This post has certainly created a lot of interest and I will leave it open for a while longer. The MTA will be an interesting option. Please try to stay on topic.
2:02 that is a perfect insight into next year. your number 1 team for u14 is the current bangu u13 premier team not the current Wings teams that actually earned the spot. kick 'em to the curb boys!
304, I wanted to make sure everyone knew I wasn't talking about U12's that played up. The Current true Bangu U13's and Wings U13 will probably have a majority of the players on that team.
3:05 - If you don't like the thread, then start something new. It is good that things are being talked about in a somewhat civil manner.U11, U12,13 and whatever else is being talked about is what's going on and it is interesting for some. Many teams/clubs are getting better and things are getting interesting in the younger age groups. It will be fun to see how things pan out after tryouts for the U14 and younger. Don't forget 3;05, it all starts when they ARE young! They don't just wake up a U15-U16 and become a soccer player, just doesn't work that way.
I hear the top U6 teams are the "Yellow Bananas" in Farmington and the "Purple Pandas" in Rosemount. Word is the parents are already in discussion over the "best way to get these phenoms together". MTA has had scouts at some games.
Commenting on U-11 is certainly a challenge because many of the clubs philosphically try to keep teams balanced up to about U-12 or U-13. I have no doubt the teams listed are very good especially the top 2 who I have seen play, I have also watched MANY top youth teams become very average due to , No not recuitment from another club, but rather the lack of depth as they progress to the 11v11 game.
An above listed post mentioned this and I think the poster is correct. A team needs 15 players who can play at a high level in order to be effective.
You people have got to be kidding, best U11 teams??!! Come on, is it always about who is the best, at U11? These poor kids dont have a chance with mommy and daddies like you. Let the kids develop. They arent even soccer players till U17 anyway. But in sure your all the pros
People talked about the decline of the Wings club in recent years and that being the reason they chose to merge to form MTA. Looks like their U11B and U12B both took home state titles this year and U13G earned Premier.
The time to look to change is not when you're at bottom but rather when you are near the top.
Hey---For those who don't want to get involved with the whole MTA thing, and are looking to make a change, check out the Arsenal tryouts on Sunday at Northwood Park. The SE boys (will be U17 next year) just landed a new a new head coach and are looking to add some additional competitive players . Check out: www.arsenalmn.com
I have a daughter who has never played traveling soccer but has been playing rec soccer since she was 4. She is I believe classified as a U12 this fall. She loves the game and all she does is play. We live in Maplewood. I personally don't know a lot about how soccer works in Minnesota and until recently didn't even know there was something more than just rec. Any help would be appreciated. She is in my opinion very strong, fast, and has good ball control. That being said I am her father.
8:26, if she's U12 this fall in the East and looking for a more serious program contact Bangu Tsunami East/MTE. Come out to tryouts this week and see how she matches up. If she looking for a stronger team and not wanting a year round commitment seek out Centennial or NSSA. Just my opinion.
10:19, Woodbury and St Croix are not good options for higher level development for next year's U12 girls. SCV is strong on the boys side but their girls team does not match Centennial or NSSA at this time. Woodbury's talent is already with MTA. Cottage Grove would be another good option but they are a closed club and frown on non-CG residents in their younger programs.
Cannot agree with your assessment about St Croix. Check the website, they have a new "select" program which appears to have focus on development. Isnt that the point in youth soccer, which helps insure success in the future. It seems a very good step in the right direction.
1135, spot on exact son! To even put SCV at the same level of what Bangu East/MTA offer AT THIS PARTICULAR AGE GROUP demonstrates a lack of knowledge here.
Mr Maplewood, you won't find a better program, a better coach, or a more competitive group of girls at next year's 12 age group than you'll find with Bangu/MTA, Mr Abboud, and his current Blue team. Most people would agree with this unless they either don't know much about competitive soccer at this age group or dislike the program/coach for some personal reason.
3:18 You need to up your meds dude. My comment on St. Croix was just to "development". They are one club in the east that have the facilities and staff in place for good "development". I have no axe to grind against MTA I was just giving the Maplewood Dad some info. Any in depth search should include all East programs if you are going to be honest with yourself. Good luck Maplewood Dad - believe half of what you read on this blog from the zealots on both sides.
Mr Maplewood Go to www.twincitiesfire.org for another option. If you DD isn't a superstar already MTA Blue will not give her a second look. But the MTA U12 White will still be one of the top teams in the state just not the top.
you don't have to be a superstar to make the blue team. I've seen them play and yes they are very good but not every girl on the team is a superstar. Also don't they play up an age group so wouldn't they be expanding their roster to play U13 next year. I know there current U12's played U13. I would assume they would follow the same plan. U11 and U12 play 8v8 in Minnesota so I am guessing they will need more players. So if I had a girl with talent at this age group I would send her to tryouts.
Saying that someone doesn't have a chance to make a blue team from U11-13 is silly. Every one of those teams will replace at least 40% of their players by the time they reach U16.
8:40AM I agree. Hopefully the parents are being educated along the way that their little Mia may not be around down the road. Happens all the time.
This group will be an interesting test case. They've already had a ton of success in the upper midwest (according to the road to regionals blog) and playing u12 Classic 1 tournaments in MN. Will they still be a powerhouse in 2 or 3 years? In 5 or 6? Maybe who really cares?
Who is cashing all the checks? The coach? Someone like that should be compensated. Bangu/MTA? Last I heard they, like most other clubs, are a 501c3. Their statements like those of MYSA are public. If members are worried about misappropriated funds then ask to see the finacials. Shhh! Don't let this little factoid leak to rec programs though as many clubs would face numerous complaints from families that their (rec families) funds are subsidizing the "elite" competitive players in the club.
I'd tell the team families in question the same things I'd tell anyone else. If you don't like the set up where you're at make a choice and find another development environment.
