Fad of the Day

[Unregistered]

It appears that Atl Utd and their creation of soccer culture is the new fad of the day.

Until Everyone watches the game with interest and dedication, with no motive other than enjoyment, soccer in this country will remain a fad in perpetuity.
And when the ratings fall, good luck finding it on the telly.

And no club, college or MLS is going to fix it.

[Unregistered]

It appears that Atl Utd and their creation of soccer culture is the new fad of the day.

Until Everyone watches the game with interest and dedication, with no motive other than enjoyment, soccer in this country will remain a fad in perpetuity.
And when the ratings fall, good luck finding it on the telly.

And no club, college or MLS is going to fix it.

It's great that the club has become popular there. The more people following the sport/team the better. Sure some enthusiasm will wane but not universally. It's how a soccer culture can build in the US.

[Unregistered]

It appears that Atl Utd and their creation of soccer culture is the new fad of the day.

Until Everyone watches the game with interest and dedication, with no motive other than enjoyment, soccer in this country will remain a fad in perpetuity.
And when the ratings fall, good luck finding it on the telly.

And no club, college or MLS is going to fix it.

Can't speak to all that, but running first day of high school tryouts today, numbers were up almost 50% from last year's tryouts, with many of that increase from last year being freshman. Talking to coaches in other programs, they are seeing large increases as well, both boys and girls side.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing a large turnouts of kids wanting to play the beautiful game.

[Unregistered]

Can't speak to all that, but running first day of high school tryouts today, numbers were up almost 50% from last year's tryouts, with many of that increase from last year being freshman. Talking to coaches in other programs, they are seeing large increases as well, both boys and girls side.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing a large turnouts of kids wanting to play the beautiful game.

While that is great news, most of those kids are there without a hope in the world of making the squad. Nor should they.
Soccer is one of the few sports where anybody thinks they can play, including freshmen in high school. Some of whom have never even kicked a ball. And they won’t give a damn if they’re cut or when the season ends. It’s just to be with friends-great at u8, not so much in hs.
Every other sport in hs gets serious athletes who know how to play. Hs school ball is just another gym class.
No culture being created there...sorry

Ps-I think it’s great that they want to play, but maybe more vibrant intramural or low level interscholastic play is the answer

[Unregistered]

Can't speak to all that, but running first day of high school tryouts today, numbers were up almost 50% from last year's tryouts, with many of that increase from last year being freshman. Talking to coaches in other programs, they are seeing large increases as well, both boys and girls side.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing a large turnouts of kids wanting to play the beautiful game.

That is great news. Now we need to encourage our HS teams to make "teams" for kids who want to play and not just make "cuts". Nothing makes me sadder than finding out a decent player didn't make his/her high school team (and I don't want to hear the TS BS about how you can't be a decent player and get cut from your HS team). You want to talk about building a soccer culture? It can't just be the "A" team. Its gotta be the "A-Z" teams.

[Unregistered]

Can't speak to all that, but running first day of high school tryouts today, numbers were up almost 50% from last year's tryouts, with many of that increase from last year being freshman. Talking to coaches in other programs, they are seeing large increases as well, both boys and girls side.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing a large turnouts of kids wanting to play the beautiful game.

I'm guessing the World Cup might be responsible for higher HS turnouts, which is awesome. I just wish the Krafts would get moving on a soccer-only stadium. What a great venue it would make for playing the state semi-final & championship matches for high school and state cup games for club etc, etc. Not to mention enjoying an MLS game in a better environment. But I realize this is a pretty worn out topic on TS.

[Unregistered]

That is great news. Now we need to encourage our HS teams to make "teams" for kids who want to play and not just make "cuts". Nothing makes me sadder than finding out a decent player didn't make his/her high school team (and I don't want to hear the TS BS about how you can't be a decent player and get cut from your HS team). You want to talk about building a soccer culture? It can't just be the "A" team. Its gotta be the "A-Z" teams.

Why is there no town travel at this age?
Because they stop playing at u14 or so.
Why, then, do they feel they can play at high school?

Intramural is the answer

[Unregistered]

Why is there no town travel at this age?
Because they stop playing at u14 or so.
Why, then, do they feel they can play at high school?

Intramural is the answer

You've got it backwards: Kids stop playing at u14 or so when they realize they aren't going to be playing in HS. For some, there are other things to focus on: jobs, grades, social life, girlfriend/boyfriend, other sports. For others, there is a sense of "why be seen as a wannabe" if they are not on the HS team. (That's why I stopped playing town baseball at age 16--I wasn't terrible, I enjoyed it, but I wasn't going to play HS...) If there was a "teen acceptable" place to play more would keep playing.

Yes--the B, C, D...and Z teams can all be intramural. Good idea.

