|
Post by offsides on Dec 8, 2005 8:49:42 GMT -6
There are plenty of Louisiana girls who deserve a chance at being seen at the college showcases. The point being, the AHS coaches' decision had an effect on the AHS girls and also the girls who played with them on a premier team. It is unfair to all of the girls. The adults need to do what is best for the girls. Everyone should be able to play for their high schools and have the opportunity to play in college showcases. It should not be a choice between the two. If the coaches are truly interested in what is best for the players, they would not force this decision.
|
|
|
Post by rivers2 on Dec 8, 2005 10:46:50 GMT -6
I suspect at AHS that a majority of parents support the coach's decison. I would also venture a guess that the majority of those parents supporting the decison do not have daughters playing Premier. I also would speculate that those parents in favor of banning girls that report late see that as a means of not only enhancing their child's playing time but eliminating quality competiton for the same. Wrap all of it up with a coach who wants to pacify the majority of parents as well as muscle and foster the old "win one for the Gipper" or in this case AHS and the result is the ban. Does the coach have this right? Of course he does. Is it right? That depends on what side of the fence you sit on. Is it about what's best for ALL girls? No, it rarely ever is. It's a shame that a student athlete can't do both. I liken it to a poker game and having to live with the cards you draw. The poker game in this case is attending AHS. Thankfully, the vast majority of girls do not have to face this situation but somehow that seems little compensation for those girls that do.
|
|
|
Post by freddyyakubu on Dec 8, 2005 11:27:18 GMT -6
Well if there are people who think that Louisiana has players that can play Div I college level....please tell me who they are. I am struggling to find more than five names.
|
|
|
Post by cantona on Dec 8, 2005 12:56:59 GMT -6
Jan, I have to say that I have been quiet about this entire situation for too long, since I feel some sense of responsibility for this new AHS “Show up Day 1 or don’t play” rule. In reading your numerous posts, I think on a few points you are either misinformed or looking at things the wrong way. First off, please keep in mind that many players read this board, as well as parents, coaches, etc. So to make such a bold assumption as to say that “there are very few players in this area right now that can actually go play competitively in Division I soccer” is something I think you aren’t qualified say. I agree in that there are very few players in this area that can compete for spots on Division I powerhouse teams, i.e. teams that perennially go to the NCAA tournament. However, I would say that about just about all areas of the U.S. But these girls have no less of a chance than any other girl in any other state. And as for LA girls at “Powerhouse” Div I schools, I don’t think I need to list the names like Crawford, Hill, Breaux, Baldwin, Rouen, Barnes, etc. And that’s just a list of signees from the 2005 class who went to big, out of state Div. I schools. I’ll let you look at the list to see the girls who chose to stay in state and play DI, as well as other levels, and classes before 2005 to see other examples. And how did they get there? They got there through hard work, on and off the field. They got there through opportunities that they were afforded through playing soccer. They got there through playing high school, club, ODP, and summer camp soccer. They got there hard work on the field, off the field, and in the classroom. No lines needed, nor need to be drawn. Did you play Premier soccer, High school, College, and professionally? Yes, you did. You were a guy, like the rest of the CSC Cosmos, that guys my age grew up watching and imitating. But since you’ve played, the game has changed. Same here, since I’ve played, the game has changed. And the horrible truth is that Boy’s soccer in college, and Girl’s soccer in college are on two separate paths. Boy’s programs are on the decline, where as there are more opportunities for female athletes’ than ever before. And that is my main point of this post. Give the girls’ the opportunity to be seen playing soccer. Who are any of us to judge if a girl can play DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, or Junior College? Leave that up to the coaches who recruit. But what we can do as coaches is give these female athletes the opportunity to pursue their dream. Give these female athletes the avenue to choose whether or not they want to pursue soccer at the next level. Jan, I will also say that you are right. No girl will go on to play professionally here, because there are no women’s professional soccer leagues. But if anyone thinks that is what college soccer is all about is missing the boat. With getting into college, much less affording it becoming more difficult each day, why not get some help getting through because you can play a game? Why not experience a new place, new culture, and meet new people because you can play a game? As for teaching life through the game of soccer, I hope I teach my players to dream big, work hard, and go after what they want. Not to fall in line, do the minimum, and don’t think about being anything big time, because it probably won’t happen. And lastly, I’ll answer your personal attack that “I can also tell you that if you think these girls that attend these showcase tournaments come into the high school season after working so LONG with their particular trainers throughout the year are in SHAPE......you are wrong.” Since you are new to the coaching scene, and I consider you an alright dude, I’ll choose to laugh and ignore this comment. But I will leave you with a piece of advice that will serve you well. Choose your battles wisely. Don’t draw lines in the sand between club programs and High School. You, as a High School coach, should be thankful that there are club coaches throughout the state who dedicate themselves throughout the year in making these girls better. And you, as a Club coach, should be grateful to the High School program that it offers an avenue for these girls that work so hard throughout the year are afforded an opportunity to help bring success and recognition to their school, shine locally amongst their peers, in the papers, etc. Just remember, that its’ all about the kids, their opportunities, and their dreams. Do your best to help them achieve their dreams, and they will do their best to help you achieve what you want, which is team success.
