What's the end game?

[Guest]

I'm curious. Many of you bash "u little" soccer by saying wait til they're 13-14...that's when the real talent shows and the stars move to PDA, CSA, etc.

Then when they're that age, it's "PDA is dump and chase. They bypass the midfield and play direct all the time." or "CSA has no talent and the coaches scream all the time." or "There's no real development at PDA / CSA / MFA. They just take talent that other coaches have developed." (Not sure where you guys all think these coaches are - since you all bash every town team there is out there, and that's where most of these kids start out and develop before they jump to academy...but anyway...)

Then it's bashing High School soccer ("Just athletic kids. No real talent there. Just aggressive play and dumping the ball down field. Coaches are garbage.")

So, I guess D1 is the goal? But then there are posts bashing Rutgers and other D1 programs as "Just athletic kids dumping and chasing"

Sooooooo what's the point of it all? What level of soccer is perfect and pure enough for you guys? Because I'm watching the World Cup and seeing plenty of direct play and long balls over the top of the midfield - from countries all over the world (including France, England, Argentina...) So, what's the end goal for your kids playing club soccer?

[Guest]

No end game at all - I let/have let my kids decide where they want to take it and support their choices.

[Guest]

I'm curious. Many of you bash "u little" soccer by saying wait til they're 13-14...that's when the real talent shows and the stars move to PDA, CSA, etc.

Then when they're that age, it's "PDA is dump and chase. They bypass the midfield and play direct all the time." or "CSA has no talent and the coaches scream all the time." or "There's no real development at PDA / CSA / MFA. They just take talent that other coaches have developed." (Not sure where you guys all think these coaches are - since you all bash every town team there is out there, and that's where most of these kids start out and develop before they jump to academy...but anyway...)

Then it's bashing High School soccer ("Just athletic kids. No real talent there. Just aggressive play and dumping the ball down field. Coaches are garbage.")

So, I guess D1 is the goal? But then there are posts bashing Rutgers and other D1 programs as "Just athletic kids dumping and chasing"

Sooooooo what's the point of it all? What level of soccer is perfect and pure enough for you guys? Because I'm watching the World Cup and seeing plenty of direct play and long balls over the top of the midfield - from countries all over the world (including France, England, Argentina...) So, what's the end goal for your kids playing club soccer?

Difference is those playing in the WC can also trap/pass/shoot at a world class level. If you are equating what we see in travel/HS soccer to what we are seeing in the WC you need some serious help.

The reality is there is no "end game" except for the clubs on the busine$$ $ide of things. Players/parents just go on about with life.

[Guest]

The end game is to enjoy spending time with your kids.

[Guest]

Difference is those playing in the WC can also trap/pass/shoot at a world class level. If you are equating what we see in travel/HS soccer to what we are seeing in the WC you need some serious help.

The reality is there is no "end game" except for the clubs on the busine$$ $ide of things. Players/parents just go on about with life.

No, I'm not - but I am equating it with a style of play / tactic that all coaches, across all skill levels use. It's just that everyone here attacks that style of play when it comes from a club they don't like.

[Guest]

No, I'm not - but I am equating it with a style of play / tactic that all coaches, across all skill levels use. It's just that everyone here attacks that style of play when it comes from a club they don't like.

You don't talk tactics with kids that can't trap/pass etc. Balls over the top with skill are much different than just balls over the top. A good through ball is not something you see often but I do see quite a few that go right out the touchline etc.

Style of play is laughable for about 99% of these kids. That's like saying someone can race bikes just because they can ride one. Just because a kid plays soccer doesn't mean they can do it well enough to add tactics like you are implicating.

Teams either play direct because they can or because they can't do anything else (that doesn't mean they can). Not rocket science and people hate clubs for many valid reasons not just that one.

[Guest]

You don't talk tactics with kids that can't trap/pass etc. Balls over the top with skill are much different than just balls over the top. A good through ball is not something you see often but I do see quite a few that go right out the touchline etc.

Style of play is laughable for about 99% of these kids. That's like saying someone can race bikes just because they can ride one. Just because a kid plays soccer doesn't mean they can do it well enough to add tactics like you are implicating.

Teams either play direct because they can or because they can't do anything else (that doesn't mean they can). Not rocket science and people hate clubs for many valid reasons not just that one.

Yeah, some confuse world class soccer tactics, of going direct, with kids learning the game at the u littles. Coach's shortcutting teaching the game improperly for a quick win by sending the ball forward. This is what parents complain about

First you teach skill, technique and movement, working up the pitch from the goalie, through the back, and through the middle. This requires patience and understanding by the coaches. No shortcutting by the coaches at the early ages- get them technical enough to proficient in keeping and moving the ball.

First, we teach technique and skill then we teach tactics. and tactics may mean a more direct game. But those players have the skill.

[Guest]

The end game is to enjoy spending time with your kids.

Thank you. As it should. Have your child play with a club that values her and she is afforded the most time on the field of play. After that nothing really matters. The club brands, the leagues, non of it. Is she happy and is the family enjoying the experience.

[Guest]

I'm curious. Many of you bash "u little" soccer by saying wait til they're 13-14...that's when the real talent shows and the stars move to PDA, CSA, etc.

Then when they're that age, it's "PDA is dump and chase. They bypass the midfield and play direct all the time." or "CSA has no talent and the coaches scream all the time." or "There's no real development at PDA / CSA / MFA. They just take talent that other coaches have developed." (Not sure where you guys all think these coaches are - since you all bash every town team there is out there, and that's where most of these kids start out and develop before they jump to academy...but anyway...)

Then it's bashing High School soccer ("Just athletic kids. No real talent there. Just aggressive play and dumping the ball down field. Coaches are garbage.")

