No games until 2021

[Grace T.]

I get not surfing options, but biking and skateboarding cost vs. what club soccer costs? I truly hope that there is low cost soccer opportunities that are less than a used bike or skateboard that kids can take advantage of

The bikes are actually kind of expensive for a working family....remember they are constantly outgrowing them. If you live in an apartment, there's no place to store them. There's also no place for the kids to ride them safely. And working class parents make an outsized portion of the essential workers....so it's not like they have time to supervise them. In some neighborhoods you might even get shot, or at a minimum have your bike stolen.

Skateboards are obviously cheaper but at least in La County the skateparks are still closed so that leaves skateboarding out in the street, which isn't necessarily safe but kids are doing it.

 

[notintheface]

Look at Dominic Calvert-Lewin for example.

How about we compare kids growing up in LA to kids growing up in Sheffield, where DCL spent his youth career. What bracket of play did Sheffield's U10 team come in, and what was their record the previous year? I'll save you the time-- those youngers teams don't do pro/rel.

Not having pro/rel is a big factor in why small neighborhood clubs don’t exist anymore and sell out to be a chapter/affiliate of FC Golden State, Pateadores, Strikers, or any of the 5 surf teams. Some would rather be another clubs Flight 1 or Discovery team rather than using their own identity and work their way up.

The real factor is money, not pro/rel, but we'll save that for a completely different thread.

I never wanted to go to a gold team, I was fine being in my silver team and learning and I swear to God we would sometimes beat the Gold teams whenever we’d play them. Listen to the kids they probably want this.

Kids want to play competitive matches and they want to get better. If your team was sometimes beating Gold level teams, guess what, you should have been at least Silver Elite and I can only imagine your coach wanting to play flight 2 / flight 1 in order to make your team better. That's the point of all of this. A team of U8 kids who has an absolute superstar goat striker who can dribble at speed and pass the ball into the corner of the net, but is absolutely trash on defense, will probably move up to silver, then silver elite, and maybe even gold when they're 11. They will then get absolutely annihilated when they switch to 11v11 when they're 12. Then the parents are like "wtf" and the team blows up. A good coach will know that they're not really a gold team and would keep them in flight 2 until their defense and midfield can maintain possession. See how pro/rel doesn't allow this?

 

[youthsportsugghhh]

The bikes are actually kind of expensive for a working family....remember they are constantly outgrowing them. If you live in an apartment, there's no place to store them. There's also no place for the kids to ride them safely. And working class parents make an outsized portion of the essential workers....so it's not like they have time to supervise them. In some neighborhoods you might even get shot, or at a minimum have your bike stolen.

Skateboards are obviously cheaper but at least in La County the skateparks are still closed so that leaves skateboarding out in the street, which isn't necessarily safe but kids are doing it.

I get that too -- I had a girls bike that was a little big, but easier to ride without the bar and kept it in the apartment ( did take some criticism from others in the neighborhood until I let them ride it). Sidewalks and paths around the parks or sidewalks and driveways/parking lots near the apartment served as my skate park. My comment was based on the cost of club soccer v a bike or skateboard for those in the inner cities and what can be done instead of playing soccer.

 

[Grace T.]

Kids want to play competitive matches and they want to get better. If your team was sometimes beating Gold level teams, guess what, you should have been at least Silver Elite and I can only imagine your coach wanting to play flight 2 / flight 1 in order to make your team better. That's the point of all of this. A team of U8 kids who has an absolute superstar goat striker who can dribble at speed and pass the ball into the corner of the net, but is absolutely trash on defense, will probably move up to silver, then silver elite, and maybe even gold when they're 11. They will then get absolutely annihilated when they switch to 11v11 when they're 12. Then the parents are like "wtf" and the team blows up. A good coach will know that they're not really a gold team and would keep them in flight 2 until their defense and midfield can maintain possession. See how pro/rel doesn't allow this?

The other teams' parents though will be screaming at the league to move them up to stop the goat from constantly blowing them out 10-0. The issue with the youngers, as you point out, is that one even semi-goat can ruin things.

