I'm not sure I understand your point. My kid would have loved to have 3 months off from competitive soccer when he was in 8th grade. I see it as an advantage for those kids. They can cross train, play futsal, recover etc...whatever. This would be far more beneficial to these kids then those kids playing JV high school soccer.
My point is MLSN academies play during high school season and don’t have the same trapped player issues.
Sorry, but missing 15 games when you're an 8th grader is not going to impact your kids soccer "pathway", maybe if they're sitting on their butt playing video games for 3 months it might impact them, but even that's doubtful. Kids play too many games as it is and do far too little cross training. Part of the problem with US youth soccer is the hyper focus on game play with too many games. Between league play, showcases and tournaments its absurd how many games kids play. This is also one of the primary causes of burnout, and between 8 and 9th grade is when it is mostly likely to happen (although it's not always burnout, sometimes its just better options).
I guess we can agree to disagree. Nothing fomo for me. I’ve always gotten my kid work in the winter. 15 games is a long time for girls and little women who are built different than boys and get out of shape faster. We can’t see eye to eye here because of the difference in league and gender associated between our experiences.
I don't doubt that things are different for the girls. Soccer is probably the #1 sport for girls, whereas for HS boys its #4 at best. Not to mention if you're looking for scholarship opportunities. Odds of a HS boy making a D1 soccer team is 108:1 vs. girl is 41:1. Odds of a HS boy playing D1 football are 33:1. So it appears there is greater fear for girls falling behind since soccer represents one of their best opportunities.
No, the NLs scrimmage each other and the others ie RLs do tournaments. Think Vegas Cup MLK weekend, Silverlakes Friendlies, and etc.
I'm hope you don't think I'm suggesting you learn those things. It's far too dangerous for you and I to follow our kids around the skatepark, bmx track, or terrain park. I can vouch for that based on personal experience. Catching air is not our problem, its the landing that will kill us.
What leagues play 15 games in the winter?
Last year the MLSN academies did. If you look at the 2009s you’ll see LA Galaxy, TFA, LAFC and etc all played league games during high school season
The person you're responding to likely isn't from Socal and doesn't understand that leagues play games year round here.
Their still getting priceless exposure
There's definitely a price obviously ... but that's a bit of a meh answer. Are they are starter, does the coach ensure that players up for recruitment start and/or get plenty of play time at the showcases or when college coaches are known to be watching (they should do this obviously), how does it work in their recruitment year when the year below has the majority of the recruitment class, which teams do the college coaches prioritize watching ...
College coaches and recruiters don't walk around at showcases watching certain age group games and shopping for players. They might do this a little but so is everyone else which means the best players will get contacted by every coach and they're only going to be able to attend one school.
I agree generally and players should be reaching out and taking "charge".
There's 1 GA club in Socal that's competitive in Southwest ECNL at all age groups. There's 2 GA clubs in Socal that are competitive in certain age groups. Overall the GA clubs are getting better so things could change over time.
But I thought the issue of not having winter games was a high school trapped player issue. And MLSN doesn’t allow you to play HS anyways.
