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USWNT
Nov 27, 2021 18:50:15 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by rifle on Nov 27, 2021 18:50:15 GMT -5
True but let's not get caught asleep at the wheel. We do have a problem in development. UEFA has started pouring money last few years, incentives, and all kinds of resources to the associations, and grassroots programs. It has a bold structure to protect clubs and reward development over winning, because they see the value in investing into women's/girls youth just as they've done with the men/boys in the past. Women's soccer is growing exponentially in Europe. WUCL in euros had quadrupled, big clubs are now involved as well as legit youth academies. In contrast, USSF does not seem to see the value in investing in youth player development or to have the ability to do so. I think reality will strike when the USWNT faces top European sides next couple years and in the 2023 WC, and as more women play globally results will start to resemble those on the USMNT side. With today's business of winning at all costs in youth soccer and monopolies, only USSF has the power to fix today's mess in the grassroots, by finding ways to reward player development and to protect those clubs who do. If there is any hope it's them. Is it likely that will USSF (MLS) will change anything about women’s soccer? I suspect not.
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Post by rifle on Nov 27, 2021 16:03:49 GMT -5
The red card is on the officiating crew for not proactively and quickly stopping the taunting. The defender's actions were wrong, but 100% understandable. If AR1 had stepped on the field and started yelling at the Duke dumbass, or the Center had turned around and whistled sharply, the defender would likely have not clocked him. The officiating crew had their heads up their asses. That's a technical term. This happens way too often, and red cards are earned by the officials for poor game management. This is a prime example. I agree. CR may have been writing down the goal info in his book (and thus not looking at a time that is normally pretty calm) but the referee crew was clearly asleep at the wheel.
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Post by rifle on Nov 27, 2021 10:39:44 GMT -5
Unsporting behavior.. and general d***ery. Coach is a tool for not being critical. Classless.
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Post by rifle on Nov 22, 2021 17:33:42 GMT -5
I’ve worked several adult women’s games which I thought were fine.. and did my first men’s O30 match recently as an AR. They were a pain in the ass but I want to do some more before I write them off completely. They play very close to my house.. The “adults” never let things go. You know, cause they are waiting to be scouted and all😉. I see a lot of pro scouts walking their dogs at every game.
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Post by rifle on Nov 22, 2021 17:01:01 GMT -5
Only thing I refuse to really do at this point unless there is a lot more money is Adult league games. It just isn't worth the money to babysit those babies. They are worse than U16-U18 teenagers. I've done it several times, but until that pay gets upped significantly they can police themselves. I’ve worked several adult women’s games which I thought were fine.. and did my first men’s O30 match recently as an AR. They were a pain in the ass but I want to do some more before I write them off completely. They play very close to my house..
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Post by rifle on Nov 22, 2021 14:39:28 GMT -5
Situation must be bad. Seems like I get referee emails from Georgia Soccer daily. IMO they need to... 1 - Offer FREE referee courses. They can pay for it from the ODP money they got from accepting anyone who inquired and they let into the pool last year. 2 - Mandate that clubs pay more for referees. Its simply NOT WORTH THE HASSLE. They can pass the cost on to us the customers. They definitely should incentivize somehow. Honestly the money is pretty good. Outstanding for kids.
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Post by rifle on Nov 22, 2021 12:12:29 GMT -5
So, instead of finding the right pieces to fix this team, we will sell some of the decent ones we have left? I’d bet money that some of our better players will be sold. Players capable of playing in a better league will seize the opportunity. As they should.
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ATL/NYCFC
Nov 21, 2021 22:56:21 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by rifle on Nov 21, 2021 22:56:21 GMT -5
Shall we speculate… Who will be gone?
Barco? Hopefully find a buyer Bello? Talented youth don’t stay in MLS Robinson? Ditto Guzan? Cheaper options in a salary cap league Cubo? Should be so lucky Damm? Salary is nuts Hyndman?
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Post by rifle on Nov 21, 2021 22:51:16 GMT -5
"I Can't Wait Until Tryouts"… for a new team to disappoint?
Unbelievably tone deaf.
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Post by rifle on Nov 21, 2021 18:43:58 GMT -5
Was traveling by car today and driving so I didn’t get to watch. Have to applaud the turnaround from the way the season began and hope for a fresh start next season with some new optimism. Wonder how many players will be sold or not retained. I suspect we’ll see a serious roster overhaul. I sure hope Boca (since he has gotten an extension) has learned some lessons and is up to this task.
