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Post by rifle on Nov 12, 2021 7:09:15 GMT -5
It’s good to hear and consider different perspectives. It makes me appreciate how difficult it is to establish universal regs. It also shows how failing to justify (or explain) the regs can be detrimental. The federation, leagues and clubs could all do better.
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Post by rifle on Nov 11, 2021 17:54:27 GMT -5
Full disclosure, my initial post was one of emotion and frustration. I haven't responded because I wanted to give myself time to allow reason and logic to set in, as well as, hear from others on the topic. That being said, my opinion hasn't changed and this is the why. At U13 specifically, many of these players are not ready to play 11v11 and cover a 120v70 pitch and do so while playing quality soccer. I have watched several ECRL teams this season struggle to make dynamic runs, take risks going forward or transition at speed. I have seen my fair share of players just coasting, going through the motions. When I was informed of the sub restriction, minutes before my initial post, I had a profound ah ha moment. These teams weren't suffering from bad coaches, poor fitness or lack of motivation, they literally had to hold themselves back in order to cover more ground for longer, until their coach was allowed to sub them. As a coach, my goal is not for my player to feel relieved when she comes out. I want her to be like, "Hey Coach, did I do something wrong, why did you take me out?" I want her to want to be on the field, I want her to want to play the game that she loves and I fear that this rule that might seem arbitrary to some, may be doing more harm than you think. As a player I played with my "hair on fire", to use a phrase from a previous poster, and I coach my players to play the same way. I expect them to give their team everything they can every time they step on the field, be it training or a match. I push my players to play high pressure, we don't LET the other team out of their end, you can often hear me yelling, "That was too easy," as a response to my players not making it harder, not pressuring or positioning themselves defensively to make it more challenging for the opposing team. I am also one of those coaches that expects my team to transition at speed, not just jogging up the field together. If we play the ball out of the back then I expect my back line to push up at a sprint, not a walk or jog, if they don't they will surely be hearing from me and their keeper. By making my back line push up at speed, it forces the midfield to get up and so on. It acts as an ignition to start everyone going forward at speed. Lastly, I expect my forwards to work back, if it's a winger coming back to receive a ball down the line from her OB or a center forward coming back into the midfield to double the opponents holding midfielder, there isn't much resting time when the ball is in play. Thats why I know 12 year old children are not ready to play high level soccer on a full size field for 20-30 minutes. They should be focused on building up to that as they grow and mature. There is a big difference between a 12 year old child and an 18 year old young woman, so why are we expecting them to do the same amount of work? Is it better for a player's development for them to play at 100% for 10minutes or at 75% for 20minutes? If the players have the knowledge of the game to make dynamic runs, play high pressure and quick transition at speed, but don't have to ability to put it into practice in a game because they aren't able to cover the field AND play quality soccer, the player is left with but a choice, to work hard or conserve, attack the space or hold off it's only minute 2, to high press the defender in her box facing her own goal or hold? Not only can I see the rule potentially hampering development, but I would argue, it's doing a good job of taking the fun out of the game for these kids. If I just wanted to jog around and cover a large space for 20minutes I would have run cross country. This season I have seen a lot of underwhelming soccer, frustrated coaches, players and parents... not saying it is cure all, but I think this restriction is a mistake at the ECRL level especially for U13-U14s. Lastly, I'd ask, who decided this rule was appropriate, when was the last time they coached a U13 team, or a 2nd team for that matter? It's kind of like the SCCL free sub on ANY stoppage, who wrote that rule, have they seen that in practice? Did they not think coaches would abuse the rule and sub EVERY stoppage to make sure the other team can't get anything started, or to delay, delay, delay? Lastly, I have a problem with this rule because if I were coaching ECRL (and traditionally I have coached 2nd teams), the rule would keep me from being the coach that I am and I take pride in being. Example, I have an OB on the parent's sideline that continues to get beat on the inside. I call out to her and say, "You can't let her beat you on the inside." Two minutes later, it happens again. I move the OB over to my sideline and switch the OBs. I quickly explain my coaching point the best I can from the sideline during the other team's goal kick. She gets beat again. We are only 10 minutes in. So, do I allow that player to continue to get beat, move her to another position or do I pull her off only to sit the rest of the half? In a free sub world, I pull her off like I do in academy and at high school. I ask her how she is feeling? I let her talk. I ask her if she understands what I was saying to her on the field. I get to have a conversation with my player. I may use a white board, I may use cones or other teammates on the side to demonstrate my point. Then I get to put her back in. When she succeeds, I eagerly watch with anticipation, I get to do my favorite thing as a coach, reward her with positive reinforcement and she has now LEARNED from her mistake. Something often overlooked here, but needs to be stated. These types of interactions happen ALL the time when players are young, but as the players