The experience is the same with GKers BTW. The goat basically keeps the team on offense so the strikes the GK is getting aren't really as challenging. The team has been promoted anyways so until the higher levels they aren't getting a ton of competing shots on goal. The GK and his/her parents think they are doing a great job because the coaches and parents constantly congratulate them on the "shut out". The GK may not be developing their foot skills either.

Then age 12 hits and they are in the bigger goal. Suddenly the kids too have developed speed on their shots and aren't hitting it directly at the goalkeeper anymore. On the field, players have learned to head and chest the ball and those punts are no longer a footrace and the GK is turning over the ball 50% on the time on a punt. Other kids may have been working with private trainers and attending the camps we all attend and know the big guys around town and are more competitive. And this is also the age that's make or break for the bigger goalkeepers because to cover that larger goal they need to now begin to extension dive (and assuming the kid has been working on GK for 2-3 years, it's also the age a reputable GK coach will introduce the extension dive in ernest, knowing that the kid probably won't get hurt now doing it)....if the kid in puberty doesn't translate some of the size for muscle he/she will be behind in both ability to jump and quickness of reaction saves (which begin to be more important around age 10-11 as kids learn to penetrated into zone 1 in the box through passing opportunities, as opposed to just shooting from the top of the PA or outrunning the defense).

 

[Grace T.]

I get that too -- I had a girls bike that was a little big, but easier to ride without the bar and kept it in the apartment ( did take some criticism from others in the neighborhood until I let them ride it). Sidewalks and paths around the parks or sidewalks and driveways/parking lots near the apartment served as my skate park. My comment was based on the cost of club soccer v a bike or skateboard for those in the inner cities and what can be done instead of playing soccer.

For working class Latino families, the cost of playing rec soccer (either at AYSO or in Latino League) the cost is minimal. Latino League usually gets a local business to supplement the uniform costs. My cous has great difficulty keeping her kids in bikes...she never has issues with soccer but then she's not having her kids play club. Skateboards are a different story, but she worries about as they get older the type of friends it will cause them to hang out with. We all here are complaining about our kids being unable to play club soccer but the ones that are really hurting are the ones that play AYSO and the ones that play Latino League

 

[SoccerFan4Life]

This is why it's not a big deal for a flight 2 SCDSL team to move up to flight 1, because it is based on how competitive the coach feels the team can be. If a coach has a team that goes 0-14 in league play and doesn't move down a flight, that's on them.

Coaches/Teams are always looking to move their team higher and higher. We now have Flight 3, Flight 2. Flight 1. Flight 1 champions, Flight 1 Discovery??????? That's insane and it's just a money grab.

Regarding under performing teams, they need to have at least a .500 win rate if they want to move up to the next tier. Makes no sense to go 2-12 as flight 3 to then move to flight 2 and go 0-14. Stay in Flight 3 one more year to get experience. Kids dont care about flights as much as parents do. Kids do care if they keep losing every year because the coach decided that they can compete at a higher level.

My kids had the worse experience because a coach decided to put our team in a higher bracket where we clearly didnt belong. We went 2-12 during the regular season. During State cup, the coach again decided to challenge our team and play in a higher bracket (Governors). We got crushed and lost every game by more than 4 goals. Let's just say the team folded and my boys didnt want to play soccer again.

 

[notintheface]

Then age 12 hits and they are in the bigger goal. Suddenly the kids too have developed speed on their shots and aren't hitting it directly at the goalkeeper anymore.

This times a million. SCDSL allows that U8 team to jump immediately to flight 1 at U9 where they will be challenged immediately by other teams with "that one hyper athletic kid". Let those teams trade breakaways all day long. Let the teams who don't have the hyper athletic kid play at flight 2 or flight 3 and be competitive against each other. Don't enforce some kind of strict yearly up/down movement just for some sense of parental accomplishment, that's insanity.

 

[jpmorris123]

I’m from the MOST DANGEROUS hood in California...learn about North Richmond homie.

ok bro. we won't roll through your 3,500 person pocket by the Bay

 

[notintheface]

Coaches/Teams are always looking to move their team higher and higher. We now have Flight 3, Flight 2. Flight 1. Flight 1 champions, Flight 1 Discovery??????? That's insane and it's just a money grab.