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Post by rifle on Nov 19, 2021 22:40:16 GMT -5
That appears to be the same story I linked this morning?
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Post by rifle on Nov 19, 2021 18:39:27 GMT -5
I’m going to go out on a limb and speculate that the son of that lunatic was involved (in the events that stopped play and caused the AR to be on the field during a stoppage). Can’t imagine what an AR did that merited being targeted. Do people get that crazy over an offside call? Edit: yep… www.sacramento.cbslocal.com/2021/11/18/parent-tackles-ref-roseville-soccer-gameEdit 2: so player disputes a call (not sure if offside, maybe ball out of bounds??? ffs) by the AR and gets in the ARs face, leading the AR to push him away. That’s not good. Push away is subjective though. He might have just put his hand out to get distance and that was considered a push. I agree with you. I can also understand how somebody would see red if their teenage kid got pushed by an adult. I have no idea if the AR was an adult - age really doesn’t matter though. The logical response definitely isn’t to do what that dude did… I’m really curious about the rest of the video and the whole story.
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ATL/LAFC
Nov 19, 2021 18:24:04 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by rifle on Nov 19, 2021 18:24:04 GMT -5
Wow
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Post by rifle on Nov 19, 2021 6:27:53 GMT -5
I’m going to go out on a limb and speculate that the son of that lunatic was involved (in the events that stopped play and caused the AR to be on the field during a stoppage). Can’t imagine what an AR did that merited being targeted. Do people get that crazy over an offside call? Edit: yep… www.sacramento.cbslocal.com/2021/11/18/parent-tackles-ref-roseville-soccer-gameEdit 2: so player disputes a call (not sure if offside, maybe ball out of bounds??? ffs) by the AR and gets in the ARs face, leading the AR to push him away. That’s not good.
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Post by rifle on Nov 19, 2021 6:13:33 GMT -5
Welcome to the soup sandwich that is US (competitive) youth soccer
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Post by rifle on Nov 17, 2021 21:45:47 GMT -5
Once very early I’m my referee career - I was AR2 (parents side for those who don’t know- AR1 works the bench side) and there was a YC given near midfield to a girl and her dad flipped out. I walked over and calmly said “chill out”. Then told him she was carded for a cleats-up tackle that didn’t look malicious but was actually pretty dangerous. He said “oh I didn’t see that”. I said no worries and “your daughter is a good player”. Totally calmed him down. But the center ref saw me do it and at half time he told me “hey rookie - never do that again”. I feel like at age 50 and standing 6’-5” I can do some things that others won’t but this was purely reading the audience. I’d absolutely do it again. The very best officials I've seen in any sport are good communicators. Doesn't need to be a lengthy discussion but just an acknowledgment they were heard and I've complimented many refs after games for taking the time to do so. The worst are those who ignore a situation- especially a physical play. I completed my online coursework last week and will take my in person training next month to put my money where my mouth is. Looking forward to it and hoping a can stay the course even throughout my last game of the day. Awesome. We need a LOT more. Good luck. It is not easy to go from player/coach/fan to referee. Totally different lens. Tip: point toward the team that touched it last or committed the foul. This seems really basic but it’s easy to get turned around especially with teams that play the ball backwards and laterally a lot.
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Post by rifle on Nov 16, 2021 19:57:23 GMT -5
I suspect it has a certain “resume boost” because you probably don’t play for AU if you’re not pretty darn good. But players get scholarships not teams. So shine as bright as you can in as prominent a team as you can play for - the rest should fall into place accordingly.
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Post by rifle on Nov 16, 2021 18:03:05 GMT -5
Contact a DOC and tell them the situation. Tell them you would like to be a “guest player” in some tournaments.
To those who know… You can still do that right?
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Post by rifle on Nov 16, 2021 17:57:05 GMT -5
I agree. Just don’t start arguing with ANYBODY (as the ref). No good will come from that. I've seen some referees that like to argue with the parents. Happened in my son's game this season. The guy had a huge ego and it was just the AR not the center. I walked to the other side of the field from him because I knew my self control and nothing good was going to come of it, so I just took myself out of the situation, and yes it did boil over to the point where the game had to stop. It was purely the AR's fault for arguing with the crowd. I made sure I was completely away though. Didn't want to be involved in any reports! LOL.... I'm ok with interacting with parents or players in a humorous way but I never engage an angry parent shouting. If it gets bad enough, I address it with the coach. Once very early I’m my referee career - I was AR2 (parents side for those who don’t know- AR1 works the bench side) and there was a YC given near midfield to a girl and her dad flipped out. I walked over and calmly said “chill out”. Then told him she was carded for a cleats-up tackle that didn’t look malicious but was actually pretty dangerous. He said “oh I didn’t see that”. I said no worries and “your daughter is a good player”. Totally calmed him down. But the center ref saw me do it and at half time he told me “hey rookie - never do that again”. I feel like at age 50 and standing 6’-5” I can do some things that others won’t but this was purely reading the audience. I’d absolutely do it again.
