Cindy played as an U11!!"

I think the whole point of the roster continuity from an early age has to do with team chemistry and the fact that a lot of these girls have now played with the same coach and teammates for some time. I'm a believer that the Stars are a great club for development, and hold the bar high. This is why they have experienced so much success at the YOUNGER ages. You can put a bunch of all-stars on the field, but if there is no familiarity with each other or with the coaching style/philosophy....they will not be successful until they learn how to play with one another. As they get older, more skilled, and understand the game and strategy, the process of acclimating to each other happens quicker, but they still need time to adjust to each others personalities and playing styles. This is particularly true of girls, especially teens! Team dynamics has everything to do with being successful. Stars/Scorps have done a nice job of keeping their nucleus/core players together.

[Unregistered]

I think the whole point of the roster continuity from an early age has to do with team chemistry and the fact that a lot of these girls have now played with the same coach and teammates for some time.

Playing for the same coach for so long may actually be a detriment to the players. Players develop the strengths of their coaches. They also develop their weaknesses.

[Unregistered]

Looking at next weekend's upcoming U16 games. Can the Stars United bounce back from a disapointing first two games? Honestly, the late tie with Syosett is far more damaging than the PDA loss, as coming back home with three points would have been a great result. Leaving NJ with only one point essentially means they have to win the next five in a row. They have two very winnable games (especially at home), but it is unclear how injuries and National Camp attendance will impact their roster and line-up. Scorpions are faced with a jr. version of what the Stars United faced last weekend. Rugged double-header with the phyisical and tough Syosett squad intended to soften the Scorps for their later meeting with PDA. The difference is that Brooklyn is a little closer than NJ and the earlier games should help. Rovers should also give PDA a much tougher time than Alleycats and that might tire PDA - offering a slight advantage for the Scorps. However, it is still unclear if Scorps will be missing their NT player. The 11:00 AM start for the first games basically requires both teams to either stay over on Friday (which would be the optimum choice) or leave E Mass by about 5 AM. Leaving early will really hurt them in the 3pm game. This is absolutely the tell all weekend for the Rovers. The tie with East Meadow means that they have to pull out of ENY with at least 3 points. Two losses and they are basically out of contention for a play-off spot. This is also a huge weekend for Syosett. Two wins and they control their own route into the play-offs. A single loss is probably OK, but no more than 3 points and they are in real trouble trying to get one of the top two spots. Early weather looks decent but than can change and wind will probably be a factor. Good luck to the Mass teams.

[Unregistered]

I think the whole point of the roster continuity from an early age has to do with team chemistry and the fact that a lot of these girls have now played with the same coach and teammates for some time. I'm a believer that the Stars are a great club for development, and hold the bar high. This is why they have experienced so much success at the YOUNGER ages. You can put a bunch of all-stars on the field, but if there is no familiarity with each other or with the coaching style/philosophy....they will not be successful until they learn how to play with one another. As they get older, more skilled, and understand the game and strategy, the process of acclimating to each other happens quicker, but they still need time to adjust to each others personalities and playing styles. This is particularly true of girls, especially teens! Team dynamics has everything to do with being successful. Stars/Scorps have done a nice job of keeping their nucleus/core players together.

I understand your points and can't speak specifically to anything regarding the Stars or Scorpions U16 teams, I can tell you that team chemistry may be the most over-rated concept in sports. Almost anybody will tell you that teams that are succesful bury "chemistry" issues and teams that struggle see those same issues come to the forefront. It's sort of like like the chicken and egg thing. We actually know that the egg came first, same is true for team chemistry. Winning brings great feelings - or at least a willingness to supress the bad ones. No doubt that familiarity and dynamics have an impact, but how long do players need to be together to develop a quality on-field relationship? Certainly no more than a full season, and in some cases players mesh in a much shorter time. From what I understand the most dynamic change that occured to either the Stars or Scorpions was the change of coaches for the Scorpions. Neither team has made the type of wholesale (4+ player) player changes that could really disrupt chemistry or alter on-field dynamics. But even the change of a coach or many players will effect a team for a relatively short period. Generally, teams that hit a plateau or stop improving need these type of shocks to start to move forward. Ultimately there is a requisite minimum level of individual talent needed to succeed at the highest levels. You need to find character or role players who can play at this level in order to be successful. Sometimes these players are former starters who have been with the team, but it is usually more disruptive to retain a former starter, who is struggling to compete, than to bring in a new player of better quality. This is a pretty hard lesson for 15 and 16 year olds but it is the reality of soccer at this level. It is also why some very good players chose to stay with the stabilty and security of "lesser" teams.

[Hmmm...]

I dont think anyone disputes that to be a Regional/National level team players need to be sought out to support the core of the original team.

The interesting thing to me is the level that a club develops their own players at. If they consistently develop their own U10s to the point that they are Regional/National level players at U14, 15, 16 etc.. then that says something about the club. If they need to recruit players to be Regional/National then that says something too. I think its very impressive when a club develops players from a young age to the Regional/National level.

What annoys me a little is when a club takes 'credit' for developing players that they recruited. I am fine with them taking credit for developing/creating a team but I think its a little disingenuous to take credit for developing the player if the players was realistically developed by another club or coach.