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Post by doughboy on May 14, 2015 12:03:31 GMT -6
What are you guys opinions on how to operate the 10u (academy, competitive whatever). I see 3 major clubs are going to a pooled player system with 'play dates'. An attempt to remove the 'pressure of winning'. Focus more on growth and fundamentals.
The other side, stack teams similar to 12u (a, b, c...) players of similar skill level train and compete with equal competition.
What's best? The big 3 clubs are apparently going with the 1st model. How will it fly with those that are ready (or think they're ready) to be more 'competitive'?
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Post by LAsoccercoach on May 14, 2015 14:08:02 GMT -6
The academy system will incorporate the best of both worlds as those 3 clubs now have more control over the games, teams, & training. They can train top players together one week and compete vs other clubs top players then the following week mix up the talent pool and play a parodied game vs another club. It is giving a lot more flexibility to an age group where we see players experience being diminished due to the race for a championship every weekend rather than long-term development goal of prepping a large pool of players for the 11v11 game at U13. This is a similar format used by the major professional clubs around the world, glad to see soccer savy people making decisions based on what's best for the sport of soccer.
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Post by laffysoccermom on May 14, 2015 17:45:16 GMT -6
At one time clubs were forming competitively balanced teams below u13. Some started doing A and B teams and the A teams almost always beat the competitively balanced teams at the other clubs. Parents started wondering why Club A team was beating both Club B teams. Eventually Club B started doing the same things even though originally Club B has said everything prior to U13 was about development.
I'm not educated enough to know which model is best but I do know if parents end up complaining about the system and participation drops, it will not last. It will be interesting to see.
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Post by madtaymac on May 15, 2015 9:57:49 GMT -6
My opinion would be to start playing the 11v11 game as soon as possible with the younger teams.
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Post by doughboy on May 15, 2015 9:58:38 GMT -6
Yes mom, the fly in the ointment. The happiness of the paying customers. Clubs doing what they need to to keep their kids. Balanced team gets whipped by stacked, system gets lynched. I don't know what's best, but the cycle is vicious. If you keep the pooled player system, but bring stacked teams to the tournaments, it kind of defeats the integrity of the pooled system and it becomes window dressing. Then you get into the breakaway private teams forming like the rogue youth softball system. Which is about winning and winning ONLY.
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Post by Steven Gerrard on May 15, 2015 12:21:30 GMT -6
My opinion would be to start playing the 11v11 game as soon as possible with the younger teams. I disagree. I think that teams should stay 6v6 until they get to U13 or U14. More touches on the ball and improves their technical ability. |
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Post by laffysoccermom on May 15, 2015 16:08:53 GMT -6
I can also see some disenchantment because one kid isn't selected to play as often as another. Just like the old playing time issue but amplified. It will be interesting to watch.
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Post by miraddydad on May 17, 2015 6:48:01 GMT -6
You have to get the parents to buy in, but an academy system that emphasizes development over COACHES/PARENTS playing to win will best benefit clubs and Louisiana soccer down the road. It's an attempt to develop a player pool, rather than have 10-12 kids make the transition to 11v11 as superstars with the rest being merely a supporting cast. The wins will come. If done properly, focusing on development up through U14 will improve soccer overall. And in looking at development, through U14, not having a kid see himself/herself as a defender, a forward or a goalkeeper, will make him or her a better, more well-rounded player later on.
A rather large hurdle is getting parents to understand what's being done. I recommend EVERY parent of a competitive player attend an E license course. It does a great job explaining what is trying to be accomplished at the different age groups.
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Post by dme1214 on May 18, 2015 21:27:50 GMT -6
I my opinion, the U9-10 academy teams need to stay as a pooled group, doing all events as an evenly grouped teams, to aid in the development. Although on away tournaments most kids that choose to go, if optional as it is at our club, tend to be the stronger more dedicated players.