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Post by rifle on Nov 16, 2021 12:56:03 GMT -5
This one: 3) Every time a ball hits the freaking hands or arms it isn't a handball. That is my biggest freaking pet peeve of all the crowd yelling. I will call the hand balls that need to be called. Its clear many do not know the nuanced rules of what is and is not a handball. I ref. I make mistakes. I've let a free kick go the wrong way - figured it out after and apologized (no factor on game - too late to redo). I do believe many referees could do a better job of communicating advantage or other non-calls. In the flow of the game, I probably whistle fewer than half the infractions because they don't impact immediate play. Yes, you have to communicate that, and keep up with serial offenders. Every foul doesn't get a free kick... Agreed. There are some referees that do need to be more vocal. I put my son in that category but it's hard as a teenager to be the loudest person out there sometimes when you have older people all around you. I am vocal on advantage calls and also on non-called balls hitting the hand. I will say No...No... In a louder voice or if it hits the armpit or shoulder I'll pat my own shoulder to indicate I saw it but deemed it not illegal. In younger ages and even sometimes in older if players fall and there is no foul I will always shout play...play... As well. The more vocal and in control the referee sounds I do find the less the parents and players question calls. I agree. Just don’t start arguing with ANYBODY (as the ref). No good will come from that.
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Post by rifle on Nov 15, 2021 19:12:14 GMT -5
I worked 7 SCCL games in the past two weeks. 2 had full certified crews. 4 we found a certified but related (player sibling) to help as AR. Yes, we let them call everything, no one at the field cares, and as center I made sure they got paid. 1 ran with no club AR because none of the parents would step up. The shortage is real, and parents continue to berate and harass those that show up. I've pretty much have had to AR (along with another dad) about 80% of my kid's SCCL games this season since we are both certified. I have had to center or AR (as has my son who referees as well) for my younger kid's academy games as well. We have thick skin but the parents are indeed still just as bad as they always are sometimes, and 99% of the time it is something they have no clue about or had no vantage point to see what we saw and why we called what we called. hey man you have to admit that sitting in a chair near midfield is the best vantage point to judge offside calls near the penalty area.
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Post by rifle on Nov 13, 2021 8:01:33 GMT -5
(snip)Also I’m curious where all the haters are that were dogging the MNT just a few weeks ago. Some people said be patient and they will be fine for qualifying….. One of them is right here. When they show up looking hungover they deserve to be dogged. Thankfully they showed a lot of fight last night, and it’s cool that the confidence is building.
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Post by rifle on Nov 12, 2021 23:12:48 GMT -5
Entertaining game. I like Antonee Robinson. He and Dest as our outside backs looks promising. Miles must be a huge pain to play against. Got some ballers out there. Hope they can continue to raise the standard and bring it against the rest of the world.
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Post by rifle on Nov 12, 2021 22:06:19 GMT -5
Exactly right. That is why is important for coaches to teach kids the different ways to play soccer and how to recognize (as a team) the type of soccer that needs to be played because there are times when every type of soccer needs to be played. On defense that includes, high press, mid block and parking the bus. On offense, it includes when to play possession, how to break lines, and when to play direct. There is no one right way to attack or defend. Seriously. Everybody on this board & everywhere else complains about playing "boom ball", but here's a news flash- long balls over the top where a fast striker runs onto it and scores happen in the professional ranks too, and you know what- those goals count just as much as the ones where you complete a 7-pass chain from the back to the front! One of my kids played a game last weekend where our attacking mid picked their head up to see our striker making a forward run around the halfway line. The mid "boomed" the ball over the top, right into the striker's path, and they controlled it, took a few touches, and scored a nice goal from a semi-tight angle in the end. But to hear some on here talk, they should almost be ashamed of that goal because they didn't "build from the back". Look, I get it- "kickball" can be ugly to watch if you're doing it all the time. But long, over-the-top "boomed" passes absolutely have a place in the game, and can be a very effective tactic when used at the right times. Playing a pass to somebody in particular really isn’t “boom ball” at all
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Post by rifle on Nov 12, 2021 7:09:15 GMT -5
It’s good to hear and consider different perspectives. It makes me appreciate how difficult it is to establish universal regs. It also shows how failing to justify (or explain) the regs can be detrimental. The federation, leagues and clubs could all do better.