If MTA is holding tryouts next weekend, how come some players have been told (rumor has it) that they would be on the team if they appear? I would think that would kind of tick off the other hopefuls. Why even bother and why pay the tryout fee...Sounds a lot like the ODP teams.
If you asked twenty to thirty parents on the side at tryouts, all of them will tell you their child has been assured a spot on the team (no matter where tryouts are being held). Reality is that people hear what they want to hear. Coaches will definitely lead them to believe they going to make the team but in my experience the so called "guarantees" are just parents being parents.
Players who have been on the team, had the entire previous year to make the team, if they didn't measure up, they are on the block. If your new coming in you better set yourself apart. Lets face it for a high level tryout the top 5% stick out as being a step above the rest, the bottom 50% also stick out that they don't belong. The coaches then have to sort out the remaining 45% who are basically all at the same level.
Rumors are what they are, Rumors. Started to cause conflict or to smear someone or something. They are also used by some people to try to get information at try out times. 811, way to be a mature adult and spread the rumor that you heard or maybe started.
1033, Good observations. You are correct they have had a lot of success this last year. That being said, to continue that success they will need to add quality players to the mix. Playing 11v11 is a lot different than 8v8. They will be expanding their roster to play 11v11. Time will only tell and the first glimpse will come a tryouts depending on who comes. For any Minnesota team to compete Nationally you need the best girls at each age group on one team. I wish this wasn't the case but unfortunately I believe it is.
And as 840 said the best players at U16 (when it starts to matter) will be much different than at U11 (when it doesn't). Also from reading RTR it seems this is a quite involved parent group. You wonder if there will be a springbok like rebellion when there DD's start being replaced at U13.
Help me here? Why does one age group matter more than others. Matter for what?? Don't they all play for the love of the game. You keep referencing U16 is when it starts to matter. I think each game for each kid is just as important no matter what the age. Maybe it is more important for the parents.
8:11 believe the rumors, more often than not they will be true. They commit to taking players before tryouts, after the first tryout (before tryouts are done), if they really want a player bad enough. Supposed to be hush-hush but word always gets out.
207, Do you also believe in the tooth fairy, Santa, Big Foot, Yetti, Aliens, etc. I've heard rumors that they exist also. Most rumors aren't true that's why they are rumors.
who cares if a player is told they will make the top team? if they are good and they should make the top team, then why not tell them to keep them with that particular club. makes sense to me!
1:19 I dont se the conection between what AK writes and an overly involved parent group. Connect the dots for me and indicate where you see that in what he writes - or are you trying to blow this team up by writing negative things on this blog?
'it doesn't matter until they are u16' - that is the biggest bunch of crap! the drop off rate for girls soccer at around u14 is probably 70%! of course there are a great many factors outside of control that contribute to that (ie friends and boys) but i believe at least some of it has to do with the player experience related to parents, team placement, burn out, fun, competitiveness, etc. starting at a young age. i would bet a great percentage of the kids quit because of parents and coaches (and programs) that make the kind of talk on this board visible to their kids. i would bet a great majority of parents teach their kids about selfishness 'what is the best team, place, coach, situation for ME' that the thought of getting on a team and sticking to it and enjoying the experience is completely foreign. the health of youth girls soccer in MN (and probably elsewhere) would be improved if people kid pay more attention to the messages, tactics and behaviors starting long before 16. how parents teach their kids 'you are too good for this situation or that so instead of trying to improve it, just move to someone else'. Is it polyanna? of course. but the number of kids forced into having a bad soccer experience is massive. how many times did a kid switch teams from a perfectly good situation because of their maniacal parent? MTA exists as a growing business(no offense) because parents are insane and they do a great job catering to the egos. the fact is the amount of supplemental paid training, camps, events, etc. that any kid could get on their own independent of going to MTA would more than offset any perceived difference between MTA and a regular club. the parent's ego is what makes them thrive (good for them!)
244- That's right, don't look for anything better. Be happy with what you are stuck with and definatley don't dream big, you might offend someone. Just be happy with the experience your getting and don't try to be the best you can be!
I can see they want to put together the best team but it really is kind of a sham for the rest of the kids who spend the time and money to go to the tryouts.
What 811 said is true, it came from some players themselves.
so let me see........a player who has been identified as being a top player for team B has been told that if they try out for team A they will make the team........hmmm.......gosh.......i do not believe that has ever happened before.
on the other hand, it would be a shame (and a bit of a sham) if the team is pretty much already selected and all the other kids trying out are only tryout fodder.
wow! you people are way over thinking all of this. send your kid to tryouts and if they make a team, great! who cares if one kid has been told they will be on a team.. move on! kids don't know this stuff and parents wreck most things in sports for their kids. as most poster will say - it doesn't matter till your u15, right?
You conspiracy theory people are all nuts. Already making excuses if your kid doesn't make a certain team. MTA wants the best players possible. If they take weaker players, because thats what you think might happen, then they won't win as much. The leaders of MTA are smarter than that. They know they need to have a good product and the only way to do that is field the best team possible. Success breeds more success. The top players parents of each age group always want the same thing. They want the best players possible on the team. If MTA were dumb enough to put weaker players on the field, as you assume, that would cause more problems with there top players and parents than they would want to deal with. Give them some credit they are smarter than you think. Please bring your kids to try outs. It is a very exciting time of year for many and a nervous time for others.
3:53 the MTA guys are soooo smart they changed out half of a u-12 team for "faster" players basically breaking up a team. New team wins 0 league games real forward thinking. Let them run my kid's soccer program please!
6:55, Would you have been happy if they kept everyone the same. If they wouldn't have made changes you would still be complaining. Didn't you believe them when they told you being on the top team one year doesn't guarantee you a spot the following year. Who does run your kids program? I bet they don't have the credentials or experience that they do. They replaced players who were slower. Everyone knows you can teach skills. Unfortunately for the girls cut you can't teach speed. For any Bangu or MN team to try to compete Nationally you must be quick and fast.