|
|
|
Post by coachray40 on Dec 8, 2005 13:29:03 GMT -6
Amazing that the debate over this issue still rages on. I'll offer a few opinions:
1)I dont agree with either the players decision to fore-go the beginning of HS season, OR the decision of the AHS coach not to let them participate. Everything in this saga smacks of individuals doing what is best for them over what is best for the team. I think some sort of solution could have been worked out prior to this fall that could have had these premier girls going to ANOTHER showcase tournament and then making it to the beginning of HS practice, even if it was a week late. Of course, this would have required two sets of coaching staffs actually setting egos aside and communicating with each other.
2) The process by which an athlete gets recruited is multifaceted. Showcase tournaments, AND High school soccer are PARTS of this process. So is ODP, summer camp attendance, letter and profile writing, campus visits, email and phone contact with coaches, and networking. Coaches have limited time and budgets to go places and recruit. The average coach gets 2000 letters a year from prospective players, and has to weed out the good from the bad, and then prioritize the ones they have the most interest in. College coaches will contact the highest end premier clubs to inquire about potential prospects, or notice them in their camps. Those coaches then choose where they can go and see these players play, and if that is a Showcase tournament then all the better. Coaches aren't showing up at tournaments to "Troll the waters"--they are there with an idea of who they want to see. That doesn't mean a player cant get noticed "accidentally"(that happens all the time) it just means that college coaches will be at VARIOUS events looking at what they came to see.
3) Soccer here in this part of the south is much different than in other parts of the country. Colleges in metro DC can get a look at players from a pool of about 100,000 with 2 hrs drive. Down here its much more of an event to travel and see players. HS tournaments are popular in other places in the country, they just haven't been the big deal here in the south that they are in, say, Northern California, Long Island NY, or metropolitan Philadelphia. Dont discount HS soccer--it matters in places where it can be more easily used as a recruiting tool. That ease, or lack thereof here makes LA HS Tournaments less of an effective tool for coaches.
4) College soccer is not just about playing Division I. DII and DIII are just as viable as DI for the right player. Playing at the next level doesn't just entail a DI scholarship--many a great career was had at smaller schools than the "Prominent D1 school". The end result should be the same anywhere--using the ability to play a sport you love to get a paid-for education and degree. Everything we hear about is about D1--why? If the only offer was a 75% academic scholarship(made more feasible by soccer playing prowess) at a DIII school, would you turn it down and pay to go to LSU? I think not.
5) DI recruits worldwide folks. Foreign soccer academies make our premier programs look like playgrounds. Coaches again can get a wider set of funding options when they can find a foreign player to com to an American school to make their campus more "culturally diverse." Coaches will often look to players from abroad, and this even further reduces the availability of scholarship money
6) Ahead of all things, players should be focusing on grades and test scores. I dont care where you play premier OR HS, if you are a less than average student, chances are you will garner less interest than if you are carrying a 3.0 or better. Coaches aren't going to want to babysit a player for 4 years. High grades also give college coaches more recruiting power, as they can get more money for a prospect through Academic awards than through a limited pool of scholarship money. One of the first questions a college coach will ask is "How is his/her grades?" Going to CASL Cup isn't going to get you past that 1.75 cumulative GPA. People in all sports get too caught up in recruiting and getting a scholarship that they forget about the first half of that word--scholar.
Through all of this why dont we all do what is REALLY BEST--HELP EACH OTHER!! Stop quibbling over what program a 14-18 yr old kid needs to choose to further themselves(kids this age have trouble deciding what clothes to wear to a party on Friday night) and instead help them realize their dreams and grow into better people as much as possible. Stop feeling the need to bash all players who get a chance and applaud them--it can only lead to more opportunities in the future. Stop being so negative about all things but your own and respect everybody. Compromise, communicate, and stop drawing lines in the sand. Opportunities for our young people will only become more available if we work together to help everyone.
|
|
|
Post by HALLOFAME on Dec 8, 2005 17:30:18 GMT -6
SINCE MY NAME HAS NOW BEEN BLASTED....ALL I CAN DO IS SIMPLY LAUGH....AMAZING HOW LOW PEOPLE WILL STOOP....
|
|
|
Post by offsides on Dec 8, 2005 18:14:35 GMT -6
I think you do not understand the whole point here, Halloffame. The point is everyone deserves a chance at being seen by as many college coaches as possible. Premier soccer provides this opportunity. Everyone also deserves to be allowed to play for their high school. It should not be either/or. The soccer players do not set the time tables for the showcases or the High School season. High School coaches should not penalize soccer players who would like a shot at playing in college. It doesn't have to be Div. I. The AHS coaches forced their players to make a choice that penalized not only the AHS girls but also the girls on their premier team. It is not about team bonding. That can occur after two weeks of practice. It is about playing soccer, working hard and receiving scholarships. It is about what is best for the girls playing soccer. It is about girls trying to receive athletic scholarships. It is not about the coaches' egos and sense of control.
