The Girls 2007 Thread

[Guest]

Wow cool story

The baddest little team in the land will be on full display soon

[Guest]

The baddest little team in the land will be on full display soon

Former NEFC dad, aka New Stars dad, has entered the chat.

[Guest]

And Club could be more fun like HS and High quality at the same time. It takes the coaches and clubs to design that culture. Why not have music during warm-ups. Why not incorporate the team building aspects. They think as parents we don’t want to pay for anything about serious soccer. But both are possible and should be considered to keep more kids in the sport.

[Guest]

a

Wow cool story

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. It certainly was much more productive than droning on about “elite” soccer clubs in New England, wasn’t it? Oh sorry…I forgot. You’re still convinced your kid is the exception. Lol. Carry on, tough guy!

[Guest]

And Club could be more fun like HS and High quality at the same time. It takes the coaches and clubs to design that culture. Why not have music during warm-ups. Why not incorporate the team building aspects. They think as parents we don’t want to pay for anything about serious soccer. But both are possible and should be considered to keep more kids in the sport.

100% - i never understand why they dont try to infuse more culture. Encourage kids to come to the fields and hang out to watch older teams and serve as "ball boys/girls" to keep play moving. Do more small sided pickup, play some music and get a hot dog stand going. Make it so the kids feel like they enjoy it instead of it being this sterile, robotic "we play soccer here and that is it" environment. That would probably help reduce eroding participation and club defections and it feels like easy stuff to implement.

[Guest]

100% - i never understand why they dont try to infuse more culture. Encourage kids to come to the fields and hang out to watch older teams and serve as "ball boys/girls" to keep play moving. Do more small sided pickup, play some music and get a hot dog stand going. Make it so the kids feel like they enjoy it instead of it being this sterile, robotic "we play soccer here and that is it" environment. That would probably help reduce eroding participation and club defections and it feels like easy stuff to implement.

I think it's harder when families come from all over and have other kids, are busy etc. It works in the ulittle years but more for travel level. Players are in touch with each other on social media/group chats far more than parents realize

[Guest]

100% - i never understand why they dont try to infuse more culture. Encourage kids to come to the fields and hang out to watch older teams and serve as "ball boys/girls" to keep play moving. Do more small sided pickup, play some music and get a hot dog stand going. Make it so the kids feel like they enjoy it instead of it being this sterile, robotic "we play soccer here and that is it" environment. That would probably help reduce eroding participation and club defections and it feels like easy stuff to implement.

If they concentrated on building club rivalries on the local level, this could work.
But no, they have to drive 2+ hours for a match against some no name club with mom and dad in the car and there goes the fun. Maybe clubs should bus or carpool to matches?
And I say BS to all you parents that claim time in the car with the kids is so fun…ask them if they’d rather be on the bus with their mates. I bet the iphone or video is on the whole trip and not a word is spoken unless dad is yelling.
Been there, done that and we’re all f’n nuts

[Guest]

If they concentrated on building club rivalries on the local level, this could work.
But no, they have to drive 2+ hours for a match against some no name club with mom and dad in the car and there goes the fun. Maybe clubs should bus or carpool to matches?
And I say BS to all you parents that claim time in the car with the kids is so fun…ask them if they’d rather be on the bus with their mates. I bet the iphone or video is on the whole trip and not a word is spoken unless dad is yelling.
Been there, done that and we’re all f’n nuts

It wasn't that long ago that all this travel wasn't happening. There were fewer leagues and lots of good instate competition. There were real competitive rivalries. State cup used to matter and was fun to participate in. Then a 100 alphabet soup leagues popped up, offering clubs a chance to avoid playing instate rivals. Now families pass each other on the MA Pike.

Team buses would be fun but not feasible economically. Some parents can and do take turns with away games so a few kids can go together. As an adult maybe your kid will appreciate the time alone with a parent, but at the time? No. They would definitely rather be with friends.

[Guest]

If they concentrated on building club rivalries on the local level, this could work.
But no, they have to drive 2+ hours for a match against some no name club with mom and dad in the car and there goes the fun. Maybe clubs should bus or carpool to matches?
And I say BS to all you parents that claim time in the car with the kids is so fun…ask them if they’d rather be on the bus with their mates. I bet the iphone or video is on the whole trip and not a word is spoken unless dad is yelling.
Been there, done that and we’re all f’n nuts

haha you hit that nail on the head!

I agree with the local rivalry aspect - there's zero reason for say Scorpions to drive to NY to play SUSA and have NYSC come to play NEFC. Why would we not just have us all stay in our area and play games and they stay in theirs? Instead our clubs are all in a freakout over poaching one or two kids? Keep the non-soccer costs down like gas, car maintenance, hotels, etc. and there will be no worries for potential players.

[Guest]

haha you hit that nail on the head!

I agree with the local rivalry aspect - there's zero reason for say Scorpions to drive to NY to play SUSA and have NYSC come to play NEFC. Why would we not just have us all stay in our area and play games and they stay in theirs? Instead our clubs are all in a freakout over poaching one or two kids? Keep the non-soccer costs down like gas, car maintenance, hotels, etc. and there will be no worries for potential players.

The genie is out of the bottle and will be very hard to put back in. Read the post above yours - it used to be that way. But clubs created a demand for different leagues and leagues responding by creating more. Clubs would have to demand a change back, which right now they have zero incentive to. They'd have to start losing families and money demanding something be different. Well, families aren't. They're writing checks and fueling up their crossover SUVs for the weekend games.

[Guest]

Youth sports are serving anyone but the youth nowadays.

[Guest]

Anyone else's club teams seem very anxious to get the players back from High School season? I'm getting weekly emails about extra training and other opportunities which are great options but my daughter has HS soccer 6 days a week, no need for more and risk injury at this point. See you in November!

[Guest]

Anyone else's club teams seem very anxious to get the players back from High School season? I'm getting weekly emails about extra training and other opportunities which are great options but my daughter has HS soccer 6 days a week, no need for more and risk injury at this point. See you in November!

We have optional training like once or twice a month until the team is back from HS. I know the coaches wish they got everyone back sooner but it is what it is.

[Guest]

Anyone else's club teams seem very anxious to get the players back from High School season? I'm getting weekly emails about extra training and other opportunities which are great options but my daughter has HS soccer 6 days a week, no need for more and risk injury at this point. See you in November!

Agree. Club can wait.

[Guest]

Anyone else's club teams seem very anxious to get the players back from High School season? I'm getting weekly emails about extra training and other opportunities which are great options but my daughter has HS soccer 6 days a week, no need for more and risk injury at this point. See you in November!

must be from sss