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Post by mightydawg on May 23, 2023 10:39:26 GMT -5
They didn't even play the game of a real tryout for the first 30 minutes? Normally, clubs will have small sided scrimmages for the first 30 minutes or so with everyone mixed up and they will play several games. Then a water break. Then will take the previously identified (weeks ago, not at tryouts) and start grouping them together for small sided scrimmages and sending other kids to other fields for scrimmages. Then another water break. Then larger sided games with too many people in too little of a space. My favorite is 11 v. 11 on a 7 v 7 field. Night 2. Skip the small sided games and just scrimmage with too many people in too little of a space. Coaches mostly on phones. Night 3. Rinse and repeat. Isn't Night 2 Moving Day? Surely there is a better way to do tryout rather than moving them up and down fields... At the ECNL level, we have always had our spot either before tryouts or by the end of night one. There may be a spot or 2 left for night 2 in case superstar from rival club shows up on night 2 but there are not many at the top by that point.
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Post by mightydawg on May 23, 2023 10:05:19 GMT -5
They didn't even play the game of a real tryout for the first 30 minutes? Normally, clubs will have small sided scrimmages for the first 30 minutes or so with everyone mixed up and they will play several games. Then a water break. Then will take the previously identified (weeks ago, not at tryouts) and start grouping them together for small sided scrimmages and sending other kids to other fields for scrimmages. Then another water break. Then larger sided games with too many people in too little of a space. My favorite is 11 v. 11 on a 7 v 7 field. Night 2. Skip the small sided games and just scrimmage with too many people in too little of a space. Coaches mostly on phones. Night 3. Rinse and repeat. A lot of people give AFU grief but if they put their inflated egos aside and came out they would be surprised at what they see. Last night the first 15-20 mins were stretching then they were split into 5 teams of 12. They teams rotated field to field with the keepers staying put. The teams were sorted by 1-2-3-4-5 so all players of all skill level were blended. Sure some teams were stronger than others but it was not intentional. Anywhere from 3-4 coaches were on each field evaluating players. It would be nice if people with their inflated egos and pride took the time to see what else is out there instead of continuing to drink the Kool-Aid of these other places. Glad that you had a good experience with AFU. What age group were you watching last night? Who is the top team head coach? I have been to AFU ID camps and tryouts in previous years. How the ID camp and tryout are run are very dependent on the coach of the top team. I have seen it just as you described; I have seen it where the head guy already has his team set and leaves after 20 or 30 minutes; and I have seen it where they immediately break kids up into to perceived teams. Like most clubs, it all depends on who the coach is going to be.
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Post by mightydawg on May 23, 2023 9:45:01 GMT -5
I am not expecting my son to make their top team. We are coming from a different club and they do not know him. The coach that was "watching" his field was more interested in juggling a ball it seemed than watching what was going on. Got to show the parents that the kids are going to be coached a real soccer player.
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Post by mightydawg on May 23, 2023 9:42:05 GMT -5
How was night one of tryouts? UFA was disappointing. They took their top teams and pulled them aside; everyone else was just being babysat not really watching anything. They didn't even play the game of a real tryout for the first 30 minutes? Normally, clubs will have small sided scrimmages for the first 30 minutes or so with everyone mixed up and they will play several games. Then a water break. Then will take the previously identified (weeks ago, not at tryouts) and start grouping them together for small sided scrimmages and sending other kids to other fields for scrimmages. Then another water break. Then larger sided games with too many people in too little of a space. My favorite is 11 v. 11 on a 7 v 7 field. Night 2. Skip the small sided games and just scrimmage with too many people in too little of a space. Coaches mostly on phones. Night 3. Rinse and repeat.
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Post by mightydawg on May 22, 2023 19:59:52 GMT -5
How was night one of tryouts?
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Post by mightydawg on May 20, 2023 17:36:35 GMT -5
Post it.