get older, they happen less and less. It's in those moments players build trust and respect with their coaches. If these interactions start to be limited by 12 years old, I wonder what the coach-player relationship will look like in the future. Another important point, the mistake didn't cost her team a goal, so we were able to make the changes without coach or players getting emotional because it hadn't cost us anything. What if the player understood, but was hurt? Sub restriction, do I take her out, or leave her in? Who am I as a coach to judge if the player is too hurt or not too hurt to continue? What if it's more mental, her parents are yelling at her on the sideline and they are in her head. Free subs, I can have a conversation with her and then put her back in keeping her on my sideline until we can talk with her parents after the match. This rule doesn't make better coaches, it makes MANAGERS. I don't just manage the match, I have players that I love and care about that I want to make sure are getting everything they can out of their experience in that match. From my perspective, this rule was not made to make the player experience better, if you have an example of where a player benefits from the rule, please share. Good post and solid arguments. Two points: 1. In your second paragraph, you say "At U13 specifically, many of these players are not ready to play 11v11 and cover a 120v70 pitch and do so while playing quality soccer." I think that is exactly right so why are we putting 13 years olds (particularly girls) on a full size field? This is not a subbing rule problem but rather forcing kids to a full sized field too soon. Teams that try to play out of the back really struggle at U13 and U14 because it so easy to high press and trap the ball in. As a result, really bad habits are developed at these younger ages of kicking and running. Unlimited subbing makes the bad habits worse because with unlimited subbing you can kick and run all day long. The solution to problem would be to gradually increase the size of the field so that kids are not on a full size fields until U15.
2. Second thing is that there is no player at any level of soccer that can go 100% nonstop for an entire game. Not at U8 and not in the pros. So using unlimited subs to play a style where kids are taught to go 100% for short periods of time and then be subbed off for another player to go 100% for a short period of time is doing the kids a disservice. The coaching aspect is to teach kids to recognize when to high press, when to make the run and what to look for. Several years ago, as part of DA, US Soccer put out a coaching manual that talked about when to make runs, what type of runs to make, and at what percentage a run should be made. It has been several years since I looked at it but if memory serves me correctly 100% runs were reserved almost exclusively for getting back on defense to stop a counterattack. Part of the problem with coaching is that kids are not taught that aspect of the game. As a result, kids are bombing forward on offense while leaving the back exposed. There is a tactical side to soccer that should be taught from a young age about how to read the game and to know what to do. Going 100% for a short period of time is not the answer for tactical development.
Dangit. I was 100% committed to “I agree” with soccerfirst then I read your reply. …And now I agree with both.
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Post by rifle on Nov 11, 2021 13:10:50 GMT -5
Rob Valentino is still with the first team as an Assistant Coach. His specialty prior to being the caretaker manager was to work with the youngsters, homegrowns and new acquisitions making the transition to the first team and the MLS. In addition to that role he has been given a few other tasks to manage now since he exploded on to the National Stage as the interim AU Manager when Heinz Ketchup left us... Yep. I went and looked it up after making my post. Seems like a useful guy to keep around. He had an interesting path before coming here (last stop prior was OFYO).
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Post by rifle on Nov 9, 2021 22:00:59 GMT -5
Don’t much care for MLS but I’m still happy to see AU having a better time lately. I have to wonder if there is still a waiting list for season tickets. What ended up happening to the interim manager who did so well then got replaced?
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Post by rifle on Nov 8, 2021 12:56:40 GMT -5
I know that a LOT of players walk away from club soccer as they get older. Going from gonzo super serious at academy and early select ages to other activities seemingly overnight. I think a fair amount of those are due to parents being into it more than the kids. I sure hope the situation above (where the coach is driving them away) is rare.
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Mike C
Nov 4, 2021 5:43:27 GMT -5
via mobile
bogan likes this
Post by rifle on Nov 4, 2021 5:43:27 GMT -5
Evidently, working around a bunch of pricks has rubbed off on me.. Or them maybe.
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Mike C
Nov 4, 2021 5:17:26 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by rifle on Nov 4, 2021 5:17:26 GMT -5
Dude will you please type your reply at the bottom, after the word “/ quote” and the “br” with the brackets around them? It’s a lot easier to follow the origin of the words. And for the record I’m not picking a fight with you. I think you make SOME sense. I also wonder if your name is Mike. rifle my bad! I will make sure to use the brackets. My name isn’t Mike (I am actually a woman) but I am glad we are finding some common ground. Thank you. You’ll see that the board software will automatically thread the responses quite nicely by itself. And it’s pet peeve time, madame. This is a “discussion (or message) board” not a “blog”. A blog has hosts who write a chronology of content + a peanut gallery who comments. A discussion board is uncurated - a free for all. I don’t know why that distinction triggers me but it does. Have a nice day.
