Girls and Boys playing in the Spring

[BigG]

In boys soccer in the spring, college coaches absolutely recruit the kids.  In my 10 years coaching here in the midstate at 3 different schools, I have had numerous college coaches coming to see my kids, and almost all of them made their decision on offering a scholarship based on what they saw. I don't know about girls soccer and I especially don't know about travel (if I was interested in cutthroat politics, I would run for office, but I'm not, so I coach at the high school level instead of travel).  

While club is the most used venue for college recruiting, there were a fair number of college coaches at the high school state tournament.  Several of my players got some exposure during this process.

[Playerscoach]

Well, we high school coaches will work harder on not messing up the SRPL players. I think I may have a "Soccer for Dummies" book somewhere. There are two new drills I want to try! "Boot that ball" and "Always use your toe"!

Hmm? That's what you took from this after I spoke of the virtues of playing HS soccer? Do you think your team overall trains at the same level as Brandys? Do you think that playing with kids that aren't as skilled adversely affects those that are more skilled? Do you think they are pushed to play as hard or that the speed of play is just as good?

 

I'm really interested in your opinion because being at a program with multiple SRPL players in both the boys and girls programs you should see a variety of skill levels.

Edited September 15, 2015 by Playerscoach

[Elmer]

Hmm? That's what you took from this after I spoke of the virtues of playing HS soccer? Do you think your team overall trains at the same level as Brandys? Do you think that playing with kids that aren't as skilled adversely affects those that are more skilled? Do you think they are pushed to play as hard or that the speed of play is just as good?

 

I'm really interested in your opinion because being at a program with multiple SRPL players in both the boys and girls programs you should see a variety of skill levels.

We get it.

 

High school < Club

[Playerscoach]

Ditto. I like having the girls play Steal the Bacon, Knockout, and Sharks and Minnows for our main drills. We usually follow up with World Cuppies for finishing (no European teams allowed since we try to work on geography skills, too), and then for fitness it's either Red Light, Green Light or Steal the Flag.

 

We work really hard on "When in doubt, kick it out", and sometimes even practice the toe-bender shot.

 

Anything I can do to help advance the game, you know?

Seems you two missed my point. Do you see the level of training for your HS team as the equal to a SRPL/ECNL team? Do you believe these players are capable of maintaining all the skills just playing with your team?

 

I'm a bit surprised at your response. I can say with 100% certainty that David Braemer would agree that the training for almost every HS program is not on the same level as a skilled club team regardless of how good the HS coach is. The HS coach is simply working with many levels of skill in almost every case.

[siegelsoccer]

Seems you two missed my point. Do you see the level of training for your HS team as the equal to a SRPL/ECNL team? Do you believe these players are capable of maintaining all the skills just playing with your team?

 

I'm a bit surprised at your response. I can say with 100% certainty that David Braemer would agree that the training for almost every HS program is not on the same level as a skilled club team regardless of how good the HS coach is. The HS coach is simply working with many levels of skill in almost every case

Don't be surprised by reactions. High school coaches are often at odds with select programs and rarely work in unison with them to meet the needs of the players (and vice versa). Additionally, when select programs make statements that group all high school coaches into one category as "inferior" to select coaches feelings get hurt. Each program has it's own challenges and offers different opportunities for elite players.

 

We really haev to find a way to work together for the betterment of our sport on both levels or one will get left behind. I hope that the day of the elite players being forced to choose between high school and club is not approaching however I am not too optimistic with the direction we seem to be moving.

 

College coaches scout men's soccer in the spring because they are not in season. College coaches rarely attend high school matches in the fall because they are in season. If girls move to spring perhaps more college exposure will follow then again, showcase tournaments offer the best bang for the buck when it comes to seeing a large number of players at one time. 

[Playerscoach]

Don't be surprised by reactions. High school coaches are often at odds with select programs and rarely work in unison with them to meet the needs of the players (and vice versa). Additionally, when select programs make statements that group all high school coaches into one category as "inferior" to select coaches feelings get hurt. Each program has it's own challenges and offers different opportunities for elite players.

 

We really haev to find a way to work together for the betterment of our sport on both levels or one will get left behind. I hope that the day of the elite players being forced to choose between high school and club is not approaching however I am not too optimistic with the direction we seem to be moving.

 

College coaches scout men's soccer in the spring because they are not in season. College coaches rarely attend high school matches in the fall because they are in season. If girls move to spring perhaps more college exposure will follow then again, showcase tournaments offer the best bang for the buck when it comes to seeing a large number of players at one time.

I agree with your points. My clear intent was to explain the difficult situations parents, kids, coaches etc.... are in.

