Post by Soccerhouse on Jan 14, 2018 10:48:49 GMT -5
tough loss for the falcons yesterday, and made me reflect on the brutal loss by atlanta united in PKs in the playoffs as well. (edit - forgot to mention the terrible hawks and braves!!!)
Both seasons left me disappointed for sure. Though it was interesting at the end of the game with about a minute left yesterday, Arthur Blank was on the sidelines with his wife, but the Eagles owner was still up on in the box. Interesting difference between the 2 owners. Props to the eagles, because if Matty Ice went down with injury, no way this team would have won like they have done with Foles.
Anyway back to soccer, should be interesting spring as we follow the age transition again that effects 8th graders that play on teams mostly with 9th graders etc?
How do the local DA teams do in the Spring? Does Tophat miss a beat or continue to dominate. What are the big ECNL showcases like this spring, are they still the recruiting powerhouses they used to be? Obviously a lot more local kids playing DA, will be interesting to here more opinions on how it went. Balancing exposure vs cost vs games played vs sacrifices made etc. I expect some craziness with the younger ages with the new Atlanta united youth training opportunities. and don't' forget the last one, high school soccer still exists, and should be quality spring as new schools might rise up that were less impacted by DA players etc.
I'm a big fan of high school sports, regardless of quality, high school is a huge part of an individual's maturation process. The best athletes and soccer players this country as ever seen played high school sports and high school soccer. The only one that things they are too big for high school sports is the Ball kid playing in lithuania.
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FROM AN OLD SOCCER AMERICA INTERVIEW (https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/59336/tim-howards-advice-for-keepers-parents-and-coach.html)
Reminds me of this great ole interview with Timmy Howard: (WOW HAVE TIMES CHANGED..... GOOD LUCK AS A GOAL KEEPER GETTING TO DO THIS NOW......)
SA: How important was it that you also played in the field during your youth days?
TIM HOWARD: It helped me a lot. Little did I know back in the 1980s that goalkeeping rules would change, that we would have to play with our feet. [Editor's note: Since 1992 goalkeepers are prohibited from handling passes from their teammates.]
The opportunities we have in America, because of the climate, kids are playing fall ball, spring, they’re playing in the summer. They’re playing indoor. Our indoor facilities in America are amazing. I’ve traveled the world and people don’t have that everywhere.
So kids are playing year-round. A really good goalkeeper coming up is going to have the opportunity to play on three or four different teams. I think it’s important he selects a couple teams that allow him to play in the field and play different positions.
I played midfield and striker in high school at the same time I was on the U-17 national team playing goalkeeper. For my travel team I was playing goalkeeper while on my high school team I was playing in the field.
SA: What advice do you have for young goalkeepers?
TIM HOWARD: Play whenever you have the opportunity.
Goalkeepers have to play as many games as they can, whether that’s in the park, with a travel team, as a guest player for another team. Play as many games as you can.
With goalkeeping, the amount of games it takes you to get to the highest level is a lot more. Why does a goalkeeper mature at age 30 when you have a striker who plays for Inter Milan at age 22? Goalkeepers need more games under their belt to be top-level than the average field player.
At a young age you’ll make a lot of mistakes – but that’s good because you learn from mistakes in a game. Mistakes in training don’t really count, because there are no consequences. It’s important for young goalkeepers to get in as many game-like situations as possible. Training is good, but games situations are more important.
Both seasons left me disappointed for sure. Though it was interesting at the end of the game with about a minute left yesterday, Arthur Blank was on the sidelines with his wife, but the Eagles owner was still up on in the box. Interesting difference between the 2 owners. Props to the eagles, because if Matty Ice went down with injury, no way this team would have won like they have done with Foles.
Anyway back to soccer, should be interesting spring as we follow the age transition again that effects 8th graders that play on teams mostly with 9th graders etc?
How do the local DA teams do in the Spring? Does Tophat miss a beat or continue to dominate. What are the big ECNL showcases like this spring, are they still the recruiting powerhouses they used to be? Obviously a lot more local kids playing DA, will be interesting to here more opinions on how it went. Balancing exposure vs cost vs games played vs sacrifices made etc. I expect some craziness with the younger ages with the new Atlanta united youth training opportunities. and don't' forget the last one, high school soccer still exists, and should be quality spring as new schools might rise up that were less impacted by DA players etc.
I'm a big fan of high school sports, regardless of quality, high school is a huge part of an individual's maturation process. The best athletes and soccer players this country as ever seen played high school sports and high school soccer. The only one that things they are too big for high school sports is the Ball kid playing in lithuania.
|
|
|
|
\/
FROM AN OLD SOCCER AMERICA INTERVIEW (https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/59336/tim-howards-advice-for-keepers-parents-and-coach.html)
Reminds me of this great ole interview with Timmy Howard: (WOW HAVE TIMES CHANGED..... GOOD LUCK AS A GOAL KEEPER GETTING TO DO THIS NOW......)
SA: How important was it that you also played in the field during your youth days?
TIM HOWARD: It helped me a lot. Little did I know back in the 1980s that goalkeeping rules would change, that we would have to play with our feet. [Editor's note: Since 1992 goalkeepers are prohibited from handling passes from their teammates.]
The opportunities we have in America, because of the climate, kids are playing fall ball, spring, they’re playing in the summer. They’re playing indoor. Our indoor facilities in America are amazing. I’ve traveled the world and people don’t have that everywhere.
So kids are playing year-round. A really good goalkeeper coming up is going to have the opportunity to play on three or four different teams. I think it’s important he selects a couple teams that allow him to play in the field and play different positions.
I played midfield and striker in high school at the same time I was on the U-17 national team playing goalkeeper. For my travel team I was playing goalkeeper while on my high school team I was playing in the field.
SA: What advice do you have for young goalkeepers?
TIM HOWARD: Play whenever you have the opportunity.
Goalkeepers have to play as many games as they can, whether that’s in the park, with a travel team, as a guest player for another team. Play as many games as you can.
With goalkeeping, the amount of games it takes you to get to the highest level is a lot more. Why does a goalkeeper mature at age 30 when you have a striker who plays for Inter Milan at age 22? Goalkeepers need more games under their belt to be top-level than the average field player.
At a young age you’ll make a lot of mistakes – but that’s good because you learn from mistakes in a game. Mistakes in training don’t really count, because there are no consequences. It’s important for young goalkeepers to get in as many game-like situations as possible. Training is good, but games situations are more important.
