Girls 02 Rankings

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At younger ages, all you need is one or two kids who have grown early. They change the game. There is nothing against those kids. Many teams will focus on those players because they are game changers.

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Just curious, does ***C and TS score the majority of their goals by one or two players on through balls like previous post suggest? Should a person be concerned that a team majority of goals are scored by one or two players at this age? If the previous post is correct, how will this impact development for the other players on a team like these team and a team as a whole? If the post are correct and Eastside and Thusc are trying to pass more how will that play out older ages? Maybe I should ask these questions on the possession soccer thread but, I really like thoughts.

Seems to me if the previous post in correct if only one or two girls are scoring goals and it's mainly the same type of play then how do other girls on field develop or do you have them just learn a position instead of worrying about individual skills outside of the position they play?

I can tell you throughout this year every single offensive player (every mid/forward) has scored on ***C. Yes their forwards score a bigger percentage then the rest. They are in a variety of ways, not just kicking the ball down the middle. But I think the way these "through balls" are being portrayed is a bit unfair to the effort the rest of the girls are putting in. For example lets use todays game where they had 6 goals. (from the best of my memory, and my spouses)
Goal 1: Outside back passed the ball to outside mid, outside mid passed to center mid, center mid dropped to outside back, outside back played a diagonal ball right to the forwards feet. Forward beats the defender to get in the box and shoots and scores.
Goal 2: Outside back plays the ball to outside mids feet, outside mid plays the ball down the line to the forward who is making a run to the side line, forward gets the ball and uses her speed to dribble down line and has the angle to cut to the middle and scores.
Goal 3: center mid plays ball to outside back, outside back plays ball to outside mid, outside mid plays ball down line to the other forward (not the one in goal 2) forward does the same thing the other one did and beats the team down the wing and goes to goal and scores.
Goal 4: Outside mid beats her defender 1v1 crosses it to forward in the box, forward drops it to center mid on the top of the box. Center mid finds the other forward on the back post. Forward shoots and scores.
Goal 5: center mid plays to other center mid, and gets the ball back (give n go) dribbles up field and finds the forwards feet, forward splits to center backs and gets a break away and scores.
Goal 6: center mid passes to other center mid. Center mid passes a ball behind the wing to the flag for the outside mid who is making the run to the flag. The winger crosses the ball which the forward gets. The forward beats a defender in the box, and passes it back post to the other forward waiting for the ball who passes it in the back of the net..

As you can see many of these goals (3 of them) look like just breakaways, but they had solid build up behind them. Unfortunately all many people see are fast forwards and forget the work that goes into getting them quality looks.

[Unregistered]

At younger ages, all you need is one or two kids who have grown early. They change the game. There is nothing against those kids. Many teams will focus on those players because they are game changers.

OK, that makes sense but, how does that affect the teams development as they get older? Especially, if your child is not the game changer and on the team? Is it better at this age to be on a team without game changers and more equal level such as Thusc or Eastside? If a team relies on game changers heavily at younger ages then will this hurt other players on team at older age for overall development?

Sounds like the true question from all the post is if your team has a game changer and relies heavily on that player to score will that end up hurting development in long run? I think previous post are suggesting that? TS and ***C have game changes they rely on to score most goals, Thusc and Eastside don't thus have to rely more on passing to get it into net? Which is better in end when they are 16 years old?

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OK, that makes sense but, how does that affect the teams development as they get older? Especially, if your child is not the game changer and on the team? Is it better at this age to be on a team without game changers and more equal level such as Thusc or Eastside? If a team relies on game changers heavily at younger ages then will this hurt other players on team at older age for overall development?

Sounds like the true question from all the post is if your team has a game changer and relies heavily on that player to score will that end up hurting development in long run? I think previous post are suggesting that? TS and ***C have game changes they rely on to score most goals, Thusc and Eastside don't thus have to rely more on passing to get it into net? Which is better in end when they are 16 years old?

Many teams just boot the ball up to their big forwards. It's simple really.

[Unregistered]

Many teams just boot the ball up to their big forwards. It's simple really.