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Post by rifle on Nov 3, 2021 20:35:20 GMT -5
This forum could stand to enforce a strict rule against defamatory posts. Who judges? Do we get a yellow or straight red? VAR for questionable calls?🤷🏻♂️ everyone loves that the flag stays down until video review, right?
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Post by rifle on Nov 3, 2021 20:14:44 GMT -5
This forum could stand to enforce a strict rule against defamatory posts.
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Post by rifle on Nov 3, 2021 20:13:02 GMT -5
It’s just a way to collect money. Club soccer has been going that direction since promotion and relegation were relegated in favor of competing leagues- all claiming to be superior but never having to prove it on the field. Cha Ching. All because some parents couldn’t handle the notion that their kid might not be good enough for the first (or second or third or fourth team) and they are convinced that rec soccer sucks. But I’ve got news for you. It doesn’t.. and they aren’t.
As for mouthy parents.. good luck. There are b-holes in every gathering of humans. More when they feel entitled to something the “pay for”.
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Post by rifle on Nov 3, 2021 20:04:40 GMT -5
I have no idea what things happened. And as I said, I do not think any of the above are appropriate, but I think almost every coach would be fired if we base it off a coach saying a player sucks during the game. I have had him for 2 kids and not had that experience with him. There are always 3 sides to every story. Player/parent, coach and then the truth. turfburns I agree! Beautifully stated. Dude will you please type your reply at the bottom, after the word “/ quote” and the “br” with the brackets around them? It’s a lot easier to follow the origin of the words. And for the record I’m not picking a fight with you. I think you make SOME sense. I also wonder if your name is Mike.
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Post by rifle on Nov 3, 2021 13:07:26 GMT -5
fanatic21 - if you don't know anything about the situation,, why are you commenting and validating a side of the story without hearing the other? This is exactly my problem with this forum. A bunch of parents without knowledge about a situation - speaking on it. Find a hobby please. You know this is a public message board, right? There are a lot of soccer loving folks with no idea who this guy is. They are still free to join the discussion. You don’t have to like it.
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Mike C
Nov 3, 2021 5:14:33 GMT -5
via mobile
bogan likes this
Post by rifle on Nov 3, 2021 5:14:33 GMT -5
..or reaping what you sow? I’m certain if anyone looks at their own club they will find coaches who are both better or worse than him in terms of relationships with players/parents, yelling, belittling, and the other things he is being accused of. With all the clubs/teams/Age groups in the area and proportionally how much he comes up in this forum - it seems to be a calculated attack. Certainly possible. I have no idea who he is but I agree it would be unfortunate if this is all sour grapes.
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Post by rifle on Nov 2, 2021 21:42:28 GMT -5
..or reaping what you sow? rifle HELLO SNOWFLAKE - THIS IS CALLED BULLYING AND CANCEL CULTURE. If by reaping what you sow you mean a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND MYRIAD OF PLAYERS ON THE NATIONAL TEAM? THEN YES. LOL.… and yes he clearly has many accomplishments.
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Post by rifle on Nov 2, 2021 20:17:18 GMT -5
..or reaping what you sow?
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Post by rifle on Nov 1, 2021 17:01:39 GMT -5
Being a ref is great. EVERYBODY wants to help!
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Post by rifle on Oct 31, 2021 12:32:50 GMT -5
I worked three games Saturday. First games in twenty months. I did alright, not great and was just an AR but it felt great to be back out there. And I’m sure my booker is pleased to have one less finger in the dam (because I finally got off my butt).
Please get certified and try it.
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Post by rifle on Oct 30, 2021 6:11:53 GMT -5
The MNT will continue to decline so long as the marriage between ussf and mls is allowed to exist. I agree in principle - not sure “decline” is the right word. First you have to be good in order to decline. I think it’s a certainty that they’ll remain mediocre for as long as “levels” in the domestic youth and pro game are established via declaration (or paying a fee) rather than via competition. Sure there is plenty of very good competition here but it’s not the same as open competition.
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Post by rifle on Oct 25, 2021 18:10:09 GMT -5
Wasn't MLS running the league? What do they have to say about it? sorry they’re too busy with the NFL to care.
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Post by rifle on Oct 24, 2021 18:00:32 GMT -5
NASA boys are currently first or second in every ECNL age group. So what’s their secret sauce? Good coaching or good recruiting or both? They have always been good at development in the young ages and bringing in strong players at older ages. Good combination. Oh and then there’s the TopHat effect (that’s sarcasm)
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Post by rifle on Oct 18, 2021 16:55:46 GMT -5
I’m glad to see the hater did a self edit and deleted the reply.