6:55pm - please keep showing support for a guy like Shekki. Your statement shows the cluelessness of many out there. To think that a u12 team who had success at u12 should not have had to go through tryouts and change the roster around is living in a dream world. Parents like you are a dime a dozen. Think that "success" one year entitles you to be named to the team the next. Hopefully you told your kid that was cut that they probably had a very good year of development with the group and that life is not all about getting what you want. Playing at the the higher levels of the game takes work. Soccer is not the end all be all of life for them (though it may be for you) and there are many other good opps out there. Hope they landed in a good place.
11:08 and 11:22 you both are out of touch with the post meaning. Any and everyone knows and believes in the idea of tryouts and changes to teams annually. The idea is to upgrade a team correct? That was a team in a relatively mediocre league who won. I find in very odd these soccer minds you support so blindly managed to put together a team that could not win a league game and to be honest, based on the Bangu hype they did not do well compared to expectations. If the Bangu directors are so skilled and the training is so great, they got the "best" players ('cause they always do) how can none of you just say they booted it on this one? Please don't respond with the played up bs. If they'd have won the league there would have not been that whine.
newbie here and need some help. does bangu have any girls teams at u12 or u13? if so, could someone please provide me an update with how they did last year?
729, Everyone knows this age group is lacking the players to compete at the premier level and win playing up a year. They won the East as U12's. The East last year was a weak league. They played stronger older teams in Premier and had some good games. They didn't get the results they would have wanted but such is life. Regardless of the players they replaced they still wouldn't have won any games. They lack a difference maker on the field who can take over a game and deliver the goods. Unfortunately for this age group non of those type of players play at the U13 age group, maybe those players are playing up!!
Both age groups did very well. The new U12 team will be increasing roster size to play up at U13. Tryouts for New U13's is tonight I believe and New U12's is Wednesday and maybe Saturday. Check Bangu website for dates, times, and location.
newbie - I am from a different club than bangu but my teams have played against the teams across the age group you mention. the previous year u11c2 team was powerful and they will skip u12 and play u13c1 this year. your daughter won't make that team (no offense) but it is a powerhouse. they will win a great deal at u13 even as a play up. nice families too at least from what i gather. if she is a true u13 this year, your enjoyment will depend on where you are geographically. the u12 team that won state cup last year (in the east) is also very strong but i doubt they will change it much given the success. the u12 team that played up in the south was not very good and the regular u12 team that played u12c1 was decent but check into to see who coaches that group next year and ask some parents about how much the kids and parents enjoyed (a good rule in general). bangu (like most clubs) are biased towards certain geographies (east, north) and where certain kids have grown up (ie they are more likely to pursue a Woodbury kid than a less accomplished kid). also, with the Wings merger the number of available spots in this age group will be very small especially this year just once you combine those clubs. if you throw in the u12-u13 wings team you'll find little room for additional outside kids. all that said, you should go to tryouts but then also go to a top club in your local area. depending on wher eyou live in the metro there is always a club in your area that can offer equally good year round experience (west - eden prairie, edina, south - dakota rev, burnsville, east - woodbury, etc.).
11:28 Pretty good anaylsis except that if Newbies kid is a good player she would make one of the MTA/Bangu teams. There is no favoritism towards geography or current players. Bangu/MTA is always going to place the best kids on a team if they can compete at that level regardless of who or where you are from.
It seems to me that by reading this blog some people (1128) are basically stating that your daughter won't have a chance making a top MTA (Bangu Blue Team. That is ridiculous! Yes those teams are good but I have seen some kids in other Clubs and CCC's who could make the team. Please ignore posters who try to scare you away from having your kids try out for a certain club. The posters above could have a kid in that age group and are hoping to have their kid make the team and maybe just maybe they are trying to scare your kid off so they don't take their kids spot?!
3:10 - look the poster is a ruse (a red herring). if they are the parent of an accomplished soccer player that actually could crack into the top bangu teams at age 12/13, they would know who bangu is already (thanks to your marketing prowess - accomplishment). that post is a ridiculous fishing expedition designed to elicit a response such as 'why yes, bangu has the super greatest most wonderful teams ever and everyone should join!'. the last line of the post says 'you should go to tryouts but also go to others in your area...'. to MTA credit, if you are a top level players capable of making the elite team, you have heard of MTA. based on what you know you are either going to try to make it or not interested because of some prior reason (experience, satisfaction with your current team, etc.). i am in a good situation where my daughter has been able to guest play on bangu teams over years and has had the opportunity to join a blue team but our local club offers us a similar quality experience so we can stay close to home.
Ok, maybe in the THOUSAND post on this thread someone already answered this question.
At a tournament this weekend a Wings representative said they were an Academy. The person she was talking to said, no, you are not an US Soccer Federation Developmental Academy. Again her response was "yes, we are and I should know." Well it made me kind of interested. insert no life here) When I went on the USSF web site it does not list either Thunder/Bangu/Wings nor SSM. So, is the Thunder/Bangu/Wings organization calling themselves an academy like other organziations either call themselves an club or association? Or what?
You can have an "academy" program without being part of the USSF academy program. The so-called Wings representative may not have understood what the USSF Developmental part was, which MTA is not yet a part of but may be by 2010. And the asker apparently had the impression that only the USSF Dvlpmt clubs could be considered academies, which would be incorrect. Slight misunderstanding between the two parties. Nothing to get too concerned about.
Exactly. Hey AK, why is there no summary of the road back to C1 at the State Tournament? 0-2-1 and no goals scored?! Here I thought you had to leave MN to find decent competition? What about the 3 (yes, 3) premier spots you boys were promising?! LMAO! It's probably because you are focusing more on development than winning, right? Or perhaps you played better soccer but lost to a bunch of bootballers? Well, either way, it does not reflect well on the statements about having 3 premier spots next year...
