Michigan Rovers

[Unregistered]

Good Luck

Don't be fooled by earlier posts. The Rover soccer club was created to promote a couple of individual soccer players. My daughter was on the U15 Rovers team last fall. We had a player who was not only playing up a year but was captian of the team from day one. It became very obvious that something was up after the first couple games of subpar play by this individual. When a family confronted the origization and the coach about this individuals playing time and her ability it was admitted that her parent "owned" the team, but it had nothing to due with her playing time.

This has put a strain on the whole soccer club. Many of the girls on my daughters team have not attended our winter training or the indoor soccer games. Our family fears that we may not have enough returning players to move up to Premeir 1 next year and worse yet, we fear there may not be a team at all next season. I guess we will be hitting all the tryouts next year.

Sounds to me as if it's a parent or parents trying to live there life through there daughter! The Rovers is a very good club! From talking with numerous parents on the club,they are totally impressed with the improvement there daughters have made. If the kids are enjoying the game,having fun and getting better at the same time...what's the problem?It always amazes me how so many parent's think there daughter(or son) is better then what they are! Coach Alex is defintely one of the best coach's in the area!! To lose an oppurtunity to train with Coach Alex over what sounds like "playing time"....your loss! Good luck,with whatever new club will listen to you.

[Unregistered]

cream rises to the top

High level club soccer is geared for the development of average players, with the end goal of fielding your best 11 players, sounds - looks- smells like someone has issues between thier own ears... faster - stronger - smarter will gel a great team and club. Alex brings it all and to read the garbage posted to the contrary is childish soar grapes... or posted by the person that was always the last to be pick for a team growing up! Grow up and let you kid enjoy the experience... if she wants to?? Speaking of want to - if your kid isn't into the game for the "love" of it, stop wasting your time and money and boring me with your childhood issues!

[Unregistered]

Thanks Tarson and GVSAman

Thanks for being bold enough to invent the Rovers. West Michigan needed something new. Keep up the good work!

[Unregistered]

Sounds like sour grapes...

All the Rovers families I have talked to love the club and the coach. I witnessed the owners kid score two goals last weekend. One on a 35 yard direct kick! The girl is an accomplished player and a very sweet kid. The Rovers are providing a wonderful soccer opportunity to many girls. Good Luck!

[Unregistered]

I'm glad you were happy, but know for a fact that many were not! They will be lucky if all of their talent comes back, we know for a fact that several will not be returning! Sounds to us like someone is tooting their own horn!

[Unregistered]

Good Luck

I only know of 4-5 not returning.had alot or ALL to do with playing time.Do you really think your daughter is that good?I have a kid on the Rovers,not the one you've referred to,and she is very happy and improving.Also,the kid's not returning or "talent" as you said....will be replaced I'm sure. Don't dog the Rover's,it's a good club for kid's who want high level soccer and to improve.

[Unregistered]

What's in a name?

Maybe the origin of the "Rovers" has caused perception problems for Dean, Hawthorne, Smith and Ludwig. It was originally formed as a vehicle by which Blasco and Christensen's Michigan Future Stars teams could eventually compete at the state level. Yes, Christensen wasn't on the sidelines during competition but it was widely known that the players were being trained by him and coached by him in the MCL. Even the logo looks the same.

[Unregistered]

??

Maybe the origin of the "Rovers" has caused perception problems for Dean, Hawthorne, Smith and Ludwig. It was originally formed as a vehicle by which Blasco and Christensen's Michigan Future Stars teams could eventually compete at the state level. Yes, Christensen wasn't on the sidelines during competition but it was widely known that the players were being trained by him and coached by him in the MCL. Even the logo looks the same.

Smith,Blasco and Christensen? Do tell.

[Unregistered]

I guess you will just have to wait & see who returns, won't you? I don't give the club more than one year! I wonder how may U14's have quit? I heard at least four! Yes, we do have issues with playing time when there are players with way less talent, picking other sports over soccer - playing the whole game. Our daughter was very hard working - and also a starter later in the season. You may think it's a issue with the parents, but this was her decision, and her's alone! So long Rover's!

[Unregistered]

Don't go away mad...just go!

[Unregistered]

I guess you will just have to wait & see who returns, won't you? I don't give the club more than one year! I wonder how may U14's have quit? I heard at least four! Yes, we do have issues with playing time when there are players with way less talent, picking other sports over soccer - playing the whole game. Our daughter was very hard working - and also a starter later in the season. You may think it's a issue with the parents, but this was her decision, and her's alone! So long Rover's!

Just figured out who you are...can't believe it!!

[Unregistered]

FYI, thought you may be interested to know that the daughter in question, came to a U14 indoor game first session and Alex would not allow her to play since she hadn't been to practice that week. Either game. She sat with the team and supported them though. That speaks volumes on many different levels to me.

[Roverslover]

Sour Grapes

...but true that you can't please all of the people all of the time...

...and the ones who are unhappy just won't go quietly.

There are factual errors in the post that attacks the Rovers.

The Rovers was started by two people who rounded up the 3rd, Alex Ludwig.