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Post by rifle on Nov 11, 2021 17:54:27 GMT -5
Full disclosure, my initial post was one of emotion and frustration. I haven't responded because I wanted to give myself time to allow reason and logic to set in, as well as, hear from others on the topic. That being said, my opinion hasn't changed and this is the why. At U13 specifically, many of these players are not ready to play 11v11 and cover a 120v70 pitch and do so while playing quality soccer. I have watched several ECRL teams this season struggle to make dynamic runs, take risks going forward or transition at speed. I have seen my fair share of players just coasting, going through the motions. When I was informed of the sub restriction, minutes before my initial post, I had a profound ah ha moment. These teams weren't suffering from bad coaches, poor fitness or lack of motivation, they literally had to hold themselves back in order to cover more ground for longer, until their coach was allowed to sub them. As a coach, my goal is not for my player to feel relieved when she comes out. I want her to be like, "Hey Coach, did I do something wrong, why did you take me out?" I want her to want to be on the field, I want her to want to play the game that she loves and I fear that this rule that might seem arbitrary to some, may be doing more harm than you think. As a player I played with my "hair on fire", to use a phrase from a previous poster, and I coach my players to play the same way. I expect them to give their team everything they can every time they step on the field, be it training or a match. I push my players to play high pressure, we don't LET the other team out of their end, you can often hear me yelling, "That was too easy," as a response to my players not making it harder, not pressuring or positioning themselves defensively to make it more challenging for the opposing team. I am also one of those coaches that expects my team to transition at speed, not just jogging up the field together. If we play the ball out of the back then I expect my back line to push up at a sprint, not a walk or jog, if they don't they will surely be hearing from me and their keeper. By making my back line push up at speed, it forces the midfield to get up and so on. It acts as an ignition to start everyone going forward at speed. Lastly, I expect my forwards to work back, if it's a winger coming back to receive a ball down the line from her OB or a center forward coming back into the midfield to double the opponents holding midfielder, there isn't much resting time when the ball is in play. Thats why I know 12 year old children are not ready to play high level soccer on a full size field for 20-30 minutes. They should be focused on building up to that as they grow and mature. There is a big difference between a 12 year old child and an 18 year old young woman, so why are we expecting them to do the same amount of work? Is it better for a player's development for them to play at 100% for 10minutes or at 75% for 20minutes? If the players have the knowledge of the game to make dynamic runs, play high pressure and quick transition at speed, but don't have to ability to put it into practice in a game because they aren't able to cover the field AND play quality soccer, the player is left with but a choice, to work hard or conserve, attack the space or hold off it's only minute 2, to high press the defender in her box facing her own goal or hold? Not only can I see the rule potentially hampering development, but I would argue, it's doing a good job of taking the fun out of the game for these kids. If I just wanted to jog around and cover a large space for 20minutes I would have run cross country. This season I have seen a lot of underwhelming soccer, frustrated coaches, players and parents... not saying it is cure all, but I think this restriction is a mistake at the ECRL level especially for U13-U14s. Lastly, I'd ask, who decided this rule was appropriate, when was the last time they coached a U13 team, or a 2nd team for that matter? It's kind of like the SCCL free sub on ANY stoppage, who wrote that rule, have they seen that in practice? Did they not think coaches would abuse the rule and sub EVERY stoppage to make sure the other team can't get anything started, or to delay, delay, delay? Lastly, I have a problem with this rule because if I were coaching ECRL (and traditionally I have coached 2nd teams), the rule would keep me from being the coach that I am and I take pride in being. Example, I have an OB on the parent's sideline that continues to get beat on the inside. I call out to her and say, "You can't let her beat you on the inside." Two minutes later, it happens again. I move the OB over to my sideline and switch the OBs. I quickly explain my coaching point the best I can from the sideline during the other team's goal kick. She gets beat again. We are only 10 minutes in. So, do I allow that player to continue to get beat, move her to another position or do I pull her off only to sit the rest of the half? In a free sub world, I pull her off like I do in academy and at high school. I ask her how she is feeling? I let her talk. I ask her if she understands what I was saying to her on the field. I get to have a conversation with my player. I may use a white board, I may use cones or other teammates on the side to demonstrate my point. Then I get to put her back in. When she succeeds, I