HS Soccer. In or out.

Denied

BRONZE
Now that HS Soccer is starting sooner I was curious if anyone besides DA players are opting out.
 
I know players who don't play because they think the quality of coaching is significantly sub standard, as well as the level of their teammates, so they see it as a waste of time. Combine that with doing 6-8 hours of running per week instead of actually, you know, practicing soccer, was frustrating for them.
 
I know players who don't play because they think the quality of coaching is significantly sub standard, as well as the level of their teammates, so they see it as a waste of time. Combine that with doing 6-8 hours of running per week instead of actually, you know, practicing soccer, was frustrating for them.
Most, not all, HS coaches are club coaches so I would think that training would be at a similar level.
 
There are reasons to play and to not play. IMHO, any club player that already has a soccer scholarship would be foolish to play HS soccer and risk injury and the loss of that scholarship. Just spend the time letting your body heal, training with a good trainer and doing strength work. My daughter skipped HS soccer her senior year because she did not want to take the chance of getting hurt and losing her scholarship. Her junior year she knew of 7 girls that suffered serious injuries due to overly physical play by less skilled players with several of those never playing again. She had two close friends that tore ACL, MCL and meniscus due to tackles by less skilled players in pointless games against bad teams. Both girls lost good soccer scholarships and have never played again.
 
Most, not all, HS coaches are club coaches so I would think that training would be at a similar level.

YMMV but depending on if private or public school almost all the HS players also play(ed) club for the ones in our area.

There is what 4-5 divisions so the level of play can vary and some coaches are really more teacher or general PE vs soccer knowledgeable coach since many public ones don't hire just soccer coaches they need to teach a class the other periods. Private is different and some HS have paid assistants from the club circuits.
 
YMMV but depending on if private or public school almost all the HS players also play(ed) club for the ones in our area.

There is what 4-5 divisions so the level of play can vary and some coaches are really more teacher or general PE vs soccer knowledgeable coach since many public ones don't hire just soccer coaches they need to teach a class the other periods. Private is different and some HS have paid assistants from the club circuits.
I guess my kids were/are lucky. In their league 5 out of the 6 schools have club coaches ( boys side) I've lost track of the girls side since both my girls have graduated.
 
There are reasons to play and to not play. IMHO, any club player that already has a soccer scholarship would be foolish to play HS soccer and risk injury and the loss of that scholarship. Just spend the time letting your body heal, training with a good trainer and doing strength work. My daughter skipped HS soccer her senior year because she did not want to take the chance of getting hurt and losing her scholarship. Her junior year she knew of 7 girls that suffered serious injuries due to overly physical play by less skilled players with several of those never playing again. She had two close friends that tore ACL, MCL and meniscus due to tackles by less skilled players in pointless games against bad teams. Both girls lost good soccer scholarships and have never played again.
That has to be tough for a kid to sit out and watch their teammates play knowing they can help them but I think it's the right call.
 
In. My son's club coach is also the HS coach. He was thinking about dropping soccer last year and HS invigorated him. He loved the social element of HS soccer. As a freshman on JV he was meeting new faces, wearing his Team Polo shirt on game days. Last year he got the call up to varsity for the playoff run (only freshman to get the call up) and loved the higher level and the upper classmen acknowledging him in the hallways. This year he is a sophomore and on Varsity (only 3 sophomores made it). He now walks into a situation where everybody knows him (from the call up last year) and he has a lot more confidence having played with and against this age (he currently plays 2 years up U18).

In fact I would say that his HS experience made him better. The kid is really looking forward to playing in front of his classmates and in the HS Stadium.

Its been a good experience for us on many fronts.
 
If you are a non DA player I don't see any argument against playing. If you are way better than your teammates you can take on a leadership role or goal scoring role that you might not have in club. You can play a new position. But most of all you can play with and in front of friends and classmates. You are not going to be a pro and you probably aren't going to play D1 soccer (certainly for boys, maybe not for some girls). This for most will be the last real competitive soccer experience you ever have and if you do something special with your classmates it will be something that bonds you together for the rest of your life.
 
My son is a Freshman this year, and one of the best players in his club team. He struggled with keeping his grades up last year, and we considered taking him out of club. Is High School soccer going to be a time bandit? We have an idea of the "soccer team's schedule", and it sounds like it's pretty relaxed during the off-season. Thoughts?
 
