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Post by jcsoccerdad on Mar 12, 2024 12:04:54 GMT -5
Hi All,
I'm sure this has been asked in the past but I could not find anything. Can anybody share their thoughts on the club? I have a couple of boys who plays academy and deciding on changing clubs at the end of the season. How's the communication and culture? Do the coaches ever put new kids on the top black and white teams or do new kids automatically start in the lower levels? Any thoughts or comments are appreciated!
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Post by rifle on Mar 12, 2024 12:22:25 GMT -5
Hi All, I'm sure this has been asked in the past but I could not find anything. Can anybody share their thoughts on the club? I have a couple of boys who plays academy and deciding on changing clubs at the end of the season. How's the communication and culture? Do the coaches ever put new kids on the top black and white teams or do new kids automatically start in the lower levels? Any thoughts or comments are appreciated! If this is your idea and nobody (kids, parents, other) from CF has reached out to you - prepare to be very disappointed with how tryouts go. They’ll run a big event and the coaches will talk to each other and move a handful of players around. Then many will be offered a spot on a team of unknown level. |
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Post by jcsoccerdad on Mar 12, 2024 12:48:03 GMT -5
Ah. Exactly what I was worried about. Just hoping things were different now.
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Post by rifle on Mar 12, 2024 17:07:56 GMT -5
Ah. Exactly what I was worried about. Just hoping things were different now. They could be different now but CF is a destination club. Lots of players on lots of teams at lots of levels. I’m sure they’ll be happy to take your money and they definitely have high performing teams. My kid went to a tryout one year (it was probably 2017ish so not recent) and got moved around during the night - but no feedback at all so he went somewhere else for day two. I’ve seen some very low level teams wearing the same CF shirt, so some people definitely get a “destination club experience” that isn’t quite what they wished for. This isn’t sour grapes or intended to dissuade you. I just know that if they don’t know you before you arrive, chances are slim to get the hand of god necessary to be placed on a top team. My kid wasn’t in that category so it was mainly a learning experience. |
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Post by bolo on Mar 13, 2024 8:54:05 GMT -5
Hi All, I'm sure this has been asked in the past but I could not find anything. Can anybody share their thoughts on the club? I have a couple of boys who plays academy and deciding on changing clubs at the end of the season. How's the communication and culture? Do the coaches ever put new kids on the top black and white teams or do new kids automatically start in the lower levels? Any thoughts or comments are appreciated! I think some of it depends on the ages of your boys. To me, the younger they are, the easier it is to get placed on one of the top teams as a new player because those teams aren't as "fully formed" as they often are at older ages. It's also easier for the more advanced kids (especially the superior athletes) to stand out at those ages. A lot of kids are still playing rec/Y at those ages as well, to play with their friends, not realizing or caring about getting in early on club. So that creates some talent gaps. You also have the years where they move from 7v7 to 9v9, or 9v9 to 11v11, where rosters naturally expand so that offers a little more opportunity. We actually had one of our kids make the top (Black) team as a complete newcomer to the club at U10 (last year of 7v7), but that was also during the "age year switch" season where they moved to birth years for all the age groups, so all the rosters were jumbled a good bit. Regardless, reaching out to the club before tryouts, or going through friends who are already there to get intros or early looks at your boys, definitely helps your chances greatly. Good luck! |
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Post by gobirds on Mar 13, 2024 11:08:01 GMT -5
Ah. Exactly what I was worried about. Just hoping things were different now. This was our experience last year at tryouts. Just went on our own without knowing anyone. It seemed like there were three tryout areas, on the left field (facing Marist) were the top teams, middle field were known kids playing middle level, and the right fields were newcomers. It was easy to spot because people in Concorde uniforms were on the left 2 fields and pretty much everyone in random kits were on the right field. My son (U12) probably isn't good enough to be on the left field, but I was expecting him to get some time on the middle field to show his stuff but they pretty much only let the new kids hang on the right side small fields. He told me afterward that he asked one of the coaches if he could perform on the middle field and the coach responded, "Don't worry about it, you are on the field you are supposed to be on." Long story short, unless you are known or clearly top level... expect to not get much opportunity or any feedback. We were offered a team but, as others have said, seemed more like a money grab than anything. We ended up sticking with our current team. |
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Post by southernsoccer on Mar 14, 2024 10:58:49 GMT -5
High-level Concorde teams are usually set unless there is a coaching change and you know the new coach.
