BlastFromThePast
BRONZE
I think this might be the biggest piece of malarkey that I've ever seen. You may as well say what you are implying. You are borderline insulting young ladies at this point, not that they would or should ever hear it. There are 5 elements to be stressed. You have honed in on one of them and tip toed up to the line...I wonder why. I didn't see the Sting Black team play so I can't tell you if they are the biggest but gleaning comments from all the post it is clear that they showcased all 5 elements this week though back handedly only been given credit for a couple by some (not all).Your "5 elements" are flawed.
Speed kills... agree
Physicality is essential, soccer is a contact sport... agree
Technical skill separated players at all levels... agree
Tactical awareness or soccer IQ is what enables players to find greatness... agree
But "big"?...this element is incorrect.
Your statement that a major shift in Socal soccer, as evidenced by Sting's championship this weekend is off target.
Your emphasis on big is flawed.
"Big" is a major factor in youth sports all around, because strength, height (taller), and weight (heavier) go into defining "big". However, as players mature into adults, "big", specifically in soccer becomes less of a factor.
...how do you define "big", as it is included in your argument as the 5 essential elements for success?
How do you reconcile the fact that most of the top 5-10 world class international soccer players are not "big" by any definition? Make any list you want of 5-10...I would argue that most players in this top 10 list of world class players cannot be defined as "big"....we can start with Messi and go from there...
This whole discourse began as a result of the fact, that by any definition of "big", the Dallas Sting team is bigger than any other team in this year's 2006 group. Height and weight wise. All you need to do is line them up against any other team out there and you see They are "big". A few girls were almost as "big" as the female coach that accompanied them.
Your argument, that since the Dallas Sting is "big", and it, along with their speed are the major factors in their success, and their win at Surf Cup and victory over several Socal teams marks a shift in girls US youth Soccer, and Socal soccer, somehow is ridiculous! That this victory by Sting signals the demise of Socal girls soccer is crazy!
They are good...they are champions of both the Super Copa and Surf Cup. They are legit. However, this is youth soccer, the girls are 9-10, their development along a continuum in the next 8-10 years will be more of a factor in future success than size.
Dunn, who scored a goal tonight for the USWNT...is shorter (and probably lighter) than some of the girls on that Dallas Sting team...
No shift...just one great team of Dallas girls! The end of the world for Socal soccer is not here...stop with dooms day, and crazy rant...out and done!
What I find most interesting is that when a team of their gifts wins ironically it is because of the genetic gifts not the time spent honing their crafts and being technically and tactically sound. It is a beautiful game when smaller more vertically challenged teams win by holding jersey and throwing whatever weight they can around. But it is "not creative" when the taller, faster, more technical team one touches, plays to the keeper, combines out of the back and forces teams to play 4 defenders and a holding mid in a 9v9 game.
I erred if I implied that here lies the demise of Socal soccer. It is not the demise of Socal soccer as the other age groups are turning their perverbial backs on this age group because somehow the 06s have forgotten how to build powerhouse teams like the rest of the ages. 5 elements, not 4. #Consolidate