Tryouts Tryouts ID session Tryouts - GRIPE

Nope. Plays the parent politics game now.[/quote]


Really, because I heard that he is loyal to UFA Legacy players to a fault. This seems to scare alot of people away from playing for him. I know his 2011 team is the best in the state. His ECNL team seems as if their are only a handful of players that could make another ECNL/GAL team in metro Atlanta. It's pretty impressive what he's done with that group. But, I'm just looking from the outside. I could be wrong[/quote]


They are not top U11 team in Ga, lost to Tophat 6-1. Not that strong IJS

They are not top U11 team in Ga, lost to Tophat 6-1. Not that strong IJS[/quote]


I don't think he plays politics. That has not been what I have seen.

As for the 2011 team they have several really stellar players but I don't think they are as deep as some teams. Did not see the game vs Tophat. Which Tophat team was it? Sometimes they play a "tournament team " where they take their best from all locations and make a team.

Regardless he develops players well. He recruits well. He is an interesting person. [/quote]


They played Buckhead gold and 2 of top 4 players were out. Not that good hence why they are recruiting hard. Politics are played and loyalty is given to homegrowns, it’s the UFA way.

Explain to me why coaches threaten and get really angry when players investigate other clubs, but they are out there recruiting to get players to visit their club? Double standards galore this time of year with a system that is dishonest and abusive. Why can't tryouts be.... tryouts? Teams are already 98% made and it's all just ridiculous. None of it is real.

Thank you for the space to rant. When you guys, paying customers, are ready to start a soccer revolution against these clubs, count us in

Where's my invite?

Do they? I have not seen names of players or even initials? Sometimes someone will day their own kid is looking or a group from another club without names. I have rarely ever seen references to players. Even if there was one it would be uncool for anyone to then tell their coach. Besides a lot of kids go to ID camps to experience playing with different kids and just getting more touches to get ready. It does not always mean they are looking.

Not individual players, but I've seen alot of mentions about players from which clubs were seen at so-and-so's ID camp.  Like this.


"I wonder how many CF boys were at that ID camp? Two days before a big NASA-CF Platinum Saturday slate? So CF parents, ask yourselves who missed practice last night? Ramifications?"



"Lots of girls all ages at the GSA ID tonight. Saw some Concorde and TH. Not in the droves though."



"There were several Tophat kids as well. And no one was missing from the current UFA ECNL team - everyone was there."

The question is should you tell your coach your going to another ID session? or will it be held against you?

I think so. But it really depends on the coach (if it will be held against you).

I think this suggestion that a coach favors “homegrown” players (from their own academy) is excellent. Hardly a reason to dislike a coach - the opposite in fact.

That’s good. It’s also hard to tell just from tryouts how good someone really is in games. They might not be as good as they seemed.

Yeah that too. I meant the opposite. Someone seems really good at tryouts but then disappoints in games.

I hear this a lot and yet I haven't really seen it myself.  Not saying it doesn't go on, just that I don't think it occurs as often as many suggest.  If that shiny new toy gets dropped to the team below the following year, then yeah you probably had a situation where the poached kid was not as good as the coach thought/hoped.  We just don't often hear about how that kid turned out and how the team performed compared to the prior year.  Just my 2 cents.

True - simply playing ECNL in the previous year at a different club gives that player instant credibility at a new club and it may not be warranted.  A good coach would/should ask the player or their parents about the circumstances of why they're leaving their current club and determine if it's related to the likelihood they were getting dropped.

Five Things I Have Learned About ID Sessions with multiple kids, specifically regarding ECNL/RL teams -

1. Showing up "unannounced" at an ID session is a futile exercise in frustration for kids and parents alike.
2. Trying to make a team that finished 1st or 2nd in their division is generally a futile exercise for almost any player unless they are a baller with connections.
3. If your kid is at SCCL or ECRL and you want to move up at your club, you should have already had conversations with coaches prior to ID sessions.
4. High school soccer creates an opportunity for upward mobility. You need to be a baller for it to matter, but your kid gets a fresh start and a fair chance against "elite" players.
5. By U15, players are recruiting as much as coaches. If your kid knows a kid that is on the team, have your kid talk to them. This connection generally happens in high school soccer.

Lastly don't be a victim.

- Not sure where your kid stands, MOST parents never ask.
- Want your kid to move to a new club, MOST parents never reach out prior.
- Everyone on the sideline says your kid is great? They always do to both kids that are great and kids that aren't great. It's called being nice. Stop internalizing it.
- The ~top 20% of whatever league is lower than the one you want to join are as good if not better than the bottom 20% above them. Bohoo, that is life. Life is not fair.
- High school soccer is more fun than a club for 80+% of kids. You just have to make the journey to HS then you can't stop worrying about club so much.

That is my feedback, I'm sure there are some outliers or examples you may find is not true. But this would be the case of a parent with kids that are "good" who has made every mistake listed above.