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Post by mightydawg on May 18, 2023 10:33:12 GMT -5
Ok, I read through all the opinions and agree with a lot of them regarding how best to handle having an overwhelming team play against weaker competition. However, I then went and pulled up the link to the "results" page here in the original post. soccer.sincsports.com/schedule.aspx?tid=GAELITE&year=2023&stid=GAELITE&syear=2023&div=U09M01It looks to me like ALL of the teams attending were well below what the host teams level was. I could be wrong as I'm basing on the naming and color codes of the teams: SSA had "green" premier ( the team that lost 20-0) AFC "central" "south red AFC "central" black academy I don't even know where "green" falls at SSA, but I know it's not above blue, white, etc. ( I'm guessing it's at most their 4th best team??) Where as, Georgia Impact had it's "Elite" team, which I'm positive IS their best. And 3 of the 6 teams total in U14, were from Georgia Impact themselves, with the "Final" being two of the Georgia Impact teams against each other. So, it looks and sounds like there wasn't much love for this tournament, but clubs usually have the agreement where they will send teams to each others tournaments as a favor to each other. As we all know, this is a money generator for the clubs, but in a tournament this small, there likely aren't many options to match the competition to make competitive games. It's just a sad situation all around, because they need to hold a tournament but can't attract the talent to create a competitive environment the need. I know, we have been at a small club before, and have seen this play out, but what else can they do. The next age up was a combined U15/16 group probably for the exact same reason ( and already had two other Georgia Impact team in it) that they couldn't draw enough teams for individual age groups. Smaller clubs are sometimes stuck between a rock and a hard place. This was U9 (2014 birth year), not U14. There was a bracket at U10 although the scores are similarly bad. Also, at SSA, colors are locations, not team rankings. The description after the color indicates the team. It looks like the tournament did a poor job of matching up similar competition by creating large divisions and not moving strong teams up an age group.
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Post by mightydawg on May 15, 2023 13:26:27 GMT -5
Top is gold 2nd is navy 3rd is white Yellow is 4th I think
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Post by mightydawg on May 12, 2023 14:33:01 GMT -5
i’m glad we’re talking abt this. why do we have to go back and forth? are they trying to make the west coast and east coast happy by making the other miserable? my opinion 1 nationals in tx- or nationals in cali or va- that can switch every other year- 2 weeks booked in hotels with refundable nights for the second week- sending 344 teams ~ 5000 players to a tourist destination during peak season is crazy I wonder if the league makes money on the travel? Does the league have any ties to travel? Does any of their leadership own a travel company? Does ECNL use a travel company tied to that travel company? Yes. Making money on hotels
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Post by mightydawg on May 11, 2023 19:50:02 GMT -5
East looks substantially stronger than west in most age groups.
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Post by mightydawg on May 11, 2023 11:18:33 GMT -5
Clubs should place kids into one of three areas: 1. we want you back and you have an offer. 2. you are on the bubble, here is what you need to work on or what we need to see from you 3. you are not going to be on the same team, here is what you need to work on. If SSA is giving out early offers and you do not receive one, you know you fit into bucket 2 or 3. It would be nice if they would tell you what bucket you are in but at least you know you need to have options. The worst thing a club can do is lead a kid to believe they have a spot on the same team and then drop them after 3 days of tryouts. I've always wondered how bucket 2 or 3 works when someone is an ECNL/GA player that made nationals. I feel in those instances coaches need to be telling families a couple months before tryouts. "Hey don't spend a million dollars on a trip to California, because your kid isn't coming back next year" or maybe kids who get cut still go? Nationals is a tough deal period. For the boys, you have a week in Greensboro, NC. If you are lucky enough to make it out of the playoffs to the ECNL finals, that is another 4 or 5 days in Norco, CA on less than 2 weeks notice. For the girls, it is a week in San Diego and then another 4 or 5 days in Richmond. It is an expensive proposition for all families. Even though a player makes a commitment to a team, if a player is not going to be back with the team, it is tough to justify that amount of time and money.