7:02 thanks for calling someone a hater, it's beeen what? 3,4 posts. Remember they were playing up and apparently that is an acceptable excuse. When the team was formed there was heady talk of domination of all the older teams the parents bought it so did the players.
As a parent with a child on the AK team you have no idea what you are talking about. Andy never said we would "dominate" any teams we played. Actually the opposite is true - his stated goal was to be competative in all games with a .500 record a realistic possibility. The coach and parent group for this team are terrific to the coaching staff, each other and the opponents. Sorry to burst your bubble but you will get nowhere with your baseless charges - at least with this team.
With Julie coaching this WDB team, it wouldn't surprise me one bit. Her Inferno team is quite solid at U-17 and it's my understanding the U-18 Stars refused to ever play them for obvious reasons. The Inferno would have beat them. Some may ask, then why didn't the Inferno win the U-17 Premier League this past Summer? Simple, it wasn't important to Julie or the team. They had bigger fish to fry around the country, which is what they did to get their National ranking. Fact is, the new U-17 group is better than last years. We shall see!
I can attest that "a bunch of Bangu players" have not joined Woodbury. Two did attend tryouts, after being recruited. The email from Woodbury started as follows:
You are invited to attend:
WSC U14G MRL/Premier Tryouts - WSC AZZURRI
Sun Aug 3 12-1:30pm
Mon Aug 4 5:30-7:00pm
My daughter received it about a week ago. Funny how other clubs point fingers at Bangu for recruiting. We never expressed any interest in Woodbury, so I am uncertain how they got my daughter's name.
Burnsville was also heavily recruiting, and will likely replace a number of the girls from their community with former Bangu players (2 that were cut last year, one that played Woodbury, one from the Rev 14, and some other Bangu Blue players who have been promised starting positions if they move to Burnsville). If I were a parent in that community, I would be a little upset if my daughter was cut because some girl from Oakdale or Shoreview was recruited by the coach.
I know of ONE Bangu player that accepted a position on the Woodbury team. That player committed after CONSIDERABLE pressure from Woodbury.
THey hold their tryout three days before Bangu, offer spots to Bangu players and give them 48 hours to accept a roster spot. They do this to force a decision before the player even steps on the field.
I head a lot of talk about this at angu tryouts. Seems a little bit out of line to me.
After hearing all this, I don't want to hear anymore complaining tha Bangu recruits. This isn't just recruiting it borders on extortion.
Yes, we received the same e-mail from Woodbury and other recruiting calls. After a bit a research, I heard that a lot of girls were leving the Woodbury team because tey were dissatisfied with the tring. We chose NOT to attend Woodbury tryouts, but did attend tryouts for another club. THere were several Woodbury players at that tryout.
I have no problem with teams reaching out to players to attempt to improve their teams, but applying pressure to keep a player from attending other tryouts crosses the line.
Also, all but two of the players from last year's Bangu 13 team DID attend tryouts last night. THe only missing players were one that went to Woodbury and another player. Both were leaving the club regardless.
Be careful with reactions to Anon 9:59. Granted the post is laughable, it seems too silly though to actually be sincere. More likely someone trying to embarrass the coach or team or both. Wouldn't be the first time that has happened.
Last time I checked providing info on tryouts is acceptable by MYSA rules. Many clubs email out tryout announcements. Bangu, St. Croix, Woodbury, EP, etc.
What is not acceptable is promising players spots on team or having tryouts prior to Aug 2.
Looks like Bangu gets a little testy when others do what they have been doing.
Why would Bangu girls even go to other tryouts if they were so happy with their current club? They shouldn't care if they are on the blue or white team because "either way they are getting the best training around" according to what is told to them. Obviously, the club does not live up to their hype and promises. Why wouldn't they look around and change clubs? It is probably in their best interest in the long run.
Why is recruting such a bad thing in the long run almost all players will find a place to play where they belong and are happy.
So what if you lose your number 16 spot on a roster of 16 because another kid was brought in is it not better to play and develop on another team than ride the bench.
Is it really recruting if a player/parent contacts the coach and express some interest in a team and than the coach try to sell them on it?
It is wrong when coaches promises a starting spot when they have know idea who will be on the team and how the kids will develop over the winter.
On a different note would it not be better if all teams do their try outs and than offer spots to players at the same time this would really help players that are trying out for multiple clubs. That way the player could make a choice when they know what all their options are. As it is now many players are offered spots and asked to provide an answer before they even know what otehr teams thay make or do not make.
Maybe you should read the post more clearly, what is being pointed out is that not just Bangu recruits and it is getting more and more common with other clubs if not worse. No one is pointing fingers they are pointing out that those that come on here and bitch about Bangu recruiting should take a look at their own CC when accusing someone of recruiting.
Fortunately, I believe most clubs will have things wrapped up by early next week which will then give all the U12-U14 girls parents only about 8 months to start debating who's going to win State Cup.
Word is at MTA tryouts the parents were told players were to be "pooled" then in late October split into blue and white. Hope the players and parents wise up, this is a ploy to keep the white team players there so they have no options to go elsewhere. I think referred to earlier as cash cows. Make a decision place the kids on teams, if the system is sooooo good you think they could make a decision.
There you go again criticizing parents of younger players. Have you seen any posts as foolish as 959 from the younger parents? U17 is not young. There are parents at all ages that are over the top. They aren't all U12-U14 as you seem to think.
Pooling is so bad. Gives coaches and trainers 2 months to best place kids for next season. That idea sucks. Why should I want to go to a club that spends so much time placing kids where they belong. I'd rather go play for a CC's top team.
