SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums SCHSSCA N-S Game and "play club and not play high school"

>>[Cornerflag, from another thread] It's very interesting that CESA want's to be a sponsor of this [North-South Game]. I always thought they would prefer everyone to play club and not play high school.<<

Any thoughts?

The United States is very unique in its offering of scholastic sports. In virtually every other country sports are "club-based". If you did not grow up in the US, it would be hard to understand the impact that "playing for your school" has on a kid's life. In this country communities galvanize themselves and take a sense of pride in the accomplishments of "their teams" all the way up to the collegiate level. A coach might look at the level of play going on in high school and wonder why someone that is so interested in achieving at the highest level would want to participate.

The coaches not born and raised in the US might not necessarily understand the impact that high school sports have on a kid socially. I would guess that it's not so much that they "prefer everyone to play club and not play high school", it's more that they don't understand why you wouldn't want to challenge yourself at the highest level possible. Maybe this latest announcement displays a small realization of the US sports scene for a sport with its heritage elsewhere.

Just my thoughts!

Deahler,

good point, becuase the US is unique in its offering I can understanding why those without the experience would wonder why? Especially if the high school has not reached the level of play that is in the club. But I do beleive that there could be a way for both to coexist with quality. And with soccer in the spring in SC, I am not sure why many of the successful club coaches are not sought after as assistants etc......

Well Chico, The other post was partially corect. What has happened in the US is that club ball has become a white collar sport... pure and simple. I have been around it for many years, and what I have gathered is that many of these parents don't have a clue about sport, your soccer moms who are always *****ing at the refs because someone knocked down their little Billy, or the dad who wants his child to be the next superstar. They start their kids at an early age, probably b-4 they are ready to COMPETE, and push them to the point that it becomes a job and not fun. By the time they grow up soccer is the last thing they want to play. I am a firm believer that kids need to be exposed to many sports not just one. It makes them more well rounded and by the time they become older THEY can choose what sports they want to play. Club ball is great, but there is nothing better than playing before your hometown supporters and your school mates. I'll be willing to bet that the kids that played on the State Championship teams would rather have that title than being the number 1 club team... Soccer is a great Sport it's to be enjoyed, it's not life or death. So to all you parents, kids, coaches, and yes you refs it's a GAME... have FUN... and let the kids be kids. Bet none of you older parents played Club ball! Bet your parents did push you to be a superstar, and I'll even venture to say that your parents didn't spend THOUSANDS of dollars for you to play ball... Think about it... OK I'm off my soap box now..

DDF,
If you mean sought, do you think that a successful club coach or any successful coach for that matter would be content to be an assistant for a high school coach?

Dexter, I'm not sure I follow your line of questioning:

quote:

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"do you think that a successful club coach or any successful coach for that matter would be content to be an assistant for a high school coach?"

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Do you not believe that the top high school programs have outstanding staffs, not just a head coach? When I think of the top 5-10 teams in each class, there are only a handful (at most) that don't incorporate club coaches with high school coaches. Many do both.

That's why I have never understood the "looking down your nose" at high school soccer from the club perspective. I think it is very evident that what many consider the "top club from a national or regional perspective" in South Carolina, Carolina Elite Soccer Academy, has joined alliance with the S.C. High School Soccer Coaches Association to continue the North-South Soccer Classic.

Both play an integral part of youth soccer in the state and in my opinion can co-exist equally and help all parties involved!

deahler & wildman,

Very well stated. Hard to match the excitement of being able to represent your school and community in a state title match.

[Preface: deahler, thanks for posting -- I think you raise some really interesting points. A few questions; for you and anyone else interested in this subject.]<<

>>[deahler] The coaches not born and raised in the US might not necessarily understand the impact that high school sports have on a kid socially.<<

But I thought that Hyslop and Tormey [the directors at CESA] coached in high school for a total of between 10-20 years. And I'm pretty sure that at least Hyslop moved over here at a pretty young age, because I know he played high school ball for Carlos Osorio [Dorman's coach who also coaches at CESA]. So if they don't understand high school, isn't it probable that they [a] never will and/or [b] don't want to? So then given this reasoning what would be the motivation for this N-S game thing?

>>I would guess that it's not so much that they "prefer everyone to play club and not play high school", it's more that they don't understand why you wouldn't want to challenge yourself at the highest level possible.<<

I understand your point here. But this comes back to an "either/or" mentality; either you do one or you do another but you don't do both. When I was growing up, I didn't see that mentality; I played and lettered in football, basketball, track, and tennis and I never had a coach tell me to stop doing one so that I could do another even though there was not just end-of-season overlap but within-the-season overalap. I did miss games/meets [note: there were times I didn't start or play in something and sat the bench because I missed a practice/game/meet, so there wasn't a free lunch here -- but there also wasn't much drama either -- it was just part of being a teenage athlete.] Are things really so different today?

What I'm wondering is where is this "either/or" mentality coming from. I see it a lot on this board and keep wondering if it's a real or false dichotomy. Any help here -- from anyone?

>>Maybe this latest announcement displays a small realization of the US sports scene for a sport with its heritage elsewhere..<<

Wouldn't a "small realization" be something you might put on a web site or send an e-mail about rather than committing a long-term financial relationship to support? In other words, when I have "small realizations", I typically do something relatively "small" about them; it's the "large realizations" that cause me to do relatively "large" things. This N-S thing seems to be a multi-year large commitment; would it really have been made only as a result of some "small realization" about something that they've been exposed to for decades? Alternatively, could it be that this is either a "large realization" or simply a continued philosophy and if so, in your opinion, which one?

Kyle,
You're not following my line of questioning. I said why would any quality coach be content to be an assistant.I would think that a quality coach would not be satisfied with that and would aspire to more, whether that be club or high school.

Since you brought up the top 5 teams in each class, would you agree that many high school soccer coaches are not qualified. If we can agree on that, let's have these assistants become head coaches which would really accelerate the process. I think that 1 qualified coach is enough to run a program in South Carolina.

Dexter, if a club coach is not content to be an assistant coach, what is that person's options (becoming a teacher, school administrator, etc.) or either find a program that will have a faculty member serve as the school representative or entrust them to be co-coaches. If you look at the landscape of high school sports in the United States, I don't know of too many situations where the head football coach is "a club coach" or that the head baseball coach is "a club coach", etc. There may be coaches on the staff that don't work for the school district in some sort of capacity, but I doubt you'll find an example of a head coach in those sports not associated with the school.

I do not agree that "many high school soccer coaches are not qualified". What is your definition of 'qualified'? Maybe that will clear things up for me.

Also, I believe it takes several coaches to "run a program" between the lines -- Varsity, JV, B-Team, goalkeepers, strength & conditioning -- and many others responsible for tickets, canteen, field prep, press box (announcer, scoreboard/time keeper, statistician), publicity, etc.

So, my thoughts are that one coach can run a "team", but it takes a team effort of individuals to run a "program".