Rutgers Women's Soccer

[Guest]

Victim alert AGAIN!! You continue to churn this narrative. You must be a troll or are completely self absorbed. The hate that runs deep is your hate of the rest of the soccer world not giving a hoot about this.

Who hurt you?

You proved their point. There are some posters obsessed with trolling the club. MF also. Anonymous posting brings out the worst in some people but the club on club bashing is mostly the clubs bashing one other. Most normal people don't give a crap what goes on at other clubs. The ones who hold on to hate either are with club management, former employees or feel their kid was somehow wronged by a club.

PDA does a good job preparing players for college play. So do many other clubs, as has been stated. Congrats to any player who not only makes it to a college roster but who play a meaningful four years. Few players ever reach that far.

[Guest]

You proved their point. There are some posters obsessed with trolling the club. MF also. Anonymous posting brings out the worst in some people but the club on club bashing is mostly the clubs bashing one other. Most normal people don't give a crap what goes on at other clubs. The ones who hold on to hate either are with club management, former employees or feel their kid was somehow wronged by a club.

PDA does a good job preparing players for college play. So do many other clubs, as has been stated. Congrats to any player who not only makes it to a college roster but who play a meaningful four years. Few players ever reach that far.

I agree with your statement that every player should be congratulated from yesterday’s NLI ceremonies that took place across the country. I believe that my player that wants to play in college can if they put in the effort. In the end players will find a college that suits them both academically and their skill level. The big mistake are those that put the athletics ahead of the academics and the college itself.

[Guest]

I agree with your statement that every player should be congratulated from yesterday’s NLI ceremonies that took place across the country. I believe that my player that wants to play in college can if they put in the effort. In the end players will find a college that suits them both academically and their skill level. The big mistake are those that put the athletics ahead of the academics and the college itself.

Participation trophies all around. Some players have signing events when they are receiving zero athletic $$. We may as well have signing events for anyone attending College. The difference between truly top tier athletes and the rest is blurred by parents who think their kid is as good just because she plays on the same team as a few and Clubs who realize that encouraging that delusion makes them more money. In sports that have a lucrative professional end game, the elite athlete pool is constantly refined and reduced until you are left with the best of the best. That is not the case here. The pool is refined by the ability to access Clubs and academics. Once that is done, those privileged enough to gain access to the system, pretend that soccer ability had a lot to do with it. There are girls playing D1 soccer who span a huge range of abilities. A tiny handful are exceptional. Of the 300+ D1 programs, a really small group play attractive high level soccer. Many games are so poor - 60 Pct pass completions, booting the ball up the field and hoping. Get it to the fast kid soccer. The overall quality reflects Club soccer - a profit based endeavor that has very little to do with making the players better and everything to do with winning todays game by any means.

I wish people would stop pretending. Yes, we should congratulate the young women who have signed NLIs, but from a soccer ability PoV, we should stop trying to pretend that makes all of them elite soccer players. Its the same with RU. its ok to be a good, solid soccer program. Be happy with that if your kid is part of it. You dont need to try and convince anyone else that it means any more than that.

[Guest]

Participation trophies all around. Some players have signing events when they are receiving zero athletic $$. We may as well have signing events for anyone attending College. The difference between truly top tier athletes and the rest is blurred by parents who think their kid is as good just because she plays on the same team as a few and Clubs who realize that encouraging that delusion makes them more money. In sports that have a lucrative professional end game, the elite athlete pool is constantly refined and reduced until you are left with the best of the best. That is not the case here. The pool is refined by the ability to access Clubs and academics. Once that is done, those privileged enough to gain access to the system, pretend that soccer ability had a lot to do with it. There are girls playing D1 soccer who span a huge range of abilities. A tiny handful are exceptional. Of the 300+ D1 programs, a really small group play attractive high level soccer. Many games are so poor - 60 Pct pass completions, booting the ball up the field and hoping. Get it to the fast kid soccer. The overall quality reflects Club soccer - a profit based endeavor that has very little to do with making the players better and everything to do with winning todays game by any means.

I wish people would stop pretending. Yes, we should congratulate the young women who have signed NLIs, but from a soccer ability PoV, we should stop trying to pretend that makes all of them elite soccer players. Its the same with RU. its ok to be a good, solid soccer program. Be happy with that if your kid is part of it. You dont need to try and convince anyone else that it means any more than that.

I understand what your saying to a certain degree. As far as what is significant about yesterday’s NLI signing for any athlete scholarship or walk on is not about a momentary celebration. The vast majority of these athletes know exactly where they stand going into their freshman year of college. I think it’s great to give them the opportunity to celebrate the hard work, dedication and the ups and downs both mentally and physically to achieve signing their letter. Well deserved for everyone of these young ladies. They sacrificed plenty to achieve this type of recognition regardless the athletic scholarship monetary value. To lessen the value by calling it a “participation trophy” is where I strongly disagree. Signing that letter in front of and with your high school friends is well deserved.

[Guest]

So what if a posed signing event happens?

Anyone who continues his or her education and plays a sport too deserves congratulations no matter which level. It isn't easy at any division and yes some levels are tougher than others in all the divisions. But that does not matter.

They are knowingly and willingly taking on more education, more sports and the work associated with both.

Celebrate them. All of them. They are making themselves better. And making us proud.

Like the club bashing; the NLI bashing should stop.

[Guest]

I agree with your statement that every player should be congratulated from yesterday’s NLI ceremonies that took place across the country. I believe that my player that wants to play in college can if they put in the effort. In the end players will find a college that suits them both academically and their skill level. The big mistake are those that put the athletics ahead of the academics and the college itself.