Well, since Thusc and Eastside don't have big forwards they don't have that option so they have to try a different route. The question is a good one though --- Does a game changer end up hurting development for a team overall if you rely to heavily on them? In this case will Eastside and Thusc end up developing more because they lack a game changer and have to rely on close passing skills to get goals?

[Unregistered]

Well, since Thusc and Eastside don't have big forwards they don't have that option so they have to try a different route. The question is a good one though --- Does a game changer end up hurting development for a team overall if you rely to heavily on them? In this case will Eastside and Thusc end up developing more because they lack a game changer and have to rely on close passing skills to get goals?

When your team boots the ball to the big forward, yes it hurts development. Kids need to learn how to play the ball out of the back under control. Have some composure on the ball and move it around. Playing defense, then booting it to their forward does not help with their development. They win though and that makes their parents happy!!

[Unregistered]

I can tell you throughout this year every single offensive player (every mid/forward) has scored on ***C. Yes their forwards score a bigger percentage then the rest. They are in a variety of ways, not just kicking the ball down the middle. But I think the way these "through balls" are being portrayed is a bit unfair to the effort the rest of the girls are putting in. For example lets use todays game where they had 6 goals. (from the best of my memory, and my spouses)
Goal 1: Outside back passed the ball to outside mid, outside mid passed to center mid, center mid dropped to outside back, outside back played a diagonal ball right to the forwards feet. Forward beats the defender to get in the box and shoots and scores.
Goal 2: Outside back plays the ball to outside mids feet, outside mid plays the ball down the line to the forward who is making a run to the side line, forward gets the ball and uses her speed to dribble down line and has the angle to cut to the middle and scores.
Goal 3: center mid plays ball to outside back, outside back plays ball to outside mid, outside mid plays ball down line to the other forward (not the one in goal 2) forward does the same thing the other one did and beats the team down the wing and goes to goal and scores.
Goal 4: Outside mid beats her defender 1v1 crosses it to forward in the box, forward drops it to center mid on the top of the box. Center mid finds the other forward on the back post. Forward shoots and scores.
Goal 5: center mid plays to other center mid, and gets the ball back (give n go) dribbles up field and finds the forwards feet, forward splits to center backs and gets a break away and scores.
Goal 6: center mid passes to other center mid. Center mid passes a ball behind the wing to the flag for the outside mid who is making the run to the flag. The winger crosses the ball which the forward gets. The forward beats a defender in the box, and passes it back post to the other forward waiting for the ball who passes it in the back of the net..

As you can see many of these goals (3 of them) look like just breakaways, but they had solid build up behind them. Unfortunately all many people see are fast forwards and forget the work that goes into getting them quality looks.

Who did you play you could pass that much and so fast? Looks like 2 forwards scored all the goals? Sounds like your two forwards and mids are developing. That 4 out of 11.

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OK, that makes sense but, how does that affect the teams development as they get older? Especially, if your child is not the game changer and on the team? Is it better at this age to be on a team without game changers and more equal level such as Thusc or Eastside? If a team relies on game changers heavily at younger ages then will this hurt other players on team at older age for overall development?

Sounds like the true question from all the post is if your team has a game changer and relies heavily on that player to score will that end up hurting development in long run? I think previous post are suggesting that? TS and ***C have game changes they rely on to score most goals, Thusc and Eastside don't thus have to rely more on passing to get it into net? Which is better in end when they are 16 years old?

I'm not supporting the dichotomy between the teams, here, just speaking to the principle of game.
Let me ask you this. You're walking down an ally. Would you rather be attacked by one to two assailants or surrounded and attacked by 5-6? Sorry to go dark there. Same principle, though. At 16, or even 14, it's easy to shut down a team when there is a single threat. The same thing even happened last year to an initially winning premier GU11 team. Other teams quickly figured it out. Then, they changed coaches and developed a more balanced attack. But it is very difficult to shut down a team that scores from nearly every position on the field. When your team is skilled at building their attack goals come from many points. The point of attack is not dictated by one or two individual's strengths. A well developed attack breaks down a team and press through the point of least resistance, wherever it may be. Of course this is simplified, but the point remains.

