In looking over the girls regionals results of the last ten years, it appears that the current U-14 Stars are the fourth Mass team to head off to Nationals. They join last year's U-16 Bolts, the 1998 U-19 Bolts and the 2006 U-19 Stars in this honor. Two other teams won regionals but were too young for nationals. They were last year's U-13 Scorps and a Western U-12 team back in 2001 or so. What I would be interested in seeing some comment on would be the apparent lack of success from 2002- 2005 in the regionals. During that period very few Mass teams progressed out of their groups into the semis. Especially compared to the more prevelant numbers just prior to that. I think in 2001 six of eight made the semis. What do some of the old-tmers who lived through that era think led to the change?
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Regional history
One of the Regional wins you are missing is the U-13 boys Bolts (currently the U-15 Bolts/rising U-16's). They won Regionals in Virginia Beach 2 yrs ago, but were too young to advance to Nationals. Interestingly, 7 players from that team were dropped since then (not counting whatever changes will be taking place this year going into next). -
Re: Regional history
I was going to mention this team as well, but I realized the original post was regarding the girl's side. It is interesting to note that this team has not been able to duplicate what they had achieved that season. they marched through that year winning everything. In MAPLE they were unscored upon and blew the doors on everyone else. They certainly have done their share of recruiting, but no more than TVE or Inter in the same age group. I think the tough thing for a coach, however, is that teams that become so heavy with talent begin to implode. Players that would be getting more playing time with other clubs would not necessarily get that same treatment with a winning team. Yes, the team is winning, but if you don't play is it worthwhile? My younger son plays for TVE and we have seen a lot of changes in the past three years. This certainly is not the same team it used to be. James Proctor has done a great deal of recruiting and has made some tough cuts because of it. This year is no different. Only time will tell if it has all been worth it.Originally posted by Red vanComment
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Re: Regional history
Well, you're counting a back up goalkeeper that was never going to play as long as their #1 keeper was there, and one boy who was so size dominant that he moved up an age group.Originally posted by Red van
There are at least 2 examples of boys who were kept and were intensively worked with rather than simply cut.
The other two teams mentioned have been at least as active in the recruiting area (as TVE has as admitted by MA Soccer), but the Inter team has been blatantly using ODP as a recruiting vehicle, and this is a team that blew through U12 and then has developed little and changed a lot.
The point here is not to bash any of these clubs, but of the ridiculous expectations put on them because they won a state cup or regional. It's incredible hard to do it one, never mind twice. Just ask New York's BW Gottschee, who were U13 Regional champions last year, and finished dead last in their group this year. Do you think there's talk on New York youth soccer forums about how Gottsche is a failure because they didn't even get out of their group this year?
Things change so rapidly from year to year U13-U15, that nothing should be expected, taken for granted, or seen as a failure.Comment
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Wasn't a Regional ODP player cut from this Bolts team last year?Comment
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More an indictment of the ODP selection process than anythjing else.Originally posted by AnonymousComment
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Re: Regional history
There was also a coaching change this year, no?Originally posted by Red vanComment
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Not just regional but national camp. He was released and picked up by TVE.Originally posted by AnonymousComment
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Regional history
Yes to the question of the coaching change. Paul Kerridge had been their coach for 3 yrs, with the expectation that he would hand the team over to another coach after that. Anthony Latronica returned to Mass (to Harvard) from coaching in Oregon and picked up the team for this past year, and will continue with them. He had the team for the spring season of their U-11 year before heading out west.Comment
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Re: Regional history
There was a Top Drawer article on this BW Gottschee team, part of which I thought particularly of interest since it addresses some of the criticism of US youth soccer - fast, physical, direct play:Originally posted by Anonymous
Day 2 Report
PORTLAND, MAINE - Day 2 play at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region I Championships is complete.
U14 Boys: McLean MPS Hurricanes (VA) 3-2 BW Gottschee Celeste (NYE)
Both teams entered the day needing a victory to stay in contention for the semifinals as McLean dropped it’s game yesterday to the Casa Mia Bays (MD), and Gottschee drew with Synergy FC of Vermont.
The boys from New York City came out displaying the best soccer seen thus far in the tournament. The older boys should take notes as coach Miguel Brunengo clearly stresses the technical side of the game, and his side always played with control and purpose. They were led by center mid Sebastian Ramierez, who directed play and showed good ball control and decision making.
McLean tended to rely more on their physical strengths and, like most of the teams here at the Region 1 Championships, looked to play direct in the attack.The game began to get a bit out of control as it opened up, the intensity rose, and youth soccer showed it’s ugly side as parents and coaches lost their cool. This led to some tough fouls as Brunengo pleaded to his team to slow it down. The fast pace would work to the advantage of McLean.....Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.Comment
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He was never called in to a single national or regional event after being named to the pool.Originally posted by MASoccer
Which begs the obvious question: Why name a kid to a pool and then completely ignore him?Comment
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Re: Regional history
[/quote:1to1g2gu]Originally posted by FSM
Well, that's the point, isn't it? Capable of playing great soccer should be enough as these young boys continue their developmental progression. Yet how many will view them as taking a step backward because they failed to win their group the year after winning the Regional Championship?Comment
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Regional history
What percentage of the 120 players called to national camp when they were U-13s ended up called to regional or national play?Originally posted by AnonymousComment
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Re: Regional history
No one called the lack of success at the regional level a failure, but it is a point certainly worthy of discussion. Take into example the Bethesda Roadrunners who are number one in the country. They were regional champs last year, but missed the finals this year making it to the semi's. This is a team that has 8 of it's original 12 U10 players. Year after year they win not only state cups but have been consistently a threat on the regional and national level. This year they were forced to play short because of a red card in the semi's.Originally posted by Anonymous
Your claim that Inter blatantly used ODP for recruiting purposes is laughable considering what has taken place with the Bolts current U14 team. Seems to me that the ODP recruiting was much more prevalant with that team, just look at the additions from last year! And please don't hold the U15 team as above the fray. Paul Kerridge who was coach of last year's U14 team/ rising U15 was very much a presence on the ODP scene last year. The U15 team picked up 4 new players all of them rostered at Rider cup last year.Comment
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But that could be as a result of the team manager who has influenced the direction of the team ever since instigating the move from Inter to the Bolts. This recruitment by the manager was such a problem even MYSA got involved.Comment
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