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Post by flamengo100 on Apr 21, 2023 10:00:01 GMT -5
Follow the thread titled AU 2023 Happenings.... It's true and more info there.
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Post by soccerlife1972 on Apr 21, 2023 11:28:01 GMT -5
Follow the thread titled AU 2023 Happenings.... It's true and more info there. I did look there ..no one is addressing the "size' topic in that thread. |
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Post by Soccerhouse on Apr 21, 2023 11:32:00 GMT -5
Yea, it's in the other thread, but it's the reality of life. Not everyone can be retained, and hard decisions always have to be made.
I can say from experience, i've seen so many 2nd/3rd team player by U17+ elevate themselves to top 5 kids. So much maturing and physical growth occurs. Boys become young men and often are shells of what they once were.
Unfortunately soccer seems to have the most variability and talent is truly in the eye of the beholder.
and I have very little confidence in the MLS next league or whatever it's called. From the outside looking in, it looks like a mess, I could be wrong, hopefully I am.
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Post by futbolhero on Apr 21, 2023 13:05:12 GMT -5
Not sure if any au parents here can confirm this and shed some light on what is going on. Heard that au this week dropped whole bunch of kids , some arevery good players, across all age groups . Anywhere from 5 to 8 kids from almost every team were dropped. One common underlying theme for the kids who were dropped was their smaller stature (or rather below average size for their age). I am being told AU is not focusing on giant ballers. Not sure how much of it is true. Can anyone comment on this? This is crazy if true. Some of the biggest soccer legends (from the past and even today) were not that big. What is going on with AU?  It is inferior US soccer what do you honestly expect? I am sure if you follow the $$$ you will find the answers. 2 age groups are being dropped. If not mistaken you do not pay to play there so it is a money saver and they can focus on their money maker team 1. |
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Post by soccer3819 on Apr 21, 2023 17:20:36 GMT -5
Not sure if any au parents here can confirm this and shed some light on what is going on. Heard that au this week dropped whole bunch of kids , some arevery good players, across all age groups . Anywhere from 5 to 8 kids from almost every team were dropped. One common underlying theme for the kids who were dropped was their smaller stature (or rather below average size for their age). I am being told AU is not focusing on giant ballers. Not sure how much of it is true. Can anyone comment on this? This is crazy if true. Some of the biggest soccer legends (from the past and even today) were not that big. What is going on with AU? It is inferior US soccer what do you honestly expect? I am sure if you follow the $$$ you will find the answers. 2 age groups are being dropped. If not mistaken you do not pay to play there so it is a money saver and they can focus on their money maker team 1. |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Apr 24, 2023 12:45:49 GMT -5
Follow the thread titled AU 2023 Happenings.... It's true and more info there. I did look there ..no one is addressing the "size' topic in that thread. For the record, I don't agree with the "size" choices AU is making. I think you should keep players based on their skills. However, given the route they are taking with mixed age groups, they would prefer to keep players who are big enough not to get wounded or who are not limited by their sizes when competing against other teams. Again just my 2 cents... |
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Post by rpsoccer on Apr 24, 2023 14:00:18 GMT -5
I did look there ..no one is addressing the "size' topic in that thread. For the record, I don't agree with the "size" choices AU is making. I think you should keep players based on their skills. However, given the route they are taking with mixed age groups, they would prefer to keep players who are big enough not to get wounded or who are not limited by their sizes when competing against other teams. Again just my 2 cents... I think it depends on the position of that the player plays, if he/she is an attacking/defensive midfielder good at dribbling and passing, or play as wing fast and good dribbling, then height is not that important, Messi (5'7"), Verrati (5'5"), Xavi (5'7"), Iniesta (5'7"), Kanté (5'7"), Alexis Sanchez (5'6") are just some names. Being smaller in size has some advantages like, that they can turn faster than a tall player, which allow them to be better at dribbling. My perception is that there is a fixation with the height of a player, that might be coming from another sports like basketball or football. |
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Post by bogan on Apr 24, 2023 14:16:42 GMT -5
For the record, I don't agree with the "size" choices AU is making. I think you should keep players based on their skills. However, given the route they are taking with mixed age groups, they would prefer to keep players who are big enough not to get wounded or who are not limited by their sizes when competing against other teams. Again just my 2 cents... I think it depends on the position of that the player plays, if he/she is an attacking/defensive midfielder good at dribbling and passing, or play as wing fast and good dribbling, then height is not that important, Messi (5'7"), Verrati (5'5"), Xavi (5'7"), Iniesta (5'7"), Kanté (5'7"), Alexis Sanchez (5'6") are just some names. Being smaller in size has some advantages like, that they can turn faster than a tall player, which allow them to be better at dribbling. My perception is that there is a fixation with the height of a player, that might be coming from another sports like basketball or football. I believe it’s from the kick it and run mentality we seem to have a lot of here in the States. |
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Post by bogan on Apr 24, 2023 15:47:08 GMT -5
From Jason Carney
“ Our game is broken! Too many leagues for youth players, programs selling 'Elite' tags, and too many parents that are sold a load of nonsense, but it all looks and sounds great. Club leadership cannot sell their program on long-term development if their definition of success is geared towards the outcome. In the US soccer pathway system, long-term development does not exist. Coaching excellence over the results is frowned upon. Having the patience to watch a child grow and learn does not happen. The team loses, or the player is placed on a 'B' team; they quit and leave for another shiny object. When winning is the driving force of your success, you lose sight of performance and development. Imagine judging yourself on the progress your players make and their undiminished love of the game instead of your win/loss record.