[Unregistered]

I can tell you throughout this year every single offensive player (every mid/forward) has scored on ***C. Yes their forwards score a bigger percentage then the rest. They are in a variety of ways, not just kicking the ball down the middle. But I think the way these "through balls" are being portrayed is a bit unfair to the effort the rest of the girls are putting in. For example lets use todays game where they had 6 goals. (from the best of my memory, and my spouses)
Goal 1: Outside back passed the ball to outside mid, outside mid passed to center mid, center mid dropped to outside back, outside back played a diagonal ball right to the forwards feet. Forward beats the defender to get in the box and shoots and scores.
Goal 2: Outside back plays the ball to outside mids feet, outside mid plays the ball down the line to the forward who is making a run to the side line, forward gets the ball and uses her speed to dribble down line and has the angle to cut to the middle and scores.
Goal 3: center mid plays ball to outside back, outside back plays ball to outside mid, outside mid plays ball down line to the other forward (not the one in goal 2) forward does the same thing the other one did and beats the team down the wing and goes to goal and scores.
Goal 4: Outside mid beats her defender 1v1 crosses it to forward in the box, forward drops it to center mid on the top of the box. Center mid finds the other forward on the back post. Forward shoots and scores.
Goal 5: center mid plays to other center mid, and gets the ball back (give n go) dribbles up field and finds the forwards feet, forward splits to center backs and gets a break away and scores.
Goal 6: center mid passes to other center mid. Center mid passes a ball behind the wing to the flag for the outside mid who is making the run to the flag. The winger crosses the ball which the forward gets. The forward beats a defender in the box, and passes it back post to the other forward waiting for the ball who passes it in the back of the net..

As you can see many of these goals (3 of them) look like just breakaways, but they had solid build up behind them. Unfortunately all many people see are fast forwards and forget the work that goes into getting them quality looks.

When I watched this team a few times I saw two types of play. Defense stops ball, passess to midfield who did throughball to forward who out ran defense AND other was defense stops ball, passes to wing who bring ball up and then throughball to forward who out ran defense. Of course this was not against the team played today.

Sounds like the Thusc and Eastside girls may actually develop more because they lack the game changer to go too? Wow, who would have thought that? TS and ***C may be in trouble if their forwards jump ship in few years. Sounds like relying to heavily on them unless, did the coach sub the forwards out and not all the goals were scored by the same 2 girls?

[Unregistered]

I'm not supporting the dichotomy between the teams, here, just speaking to the principle of game.
Let me ask you this. You're walking down an ally. Would you rather be attacked by one to two assailants or surrounded and attacked by 5-6? Sorry to go dark there. Same principle, though. At 16, or even 14, it's easy to shut down a team when there is a single threat. The same thing even happened last year to an initially winning premier GU11 team. Other teams quickly figured it out. Then, they changed coaches and developed a more balanced attack. But it is very difficult to shut down a team that scores from nearly every position on the field. When your team is skilled at building their attack goals come from many points. The point of attack is not dictated by one or two individual's strengths. A well developed attack breaks down a team and press through the point of least resistance, wherever it may be. Of course this is simplified, but the point remains.

Thanks, you said it very well.

[Unregistered]

Whatever

When I watched this team a few times I saw two types of play. Defense stops ball, passess to midfield who did throughball to forward who out ran defense AND other was defense stops ball, passes to wing who bring ball up and then throughball to forward who out ran defense. Of course this was not against the team played today.

Sounds like the Thusc and Eastside girls may actually develop more because they lack the game changer to go too? Wow, who would have thought that? TS and ***C may be in trouble if their forwards jump ship in few years. Sounds like relying to heavily on them unless, did the coach sub the forwards out and not all the goals were scored by the same 2 girls?

If this train of thought helps THUSC and Eastside parents sleep better so be it. You can believe this drivel if you like. I believe ***C and TS will be the teams to beat until Eastside and THUSC get dominate forwards/scorers. Hard to find young ladies that will take the bull by the horns and bury the ball in the back of the net.
You can teach kids to pass, posses and defend, but scorer's are born not made. And until they give points for passing the teams that score points will win.

