Classic league and Academy : Is it a different soccer ?

Do you think those leagues create a different breed of soccer ?
These are the same kids, playing for the same coaches on the same fields in the same competitive environment. But, it seems to me that the soccer is indeed different. Care to discuss why ?

How do you see the soccer as different? Give examples.

Are you talking about Development Academy or youth academy?

He would be talking about PA. Changed clubs this year. Texans to Solar.

The number of training sessions and intensity is different. In the long run it will make a difference.

More touches usually makes a difference in the long run regardless of the league.

Sure it does create a different breed of soccer but it does so by creating an environment for the better players to rise to the top. Better players (and I am not talking BSF) usually equals better play.

Se La Perdio wrote:Sure it does create a different breed of soccer but it does so by creating an environment for the better players to rise to the top.  Better players (and I am not talking BSF) usually equals better play.  

Because those same coaches still choose BSF, you just stated what's NOT different about Academy....at least until they get to the upper age limit.

Se La Perdio wrote:Sure it does create a different breed of soccer but it does so by creating an environment for the better players to rise to the top.  Better players (and I am not talking BSF) usually equals better play.  

Assuming the better players are playing PA. Lots of better players are not.

finish1 wrote:

Se La Perdio wrote:Sure it does create a different breed of soccer but it does so by creating an environment for the better players to rise to the top.  Better players (and I am not talking BSF) usually equals better play.  

Assuming the better players are playing PA. Lots of better players are not.

I was interpreting gababa's post as asking the question of whether CL and PA created a better breed of soccer vs say PPL and APL - which I would say, generally, yes. If the discussion is CL vs PA I would agree there may be only slight differences between some CL D1 teams and PA as many talented players do not choose the PA path, as you suggested.

One thing is for sure, PA has definitely changed the landscape in CL.

I have talked to a couple different Academy/Pre-Academy coaches and they do not follow the mandate from Claudio Reyna to play a specific formation. I believe they are supposed to be playing a 4-3-3 but they are not doing it. the reason other countries are so vastly ahead of the US on the international level is most of the countries have a specific program that all clubs run in the country. Perfect examples are the Netherlands and Belguim

There are more talented and dedicated players in the AL than CL. YOu do have some very good players in CL and also quite a few players who would struggle to make it on a D1 team. The soccer does seem to be better but the same poor talent identification seems to be in place. I am putting the difference down to soley a more focused and dedicated player. A player that spends that much time and gives up so much to play is more likely to listen and play into the coaches system

The answer is pretty easy, AL and PA have more focused players and coaches that bring the top talent together to train and play. CL has plenty of good kids in all the divisions, but can not compare with the AL and PA with quality and style of play. Once you go AL or PA it would be very hard to think about going back to CL, the only other choice would be High School soccer. Even ODP is an after thought since the inception of AL and PA. The top coaches are the ones running the AL and PA teams, so wonder where they put all there attention. Remember that it is always an open tryout for all teams, so the Classic League players will always have an open door to join each year and plenty will move up to PL and AL in the next few years.

does all this pre academy/academy talk with better more focused and talented players with more intense training and the best coaches also include Andromeda? 

omega striker wrote:does all this pre academy/academy talk with better more focused and talented players with more intense training and the best coaches also include Andromeda? 

Why argue the point, didn't FC Dallas' 98 and 99 teams prove how dominant they are over the Classic League teams in the Bobby Rhine Tournament this last year? Even keeping their teams Academy League age pure, they still dominated the local Classic League teams - didn't they?

No reason to argue the point, just look at the quality of play and style of play that both offer and judge from there. Was very surprised that at the US Soccer camp the coach told the boys that big and fast was not what they are looking for, they want to see first touch and vision. Obviously the best would be the combination of both.

I think any program where you play less and practice more is going to yield a better player. I have seen the impact of players who play and play, but have limited training time and it yields a technically deficient player. Having said all that, you could so the same thing in classic league team...but as you face relegation, and most coaches see this as having financial consequences, most will no do so.

Bottom line is that an advanced player should learn a number of formations and philosophies and have strong technical fundamentals...I don't think there is any magic specific to the 4-3-3

It's the same coaches doing the same thing the same way for the same reasons. Theory is theory.

The vision for the program is not being implemented. It's another pay-to-play scheme where the costs become prohibitive for most. FCD is the one exception in NTX in terms of cost.

Agreed, Finish. And speaking of tourney results, apparently a previous poster didn't watch the Andro 98 team against CL in the Plano Labor Day!

gababa wrote:Do you think those leagues create a different breed of soccer ?
These are the same kids, playing for the same coaches on the same fields in the same competitive environment. But, it seems to me that the soccer is indeed different. Care to discuss why ?

I wouldn't say it creates a different breed of "soccer".

However, I would say it takes as many of the most talented players with raw talent and refines it with the intent of creating a better player.

How?

More practice, less games. A heck of a lot more practice.

Disclaimer; my bb isn't playing PA, but many of his very close friends are on the 01 and 00 PA teams of his club.

Sure, there are players talented enough to play PA, but they don't for various reasons; loyalty to current team, distance to training, costs of commuting, un-informed of the opportunity, peer pressure, etc. Open try-outs are publicized on the internet.  But some of the best players still do not play PA. It's a choice.

I have experience observing my bb at both ODP and FCD PA. The difference is stark. ODP is grandpa's old fashion training to a herd of of players with different levels of talent. My kid was bored at ODP sessions. The PA tryouts were all-out tryouts from the best-of-the-best that were invited or had the confidence to step on the field. The pace and competition for a roster spot was friendly but very competitive. Like night and day.

PA is where the synergy of top level coaching, talented boys, great facilities, and playing style are molded into a better soccer player.

Through my bb I have a front row seat to the seeds FCD has planted, e.g. the 01 and 00 boys. Let me tell you, something special is happening at FCD with this group. FCD has six years of experience with the PA process. You know they have to be getting better at doing things. The boys attend school together at Lamar Hunt Middle School and take shared transportation to the FCD stadium locker room before training EVERY SCHOOL day after school. They are treated like professionals. The expectation is the boys behave mature, listen, learn and train hard. FCD is molding street ballers, futsallers, Classic League boys into top level footballers.

Parents and bb's have choices. This is good. For the most serious soccer players, my advice is to not close the door on PA. Go and check out Solar, FCD and Texans PA tryouts next summer.

Been there, not impressed with the experience and left (more of same, more $$). My choice. More practices, Yes. Better quality, No.

What's missing is oversight from US Soccer. There needs to be a clear vision for the direction of the program and someone to follow-up on a national, regional and local basis to make sure the processes are being implemented.

That is not happening and if it doesn't, in the long run, it will be another failed experiment in US Soccer to develop world class players.

Rumor is that PA coaches will be graded (by whom?) after each PA game for intangibles like style of play. True?

Speaking of grading, rumor also is that Frisco ISD is having fits because many of these FCD Academy kids that are coming into their school are FAILING!!! Uh oh!

Soccerinsanity wrote:Agreed, Finish.  And speaking of tourney results, apparently a previous poster didn't watch the Andro 98 team against CL in the Plano Labor Day!

you mean the team that didn't make it out of bracket in the silver division? 

omega striker wrote:

Soccerinsanity wrote:Agreed, Finish.  And speaking of tourney results, apparently a previous poster didn't watch the Andro 98 team against CL in the Plano Labor Day!

you mean the team that didn't make it out of bracket in the silver division? 

Ouch !