Reality Check

Timbuck, your dedication is to be applauded! I wish we had the luck of finding a coach this year half as comitted. I have my younger playing AYSO extra and her coach seems quite stellar, my daughter likes him and he seems to approach soccer in more whole athlete sense. My older daughter, eh I won't bother to beat a dead horse. As much as I like the concept of AYSO Extra I do agree with the one comment about moving up with a coach/team for several years. My older kids best friend is also a soccer player. She's on her 5th year with the same coach and same core group of girls. She has almost topped off her play, not progressing but just stagnant. Weve had 3 years of 3 coaches but 2 of them with same assistant coach and 5 or 6 girls. My kiddo transformed from defender to center mid to left fwd. She does rotate, mid, fwd, defender now and can play all three and I think it's bc each coach saw something different in her. Her 2nd coach really focused a lot on developing her left kick, which has really payed off for her. So while I think keeping a core group of girls together is beneficial, I like seeing new coaches and the different approaches they take. But take everything I say with a grain of salt, as I'm still a newbie ;) I also have to add I have no had a bad parent/coach experience up until this year, so between my kids that's 6 coaches not including assistant coaches and we've only hit one bad apple, not too bad.
 
timbuck said:
This tends to happen on sports related forums.
People at the sharp end of the spear are the most vocal on message boards like this.
I used to be pretty active in running, cycling, swimming. I've done a ton of different distance races (5k running all the way up to full ironman distance triathlon. I was never "fast", but had respectable results for a guy without much genetic help. Definitely not built for distance). If you go on to a triathlon forum, you'd think that unless you are near a 9 hour finish for an ironman, then you are a loser and should just stay on the couch. Or unless you have qualified for the Boston Marathon, you might as well just be a mall walker.
The reality is that 80-90% of people in these events are much, much slower.

Which brings me back to my SoCal Soccer reality check.
There is so much discussion on here about Flight 1, ECNL, DA, D1, ODP, National Team, etc. That it feels like unless your kid is in one of these categories, then you might as well hang up their cleats and teach them how to weave baskets.
I think it's great that there are so many talented and hard working players around So Cal. And that there are so many teams for these players to play on.
But there are a lot of us out here who just love to see our kids being active and playing something they seem to love. No matter what flight they are in, where their team is ranked or how many tournaments they win (or even play in).
We tend to forget that there are lots of kids in all of the age groups that get better every year, but will never be invited to a US National Team Camp or ODP player pool. They may never play Flight 1 (even after DA and ECNL pick the top players and Flight 1 is really more like Flight 2 or 3). And there might be kids that are "good enough" but for a variety of reasons, they chose to do something less hard core. (Friends, other sports, school, other friends, coach they love, family time, etc)
Another thread is talking about players/parents, teams, coaches already starting to scramble to get their kid positioned for a spot on a DA team/club for next year. WE ARE 1 WEEK INTO THE FALL SEASON. Relax. Your kids just went through the anxiety of "Age Group" changes. And you went through the anxiety of whether they would be on the "A" team or not.
For kids that want to play on DA or ECNL teams and that have the talent/drive to do s0 - They'll find their way onto a team. The best players are obvious to most people watching. And if your kid is at the end of the roster on one of these teams, they're probably better off not being on that team.

For the record - My kids are average players. I currently coach them in the AYSO Extra program. They are currently happy with the level of play and their teammates. We're good here until a change is needed. I also play once or twice a week. And I referee on occasion.
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In response to your post....my daughter was asked to be a part of evaluations for the next year...nothing was brought upon her, nor was she forced to go..decision was left up to her since it is her life and her journey...a feel it is a little presumptuous to assume that anxiety and pressure are being forcefully placed upon all kids...plus in the club world...I am finding out that this is the nature of the beast....very competitive. I feel it is good to have kids exposed to pressure situations and competition in small doses...thus is life in the real world. One of the ways we learn to succeed is through applying and analyzing past experiences...if nothing else club soccer has taught her a few great life lessons already...
 
Striker17 said:
Great post!
The way I also read it frankly is that the majority of "club players" are probably AYSO. It's just a gaming circuit in my opinion. Club should really be for the very serious players but has devolved into a money making 3-4 team enterprise. This unfortunately gives parents some unrealistic expectations I believe.
My daughter is on the bubble. I rely on her to be with a good coach and like that there are still lots of players who are better than her that challenge her in so many ways.
We are not at the type of club where relax is an option. I wouldn't have it any other way though as it fits who she is!
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Completely agree with you! There are so many club teams and levels out there that I feel some parents and players are being lead astray as to dreamy expectations vs. reality of the situation.....
 
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