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If this train of thought helps THUSC and Eastside parents sleep better so be it. You can believe this drivel if you like. I believe ***C and TS will be the teams to beat until Eastside and THUSC get dominate forwards/scorers. Hard to find young ladies that will take the bull by the horns and bury the ball in the back of the net.
You can teach kids to pass, posses and defend, but scorer's are born not made. And until they give points for passing the teams that score points will win.

They do give points for passing. It's called an assist.

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my two cents (which means nothing)

***C and westside play as good of "soccer" as any of the other team as far as individual skill goes. But because they have fast aggressive forwards they get dubbed direct teams. Eastside to me is the next on that list to challenge the top teams. They have a good coach which I think will do well with them. However, to say the top teams don't play a good style is just wrong. the top teams play to their strength, however, from what I have seen they don't blindly boot it as far as they can (thats what I have seen out of FCSC) instead they try to do through balls with purpose. there is a big difference between the two. If you have an advantage as a team (like a fast forward) wont you take advantage of it? of course you will. To say that these teams are not as technically sound as the others because they are more athletically gifted is just ignorant. Of course that's my opinion.

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Please retire soccer mom!

my two cents (which means nothing)

***C and westside play as good of "soccer" as any of the other team as far as individual skill goes. But because they have fast aggressive forwards they get dubbed direct teams. Eastside to me is the next on that list to challenge the top teams. They have a good coach which I think will do well with them. However, to say the top teams don't play a good style is just wrong. the top teams play to their strength, however, from what I have seen they don't blindly boot it as far as they can (thats what I have seen out of FCSC) instead they try to do through balls with purpose. there is a big difference between the two. If you have an advantage as a team (like a fast forward) wont you take advantage of it? of course you will. To say that these teams are not as technically sound as the others because they are more athletically gifted is just ignorant. Of course that's my opinion.

How does allowing your fast forward to always play boot ball (which is direct play) helpful to developing the rest of the players? Those kind of moronic ideas stem from short-sighted, spoiled, parents who are focused on wins, wins only to sooth their twised egos so they might strut proudly on the way back to to their car post game. This is exactly why the US is so very far behind in many things, especially soccer. Immediate gratification traded for long-term success drives these choices in club and rec soccer. One style of play takes patience and strategic thinking the other caters to emotionally immature children pretending to be sports educated soccer moms. These parents really just want to post a pic of their DD, sporting a medal from their latest boot ball win onto Facebook, and are more interested in filling out their latest scrapbook, than actually dreaming of their kids learning the beautiful game. The "Soccer Mom", ignorant of the game, drivin by boredom and ego, more intertested in bragging to the neighbor about their kids meaningless weekend success, are the single worst thing to occur to US soccer. Tell Mom to stay home, away from the pitch, find a new hobby (kids sports are not an adult hobby) and stop ruining this game with your cursory knowledge of Soccer. Go back to school, volunteer at a homeless shelter, or just take up drinking during the day, just stay out of this game please.

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How does allowing your fast forward to always play boot ball (which is direct play) helpful to developing the rest of the players? Those kind of moronic ideas stem from short-sighted, spoiled, parents who are focused on wins, wins only to sooth their twised egos so they might strut proudly on the way back to to their car post game. This is exactly why the US is so very far behind in many things, especially soccer. Immediate gratification traded for long-term success drives these choices in club and rec soccer. One style of play takes patience and strategic thinking the other caters to emotionally immature children pretending to be sports educated soccer moms. These parents really just want to post a pic of their DD, sporting a medal from their latest boot ball win onto Facebook, and are more interested in filling out their latest scrapbook, than actually dreaming of their kids learning the beautiful game. The "Soccer Mom", ignorant of the game, drivin by boredom and ego, more intertested in bragging to the neighbor about their kids meaningless weekend success, are the single worst thing to occur to US soccer. Tell Mom to stay home, away from the pitch, find a new hobby (kids sports are not an adult hobby) and stop ruining this game with your cursory knowledge of Soccer. Go back to school, volunteer at a homeless shelter, or just take up drinking during the day, just stay out of this game please.

Well said but, your forgot to add the crazy soccer Dads too. There on the sidelines too.