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Post by spectator on May 1, 2018 23:02:31 GMT -5
Okay, this is a rumor I heard over the weekend (and not even from a high level source)... but I heard there might be talk of ending the age mandate and going back to school year ages? This could be way off-base so I'm just throwing this out there to see if anyone had heard something similar? If not, we can end this thread quickly and delete it. Oh as much as I hated the decision to move to birth year, to flip it back without some 'grandfathering in' like they should have done with the initial decision, will again, only hurt the players who find themselves without teams or teams that end up split in two. If they do go back to the school year model, they need to have a phase in plan with some wiggle room for grandfathering or exceptions based on age or allow for some mixed teams to play up as they are now. Yeah yeah - novel idea, actually let this be about the kids playing the game not what model/policy/procedure/international standard idea that the bureaucratic administrators want to implement. At the end of the day, most of these decisions and policy changes and new leagues and whatever else is rumor or fact - do not directly benefit the kids playing the game. I do so wish they'd think about that for a change
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Post by spectator on May 1, 2018 10:32:34 GMT -5
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Post by spectator on Apr 30, 2018 13:56:42 GMT -5
Oh wow - prayers for a speedy recovery for that player. I'm sure his parents were shaken up as well.
Four years ago, that was my kid on the field being carried off. It was not malicious play or even a foul -just a collision at the perfect moment in time and placement to break her tibia. And I do definitely remember the class shown by the opposing team and the player involved with the collision. Every single one of the girls on that team came over to shake my daughter's hand and wish her a speedy recovery. The team signed and sent a get well card to our coach to give to my daughter. I was very impressed with that team and coach.
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Post by spectator on Apr 30, 2018 8:00:45 GMT -5
No, all clubs do not cancel training for a coaches meeting - at our club, they do that on their time not the time set aside - and paid for by parents with their fees - for training players. I was OBVIOUSLY referring to having a yearly meeting. Your question was 'don't all clubs do this' - I answered. But for the record, yes clubs have annual meetings. My answer was no, at least at our club, meetings between coaches/directors don't take place during during training sessions. Is that OBVIOUS enough or do I need to diagram the sentence for you?
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Post by spectator on Apr 29, 2018 22:57:26 GMT -5
UFA canceled training for Monday due to an all coaches meeting. I guess the news will be made formal then. That meeting had been scheduled for weeks before all this. This is their annual meeting to discuss all changes, assignments, tryouts, etc. Don't all clubs do this? No, all clubs do not cancel training for a coaches meeting - at our club, they do that on their time not the time set aside - and paid for by parents with their fees - for training players.
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Post by spectator on Apr 29, 2018 22:52:51 GMT -5
That is not what the new rules says. They can still play in State Cup, they just can't play in RPL/NL Ok. I had heard differently. Maybe it was rumor based on these other new rules they are trying to get enacted. You have been around longer. Not necessarily a rumor - several coaches/DOC's from the non-alliance clubs met with GA Soccer last week to present additional rule changes one of which was prohibiting players from the new league from playing in State Cup effective next year. As mentioned earlier, it's really unfair to the player that was rostered all year on a team competing in State Cup to sit the bench or not go at all if ECNL/other players 'guest' with the team. That scenario happened a few years ago with the 2000's at Concorde - they pulled in ECNL Players for State Cup to try to get an RPL spot and it backfired badly. The 2000 Concorde team eventually earned the RPL spot on their own but they had to play up an age group then come back to their own age group for State Cup and earn it. Not picking on Concorde here - a lot of teams will guest ECNL players for state cup because - well - they just can. So it makes a lot of sense to finally put a rule in place prohibiting it. Whether GA Soccer will actually enforce it remains to be seen.
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Post by spectator on Apr 29, 2018 22:43:31 GMT -5
Ga Soccer is a money grab. Just look at the massive overpriced 50 Year Anniversary party they are planning. It’s up there in DOC yearly salary ranges! Money grab for who exactly? I always wrote my checks to the club. And a DOC's salary isn't up to Georgia Soccer - that's each individual club. I assume you are referring to what clubs pay into GA Soccer? I have no insight into that. I'm neutral here - just have never understood the animosity toward GA Soccer or RPL. The most common 'mis-management' complaints have always been around cancelling games due to weather - waiting too long to cancel those games and the complete PITA to reschedule games. I'm pretty sure the new Champions League can't control the weather - maybe they will be better at managing time and communications? I can vouch from years of experience with ODP that no, that program wasn't always the most organized or well run - but much of that was done by unpaid volunteers at the state and age group level. There was a great state ODP coordinator for years but once she stepped down, it was a bit of a cluster. But I've seen local PTA's and HOA's run much much worse - maybe it was the same people?