eagerly watch with anticipation, I get to do my favorite thing as a coach, reward her with positive reinforcement and she has now LEARNED from her mistake. Something often overlooked here, but needs to be stated. These types of interactions happen ALL the time when players are young, but as the players get older, they happen less and less. It's in those moments players build trust and respect with their coaches. If these interactions start to be limited by 12 years old, I wonder what the coach-player relationship will look like in the future. Another important point, the mistake didn't cost her team a goal, so we were able to make the changes without coach or players getting emotional because it hadn't cost us anything. What if the player understood, but was hurt? Sub restriction, do I take her out, or leave her in? Who am I as a coach to judge if the player is too hurt or not too hurt to continue? What if it's more mental, her parents are yelling at her on the sideline and they are in her head. Free subs, I can have a conversation with her and then put her back in keeping her on my sideline until we can talk with her parents after the match. This rule doesn't make better coaches, it makes MANAGERS. I don't just manage the match, I have players that I love and care about that I want to make sure are getting everything they can out of their experience in that match. From my perspective, this rule was not made to make the player experience better, if you have an example of where a player benefits from the rule, please share. Good post and solid arguments. Two points: 1. In your second paragraph, you say "At U13 specifically, many of these players are not ready to play 11v11 and cover a 120v70 pitch and do so while playing quality soccer." I think that is exactly right so why are we putting 13 years olds (particularly girls) on a full size field? This is not a subbing rule problem but rather forcing kids to a full sized field too soon. Teams that try to play out of the back really struggle at U13 and U14 because it so easy to high press and trap the ball in. As a result, really bad habits are developed at these younger ages of kicking and running. Unlimited subbing makes the bad habits worse because with unlimited subbing you can kick and run all day long. The solution to problem would be to gradually increase the size of the field so that kids are not on a full size fields until U15.
2. Second thing is that there is no player at any level of soccer that can go 100% nonstop for an entire game. Not at U8 and not in the pros. So using unlimited subs to play a style where kids are taught to go 100% for short periods of time and then be subbed off for another player to go 100% for a short period of time is doing the kids a disservice. The coaching aspect is to teach kids to recognize when to high press, when to make the run and what to look for. Several years ago, as part of DA, US Soccer put out a coaching manual that talked about when to make runs, what type of runs to make, and at what percentage a run should be made. It has been several years since I looked at it but if memory serves me correctly 100% runs were reserved almost exclusively for getting back on defense to stop a counterattack. Part of the problem with coaching is that kids are not taught that aspect of the game. As a result, kids are bombing forward on offense while leaving the back exposed. There is a tactical side to soccer that should be taught from a young age about how to read the game and to know what to do. Going 100% for a short period of time is not the answer for tactical development.
Dangit. I was 100% committed to “I agree” with soccerfirst then I read your reply. …And now I agree with both.
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Post by rifle on Nov 11, 2021 13:10:50 GMT -5
Rob Valentino is still with the first team as an Assistant Coach. His specialty prior to being the caretaker manager was to work with the youngsters, homegrowns and new acquisitions making the transition to the first team and the MLS. In addition to that role he has been given a few other tasks to manage now since he exploded on to the National Stage as the interim AU Manager when Heinz Ketchup left us... Yep. I went and looked it up after making my post. Seems like a useful guy to keep around. He had an interesting path before coming here (last stop prior was OFYO).
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Post by rifle on Nov 9, 2021 22:00:59 GMT -5
Don’t much care for MLS but I’m still happy to see AU having a better time lately. I have to wonder if there is still a waiting list for season tickets. What ended up happening to the interim manager who did so well then got replaced?
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Post by rifle on Nov 8, 2021 12:56:40 GMT -5
I know that a LOT of players walk away from club soccer as they get older. Going from gonzo super serious at academy and early select ages to other activities seemingly overnight. I think a fair amount of those are due to parents being into it more than the kids. I sure hope the situation above (where the coach is driving them away) is rare.
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Mike C
Nov 4, 2021 5:43:27 GMT -5
via mobile
bogan likes this
Post by rifle on Nov 4, 2021 5:43:27 GMT -5
Evidently, working around a bunch of pricks has rubbed off on me.. Or them maybe.
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