Bragging you have been on the B team for2 years

[Guest]

Not really. This makes no sense. Who decides the best 4 strikers in the state- this doesn’t exist. Either way - a great striker/baller will play whatever position needed on the better team. If a player can only play striker that’s not great either. Most of the youth top talent in our state can play multiple positions, examples: CH, MR.

True story: My D played on a B team at her ECNL club. The U17 ECNL team was going to a showcase and was short on forwards because of injuries, so they asked one of D's teammates to join them (a forward, obviously). At the showcase, the team scored 7 goals with D's teammate scoring 5 of them. Prior to that showcase, the ECNL coach hadn't really paid much attention to D's team, so he was shocked by how well she played. So sometimes there are talented players on B teams that for one reason or another were not put on their A team.

[Guest]

True story: My D played on a B team at her ECNL club. The U17 ECNL team was going to a showcase and was short on forwards because of injuries, so they asked one of D's teammates to join them (a forward, obviously). At the showcase, the team scored 7 goals with D's teammate scoring 5 of them. Prior to that showcase, the ECNL coach hadn't really paid much attention to D's team, so he was shocked by how well she played. So sometimes there are talented players on B teams that for one reason or another were not put on their A team.

Great story but that is rare. Especially at a club like PDA where all the coaches see everyone all time and have way too many players for a scenario like that to ever happen. Plus players need to be seen at least 3 times for consistency so I am not sure this did much for said kid- except make her feel great- which is nice.

[Guest]

True story: My D played on a B team at her ECNL club. The U17 ECNL team was going to a showcase and was short on forwards because of injuries, so they asked one of D's teammates to join them (a forward, obviously). At the showcase, the team scored 7 goals with D's teammate scoring 5 of them. Prior to that showcase, the ECNL coach hadn't really paid much attention to D's team, so he was shocked by how well she played. So sometimes there are talented players on B teams that for one reason or another were not put on their A team.

Great story and how second team should be used by clubs but usually not the case.

[Guest]

True story: My D played on a B team at her ECNL club. The U17 ECNL team was going to a showcase and was short on forwards because of injuries, so they asked one of D's teammates to join them (a forward, obviously). At the showcase, the team scored 7 goals with D's teammate scoring 5 of them. Prior to that showcase, the ECNL coach hadn't really paid much attention to D's team, so he was shocked by how well she played. So sometimes there are talented players on B teams that for one reason or another were not put on their A team.

Of course. Politics play a part in all levels of soccer. Especially in youth. Disgusting actually.

[Guest]

Not really. This makes no sense. Who decides the best 4 strikers in the state- this doesn’t exist. Either way - a great striker/baller will play whatever position needed on the better team. If a player can only play striker that’s not great either. Most of the youth top talent in our state can play multiple positions, examples: CH, MR.

This is not really true. A great striker who wants to showcase to play striker in college will be less willing to play in a different position on their team. Saw this first-hand with a friend's D. This player was a terrific striker and her goal was to play striker in college, but her ECNL team had a lot of good strikers so the coach played her at OB most of the time. She left the team after one season to join a team (non-ECNL) that would play her at striker. Admittedly, she had no interest in joining the ECNL B team.

[Guest]

This is not really true. A great striker who wants to showcase to play striker in college will be less willing to play in a different position on their team. Saw this first-hand with a friend's D. This player was a terrific striker and her goal was to play striker in college, but her ECNL team had a lot of good strikers so the coach played her at OB most of the time. She left the team after one season to join a team (non-ECNL) that would play her at striker. Admittedly, she had no interest in joining the ECNL B team.

Not sure if you have gone through the college experience but what your kid may want and what the college needs are two different things. If a player is coming in as a striker and only willing to play that position they may face disappointment. Coaches need players that can fit into their mix and change their mind on positions based on team and their needs.

[Guest]

I actually know 3 girls who came from ECNL Regional League teams (which are the B teams at Match Fit and PDA) that got were recruited by and played at D1 schools.

[Guest]

Not sure if you have gone through the college experience but what your kid may want and what the college needs are two different things. If a player is coming in as a striker and only willing to play that position they may face disappointment. Coaches need players that can fit into their mix and change their mind on positions based on team and their needs.

Yes, I've been thru the process (my D currently plays at a NESCAC (D3) school). From what we saw, coaches definitely recruit based on positional need instead of "best player available". For instance, if they know they are going to graduate 5 strikers, they will make recruiting strikers a priority. Of course, once you are on the team, the coach will want players who are willing to do whatever they can to help the team (including playing different positions). But what you do to get recruited is very different from what you do once you get there. We've also seen no example of a player who was recruited as one position (F/M/D) moved to another position once they got to the team. There was some movement when the team experimented with different systems/formations (eg. 4-3-3 vs. 4-2-3-1), but nothing as dramatic as moving forwards to defense or vice versa.

In the case of my friend's D, she loved being a striker and it was by far her best position. She felt that being on a team where she could showcase her talents as a striker would give her the best chance of getting recruited.

[Guest]

I actually know 3 girls who came from ECNL Regional League teams (which are the B teams at Match Fit and PDA) that got were recruited by and played at D1 schools.

It does happen (1 player on D's ECRL team went to play D1), but is more the exception than the rule. Most ECRL players who go on to play at college go to D2 or D3 programs. The ones that go to D1 are usually very low-ranked D1.

[Guest]

True story: My D played on a B team at her ECNL club. The U17 ECNL team was going to a showcase and was short on forwards because of injuries, so they asked one of D's teammates to join them (a forward, obviously). At the showcase, the team scored 7 goals with D's teammate scoring 5 of them. Prior to that showcase, the ECNL coach hadn't really paid much attention to D's team, so he was shocked by how well she played. So sometimes there are talented players on B teams that for one reason or another were not put on their A team.

It's called.... you don't have enough money for me to put your D on the A team

[Guest]

It's called.... you don't have enough money for me to put your D on the A team

No in reality it’s probably called bad timing. Some coaches like the chemistry of current team and won’t take certain players bc he may view them as only “marginally better.” Also when you take a good player and insert them onto a team with “better” players, sometimes the game becomes easier for the inserted player.

[Guest]

If the guy is proud and or ignorant what is it to you? Who cares? I am certain the sun will come up the next day for them. More unbelievable that you care enough to put this on here as if you are helping anyone.

Sounds like a training at a "top club" that needs the money from B and C team players. Sad you make a living this way

[Guest]

Sounds like a training at a "top club" that needs the money from B and C team players. Sad you make a living this way

(I think you mean trainer?) Yea. Mostly people that failed playing soccer in Europe and coming here to re-live their glory days by milking rich people telling them their son is "so close to the A team, all he needs is some private training from me"

[Guest]

It's called.... you don't have enough money for me to put your D on the A team

Well, she WAS on the A team, just not playing the position she wanted. And 2 of the forwards that she was competing against were scholarship kids, so I doubt money had anything to do with it. Just a coach's preference for how he wanted to organize the team.

[Guest]

Well, she WAS on the A team, just not playing the position she wanted. And 2 of the forwards that she was competing against were scholarship kids, so I doubt money had anything to do with it. Just a coach's preference for how he wanted to organize the team.

Sorry, responded to the wrong post.