DMCV Sharks Girls Director

[LouSag]

I don't have a horse in this race and am genuinely curious as to how player pools will pan out. If that golden-ticket number is something like 5 players per age group that's a tough pill to swallow for those players that are #6 - 10 where the difference in talent between player #7 (could be booted down to team B) and player #5 (holds golden ticket) is razor thin. I would guess that the magic number for players guaranteed A team roster spot at all times would be a bit higher? Maybe 10?

At Surf, it is more like 13-14 core players on the ECNL and 6-8 “floater” players that theoretically move between the A and B teams. Whether you like it or not, this is the future for the girls as they age up to a more competitive level. High school, college and pro teams are all “pool play” so get used to it. Furthermore, at the pro level, there are no age brackets hindering who can be on the team. The best and most prepared players suit up for the match. Deza and staff at Surf are just prepping/preparing these girls for the future. IMO other clubs will follow this template. Has Surf lost a few floater players to other clubs where they can go start on an ECNL team? Yes they have. Yet more and more numbers come out to test themselves and attempt to make the top team. At the same time, the ECRL team strengthens too. Darwinism at its finest.
Surf, like it’s main So Cal competitors LAFC, Blues, Legends (would-have said Albion 2 years ago) strives to be a top national club. Moving towards this professional template is the future. Sorry, but you don’t hear any of the established A team ECNL players complaining. They know they have to push themselves—all of them do continuous outside the club private training weekly. Pool play is here to stay.

 

[what-happened]

At Surf, it is more like 13-14 core players on the ECNL and 6-8 “floater” players that theoretically move between the A and B teams. Whether you like it or not, this is the future for the girls as they age up to a more competitive level. High school, college and pro teams are all “pool play” so get used to it. Furthermore, at the pro level, there are no age brackets hindering who can be on the team. The best and most prepared players suit up for the match. Deza and staff at Surf are just prepping/preparing these girls for the future. IMO other clubs will follow this template. Has Surf lost a few floater players to other clubs where they can go start on an ECNL team? Yes they have. Yet more and more numbers come out to test themselves and attempt to make the top team. At the same time, the ECRL team strengthens too. Darwinism at its finest.
Surf, like it’s main So Cal competitors LAFC, Blues, Legends (would-have said Albion 2 years ago) strives to be a top national club. Moving towards this professional template is the future. Sorry, but you don’t hear any of the established A team ECNL players complaining. They know they have to push themselves—all of them do continuous outside the club private training weekly. Pool play is here to stay.

How can you be so sure that pool play is here to stay? - hasn't really even started. The difference between YOUTH club soccer and the pros/college is where the dollars come from. How are HS players pool players?

Pool play is effective, the proof is in the eruo pudding. They have a different system - not pay to play. Plenty of Surf shield carriers on here who are getting offended rather easily. This isn't an attack on Surf. They provide value to the youth club sport community, driving other clubs to keep up. I don't think pool play is an innovation that will stand the test of time on this side of the pond. It's just an opinion, you are certainly entitled to yours.

 

[soccermail2020]

When a player is in a slump, theoretically, in pool play, the player should be playing in the ECRL team games because at their current state, the player isn't up to par to play the ECNL opponents. So instead of sitting on the ECNL bench while they are in a slump, they can still be competing on game day at ECRL games. Once the player shows she is out her of slump, she will be chosen to be back in ECNL games.

Although the concept that you present is solid, the reality of a coach/club managing the PROCESS to best benefit each player is highly unlikely.
From recent experience, a coach who has three+\~ teams and any other responsibilities will unlikely be able to be in tune enough with each player to make sure they end up in the correct spot each week. The juggling and scheduling alone makes an excel spreadsheet lover cringe. Most coaches roll into their Sat game with an “idea” of who to play where. Now ask that same coach to plan for roughly 45 kids, 4 days in advance on who will play in which game/team. Logistical nightmare. But if anyone COULD do it, it would be SURF.

 

[N00B]

Why so much ‘Surf’ chatter in this thread?

 

[LouSag]

How can you be so sure that pool play is here to stay? - hasn't really even started. The difference between YOUTH club soccer and the pros/college is where the dollars come from. How are HS players pool players?

