OK, the masses have spoken - Create great player or win games

OK, this is our new topic, so you need to contribute your thoughts.  So what is really important in Select Soccer?

If your DD wants to play in college, is it more important that she is affiliated with a D1 team that wins all the time, but she doesn't really progress as a player?

Or is it more important that she is given an opportunity to really focus on becoming an outstanding player?

Further, do you think having a DD on a D1 team where she rarely plays is better than say being on a team where she becomes an extremely skilled player?

Don't be shy!  

Edited to clean up my act!   

Fun should be the first focus...but I know there are way too many ultra competitive players and parents for that.

Second, should be get the grades first, then focus on soccer. But, I know that would be challenged by many.

Third...well, I do not have a third.

The team does not go to college together so your daughter needs to develop and be the most outstanding player she can be.

D1/ECNL only matter when its time to travel for college showcases. Play as high as level as your kid can play while still getting max field time. Sitting the bench for a parents ego to say she is D1 is sad, and happens quite a bit. Field time, and working on her own skills is what matters.
Tatonka said it best: The team does not go to college together, the player has to do what is best for the player.

I don't like this topic........let's talk about CPP's some more!!!!!  

A player with the skill set that a particular college coach needs is what lands the scholarship.  That varies from coach to coach and year to year. Disclaimer: if your DD is big, strong, fast, hyper competitive, has endless endurance and mad skills, then don't get hurt and keep the grades up, all teams need that player all the time. Having said that, playing with better players is a positive. It provides the opportunity to learn from each other.  Additionally, if you have a very good player, playing on a weak team, you are missing out on the best part of the sport, good team play.  If I want to watch a big strong fast girl run past everybody, I'll go to a track meet.

She needs to play on the highest level team where she can garner decent playing time.  Admittedly, the better the team is, the more attention the team will get from college coaches.  But if she spends most of the time on the bench, they may never see her play.  By the same token, being a D1 starter type on a D3 team so she can "really shine" won't benefit her either, if she's looking for a higher level school.

You have to remember, college coaches rarely, if ever, watch an entire match.  They spend a few minutes watching the players they're interested in, then leave.  It is definitely a frustrating time for the players on the low end of the roster to get a coach to come see her, only to find he wasn't there when she was on the field.

If she's set her sights appropriately (a bench player on a D1 squad is likely not going to be real high on Stanford or North Carolina's prospect list) and she does all the pre work communicating with the college coaches and keeping them informed of where her team is playing, she puts herself in a good position.  If the player and her club coach are working together well, she should have a good idea of the schools she's interested in, and if her skills are within their area of need.  The good club coach is of immeasurable help in the recruiting process.  Not all club coaches do it well, though.

On top of that, as textigerfan says, make sure she keeps her grades up.  Getting into the college of her choice will be easier, not only from the acceptance standpoint, but also as far as the soccer coach is concerned. The more academic money she gets, the less athletic money they have to pony up, making her even more attractive to the team. The only thing that really matters to you is how big a check you write, not where the scholarship money comes from.

One of the most important things we learned in the process was to pick a college where you'd like to go if you didn't play.  It's a really unfortunate situation when, for whatever reason, the soccer doesn't work out (which happens more than you think), and you're sitting at a school you don't like.

Experience matters most; if she ain't playin', she ain't gettin' betta

Good point ballhead about picking the right college. Just because you receive scholarship money your DD needs to determine whether or not it is the right college to attend for when life starts after soccer is over. 99.9% will not go pro or whatever the commercial says.

ballhead wrote:She needs to play on the highest level team where she can garner decent playing time.  Admittedly, the better the team is, the more attention the team will get from college coaches.  But if she spends most of the time on the bench, they may never see her play.  By the same token, being a D1 starter type on a D3 team so she can "really shine" won't benefit her either, if she's looking for a higher level school.

You have to remember, college coaches rarely, if ever, watch an entire match.  They spend a few minutes watching the players they're interested in, then leave.  It is definitely a frustrating time for the players on the low end of the roster to get a coach to come see her, only to find he wasn't there when she was on the field.