 

My surprise is that these two coaches are great coaches and very well respected throughout the state. I know there's a bit of good natured sarcasm but there's a degree of sensitivity that is odd to me considering it's those two great coaches.

 

Regardless change is here. Everybody has to work together for the betterment of ALL the kids. I'll be interested to see how my daughters school responds? At this time our policy across all spots is extremely punitive when school sports are affected. Any game missed results in a four game suspension and any practice a one game. Heck, we even suspended a basketball player multiple games for attending another school function (choir).

[BigG]

I agree with your points. My clear intent was to explain the difficult situations parents, kids, coaches etc.... are in.

 

My surprise is that these two coaches are great coaches and very well respected throughout the state. I know there's a bit of good natured sarcasm but there's a degree of sensitivity that is odd to me considering it's those two great coaches.

 

Regardless change is here. Everybody has to work together for the betterment of ALL the kids. I'll be interested to see how my daughters school responds? At this time our policy across all spots is extremely punitive when school sports are affected. Any game missed results in a four game suspension and any practice a one game. Heck, we even suspended a basketball player multiple games for attending another school function (choir).

I wish there was a "sarcasm" font we could use, then I think the post would have been read in the light that it was written.

 

Lumping all high school coaches into one group of "kick and run" specialists is just as bad as lumping all club coaches as "dictator ego driven" specialists.

 

I have met some incredible club coaches and some incredible high school coaches.  Sadly, I have met some (on both sides) that could have used some improvement.

 

I agree with Siegel... we NEED to work together or this will only get worse.

 

High school brings something to the game that club can't provide.  And club brings something to the game that high school can't provide.

 

My fear is that the kids will have to choose, which will cause them to miss out on the other "part".

[Playerscoach]

I wish there was a "sarcasm" font we could use, then I think the post would have been read in the light that it was written.

 

 

Lumping all high school coaches into one group of "kick and run" specialists is just as bad as lumping all club coaches as "dictator ego driven" specialists.

 

I have met some incredible club coaches and some incredible high school coaches. Sadly, I have met some (on both sides) that could have used some improvement.

 

I agree with Siegel... we NEED to work together or this will only get worse.

 

High school brings something to the game that club can't provide. And club brings something to the game that high school can't provide.

 

My fear is that the kids will have to choose, which will cause them to miss out on the other "part".

Good stuff.

[EnsworthSoccer]

I was serious about that stuff. That's how we practice. 

[Playerscoach]

I was serious about that stuff. That's how we practice.

It's working so keep doing it. ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘

[ballbasher30]

What about coaches who have other school duties in the spring? You would run them out of the coaching ranks by moving to spring, but that might be what some people want. Then they could hire travel team coaches for the school. No wait, tssaa took care of that with the coaching link rule they just passed.

 

My other thought is how many girls are we actually talking about playing on these bigger travel teams? I say if the better players are hurt so much by playing HS soccer and learn so many bad habits, why do they continue to play? Just go play travel soccer and not worry with HS.

 

What do you think would happen if basketball moved to early fall so they could play AAU in the winter and spring? Or we moved baseball to the fall so summer travel teams could play more in the spring?

 

I think this is a reaction brought on by a select few. This smells like HS coaches afraid of losing a star player to travel or a private school afraid of losing all their players to travel.

[siegelsoccer]

What about coaches who have other school duties in the spring? You would run them out of the coaching ranks by moving to spring, but that might be what some people want. Then they could hire travel team coaches for the school. No wait, tssaa took care of that with the coaching link rule they just passed.

 

My other thought is how many girls are we actually talking about playing on these bigger travel teams? I say if the better players are hurt so much by playing HS soccer and learn so many bad habits, why do they continue to play? Just go play travel soccer and not worry with HS.

 

What do you think would happen if basketball moved to early fall so they could play AAU in the winter and spring? Or we moved baseball to the fall so summer travel teams could play more in the spring?

 

I think this is a reaction brought on by a select few. This smells like HS coaches afraid of losing a star player to travel or a private school afraid of losing all their players to travel.

You are correct on many fronts in my opinion. Coaches would be effected. I would argue that coaches should not be the main stake holder to consider in debating the issue. 

 

Your other hypothetical scenarios are unrealistic because those sports value the high school playing experience. The powers that control the highest levels of soccer in the US do not. 

 

This is a reaction brought about by a select few. The question is would the sport benefit if those best players left? If you want to go down the hypothetical scenario line of thinking. What if the same thing was occurring in football? What if the best players in football left to play in another league of all stars? Would it be beneficial to discuss alternatives to that scenario or just "let them go play travel (soccer) and not high school"?