|
|
|
Post by seenitall on Dec 9, 2005 15:24:00 GMT -6
What happened to all of the HALL OF FAME posts?
|
|
|
Post by manchurianman on Dec 9, 2005 20:34:49 GMT -6
SINCE MY NAME HAS NOW BEEN BLASTED....ALL I CAN DO IS SIMPLY LAUGH....AMAZING HOW LOW PEOPLE WILL STOOP.... I think you are mistaken in that your name has been blasted. If you read the post, the poster thinks you are a high school coach. Unless I'm terribly wrong from the info you provided that isn't you at all. Either way, don't let that stop you from posting.
|
|
|
Post by tigerdawg on Dec 10, 2005 6:58:37 GMT -6
who is jan? i haven't seen anything posted by "jan". if it's the jan i know of, he knows what he is talking about! i like what offsides had to say. he's pretty much right on. coachray, if it is all about team, which i agree, what about the club team that has oh 5 or 6 or more girls from ahs (just an example here folks) that want to go to this showcase tourney. they have 1 or 2 players that are being looked at by strong Division I programs, but their hs coach has now said they weren't going to play if they didn't show up day 1. so 4 or 5 of them decide to go to hs, and the rest of the premier TEAM is left out in the cold. now they have to find some guest players to go to the tournament with them. but who is left? other coaches are now demanding they show up day 1. now the 1 or 2 that are being recruited are punished. that's not fair to those players and that TEAM. since TEAM is the important issue here, why is this TEAM getting the raw end of the deal? the choice of the players to go to showcase tournaments isn't always for individual reasons. yes, there may only be 1 or 2 players that actually want to go play in college, but the other girls made the comittment at the beginning of the year to go to these tournaments. these other players that don't necessarily want to play in college are doing what it takes to help their friends and teammates that do. they are loyal to these players just as they will be loyal to their hs teams when they show up.
|
|
|
Post by PumasFC on Dec 10, 2005 15:40:04 GMT -6
I too would like to see where late reporting player, with good attitudes, that are willing to challenge for a starting spot rather than being just handed one, should be punished for reporting to training late. If a player is injured in mid October (say she sprains an ankle or knee) and has to miss six weeks due to an that mishap, should she be punished and not allowed on the team? She would arrive at the same time as the 'Prmier' player that went to Dallas, Raleigh, Pensacola. Each of these players should have to earn their starting spot and not just be handed it when they return to their team. Let them be a substitute for a game or two, until they have practiced with the team a couple of weeks. Unless you are in a really large district the meat of your schedule doesn't begin until mid to late December or early January, by then coaches should have had time to transition players that reported late into the lineup. Parents coaches or players that think high school soccer is going to get anyone a college scholarship in Louisiana is living in a fantasy world. Over the last three years I have yet to be at a high school game that was attended by 100+ college coaches. This is what happens at these hated showcases. How dare they schedule college showcase tournament, when only a very small handful (I beleive the number is less than 5) state hold their high school soccer seasons. Better they should be held right in the middle of the college season, so that it wouldn't inconvenience Louisiana High School Soccer.
|
|
|
Post by tigerdawg on Dec 10, 2005 18:38:20 GMT -6
well spoken pumasfc
|
|
|
Post by seenitall on Dec 11, 2005 6:07:27 GMT -6
I agree well said PumasFC you speak the gospel! Try this on ………if the earlier post are accurate Hall of Fame, former poster on this topic, is a trainer for a club team.
|
|
|
Post by LADYRAMDAD on Dec 11, 2005 17:43:23 GMT -6
UHH, THE HORSE IS DEAD, AUTOPSY COMPLETED, COULD WE PLEASE START ANOTHER THREAD WITH A DIFFERENT TITLE. THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS THIS YEAR WITH THE LADY RAMS SOCCER TEAM. THEY ARE PLAYING WELL AND ARE HAPPY. LAST YEAR IS HISTORY THANKS, JUST A DAD
|
|
|
Post by offsides on Dec 12, 2005 10:08:06 GMT -6
This issue is from this year. AHS coaches enforced their rule players must report on first day to play. Premier players reported on first day so they could play for their high school. They were given no options. That is what this thread is about.
|
|
|
Post by hsplaya on Dec 12, 2005 12:27:05 GMT -6
don't you have anything better to do with your life than beat on the same drum....move on and worry about your own team or whoever you support...no one cares about the thread and there is no need to try and stir the pot.....history is history...move on and shut up
|
|
Barron
All-District
Posts: 120
|
Post by Barron on Dec 13, 2005 15:47:38 GMT -6
Have to agree, hsplaya, if there are issues at Acadiana, or any other school for that matter, the rest of us should "butt-out" and let them resolve those issues however they see fit.
|
|
|
Post by AICWildcat on Dec 13, 2005 16:04:00 GMT -6
That being said, I'm going to lock this topic until further notice.
|
|