As far as JE, her best quality is that she is female. Though she acts ruder and more aggressive than most male coaches I've seen as I witnessed when the State final appearance was slipping away from her against MB in Blaine last week. Yelling at the ref, stomping up and down the sidelines, real good role model there. She's done nothing regionally and nationally with a team that should be doing better. Why would girls flock to her banner now is beyond me. Though some surly will and that is their choice. She might as well just come over to the MTA tryouts as those are the kids she's trying to get.
As a former bangu parent (aren't we all, these days??) I can think of several reasons why you might leave the ALL MIGHTY CLUB (AMC) despite being relatively happy with the product (blue, white, or otherwise).
1. You reach a point of diminishing returns. Most of the improvement you will see in the AMC atmosphere will come in the first several months to a year. This is not a knock on the AMC, just a fact. Think of it as learning a new instrument - you improve tremendously at first, but after a while you need to practice more and more, and you get less and less in return.
2. The player (or parent) may prefer to be a playmaker with a solid, though not great, supporting squad rather than be a role player on a regional team. Plenty of coaches would argue, in fact, that this is actually better for the player's development, as it will lead to more creativity, etc. Especially after the returns with the AMC have begun to diminish.
3. The ends don't justify the means. In today's economy, it becomes more and more difficult to justify the expenses associated with the AMC. I'm not talking about club or coaching fees, which are dwarfed by travel costs. I know many will argue otherwise, but all of the travel involved for MRL isn't worth the competition that barely exceeds MYSA premier, if at all. You can justify that expense if you want, along with the air fare and hotel costs, etc, but the price of gasoline makes the travel to practice more and more expensive.
4. Some families have priorities that extend beyond the soccer field. There, I said it. You may be shamed for this, and be told that your child will be left behind if you don't stay with the AMC. Don't believe it.
12:42 - you are not allowed to every post again as your comments were well thought out without any sense of partisanship.
Hopefully all the parents out there can find the right fit for their child/family. For some it might be the All Mighty Club, for some another large club, for some the local CC, for some rec soccer.
12:37 WRONG! Pooling is about stringing along the kids and parents to keep the second team "white" team from bolting for a better opportunity to play on another club's top team. Witness last year hte kids left so now the plan is to string them along for 3 months. With all those great soccer minds moving us towards interstelllar soccer domination, you'd think they could be honest with the kids.
You say pool training is a way to keep the second team around. Sure is. But is that bad? It seems an ideal way to educate us parents that it's not all about playing on the best team in a club. Worked for me. Pool training saw Bangu produce two 2x defending State Cup teams, a regional champ, and a regional semi-finalist. Kids develop at different rates.
If your family life plans or your view on your current club has changed, seems perfectly logical to look at other options. I listened to MA speak yesterday to the parents at tryouts. Not once did he claim that MTA was the best option out there. It was all about being AN option for interested players. Contrary to that, I walked down to listen to the MU guys at their tryouts. They were all about being the best club and offering the best training. Clear example of one club having to sell promises and one club confident in what they offer based on proven results.
12:48, so run along and go play on the "top" team in another club. Surly must be a better development environment than MTA's second teams because, well because it's the top team in another club.
There seems to be a Goober double standard cry foul and accuse other clubs of treating players as possessions unless it is for pooling to keep them there. Also very fun to see all the goobers so nervous about kids exercising their right to go elsewhere.
Bangu is very upfront when they pool train. If you have questions about where your kid stands ask them. Every kid who does pool training is guaranteed a spot on a team, just not what team. If you don't like it then go somewhere else!
anon 12:11, Seems the system works fine as a result of the "pooling". Take a look over the last 3-4 years and see how many of the Bangu white teams make State Cup quarter finals and even finals only to play another Bangu team. There have been several instances of a Bangu team playing another Bangu team in the championship match at State Cup. I think you'll be surprised to see the success level of many of the white teams. It's hard to argue with that kind of success.
I agree, 12:42 well said you spoke the truth and are admired for it. Prepare to be viciously attacked by lurking goobers on here who will call you a hater.
Dang, I said they'd call you a hater but you got hit with the old reliable your kid got cut an equally disparaging remark in the koolaid blinded eyes of a true goo believer.
Why is anyone so concerned about who showed up at which tryouts? Are clubs like Eden Prairie, Burnsville, Woodbury a good choice for players? Yes! In some cases a great choice! (Even if they are one of the "top" players in their age group). What's the point of the undercover reporting of who was where? It is meaningless until the players/families commit to a club for next season. Choice is a good thing.
I agree all the cloak and dagger reporting is not ok. Interesting the MTA Bangu folks are only for concentration of talent if it's at their club, otherwise they meanly criticize as they do the Inferno team.
No one is criticizing the team from what I read. Just the coach and the results she's had, or not had, with that group. Love all the haters on here. Keep it up. You're posts are really having a great effect on MN soccer. The vocal majority will never support the opportunities of the minority. That's life and everyone has to deal with it. MTA will go on and do what they do and CCs will always look to follow and find ways to retain.
Lots of great posts on here on both sides. Lots more idiots.
They are not pooling because there will be several girls playing HS soccer an unable to play in the pooling process. Not fair to them if you pool and they cannot participate, therefor pooling only works for the U13 age group.
The best of all this is the idea that people are looking around for what is best for their kid. I am very glad to hear about so many Bangu players seriously looking elsewhere this year. All the hype aside, being interested and willing to make soccer a year around sport will raise the level of soccer here better than the whole MTA scheme. The fact the boys there don't like a two way street makes it sweeter.
Bangu director 5:51 good job I don't think we've heard yet of the success of Bangu at beating the other teams in Mn 2-1 1-0 etc. For all the recruiting talks you give and the talking poorly of the other club's ability to provide for kids, you ought to be beating them by bigger margins. Fact is, all the other clubs just need to keep improving and doing right by the kids and we'll pare that number of Goo/mta state cup titles down real soon. In the next year or two Shattuck will own the 17 and 18 State Cup on both the boys and girls sides. Other clubs will keep improving at the younger ages then there will not be much left to sell on.