Just watch high school, college, and US youth national team games, and you'll see the product we have created. Unintelligent soccer is played where players cannot figure out problems on the field. It has been like this for decades, and nobody wants to make changes. It is getting worse, not better, as these leagues have found a niche in the market that can make them a boatload of money.
Does anyone want to join the ELITE FEAR OF MISSING OUT LEAGUE?
Derek Broadley U.S. Soccer Federation US Youth Soccer Tom Bates Andy Rogers Dr. Adam Owen, PhD Candice Fabry Stephen Mckenna Kincaid Schmidt Jawaher AlDhaen Lawrence Leith Rachel Newborough Ciaran Toner Mike Kelleher Sawsan Alhasaseen K”
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Apr 24, 2023 19:01:02 GMT -5
From Jason Carney “ Our game is broken! Too many leagues for youth players, programs selling 'Elite' tags, and too many parents that are sold a load of nonsense, but it all looks and sounds great. Club leadership cannot sell their program on long-term development if their definition of success is geared towards the outcome. In the US soccer pathway system, long-term development does not exist. Coaching excellence over the results is frowned upon. Having the patience to watch a child grow and learn does not happen. The team loses, or the player is placed on a 'B' team; they quit and leave for another shiny object. When winning is the driving force of your success, you lose sight of performance and development. Imagine judging yourself on the progress your players make and their undiminished love of the game instead of your win/loss record. Just watch high school, college, and US youth national team games, and you'll see the product we have created. Unintelligent soccer is played where players cannot figure out problems on the field. It has been like this for decades, and nobody wants to make changes. It is getting worse, not better, as these leagues have found a niche in the market that can make them a boatload of money. Does anyone want to join the ELITE FEAR OF MISSING OUT LEAGUE? Derek Broadley U.S. Soccer Federation US Youth Soccer Tom Bates Andy Rogers Dr. Adam Owen, PhD Candice Fabry Stephen Mckenna Kincaid Schmidt Jawaher AlDhaen Lawrence Leith Rachel Newborough Ciaran Toner Mike Kelleher Sawsan Alhasaseen K” USSF has been nothing short of a colossal failure, when it comes to the youth programs in this country. Like many other segments of our society, there is a huge lack of leadership. I think USSF should be the ones leading the revamping of the beautiful game. First, I say start by designating a real pyramid for Youth Soccer in this country. Even the clueless hacks at the NCAA have some kind of hierarchy, with D1, D2...etc. Secondly, I believe the MLS clubs that "borrow" a lot of their academy players from local clubs need to pay some type of solidarity payment to either the parents, the clubs or the player, especially at the U15+ age groups. Call it remuneration fees when paid to the player directly much like colleges do with student-athletes. Finally, do more policing of coach training and certifications. Maybe pay for the training and mandate re-certs to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. We have A & B licensed coaches from 50 years ago, who can't run a simple training session with clear-cut goals.... |
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Post by oraclesfriend on Apr 25, 2023 22:41:48 GMT -5
About the size thing… I am aware of a truly elite player that plays outside defender who was told by D1 schools that she was too short to be signed by them. This child is around average height for a girl (5’5”) and has been called up to NTC and in the ID sessions of the elite league that she plays in. A truly amazing player playing outside defender, not center back! Blown away by this attitude when we have our WWC winning squad with a player several inches shorter. Many P5 schools with girls of this size playing. Why the obsession with size?
Same on the point of the inability to solve problems and break down defenses. Why do we care more about athleticism and size than skill? I know why… we are lazy. We like to find the easy way. We don’t want to take the time to analyze players on film or in person. We want the player who jumps out at us with flashy moments in the first 5 minutes. We don’t care about the N’golo Kante types that power the team with their relentless work rate. We don’t want the Cesc Fabregas types that solve the defense and split them open with their pinpoint passing. Nope.