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Post by spectator on Apr 24, 2018 23:32:38 GMT -5
WOW! Speaking of vitrol . . . I'm not saying anything more than how hypocritical it is for someone (oraclesfriend) who insisted it was not fair to tell people to just leave their clubs to tell this guy - whomever he is - to just leave his club. And I believe I did just that without stooping to insulting a poster by calling him a bored troll behind a keyboard. How do I know you aren't some pimply kid in mom's basement stirring things up here - I don't you any more than you 'know' me. It's a forum - with enough anonymity to let people feel safe and enough transparency for us to be able to keep it civil and honest. Not too long ago, you jumped all over me for being rude and harsh to a newbie in a conversation about referees - how about you read what you just wrote and adjust your tone? I believe in my case, I simply disagreed with someone - I never called anyone a troll or accused them of creating panic. You are coming across as judgmental and cliquish - are you the voice of UFA? Do you know everything happening in every league and team? No you do and are not - you have no idea what this guy knows or doesn't know but to immediately dismiss him as a troll just because he isn't chugging your UFA Kool Ade, is ridiculous! Of course this decision - whatever it is - doesn't affect you - your kid plays, DA, right? Easy for you to tell people to chill out. Have a little empathy for what other people are experiencing here - this reads like one hot mess for teams and players - I personally don't give a rats a$$ about the clubs - this is YOUTH soccer - operative word YOUTH. I still see no value in pulling out of one league or another and creating layer upon layer of teams for anyone other than the clubs cashing the checks and the parents egos to brag about where their kid plays. I care about kids who want to play this game and I think many of them are about to get royally screwed over. I can't blame any parent for worrying about the landscape next year. I have no dog in this hunt other than the many many years I was part of GA Soccer while my kid played and will end her time playing in GA Soccer. I've seen this evolve from Classic/Athena and one level of RPL to this craziness of multiple leagues, levels and saturation of the market. I am ever grateful to be leaving this but I was involved with GA Soccer deeply enough for long enough to still care what it will become. I don't recall telling him to leave his club...I could care less whether his kids play at UFA or not. I just don't buy that he says who he says he is. He or she is enjoying watching people panic with wrong information. Where other people play doesn't affect me personally or my children. You bring up the argument you had with Oraclesfriend a few days ago, and the one you had with me a last year? Seriously, move on. But you do bring up a great point, you don't know me...and I have more than one kid...and this may affect my other kid. I just choose not to base my decisions on forum gossip. So in reality, this affect me but no you, because as you have stated a lot of times, your kid is going off to college to play soccer next year. Um - YOU didn't mention leaving the club - if you'd read what you respond to before posting, you'd have known I was pointing out how another person stated how it wasn't easy to leave a club - that was oraclesfriend and it was hardly an 'argument'. SOME people here are capable of conversation without judgement and pettiness. I believe he (or she) and I had a pretty decent exchange and I agreed with many of the points raised in that thread. Again, you focus on what you want to read - I've never ever ever accused a poster here of being a troll - will you please at the very least own up to your actions? As for my typo, again, you only see part of what people say not the entire thought. Pardon my fat fingers - I mistyped a word - sue me!!! But you were rude to a new poster and that is what you called me out on a while back - so it's fine for you to be a complete jerk and not others??? As for moving on - I have - just pointing out that your behavior toward this new poster is nothing different than what you went after me for last year - funny how when the tables turn the hypocrisy rears its head? Hope you and your kids fare well with whatever next year brings - but please try to be nicer to new posters on this forum so it will grow. I've been here since day two and I do think it's been a positive experience for the most part - informative with intelligent sane people giving different opinions and engaging conversations - I would like it to continue to be a positive resource for others!