My son is a Freshman this year, and one of the best players in his club team. He struggled with keeping his grades up last year, and we considered taking him out of club. Is High School soccer going to be a time bandit? We have an idea of the "soccer team's schedule", and it sounds like it's pretty relaxed during the off-season. Thoughts?

Not sure how competitive of a HS or what division your in? but compared to most clubs HS is less demanding time wise but the game schedules are pretty compressed (2-3 a week sometimes) but almost of it is during the day.

Practice 6 period or after school, play games later nov-jan, tournment in winter, playoffs Feb and that's about.

The tough thing is if your playing club also and double practicing the same day, wears you down especially if it's 2x a week or more.
 
I think that HS soccer is more demanding than club. There is practice or a game everyday after school. Some schools have practice last period but not all. In San Diego Section (600.1.c) There is no practice allowed with an outside Team (club)
 
I think that HS soccer is more demanding than club. There is practice or a game everyday after school. Some schools have practice last period but not all. In San Diego Section (600.1.c) There is no practice allowed with an outside Team (club)


Yes, I am curious about the CIF sections where this is not the case? At least I’m San Diego you won’t have double soccer practice, HS & club, bc you can’t play both at the same time.
 
Yes, I am curious about the CIF sections where this is not the case? At least I’m San Diego you won’t have double soccer practice, HS & club, bc you can’t play both at the same time.

Southern section: HS practice sessions overlap fall club practices, league play, & tournments. Once the first HS game yeah you don't play both but in the meantime double practicing is going on.
 
There are reasons to play and to not play. IMHO, any club player that already has a soccer scholarship would be foolish to play HS soccer and risk injury and the loss of that scholarship. Just spend the time letting your body heal, training with a good trainer and doing strength work. My daughter skipped HS soccer her senior year because she did not want to take the chance of getting hurt and losing her scholarship. Her junior year she knew of 7 girls that suffered serious injuries due to overly physical play by less skilled players with several of those never playing again. She had two close friends that tore ACL, MCL and meniscus due to tackles by less skilled players in pointless games against bad teams. Both girls lost good soccer scholarships and have never played again.
Feeling luck is on our side-no injuries as of yet, yet i feel the level of Coaching and training is about equal as Club. We also attend private school and my son does private training. Lately, he has concerns of injuries.
 
There are reasons to play and to not play. IMHO, any club player that already has a soccer scholarship would be foolish to play HS soccer and risk injury and the loss of that scholarship. Just spend the time letting your body heal, training with a good trainer and doing strength work. My daughter skipped HS soccer her senior year because she did not want to take the chance of getting hurt and losing her scholarship. Her junior year she knew of 7 girls that suffered serious injuries due to overly physical play by less skilled players with several of those never playing again. She had two close friends that tore ACL, MCL and meniscus due to tackles by less skilled players in pointless games against bad teams. Both girls lost good soccer scholarships and have never played again.
Can/Do colleges really take away scholarship if you get hurt playing HS? How is that any different than getting hurt while playing in ECNL/DA in your senior year as far as college is concerned?
 
Can/Do colleges really take away scholarship if you get hurt playing HS? How is that any different than getting hurt while playing in ECNL/DA in your senior year as far as college is concerned?

(Unfortunately) I know a number of girls who have had ACL tears in their HS years after they had made verbal commitments. Some tears occurred in HS, some during club. Not one girl has lost her offer (including one who has suffered two tears). It's anecdotal, of course, but in my sample size, it still represents more than 5 and fewer than a dozen girls so not tiny.
 
From a pure time commitment, HS is less demanding for my boy because he will travel nearly 50 minutes to 1 hour to and from club practice (roughly 2 hours). 4 hour commitment each day, 3 to 4 times a week. HS is 2 hours within a 5 minute drive ... wonderful.
 
From a pure time commitment, HS is less demanding for my boy because he will travel nearly 50 minutes to 1 hour to and from club practice (roughly 2 hours). 4 hour commitment each day, 3 to 4 times a week. HS is 2 hours within a 5 minute drive ... wonderful.

You describe our exact experience.
 
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