The USSF needs to take some leadership and spend some money on scouts that truly watch ALL of the players out there and find those players who have the soccer IQ to break teams down. Maybe Naomi Girma will help the women’s team. Too early to tell but I have heard people say her soccer IQ is stellar. Not sure who the smartest guys are going to be for us…
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Post by newposter on Apr 26, 2023 11:10:49 GMT -5
I wouldn't say NCAA D1, D2, D3 etc. is really a hierarchy. A player may choose D2 over D1 for multiple reasons such as program of study, geographic location or financial aid. Remember financial aid for soccer for men's is directly impacted by Title IX (9 scholarships for team). Many players and teams rely on academics for money for players.
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Apr 26, 2023 13:33:07 GMT -5
About the size thing… I am aware of a truly elite player that plays outside defender who was told by D1 schools that she was too short to be signed by them. This child is around average height for a girl (5’5”) and has been called up to NTC and in the ID sessions of the elite league that she plays in. A truly amazing player playing outside defender, not center back! Blown away by this attitude when we have our WWC winning squad with a player several inches shorter. Many P5 schools with girls of this size playing. Why the obsession with size? Same on the point of the inability to solve problems and break down defenses. Why do we care more about athleticism and size than skill? I know why… we are lazy. We like to find the easy way. We don’t want to take the time to analyze players on film or in person. We want the player who jumps out at us with flashy moments in the first 5 minutes. We don’t care about the N’golo Kante types that power the team with their relentless work rate. We don’t want the Cesc Fabregas types that solve the defense and split them open with their pinpoint passing. Nope. The USSF needs to take some leadership and spend some money on scouts that truly watch ALL of the players out there and find those players who have the soccer IQ to break teams down. Maybe Naomi Girma will help the women’s team. Too early to tell but I have heard people say her soccer IQ is stellar. Not sure who the smartest guys are going to be for us… All very well said and articulated. However, there is a fallacy in your argument, actually two: Leadership from USSF and the Scouting network. Unless it benefits the duds at USSF, they will never show any type of leadership. Additionally, our scouting network is broken. Don't they have to live in Chicago and travel to the regions they are supposed to be scouting? Why not do what the rest of the world does. Train local connections to soccer around the country to identify talents not in MLS-Next/ECNL/GAL. Neymar was discovered by a local coach on the beach... |
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Post by atlantasoccerdad2020 on Apr 26, 2023 16:32:51 GMT -5
About the size thing… I am aware of a truly elite player that plays outside defender who was told by D1 schools that she was too short to be signed by them. This child is around average height for a girl (5’5”) and has been called up to NTC and in the ID sessions of the elite league that she plays in. A truly amazing player playing outside defender, not center back! Blown away by this attitude when we have our WWC winning squad with a player several inches shorter. Many P5 schools with girls of this size playing. Why the obsession with size? Same on the point of the inability to solve problems and break down defenses. Why do we care more about athleticism and size than skill? I know why… we are lazy. We like to find the easy way. We don’t want to take the time to analyze players on film or in person. We want the player who jumps out at us with flashy moments in the first 5 minutes. We don’t care about the N’golo Kante types that power the team with their relentless work rate. We don’t want the Cesc Fabregas types that solve the defense and split them open with their pinpoint passing. Nope. The USSF needs to take some leadership and spend some money on scouts that truly watch ALL of the players out there and find those players who have the soccer IQ to break teams down. Maybe Naomi Girma will help the women’s team. Too early to tell but I have heard people say her soccer IQ is stellar. Not sure who the smartest guys are going to be for us… All very well said and articulated. However, there is a fallacy in your argument, actually two: Leadership from USSF and the Scouting network. Unless it benefits the duds at USSF, they will never show any type of leadership. Additionally, our scouting network is broken. Don't they have to live in Chicago and travel to the regions they are supposed to be scouting? Why not do what the rest of the world does. Train local connections to soccer around the country to identify talents not in MLS-Next/ECNL/GAL. Neymar was discovered by a local coach on the beach... That is a bunch of rubbish if they have to live in Chicago then travel. Maybe that is why they were looking at Atlanta or NC for new headquarters. |
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Post by rifle on Apr 26, 2023 18:52:54 GMT -5
All very well said and articulated. However, there is a fallacy in your argument, actually two: Leadership from USSF and the Scouting network. Unless it benefits the duds at USSF, they will never show any type of leadership. Additionally, our scouting network is broken. Don't they have to live in Chicago and travel to the regions they are supposed to be scouting? Why not do what the rest of the world does. Train local connections to soccer around the country to identify talents not in MLS-Next/ECNL/GAL. Neymar was discovered by a local coach on the beach... That is a bunch of rubbish if they have to live in Chicago then travel. Maybe that is why they were looking at Atlanta or NC for new headquarters. A new HQ won’t make a hill of beans difference if they don’t leverage a network of scouts all around the country and world. Status quo baby. |
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Post by atlantasoccerdad2020 on Apr 27, 2023 10:04:29 GMT -5
That is a bunch of rubbish if they have to live in Chicago then travel. Maybe that is why they were looking at Atlanta or NC for new headquarters. A new HQ won’t make a hill of beans difference if they don’t leverage a network of scouts all around the country and world. Status quo baby. True. Same issue different city. |
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Post by triffling on Apr 29, 2023 8:59:45 GMT -5
A new HQ won’t make a hill of beans difference if they don’t leverage a network of scouts all around the country and world. Status quo baby. True. Same issue different city. US Soccer’s scouts are based all around the country - they are not required to be based in Chicago or anywhere else. |
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Post by Soccerhouse on Apr 29, 2023 10:11:59 GMT -5
Back in the good ole days, we could get coke for .25 cents, a pizza for $4 delivered, a gumball was a penny they had scouts at most DA games. Those were the good ole days for sure.....