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Post by spectator on Apr 24, 2018 22:38:05 GMT -5
There's nothing to hear...he's full of it. No one at UFA is talking to him. He said that his kid plays for a lower team but his coach is in the know? The coaches havent been told yet, some may know. But this guy is just trolling with wrong information. UFA didn't pull all their teams from GA Soccer. He's trying to create panic just for kicks. I haven't had time to read all his nonsense but what I read is completely wrong. So again, when its all announced then you can make an educated decision. Don't base it on some guy behind a keyboard who is just simply bored WOW! Speaking of vitrol . . . I'm not saying anything more than how hypocritical it is for someone (oraclesfriend) who insisted it was not fair to tell people to just leave their clubs to tell this guy - whomever he is - to just leave his club. And I believe I did just that without stooping to insulting a poster by calling him a bored troll behind a keyboard. How do I know you aren't some pimply kid in mom's basement stirring things up here - I don't you any more than you 'know' me. It's a forum - with enough anonymity to let people feel safe and enough transparency for us to be able to keep it civil and honest. Not too long ago, you jumped all over me for being rude and harsh to a newbie in a conversation about referees - how about you read what you just wrote and adjust your tone? I believe in my case, I simply disagreed with someone - I never called anyone a troll or accused them of creating panic. You are coming across as judgmental and cliquish - are you the voice of UFA? Do you know everything happening in every league and team? No you do and are not - you have no idea what this guy knows or doesn't know but to immediately dismiss him as a troll just because he isn't chugging your UFA Kool Ade, is ridiculous! Of course this decision - whatever it is - doesn't affect you - your kid plays, DA, right? Easy for you to tell people to chill out. Have a little empathy for what other people are experiencing here - this reads like one hot mess for teams and players - I personally don't give a rats a$$ about the clubs - this is YOUTH soccer - operative word YOUTH. I still see no value in pulling out of one league or another and creating layer upon layer of teams for anyone other than the clubs cashing the checks and the parents egos to brag about where their kid plays. I care about kids who want to play this game and I think many of them are about to get royally screwed over. I can't blame any parent for worrying about the landscape next year. I have no dog in this hunt other than the many many years I was part of GA Soccer while my kid played and will end her time playing in GA Soccer. I've seen this evolve from Classic/Athena and one level of RPL to this craziness of multiple leagues, levels and saturation of the market. I am ever grateful to be leaving this but I was involved with GA Soccer deeply enough for long enough to still care what it will become.
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Post by spectator on Apr 24, 2018 21:35:55 GMT -5
Georgia Soccer tells Iggy that he is out of RPL and he responds by throwing a temper tantrum and removing all UFA teams from Georgia Soccer. Now all the UFA teams are stuck playing a terrible league that will be managed by people that have no clue how to run a league. The stupid part is Iggy's move didn't get our teams back into RPL. All he got us was all UFA teams out of RPL, Athena, Academy and Classic. Not well thought out. You really hate Iggy, don't you? It is my understanding that all of the big 5 clubs WANTED out of RPL. They were not kicked out by Georgia Soccer. They felt RPL was a waste of time and travel and was POORLY run. US Club soccer runs ECNL so what makes you think this league will be run "by people that have no clue how to run a league." As I said before I did not want the Champions League and I surely did not want all of the big 5 teams out of Athena and Classic, but the vitriol you are putting into your posts is a bit much. I guess you feel betrayed. If you don't like it, do what Soccerhouse mentioned and tell the club. Exercise your right to leave and go somewhere else if it is no longer the right fit for you and your child. I hope the info you have is accurate though because you will look like an idiot if it isn't. As for CF and TH 1) we don't know that they both will keep both DA and ECNL as there are still rumors about that 2) they have many more teams that will also be affected. Tophat has 4-5 teams aside from their DA and ECNL teams on the girls side. Concorde does as well. There are a lot of kids in 3rd, 4th, 5th teams and secondary locations that will be affected by this if you are correct in your info. Btw there are other states that have this type of structure. The sky is not falling. Now be fair here - you're telling this poster to do exactly what I responded to you and you pushed back that it wasn't easy to just up and leave a club - perhaps this person is in the same boat and is passionate about this topic. I have no dog in this hunt but will point out hypocrisy with I see it - you can't just dismiss and tell someone to do what you, yourself argued wasn't an option for you Hear the guy out - this is a huge change for clubs and teams - and most of all players. Seems no one is even remotely worried about what these kids want or are concerned about.
