So we’re not going to answer the question? If I’m not mistaken, MLSN plays a different schedule (ie LA Galaxy and etc) and doesn’t have the same trapped player issue to the same as the rest because the academy teams ignore high school soccer and play through winter. And being a dual sport high school athlete isn’t close to the issues of trapped players. My kids a high schooler right now playing multiple school sports and although her days are long because of the commitments there hasn’t been much conflict as to choosing one sport over the other due to scheduling restraints.
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- Thread starter soccer4us
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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.
The trapped player issue is more about FOMO, than anything else.
My point is MLSN academies play during high school season and don’t have the same trapped player issues.
Looking at the 2009 MLSN teams from last year, they played 15 matches during the time when other leagues shut down for high school. Thats a lot of playtime to be missed.
Thats not mentioning everything else that’s been said in this thread. You can’t say you’re experiencing the same trapped player issues in MLSN as let’s say a female ECNL trapped player would, nor anyone else outside of MLSN.
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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).
Again what your experiencing is FOMO. Use the time off to your kids advantage. Go snowboarding on weekends, have your kid learn how to ollie a skateboard, take them to the pump track with their bike, organize pickup games with other "trapped" players, do speed and strength training.
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.
The younger girls ECNL teams already take off from competitive games Dec - Feb no? Isn't GA the only league that has games for the Youngers during high school season?
My kids (each gender) clubs did a good job giving 'trapped' players opportunities to train and play during high school season. If they don't like training/playing with the younger team for a brief 2.5 months then why do they want the age change in the first place? The only families I know that are excited for the change are the ones who are at clubs where the younger team is better than the older team, or they like the coach of the younger team better than the older team.
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.
Damn, thanks for reminding me - I still can't figure out how doing an ollie is even possible, given what I know of the laws of physics. So frustrating! I also wish I had learned to do a wheelie when I was young. A three-month break would be perfect for that!!!
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
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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
whatithink
GOLD
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 ...
From a college coach perspective it's surely a much more efficient system (for them) when the teams/age groups more or less align with the recruitment classes.
PS, the portal blows this all up also and of course the coming changes to college sports ...
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.
Most recruiters and coaches are going to have a list of players that have expressed interest in attending their school. They go through the list and determine if any would be a good fit for their team. This means at showcases etc they have a list of players to review.
I'm saying all this because many people have been saying that ECNL wants to group players by SY to make it easier for recruiters. That might help a little but overall recruiters and coaches will have lists of players to look at and it won't matter what age players are playing.
And yes the list of potential players will include, transfers, foreigners, etc. Not just players in HS.
whatithink
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I agree generally and players should be reaching out and taking "charge".
I also know that coaches approach players or their club coaches independently - its happened to my kids and others I know of. So there are definitely coaches watching players independent of any prior contact.
I also know of (recent) players who were recruited only to be subsequently dropped due to players becoming available via the portal. That's messy, esp. for the HS player. I have seen this in multiple sports BTW, not just soccer.
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.
The way ECNL clubs poach players from each other might completely blow up if another option became available and it meant less commuting time for practices.
Truth. I picked up a skateboard about 10 years ago to try and relive my Pipeline, Upland CA days. Tried a double kick-flip...almost landed it, but fell on my side almost breaking my hip. That skateboard is now collecting cobwebs in the garage.
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.
Are there other leagues that have winter games that a trapped player would be missing (if they were not trapped) when their teammates are playing HS soccer?