Hi all, I'm the parent of a Chicago Fire Juniors U9 player that has A-team talent, performance and drive, but is currently playing on the B-team due to a late tryout and the lack of talented B-teamers. She developed very well over the fall (her first traveling season), but during the winter indoor season (smaller field) it was obvious that her team is an absolute disaster with no ball skills or soccer IQ. Because of this, she was regressing rapidly (as were the other 3 top players who for some reason were also not placed on the A-team.) It took a huge effort on my part to get her to turn her performance around with 4 games left in the season--she was floundering because of the B.S. until then. The parents of these 3 girls and myself are essentially in mutiny-mode right now given the lack of effort in correcting the mistakes that the team makes--giggling at the same errors that were made 8 months ago seems to be completely acceptable to our coach, and stealing the ball from your teammate is a favorite past-time as well. This is essentially a park district team with 4 travel players on it. So the question is this--my daughter is talented, committed, a huge fan of the game (we watch EPL, La Liga and Serie A every weekend, and she knows more than any other kid on our team.) Is it too early to seek out a more serious club like Eclipse, who will finally have a U10 program in our neighborhood this fall? The Fire clearly aim to be a serious club and a big player in these parts, but I'm not sure we should wait around. Specifically regarding the Eclipse, I've seen much on this board about "boof ball", recruiting/poaching, etc...How accurate is this, and has it changed? Is the culture of Eclipse maybe too intense and political? Should we stick it out with the Fire for one more season (presuming my daughter actually ends up on the U10 A-team that she appears quite ready for)? Would it be any better on Eclipse if they are only now putting a U10 team together for the first time? Our team coach doesn't appear to have focused on anything in particular as many top teams do (ball skills vs. tactics vs. winning, etc...), so should we welcome a club that at least perfects one aspect? A lot of questions, I know, but I appreciate any insights. Thanks!
Which Eclipse team would she tryout for? Eclipse like any good club is what you make it to be. My daughter switched this year to Eclipse and her passing and ball skills have improved greatly. She also understands game tactics and field awareness better. They have a solid coaching staff at all levels and ages.
She'd be trying out for U10 West. They're scheduled to have the full complement of age groups for this location in Fall 2009 for the first time.
Eclipse are more recruited teams rather than developed. Boof ball, love that. l I would not take it too seriously at 9 years old. Should be all about ball skills period. Whatever an A team means at 9, I would keep it fun.
back123, do you know anything about Eclipse West u-8 thru u-12 coaching? If you don't have any first hand knowledge please don't comment. The west director is starting the program from the ground up and has developed a plan with other Eclipse coaches from all the areas. This player developement plan is being used to develop kids from early years through high school. He doesn't teach boof ball and for that matter neither do any of the high school coaches at the north site. I have first hand knowledge of what happens at these 2 sites and how these coaches teach. My daughter was never recruited, she left a State champion team to get better coaching and develop into a college bound soccer player. Her choice and it worked out great.
Thanks Breez, I'm getting the impression that while some of the ideas about Eclipse may have been true, they are starting to change, especially at the younger ages. I suppose I was looking for a reason to write them off, but we'll definitely attend a tryout and go in with an open mind.
If Eclipse is starting at the younger ages and teaching soccer, I am going to applaud that. I did not know they started that. Hope they focus on footskills and the coaches being good role models.
My opinion is move her. She'll never get better playing in that system, and before you know it, she'll be way behind. Right now, you are only seeing really poor competition (I believe the Fire A team at U9 plays in the C league, so you must be in the D league). There is much better training and competition out there - don't wait too long! Also - be careful moving to a "new" club, they won't have as many kids trying out as you think. Check the rankings - at U9 Team Chicago, Campton and Plainfield are the best
Thanks for the advice. If I read you correctly, the concern with moving to Eclipse (and their "new" team) is that they won't necessarily be much better than where we're coming from because of low turnout? Thanks again!
My experience is, no one wants to be "the guinea pig". If a new Eclipse team forms here, good players won't leave until the team has established itself (playing in the A league of IWSL). If you go to an established team, you can find out where they play by going to www.iwsl.com and checking out their fall record and where they are playing this spring. Obviously, the Eclipse is a great club, but it's not like any of their current players would move to the new location, so you don't know who will show up.
