Congrats to all the ladies who played Varsity HS Soccer this year and put school & friends first, instead of individual world-class training. I don;t have any judgement on those who continue playing the DA Way. However, if you're in 8th grade or you're dd is a current soccer player but was told HS Soccer is horrible and dangerous, I would encourage you to reconsider. I want as many top players as possible to come out next year. Here's why:
Why Play HS Soccer
1. It's super fun
2. For underclassman like my dd, who last year was a Fr and a new student to Laguna, it was life saving

When she would make a nice play against the other teams, our bench would yell, "She's a Freshman."
3. Seniors kidnap the Fr at the beginning of the season around 5:30am without them knowing. Take them out for a little breakfast and dress them up for school that day

4. Hang with and play against 17 and 18 year olds
5. School Pride
6. Community Pride
7. Helps with confidence as one is going through life
8. Try and win CIF Championship
Risks
1. Injury
2. Play a different position
3. Set you back from true development
4. Club coach thinks your dumb for even wanting to play HS Soccer with your friends from school
5. It's free
6. Others will not like it either and will tell you like things like my dd case, "She can get hurt." and "we need her back healthy." or, "HS Soccer is unwatchable"
7. If you play HS Soccer, you will forget how to play possession
8. If waivers go away mid-season and then your blocked from returning to the GDA second half of the season (only applies to Private School kids).