DMCV Sharks Girls Director

[BIGD]

If we are looking to use ECNL as the college scouting and training our daughters for their future college days,

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.

 

[Emma]

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.

When ECNL broke off from local leagues and established themselves as a training ground for elite players, it created an environment where competition is above team camaraderie. It works for some kids and they really enjoy it. I don't think it's the root cause of club soccer problems as non ECNL teams should remain local and retain local identities. Stay local and play local always worked for our son and works a lot better for us as a family. We don't do it for financial reasons or personal gains, we do it because our daughter enjoys playing soccer with very competitive and driven girls. If she ends up getting a scholarship or getting into a better academic school because of it, great. We aren't unrealistic parents focusing on soccer. School, work and volunteer activities are her priorities.

We hate the politics in soccer when parents or relatives get involved with threats or carrots. The root problem in club soccer is unrealistic/misguided parents and Clubs taking advantage of this to profit.

Through the years, it has been fun to see what MW has been able to do with all his teams, starting with the 06s.

 

[MyDaughtersAKeeper]

I have been thinking about pool play lately and maybe even signing my kid up. I have had great conversations with Deza and Piper. However, after our talk I found an article from US Soccer that kinda has me “stuck on stupid” regarding pool play.

In short, USSF takes the position that development is not about how a player is currently performing but about how good they can be in the future. So under pool play, it’s very possible to have a player with a very high performance ceiling benched and missing development because they are in a slump for a player that is currently performing better with a lower ceiling...why is this a good thing or am I missing something?

Guiding Principle 1. Talent can be developed in the "right" environment

A player always develops in and with his or her environment. There is a clear relationship between the players (performance) characteristics and the environment.

www.linkedin.com

Is the bulk of development coming from games or the practices? If practice is where talent is developed, and games are where it is tested, then playing on the ECRL team doesn't hurt the player as the player is training with the "pool" during the week and that is where the development happens.
Personally I think the "pool" approach is more appropriate at the younger ages. As the players get into HS then the focus is more on recruiting for college and other factors that motivate players that diminish the value of the "pool."

 

[SoccerLocker]

If your DD wants to play anywhere beyond club, aren't playing pools exactly what's in store for her? Rosters of ~30 all vying for starting spots.

Anson Dorrance takes it one step further at UNC. Each week players are ranked from 1-30 and it's posted publicly for all to see.

The transfer portal for women's college soccer is incredibly busy each year. I would guess that most of this is because these DDs haven't ever had to compete for time. Maybe it's a blessing to have them try it on for size before they commit to playing in college.

 

[Kicker4Life]

My dd is the opposite but it makes for a fun debate. I think the "go getter" for yourself first over friendship & teammates ((care for others before yourself)) is what sucks about soccer these days but trust me, I understand that mentality all too well. I dont think the go getter attitude will help the team win championship. The best college teams that win win by putting team first, not the one go getter. Good luck to your player in college.

I know I will regret this, but what is the difference between a “go getter” and a player with “ganas” (as you consistently reference)?

 

[espola]

If your DD wants to play anywhere beyond club, aren't playing pools exactly what's in store for her? Rosters of ~30 all vying for starting spots.

Anson Dorrance takes it one step further at UNC. Each week players are ranked from 1-30 and it's posted publicly for all to see.

The transfer portal for women's college soccer is incredibly busy each year. I would guess that most of this is because these DDs haven't ever had to compete for time. Maybe it's a blessing to have them try it on for size before they commit to playing in college.

Every college player, male or female, eventually realizes that his new teammates were top players in their schools and/or clubs, also.

 

[LASTMAN14]

I know I will regret this, but what is the difference between a “go getter” and a player with “ganas” (as you consistently reference)?

Let me try...
go getter=female
ganas=male

 

[Technician72]

Let me try...
go getter=female
ganas=male

Although ganas is applicable to both female and male, it's probably more prevalent with males in sport motivations. Then you have the almost exclusive to males "Huevos" meaning Testicular Fortitude.

I remember my dad telling my girls to play with more "Huevos" when they first started and my oldest telling him, "Yeah grandpa, we don't have those..."

 

[Emma]

My dd is the opposite but it makes for a fun debate. I think the "go getter" for yourself first over friendship & teammates ((care for others before yourself)) is what sucks about soccer these days but trust me, I understand that mentality all too well. I dont think the go getter attitude will help the team win championship. The best college teams that win win by putting team first, not the one go getter. Good luck to your player in college.

I'm going to try to spin this in the most positive light possible and pretend that you are not calling my child selfish without actually knowing her.

For my daughter, she wants to excel at soccer and wants teammates who want to excel at soccer too. She's demanding of her teammates and herself. She's very tough on herself and strives to improve her passing game & IQ as well as her individuals skills. When a teammate is struggling, she goes out of her way to help them. What she doesn't want from soccer teammates, is an attitude of trainng complacency and not trying to win at every game.

For friendships, she doesn't care if they play soccer well or do anything well as long as their moral compass is in the right direction.

 

[BIGD]

The root problem in club soccer is unrealistic/misguided parents and Clubs taking advantage of this to profit.

We are in agreement, I was just noting that the focus on the financial and personal gain is part of what drives the behaviors described above.

 

[BIGD]

When ECNL broke off from local leagues and established themselves as a training ground for elite players, it created an environment where competition is above team camaraderie.

