Soccer

[ksgovols]

Yeah,  soccer is an abomination!  That's why it is the most played and watched sport in the world.

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But.......not in the U.S.

[BigG]

But.......not in the U.S.

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Sad, but true.

 

As far as ksgovols comment about title IX, I think it is hard in almost any sport to get a scholarship anymore these days. Especially for soccer, since most colleges have been bringing in European or foreign players more and more.

 

Soccer's best scholarship opportunities (unfortunately) are mostly in kicking for football. Some of the best college football fieldgoal kickers are former high school soccer players.

 

While soccer in Tennessee has been gaining national recognition, I doubt it will ever get the same respect as football does here in the south. Go to Jersey, Texas, or Florida and thing even out a little bit. Not much, but more then here.

[ksgovols]

Yeah, there are some guys that make all state in soccer and could be in the top 25 in the southeast that don't get a scholarship in soccer. Now, the same rating for a girl would land them a scholarship.

 

All of this being said, high school athletics is not about earning a scholarship. A small fraction of the athletes get a free ride at the next level. I know soccer hurts our youth baseball and football programs at the elementary school ages, but not after middle school starts. All my kids play soccer and enjoy the game. The irritating thing to me is that soccer season is all year. They play in the spring and fall and even have indoor soccer. That competes directly against the big 3 of baseball, basketball and football which do not overlap all that much. Most parents let their kids develop their agility and foot coordination in youth soccer and then move them over to football at middle school. Doug Matthews has touted that methodology for years.

 

I also think what appeals to 'soccer moms' is some type of elitist attitude. It's European, is basically non-contact and the red neck dads don't know all that much about it!

 

My apologies to the board for my VIX reference........of course 9=IX.

Edited December 10, 2004 by ksgovols

[BigG]

The irritating thing to me is that soccer season is all year.  They play in the spring and fall and even have indoor soccer.  That competes directly against the big 3 of baseball, basketball and football which do not overlap all that much.  Most parents let their kids develop their agility and foot coordination in youth soccer and then move them over to football at middle school.  Doug Matthews has touted that methodology for years.

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Even though I am a high school soccer coach, I am against year round soccer for many reasons. I have seen too many players get burned out, miss out on being a teenager, develop that "elitist" attitude you referred to the moms about, and most of all, lose their love for the game.

 

Some kids can handle it, most do not do well in the long run .

[Tacoma]

I believe I started this topic by stating facts concerning those schools who qualified for the state tournament and how private schools are dominating the sport in class A/AA. The all-state soccer team has now been released. It is dominated by players who attend private schools. I know many will bash this post because of what I am writing. Note I have not made any remarks like others have made about the "evil" private schools or the "poor" public schools. I'm just stating facts.

 

All-state soccer players

 

21 represent private schools

10 represent public schools

 

68% attend private schools

32% attend public schools

 

That still looks like domination to me.

[ksgovols]

Even though I am a high school soccer coach, I am against year round soccer for many reasons.  I have seen too many players get burned out, miss out on being a teenager, develop that "elitist" attitude you referred to the moms about, and most of all, lose their love for the game.

 

Some kids can handle it, most  do not do well in the long run .

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I think we share that sentiment BigG! I've seen too many kids concentrate on one sport when they're younger only to burn out or bottom out skills wise and then can't catch up to the kids playing 'other' sports. In my community there are many more soccer 'specialists' than in the other sports and you're right, the kids need the break. I still can't put my finger on this 'mystical prestige' that some parents think playing soccer evokes. It's not polo!

Edited December 10, 2004 by ksgovols

[Bighurt]

I think we share that sentiment BigG!  I've seen too many kids concentrate on one sport when they're younger only to burn out or bottom out skills wise and then can't catch up to the kids playing 'other' sports.  In my community there are many more soccer 'specialists' than in the other sports and you're right, the kids need the break.  I still can't put my finger on this 'mystical prestige' that some parents think playing soccer evokes.  It's not polo!

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I also agree. I think kids are forced into one sport too early. This seems to happen most in soccer, baseball and basketball. Playing one sport, year-round burns kids out and hinders their overall development.

[ksgovols]

Why do you think that is Bighurt? I have a 12 year old that will be starting his middle school 'career' this spring. He's always played 3 sports and the one he 'likes' the most is whichever is in season. When baseball season is over, we put up his bat and glove until the next season rolls around. Because he can basically shoot baskets by himself, he will shoot a basketball most of the year and football or soccer are in season sports to him as well. I know our middle school basketball coach will have tryouts in spring, mandatory camps in the summer that generally conflict with baseball tournaments and a fall practice. I think alot of the school coaches almost force the kids into one sport.......which is a shame.

 

In 1A or 2A especially, I think the athletic programs need to take full advantage of their athletes. Too many times, you see a kid that's a great athlete and could help any team........concentrating on one sport. And for what? Unless the kid is a college prospect and is trying to increase his chances of getting a scholarship, you only have the opportunity to play high school sports for 4 years. Let the kids play!

[Bighurt]

The reason that coaches encourage kids to specialize seems to be a control issue to me. Basketball coaches don't want kids playing school baseball because of the AAU season. Off season football workouts conflict with summer baseball and AAU basketball and so forth.

 

Also, I think that parents' expectations push coaches to work with their kids year round.

 

In today's environment, it is extremely difficult for an athlete to play 3 sports in high school. Playing 2 sports is difficult enough. Playing sports demands a lot more time than when I was in high school.

[ksgovols]

Then that sounds like a TSSAA issue........I know the college coaches are sick and tired of AAU programs. Why not limit the contact time so that kids can play 3 sports during the school year. Summer can be divided up as well. These days the high school baseball coach can coach his kids during the summer except for a dead period. I think thats great. A couple of basketball camps during the baseball dead period and then football camp at the beginning of August.

 

I agree that almost all parents are unrealistic in regards to Juniors talents. Basketball in particular has become a year round sport, with baseball a close second. I'd be willing to bet that most college scholarships for athletics from the state of Tennessee are for football prospects, who probably spend the least amount of time working on their sport (lifting excluded). The other thing that irks me is that every parent that thinks his little phenom is the next coming is always looking for 'better competition'. It starts at about age 8 and spirals upward (or downward according to your perspective). All these 'travel' teams and 'elite' teams are just to stroke some adults ego. I much prefer the days when the neighborhood kids played for the neighborhood teams and the kids were playing for 'FUN'. That includes high school kids........

[muffin]

Soccer stinks.

[BigG]

Soccer stinks.

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Ah yes, another well thought out and articulated opinion.