Got it. It might also work in reverse, though--get in on the ground floor of a proven program, earn a reputation for commitment, and help set the bar. I guarantee it can't be any worse than the team she's on now...
right, I hear you!! Just want to be clear on one thing (and please don't be insulted). But shooting for your club's A team is aiming too low. Again, if they are currently in the C league, it would take a year and a half to move up to the A league (assuming they could win the C division this spring, then win the B division next year). Try her out at some other clubs and you'll know if you like what you see.
Not insulted at all! I also don't want to seem like the typical doting dad whose kid is the best thing since Pato, but I do know that she's got skill, fire, and love for the game (which is confirmed every time I see her practice, and confirmed by her coaches who have admitted it's a mistake that she's on the B squad, but that's another story....) Your response above may be the most valuable response yet, many thanks! I checked all the divisions after your last response (they finally made sense!) and I think what you've said above is right on the money. They are in the D again for the spring (the A team was moved up from C to B league.) Looks like we're in for another season of misery. I'll be keeping track of our A girls to see how they do, as their progression might follow the path you were talking about and it would be nice not to have to leave the program. But I will certainly have her try out for a couple other clubs (she almost made Team Chicago's A last summer, was set to join their B's, then a defection of angry parents blew their U9 up and they consolidated B/C and she was left out of a spot.) Thanks again, I have a much better idea how to evaluate our options based because of your input.
No problem. You'll understand the wisdom of my reply ... oh about four years from now, when your kid quits soccer cause she's tired of warming the bench and has a dad who is making her life miserable. You seem like a sincere guy so let me give you a more concrete advice. Get her a coach, not a team. There's a guy who is quite good with little girls, in fact taught this girl who became golden boot winner a few years later. Her parents say it was his training. His name is Nelo and last I heard he was at FC drive(?) but I could be wrong.
Competition is the least of the issues at this age. In fact learning skills in a pressure free environment where mistakes can be made is probably the best environment to be in pre-puberty. I'd like to support the idea that the top clubs provide the best environment, but the fact that top teams average turnover from year to year is 25-30% suggests that other clubs can do just as good a job. The key is coaching and playing. From my experience, you want to find a coach that can teach technique and encourage players to use it in a game situation regardless of outcome. Additionally, coaches who are more concerned that players get quality game playing time then winning games with players on the bench are usually coaches that are concerned with the development of their players. That doesn't necessarily mean equal playing time.
I think some of you are reading into my posts. I'm not concerned about winning, I'm concerned that we have a coach who allows park-district talent/commitment players to detract from what should be a (slightly) more serious pursuit. I can teach (and have taught) my daughter her skills to this point, what we need our coach to do is apply it in game situations and within a team concept. That includes actually correcting mistakes, instead of allowing them to be giggled at. I'm certainly paying enough money to expect that. I'm not looking to have her try out for the Red Stars, just trying to find a happy and appropriate medium. It's 2-3 hours a week, she wants to take it as seriously as the average good player does, no more, no less. Our first experience simply has not delivered on that, and we're looking for options.
But I get the feeling that it is you that takes it more seriously. Would I be wrong to assume this is your first?
Yeah, my first. Also the first to remind me that EPL Review Show is on, and the first to ask me to kick the ball around in the living room. So, yes, many firsts.
New poster here! ‘Just another option to consider for your daughter...In addition to the other good teams from the Illinois U-9 “A” division already mentioned in this thread (Campton, Tm Chicago and Plainfield Legends), you may want to check out Naperville Soccer Association’s (NSA) Shooting Stars, which is in your town. My daughter plays for this team. NSA does a great job of developing their young players and the team itself has plenty of good players which enable the Shooting Stars to play competitively within a developmental philosophy in a very talented U-9 “A” division. I hope you find a soccer club that works best for your daughter.
Thanks, yeah they are on the list. One of our other dads is so fed up with the our team that he doesn't even want his dd to play out the spring season even though they've already paid. His dd tried out for NSA and was within "1/2 point" as he put it from making their A team. Was also asked to play up on their U10's, but he chose our team instead. Now he regrets it, says she would have been better of playing park district. So, I'm not a lone wolf out here, folks. Thanks Thrill!
De Kromme, kids like to do things that please their parents. They love having their parent's attention. It could just as easily be tiddily winks as soccer. All of that changes at about puberty, so enjoy it while it lasts. And they love having a parent who will play with them, so your child is lucky that you are willing to play soccer with her. That's a huge benefit that will pay off. Having said that though, your comments in this thread are very typical of a first time parent. Check out this thread started by Galaxynut: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=940942 or this one started by Charlieblanko: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=454545. The one by Charlie is especially good, because you will see how his opinion has changed over two years.
