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Mullet said:
There is a "little chippy" and then there is reckless play because players are targeted by lesser skilled players who have no other way to compete. We should want better soccer than this because it drives the most talented players away from the high school game. Poor coaching, ignorant and overzealous play due to lower skill leads to more athletic and overtly physical play and ruins the potential of HS soccer.
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I agree. However, I would also add that the same applies to most elite clubs. You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip but elite clubs are trying. In other words, most of elite club soccer sucks and is dangerous too.
 
MacDre said:
I agree. However, I would also add that the same applies to most elite clubs. You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip but elite clubs are trying. In other words, most of elite club soccer sucks and is dangerous too.
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I'm talking about reckless/dirty play. All sports have an assumed level of danger to them. There are certainly players at all levels who are reckless but the higher the overall level of play the less reward there is to playing recklessly. This does not mean that a player does not target another player for a level of retribution but in general that has not been my experience at the higher levels of youth soccer overall.
 
MacDre said:
I agree. However, I would also add that the same applies to most elite clubs. You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip but elite clubs are trying. In other words, most of elite club soccer sucks and is dangerous too.
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A requirement to track injuries in all youth sports would help.

Something as simple as “2000 girls played ECNL in California last year. They had 156 moderate to severe concussions and 207 ACL surgeries.”. Or whatever the real numbers are.

Have to make it by level, so top teams can’t hide their injury rates behind all the rec players.
 
Mullet said:
I'm talking about reckless/dirty play. All sports have an assumed level of danger to them. There are certainly players at all levels who are reckless but the higher the overall level of play the less reward there is to playing recklessly. This does not mean that a player does not target another player for a level of retribution but in general that has not been my experience at the higher levels of youth soccer overall.
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I saw reckless players in both club and high school but more in high school I will admit. I saw a little Sally the club girl player kick another girl in the back of the leg when the ref wasnt looking. Sally usually got what she wanted from her daddy and she wanted to score goals and win but her team was losing to my dd state cup champion team and she wanted to taste victory too but she couldn't so she kicked our players and yelled at them and her teammates. High school I saw a girl a few years ago get her scalp ripped off in CIF game. A guy ref told me that girls play way dirtier, rougher then boys and that's why so many injuries and kickball.
 
Mullet said:
There is a "little chippy" and then there is reckless play because players are targeted by lesser skilled players who have no other way to compete. We should want better soccer than this because it drives the most talented players away from the high school game. Poor coaching, ignorant and overzealous play due to lower skill leads to more athletic and overtly physical play and ruins the potential of HS soccer.
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So true. High school soccer is close to talentless.
 
If there’s no club season this year, and you (the parent) has to choose between HS soccer and small instructional group training but no games, which would it be?
 
Giesbock said:
If there’s no club season this year, and you (the parent) has to choose between HS soccer and small instructional group training but no games, which would it be?
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That's a tough one, let me think through that and post my response at the end of the day :)
 
CaliKlines said:
So true. High school soccer is close to talentless.
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The skill level in high school soccer can vary greatly. I have seen some teams that are not good and others that can compete with top SoCal club teams. Their school has had multiple players committed to D1 and D2 colleges throughout the years. We are fortunate to have a great program at my kid's high school and look forward to watching those games way more than watching club. My kids love it and are already talking about high school for this upcoming season.
 
Giesbock said:
If there’s no club season this year, and you (the parent) has to choose between HS soccer and small instructional group training but no games, which would it be?
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HS and it is not even close. What is the point of the social distance training camps if there are no games?
 
I guess I’ll do the old talk to myself thing and answer my own question. By the way @Traore appreciate your though, but I’ll respectfully disagree. If I’m playing the long game, (eg. 4 years of college ball which might lead to something else) I’ll go with high quality instructional training over typical , even champ level high school ball. I get that game situations are needed eventually for well rounded growth, but the modern game requires skills, solid mechanics and athleticism.

still hoping EJ weighs in with his thoughts on the matter! ;)
 
Giesbock said:
I guess I’ll do the old talk to myself thing and answer my own question. By the way @Traore appreciate your though, but I’ll respectfully disagree. If I’m playing the long game, (eg. 4 years of college ball which might lead to something else) I’ll go with high quality instructional training over typical , even champ level high school ball. I get that game situations are needed eventually for well rounded growth, but the modern game requires skills, solid mechanics and athleticism.

still hoping EJ weighs in with his thoughts on the matter! ;)
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I will let others take this head on first. I have much to say on this subject and I can say 100% their is no right or wrong or either or.
 
Ellejustus said:
I will let others take this head on first. I have much to say on this subject and I can say 100% their is no right or wrong or either or.
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Man, guess I'll bite. Quality, consistent, and relevent training trumps bad game play any day. Reinforcing bad behavior is not a good thing. Game speed is certainly required, especially when trying to instill decision making, etc. But if your player is playing in bad game situations, or if they are making the right decisions but no one else is, then it's not a good thing.

I'm sure there are a ton of opinions out there. Find your player a good old man league they can play in. Old crafty guys have to rely on positioning to beat younger players. I'm not a soccer player, but a good friend is, 4 yr starter at syracuse and a legendary old man player. His kids would join him every once in while during the off season. He swore it was the best way to teach kids positioning, first touch (and how to trash talk).

Years back, we spent a week in Mexico playing nothing but beach soccer with the resort staff. Bare feet, quick play, small sided, split second decision making, not chippy - it was awesome. Kids came back refreshed and with a new perspective on soccer.
 
Giesbock said:
If there’s no club season this year, and you (the parent) has to choose between HS soccer and small instructional group training but no games, which would it be?
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I would choose the small instructional training but no games because that has been the philosophy of my daughters club in developing her. She was allowed to train with boys but was not guaranteed minutes. She rode the bench for years before she broke through. Now, she’s a very technical player and reaping the benefits.
 
This afternoon I heard about several DA girls who bailed on their teams to jump for ECNL powerhouses. Didn’t go as planned for all of them. Got bumped down to the ECRL squad and into the turmoil of an uncertain season with a new team, rejection and self doubt.

Power up Girl’s Academy League!
 
Sounds like a power up for ECRL not only did the league add full DA teams and full Blues ECNL teams and Surf DPL teams that were ECNL a couple years ago but now adding DA players to ECRL rosters

I feel bad for the girls first a league the DA bailed on them now clubs are bailing on them. Sucks

The half dozen or so girls I know that jumped to an ECNL team and club are still rostered on team not dropped although 1 of the teams has 24 girls rostered on it :eek:
 
ToonArmy said:
Sounds like a power up for ECRL not only did the league add full DA teams and full Blues ECNL teams and Surf DPL teams that were ECNL a couple years ago but now adding DA players to ECRL rosters

I feel bad for the girls first a league the DA bailed on them now clubs are bailing on them. Sucks

The half dozen or so girls I know that jumped to an ECNL team and club are still rostered on team not dropped although 1 of the teams has 24 girls rostered on it :eek:
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Let's hope the seasons are a go, they all have teams to play on, and depending on their ages, that college programs can scout the 21s and 22s.

Big rosters are great for clubs, not so great for players. I know there are injuries to consider but carrying rosters that are too big fosters bad team chemistry.

I would say power up California - come up with a safe and responsible way to have a season. There are tournaments being held in Texas, Utah, and New Jersey (of all places). Teams are attending pre season mini camps in Oklahoma. AND, this statement is not designed to spur a stupid, waste of time political discussion.

Enjoy
 
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