Games of the week....

It really is a ridiculous rule that DA clubs can't even scrimmage outside teams. I can understand not participating in non-DA sanctioned tournaments. Over a 10-month season, tournaments aren't really that important. But I don't understand the logic of not allowing DA teams to hold informal scrimmages with outside clubs. If a DA coach wants to scrimmage a local team, so he can get a different look I don't see the problem with that. And for players, it gives them some much needed variety instead of playing the same 8-9 teams over and over again. The scrimmages might be a good opportunity for DA teams to play reserves or pull up players from the "B" teams similar to what Real SoCal did. I'm not just not seeing the downside unless someone else an explain why it's a bad idea for DA clubs to scrimmage outside teams.
I can't find such a rule in any of the literature. Maybe there is no rule, just an urban myth style twist on "no outside competitions."
 
If the idea is "Development", then let DA teams play and scrimmage vs the best teams in the area. It is interesting, that for the 03 age group, the best teams might be non academy.
 
If the idea is "Development", then let DA teams play and scrimmage vs the best teams in the area. It is interesting, that for the 03 age group, the best teams might be non academy.

The three teams i've seen in this age group that are outstanding and play the style us soccer wants are Galaxy, Golden State, and LAUFA in no particular order.

No outside competition is a catch-all; DA teams scrimmage many different teams through the year. Recommend you either play up if the team is not DA or other DA teams so the competition is good. Same with tournaments, DA teams can play non DA teams if you play up and get prior approval. The galaxy scrimmage out of area (MX) , some of their own affiliates, other clubs teams for example.
 
The three teams i've seen in this age group that are outstanding and play the style us soccer wants are Galaxy, Golden State, and LAUFA in no particular order.

There are posters on this board who have been unfairly targeted and cheap shotted for any criticism of LAUFA. I'm not saying that LAUFA is a bad team, but in this division, there's Galaxy and GSA and then there's everybody else. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but in my mind putting LAUFA with Galaxy and GSA as "outstanding" is a huge reach.

When I say "everybody else" I'm not saying they are bad teams, they're just teams that have a few fantastic players, a few players that are not academy level and are filling roster space, and then a bunch of talented inconsistent players who are good some games, bad some games, or just slow in their decision making compared to the top players.
 
There are posters on this board who have been unfairly targeted and cheap shotted for any criticism of LAUFA. I'm not saying that LAUFA is a bad team, but in this division, there's Galaxy and GSA and then there's everybody else. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but in my mind putting LAUFA with Galaxy and GSA as "outstanding" is a huge reach.

When I say "everybody else" I'm not saying they are bad teams, they're just teams that have a few fantastic players, a few players that are not academy level and are filling roster space, and then a bunch of talented inconsistent players who are good some games, bad some games, or just slow in their decision making compared to the top players.
Agree.that is correct
 
There are posters on this board who have been unfairly targeted and cheap shotted for any criticism of LAUFA. I'm not saying that LAUFA is a bad team, but in this division, there's Galaxy and GSA and then there's everybody else. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but in my mind putting LAUFA with Galaxy and GSA as "outstanding" is a huge reach.

When I say "everybody else" I'm not saying they are bad teams, they're just teams that have a few fantastic players, a few players that are not academy level and are filling roster space, and then a bunch of talented inconsistent players who are good some games, bad some games, or just slow in their decision making compared to the top players.

Disagree on that for the DA league and I have no affiliation to anybody but the galaxy.

At the showcase and when they played galaxy LAUFA was outstanding when I watched them. The three best teams I've seen all year IMO in the DA league by far.

Didn't LAUFA also win Surf, Cerritos or some other tournament? Last time I looked they were near the top of the table in the DA league so you don't get there by being mediocre.
 
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any updates on the GS vs LAUFA game today at 3pm?

1 GSA 0 LAUFA

Battle from the start to the finish. LAUFA out processed & shot GSA and controlled the game for the most part but GSA hung in there.

The keeper from GSA made some great saves to keep a clean sheet, GSA scored on defensive turnover after missing a phantom PK. Only a couple shots on goal but they made the one clear open shot count so hats off to them and all the players for going so hard.

Seemed like there were fouls called in numbers with at least two yellows but that's soccer when you go hard, sometime one play can be the difference and that was the case in this one just it was last time they played.

Compared to last time they played LAUFA improved a bunch IMO even though they didn't get the same results.
 
Good teams find a way to win buddy.....

Yes the do that's why LAUFA has won over 40 games loss 3 and tied 3 since they started playing in spring.

The only team to win all three games at the DA showcase for the top teams, surf cup, cerritos, etc. Look at the Grande Sports TeamRank update: U13-U15 boys LAUFA has beat #3 #7 teams this year and this is a first year DA team that's only getting better.
 
There's way too much concern with winning or losing, which is really not that important at this age group. If winning at this age group is the only thing that matters, then the winning formula has already been established. Assemble a team of the oldest, biggest, most physically mature, fastest individuals and run over everybody.

I really believe what teams need to focus on is 1 v 1, touches, individual and team passing and receiving, and finishing. Teams and coaches at this age group should IMO only be evaluated on their ability to improve the above 4 categories and nothing else. If coaches can improve their team in the above 4 categories, that team will without a doubt win a lot of games.

But here's the catch. When you have players learning how to pass and receive under pressure from speedy, talented defenders in tight spaces, when players are learning the proper off ball movements to break out from pressure, and how to coordinate their team off-ball movements, they are going to screw up a lot, they are going to give up a lot of ugly turnovers, and they are going to lose a lot of games they could have won. Because playing this style of passing game is demanding and complicated. Even if a player receives the ball perfectly under pressure, he can't make the right pass out if his teammate makes the wrong run.

To be honest, it has been painful watching my son's team, including my son, get coached up in an advanced passing and receiving system, and watch them butcher their touches, telegraph their passes, sit around ball watching when there's open grass begging for a run, ignore a teammate who perfectly timed an intelligent run into space so he can try out that cool move he saw on YouTube which he then completely f--s up.

But that's the price you have to pay for kids to learn to play an advanced passing system, it's frustrating, but the coaches have to coach this stuff and the kids have to be given every chance to do it and learn, and those who can't will get cut.
 
I think it is a hard challenge for coaches to decide how much time to devote to skills drills passing, receiving, crossing, finishing vs game sim, short side scrimmages. But most kids probably need more of these types of drills at every practice. Teams that don't drill probably aren't developing kids skills. In other sports specifically football, 3/4 of practice is drill, 1/4 is game play sim.
 
I think it is a hard challenge for coaches to decide how much time to devote to skills drills passing, receiving, crossing, finishing vs game sim, short side scrimmages. But most kids probably need more of these types of drills at every practice. Teams that don't drill probably aren't developing kids skills. In other sports specifically football, 3/4 of practice is drill, 1/4 is game play sim.
Why are you still talking, your son plays in Europa equivalent to SE in CSL?

Based on your posts you're clueless about development.
 
Why are you still talking, your son plays in Europa equivalent to SE in CSL?

Based on your posts you're clueless about development.

Super, what's your point? If I am clueless, enlighten me soccer yoda? Whats your take, what do you think of the practices you have watched? My kids team, has a good coach that knows how to develop kids individual skill sets, as well as incorporating and developing the advanced passing style that is the direction of USSDA. As I have said before, my kid is on a young developing squad trying to get better.
 
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