Pool play is effective, the proof is in the eruo pudding. They have a different system - not pay to play. Plenty of Surf shield carriers on here who are getting offended rather easily. This isn't an attack on Surf. They provide value to the youth club sport community, driving other clubs to keep up. I don't think pool play is an innovation that will stand the test of time on this side of the pond. It's just an opinion, you are certainly entitled to yours.

How are high school players pool players? On a whim, the high school coach can move any player(s) between varsity, JV and JVR. Isn’t that the very definition of a pool player rotating between teams based on need and ability.

Maybe I should rephrase my above, pool play is here to stay for the bigger clubs like Surf, LAFC, Blues and Legends. Is it really that different on who makes the first team/second team—now decided on a weekly basis instead of an annual basis. And you get the benefits of training with first team players and coaches 2-3 times per week. It’s all about development, I hope….

 

[GT45]

At Surf, it is more like 13-14 core players on the ECNL and 6-8 “floater” players that theoretically move between the A and B teams. Whether you like it or not, this is the future for the girls as they age up to a more competitive level. High school, college and pro teams are all “pool play” so get used to it. Furthermore, at the pro level, there are no age brackets hindering who can be on the team. The best and most prepared players suit up for the match. Deza and staff at Surf are just prepping/preparing these girls for the future. IMO other clubs will follow this template. Has Surf lost a few floater players to other clubs where they can go start on an ECNL team? Yes they have. Yet more and more numbers come out to test themselves and attempt to make the top team. At the same time, the ECRL team strengthens too. Darwinism at its finest.
Surf, like it’s main So Cal competitors LAFC, Blues, Legends (would-have said Albion 2 years ago) strives to be a top national club. Moving towards this professional template is the future. Sorry, but you don’t hear any of the established A team ECNL players complaining. They know they have to push themselves—all of them do continuous outside the club private training weekly. Pool play is here to stay.

How in the heck are college teams pool play? Do you understand what it means? The vast majority of college programs do not field JV or second teams. It is simply a single college team. No idea how you get pool play there. And, to say there is pool play at high schools is a big stretch too.

 

[LouSag]

How in the heck are college teams pool play? Do you understand what it means? The vast majority of college programs do not field JV or second teams. It is simply a single college team. No idea how you get pool play there. And, to say there is pool play at high schools is a big stretch too.

It depends on the college conference, but the number of players rostered varies between 27-30 players. My math is a bit fuzzy, but that’s more than 2 teams. Pool of players to choose from. Yes.
Isn’t the definition of pool play being that a coach is able to choose from a pool of players for each match?
So high school and college and pro is most definitely pool play.

 

[crush]

And this is ultimately the root cause of the issues in club soccer. Parents and players participating with the objective to secure a financial result and personal gain. Not saying it’s necessarily right or wrong, but it’s drastically changed the youth sports landscape. It’s why the quality team experience has been replaced with individuals playing for personal gain and is a major contributor to the politics.

I think pool play effectiveness has everything to do with the intent and how it’s managed. If the intent is to create a fiercly dog eat dog competitive environment to improve players I think that will ultimately fail and be an awful experience. If the intent is to reach more players and help them improve, it could be beneficial. The key will be the communication. If the coaches have very clear communication and establish trust with the players AND the parents, it could go well. Based on my experience, even the best coaches would have trouble with this task.

Oh man, it's kind of like the "Country Club Pool" play, if you know what I mean....lol!!! My dd got kicked out of "Country Club Pool" and pushed in the "Public Pool."

 

[crush]

Pool play issues I have as a father and 11 years into this club soccer stuff. Please take this with a grain of salt.

Insensitive Coach ((IC)): ((Usually has no kids or no dd for sure. Clueless on the mental aspects of young females)).
Pool Player ((PP)). A player who is not really on a team but more a part of the club. Many ways to spin this. I spin it one way. It sucks for the PP and their parents but hey, they have more than one team to be placed on so all should be happy, right?

A day at the pool can be very hard on certain females but not all.