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darp
Jr. Academy
Posts: 48
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Post by darp on Mar 14, 2024 11:08:30 GMT -5
High-level Concorde teams are usually set unless there is a coaching change and you know the new coach. Honest question, why? Doesn't make a ton of sense to me if you have kids trying out that can push or are maybe even better than players on your top team. Why would you not want them added to the mix, or at least give them a serious try at it? |
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Post by jcsoccerdad on Mar 14, 2024 11:59:43 GMT -5
Agreed. At what age do they start setting the top teams? There should be ways to evaluate incoming kids if they are more talented.
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Post by diamondmid on Mar 14, 2024 12:25:25 GMT -5
I don't think this is exclusive to Concorde. Most first and second teams are set. Generally, it's because you have known players with known qualities. Every club will take a new player if that player is up to the standard because it's new revenue (and if you take a quality player from your competitor, you weaken them). On top of that, these clubs will take players that may be lesser players if the club can bring in significant revenue. Don't fool yourself thinking it's about development or if the player is one of the top, they are safe.
With that said - and in particular to Concorde - it's best to try and get in at younger ages. I know players that came in for pre-tryout camps and tryouts that were outside of the club and told by current families that their player didn't stand a chance of getting on top teams. Then kids were offered spots on first and second teams. So it definitely happens.
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maze
Jr. Academy
Posts: 85
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Post by maze on Mar 14, 2024 13:16:33 GMT -5
High-level Concorde teams are usually set unless there is a coaching change and you know the new coach. Honest question, why? Doesn't make a ton of sense to me if you have kids trying out that can push or are maybe even better than players on your top team. Why would you not want them added to the mix, or at least give them a serious try at it? It also depends on the age you are referring to.... my 2 cents Here is what we have seen, during the first year of age moving to ECNL/GA, it doesn't really seem like anyone is safe and it is very very nerve-racking At U14, there is still some OK movement. At U15, there seems to be another strong push by DPL/ECNRL players as some feel like if you don't make a top team by U15 then you are out of luck. From that point on...almost all of the kids are known commodities. So, you just find that a few start switching kits if they like a coach or if some club/coach gives them a better line on the college they are trying to play for. Obviously, you have kids that move in from out of state but, as someone else posted, the coach is usually going to play it safe with the known player than potential upside or downside with the unknown player. |
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Post by atlnoleg on Mar 15, 2024 6:50:49 GMT -5
Good thread. My observations having kids go through this process is coaches will take a look at new players if they truly stand out physically, otherwise you can move laterally but not up. If you are already MLS Next or ECNL you will be put on the special field and nothing the other kids will do at an ID or tryout will get them there unless they look like a man amongst boys physically. A couple years ago when first moving clubs one of my kids was pulled to the special field to scrimmage and given the third degree by the top coach at his age group. When coach asked what team he had played for that was the end of that. I always wonder what would have happened if he lied and said first team, LOL!
