SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Boys Varsity Soccer Does High School soccer impede the development of top players?

I have had this discussion a lot lately with club coaches discouraging kids from playing middle school ball.

Of course the club coaches discourage kids from playing middle school ball, this is where they derive their personal income from, so of course they are going to down-play a kid playing soccer for their high school JV or middle school team.

Funny but follow the money seems to be the answer in life!? Not that every coach thinks of the money first, but you have to admit some do! BY "some" I can in no way quantify a fair percentage. Nor would I want to out of respect for the many great coaches I have met, and fear that I might not like what I find!

So can someone shed some light as to the model in England? How do the youth there grow up in relation to club ball vs school ball etc.?

Not sure about the Blythewood Middle girls, but I do know about the Gold Hill Middle school girls, who went undefeated after the Irmo preseason tournament, missed the semi's at Irmo on a PK shot out to break a tie.

10 seventh graders (Eighth graders this year) who are on the same club team had a very good season in NC classic soccer. (NC classic is SC's challenge level) The team as a whole stayed very healthy with only a couple girls having missed any playing time and both should be playing this spring. All are staying at the middle school level as 8th graders to play together.

In my opinion they seem to take great pride in their club play at school and consider their school team an extension of the club team. Does take a lot of commitment though! Which I also think of as another great lesson for them as well!

So you are saying that your observations are that there doesnt appear to be a negative effect on them as players or health wise?

What would be interesting is to ask club coaches who don't coach HS for their opinion on the issue.

Ultimately it comes down to the player does it not? Doesn't everyone of the top soccer players in the state play high school soccer in some manner? It looks like more and more players from our small state are representing the soccer community well. It was said earlier these same players are participating in promoting soccer in the state.

Mr. Miyagi would agree that mental health associated with playing for ones school is immeasureable. The confidence and pride are something that is difficult to observe in club soccer. Oh, and the kids are just plain having fun on the pitch.

Notso, that's an easy one to answer, as I've heard it numerous times from numerous "club-only" coaches. For the most part, they hate it. And most of the reasons have already been mentioned.