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Post by mightydawg on May 11, 2023 9:43:33 GMT -5
I have no problem with what SSA is doing. In fact, I wish all clubs would do that. They are giving offers so that if you want to be on that team you can accept the offer and your spot is secure. This lets both the club and player know exactly where they stand going into tryouts. If you are not happy with the team that you are offered, you are free to decline the offer and tryout for a new team. How is this a bad thing? Isn't that what many people in the thread are asking for--to know exactly where they stand before tryouts? If they are as candid with the kids they are going to drop as they are with the ones they want to keep, then I think it's great. Clubs should place kids into one of three areas: 1. we want you back and you have an offer. 2. you are on the bubble, here is what you need to work on or what we need to see from you 3. you are not going to be on the same team, here is what you need to work on. If SSA is giving out early offers and you do not receive one, you know you fit into bucket 2 or 3. It would be nice if they would tell you what bucket you are in but at least you know you need to have options. The worst thing a club can do is lead a kid to believe they have a spot on the same team and then drop them after 3 days of tryouts.
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Post by mightydawg on May 11, 2023 9:07:29 GMT -5
The only way to try and keep them is through fear. RED FLAG. Best of luck playing for those types of coaches. Almost as bad as SSA last year making players commit before tryouts. I think there was a thread about that too… Not just last year. Their deadline to accept an early offer (supposedly about half of each team) is next week. I have no problem with what SSA is doing. In fact, I wish all clubs would do that. They are giving offers so that if you want to be on that team you can accept the offer and your spot is secure. This lets both the club and player know exactly where they stand going into tryouts. If you are not happy with the team that you are offered, you are free to decline the offer and tryout for a new team. How is this a bad thing? Isn't that what many people in the thread are asking for--to know exactly where they stand before tryouts?
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Post by mightydawg on May 9, 2023 7:05:57 GMT -5
GIRLS Elite 64 Southeast Atlanta Fire United Charlotte Soccer Academy Team Boca United Futbol Academy Newly announced clubs for the 2023-24 season: Azzurri Storm - Southeast FC Prime - Southeast United Soccer Alliance - Southeast BOYS Elite 64 Southeast AFC Lightning Charlotte Soccer Academy Concorde Fire IMG Academy Jacksonville FC North Carolina FC Youth Orlando City - Seminole Southern Soccer Academy United Futbol Academy Newly announced clubs for the 2023-24 season: Atlanta Fire United - Southeast How a northside soccer parent reads this list - AFC Lightning - how do they schedule every home game at 8am. Charlotte Soccer Academy - 4:30 hour drive, either i go or my wife takes the kids and gets a hotel $$$$$$$$$ Concorde Fire - to far of a drive but good tacos so I am okay with it IMG Academy - omg, tampa Jacksonville FC - jax beach, stay the weekend North Carolina FC Youth - i hope this is close to charlotte, we can knock it out in one weekend Orlando City - Seminole - $10,000 game because my "whole family" has to go and I will be forced to buy disney tickets Southern Soccer Academy - it cold be a worse drive United Futbol Academy - for some some reason driving north just feels better. trees, no 285, no city traffic. Atlanta Fire United - Southeast - what does southeast mean, some new branch in lagrange? Concorde and SSA are leaving.
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Post by mightydawg on May 8, 2023 15:24:52 GMT -5
Has anyone seen any type of announcement of who will actually be in E64 for the 23-24 season? I know Concorde is dropping it on the boys side. I think SSA is dropping it on the boys side. UFA appears to be keeping it on both the boys and girls side. It seemed like it was destined to dissolve in the southeast.
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Post by mightydawg on May 5, 2023 13:20:11 GMT -5
Here's an idea: Open a dummy email account and send out a mass email to another club's members trying to recruit them to your club. Misrepresent your results and lie about things that haven't happened. True story. There are some really desperate coaches out there. You referring to the email that UFA sent to AFU parents on the boys’ side? It was despicable. post it.
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Post by mightydawg on May 4, 2023 13:37:54 GMT -5
Congrats to the following state champs: A Div 1--Paideia A Div 2--Christian Heritage 2A--Tattnall County 3A--Coahulla Creek
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Post by mightydawg on May 4, 2023 13:35:10 GMT -5
Congratulations to the following state champs:
A Div 1--Mt. Vernon A Div 2--Aquinas 2A--Fellowship Christian 3A--Oconee Co.