I absolutely 100% agree with this. Name the flights after colors, or something that doesn't imply tiering. Blue / Red / Orange / whatever. Yes there will still be status chasing, you can never get rid of that as long as there are helicopter parents, but remove incentives where you can. No parent will ever be "well my kid plays in Flight Blue" during a dinner party.

Regarding under performing teams, they need to have at least a .500 win rate if they want to move up to the next tier. Makes no sense to go 2-12 as flight 3 to then move to flight 2 and go 0-14. Stay in Flight 3 one more year to get experience. Kids dont care about flights as much as parents do. Kids do care if they keep losing every year because the coach decided that they can compete at a higher level.

I absolutely 100% agree with this. If you are not doing well in flight 3, you definitely won't do well in flight 2. There should be no pressure from clubs on the coaches to push their kids up and if there is, you should look long and hard at your club, because there are clubs out there that do not do this. I sympathize about the coach not recognizing the true level of the kids-- it's never fun to be at the bottom of the table and it is very hard to get out of that hole. IMHO that's where the club pass can help. Bring in a superstar kid from a younger age group to play up and help out the flight 3 team-- everyone wins.

 

[crush]

I absolutely 100% agree with this. Name the flights after colors, or something that doesn't imply tiering. Blue / Red / Orange / whatever. Yes there will still be status chasing, you can never get rid of that as long as there are helicopter parents, but remove incentives where you can. No parent will ever be "well my kid plays in Flight Blue" during a dinner party.



I absolutely 100% agree with this. If you are not doing well in flight 3, you definitely won't do well in flight 2. There should be no pressure from clubs on the coaches to push their kids up and if there is, you should look long and hard at your club, because there are clubs out there that do not do this. I sympathize about the coach not recognizing the true level of the kids-- it's never fun to be at the bottom of the table and it is very hard to get out of that hole. IMHO that's where the club pass can help. Bring in a superstar kid from a younger age group to play up and help out the flight 3 team-- everyone wins.

"Pay me what you want to hear and I will gladly tell you what you want to hear." Not in my Face, who said this? Btw, my dd played up two levels one time and she was hated by the parents of the older girls in flight three. They were pissed and so were the player. No way...

 

[Footy30]

Right now yes.

I would bet that the league and clubs try to do the following.

ECNL showcase. Have So Cal teams play each other and use that as league games.

In other tournaments/showcases out of state try to have So Cal teams play each other and use as league games.

Not ideal, but would be a way to get the games in they need.

Not ideal is correct.... like I said all the NV and AZ people are probably rolling their eyes at me but damn that's a lot of flights, hotels, driving, etc. but if that's the way the league goes, then that's the way it goes and we will oblige .... AZ and NV will get a break in travel for a change, so that'll be nice for those teams.

 

[crush]

Not ideal is correct.... like I said all the NV and AZ people are probably rolling their eyes at me but damn that's a lot of flights, hotels, driving, etc. but if that's the way the league goes, then that's the way it goes and we will oblige .... AZ and NV will get a break in travel for a change, so that'll be nice for those teams.

Footy, awesome attitude. I feel the same way

 

[kickingandscreaming]

The immediate risk is pretty well pegged by now. Nobody has enough experience yet to know the long-term risk.

What are the short, medium, and long-term emotional risks for keeping the kids out of school and out of organized sports? We know they are more prone to suicide the longer they don't lead normal lives. It's already happening despite all the opportunities to skateboard, surf, bike ride, etc. So, what's the greater risk, the one we know exists, or the one we fear might exist in the long term?

The kids see all the other people out at the park ignoring the rules they are supposed to follow. From my perspective, these "restrictions" are a charade put on by politicians that want to be seen as SJWs. I say charade because they enforce none of their distancing rules in the parks in NorCal as far as I can see. If they actually enforced the rules, I'd consider them legitimate SJWs. One thing for sure, they are definitely teaching our kids to be cynical about governmental actions and that if you can get away with it, you don't have to follow the rules.