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Post by spectator on Apr 24, 2018 21:24:09 GMT -5
The clubs are NOT kicked out and will still field teams in the Athena and Classic divisions, not sure where your info is coming from but its not true. We already knew those clubs would not field RPL, that was the reasoning in forming their own league. I also don't understand the animosity from smaller clubs about this move, they stand to benefit greatly from it. Their teams will be playing at a higher level and they can earn RPL spots which in turn helps with recruiting and retaining their better players. I don't see animosity - but a lot of frustration and panic. Frustration because if you're at a small club, you are kind of at the mercy of what the larger clubs do or don't do or decide or whatever because that directly affects the rest of the competition. Frustration because the bigger clubs do typically have competitive teams - as do some smaller clubs and we'd all rather play like skilled teams than blow out or be blown out in lopsided matches. The issue with the current RPL model isn't competition - it was travel or mismanagement or someone not liking something and it has grown into this...whatever it is. For any South Park fans, insert the Cartman character saying 'screw you guys, I'm going home' voice now for your entertainment purposes. Panic will ensue around tryout time when the parents of the stronger (or parentally perceived stronger) players high tail it to larger club with aspirations of making that DA/ECNL/whatever the 'L' league it will be team and oh, Lord, let the stress and hand wringing begin. I say we hire a camera crew, get a good host and create a reality series around the landscape of youth soccer in metro Atlanta and Georgia. Regardless of what is or is not true - how this plays out or whatever - I have yet to see how this kind of change benefits the players. Parents and clubs are reaping the heck out of something like this but what does it mean for the 12-18 year old player? I just don't see a mass benefit to the thousands of players in GA anymore than I see how that calendar year change has improved our men's national team significantly either.
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Post by spectator on Apr 24, 2018 21:08:03 GMT -5
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Post by spectator on Apr 23, 2018 16:45:28 GMT -5
Is there any rationale for the location of ODP being on the south side Atlanta, and I'm being kind calling it south Atlanta, compared to the majority of Girl's players being on the north side of 285. Most parents I talked to drive anywhere between 1.5-2 hours with traffic for ODP practices. Do they rotate who hosts ODP every few years or is it set in stone at the current location. The facilities have to be approved by GA Soccer and are part of a bid process. During the years my kid was involved: UFA - Fowler Park - due to UFA Games, often ended up with multiple teams on one small field Badger Creek - great facility - people on the east side of metro Atlanta griped about that commute - - so GA Soccer moved it to RYSA - because that's so much closer. Our age group had options with our coach so sometimes we would get to practice elsewhere but even that had to be approved and blessed by Jacob Daniel. Still trying to get the rationale for letting the boys use Atlanta United's practice facilities in Cobb County and making the girls haul it to RYSA where were got rained out pretty much all spring. But short answer to your question - they get assigned the fields by whatever club bids for and gets approval
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Post by spectator on Apr 23, 2018 13:27:09 GMT -5
I'm not sure Juniors are that much more capable as of September 1 of their Junior year - they still have no clue how hard the academics will be that year until they get into it. Junior year is definitely the hardest and most challenging to juggle with academics, training, etc. Now to add the entire recruiting process to that could be way more stressful than these kids need. I see both sides here - don't recruit too early - the kids may not be truly committed to the school they verbally commit to and the coach will be left high and dry if that kid changes his or her mind before signing day. But, the player that gets multiple verbal offers can use those to negotiate with the real school they want to attend - I don't see anything wrong with that - my kid's coach was asking what other offers she was getting and did up his ante when the time came. And you can't get multiple offers without multiple visits or contact - which seems to be severely reduced with these new rules - coaches can still talk to the player but what can they really say - and very few will put anything down in writing until absolutely necessary so sliding a folded piece of paper over to the prospect probably isn't the best way to get around the 'gag order' imposed now. I wonder if coaches will accept a visit before Junior year - unofficial or not. If it reeks of illegal recruiting, a coach with integrity probably won't risk it. Ways around this -expect coaches to travel to more events to see players early. Expect bigger pools at ID camps - which makes it harder to stand out. Maybe more ID camps - and if the demand increases due to these rules, increased costs for them. Best plan of action for the player/parent - get a club coach who is connected and invested enough in your player's future to run interference for the player until the deadline arrives for one to one contact. The latter is pretty rare - we were fortunate with our coach that he was that vested in the process of our players pursuing college offers. Granted, he was giddy when that September 1 deadline arrived and he got to stop playing matchmaker for these girls! But the campus visits are crucial to let your player get a true feel for the school and can be a turning point for how they want to pursue playing at the college level. They get to see the school on an actual day it's in session not just at an ID camp or visiting to see the team play. I'd like to see some kind of 'compromise' in these new rules - allow kids to visit and speak with coaches and staff but always knowing it's to see if the school is a fit for the student versus the athlete. AND I'd also like to see more recruiting done senior year as well. I've seen players drastically improve and change from sophomore year to senior year- for girls and boys. If pushing the true start date for recruiting to junior year, this may give some seniors a better chance to be seen and considered by early on in senior year rather than have the entire class already committed and done. When you talk to coaches and hear them talking about their list and recruiting for kids in middle school, that's way too early and the other side of that coin other than getting kids who aren't ready to make that decision is omitting kids who may be ready to make the decision and are being excluded for being 'too old' or 'tool late' in the process. Lots of changes ahead - I do hope they are all for what's best for the players.