Can you clarify this? Winning competitions or individual competition is above team camaraderie? So they don’t practice team first?

 

[Emma]

Can you clarify this? Winning competitions or individual competition is above team camaraderie? So they don’t practice team first?

ECNL sold their program to pull in elite players from local clubs, not promoting the best teams. Notice, they don't recruit entire teams who are great and promote them to the ECNL league, they pull indvidual players, breaking up teams. Play time is not guaranteed on any ECNL team unless they have no subs.

If you are looking for team leagues, SOCAL league is good and I hope it becomes better than ECNL and MLS NEXT because it has a promotion and relegation system based on teams.

 

[Emma]

We are in agreement, I was just noting that the focus on the financial and personal gain is part of what drives the behaviors described above.

I've definitely seen some of this but the bulk have been mostly prideful parents who can't see their daughters playing on a B team or a club that is not "SURF" or "LAFC" or "BLUES" even if the other environments are better for their child's development or well being. It's Pride then money.

 

[Emma]

Slump or just having a tough week is where mental and emotional BS can come into play from "some" coaches who have no clue about females at around 13-18 years of age. After much thought, I hate pool play for girls except for the one's who want soccer 24/7 and are truly all in and will be in camps and pools all the time to try and make the YNT. Individual soccer for 99% of the girls is not soccer, Moo!. The rest should learn how to play on a team and be friends and learn how to pass and go and be best friends. Pool play soccer is no bueno, Mugir!!

For those coaches who are playing emotional BS games with girls, they should be replaced and find new jobs in a different field. Nothing wrong with an honest coach who recognizes a player is not feeling her best and allowing her to build her confidence at a lower level game that week versus forcing her to get killed over and over by a tough opponent or having her sit on the bench and watch people play instead.

 

[BIGD]

ECNL sold their program to pull in elite players from local clubs, not promoting the best teams. Notice, they don't recruit entire teams who are great and promote them to the ECNL league, they pull indvidual players, breaking up teams. Play time is not guaranteed on any ECNL team unless they have no subs.

If you are looking for team leagues, SOCAL league is good and I hope it becomes better than ECNL and MLS NEXT because it has a promotion and relegation system based on teams.

So ECNL is focused on individual development over winning competitions? Is there a competitive league that does guarantee playing time?

 

[BIGD]

I've definitely seen some of this but the bulk have been mostly prideful parents who can't see their daughters playing on a B team or a club that is not "SURF" or "LAFC" or "BLUES" even if the other environments are better for their child's development or well being. It's Pride then money.

I would say “status” or “ego” versus pride.

 

[crush]

I know I will regret this, but what is the difference between a “go getter” and a player with “ganas” (as you consistently reference)?

Great question Kicker. Please forgive me ((again, 7x7x7 times)) for all my short comings I mean that. My wife forgives me every day and so does my dd. These have been trying times for a man like me who others have had to rely on to pay their bills and it's been a pressure cooker that has lasted a lot longer then the15 days I was promised 17 months ago. I'm doing way better after taking the piece of plywood off my forehead BTW. I can see now clearly. "go getter" vs "ganas"=The Same. It all depends what one is trying to go and get that makes the difference. My dd is a "go getter" for the championship & team first with friendships and not individual pool championships and get into college. The other type of player is the "go getter" who is more for self first and winning is getting into a college and I see many players "go getter" and "ganas" in that arena as well. Both players have the "go getter" and "ganas" mindset that makes them a true "go getter." One "go getter" is not better then the other "go getter" because it's what each individual "go getter" decides is best for them. One size does not fit all. I now see all sides of the coin and it helps me be more humble. This will be a very tough U19 season. I look forward to getting this old age back together for one last competition. Good luck to you and your player and I mean that.

 

[crush]

For those coaches who are playing emotional BS games with girls, they should be replaced and find new jobs in a different field. Nothing wrong with an honest coach who recognizes a player is not feeling her best and allowing her to build her confidence at a lower level game that week versus forcing her to get killed over and over by a tough opponent or having her sit on the bench and watch people play instead.

What if the player is one of the top players and had a tough week at school or at work? Do we threaten her with B team language threats? "hey so and so, your slacking off and look like a B team players." Not cool at all I like the Travel Team (Top team) and the Regional Team (Second team). Maybe the TT has 18 solid players and RT has 18 solid players. Build teamwork at the begginiing of the season with a win it all attitude with the team you got. You might have players on both teams that could go over and help when the time is needed because of injuries. I just dont like some of the threats and head trips "some" can use to put mental pressure on the athlete going through a tough time. Hell, maybe the parents are going through a divorce. last thing a kid needs to hear is how their slacking off and because of that, B team, now!!! If your on the "team" then the team and the coach will help the player through the challenging time. I just dont like this, I just dont. I'm sorry, really dont like pool play for the girls at the youngers. Mayne u19 and thats it, moo moo moo!!!

 

[soccer5210]

I have watched MW coach since my youngest was U8 (U16 now). Use to set up scrimmages with him when he was at Newport Mesa. Each time we faced them his team played connecting soccer much better than the previous time. When he moved to Albion he had developed that 06 team into a great side. He just doesn't manage talent alone or draw it, but develops.

We were on that Newport Mesa team that he developed. Awesome coach. He will be a huge asset to Sharks.

 

[LASTMAN14]

We were on that Newport Mesa team that he developed. Awesome coach. He will be a huge asset to Sharks.

That’s awesome!