That happens less than you think. Soccer families tend to be better off, better education. Getting into a better school with soccer than without is the goal for more families than not. They know they're not pro or NT track and getting that piece of paper is what matters in the end.

And if it does happen, well then so be it. It may not be the decision you want for your kid, but it's none of your business.

[Guest]

I understand what your saying to a certain degree. As far as what is significant about yesterday’s NLI signing for any athlete scholarship or walk on is not about a momentary celebration. The vast majority of these athletes know exactly where they stand going into their freshman year of college. I think it’s great to give them the opportunity to celebrate the hard work, dedication and the ups and downs both mentally and physically to achieve signing their letter. Well deserved for everyone of these young ladies. They sacrificed plenty to achieve this type of recognition regardless the athletic scholarship monetary value. To lessen the value by calling it a “participation trophy” is where I strongly disagree. Signing that letter in front of and with your high school friends is well deserved.

Only if you're not getting any money - no D1 or D2 scholarship, all D3s and Ivies - then you're "signing" a fake letter. Some D1 parents freak out about that. Personally I think the whole thing is BS since plenty of D1 NLIs are for very little money. And is getting more money at a lower level program more important than getting no money at a top one? Is a player not getting any money working any less hard than one that is? (I'm not talking about talent but effort).

The best solution is to just have all the kids in their swag in one picture. If an athlete wants a separate picture signing an actual NLI with their parents or whatever that's fine, but don't let your kid "sign" something that doesn't exist.

[Guest]

Participation trophies all around. Some players have signing events when they are receiving zero athletic $$. We may as well have signing events for anyone attending College. The difference between truly top tier athletes and the rest is blurred by parents who think their kid is as good just because she plays on the same team as a few and Clubs who realize that encouraging that delusion makes them more money. In sports that have a lucrative professional end game, the elite athlete pool is constantly refined and reduced until you are left with the best of the best. That is not the case here. The pool is refined by the ability to access Clubs and academics. Once that is done, those privileged enough to gain access to the system, pretend that soccer ability had a lot to do with it. There are girls playing D1 soccer who span a huge range of abilities. A tiny handful are exceptional. Of the 300+ D1 programs, a really small group play attractive high level soccer. Many games are so poor - 60 Pct pass completions, booting the ball up the field and hoping. Get it to the fast kid soccer. The overall quality reflects Club soccer - a profit based endeavor that has very little to do with making the players better and everything to do with winning todays game by any means.

I wish people would stop pretending. Yes, we should congratulate the young women who have signed NLIs, but from a soccer ability PoV, we should stop trying to pretend that makes all of them elite soccer players. Its the same with RU. its ok to be a good, solid soccer program. Be happy with that if your kid is part of it. You dont need to try and convince anyone else that it means any more than that.

Just because your kid is getting some money at a low level program doesn't mean they are better than 1) another D1 player that's not getting any money at a top program 2) better than many D2 and D3 athletes. All it means is your kid is getting money to play, that is all. Often times the amount is a pittance anyway. Again, getting book money for Iona or James Madison doesn't mean that player is better than one getting nothing at say a top Power 5 program* Some parents just want everyone to think that.



*yes I know not all Power 5 programs are good, I mean ones that finish in the top and move on to playoffs

[Guest]

Only if you're not getting any money - no D1 or D2 scholarship, all D3s and Ivies - then you're "signing" a fake letter. Some D1 parents freak out about that. Personally I think the whole thing is BS since plenty of D1 NLIs are for very little money. And is getting more money at a lower level program more important than getting no money at a top one? Is a player not getting any money working any less hard than one that is? (I'm not talking about talent but effort).

The best solution is to just have all the kids in their swag in one picture. If an athlete wants a separate picture signing an actual NLI with their parents or whatever that's fine, but don't let your kid "sign" something that doesn't exist.

What if the kid is signing a contract they made with themselves? A goal list of sorts. They intend to keep that pact.

[Guest]

Just because your kid is getting some money at a low level program doesn't mean they are better than 1) another D1 player that's not getting any money at a top program 2) better than many D2 and D3 athletes. All it means is your kid is getting money to play, that is all. Often times the amount is a pittance anyway. Again, getting book money for Iona or James Madison doesn't mean that player is better than one getting nothing at say a top Power 5 program* Some parents just want everyone to think that.



*yes I know not all Power 5 programs are good, I mean ones that finish in the top and move on to playoffs

Who cares? Why is it anyone's business what terms a player and his or her family agree to? Why does it matter to anyone but them?

[Guest]

Who cares? Why is it anyone's business what terms a player and his or her family agree to? Why does it matter to anyone but them?

Because some people are a bit pissy about athletes signing fake NLIs and posting it on social media.

[Guest]

What if the kid is signing a contract they made with themselves? A goal list of sorts. They intend to keep that pact.

No. If you want to do that on your own fine, whatever floats your boat. But don't pose with pen and paper and post it as part of NLI Signing day with your school or club or on your own. You're not a scholarship athlete, you're just posting as one.

[Guest]

No. If you want to do that on your own fine, whatever floats your boat. But don't pose with pen and paper and post it as part of NLI Signing day with your school or club or on your own. You're not a scholarship athlete, you're just posting as one.

A Letter of Intent does not equate to a scholarship all the time. It depends on the school and the program.

[Guest]

Because some people are a bit pissy about athletes signing fake NLIs and posting it on social media.

Some people are a bit pissy.
Let's just end it there.

[Guest]

Some people are a bit pissy.
Let's just end it there.

I intend on going to lunch today/where do I sign?