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Post by mightydawg on May 3, 2023 15:58:24 GMT -5
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Post by mightydawg on Apr 30, 2023 11:56:25 GMT -5
Agreed. Unless it is a home game that I am going to, out of sight out of mind. Not good for the sport.
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Post by mightydawg on Apr 27, 2023 16:21:19 GMT -5
Curious what makes him a "pretty good coach" in your opinion? That 07 team barely made the playoffs and his style on that team is boomball as well. The difference is that team physically had greater success at winning 50-50 balls. The practices that he runs are all possession based soccer, as you indicated in your first post. So in the trainings, when he is in control, he is teaching the kids how to play possession soccer and move the ball. It sounds like that the problem you have with Avery is that the kids are not applying what he is teaching them in the games. That is fairly typical at that age. Kids are playing against faster and more skilled players, they panic and kick the ball away. Another thing that happens is that coaches realize that their team is over matched so they encourage playing over the top in games because the kids cannot handle the speed of the game. Avery is a damn good soccer player and knows what he is doing. Why do you thing the players do not implement in games what they are being taught in practice?
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Post by mightydawg on Apr 27, 2023 14:33:44 GMT -5
2nd team is HORRIBLE and have regressed since the start of season. The coach is Avery Shepard. His style of play is long ball in which he expects 50/50 balls to magically be won by short players. No tactical game plan, few goals scored just a year of overpriced recreational travel soccer at best. (Pull up the ecnl website and look how many goals were scored) This same team beat the 2010 platinum team last year in a gsa final and are now in second to last place. Lost a couple of good players and others were added. Ecrl regional and platinum have 2 solid coaches. 2nd team practices at Ridgeview Tuesday Wednesday and Thursdays 530-7pm. Go to a practice and then watch the game and you will see the style of practice is opposite the style in the game. Also talk to some of the parents as well. As far as coach Jose, will be hard to make that platinum team. I don't know about development but seems to be a good recruiter. Would not consider the second team unless there is a different coach. Problem is Concorde typicakky does not post whobthe coaches are until the last minute so do your research. Hope this helps I know nothing about the 2010 ECNL premier team but I do know Avery Shepard and think that he is a pretty good coach. He is also the coach of the 2007 ECNL premier team and that team finished 7th in the table, highest of any ECNL Premier teams.
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Post by mightydawg on Apr 18, 2023 10:27:12 GMT -5
The Cambridge v. Chamblee matchup on April 24th is going to be interesting. That matchup probably decides the state champion. Both teams tied with Marist. Both beat McIntosh although Cambridge needed overtime.
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Post by mightydawg on Apr 18, 2023 10:17:06 GMT -5
All of the players on both teams knew the math and the permutations It was known by all The kids on both sides played straight up for 79 minutes and 50 seconds…both teams played to win The tiebreaker put in place by the region ADs was wrong headed from the jump What were the tiebreakers?
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Post by mightydawg on Apr 17, 2023 15:00:21 GMT -5
Nice try.....but you have the facts completely wrong. First and foremost, Galloway had not clinched a birth. Based upon the way that the region tiebreakers worked Galloway advanced to the State Tournament for the first time in a generation if one of three events occurred: (A) Galloway wins outright; (B) Galloway loses 1-0; (C) Galloway loses 2-1. If they lost by two or more goals, they were out. If they conceded more than 2 goals, they were out. There is no sudden death overtime....so there is no guarantee of a 2-1 final if the game goes OT. It had zero to do with a rivalry with Mt. Vernon. Zero. It had zero to do with seeding. Zero. It had to do with making the state tournament....period. No ifs, ands or buts. Everyone on the field on both sides knew the permutations. The region's athletic directors concocted an ill-conceived tiebreaker system other than what is suggested by GHSA, as is their right. In creating the tiebreaker system, they created a framework where you win by losing.....a true Alice in Wonderland scenario. The goalie allowed the goal to be scored to ensure the 2-1 defeat and ensure a place in the playoffs for Galloway without leaving to the hands of fate (hand balls, own goals, PKs) in overtime. End of story. That makes much more sense but the first story was better. Was the goalkeeper even suspended? If so, why?