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Post by oraclesfriend on Mar 15, 2024 8:26:33 GMT -5
Good thread. My observations having kids go through this process is coaches will take a look at new players if they truly stand out physically, otherwise you can move laterally but not up. If you are already MLS Next or ECNL you will be put on the special field and nothing the other kids will do at an ID or tryout will get them there unless they look like a man amongst boys physically. A couple years ago when first moving clubs one of my kids was pulled to the special field to scrimmage and given the third degree by the top coach at his age group. When coach asked what team he had played for that was the end of that. I always wonder what would have happened if he lied and said first team, LOL! Unless you know people. Sometimes this happens. As one poster always says the other players at older age groups can help with players being identified (or torpedoed) with a coach. Other coaches can help your player be placed like soccer trainers, high school coaches especially if they are well respected club coaches, or being identified by an opposing coach as a player of interest. This is a very dumb system that is rigged to keep players in the same teams or at least levels. It is a farce tbh. People have many reasons they might be down a lower level than expected. Maybe an injury held them back or they voluntarily dropped a level at their previous club to avoid a coach (recently seeing more of this). I say use what you can to get your kid placed where they belong but most importantly make sure it is their choice and they are happy there. My kids both have been in places where their team or their coach or both made them very unhappy. One decided to not play college soccer despite offers because it killed the love (which was super strong right up until it broke). Slowly it is coming back and maybe they will decide to play club. Maybe. But such a shame to waste D1 talent and all of that passion and I know so many players just like my kid. Others with D1,2,3 offers say no and walk away. Make sure they are happy. |
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Post by atlnoleg on Mar 15, 2024 8:54:11 GMT -5
Good thread. My observations having kids go through this process is coaches will take a look at new players if they truly stand out physically, otherwise you can move laterally but not up. If you are already MLS Next or ECNL you will be put on the special field and nothing the other kids will do at an ID or tryout will get them there unless they look like a man amongst boys physically. A couple years ago when first moving clubs one of my kids was pulled to the special field to scrimmage and given the third degree by the top coach at his age group. When coach asked what team he had played for that was the end of that. I always wonder what would have happened if he lied and said first team, LOL! Unless you know people. Sometimes this happens. As one poster always says the other players at older age groups can help with players being identified (or torpedoed) with a coach. Other coaches can help your player be placed like soccer trainers, high school coaches especially if they are well respected club coaches, or being identified by an opposing coach as a player of interest. This is a very dumb system that is rigged to keep players in the same teams or at least levels. It is a farce tbh. People have many reasons they might be down a lower level than expected. Maybe an injury held them back or they voluntarily dropped a level at their previous club to avoid a coach (recently seeing more of this). I say use what you can to get your kid placed where they belong but most importantly make sure it is their choice and they are happy there. My kids both have been in places where their team or their coach or both made them very unhappy. One decided to not play college soccer despite offers because it killed the love (which was super strong right up until it broke). Slowly it is coming back and maybe they will decide to play club. Maybe. But such a shame to waste D1 talent and all of that passion and I know so many players just like my kid. Others with D1,2,3 offers say no and walk away. Make sure they are happy. Great advice. The problem is you can't really choose your coach, you get what you get when they place you. If there is little chance to move up, you are stuck with that coach unless you leave the club and then you're at the mercy of where that club places you. Coaches leave, they cycle through, etc. Having fun should be the primary reason for playing, but improving skill and being challenged are also important, as is having a fair chance to advance. |
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Post by oraclesfriend on Mar 17, 2024 6:14:53 GMT -5
Unless you know people. Sometimes this happens. As one poster always says the other players at older age groups can help with players being identified (or torpedoed) with a coach. Other coaches can help your player be placed like soccer trainers, high school coaches especially if they are well respected club coaches, or being identified by an opposing coach as a player of interest. This is a very dumb system that is rigged to keep players in the same teams or at least levels. It is a farce tbh. People have many reasons they might be down a lower level than expected. Maybe an injury held them back or they voluntarily dropped a level at their previous club to avoid a coach (recently seeing more of this). I say use what you can to get your kid placed where they belong but most importantly make sure it is their choice and they are happy there. My kids both have been in places where their team or their coach or both made them very unhappy. One decided to not play college soccer despite offers because it killed the love (which was super strong right up until it broke). Slowly it is coming back and maybe they will decide to play club. Maybe. But such a shame to waste D1 talent and all of that passion and I know so many players just like my kid. Others with D1,2,3 offers say no and walk away. Make sure they are happy. Great advice. The problem is you can't really choose your coach, you get what you get when they place you. If there is little chance to move up, you are stuck with that coach unless you leave the club and then you're at the mercy of where that club places you. Coaches leave, they cycle through, etc. Having fun should be the primary reason for playing, but improving skill and being challenged are also important, as is having a fair chance to advance. No question all of what you say is true for most. For my kids, having fun=being challenged so in the years they were placed on teams below what they (and we and once even their coach) perceived as their levels that was not fun. We have changed clubs to avoid coaches before. Having had coaches ruin the fun for my kids in previous years we made the decision that we are not going to pay thousands of dollars for a service that won’t be fun in one place if we can have the same/or nearly equal service somewhere else. My loyalty to the clubs ends when they do not have a coach or team for my player that I think matches what they need. This discussion ALWAYS includes my kids. |
