New system design

[Unregistered]

I'm the OP. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts, especially the thoughtful comments.

Here are changes I'd like to see, in no particular order:

-No standings or state cup until U14
-1 game per weekend
-1 organizing body, get rid of US Club and USYS and other organizations. Have USSF create a national program with state league, regional champions league, national champions league tournament.
-Starting at U14, teams compete within the state against each other in a fall+spring league. State cup at end of season. Top 4 teams from each state move on to a fall+spring regional champions league in the following year. Define region as driving time of X hours maximum.
-Winners of regional champions leagues compete in national champions league tournament.
-Promotion/relegation starting at U14 within the state. Only premier teams eligible for regional champions league selection.

I believe the above would create a developmental mindset for the early years, leading to a more competitive environment in the later years. People want some level of consolidation, you will get with promotion/relegation and having to earn your champions league slot. I'm sure these thoughts are not perfect nor original. Just my rambling opinions.

I'll add one more. Referees need to call more fouls and hand out more yellows at younger ages. Keep the focus on building skillful players, not goons.

[Slow Xavi]

I'm the OP. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts, especially the thoughtful comments.

Here are changes I'd like to see, in no particular order:

-No standings or state cup until U14
-1 game per weekend
-1 organizing body, get rid of US Club and USYS and other organizations. Have USSF create a national program with state league, regional champions league, national champions league tournament.
-Starting at U14, teams compete within the state against each other in a fall+spring league. State cup at end of season. Top 4 teams from each state move on to a fall+spring regional champions league in the following year. Define region as driving time of X hours maximum.
-Winners of regional champions leagues compete in national champions league tournament.
-Promotion/relegation starting at U14 within the state. Only premier teams eligible for regional champions league selection.

I believe the above would create a developmental mindset for the early years, leading to a more competitive environment in the later years. People want some level of consolidation, you will get with promotion/relegation and having to earn your champions league slot. I'm sure these thoughts are not perfect nor original. Just my rambling opinions.

Lots of good ideas here; don't see playing for trophies as being a major issue at young ages (Messi was playing for trophies well before age 14), but like a lot of the other sentiment.

I'll add one more. Referees need to call more fouls and hand out more yellows at younger ages. Keep the focus on building skillful players, not goons.

Agreed! Especially on the girls' side, where there is a gigantic double standard.

[Unregistered]

2v2 tryouts

Lots of good ideas here; don't see playing for trophies as being a major issue at young ages (Messi was playing for trophies well before age 14), but like a lot of the other sentiment.



Agreed! Especially on the girls' side, where there is a gigantic double standard.

there is a way to do objective tryouts, and it's a 2v2 tournament. unfortunately it is time consuming, because everyone has to play with everyone as a teammate and against everyone. once it's finished though, you can see who the best players are relative to their peers (the ones who participated), and also who the best defender is, and who the best attacker and best assist-person is also.

this will never catch on, except one small state back east used it for odp back in the mid 90s. it is a great way to evaluate your team once the players have been assigned to you, though. i tell my players it's how they tryout for positions.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Slow Xavi;1762281]Lots of good ideas here; don't see playing for trophies as being a major issue at young ages (Messi was playing for trophies well before age 14), but like a lot of the other sentiment.


As soon as you introduce trophies, coaches will start to pick their team, oftentimes at the expense of the larger group. Focus then shifts away from developing players to developing the team.

[Unregistered]

We have a tryout system where the best players who try out make the team and the parents pay for their kid to play on that team. Don't blame ECNL for having 2 teams, don't blame TA clubs for encouraging their members not to play ECNL, don't blame Thorns Academy. Don't blame there being too many clubs. None of those prevent consolidation! Parents of the very top 18 players (you know who you are!), pick any ONE team and go try out. Since your kid is top 18 in the state, they'll make the team and, bingo, consolidation. This isn't complicated. As long as parents of the top players choose to have their kids tryout for different teams, their will be multiple options hoping to get your money. It's all in within your power and it just boils down to the elite group simply choosing to play together.

Sadly, even if all the top Oregon girls play on one team, they'll still struggle vs CA, CO, TX, WA, etc. but we have only themselves to blame for lack of consolidation.

I think this thread was started in an attempt to talk about what can change rather than how great ECNL is or how bad players are. Thank you.

[Slow Xavi]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;1762352]

Lots of good ideas here; don't see playing for trophies as being a major issue at young ages (Messi was playing for trophies well before age 14), but like a lot of the other sentiment.


As soon as you introduce trophies, coaches will start to pick their team, oftentimes at the expense of the larger group. Focus then shifts away from developing players to developing the team.

I think the pursuit of team (and club for that matter) goals is venerable and, if done correctly, align with and amplify individual development goals.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Slow Xavi;1762432]

I think the pursuit of team (and club for that matter) goals is venerable and, if done correctly, align with and amplify individual development goals.

Agreed in theory. Too often poorly executed.

[Unregistered]

there is a way to do objective tryouts, and it's a 2v2 tournament. unfortunately it is time consuming, because everyone has to play with everyone as a teammate and against everyone. once it's finished though, you can see who the best players are relative to their peers (the ones who participated), and also who the best defender is, and who the best attacker and best assist-person is also.

this will never catch on, except one small state back east used it for odp back in the mid 90s. it is a great way to evaluate your team once the players have been assigned to you, though. i tell my players it's how they tryout for positions.

I agree this could be a portion of the tryout. But it leaves so many important factors in the game out. What about choosing between multiple options for a pass vs shot? Off the ball movement to create space for another teammate? When to switch? Etc.

[Unregistered]

Agreed on ODP like concept. Maybe then I'll add the following: Each premier level team is allowed to identify 6 players to invite to a state level ID program, overseen by national team recruiters, not locally affiliated clubs. National recruiters then invite selection to a national id camp.

Totally agree on keeping national team separate from club team.

We have the underpinnings of much of I'm writing about and that's why I wrote that my plan is not original. I think the largest impediments are really the focus on winning too early and too many factions wanting things done their way.

This is already being done to a certain extent with the training centers that used to be at UP. Is this still going? Is there a version for the boys?

Us soccer sends out invitations after clubs nominate players.

[Unregistered]

I agree this could be a portion of the tryout. But it leaves so many important factors in the game out. What about choosing between multiple options for a pass vs shot? Off the ball movement to create space for another teammate? When to switch? Etc.

the multiple options is a good point. pass or shoot is there, off ball movement is there, if i were running tryouts, i would ask for more you're right. i would go 2v2, then 4v4, then 8v8 and then 11v11, but this is obviously over a month or so... lol

then again, this is only for IDENTIFYING the best players OBJECTIVELY. so you can tell mom and dad, "you know what? you think your darling player is the best but out of everyone here, they're really only 13 best, and the 15th best defender and 4th best goal scorer, and only 8th in assists." (just an example.) with numbers, so it's clear, and easy to understand.