The Rovers SC was not originally designed to "promote" any players but rather it was a "vehicle" whereby one age group (U14) of very high level players (mostly from Detroit) and their parents could have a great coach and a club that catered to their needs and thei needs only.

The Rovers held tryouts for 4 age groups but in the original goal was only to form one girls premier team at U14.

The original plan fell apart on tryout day (for many reasons) and the backup plan was implemented.

The failure of the original plan coupled with the success of the backup plan allowed the Rovers to form 2 teams, U14 and U15. Both teams did well.

The U15 team started with 17 players.

One quit the team after the second scrimmage in Mid-August due to playing time issues and positional issues. This was a parent driven issue since the player was telling her teammates she wanted to stay on the team.

When the season concluded, two additional players disappeared and have not been heard from. Both were players whose parents were also upset about playing time and positional issues. One of the parents requested a meeting to discuss playing time and during the meeting was told by Alex Ludwig, in fairly clear terms that playing time was earned, Alex Ludwig determines who has earned it and positions were determined by Alex Ludwig. There are no other considerations.

That leaves the U15 Rovers with 14 players, substantially more than the 51% (9 in this case)returning players required by Premier to retain status.

The only purpose for anyone to state otherwise is to create issues where none exist.

Of these 14 players on the U15 team, one is taking the winter to pursue a completely different sport and the rest of the players are training with the Rovers on a weekly basis.

The U14 team looks pretty much the same. The team started with 18 players.

Four will be leaving this winter. One left after the season due to the 90 minute drive to practice. One has left due to her swimming this winter for HS and going to play HS in the spring. Two will be leaving due to playing HS in the spring. That leaves the team with 14 players, again well past the 51% (10 in this case) returning player rule.

All of these 14 players are training this winter.

The Rovers winter consists of weekly training and play as follows: 2 hours training on Saturday from 10am-12am, 2 hours of indoor games in a league on Saturday afternoons, 2 hours training on Sundays from 12pm-2pm and 2 hours of training on Mondays from 6:30-8:30pm.

This cost $64.00 per MONTH. I think that those who are familiar with the costs of travel soccer will verify that this is very reasonable.

There are always those who are unhappy no matter what happens. We wish them well wherever they may choose to go next.

Some people will just go in peace. Good luck to you.

[Roverslover]

Sour Grapes

...but true that you can't please all of the people all of the time...

...and the ones who are unhappy just won't go quietly.

There are factual errors in the post that attacks the Rovers.

The Rovers was started by two people who rounded up the 3rd, Alex Ludwig.

The Rovers SC was not originally designed to "promote" any players but rather it was a "vehicle" whereby one age group (U14) of very high level players (mostly from Detroit) and their parents could have a great coach and a club that catered to their needs and thei needs only.

The Rovers held tryouts for 4 age groups but in the original goal was only to form one girls premier team at U14.

The original plan fell apart on tryout day (for many reasons) and the backup plan was implemented.

The failure of the original plan coupled with the success of the backup plan allowed the Rovers to form 2 teams, U14 and U15. Both teams did well.

The U15 team started with 17 players.

One quit the team after the second scrimmage in Mid-August due to playing time issues and positional issues. This was a parent driven issue since the player was telling her teammates she wanted to stay on the team.

When the season concluded, two additional players disappeared and have not been heard from. Both were players whose parents were also upset about playing time and positional issues. One of the parents requested a meeting to discuss playing time and during the meeting was told by Alex Ludwig, in fairly clear terms that playing time was earned, Alex Ludwig determines who has earned it and positions were determined by Alex Ludwig. There are no other considerations.

That leaves the U15 Rovers with 14 players, substantially more than the 51% (9 in this case)returning players required by Premier to retain status.

The only purpose for anyone to state otherwise is to create issues where none exist.

Of these 14 players on the U15 team, one is taking the winter to pursue a completely different sport and the rest of the players are training with the Rovers on a weekly basis.

The U14 team looks pretty much the same. The team started with 18 players.

Four will be leaving this winter. One left after the season due to the 90 minute drive to practice. One has left due to her swimming this winter for HS and going to play HS in the spring. Two will be leaving due to playing HS in the spring. That leaves the team with 14 players, again well past the 51% (10 in this case) returning player rule.

All of these 14 players are training this winter.

The Rovers winter consists of weekly training and play as follows: 2 hours training on Saturday from 10am-12am, 2 hours of indoor games in a league on Saturday afternoons, 2 hours training on Sundays from 12pm-2pm and 2 hours of training on Mondays from 6:30-8:30pm.

This cost $64.00 per MONTH. I think that those who are familiar with the costs of travel soccer will verify that this is very reasonable.

There are always those who are unhappy no matter what happens. We wish them well wherever they may choose to go next.

Some people will just not go in peace. Good luck to you.

[Happy Rovers Parent]

Aquinas College 3 Rovers u15 girls 2

Aquinas College 3 Rovers 2 Aquinas College Women an NAIA school needed a late goal to beat the Michigan Rovers u15 girls in a great game today at Woodland Sports in Grand Rapids. Rovers Nation Rolls on. All players are welcome to train with the Rovers this winter. Visit us at www.michiganrovers.com