So, I guess D1 is the goal? But then there are posts bashing Rutgers and other D1 programs as "Just athletic kids dumping and chasing"

Sooooooo what's the point of it all? What level of soccer is perfect and pure enough for you guys? Because I'm watching the World Cup and seeing plenty of direct play and long balls over the top of the midfield - from countries all over the world (including France, England, Argentina...) So, what's the end goal for your kids playing club soccer?

You are spot on, I conclude that these folks oh who you speak knows nothing about the game and think they know everything about the game. They just like reading their own opinions.

[Guest]

You are spot on, I conclude that these folks oh who you speak knows nothing about the game and think they know everything about the game. They just like reading their own opinions.

The post inferred that youth teams are playing direct as a tactic when it is a product of how poor they are at the finer points of the game and not an actual decision on how to play a match. These youth teams have to play direct/physical style because they can't play any other way. Teams and coaches could attempt to play differently but when they realize they stink at it they go back to the direct/physical style.

[Guest]

The post inferred that youth teams are playing direct as a tactic when it is a product of how poor they are at the finer points of the game and not an actual decision on how to play a match. These youth teams have to play direct/physical style because they can't play any other way. Teams and coaches could attempt to play differently but when they realize they stink at it they go back to the direct/physical style.

Its really that simple

Soccer Nut

[Guest]

The post inferred that youth teams are playing direct as a tactic when it is a product of how poor they are at the finer points of the game and not an actual decision on how to play a match. These youth teams have to play direct/physical style because they can't play any other way. Teams and coaches could attempt to play differently but when they realize they stink at it they go back to the direct/physical style.

Don't know if I agree. I've watched a lot of youth soccer at the U14+ ages, and one thing I notice is that when a team is playing a lesser team, the better team plays quality soccer...great possession and passing, combining to create opportunities, etc. Where it falls apart is when the opposing team is significantly better and applies good pressure; the team continues to try to play quality soccer but maybe can't handle the pressure and starts to settle for clearing the ball (instead of playing it)...and all the while, the coach is screaming about making better plays. So it's not about the coaches not trying to play differently, but the kids just needing to get comfortable with playing under more pressure. I honestly have never met a youth soccer coach at a mid-to-high-level club that teaches their team "kick and chase"; they all try to teach good soccer, but come game-time, often times the players simply can't execute when the opposing team is too good.

Having said all that, when I watched my older daughter's U14+ teams (NPL/ECRL, and she's in college now), I never got the feeling that the team was just booting the ball ahead without purpose. GK rarely punted the ball, ball would either come up the sideline via the wings or thru the midfield to the center-forward (back to the goal), and the vast majority of goals came from combinations in the box.

Also, If I was to critique the "bad" teams my older daughter's teams played, I would say they were bad not because they played "dump and chase" or "kick and run", but because the individual players seemed to carry the ball too much (the exact opposite of kick and run), like they all felt like they had to show off their individual skill rather than play team ball.

And finally, I can't really remember seeing a high-level team (NPL/ECRL/ECNL) that couldn't handle defending against a fast forward.

So honestly, I think all of this talk about youth coaches only teaching kick and chase and players at the high school ages not having the ability to play quality soccer is stupid.

[Guest]

End game = bring someone else down. It’s easier than lifting yourself up. This is what the internet does

[Guest]

No, I'm not - but I am equating it with a style of play / tactic that all coaches, across all skill levels use. It's just that everyone here attacks that style of play when it comes from a club they don't like.

you are clearly confusing two levels. in WC, they can do all fundamental. direct and short pass game, dribble, etc. Of course there are some talent/skill discrepancies between countries or players. But the problem of youth soccer in this country is that coaches, parents and young players think their games are same level as those professional. The reason WC players play direct game time to time is that they saw the opportunity to play direct because it is much faster to score than play short pass game.
you know, ball move faster than human. But youth players, coaches and PARENTS in this country cannot think and play same way as WC players because the players are not in that level,

[Guest]

Don't know if I agree. I've watched a lot of youth soccer at the U14+ ages, and one thing I notice is that when a team is playing a lesser team, the better team plays quality soccer...great possession and passing, combining to create opportunities, etc. Where it falls apart is when the opposing team is significantly better and applies good pressure; the team continues to try to play quality soccer but maybe can't handle the pressure and starts to settle for clearing the ball (instead of playing it)...and all the while, the coach is screaming about making better plays. So it's not about the coaches not trying to play differently, but the kids just needing to get comfortable with playing under more pressure. I honestly have never met a youth soccer coach at a mid-to-high-level club that teaches their team "kick and chase"; they all try to teach good soccer, but come game-time, often times the players simply can't execute when the opposing team is too good.

Having said all that, when I watched my older daughter's U14+ teams (NPL/ECRL, and she's in college now), I never got the feeling that the team was just booting the ball ahead without purpose. GK rarely punted the ball, ball would either come up the sideline via the wings or thru the midfield to the center-forward (back to the goal), and the vast majority of goals came from combinations in the box.

Also, If I was to critique the "bad" teams my older daughter's teams played, I would say they were bad not because they played "dump and chase" or "kick and run", but because the individual players seemed to carry the ball too much (the exact opposite of kick and run), like they all felt like they had to show off their individual skill rather than play team ball.

And finally, I can't really remember seeing a high-level team (NPL/ECRL/ECNL) that couldn't handle defending against a fast forward.

So honestly, I think all of this talk about youth coaches only teaching kick and chase and players at the high school ages not having the ability to play quality soccer is stupid.

Kids that can't play under pressure are the ones who can't trap the ball/don't move into space properly/can't pass to feet etc. Of course they look good against a lesser team with more time and space. The first touch is still crap but they have enough space and are playing against traffic cones so they LOOK like they can play. That is not the case.

And defending a track athlete playing forward on a soccer team isn't all that hard to do.