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Post by spectator on Apr 23, 2018 8:15:07 GMT -5
Schools couldn't ever officially directly contact a student until Junior year already - D2/D3 - June before junior year; D1 September 1 of Junior year but you were always free to visit, attend a camp and have a conversation with a coach on campus. Can students now not even speak to a prospective coach until they are juniors? That's going to make for an even more stressful junior year for the student athlete - academically, that's typically the heaviest load and hardest year for the student - which makes it harder to miss a day of school for a visit.
Big question - are kids in 9th. 10th grade who have already started visits and speaking with coaches grandfathered into this rule and can they continue that process?
Between this and the changes in GA Soccer, good luck to all of you left in this process.
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Post by spectator on Apr 20, 2018 15:08:41 GMT -5
So my honest question: what is so different about your soccer programs or development than ours? We put growth hormones in the water and beat the kids when they lose games. I'M KIDDING!!!! Honestly, the teams we've played from Florida have been very good most of the time so I assume the perception that GA creates better soccer is in the eye of the beholder. And when we say 'GA' we really mean metro Atlanta - although that can stretch southward to Augusta and Savannah at times. There are just a boat load of competitive clubs here making for a very deep talent pool. In our age group for ODP, Florida has sent more girls to Region Pool every year than GA did. My daughter's GA ODP team finally beat Florida at Region Camp this year -only took years to do it! LOL My question back to you - how is your coach? How did your daughter develop her skills this early - was it from her own work or a good coach teaching basics? If the latter, stick with that coach!! If not, continue what she's doing and the success will come. She's 10 like you said - lots can change but if she's passionate, the good teams - and hopefully great coaches - will notice and she'll have more opportunity!
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Post by spectator on Apr 20, 2018 12:36:54 GMT -5
Roswell has amazing fields. And they are maintained by the city parks and rec department. So if a city and small club can do it, why cant UFA/Gwinnett/Forsyth? Takes a city with a lot of money. Plus doenst Santos teams rosters have to be made up of City of Roswell residents. I know there’s something about 50% + 1 of the roster has to be city residents are they have to pay extra? Ironic - club with the best fields has the most restrictions in place to keep folks from going there. Yes, city of Roswell residents get a reduced cost and there was a resident requirement for teams although I heard they had relaxed that to help get more kids on the select teams. I believe Alpharetta Ambush has the same situation - residency requirement. Again the irony - you need a city or county to maintain the fields a club needs but a city or county isn't the best manager of a soccer club.
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Post by spectator on Apr 19, 2018 20:58:07 GMT -5
Congrats - Apparently I've been here since day two and as of today have 900 posts - woo hoo!
Oh - this lovely forum started on my birthday so party on, folks! LOL
Latest Status: Birthday: September 19 Gender: Female Posts: 900 Date Registered: Sep 20, 2013 at 9:58am
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Post by spectator on Apr 19, 2018 14:36:18 GMT -5
Roswell has amazing fields. And they are maintained by the city parks and rec department. So if a city and small club can do it, why cant UFA/Gwinnett/Forsyth?
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Post by spectator on Apr 16, 2018 15:38:49 GMT -5
That was more than two cents. 😁 Consider it a bonus, then! I'm an over achiever!
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Post by spectator on Apr 16, 2018 9:27:34 GMT -5
I had always heard rumors, there was an option to purchase, but the price was way to high. There was discussion about attempt to put stores at the front to off set cost I think at one point. Anyone have an idea on the estimated property value? There's a four acre lot near there listed for $1.2 million - I think the property there is larger so depending if they're zoning commercial or residential, upwards of $1.8 - $2.5 million?