 

[MacDre]

ok bro. we won't roll through your 3,500 person pocket by the Bay

That’s what most gangsters in Oakland and Compton would advise. But you can watch Coach Carter to learn about the nicer neighborhoods in Richmond, CA.

 

[Speed]

I think this is hilarious

 

[EOTL]

What are the short, medium, and long-term emotional risks for keeping the kids out of school and out of organized sports? We know they are more prone to suicide the longer they don't lead normal lives. It's already happening despite all the opportunities to skateboard, surf, bike ride, etc. So, what's the greater risk, the one we know exists, or the one we fear might exist in the long term?

The kids see all the other people out at the park ignoring the rules they are supposed to follow. From my perspective, these "restrictions" are a charade put on by politicians that want to be seen as SJWs. I say charade because they enforce none of their distancing rules in the parks in NorCal as far as I can see. If they actually enforced the rules, I'd consider them legitimate SJWs. One thing for sure, they are definitely teaching our kids to be cynical about governmental actions and that if you can get away with it, you don't have to follow the rules.

You ask your question as if the emotional health of your children is outside your control. The emotional risks for your children are no greater than in the absence of the pandemic if you get your s**t together and stop blaming other people for things that are your responsibility as a parent. Step up to the plate for god’s sake.

And you are blaming others for making your kids cynical about government when it is very clear from your post that you’re the one who is doing that.

 

[MacDre]

What are the short, medium, and long-term emotional risks for keeping the kids out of school and out of organized sports? We know they are more prone to suicide the longer they don't lead normal lives. It's already happening despite all the opportunities to skateboard, surf, bike ride, etc. So, what's the greater risk, the one we know exists, or the one we fear might exist in the long term?

The kids see all the other people out at the park ignoring the rules they are supposed to follow. From my perspective, these "restrictions" are a charade put on by politicians that want to be seen as SJWs. I say charade because they enforce none of their distancing rules in the parks in NorCal as far as I can see. If they actually enforced the rules, I'd consider them legitimate SJWs. One thing for sure, they are definitely teaching our kids to be cynical about governmental actions and that if you can get away with it, you don't have to follow the rules.

I completely understand in your situation. But, I think you are the exception to the rule. Is it really that serious for the average kid to play soccer?

 

[N00B]

Yes! Thank you for finally exposing these fat cat soccer moguls for what they are. They’re raking in money hand over fist and it’s so unfair! We need to stop them in their tracks by socializing youth soccer!

Doesn't this already exist... hint, it comes with a socially equitable participation trophy.

 

[lafalafa]

Doesn't this already exist... hint, it comes with a socially equitable participation trophy.

Club soccer turned into everyone can play if they pay many years ago.

Tryouts are for your wallet, several social wanted posts lately looking for a couple more "players" for a strong flight xyz team.

Trouble is all the taxpayers are subsidizing youth sports but only limited numbers are getting "service".

Avoiding taxes via non profit, taking hundreds of thousands in ppp loans, using public facilities (parks, schools, colleges), and still charge thousands to parents to participate is a pretty good racket. Talk about your double and triple dipping.

Coaches deserve to get paid just like teachers but the reexamining of how your tax dollars are being used and exploited by some organizations could use a second look and I've heard that's one of things going on in CA, when things open up more there well could be some changes in store.

 

[N00B]

Club soccer turned into everyone can play if they pay many years ago.

Tryouts are for your wallet, several social wanted posts lately looking for a couple more "players" for a strong flight xyz team.

Trouble is all the taxpayers are subsidizing youth sports but only limited numbers are getting "service".

Avoiding taxes via non profit, taking hundreds of thousands in ppp loans, using public facilities (parks, schools, colleges), and still charge thousands to parents to participate is a pretty good racket. Talk about your double and triple dipping.

Coaches deserve to get paid just like teachers but the reexamining of how your tax dollars are being used and exploited by some organizations could use a second look and I've heard that's one of things going on in CA, when things open up more there well could be some changes in store.

Just an observation... but if coaches deserve to be paid like teachers, than you could make a very similar statement in inverse.

Replace ‘club soccer’ with ‘Education’ and ‘youth sports’ with ‘schools’.