Non mls kids actually were invited to US camps back then. Wild concept....
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Post by atlnoleg on May 1, 2023 10:00:50 GMT -5
Has the rumor that AU has dropped the lower age teams completely been debunked yet? It's been posted on this board and I've heard from another parent that they were dropping the teams below u-15 but I don't believe that was ever more than a rumor. I've since heard of a kid who would be u-14 next year was being picked up by the AU Academy. And yes, he has the physical attributes the original poster alluded to.
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on May 1, 2023 10:30:38 GMT -5
Has the rumor that AU has dropped the lower age teams completely been debunked yet? It's been posted on this board and I've heard from another parent that they were dropping the teams below u-15 but I don't believe that was ever more than a rumor. I've since heard of a kid who would be u-14 next year was being picked up by the AU Academy. And yes, he has the physical attributes the original poster alluded to. The only groups that are confirmed will be retired after this season are the U12s and U16s. So next season, AU will have the following age groups: U13, U14, U15, U17 & U19. The new CEO Garth Lagerwey, spent time at Real Salt-Lake and the Seattle Sounders. By the time he left, both academies were left with only 2 teams each. The U15s and U17s. The thinking is over the next few years he will see the current U12s reach the U15 age group(2025-2026) and as they age out of U13, U14, sunset those age groups. While it may be disappointing for many of the lads in the area, I think it will give AU more resources to throw at both the U15 & U17 age groups, including attending more international tourneys and giving the players more options to be seen and experience different styles of play... |
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Post by atlnoleg on May 1, 2023 10:54:10 GMT -5
Has the rumor that AU has dropped the lower age teams completely been debunked yet? It's been posted on this board and I've heard from another parent that they were dropping the teams below u-15 but I don't believe that was ever more than a rumor. I've since heard of a kid who would be u-14 next year was being picked up by the AU Academy. And yes, he has the physical attributes the original poster alluded to. The only groups that are confirmed will be retired after this season are the U12s and U16s. So next season, AU will have the following age groups: U13, U14, U15, U17 & U19. The new CEO Garth Lagerwey, spent time at Real Salt-Lake and the Seattle Sounders. By the time he left, both academies were left with only 2 teams each. The U15s and U17s. The thinking is over the next few years he will see the current U12s reach the U15 age group(2025-2026) and as they age out of U13, U14, sunset those age groups. While it may be disappointing for many of the lads in the area, I think it will give AU more resources to throw at both the U15 & U17 age groups, including attending more international tourneys and giving the players more options to be seen and experience different styles of play... Thanks. There's a lot of misinformation out there, so it's hard to separate fact from rumor. Were there more cuts at all ages this year than previous years? Just seems to be more of a buzz about it this year than I remember from previous years. |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on May 1, 2023 11:00:21 GMT -5
The only groups that are confirmed will be retired after this season are the U12s and U16s. So next season, AU will have the following age groups: U13, U14, U15, U17 & U19. The new CEO Garth Lagerwey, spent time at Real Salt-Lake and the Seattle Sounders. By the time he left, both academies were left with only 2 teams each. The U15s and U17s. The thinking is over the next few years he will see the current U12s reach the U15 age group(2025-2026) and as they age out of U13, U14, sunset those age groups. While it may be disappointing for many of the lads in the area, I think it will give AU more resources to throw at both the U15 & U17 age groups, including attending more international tourneys and giving the players more options to be seen and experience different styles of play... Thanks. There's a lot of misinformation out there, so it's hard to separate fact from rumor. Were there more cuts at all ages this year than previous years? Just seems to be more of a buzz about it this year than I remember from previous years. There were definitely more cuts this year. The only age group spared were the U19s. When you think about it, the current U15s and u16s have to be combined into one U17 team for next year. That's 40 current players for maybe 20 spots, and that's if they don't bring in any new/fresh players from inside and outside of the ATL. All that in addition to approx. 5 cuts per the other age groups. |
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