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Post by spectator on Apr 13, 2018 8:52:10 GMT -5
Awesome, what teams/leagues did you have? Sorry, I played Football/Baseball/Basketball and soccer was unheard of in Atlanta. I’m sure it was 1 league with so many teams. 1 way to get to the top or College. Can we get your feedback on what it was like in the 80’s? Tophat started in 1982, I believe DDY was one of the first soccer organizations in GA back in the late 60's/ early 70's. Cherokee Impact started in 1971 as Redwings. I think NASA was also around that time as Quest. It'd be interesting to see a timeline of all the clubs - when they started and what names they started with.
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Post by spectator on Apr 13, 2018 8:44:26 GMT -5
Have you heard of a few clubs that have proposed or tried these 'silent soccer' games? Personally I feel that would be bizarre and I don't even think the kids would appreciate it. I am in favor of a no arguing with the refs rule, but I honestly believe that our team's girls seem to give another level of effort when the parent's are positvely cheering them on. My kid says she rarely even hears us when she is playing whether we are cheering a great play or saying something like "nice try." However, I think it would be completely weird to watch or play in a game when no one is making any noise positive or negative. I agree that yelling negative comments at refs, players or other team's parents is a bit overly harsh it is overkill IMO to expect people to be silent. I am not silent when watching a game (soccer, football, softball, or basketball) by myself at home on TV!LOL! Perhaps the compromise is not to be completely silent but to do what a poster above said their coach instructed: Personally I think it's very arrogant for anyone on the parent sidelines to attempt to coach a game while the kids are playing. If you want to coach - go coach. If you're on the sidelines, watch, cheer, have a latte, but don't instruct your player - or mine -on what you think they need to do. But above all, don't scream at referees - especially if they are younger. The referee shortage is a direct result of parental abuse of younger refs. What I really wish was that clubs could have a representative or ref assignor at most games to police the sidelines and enforce some rules. Perhaps if parents watched a peer be escorted out of a game for yelling at a referee, they'd stop doing it themselves. Here's hoping!
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Post by spectator on Apr 12, 2018 16:56:36 GMT -5
GA ODP had a “silent sideline” at Sub Regionals for years. My player loved it and I enjoyed just kicking back and watching (albeit usually freezing).
Used to love the way it was communicated- “polite applause for a goal is fine but act like you’ve been in the end zone before”
😂
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Post by spectator on Apr 12, 2018 15:32:33 GMT -5
A lot of these issues with parents would be alleviated if everyone observed what I think should be basic soccer parent etiquette— sit on the sideline across from your team’s bench. When everyone is mixed up together, there’s trouble. Also, take the time to watch a match where you have “no skin in the game.” Occasionally I happen to be at a field where one of my sons is reffing, so I’ll stop and watch for a bit. Fortunately, my boys have thick skins, and I’m the type of parent who views the abuse they take from grownups as a life lesson. When you do this, you will realize that most things soccer parents say on the sidelines sound pretty dumb, and you will keep your own mouth shut a lot more. Oh AMEN to this - I became a better sideline parent when I was at games when my daughter was refereeing (before she could drive - oh and before she got so fed up with parents yelling at her that she quit). But yes - listen to parents at a game where your kid's team isn't playing - it shines a huge magnifying glass on behavior when you do have no dog in that hunt. I posted back after Disney that the parents of a U13 girls game there were three shades of crazy - screaming at their daughters, at the referees and each other. You'd have thought it was a world cub final not a bunch of 12 year old girls who probably got more excited when Minnie Mouse rode by on the golf cart than mommy or daddy were instructing them to' go to the ball' 'kick it' 'run' or 'shoot' from the sidelines.
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Post by spectator on Apr 12, 2018 7:38:47 GMT -5
Regarding the original question, it's impossible to narrow the worst parents down by club - jerk parents exist everywhere; jerk coaches exist everywhere - Rec, Academy, Select, RPL, ECNL, DA, high school and even college - yes I attended a college game where parents were screaming at the referee and acting like as big a jerks as they were in club/high school. Honestly I have to wonder at the motivation of the OP to post such a question - do you have a particular beef with a certain club or team?
I will say that collectively, the younger teams at 'high' levels seem to have the most intense and vocal parents - at least what I've witnessed I'll chalk that up to them being sucked in by the allure of the 'elite' team - and inexperience. Or maybe by the time your kid is high school, you realize that screaming at a referee or coaching from the sidelines is a)not helping and b)showing the world what a jerk you are - at least some parents realize that. Not all - as evidenced by the last high school game we had (newsflash - not every brush up on a player is a foul, not every breakaway is offside. Learn the game or stop shrieking!)