If she's set her sights appropriately (a bench player on a D1 squad is likely not going to be real high on Stanford or North Carolina's prospect list) and she does all the pre work communicating with the college coaches and keeping them informed of where her team is playing, she puts herself in a good position.  If the player and her club coach are working together well, she should have a good idea of the schools she's interested in, and if her skills are within their area of need.  The good club coach is of immeasurable help in the recruiting process.  Not all club coaches do it well, though.

On top of that, as textigerfan says, make sure she keeps her grades up.  Getting into the college of her choice will be easier, not only from the acceptance standpoint, but also as far as the soccer coach is concerned.  The more academic money she gets, the less athletic money they have to pony up, making her even more attractive to the team. The only thing that really matters to you is how big a check you write, not where the scholarship money comes from.

One of the most important things we learned in the process was to pick a college where you'd like to go if you didn't play.  It's a really unfortunate situation when, for whatever reason, the soccer doesn't work out (which happens more than you think), and you're sitting at a school you don't like.

What he said...

tpitty wrote:D1/ECNL only matter when its time to travel for college showcases. Play as high as level as your kid can play while still getting max field time. Sitting the bench for a parents ego to say she is D1 is sad, and happens quite a bit. Field time, and working on her own skills is what matters.
Tatonka said it best: The team does not go to college together, the player has to do what is best for the player.

Like most things, a balanced approach is best. Playing time is important, but so is playing on a team with skilled players who will help the DD learn to play the game. If she is playing a 100% of the time. but on a team that can't pass or possess, then what is she really learning?

ballhead wrote:She needs to play on the highest level team where she can garner decent playing time.  Admittedly, the better the team is, the more attention the team will get from college coaches.  But if she spends most of the time on the bench, they may never see her play.  By the same token, being a D1 starter type on a D3 team so she can "really shine" won't benefit her either, if she's looking for a higher level school.

You have to remember, college coaches rarely, if ever, watch an entire match.  They spend a few minutes watching the players they're interested in, then leave.  It is definitely a frustrating time for the players on the low end of the roster to get a coach to come see her, only to find he wasn't there when she was on the field.

If she's set her sights appropriately (a bench player on a D1 squad is likely not going to be real high on Stanford or North Carolina's prospect list) and she does all the pre work communicating with the college coaches and keeping them informed of where her team is playing, she puts herself in a good position.  If the player and her club coach are working together well, she should have a good idea of the schools she's interested in, and if her skills are within their area of need.  The good club coach is of immeasurable help in the recruiting process.  Not all club coaches do it well, though.

On top of that, as textigerfan says, make sure she keeps her grades up.  Getting into the college of her choice will be easier, not only from the acceptance standpoint, but also as far as the soccer coach is concerned.  The more academic money she gets, the less athletic money they have to pony up, making her even more attractive to the team. The only thing that really matters to you is how big a check you write, not where the scholarship money comes from.

One of the most important things we learned in the process was to pick a college where you'd like to go if you didn't play.  It's a really unfortunate situation when, for whatever reason, the soccer doesn't work out (which happens more than you think), and you're sitting at a school you don't like.

Great perspective and information.

The one point I may disagree with is 'The only thing that really matters to you is how big a check you write, not where the scholarship money comes from.'

The soccer $ are at the coaches discretion each year while much of the academic $ is for 4 years as long as you remain in good academic standing. If you pick a school you like and soccer does not pan out you still have the academic $ in many cases. Something to consider when comparing offers.

Simple, right?

1. Do not play soccer chasing a full ride scholarship.
2. Your kid should be playing at least 40-50% of every game, if not find a team where they do. There are enough teams in NTX to find the right balance.
3. If it's not fun they shouldn't be playing.
4. Academics will get them a lot further than athletics. 99% of the time.

I want both development and winning. Few coaches present themselves as examples, still fewer have sterling records such as Pulp. Pulp creates players and wins games, with repeatable, consistent methods. Coaches have résumés glittered with collegiate, national, or international careers as players, would seem the best choice for your DD or BB. But, even the most illustrious careers yield mediocre coaches. Creating players that win through development is the hallmark a "great" coach. In select soccer good coaches, are a-dime-a-dozen. Great coaches, that offer both development and wins number in the handful.

I am not sure "good D1 team" is the right example -- with the advent of ECNL, starting at about U14, doesn't LH D1 become for the most part a B league?