And by the way, your comment suggests you think there is a certain "level" of player that "can play at high school", as if there is some kind of objective standard. Don't kid yourself. There is as wide a talent gap between Div 1 HS soccer players on good teams and Div 1 HS soccer players on bad teams as you would find in your lowest of low rec programs.

Stay on message--more kids playing is good for soccer!

[Unregistered]

It appears that Atl Utd and their creation of soccer culture is the new fad of the day.

Until Everyone watches the game with interest and dedication, with no motive other than enjoyment, soccer in this country will remain a fad in perpetuity.
And when the ratings fall, good luck finding it on the telly.

And no club, college or MLS is going to fix it.

LAFC has been fantastic as well. I really enjoy their games. Their fan base is growing fast.

[Unregistered]

You've got it backwards: Kids stop playing at u14 or so when they realize they aren't going to be playing in HS. For some, there are other things to focus on: jobs, grades, social life, girlfriend/boyfriend, other sports. For others, there is a sense of "why be seen as a wannabe" if they are not on the HS team. (That's why I stopped playing town baseball at age 16--I wasn't terrible, I enjoyed it, but I wasn't going to play HS...) If there was a "teen acceptable" place to play more would keep playing.

Yes--the B, C, D...and Z teams can all be intramural. Good idea.

And by the way, your comment suggests you think there is a certain "level" of player that "can play at high school", as if there is some kind of objective standard. Don't kid yourself. There is as wide a talent gap between Div 1 HS soccer players on good teams and Div 1 HS soccer players on bad teams as you would find in your lowest of low rec programs.

Stay on message--more kids playing is good for soccer!

There are no “new to” football or basketball players showing up to tryouts at any legitimate program; they have objective standards. Why does soccer allow these “newbies” to clog up the tryout system.
And like it or not, and the purists can’t stand this, h/s soccer is the main game in town for virtually every kid that plays.
It should not be so difficult to fix, except that it is riddled with non-players, unlike other sports programs, with the possible exception of lacrosse, which is still widely unknown.

[Unregistered]

You've got it backwards: Kids stop playing at u14 or so when they realize they aren't going to be playing in HS. For some, there are other things to focus on: jobs, grades, social life, girlfriend/boyfriend, other sports. For others, there is a sense of "why be seen as a wannabe" if they are not on the HS team. (That's why I stopped playing town baseball at age 16--I wasn't terrible, I enjoyed it, but I wasn't going to play HS...) If there was a "teen acceptable" place to play more would keep playing.

Yes--the B, C, D...and Z teams can all be intramural. Good idea.

And by the way, your comment suggests you think there is a certain "level" of player that "can play at high school", as if there is some kind of objective standard. Don't kid yourself. There is as wide a talent gap between Div 1 HS soccer players on good teams and Div 1 HS soccer players on bad teams as you would find in your lowest of low rec programs.

Stay on message--more kids playing is good for soccer!

Have you been tryouts at h/s lately? Filled with new players of all shapes and sizes...

[Unregistered]

Have you been tryouts at h/s lately? Filled with new players of all shapes and sizes...

And they get placed on frosh or jv teams, and sometimes not at all at very large schools. After the grind of daily practices and no PT wears them down they quit or don't come back the next year. Trying something new, even if you fail, is a good life experience. It shouldn't be discouraged

[Unregistered]

And they get placed on frosh or jv teams, and sometimes not at all at very large schools. After the grind of daily practices and no PT wears them down they quit or don't come back the next year. Trying something new, even if you fail, is a good life experience. It shouldn't be discouraged

No argument here.
But it don’t happen in legitimate sports programs.
No brand new b-ball player shows up at St Johns tryouts.

Try it at town soccer, don’t waste a h/s coach’s time.

[Unregistered]

No argument here.
But it don’t happen in legitimate sports programs.
No brand new b-ball player shows up at St Johns tryouts.

Try it at town soccer, don’t waste a h/s coach’s time.

Actually, in football, quite a few new players to the sport show up as a freshman at St. Johns. It's a no-cut sport and they want to be part of something. Admittedly most end up as tackling dummies and don't come back as sophomores. But a few stick and end up playing varsity.

[Unregistered]

Actually, in football, quite a few new players to the sport show up as a freshman at St. Johns. It's a no-cut sport and they want to be part of something. Admittedly most end up as tackling dummies and don't come back as sophomores. But a few stick and end up playing varsity.

Poster said b-ball, and with a fifteen boy roster with EVERY kid coming from an AAU program, there are no 'newbies' in basketball at SJP. I agree that plenty try football for the first time as freshmen. Beyond the skill positions, there is NOTHING in football that needs to be learned before high school--unlike soccer, basketball, baseball and of course, hockey, where you are screwed unless you started skating within fifteen minutes of birth. With every sane parent worried about CTE, there will be both fewer kids playing football, and a greater percentage of "first timers" at 9th grade--when they are sowing their oats and getting some independence from bubble-wrap parents.