Regarding the comment about beating a team being 'classless' - no, classless is what's screaming on the sidelines when that is happening. It's a game - there are winners and losers (sorry, 'non' winners for those offended by the word 'lose') and sometimes the other team just has better players, better coaching or - if you're 'that' parent - the referee just wants that other team to win so much more than yours and they obviously have it out to get you personally! There will be mis-matched games. This is not exclusive to club or high school. Every fall in NCAA college football, there's some wicked blowout where a team pounds another one 60-3 or something like that. Should those players lighten up and not try? NO! That's when coaches put in the kids who never get to play, pull starters, let someone younger get the experience. Parents don't seem to get all wadded up about those games - so as Jash stated above, is there an age limit to when this becomes such a terrible classless thing?
I think this whole thing of parental bad behavior is directly related to this belief that youth sports should have a return on the investment. Parents, stop thinking with your wallets and just let your kids play the game! Oh, and be nicer on the sidelines - or suck a lollipop if you can't exercise enough self control to not scream at everyone and everything you find offensive or wrong with the game.
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Post by spectator on Apr 10, 2018 11:35:47 GMT -5
Maybe some of you with kids that have been through all of this can chime in - do you think it matters what league? I think DA boys obviously wins out, but beyond that, who knows? My two cents as the old chick aging out this year: My kid has played at pretty much every level since U13 - from the most dysfunctional Athena D team at U13 to SRPL. We are not a a club with ECNL or DA . Does the level matter - yes and no. Twelve year olds aren't thinking about college - most of them aren't really developed enough to play on the full 11v11 field well. Coaches will snatch up the larger faster kids at 12 and put them on the 'top' teams. Back when my kid was U13 - that was just Athena A and RPL - no division 1 RPL, ECNL, DA - just Athena and one level of RPL. And then the layers came -and parents chased that highest level thinking it was the ticket to whatever - college, pros, national team - and the kids were a whopping 13 or 14 by this time. The truth is - if your kid wants to play college ball, there are colleges where he or she can play. That school may not be where he or she wants to go as a student so make sure the decision is what is right for the kid well beyond soccer because face it, maybe 1% of the players now will be chosen for a national team or make a MLS team. Hardest thing for a parent to face is that your kid isn't that 1% but the math doesn't lie. Let the kid play - period. School should always come first - soccer is an activity not a career - especially for a pre-teen or teenager. Now - do you have to be on an ECNL or DA team to play in college - no you do not. You may not get that power conference D1 scholarship - which by the way is rarely 100% athletic - soccer players are typically pretty good students so the Academic money will far outweigh the athletic and combined may equate to that 'full ride' but anyone telling you their kid got a full Athletic ride for soccer is full of it. Oh and that D1 quest - has lots of layers. For every Alabama, USC, Penn State - there's a Wofford, Robert Morris University, or Mount St Mary's - all good schools but hardly recognized powerhouses. You have to think about the school - size, academic offering, etc. Does your kid want to play soccer badly enough to go to a school that is most likely smaller than his or her high school here in Metro Atlanta? (700 students? 1500 students?) If so, great. If not, don't compromise just to play at a D1 school to say you're at a D1 school. What we learned in the college search is there are schools with soccer programs you have never ever ever heard of much less considered? But there is a school out there for any kid who wants to play - the question will always be - does your kid want to spend 4 years there and will he or she emerge with a viable degree that will get them a job - or into grad school? On my daughter's team, every senior who wanted to play in college will be doing so - at schools they also wanted to attend. We know a girl who was on an Athena B team who will be playing at a small D3 school - but it's the school she wanted to go to in an area she loves. (For the record, she's a very good player but at a very large club and has never been recognized or given an opportunity to move up - that club tends to recruit and take new players over those that have been there - not dissing that club, just friends with the family and have heard that for years - but they liked the coach and team and stayed - I'm happy that she gets to continue playing). Point is - don't chase a level thinking it'll give your kid the 'full ride' to a power conference school. Let him or her dictate where they want to spend those four years of their life and if they want to play for the school or play club soccer at a larger school. We know tons of girls who are attending large schools and playing club soccer for the love of the game and fun social interaction while they are at that school. Or your kid may hang up his or her cleats by their senior year - it is, after all, their life - their decision. By the time they're seniors, the other hardest thing for a parent is realizing their kid is about to leave and make