I think MTA is selling the best program easily available to kids from MN. That would not include SSM. Also, in the foreseeable future SSM will not be dominant (though competitive) on the girls side. The have a strong group of U18's this year but after they leave the ages behind are not as good. That can change with a good recruiting year of course but that is how it stands now.
I love all the haters. Keep working on your clubs for the wrong reasons - envy, player retention, etc. In the end the kids are developing and Bangu/Wings/MTA/insert any other elite club here with regional and national recognition are leading the way. Directly or indirectly. Keep doing a good job so that when the players are ready to leave they'll be ready. Simple truth, not cockiness.
Bring on the responses. Won't be something we haven't heard already 100 times from the 4 haters on here.
ANON10:09, I think your words will taste really good to you in the very near future.
The SSM team will get better each passing year, and the bar will continue to get higher for acceptance into the program. There is considerable attention being given on multiple sites like Top Drawer Soccer and the like for players in the program. This kind of reporting will lead to more interest from the level of players which cannot typically be found in Minnesota.
If you want to find out where the SSM teams fit within the Minnesota soccer scene, start sending Blue teams to play them during the winter instead of the usual white team fodder. Don't give me the crap that you are worried that someone will see the good players and recruit them....the coaching staff at SSM already know what is in your arsenal. I think that excuse is just that, an excuse given to blue team parents. The real deal is that you don't want to force your kids into a position where they know ahead of time how good the Faribault teams really are.
Yeah, the only problem is that the crap you're shoveling has been written here and on RTR 1000 times by MA's four personalities and his wannabe minions and the currently happy gu parents (I hope your daughters don't go "white" waiting for the pool announcements). There is a noteworthy pool of kids suddenly appearing at "cc" tryouts because they don't want to fall for that money-grubbing garbage and have their daughters get manipulated. That's justice, baby. In the meantime, go back to the hallucinogens.
I noticed the same thing. Each of the three tryouts my dd attended had nervous MTA parents and players in attendance, and a couple were previously pro-bangu types who were utterly disillusioned by the "give us your registration and we'll find a place for you" policy. I was surprised to hear how much the waffling and poor explanations of the road ahead had shaken their faith. It will be an interesting year in MTA-land.
Leave over on the idiocy here. SSM is good for soccer. MTA is good for soccer. CCs are good for soccer.
CCs are looking to battle the recent elite team programming and marketing success we've all see in recent years. Are the CC efforts working? Depends how you define that. If working means that it's attracting back the "disillusioned" elite White team kids than some may say yes. And you know what? The CCs seem to be clamoring to have these players back as they look to lock in players with severe time constraints regarding families confirming their commitments. You tell me what is better - recruiting a player or restricting a player?
Blue team players seem to be staying put in the environment that probably best suits them. Maybe the elite club should think about only one elite team at the older ages.
1111, Three tryouts, what are you worried about? That maybe your kid won't make a certain team and you want a backup. Maybe they were disillusioned because they were coming to the realization that their kid wasn't as good as they thought. What only Bangu Parents get nervous at tryout time. Give me a break, unless your kid is a superstar and one of the best players on the team you should be nervous.
Boy is it going to be interesting after tryouts for the New U14 Blue team. I heard the coach of that team was wings coach for U13. God help him deal with any kids parents he doesn't put on the top team. Either players he coached on the Wing team or any players cut from the Bangu team that played U14 premier. Good Luck with that one.
anon 11:35, Which clubs are sleazy enough to ask a kid to do that before having the chance to tryout for another team or club? I find it hard to believe clubs are actually putting severe time restraints on players to make this type of decision. It sounds like a desperation move by a club if they're really doing this. Is this legal within the current rules? If I was a player or the players parents I'd be contacting MYSA about this unnecessary pressure. It seems like something MYSA should know about.
10:55 Always with the hater name calling from you (one of 4 Bangu zealots multiple posting) Fact is others have had enough of the big promises and under delivery. The market place is working and not to the favor of MTA to the degree expected. The true super star players will end up in residential program similar to Shattuck as is done in most if not all other sports. Those kids are a small minority and will gravitate to those true elite full time opportunities. The rest will go where they are comfortable with the value of the investment not just money but time, effort, and mostly the manner in which they are treated. So keep lashing out you are proving the rule "there is no zealot like a goo zealot"
Although I can't confirm it, I've heard of a few clubs that are announcing teams on the field and wanting commitments right there. I've also heard of a club or two that once you pay your tryout fee, they are considering that a down payment on registration and if you make one of their rosters they are using that as justification for the club commitment rule. It's what I've heard from some players, so I don't have first hand knowledege, but it doesn't surprise me.
My son was at the MTA U12 tryouts last night. There were about 55-60 players there. Lots of new faces and interest and a lot of new talent coming in. He has been with his current Bangu team for the last 2 years. Now it looks like there will be at least 3 teams and maybe 4 if the new club wants to field that many teams at one age group. No promises if the current players get to stay with their old team or if there will be a lot of shuffling around.
1059 it sounds like you agree with me. The current crop of SSM 18's are very good and will be one of the favorites for state cup and regions. The younger SSM team is not as talented AT THIS TIME. Do you disagree with this? And as I said previously, one good recruiting year can change that. Thank you for reinforcing my main point which is that MTA is so far offering the best option for higher level MN players. As you said yourself of SSM "more interest from the level of players which cannot typically be found in Minnesota." I could not agree more. That is why SSM is not a development option for MN players.
As for your last paragraph/diatribe, I have no idea what you are talking about. I am not a member of the MTA nation.