At U11-2 I think teams should be balanced in talent but not pooled. This seems to be best for the overall development of the player, club and the sport. At U13 run A and B teams,
The earlier you form A and B teams (or more) you could pigeon hole players as a certain level player and either lose them to a new sport or destroy their potential, for example at U11 tryouts one young goalie may be better then another, if in a couple years goalie B is now a little better, worthy of an A team spot. But is the club really going to drop the A team goalie down, I think not, and if they do, that goalie quits.
I am not sure I have been clear in what I am saying, but I think people get the jist
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Post by laffysoccermom on May 18, 2015 21:41:19 GMT -6
Should a U11 player be a "goalie"? I don't mean that as a flippant comment but I do have an issue with kids playing exclusively in goal at young ages. I think that is way more detrimental that starting competition too early. Actually I don't think kids should play one position exclusively until at least u13.
I'm lucky in that coaches have placed my daughter in different positions. Granted some of that was because she didn't particularly excel at one particular position as a younger kid.
However it has worked in our favor, her high school coach recognized her as someone that played literally every position on the field this last season. She is definitely better at some than others but has an understanding of each position and its role.
Honestly I think this is the biggest problem with development is the pigeon holing of kids into a position way too early for the good of the team.
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Post by dme1214 on May 18, 2015 22:10:22 GMT -6
Should a U11 player be a "goalie"? I don't mean that as a flippant comment but I do have an issue with kids playing exclusively in goal at young ages. I think that is way more detrimental that starting competition too early. Actually I don't think kids should play one position exclusively until at least u13. I'm lucky in that coaches have placed my daughter in different positions. Granted some of that was because she didn't particularly excel at one particular position as a younger kid. However it has worked in our favor, her high school coach recognized her as someone that played literally every position on the field this last season. She is definitely better at some than others but has an understanding of each position and its role. Honestly I think this is the biggest problem with development is the pigeon holing of kids into a position way too early for the good of the team. I agree with you on this whole topic, I simply used the goalie in example as it was an easier example to get my point across. The simple proof is the best female goalie in the world, Hope Solo was a Stryker until college. Now I do have 2 daughter as, my oldest daughter did a lot of goalie as a youngster, mainly as the second keeper, then spent a couple years as starter. All this knowing she was more of a field player, and it did hurt her development some, although we were very lucky in her coaches after u12 worked with her in both areas. Now she is found her spot as a outside mid, and drops to defense against certain teams with super fast forwards ( Byrd come to mind) My younger is about to be U13 and is also a keeper and does a little defense, she is much more in the mold of a goalie with more height and power (regularly punts it 40 or more yards). She also loves it, loves the 'captaincy' of it and gets more out of a big stop as in any goal. Again we have been lucky her coaches have trained her in field play as well and in friendlies and games in hand or out of hand she gets her field time. Setting positions early isn't the best, but at U11-2 you do really need to have a main goalie, rotating that in league games and tournaments really stresses the line between development and winning beyond the breaking point b |
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Post by laffysoccermom on May 19, 2015 8:26:41 GMT -6
I think at u11 and u12 you should have two keepers but the same can be said of other positions. I have heard u11 parents say their child only played left wing or only defense. Mostly is ok but they need to at least experience playing other positions.
In older age groups, it is not uncommon to combine teams not to mention high school. If the child has only played one position from a young age then they are going to be limited and it is usually harder to adapt at that point.
I think parents make it worse because they sometimes identity their child as a forward or whatever and that gets into the child's head too.
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Post by lafutbolplaya07 on May 28, 2015 8:14:14 GMT -6
I think the Academy system at U9/U10 is the way to go. It is better for the players development and takes the pressure away from winning/losing. All the reports you read say that players drop out of sports at a young age because it gets too competitive and is no longer fun. I think that is because we start them in a the competitive leagues too early! We should spend more time on developing these players especially at U9/U10 so if clubs are getting together to try and actually start this then that's amazing.
Also I keep hearing that things are changing with US Soccer making some new rules/regulations with the age grouping being a hot topic as well as changing the number of players on the field. Has anyone heard about this?
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