Revs bench players 2002, 2003, 2004

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Totally agree. This is the reality at many DA clubs - the Revs don't have a lock on that. It can be good for the consistent starters, a struggle for the less consistent ones (but a struggle can turn positive if the player really works at it), and can easily turn to drudgery for the bench players/practice cones. Parents should carefully consider the PT factor. All the training in the world won't turn a bench warmer into a top player.

PT? what's that?

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PT? what's that?

playing time

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PT? what's that?

PT Barnum - sucker born every minute :)

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As a previous poster stated, the goal for most should be some level of playing time and getting into a good college. This is the best that can be expected from playing with the Revs for the majority. They will pick a couple kids to develop into homegrowns since they need to keep up the ruse that they are training and developing future professionals. Those of us that have experienced this and seen the "product" know what a joke this is. Regardless, it was free, and it worked out fine for us.

[Unregistered]

Totally agree. This is the reality at many DA clubs - the Revs don't have a lock on that. It can be good for the consistent starters, a struggle for the less consistent ones (but a struggle can turn positive if the player really works at it), and can easily turn to drudgery for the bench players/practice cones. Parents should carefully consider the PT factor. All the training in the world won't turn a bench warmer into a top player.

You have to take into consideration the practice time against/ with better players. This is a key factor in development. Game time is important but not as much as practicing with good players.

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You have to take into consideration the practice time against/ with better players. This is a key factor in development. Game time is important but not as much as practicing with good players.

No different than any other team except level is much higher and a few more players. Top 1/3 70 percent playing time and happy, second tier 50 percent playing time and ok to disgruntled depending on attitude, bottom tier 30 percent or less and very miserable. If you have realistic expectations and your boy fits in second tier it can work. Attitude is everything.

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No different than any other team except level is much higher and a few more players. Top 1/3 70 percent playing time and happy, second tier 50 percent playing time and ok to disgruntled depending on attitude, bottom tier 30 percent or less and very miserable. If you have realistic expectations and your boy fits in second tier it can work. Attitude is everything.

I'd say that's about right. And attitude is key. If you go into knowing your place, knowing your HS options suck and you don't have a good club option, then even being in that 2nd tier group has benefits. I'd question the bottom 1/3rd group doing it, not only because of questionable benefits but the psychological piece is harder to handle (if you've ever had a player sit for any length of time, at any level, you know it's tough).

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There are a handful of outstanding players on Revs that previously were too players, the rest were not and will now fall behind the better NPL players because of extremely limited playing time. To develop your child needs to play. Give it a couple of months, you'll figure it out.

Typical. Basically you are saying you want to see your kid playing. Unless he is playing the training and development are pointless. Have you forgot that he has to earn his right to play. If playing is more important sign him up for town soccer. Daddy coach will never let him get off the field. How about teaching kids to compete.

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I'd say that's about right. And attitude is key. If you go into knowing your place, knowing your HS options suck and you don't have a good club option, then even being in that 2nd tier group has benefits. I'd question the bottom 1/3rd group doing it, not only because of questionable benefits but the psychological piece is harder to handle (if you've ever had a player sit for any length of time, at any level, you know it's tough).

Yes, no player likes to sit. The psychological impact is even more traumatic for players who are so used to getting a ton of playing time and whose parents are delusional about their child's actual skill level.

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Typical. Basically you are saying you want to see your kid playing. Unless he is playing the training and development are pointless. Have you forgot that he has to earn his right to play. If playing is more important sign him up for town soccer. Daddy coach will never let him get off the field. How about teaching kids to compete.

That's all well and good if a program is actually training and developing players, and at least giving them a fair shot to prove themselves. Many have questions the Revs ability and willingness to do so.

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Typical. Basically you are saying you want to see your kid playing. Unless he is playing the training and development are pointless. Have you forgot that he has to earn his right to play. If playing is more important sign him up for town soccer. Daddy coach will never let him get off the field. How about teaching kids to compete.

"earn his right to play" - really? this is not pro soccer- which is something Revs and Bolts tend to forget. It's about player development. this is an important development stage- kids are early teens not 20 somethings. As a parent, you'd have to be a fool to think that your kid is actually developing sitting on the bench 70% of the time. leave aside the soccer aspect, is this good for your kids self esteem and personal growth?

[Unregistered]

"earn his right to play" - really? this is not pro soccer- which is something Revs and Bolts tend to forget. It's about player development. this is an important development stage- kids are early teens not 20 somethings. As a parent, you'd have to be a fool to think that your kid is actually developing sitting on the bench 70% of the time. leave aside the soccer aspect, is this good for your kids self esteem and personal growth?

Let the "earn your right to play" parent find out the hard way soon enough. If you watched this age group then you already know who the top players are and who they definitely are NOT.

[Unregistered]

"earn his right to play" - really? this is not pro soccer- which is something Revs and Bolts tend to forget. It's about player development. this is an important development stage- kids are early teens not 20 somethings. As a parent, you'd have to be a fool to think that your kid is actually developing sitting on the bench 70% of the time. leave aside the soccer aspect, is this good for your kids self esteem and personal growth?

It's understandable why the revs don't care about every players development- it's FREE and only about generating revenue for Kraft.
Bolts however should care because they charge a LOT - but they don't.

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It's understandable why the revs don't care about every players development- it's FREE and only about generating revenue for Kraft.
Bolts however should care because they charge a LOT - but they don't.

This is a major flaw in the system - MLS clubs are free to play, but they cost MLS teams a decent amount of money, for which they get little to no reward. Not that many kids they develop go pro and they can't profit from it like they do internationally. So what is their incentive to truly develop players? Then at non MLS clubs they are still pay to play (although usually at a slightly lower cost than traditional clubs) but they need wins to keep new talent coming in all the time. They may sacrifice players in order to improve their W/L record. Then throw in coaches who can't subdue their egos. Just because they have the highest licensure doesn't mean they're all good coaches.

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It's understandable why the revs don't care about every players development- it's FREE and only about generating revenue for Kraft.
Bolts however should care because they charge a LOT - but they don't.

Bolts Academy is less than GPS NPL. Ask me how I know?