6:06 am (up early?) - in the younger age groups (up to u14), frankly Monday August 11th is the deadline to submit fall competitive rosters to MYSA. i am not sure that is the reason for the 'on field' requests for commitment but it could be. probably (as you are contemplating) there are some that just want to know if a particular kid who is club shopping would commit to avoid them going to tryout elsewhere.
the 34 girl pooling concept at u13 is interesting at MTA. the concept is good for MTA, a non impact for the top players and probably aggravating for those 'in the middle'. Their are clearly girls (families) out there trying out for other clubs that don't want to be a part of that but for MTA that really doesn't matter (it shouldn't). Just like last year when a team folded mid stream and sent the girls and families scrambling, that will happen in some fashion this year (probably not as dramatic). I think MTA is doing the right things for their business and applaud them. the fact is their business isn't right for everyone and the shopping choices are getting better. many posts have given credit on the good side to raising the level of training and soccer in mn and so do i. unfortunately, the alternate is that their tactics (especially early) also has raised the level of sleaze now. its funny, now that mta is established and they are a destination club, they can profess to rise above it all. the cc's are scrambling to recapture some of that lost talent and they are reverting to the 'recruiting' tactics that helped launch bangu. what goes around comes around and it's all a big cycle.
In the interst of full disclosure, I am a parent of a Bangu player. I have no problem with recruiting. I am suspisious of a club that tries to pressure a player or parent into making a decision. It causes far too much stress for the player if you ask me.
Yes, we have been recruited by other clubs. I took the time to talk to coaches and coaching directors and enjoyed those conversations. Those conversations centered on player development and their plans for the upcoming year.
I did not enjoy the pressure applied by one east metro club in particular and told them to shove it. I may have listened more and had a serious discussion with that club if they didn't make it about them and sticking to MTA.
I've been reading all these posts with interest (oldest daughter is now off to college - was never a Bangu player) and in a round about way all the people poster with negative comments about Bangu should actually be thanking them for forcing their current club to step up their programs. I wish our daughter had had the developmental options that her old club now offers when she was younger.
Most clubs have a time limit to make a decision if you want to accept a team placement, such as 48 hours. The problem with not having that in place, it has a trickle down effect on all other players. The next player in line that didn't make the top team might want to attend a different try out. By putting everyone in limbo it affects others. It is a tough decision to put players in, but if you are trying out at more than one club, you have to realize that you will have to make decisions. Those that are doing it are probably the bubble players.
A tryout fee is just that - a fee with no binding registration to a club. Bangu actually started down that road last year (using registration forms at tryouts) but must have been told not to do that and changed to a tryout form. Some clubs apply the tryout fee to the team registration if a player joins.
Off the subject, but of interest in regards to ODP and the Olympic team (copied and pasted from the USYS website).....
"Team USA's roster is comprised of 18 players that played their US Youth Soccer ball in various clubs from across the country. Of these, 17 have the common thread of participation in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP). The breakdown of players via their respective US Youth Soccer Region is as follows: Region I (5), Region II (5), Region III (0), Region IV (7)."
Not saying it's right or wrong, just passing on the info.
its funny how so many players go to a tryout and make that team but decide not to take a spot on it. it then does trickle down and the coach and others involved knows that the next players were alternates. heres a question, why would the alternates take a spot on the team as the player already knows they will not get the playing time and possibly not the attention at the training sessions as the coach is probably looking for replacements for next year. Whats your thoughts?
It's the parents. How many times have we heard "my daughter has been getting calls", "my daughter is being heavily recruited"? It's the parents making the decisions about how many tryouts to have their child attend and they are making the final decisions about where their child plays. How many are really listening to their children? Too many parents are living their child's athletic career as if it is their own. The old bumper sticker that said "have you talked to your child today?" should say "have you listened to your child today?". Maybe playing on a good C1 team with their friends with a really great coach is what they really want to do but dad thinks he is raising the next Mia Hamm and a DOC really wants his daughter on a club. Guess what most do?
1013 what is your point?? ODP and its youth national teams have always been the major part of the feeder system for the MNT and WNT. That will change soon on the male side but will continue on the female.
one of the interesting debates on this issue (would it be better to be the 16th best kid on an elite team and rarely get game experience or be the best kid on a good team and play all the time) comes straight from the MA pitch. that is, the majority of long term player development comes from training day in and day out with the best players not the game experience. a kid would therefore be better off developmentally sitting the bench for 80% of a game but training everyday with the top players than not being challenged everyday and playing 80% of the game. it's probably not far off but if you were honest with a kid and asked them up front which would they rather do, I bet 80% would say they want to play. i have a high level daughter and frankly would move her in a second if she sat 80% of the games but that's just me. of course I would also move her if 90% of the players on her team didn't have near the level of commitment and skills. the point is, there is something for everyone depending on your philosophy. as i have said before, via MTA's own recruiting and marketing efforts, the cc's that have raised their offering for high level players will thrive or become c2/c3 clubs. it is clear that some clubs get it and are out there offering a pretty good product at an affordable rate
12:31 Interesting debate, however MTA tells every player they will play at least half of the game all year, the only event(s) that playing time is not quarenteed is state cup and regionals. If that is the case how do your pecentages work. Training environment, more games vs being a stud on a cc that does not get as many games or the same competitive training environment.
Ask the U13 Blue girls team how many players sat on the bench for most or all of the games - premier games and NSC cup. Playing time was a huge issue on this team. Believe what you want to hear.
12:31, thank you for strengthening 11:09's point. You're the problem with sports parents. This is copied from your post:
"i have a high level daughter and frankly [I] would move her in a second if she sat 80% of the games but that's just me. of course I would also move her if 90% of the players on her team didn't have near the level of commitment and skills."
It's all about you. You aren't listening either...