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Post by atlnoleg on Mar 18, 2024 8:45:58 GMT -5
Great advice. The problem is you can't really choose your coach, you get what you get when they place you. If there is little chance to move up, you are stuck with that coach unless you leave the club and then you're at the mercy of where that club places you. Coaches leave, they cycle through, etc. Having fun should be the primary reason for playing, but improving skill and being challenged are also important, as is having a fair chance to advance. No question all of what you say is true for most. For my kids, having fun=being challenged so in the years they were placed on teams below what they (and we and once even their coach) perceived as their levels that was not fun. We have changed clubs to avoid coaches before. Having had coaches ruin the fun for my kids in previous years we made the decision that we are not going to pay thousands of dollars for a service that won’t be fun in one place if we can have the same/or nearly equal service somewhere else. My loyalty to the clubs ends when they do not have a coach or team for my player that I think matches what they need. This discussion ALWAYS includes my kids. We're on the same page. Admittedly I think my kid is a fringe player, and that makes it more complicated for him and the clubs. I'm less concerned about "first team/second team" designations than what the implications are for how it impacts his development. If the coaching was equal, the intensity of practice equal, the passion of the players equal regardless of which team I wouldn't care one lick. But seeing the difference and how little opportunity or interest there is to challenge those players who do need it is frustrating, and does end up impacting his enjoyment of playing. |
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rotgg
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Post by rotgg on Mar 18, 2024 13:14:36 GMT -5
No question all of what you say is true for most. For my kids, having fun=being challenged so in the years they were placed on teams below what they (and we and once even their coach) perceived as their levels that was not fun. We have changed clubs to avoid coaches before. Having had coaches ruin the fun for my kids in previous years we made the decision that we are not going to pay thousands of dollars for a service that won’t be fun in one place if we can have the same/or nearly equal service somewhere else. My loyalty to the clubs ends when they do not have a coach or team for my player that I think matches what they need. This discussion ALWAYS includes my kids. We're on the same page. Admittedly I think my kid is a fringe player, and that makes it more complicated for him and the clubs. I'm less concerned about "first team/second team" designations than what the implications are for how it impacts his development. If the coaching was equal, the intensity of practice equal, the passion of the players equal regardless of which team I wouldn't care one lick. But seeing the difference and how little opportunity or interest there is to challenge those players who do need it is frustrating, and does end up impacting his enjoyment of playing. well said |
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Post by rifle on Mar 18, 2024 17:29:42 GMT -5
No question all of what you say is true for most. For my kids, having fun=being challenged so in the years they were placed on teams below what they (and we and once even their coach) perceived as their levels that was not fun. We have changed clubs to avoid coaches before. Having had coaches ruin the fun for my kids in previous years we made the decision that we are not going to pay thousands of dollars for a service that won’t be fun in one place if we can have the same/or nearly equal service somewhere else. My loyalty to the clubs ends when they do not have a coach or team for my player that I think matches what they need. This discussion ALWAYS includes my kids. We're on the same page. Admittedly I think my kid is a fringe player, and that makes it more complicated for him and the clubs. I'm less concerned about "first team/second team" designations than what the implications are for how it impacts his development. If the coaching was equal, the intensity of practice equal, the passion of the players equal regardless of which team I wouldn't care one lick. But seeing the difference and how little opportunity or interest there is to challenge those players who do need it is frustrating, and does end up impacting his enjoyment of playing. Been there. There isn’t much worse* than giving a dang and playing with others who really don’t... ..except when they make the HS team and you don’t because you haven’t even hit puberty before you get a drivers license. *that is worse. And knowing it’s gonna happen to your kid (because it happened to you) and having no way to change it sucks a fair bit as well. |
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socks
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Post by socks on Mar 31, 2024 9:52:49 GMT -5
Who picks the teams at Concorde Central? It seems the ECNL teams (Platinum/Premier) always play out of Central, while the ECRL teams go to the remote locations. Is this always the case?
My son will be trying out this spring for the U13 team(s) that will be playing ECNL in the fall. Would love to know who the decision makers are and maybe even who will coach each of the 4 ECNL teams.
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Post by Keeper on Mar 31, 2024 18:01:09 GMT -5
Steve Hobart and Pat Staunton currently have the top two teams so they’d be potential coaches for ECNL Platinum and Premier and the ones to start with. Definitely don’t wait till tryouts to reach out as both teams will probably be set by the time tryouts begin.
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