IC: Hey player, what's wrong with you today? If you don't give me more effort, I'm sending you to the B team
PP: No, not the B team, my dad will be pissed!!!!
IC: Hey player, better job but it's a little too late. I shouldnt have to yell at you for slacking off at the beginning of practice and goofing around with a smile and talking with your friends. I need more "go getter" from you so B team this weekend.
Dad ((after practice)): Well, A team?
IC: B team dad.
Dad: WTF!!!! I dont drive down here for B team. Your way better then so and so and for sure way better then so and so. Did Susie make A team?
PP: I'm so sorry father. I tried, I really did father.
Dad: Give me your phone. You make A team, you get it back
PP: Ok
Dad ((calls IC)): Coach, you told me at the beginning of the season that my dd was A team all the way. WTF coach?
IC: Truth be told, I picked 4 more players after I told you she was A team. She is now B team unless she steps up
Dad: Money back please
IC: Too late sucker
Dad: Oh ya, that's what you think
IC: Go ahead and try. I know everyone in the game and my word is gold. Your a stupid dad and no one will believe you. No one like's a club hopper either or a dad snooping around asking too many questions.

Pool play for girls is no good guys, moo!!!!

 

[Eagle33]

Pool play issues I have as a father and 11 years into this club soccer stuff. Please take this with a grain of salt.

Insensitive Coach ((IC)): ((Usually has no kids or no dd for sure. Clueless on the mental aspects of young females)).
Pool Player ((PP)). A player who is not really on a team but more a part of the club. Many ways to spin this. I spin it one way. It sucks for the PP and their parents but hey, they have more than one team to be placed on so all should be happy, right?

A day at the pool can be very hard on certain females but not all.

IC: Hey player, what's wrong with you today? If you don't give me more effort, I'm sending you to the B team
PP: No, not the B team, my dad will be pissed!!!!
IC: Hey player, better job but it's a little too late. I shouldnt have to yell at you for slacking off at the beginning of practice and goofing around with a smile and talking with your friends. I need more "go getter" from you so B team this weekend.
Dad ((after practice)): Well, A team?
IC: B team dad.
Dad: WTF!!!! I dont drive down here for B team. Your way better then so and so and for sure way better then so and so. Did Susie make A team?
PP: I'm so sorry father. I tried, I really did father.
Dad: Give me your phone. You make A team, you get it back
PP: Ok
Dad ((calls IC)): Coach, you told me at the beginning of the season that my dd was A team all the way. WTF coach?
IC: Truth be told, I picked 4 more players after I told you she was A team. She is now B team unless she steps up
Dad: Money back please
IC: Too late sucker
Dad: Oh ya, that's what you think
IC: Go ahead and try. I know everyone in the game and my word is gold. Your a stupid dad and no one will believe you. No one like's a club hopper either or a dad snooping around asking too many questions.

Pool play for girls is no good guys, moo!!!!

@crush, was Goats also a pool play team?

 

[crush]

@crush, was Goats also a pool play team?

I can say that 90% of the GOATs back then came from the public pools and were selectively recruited by our two wise coach dads ((they never coached to be honest, which was my favorite part)). The girls handled things and it was super fun for them. One requirement was that you had to be an active pool club member at the forum and not a weirdo dad. I feel honored I made the cut. I do know of one father that went up to coach and told him that his dd is goat worthy but only plays forward. No invite for that right there. Eagle, any GOAT FC playing in Blues Cup this year?

 

[MacDre]

At Surf, it is more like 13-14 core players on the ECNL and 6-8 “floater” players that theoretically move between the A and B teams. Whether you like it or not, this is the future for the girls as they age up to a more competitive level. High school, college and pro teams are all “pool play” so get used to it. Furthermore, at the pro level, there are no age brackets hindering who can be on the team. The best and most prepared players suit up for the match. Deza and staff at Surf are just prepping/preparing these girls for the future. IMO other clubs will follow this template. Has Surf lost a few floater players to other clubs where they can go start on an ECNL team? Yes they have. Yet more and more numbers come out to test themselves and attempt to make the top team. At the same time, the ECRL team strengthens too. Darwinism at its finest.
Surf, like it’s main So Cal competitors LAFC, Blues, Legends (would-have said Albion 2 years ago) strives to be a top national club. Moving towards this professional template is the future. Sorry, but you don’t hear any of the established A team ECNL players complaining. They know they have to push themselves—all of them do continuous outside the club private training weekly. Pool play is here to stay.