12:31 - listen, i did not say that MA sits kids on the bench (although many do) so don't twist the words. i agree with his statement about player development happening day in and day out. i have no idea what he does in games and don't care. i was only agreeing with his pitch. i saw many games this year where the kids on the end of the bench barely played in games. that includes bangu and just about every cc.
as to 1:10 you have no idea who I am and my influence and support of youth soccer. for my daughter and my family, the experience we want out of soccer is to both play the majority of games. and when you accuse me of being about me, who should it be about? you? MTA? the fact is the best thing for my daughter is the best thing for youth soccer. she is on a team where she gets to play the amount she wants and trains with kids with a similar degree of skill and commitment. you see, that's why she likes it and comes back. in fact, that is the desired outcome for all kids, that is to match them on teams and with players like them. so screw me the selfish hater for finding a place for my daughter that she likes
Bangu has had by far the best record in the State Cup games and the most State Cup Championships over the past several years.
The reason for this success is because they were different than the Community Clubs offering year around training at a relatively high level. the truth is they were much better prepared as players and as a team in the State Cup because of the training they did in the"offseason" and the fact that the State Cup is such an early season tournament. It is rarely discussed, yet I believe highly relevant that their success in this Early season tournament is due to Bangu's near exclusivity on substantial off season training. This advantage gave Bangu a real competitive advantage in recruting the most committed kids to their program.
Those days are gone, Many Community Clubs now offer high quality off season training programs which not only will help the quality of play come State Cup, but will also help retain and recruit the top players to those clubs. Bangu's true uniqueness is now history and therefore their pool of dissatisfied players to recruit from will continue to shrink.
Hats off to MA and the early Bangu management team who did raise the level of play in MN, but as is the case with everything when you have success others will follow your lead and create a program consistant with what works. That is the case today (IMO) with some of the favorable winter training programs offered by several CC's
MTA (or bangu) usually makes it very clear to everyone that play time will be very even except for State Cup and Regionals (I would also assume Nationals but we'll never know) where the #1 priority is to win. The best kids will play and some may not. Someone out there please tell me of major club where that is not the case? I do not believe I've ever seen a State Cup final where player #16 or #17 received equal play to all the starters. Seems like much to do about nothing.
The advantage that Bangu still has is as a magnet for the top players. How well you develop depends a lot on who you develop with. Every club could have year round training every day with great coaches, but if the calibre of who you train with is not great, the develpmental results will be diminished. We should also all drop the "CC" label for all clubs as except for their name, very few of them are still Community Clubs at the higher levels.
2:31 - I respect your opinion and maybe things will change in the future, but until they stop winning State Cup titles (14 out of the last 21 girls crowns), you will only be stuck with an opinion. My guess is most of the MTA folks would prefer the hardware.
12:31/1:54, this is 1:10 again...you're right, I don't have a clue who you are or your influence, and frankly, I could care less. Same goes the other way. That's the beauty and the curse of the whole anon thing.
I really don't care where your DD plays, and to be honest, I'm 100% for her findings where she fits in the best and enjoys playing. It's not about me, MTA, CC's or anything other than the players getting what they want out of it. My beef is with the fact that you felt the need to place everything in the first person, which when read says it's all about you. If your daughter is full partner in deciding where she plays, kudos and my apologies. But be careful what you write, because it easily gets taken literally.
1:41 - Does you eye hurt? Might want to check and see if you have any logs sticking out of it.
CCs can offer all the programming they want. It doesn't equate to what MTA is offering - bringing talent together. CCs will not be able to do this nor should they focus on this. They are community organizations. COMMUNITY organizations not elite player organizations. It's so simple yet some don't see it. Focus on players who want your option. Get out of the way of players who want something else.
Very few "CCs" fit your textbook definition of a CC, anon 3:24. They're developing players, developing players, and winning. They are an option for strong players, and they WILL compete.
Why don't we just wait and see, my money is MTA will still dominate State Cup, all the cc's are doing is luring away role players and white team kids. At some point you have to make a decision you are not an elite player and you will head back to the cc's. Cc's will market and brag that kids are leaving MTA, but the truth is the top kids are staying and will still be attracted to the MTA program.
if your goal and priority in being happy playing youth soccer is to win state cup and play regionally, join mta (this is an admirable goal). if your goals are different, find a high quality team on a local club. don't play c1 or c2 soccer at mta. 3:24 implies MTA is about bringing talent together. mta is about making money. there is nothing wrong with that. 'bringing talent together' is bs. if so, they wouldn't have put some of the stinker teams on the field they have the past few years
Making money? All MN clubs are non profit and all MN clubs are out to make money. Many have to pay overpriced and overrated coaching directors, MTA included. Your argument is not new and still holds zero water.
There will always be strong teams outside of MTA at other clubs (I refuse to call them "community") as there is lots of talent out there. There are also parents who prefer for their child to be the big fish in the little pond. There is nothing wrong with that. There are parents/players who would prefer to be player #16 on a top MTA team and there are parents/parents who do not. There is nothing wrong with that.
This comments gets tossed out all the time.......find the club/team that fits your needs and make that choice. Why should any else care what anyone else does?
Like the chicken or the egg, I'm not sure which came first...the bangu lovers or the bangu haters.
The reason Bangu has had the Champions is answered above in a post explaining how they were the most innovative club with the year around training. As the U-9 - U-12 players get to the U-13 and up age group you will see a more balanced list of State Cup Champions. This doesn't mean MTA will be a bad choice, it just means other clubs have stepped it up and will be much more competitive as these younger kids age.
2:04 Can't agree with you about MTA. I've seen several instances where some kids got no playing time at Showcase tournaments.Some MTA coaches do not practice what is preached. It's called ego and that's a fact.
I'm a Bangu supporter but am tired of all this, especially the constant reminders of State Cup titles. We need to get beyond that and focused on winning beyond Mn which we are relatively unsuccessful at. An earlier post made snide reference to beating in state team 2-1, 1-0 not much to be spending so much time bragging about.
503, I'm sorry but you are crazy to think CC's will have a better chance at State cup in the following years. The amount of turnout at their U9 age group was huge and will continue to get bigger as the club grows. Current U10-U12 will dominate when they play at State Cup. You can dream but that's about it. