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Youth Soccer - Questions, Discussion and Stories . (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter SwampDawg
- Start date
We won our game that we should have this weekend (vs. last place team). My son (who plays keeper) had 1 save and he said even that was not that difficult to handle. Other than that, he faced no real threats all game, handling maybe 2-3 balls played into the box by the opponent, the majority of his action was from playbacks from his own team.
We're currently sitting in 3rd place in the division, but of the top 3 teams have the easier schedule. The team in 4th has an even easier schedule, so we will need to be sure to perform well to keep them from having a chance to leapfrog us.
We play the first place team in two weeks (we have a bye this week), then we will shut down for the high school season and come back in March where we have two games against the 5th place team and 1 against the current 2nd place team (our only loss so far)
The 2nd place team has two games against the last pace team (for some reason their game that was scheduled for October 3rd has no result posted still, so not sure if it was cancelled, rescheduled or if there was some sort of forfeit not reported yet), the game against us and two games against the 1st place team, so definite chance for some shake up at the top of the standings, and if we are able to win out we may actually have a decent shot at either jumping into 2nd place, or possible even getting up to 1st place if the top 2 teams tie both their games against each other (but that's not til March so no need to think about that yet)
We're currently sitting in 3rd place in the division, but of the top 3 teams have the easier schedule. The team in 4th has an even easier schedule, so we will need to be sure to perform well to keep them from having a chance to leapfrog us.
We play the first place team in two weeks (we have a bye this week), then we will shut down for the high school season and come back in March where we have two games against the 5th place team and 1 against the current 2nd place team (our only loss so far)
The 2nd place team has two games against the last pace team (for some reason their game that was scheduled for October 3rd has no result posted still, so not sure if it was cancelled, rescheduled or if there was some sort of forfeit not reported yet), the game against us and two games against the 1st place team, so definite chance for some shake up at the top of the standings, and if we are able to win out we may actually have a decent shot at either jumping into 2nd place, or possible even getting up to 1st place if the top 2 teams tie both their games against each other (but that's not til March so no need to think about that yet)
SwampDawg
Footballguy
Back to pretty much full team practice with the club last night. Only two kids still playing on teams moving ahead in the next round of state high school playoffs. Amazed at how much my boy has grown up and come to understand things in this past year. He told my wife after she took him to practice Tuesday that not only were the club practices better run but because on the school team the skill level is so varied that the better kids don't need to push themselves in practice because at 80% they are still going to win every battle. But with the club team everyone is so even that if one kid decides to ramp it up and go 110% at practice that night everyone else has to go that hard as well and it forces them to really work.
For only just having their third practice since this summer they are really looking good. I guess Tuesday night they scrimmaged our 07 team (1 year younger) at the end of practice. These kids aren't slouches, they are the #5 07 boys team in the country according to GotSoccer. Our team was up 5 or 6 nothing in about 15 minutes and the coach had to tell them to dial it back. Excited to get started next weekend, three games look like they should be good games on paper.
For only just having their third practice since this summer they are really looking good. I guess Tuesday night they scrimmaged our 07 team (1 year younger) at the end of practice. These kids aren't slouches, they are the #5 07 boys team in the country according to GotSoccer. Our team was up 5 or 6 nothing in about 15 minutes and the coach had to tell them to dial it back. Excited to get started next weekend, three games look like they should be good games on paper.
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Lehigh98
Footballguy
Just found out about THIS but it happened in our age group in a tournament that we were playing in that week. We played on the same field but on the following day after the incident.
My older son was (fortunately) reffing a different tournament the same weekend. I found out about it from the Offside page on Facebook and seems like there's no follow up to what happened to the coach on any sanctions / discipline.
This is another reason why it's harder to find refs and why they're getting paid so much.
My older son was (fortunately) reffing a different tournament the same weekend. I found out about it from the Offside page on Facebook and seems like there's no follow up to what happened to the coach on any sanctions / discipline.
This is another reason why it's harder to find refs and why they're getting paid so much.
Not just a soccer thing - I was talking to one of the basketball refs I know here in Orange County, and he was saying that just for the leagues that he works in (which is not a large portion of the overall basketball scene here), they are short 21 refs already, so a lot of the refs are getting way more games than usual, but also a lot of the high schools are needing to reschedule tournaments/games. And he said he is hearing just about every other league/area is in similar situations.
SwampDawg
Footballguy
Boys are back at their first tournament/showcase of the year this weekend. Pretty much at full strength, last kid whose high school team was still in the state playoffs got knocked out in the Semi's on Tuesday so just down one player who broke his collarbone at the end of the school season. Will be a good test right off the bat taking on the #4 team in Eastern PA, #3 in Maryland and #29 in NJ according to the rankings which are about as accurate as September college football rankings but all we have. Going to be a cold one but looking forward to it.
@Ned you guys off this weekend or going to Bethesda? I didn't see you on the list for FC Delco.
@Ned you guys off this weekend or going to Bethesda? I didn't see you on the list for FC Delco.
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SwampDawg
Footballguy
Mixed bag this weekend.
Off for the holiday weekend then another showcase the first weekend in December and on paper it looks like a couple really tough teams so they need to pull it together.
- Played early Saturday (8am) it was cold and the boys looked like they haven't played together since the end of June and only had a couple training sessions since the HS season ended. They just seemed out of sync, lost 3-1 our only goal coming off a PK. Offense missed putting away some open chances, mid-field looked like it was missing their main cog (out with a concussion suffered in a HS game) and the defense allowed too many chances in the box. Basically looked like they weren't ready for the speed of the game.
- Game #2 Saturday afternoon was like night and day from the morning. They started slow conceding an early goal but then completely controlled the game and led 3-1 until a phantom PK call late in the game that narrowed it to 3-2. I say phantom because even the AR when asked had no idea what the call was. Only thing we can come up with was it was a long ball into the box that did go off a players shoulder on a bounce is that the ref that was trailing thought it was a handball? When our keeper tried to ask him he told him if he kept asking he was getting a yellow. No harm since we still won.
- Game # 3 on Sunday was a mix of the other two, gave up an early goal then dominated a long stretch getting the equalizer before giving up a goal right near the end of the half that had the defense out of position. Second half both teams had some chances but no one scored and it was pretty even so ended up falling 2-1.
Off for the holiday weekend then another showcase the first weekend in December and on paper it looks like a couple really tough teams so they need to pull it together.
SwampDawg
Footballguy
While I keep my mouth shut on the sidelines about refs this weekend was some of the worse I have seen. Almost seems like the pain in the butt parents have driven out the decent ones and now with a shortage all we have left are the new ones, bad ones and the ego maniacs.
From our first game, take a look at this clip and watch after he makes the stop how the keeper handles the ball up until punting it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UoNfRNU7Ag From our coach, to a co worker that is an official and played keeper on a state championship team to anther friends daughter who is a keeper in college they all agree this is a penalty that should be an indirect free kick. That once he loses control of the ball it is a live ball and he can't pick it back up again. It's obvious in the video the ref is looking back and watching and makes no call, and this happened twice.
Second game we had the phantom PK call but it didn't change the game but the unwillingness to provide an explanation as to what the call was is my issue.
In the last game the calls were pretty even but the guy was a complete ego maniac who wanted to be the show. He talked down to the kids on both teams, he tossed a parent on the other team who questioned two calls and wasn't even being loud and twice he ignored offsides calls by his AR. The second time there was a penalty called about 10 seconds later that resulted in a direct kick from about 20 yards. Kid missed high so no harm but the AR had been standing there with his flag up well before the penalty. After he called the penalty and the kid was lining up to take it he goes over to the AR and you can see him shaking his head no and telling him to put the flag down. The AR was a college aged kid and you could tell this guy (mid 50's?) had no respect for him.
From our first game, take a look at this clip and watch after he makes the stop how the keeper handles the ball up until punting it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UoNfRNU7Ag From our coach, to a co worker that is an official and played keeper on a state championship team to anther friends daughter who is a keeper in college they all agree this is a penalty that should be an indirect free kick. That once he loses control of the ball it is a live ball and he can't pick it back up again. It's obvious in the video the ref is looking back and watching and makes no call, and this happened twice.
Second game we had the phantom PK call but it didn't change the game but the unwillingness to provide an explanation as to what the call was is my issue.
In the last game the calls were pretty even but the guy was a complete ego maniac who wanted to be the show. He talked down to the kids on both teams, he tossed a parent on the other team who questioned two calls and wasn't even being loud and twice he ignored offsides calls by his AR. The second time there was a penalty called about 10 seconds later that resulted in a direct kick from about 20 yards. Kid missed high so no harm but the AR had been standing there with his flag up well before the penalty. After he called the penalty and the kid was lining up to take it he goes over to the AR and you can see him shaking his head no and telling him to put the flag down. The AR was a college aged kid and you could tell this guy (mid 50's?) had no respect for him.
brettdj
Footballguy
U14 tourney this weekend. 9v9 Two groups of 4. Winners of each group play a final.
Sons team practices on grass(bumpy long grass) Tourney on artificial turf.
First game they are slow to start. Allow a goal. Eventual they get used to the ball speed. The get a breakaway for a score. Then they get a great corner kick score. 2-1 final.
Second game they come out strong and score. The opponent has only 9 players. The game gets tied. About halfway thru the first half another 9 players show up on their sideline. They start subbing their weaker players out. The 9 players that showed up were from a team from the other group. Our coaches find a tourney director and find out this is not illegal. We lose 2-1.
Third game was with the strongest team. We got down big, but kept playing. They had won 4-0, 4-1. This game ended 7-2.
The kids had fun, but were frustrated by game 2. Parents were upset with game 2 but mostly happy to have their Sunday afternoon open up.
Sons team practices on grass(bumpy long grass) Tourney on artificial turf.
First game they are slow to start. Allow a goal. Eventual they get used to the ball speed. The get a breakaway for a score. Then they get a great corner kick score. 2-1 final.
Second game they come out strong and score. The opponent has only 9 players. The game gets tied. About halfway thru the first half another 9 players show up on their sideline. They start subbing their weaker players out. The 9 players that showed up were from a team from the other group. Our coaches find a tourney director and find out this is not illegal. We lose 2-1.
Third game was with the strongest team. We got down big, but kept playing. They had won 4-0, 4-1. This game ended 7-2.
The kids had fun, but were frustrated by game 2. Parents were upset with game 2 but mostly happy to have their Sunday afternoon open up.
For our NPL league, we played the first place team this weekend (our last game before reconvening league in March after the high school season). We tied them earlier in the season so knew we could hang. We came out on fire. We have tended to be a slow starting team, but we scored in the first 10 minutes, and knocked in a second one about 5 minutes later. Play continued fairly evenly, we contained all of their attacks not really giving anything up, and ended up knocking two more in quick succession at about the 30 minute mark. At about the 39 minute mark they got a breakaway but we handled the cross but couldn't clear, one of their better players got it at the top of the box, quick dribble to the left then swept it back to his right and banged it in top right corner just before the half. Up 4-1 at half. Second half was back and forth, we missed 2-3 decent attempts in the first 10 minutes then they got one in on a great cross that my son had no chance of saving. With about 10 minutes to go we give up a PK, so now it is 4-3, 10 minutes left, and they have the momentum and we are about to squander what was a 4 goal lead. This is where us only having 1 sub for this game was showing (1 player out due to injury, 1 at a funeral, 1 on a vacation and one other I don't know where they were) as we were clearly exhausted, but we held on to preserve the win.
We are sitting in 3rd place with 22 points. 1st place team has 27 points, 2nd place has 22. 4th has 19 and 5th 17. Other 3 teams are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
In March we all play 3 more games. We have 1 game against the now 1st place team (they beat us 2-0 when we were down 2 key players) and 2 games against the 4th place team who is better than their record indicates. The 1st place team plays us and has 2 games against the 2nd place team. I do not believe it is realistic for us to finish in 1st place. Our only hope to finish 1st is that they manage to tie both those games while we win out, and that the team in 2nd also manages to lose to the last place team who has not won a game and has only scored 2 goals in 11 games.
However, as long as we hold on to a top 3 spot we will qualify for the NPL playoffs with a shot to make the NPL regionals. If we continue to play as well as we were for the majority of the game on Saturday then I think we have a legitimate shot at this - really hoping the break for high school doesn't throw off the chemistry the team has built too much - fortunately 5-6 of the boys play on the same high school team, so hopefully that will help.
We are sitting in 3rd place with 22 points. 1st place team has 27 points, 2nd place has 22. 4th has 19 and 5th 17. Other 3 teams are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
In March we all play 3 more games. We have 1 game against the now 1st place team (they beat us 2-0 when we were down 2 key players) and 2 games against the 4th place team who is better than their record indicates. The 1st place team plays us and has 2 games against the 2nd place team. I do not believe it is realistic for us to finish in 1st place. Our only hope to finish 1st is that they manage to tie both those games while we win out, and that the team in 2nd also manages to lose to the last place team who has not won a game and has only scored 2 goals in 11 games.
However, as long as we hold on to a top 3 spot we will qualify for the NPL playoffs with a shot to make the NPL regionals. If we continue to play as well as we were for the majority of the game on Saturday then I think we have a legitimate shot at this - really hoping the break for high school doesn't throw off the chemistry the team has built too much - fortunately 5-6 of the boys play on the same high school team, so hopefully that will help.
SwampDawg
Footballguy
If anyone is looking for video editing software for highlights I found this reasonable priced solution https://www.movavi.com/
It lets you insert pointers into clips, dub out sound, etc. I'm still learning it and we are waiting for our Veo cam to ship but fooled around with a few clips I pulled off my phone recording of one game from the last tournament. https://youtu.be/6B--LYTz1ME
Three game showcase this weekend against teams from NJ, Western PA and Virginia. Boys getting in three good nights of work this week (albeit a bit cold) and look to be knocking the rust off the high school tendencies and back to playing together.
It lets you insert pointers into clips, dub out sound, etc. I'm still learning it and we are waiting for our Veo cam to ship but fooled around with a few clips I pulled off my phone recording of one game from the last tournament. https://youtu.be/6B--LYTz1ME
Three game showcase this weekend against teams from NJ, Western PA and Virginia. Boys getting in three good nights of work this week (albeit a bit cold) and look to be knocking the rust off the high school tendencies and back to playing together.
Ned
Footballguy
GL this weekend! We'll be there too, but a couple divisions lower. My oldest's team is totally revamped, so my expectations are low. They were so bad last year, it's almost impossible for them to be worse. Right?
SwampDawg
Footballguy
At least the weather looks decent, 49 and mostly sunny Saturday and 45 and partly sunny Sunday. And for once we don't have the miserable 8am game. Although I literally have an all night disaster recover test that finishes about 8am Saturday morning so I'll be rolling into the game at 9:20 with a big old Mt. Dew. Good luck to you guys as well.Ned said:GL this weekend! We'll be there too, but a couple divisions lower. My oldest's team is totally revamped, so my expectations are low. They were so bad last year, it's almost impossible for them to be worse. Right?
SwampDawg
Footballguy
Yea, I have an iPhone 12 mini and the way it fits on with the case it doesn't seal down as tight as it should. But it is still way better with the lens then the digital zoom. Saturday our second game is in the stadium at West Chester, I want to try the video again from a higher angle.
Lehigh98
Footballguy
Off topic: I was just looking at iPhones yesterday because I'm due a replacement for my Xs. I think the Max's are crazy and phones are getting too large so was excited to take a look at the new mini option. But once I got my hands on it, it seemed a little small. #TWSS! Plus I think I'm leaning towards the Pro that doesn't have a mini option anyway. What do you think of the mini after using it for a while?
SwampDawg
Footballguy
I like it but I had a 7 for years before the charging port died last spring so it is pretty much the same size. I agree the new ones are huge. I like to keep it in my front pocket and I tried my wife's 11 pro and it seemed too bulky so that is why I went with the mini. With the full screen it feels bigger then the 7 even though the actual phone is about the same.
SwampDawg
Footballguy
@Ned how did it go this weekend? Looks like we have your ECNL boys next week.
We went 1 win, 2 draws. Only gave up one goal across three games so it was a good defensive effort. The ECNL teams from Pittsburgh and Virginia were legit, they were two really even well played games (0-0 and 1-1) so happy our boys played well and gives them some confidence going into league play this weekend. My son actually played a little left wing along with his usual LB/RB in the last game. Made a really nice pass to switch the field that then got chipped into the box and headed home for the tying goal. Our win was 1-0 but should have been about 5 or 6 to 0. Missed a bunch of great looks including a couple wide open shots.
Experienced a first in the last game, both teams parents united getting on the ref for giving a kid two successive yellows that weren't warranted. We had a free kick just outside the box. Other team starts to form a wall and they have four kids standing and one lies down behind them. As we are taking the kick he blows the whistle and gives the kid laying down a yellow and tells him he can't do that. They line back up and the kid does it again (perfectly legal and his coach was instructing him to do it) and he gives him a 2nd yellow for disobeying his directions. I thought one of our dads was going to blow a gasket and their whole group was up in arms. I mean when the opposing team is telling him he is wrong when the call gives them a man advantage you know you are wrong.
We went 1 win, 2 draws. Only gave up one goal across three games so it was a good defensive effort. The ECNL teams from Pittsburgh and Virginia were legit, they were two really even well played games (0-0 and 1-1) so happy our boys played well and gives them some confidence going into league play this weekend. My son actually played a little left wing along with his usual LB/RB in the last game. Made a really nice pass to switch the field that then got chipped into the box and headed home for the tying goal. Our win was 1-0 but should have been about 5 or 6 to 0. Missed a bunch of great looks including a couple wide open shots.
Experienced a first in the last game, both teams parents united getting on the ref for giving a kid two successive yellows that weren't warranted. We had a free kick just outside the box. Other team starts to form a wall and they have four kids standing and one lies down behind them. As we are taking the kick he blows the whistle and gives the kid laying down a yellow and tells him he can't do that. They line back up and the kid does it again (perfectly legal and his coach was instructing him to do it) and he gives him a 2nd yellow for disobeying his directions. I thought one of our dads was going to blow a gasket and their whole group was up in arms. I mean when the opposing team is telling him he is wrong when the call gives them a man advantage you know you are wrong.
Lehigh98
Footballguy
Just signed my son up to play some futsal this winter during a lull in the regular soccer schedule. Not with our current program but will be mostly the same kids anyway. Looks like they'll play two tourneys: South Jersey Championship Futsal Tournament on 1/2 in Pitman, NJ and S3 Futsal Rising Cup on 1/29 at Spooky Nook in Manheim, PA.
Lehigh98
Footballguy
Ned
Footballguy
SwampDawg said:
I can picture that going down I was pleasantly surprised with how well the boys played. They also ended up 1-2-0, but could've easily been 3-0-0.
Game 1: They won 1-0 and moved the ball very well for a new team. My son split GK duties with the other GK. He played the second half at RB and definitely looked rusty since he's spent so much time in goal over the past year.
This is where things got fun...
Game 2: I enjoy seeing teams huddle up and get each other pumped up, but man this team was something else. Their GK and forward were yelling and grunting like they were whacked out on speed. Our boys were winning 2-1 late into the second half. Foul just outside the box. The grunting forward stands over the ball, hits it over the wall. My son saves it, but it rebounds. They clean it up and make it 2-2. That was the final kick of the game. Ouch. The grunter screaming WHO'S CLUTCH over and over again. Gross, dude.
Game 3: If they win this game and the other game ties, our boys win the bracket. Ref was a piece of work; calling soft fouls and giving ridiculous cards. Our CAM gets a second yellow, so our boys are down a man early in second half. They're up 2-1 and still dictating the game - it didn't even look like they were down a man.
My son is at striker (holy crap lol) and is playing great. He's running the channels and causing problems for their back line like he's been doing it for years.
He gets between their CBs; gets on the end of a cross and hit's it first time on top of the crossbar from the 6. Can't believe he missed it - but the fact he was in the right place and made the right run made my heart melt. Other team has a corner late into the second half when...... yup, they head it in to tie it up 2-2. Last fn kick again. Of course the other game tied 1-1, so they could've won had that corner not gone in.
Felt terrible for the boys, but man they looked infinitely better than last year's team. I played striker/winger when I was a kid - seeing my son play up top the way he did with no training was so fn awesome. Maybe there's still hope for him
SwampDawg
Footballguy
Found out our Sunday game was one of the Trace Cam demo games so we got footage of the game. This is the game tying goal, my son is the one that hits the field switch pass just before the headers.
https://youtu.be/yaYeT6kVFjs
Have to say the stats and clips from Trace are pretty nice.
https://youtu.be/yaYeT6kVFjs
Have to say the stats and clips from Trace are pretty nice.
SwampDawg
Footballguy
@Ned Good game with your clubs 06's today. Ended in a 0-0 tie. I'd say you guys definitely had more possession and corners, shots were about even, we may have had more shots on goal but neither keeper was really pressed hard. Your keeper does have a big pair, he came out of the box on a ball played down the left side with one of our fastest players tracking it and tried to shield him off it. He kept it in but your keeper stayed calm and got a foot on it deflecting it our of trouble.
SwampDawg
Footballguy
Sunday was a rough one, lost 2-0 but it felt like 5-0 because they controlled the game and we had maybe two decent scoring chances. First goal was early on and just a miss communication between our CB's where they both went the same way and left a runner wide open who they got the ball to and he was one on one with our keeper. Second goal was off a corner with our back-up keeper in getting some minutes, felt like our primary keeper may have stopped it.
On the plus side both teams we played this weekend qualified for National playoffs last year and we got a draw and were at least competitive in the other game. Considering these boys are making the step up to this level they represented themselves well. Athletically they are as good as these teams and they have a ton of heart, they just need to keep working on the little things technically they aren't as good at. Taking one too many touches or looking to make the "great" pass when two simple passes get the same result with less risk. The downside is the last game we play next weekend before the winter break is probably the best team in the league.
On the plus side both teams we played this weekend qualified for National playoffs last year and we got a draw and were at least competitive in the other game. Considering these boys are making the step up to this level they represented themselves well. Athletically they are as good as these teams and they have a ton of heart, they just need to keep working on the little things technically they aren't as good at. Taking one too many touches or looking to make the "great" pass when two simple passes get the same result with less risk. The downside is the last game we play next weekend before the winter break is probably the best team in the league.
SwampDawg
Footballguy
Week and a half away from heading to Florida for ECNL Boys Florida. We take on teams from South Carolina, Minnesota and Illinois. Boys have continued to train hard since games ended mid December. I figure the Minnesota and Illinois teams will be in the same boat as us with their last real games being in late November/early December but South Carolina looks to still be playing regular season games. Worry about them being a little sharper out of the gate especially since we play them first.
The Flying Turtle
Footballguy
Which South Carolina team? What Age? My son plays on U18 CESA but they are not going down.
SwampDawg
Footballguy
PIK95
Footballguy
I'm at futsal now, and some of our 2006 Bayside kids are going to Florida next weekend for that tournament apparently.
We have our 2005 futsal group up at Boston regionals this week. We have three studs and a decent keeper, but not much D to speak of. I think we are in trouble. The coach thinks my son is gonna lead us through, but as the Who tune goes "You Can't Do it Alone."
Good luck in Florida.
We have our 2005 futsal group up at Boston regionals this week. We have three studs and a decent keeper, but not much D to speak of. I think we are in trouble. The coach thinks my son is gonna lead us through, but as the Who tune goes "You Can't Do it Alone."
Good luck in Florida.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
We haven't put our kids into the indoor league we signed them up for back in early November. Covid cases are too high and we don't want to contribute to community spread. 
PIK95
Footballguy
Good luck! We had a 2.5 hour practice Monday night outdoors on the turf. At least the snow melted off it for us. The temperature was like fifteen, and felt much lower with the chill. Tonight we will get twenty degrees, but thirty mph winds. Oh well.
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SwampDawg
Footballguy
Heading home this morning from ECNL Florida. Boys finished 1-1-1 but could have easily had three wins and should have had two.
Game 1 against a team from Alabama, a last minute schedule switch. Our boys controlled the tempo in the first half and out worked them but couldn’t break through. Early in the second half we get a score but this is also where we start our downfall. The Alabama bunch was one of the cockiest, trash talking groups I have ever seen. So after we score one of our players while running to celebrate points at one of them and gives him the old “scoreboard”. Well that gets him a yellow. Mid way in the second going for a 50/50 ball on the sideline same player gets there a second too late and commits the hard foul. Second yellow and we are down a man the last 20 to 25 minutes. Boys fought hard but gave up the equalizer ending in a 1-1 tie.
Game 2 against Minnesota, despite missing two of three CB’s (one didn’t travel after feeling sick and one out on the red from the day before) it was a very even game. We had more shots but their keeper was on and kept us off the board. They had one corner that got knocked around and ended up right on a kids foot who put it away. Very even game that could have went either way.
Game 3 against Rockford IL, we controlled it from the start and led 1-0 before the flood gates opened in the second half for 3 more goals. Final was 4-1 as there was a late PK for a trip in the box that allowed them to get on the board.
So 1-1-1 in their first National ECNL event wasn’t bad. My son played better as the weekend went on. Game one he looked off, only played about 10 minutes in the first half and then after they were down a man didn’t get back in. Game two played his usual 12-15 minutes per half, had a nice play tracking a kid down from behind and tackling keeping him from centering a ball. He was actually in a perfect spot to stop the goal that got scored but broke on a kid that was left uncovered. He made the right play, just bad luck. Game 3 he played the best. Was making good decisions and connecting on I think 100% of his passes. Had another good tackle on a kid countering. Got in 30 minutes, hopefully that was a good confidence boost.
Game 1 against a team from Alabama, a last minute schedule switch. Our boys controlled the tempo in the first half and out worked them but couldn’t break through. Early in the second half we get a score but this is also where we start our downfall. The Alabama bunch was one of the cockiest, trash talking groups I have ever seen. So after we score one of our players while running to celebrate points at one of them and gives him the old “scoreboard”. Well that gets him a yellow. Mid way in the second going for a 50/50 ball on the sideline same player gets there a second too late and commits the hard foul. Second yellow and we are down a man the last 20 to 25 minutes. Boys fought hard but gave up the equalizer ending in a 1-1 tie.
Game 2 against Minnesota, despite missing two of three CB’s (one didn’t travel after feeling sick and one out on the red from the day before) it was a very even game. We had more shots but their keeper was on and kept us off the board. They had one corner that got knocked around and ended up right on a kids foot who put it away. Very even game that could have went either way.
Game 3 against Rockford IL, we controlled it from the start and led 1-0 before the flood gates opened in the second half for 3 more goals. Final was 4-1 as there was a late PK for a trip in the box that allowed them to get on the board.
So 1-1-1 in their first National ECNL event wasn’t bad. My son played better as the weekend went on. Game one he looked off, only played about 10 minutes in the first half and then after they were down a man didn’t get back in. Game two played his usual 12-15 minutes per half, had a nice play tracking a kid down from behind and tackling keeping him from centering a ball. He was actually in a perfect spot to stop the goal that got scored but broke on a kid that was left uncovered. He made the right play, just bad luck. Game 3 he played the best. Was making good decisions and connecting on I think 100% of his passes. Had another good tackle on a kid countering. Got in 30 minutes, hopefully that was a good confidence boost.
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SwampDawg
Footballguy
Soccer season back here on the east coast. Boys played in a showcase over the weekend, went 3-0 winning 2-1, 3-0 an 3-0. Best they have looked since last summer. The short fall season the defense played great but they just couldn't score. Still fooling around too much looking for the perfect shot but they are starting to let it rip. I think 5 goals were on set pieces so they have that working.
Two games yesterday were the best my son has played since the summer as well, he was confident and attacking the ball defensively. Picked up an assist (at least I think it is) on a throw in, nice throw into the box where it was received, turned and blasted home.
Got our VEO cam as well and to use it this weekend so I can start to put clips together with him now.
Back to ECNL league play next weekend then USYS play the following. Looked at our schedule and Easter weekend is the only weekend without games between now and early June.
Two games yesterday were the best my son has played since the summer as well, he was confident and attacking the ball defensively. Picked up an assist (at least I think it is) on a throw in, nice throw into the box where it was received, turned and blasted home.
Got our VEO cam as well and to use it this weekend so I can start to put clips together with him now.
Back to ECNL league play next weekend then USYS play the following. Looked at our schedule and Easter weekend is the only weekend without games between now and early June.
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For those of you in colder climates, do any of you have a heated folding chair, and do any of them work well? My wife's birthday is coming up and one of the parents of our teammates got one and had it last week at our game. He said it worked ok, similar to a warmer in the seat in your car, but that it was not so great when the wind picked up.
I'm not sure if any of you in colder climates ever use anything like that to help keep warm, but as my wife tends to run cold, I thought it might make for a decent gift idea if I could find a decent recommendation.
Working my google-fu right now, but figure real life input is better to help guide my search, or to let me know it really isn't worth it
I'm not sure if any of you in colder climates ever use anything like that to help keep warm, but as my wife tends to run cold, I thought it might make for a decent gift idea if I could find a decent recommendation.
Working my google-fu right now, but figure real life input is better to help guide my search, or to let me know it really isn't worth it
SwampDawg
Footballguy
I looked into them and for real cold weather they didn't seem like they worked that great. My wife also is not a fan of the cold so I got her a heated vest from Ororo. She's used it a few times already an said it helps for sure. Biggest complaint in the battery lasted about one and a half games on a day and then was dead. Now she had it turned all the way up as well, in the future if it is a multi game day she is going to need to maybe warm it up on full then turn it down.
On a side note bought the toe warmers that stick on your socks that are like the hand warmers from ****'s. My son loved them inside his shoes/boots when they had a game that was 18 at kickoff. He hates when his toes get cold.
SwampDawg
Footballguy
@Ned@PIK95@Lehigh98 how is the spring season starting off ?
Loving our teams Veo cam for pulling clips off. Coaches are starting to use it as well to send the boys things good and bad they picked up on film.
Clips of my son from Saturday's game https://youtu.be/6rpB79I4FOc
Loving our teams Veo cam for pulling clips off. Coaches are starting to use it as well to send the boys things good and bad they picked up on film.
Clips of my son from Saturday's game https://youtu.be/6rpB79I4FOc
PIK95
Footballguy
Wow! That camera is no joke. We have a tournament this weekend. I'm hoping to get some good footage with my camera. Picked up a big monitor and a shotgun mike for it. I was having issues following the ball with the small screen. Your son looks really quick. No fear either.SwampDawg said:
SwampDawg
Footballguy
Yea it is pretty amazing technology. That is even shot with the version 1 loaner we have, we get the version 2 in May, they were delayed by supply chain issues. The new one is 4k and allows a live stream of games.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
I caved and signed my 8 y.o. son up for a 10 week training clinic. He missed the first session but they prorated it. He goes on Sunday morning. We'll see if he progresses and if he and they want him to try it for the club team or if we stay rec.
SwampDawg
Footballguy
The Z Machine
Footballguy
It wasn't as good as I thought. I expected it to be U9 only but they went all the way down to U7 in the same group. It was run by high schoolers, not proper coaches. They did some drills, then a small side scrimmage. Not much real instruction.
Nonetheless, my son had a good time though and got to run and chase the ball on the turf. That's worth something....
SwampDawg
Footballguy
Boys with a split this past weekend in a pair of USYS EDP Academy Division games. 3-0 win on Saturday and a 5-3 loss to a very talented NJ team Sunday. I feel we didn't play our best Sunday but they were very talented offensively. Small sample but so far from what I have seen the ECNL games are bit higher level then the USYS games, they just seem like every one is 80 minutes of pure intensity. Back at it again this weekend with a game in both leagues.
My son got his first taste of being on the coaching side last night helping out the U12 coach for the local club he came up through getting the boys ready for their spring season stepping up to U13 on the bigger field. He needs volunteer hours for school so told him he might as well do something he likes. I think he had more fun then he thought he would.
My son got his first taste of being on the coaching side last night helping out the U12 coach for the local club he came up through getting the boys ready for their spring season stepping up to U13 on the bigger field. He needs volunteer hours for school so told him he might as well do something he likes. I think he had more fun then he thought he would.
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SwampDawg
Footballguy
@PIK95 @Ned @Lehigh98 @brettdj @The Flying Turtle @acarey50 Let's get some updates how the spring is starting out.
Our boys were on fire last weekend, won their ECNL game Saturday 2-0 but totally controlled the game. Won their EDP Academy game Sunday 6-0 against a team I think most would have said was even to slightly better. Only one game this weekend before three next weekend.
A little annoyed our State Cup opponent (who is the home team) turned down three dates our manager put out to them (1. They had too many players unavailable that weekend, 2. They were out of state at a tournament, 3. They had a game that day already scheduled and limited field availability to move it) so instead we are playing a home ECNL game in the morning then driving 2 hours to play an afternoon State Cup game on the 9th. The ECNL games are 80 minutes of intensity and we are one spot out of a playoff bid and State Cup is single elimination so it's going to be an intense day. Hopefully we make them pay.
Our boys were on fire last weekend, won their ECNL game Saturday 2-0 but totally controlled the game. Won their EDP Academy game Sunday 6-0 against a team I think most would have said was even to slightly better. Only one game this weekend before three next weekend.
A little annoyed our State Cup opponent (who is the home team) turned down three dates our manager put out to them (1. They had too many players unavailable that weekend, 2. They were out of state at a tournament, 3. They had a game that day already scheduled and limited field availability to move it) so instead we are playing a home ECNL game in the morning then driving 2 hours to play an afternoon State Cup game on the 9th. The ECNL games are 80 minutes of intensity and we are one spot out of a playoff bid and State Cup is single elimination so it's going to be an intense day. Hopefully we make them pay.
Good work for your boys, best of luck the rest of the way.
Here in Cali, due to the high school season being in winter, our season is split so that we play the majority before high school starts up, then have to shut down from December until basically end of February, and then March/April is to finish league, do playoffs and get state cup in.
Injuries have been our story since coming back for the last part of league. Have had 2 starters and one major contributor off the bench out pretty much the entire spring so far, but we were able to do enough to secure a playoff spot to give us a chance to qualify for the NPL regionals in Colorado. One of the kids (center mid) came back last weekend, the other two (mid and forward) we are hopeful will be back next week for playoffs.
State Cup is a bit of a joke. SOCAL required all NPL teams to play, and many are dropping out (it's just too much to have league, playoffs and state cup all at the same time). Last weekend, after travelling an hour and a half, other team forfeited. They had informed the league two weeks prior they were out of the tournament, yet the league never informed us and even went so far as to reschedule the game. Then we find out a second team in our pool has also forfeited. Fortunately we found out before travelling this weekend for the game. The way this is going we will advance to the knockout rounds and only play 1 or 2 of the scheduled 5 pool play games.
On a personal note, my son, who has been training with the EAL and MLS keepers, was asked to start training one day a week with the 07 EAL (his age group) and 08 MLS (they train together) teams. Word is they may be shuffling some of the coaches and players around at the 07 level, and have been talking for a while about possibly having my son move up to the EAL team - obviously a lot of moving parts there as the existing coach has the goalie they've had for a while still there, but on the flip side the goalie trainer and a couple other coaches are suggesting that my son should have that spot as the primary goalie for the higher level team. Since my son really likes the training, etc. with the club, he's going to do everything he can to prove he should have the job and we'll let this play out, but as he wants to and believes he is ready to move up to the next level, we'll be keeping our eyes and ears open to other EAL/ECNL level opportunities if this does not develop into the situation that is best for him.
His current schedule is now 2 days a week of goalie training with the club, 1 practice with his NPL team, 1 practice with the EAL/MLS team and then, schedule permitting, semi-private goalie training on Sundays.
Look forward to hearing how everyone else is doing.
PIK95
Footballguy
We haven't really got rolling schedule wise yet, but our ECNL regional group is kinda weak. We have no subs and even played down a man last game. My son led off the last game (on my birthday) with a goal and an assist, but they ran out of gas and ended up losing again 5-2. I keep hoping he gets the call up to the national group. He certainly deserves it. They seem to really favor the weaker kids that have been around for a few years unfortunately. He's dominant at practice (both teams practice together), so his time will come.
SwampDawg
Footballguy
Interesting weekend. We were suppose to play 11am Saturday (10:30 warm up) at Rutgers University in an EDP league game. It's an hour and 45 minute drive and I like to leave some extra time when driving that far so we leave 8:20 and stop just down the road for gas. While there we get an alert from our team manager, issue with the other team don't leave yet. A few minutes later, message game is canceled. Seems the other team changed the game time from 11 to 9 am because of field availability but never reached out to our team manager. He has the game card he printed out on Thursday that shows the game time as 11:00 so it was changed sometime later Thursday or Friday. They say the field is not available the rest of the day and then get the score submitted as a 3-0 forfeit since we weren't there. Now this team is winless in league play, we are in second 2 points behind the first place team who is our only loss.
I was team manager for a previous club my son played on and managed our youth baseball scheduling for years. I would NEVER have changed a game that close to game day and not directly contacted the other teams manager/coach and made sure I spoke to them in person. Our manager was reaching out to the league today to try and resolve it and force them to reschedule.
I was team manager for a previous club my son played on and managed our youth baseball scheduling for years. I would NEVER have changed a game that close to game day and not directly contacted the other teams manager/coach and made sure I spoke to them in person. Our manager was reaching out to the league today to try and resolve it and force them to reschedule.
That's absurd. They should be apologizing to you guys for screwing up and wasting your time...not getting credit for a win against you.
Rough few months for my daughter's soccer team.
In their only tournament of the fall, my daughter got hit in the face by the ball. Didn't seem like it hit her especially hard, but she immediately lost vision in a fairly large portion of the middle of her eye. For the first six weeks or so, doctor's didn't know if she'd recover enough vision to play again. Finally started getting substantially better around the end of the year. At this point, there's still some loss of vision, but it's a smaller area and not completely dark. As long as both eyes are open she can see ok and is playing again.
Meanwhile, in the past month, three of the best players on her travel team have broken bones and are out for the season, leaving the team with only 13 players. They had the first two games of the season this weekend. Playing with subs on Friday, they got pretty badly outplayed, but still managed a 1-0 win. Yesterday, playing with no subs, they played much better, but lost 2-1 in a game with torrential downpours in for the last 20 minutes or so, until it was called a few minutes early because of lightning.
In their only tournament of the fall, my daughter got hit in the face by the ball. Didn't seem like it hit her especially hard, but she immediately lost vision in a fairly large portion of the middle of her eye. For the first six weeks or so, doctor's didn't know if she'd recover enough vision to play again. Finally started getting substantially better around the end of the year. At this point, there's still some loss of vision, but it's a smaller area and not completely dark. As long as both eyes are open she can see ok and is playing again.
Meanwhile, in the past month, three of the best players on her travel team have broken bones and are out for the season, leaving the team with only 13 players. They had the first two games of the season this weekend. Playing with subs on Friday, they got pretty badly outplayed, but still managed a 1-0 win. Yesterday, playing with no subs, they played much better, but lost 2-1 in a game with torrential downpours in for the last 20 minutes or so, until it was called a few minutes early because of lightning.