their own decisions. (Or at least that's mine - pass the tissues - I will be a mess come August when she leaves!) I honestly think the only people who give a flip about what soccer level a teenage kid plays are the clubs who cash the checks and the parents who get sucked into the ego games or who think there needs to be some kind of ROI on your 'investment' in your child's soccer. I've said countless times, I don't believe children's activities are 'consumer services' where parents get to dictate the game plan. These are your kids - let them play and enjoy what they do - if you get a 'return' via some college money, bonus - if not, your kids got some fresh air, exercise, learned teamwork and had some fun with their friends. That to me is a much greater 'return' on the 'investment' than any $ could ever be. Again -just my two cents - there are days I wish I could travel back in time to when my kid was in Academy and just smack myself upside the head for getting wrapped up in the trivial crap of whether she was on the 'top' team for that week or not. I'm glad I realized it soon enough to have enjoyed these past 7 years and the journey she was on - thankfully she let me come along for the ride. I will miss that. (crap, off to find a Kleenex - I suck as the mom of a senior lately)
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Post by spectator on Apr 9, 2018 18:56:36 GMT -5
I accidentally posted in the should. Sorry. Something weird happened with my phone and the forum. I was trying to say that you took "stuck" too literally. I am happy with my big 6 club. I just think it is annoying that people say go to another club like that is so easy. I have 2 possible options. Any other place is too far. It is not a convenience issue. One of us would have to quit work to change to a club other than the two we have done so far. The rest are too far and not possible to get to from where we live and they go to school and still get them to bed at a decent hour. And we are not quitting soccer over a decision about what league someone plays in. That is cutting off your nose to spite your face. I like my big 6 club so I will stay even with champions league . Plus I won't judge it until I see the product even if the concept is not to my liking. Hope it works out for you.
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Post by spectator on Apr 9, 2018 14:19:36 GMT -5
I think the analogy is hilarious. I read the tongue and cheek post which was also funny. I don't agree with your "just leave the big club if you don't like it" comment though. We already left a small club for a big club because the small club was treating some players (including my daughter) very poorly. The big club has been a much better experience for both of my kids. I don't like the new champions league idea, but that one small club and our current big club are the only clubs that are within a 40 minute drive (each way) to us. Between my husband's job and my job and our kids' soccer schedules (3 days training per week, both of them) there is not another option at least until the kids start to drive themselves and that is a few years away. Sometimes parents are just stuck with only a few options. Frankly if you feel that 'stuck', don't play soccer at all or switch to a different level that fits your commitment and any restrictions you have with schedules. I'm not being rude - just stating a fact that if parents truly believe that you are paying for a service and have a say in how things are run (I personally do not subscribe to the belief that youth sports are a consumer goods product), then you as a parent have every right to make a change or find an alternative. Not advocating that you up and move closer to a club that fits your desires, but to stay somewhere out of convenience and hope that things will get better isn't the best strategy in my humble opinion. At the end of the day, no one or nothing is holding you hostage at any club - big or small - other than your willingness to stay there. So I stand by my comment - leave the club if you aren't happy with where it's headed. Life is too short to be trapped by something like that. Good luck to you, though - hope it works out is good for your player(s).
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Post by spectator on Apr 9, 2018 9:39:06 GMT -5
If you are referring to the Champions Club Board/Exec/DOC as the Sneeches with Stars then that’s cool with me and is quite humorous. However, if the sneeches with stars are the Parents/players at Big 5 clubs then I have to say unfair. They have no say in the matter and just because you are affiliated at one of the Big 5 clubs doesn’t mean you are for this change. I assume it’s the ones who make the decisions for the clubs you are joking about 😃 All we can do right now is wait and make the best of it, I still have not seen any notifications about this change. Yes - the decision makers are the ones not thinking about what is best for the kids and what will bring in the most money. I'm less inclined to give parents the pass you are though - especially since most have the mentality that youth sports is a consumer good and they as parents have a say in everything. If you are a parent at one of these clubs and don't agree with this new league, leave the big club. It won't be the death of your kid's dreams (or yours). Of course this was all tongue in cheek and joking - if you can't laugh at this absurdity, perhaps you should remove yourself from it? Read more: gasoccerforum.com/thread/2767/next-soccer-war?page=2&scrollTo=20080#ixzz5CBblG6i7
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