This is not accurate and is probably only applicable to the situation at SAN DIEGO SURF and maybe it’s an ECNL marketing scheme.
For example, you analysis is not applicable to Bay Area Surf or Nor Cal Surf which are not part of ECNL. It appears, the majority of the time there is spent practicing with a players shitty local team and if they are lucky they get selected to train with the pool once per month or play with the A team. I don’t see how this is beneficial. I also don’t see how the ECNL/ECRL pool situation situation is not limited to San Diego and could work elsewhere.

 

[crush]

This is not accurate and is probably only applicable to the situation at SAN DIEGO SURF and maybe it’s an ECNL marketing scheme.
For example, you analysis is not applicable to Bay Area Surf or Nor Cal Surf which are not part of ECNL. It appears, the majority of the time there is spent practicing with a players shitty local team and if they are lucky they get selected to train with the pool once per month or play with the A team. I don’t see how this is beneficial. I also don’t see how the ECNL/ECRL pool situation situation is not limited to San Diego and could work elsewhere.

Satire Friday Funny........
It seems like some places throw the kids in one big pool and then the coaches ((life guards)) look to see who can swim on their own. I just dont think that's how it really goes down in the selection process of A team and B team. Some of these life guards are cute and mama wants her dd playing with the A team.....lol! Some dads might just want to pay a little more so kid can be on A team. Happy Friday the 13th Dre. Peace to you bro

 

[OCSoccerDad3]

Looks like the player movement has started for Sharks getting players. I hear MW'S 09 Albion team left for Sharks and that he also brought 3 Albion coaches with him. Will be interesting too see if his 08 team and some of his 06 National Championship Team from 2019-2020 make the move as well. Looks like a lot of movement might take place before August 31st.

Not sure all of your intel is accurate, but friend at Albion did confirm that about 2/3 of the 2009 team is looking to jump immediately. No word on coaches or players from other age groups.

 

[futboldad1]

Not sure all of your intel is accurate, but friend at Albion did confirm that about 2/3 of the 2009 team is looking to jump immediately. No word on coaches or players from other age groups.

"2/3".... meaning two thirds or 2-3?........thanks!

This is not accurate and is probably only applicable to the situation at SAN DIEGO SURF and maybe it’s an ECNL marketing scheme.
For example, you analysis is not applicable to Bay Area Surf or Nor Cal Surf which are not part of ECNL. It appears, the majority of the time there is spent practicing with a players shitty local team and if they are lucky they get selected to train with the pool once per month or play with the A team. I don’t see how this is beneficial. I also don’t see how the ECNL/ECRL pool situation situation is not limited to San Diego and could work elsewhere.

What have the other "Surfs" got to do with San Diego....... the answer is nothing.......

 

[OCSoccerDad3]

"2/3".... meaning two thirds or 2-3?........thanks!

9-11 kids.

 

[crush]

9-11 kids.

That looks like a team of starters to me...lol!

 

[soccer5210]

Good stuff. How did he do it? Special drills? Inspiration/Encouragement? Specifically, what is it that makes dude so special in your opinion?

Gosh, hard for me to remember specifics. He coached her I think between the ages of 9 and maybe 11 and she is 18 now. I do remember that he really improved her confidence, and focused on possession play a lot in practice. Gave her a great foundation. He also was good with communication with parents that I recall. I also know my daughter really liked that he would actually play in the at-practice scrimmages with them, he made it fun for them but he was serious about bringing out the best in them. It was a good balance. We were so sad when he announced he was leaving for Albion. It was out of the blue and parents were upset, but I for one was happy for him because he was commuting all the way to Newport Beach from deep San Diego county and he had little kids. It made sense for him to go.

 

[MacDre]

What have the other "Surfs" got to do with San Diego....... the answer is nothing.......

100% not true according to my conversations. Also folks were insinuating that “pool play” is the way of the future for all clubs. I call BS!

 

[crush]

100% not true according to my conversations. Also folks were insinuating that “pool play” is the way of the future for all clubs. I call BS!

The call has been made, "BS"

 

[LASTMAN14]

100% not true according to my conversations. Also folks were insinuating that “pool play” is the way of the future for all clubs. I call BS!

Pool play seems like an experiment here and now. We will see if it works out. I also doubt most clubs will utilize it. Deza from what I was told tried to implement this somehow at SJQ, but it did not happen.