[IMO- When you move to challenge and premier league level play it has more to do with a players level of play and competitiveness not a parents commitment to the team....I can be committed to a lot of things but that doesn't mean I am good at them!....The Bridge concept embraces development based on skill not where you are from or how long you have been on a team....Look at the stats of the team and see just how much those "new" players have added- I think those stats speak for themselves.]
I think Pockets is pretty narrowly focused on what an ELITE player IS. An ELITE player has good soccer skills {of course), is committed to his/her (CHICO) training/team, is good in school and social activities. I've heard that you can look at the soccer stats and be misled about ELITE, look at the off-field behavior and you'll see a different picture. For example, look at the SCSOCCER.COM link about Mike Gustavson (USC), think about commitment and quality. I stress to my kids, "OPTIONS". Whatever you do in life, does it create more or less options for you? At 6'4" 180 lbs you'd think Mike has a lot going for him, it probably got him into college as a Goalkeeper - God given! Now what did he do with it? The thread talks of arrests, a 0.00 GPA (someone should have told him that GPA/higher/better vs >GAA/lower/better). So, what's the ELITE player's off-field stats: Now let's suppose the player BFA picked up from MPSC has recently cursed out a teacher, broken a fellow students nose and now has in school suspension. NOT QUALITIES OF AN ELITE PLAYER. I think the coaching staff at BFA needs to do a little more homework before picking up players from the region. AND ALL COACHES/PLAYERS SHOULD THINK ABOUT THIS! THIS INCLUDES PLAY POLICY SUCH AS SUSPENSION IN HIGH SCHOOL FOR DRUGS/ALCOHOL OR BEING KICKED OUT OF A HIGH SCHOOL FOR POOR BEHAVIOR.
You can call it dirty laundry but how do you clean it up?
For the U14's, this should be the real discussion, NOT the 30 day waiting period 'cause a coach didn't sign his papers.