Everyone doesn’t follow the same path and I’m happy to read about this team having success.
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Post by rifle on Oct 18, 2021 16:53:49 GMT -5
I don’t doubt that for a second. I’ve seen numerous desperate emails trying to staff games. We need more refs. You can do it!! I would be very interested in doing it but with 2 girls in club soccer and 1 in competitive cheer, I'd have no time to actually ref a game. Mine aged out so I can confirm that excuse will go away in time. I don’t try to be Ironman - I don’t work a lot of games. But every game we can work helps the cause.
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Post by rifle on Oct 18, 2021 12:14:07 GMT -5
I hadn’t thought much about a coaching shortage but as a former TM and small club board member I do know that mega clubs pay coaches a lot less than community based clubs. As for refereeing my local club’s booker coaxed me out of a pandemic layoff that had mostly turned into laziness. I just completed re-certification to referee again. Time to get back out there. I encourage ALL OF YOU to do it as well. I do it to stay connected with and contribute to with the game that I love. And no place else pays me to exercise. Yesterday my U12 academy daughter's game had NO refs. A parent center ref'd the U11 game before us and a coach from that game CR'd our game. I don’t doubt that for a second. I’ve seen numerous desperate emails trying to staff games. We need more refs. You can do it!!
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Post by rifle on Oct 18, 2021 11:54:10 GMT -5
I hadn’t thought much about a coaching shortage but as a former TM and small club board member I do know that mega clubs pay coaches a lot less than community based clubs.
As for refereeing my local club’s booker coaxed me out of a pandemic layoff that had mostly turned into laziness. I just completed re-certification to referee again. Time to get back out there.
I encourage ALL OF YOU to do it as well. I do it to stay connected with and contribute to the game that I love. And no place else pays me to exercise.
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Post by rifle on Oct 16, 2021 20:39:35 GMT -5
Guzan made a couple big saves and Marcelino pulled a game killing goal from his backside. Three points.
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Post by rifle on Oct 16, 2021 20:24:50 GMT -5
Barco is such a tool
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Post by rifle on Oct 14, 2021 21:00:07 GMT -5
Never knew that! That’s right up there with “reduce to equate” for soccer rule nerds. . Law 11 (offsides) is hardly one page long. It’s been like this forever. A defending player who leaves the field of play without the referee’s permission shall be considered to be on the goal line or touchline for the purposes of offside until the next stoppage in play or until the defending team has played the ball towards the halfway line and it is outside its penalty area. If the player left the field of play deliberately, the player must be cautioned when the ball is next out of play. And in case you wonder for an attacking player, the law states: An attacking player may step or stay off the field of play not to be involved in active play. If the player re-enters from the goal line and becomes involved in play before the next stoppage in play or the defending team has played the ball towards the halfway line and it is outside its penalty area, the player shall be considered to be positioned on the goal line for the purposes of offside. A player who deliberately leaves the field of play and re-enters without the referee’s permission and is not penalised for offside and gains an advantage must be cautioned. I am humbled
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Post by rifle on Oct 14, 2021 15:33:30 GMT -5
If you missed it, specifically the Costa Rica goal, it looked like there was a CR player in an offside position that could have made a play on the ball. But it wasn't ruled offside due to a part of the rule that I didn't know after 30+ years of watching/playing the sport. If a defender (in this case Dest who had gone over the endline defending the initial cross) is off the field he is still counted when determining if there are two defenders behind the offensive player. I had never seen that happen. yea, I don't think I've seen it happen either, or at least be that close. I remember watching the original highlight, wondering why he wasn't off, because in the first replay you can't see Dest. Then in the 2nd camera angle, you can see Dest tracking back over the endline. dang. What a goal by Sergino!!
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Post by rifle on Oct 14, 2021 15:31:20 GMT -5
If you missed it, specifically the Costa Rica goal, it looked like there was a CR player in an offside position that could have made a play on the ball. But it wasn't ruled offside due to a part of the rule that I didn't know after 30+ years of watching/playing the sport. If a defender (in this case Dest who had gone over the endline defending the initial cross) is off the field he is still counted when determining if there are two defenders behind the offensive player. I had never seen that happen. Never knew that! That’s right up there with “reduce to equate” for soccer rule nerds. .
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Post by rifle on Oct 14, 2021 11:27:11 GMT -5
I watched the recent Jamaica and Panama games but forgot about this one until the end of regulation. I only saw Extra time which was a little nerve wracking.
I blame Ted Lasso - I finally broke down and picked up yet another TV subscription service. Started watching S1 on Tuesday of this week. Loving it.
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