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Post by mightydawg on Apr 17, 2023 14:57:20 GMT -5
And that is the reason that most soccer leagues have the last games on the same day and at the same time. If Mount Vernon is not at the game, keeper probably doesn’t do it. If all of the results are not known, probably don’t know what is needed so have to play to win. I don’t get why the coach suspended the keeper. Isn’t that the ultimate insult to the seniors? They could go out as champions but instead suspend your best option to win. Make the keeper run until he pukes if you disagree with the decision. I'm sorry, but if I were the coach, I couldn't keep a player on the team period if he just intentionally gave a game away, of his own idea/volition, without checking with or telling anyone else what he was going to do. I'm kind of surprised he didn't get his ass kicked by some of the seniors, who were apparently very upset with what happened. And, "Go out as champions?" This was a team that was going to be at best a 3 seed from their own region. It's not like they were likely to go very far in the playoffs regardless. You've got to draw a line somewhere. I guess for some people, the line is, "I don't care what he did, if he can help me win, I want him on the field". I would like to think people aren't that obsessed with winning over everything else- especially in youth sports- but clearly some are. It is funny that you say that people are obsessed with winning over everything else and the whole story is that a kid intentionally lost a game that should have been tied. So winning was not the most important thing, keeping a hated rival out of the playoffs was. You want the kid to be condemned for not winning. Your argument literally makes no sense. 20 years from now, no one is going to remember if the team won on senior night or lost on senior night. I know that I certainly don't remember the score of my senior nights from high school. I remember my parents being out on field with me and the pride that they had in me but I can't tell you who we played or what the result was either time. But they will always remember how they lost the game to keep a rival out of the playoffs in one of the greatest FU moments of all time. That is something that will still be talking about 20 years from now. Even if you think that it was the stupidest move in the history of sports, it will be remembered. Just like Leon Lett's premature celebration in the Super Bowl. That is still talked about and highlights shown to this day. Everyone, including you, wants to say that youth sports is taken too seriously. Then a kid does something that shows it is not that serious and you want him drawn and quartered in the town square. Which is it?
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Post by mightydawg on Apr 17, 2023 12:52:41 GMT -5
And that is the reason that most soccer leagues have the last games on the same day and at the same time. If Mount Vernon is not at the game, keeper probably doesn’t do it. If all of the results are not known, probably don’t know what is needed so have to play to win.
I don’t get why the coach suspended the keeper. Isn’t that the ultimate insult to the seniors? They could go out as champions but instead suspend your best option to win. Make the keeper run until he pukes if you disagree with the decision.
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Post by mightydawg on Apr 13, 2023 12:27:26 GMT -5
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Post by mightydawg on Apr 12, 2023 15:19:49 GMT -5
I wonder if they will bring in natural grass. Yes, the Benz will have natural grass for the matches.
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Post by mightydawg on Apr 4, 2023 14:43:37 GMT -5
I understand some of the comments, but seriously, I don't understand how it is possible...especially for U16, U17 & U19. I don't really know any teams that regularly train on Friday. This means there are essentially 8 time slots Monday - Thursday (2 each night). Each of those teams are training at least 3 nights, and maybe even a 4th night. This means there needs to be 9-12 time slots available to train each team during the week. I'm guessing teams train together to make it all happen. I wouldn't imagine that would make a lot of people happy. I know my player wouldn't be happy being on a U17 or U19 team and being forced to train with a younger team...especially if it is a regular thing. I suppose another option is shorter sessions allowing a third training window each night??? Additionally, how can the coach Direct anything when they are always with their teams training? UFA has 3 practice slots per night so that is not an issue. 5-6:30; 6:30-8; 8-9:30. Also, even if they combine a few of the practices, 08s practicing with 07s is sophomores practicing with juniors, which most kids just finished doing with high school. 07s practicing with 06/05 is juniors practicing with seniors. This is not seniors practicing with 8th graders.
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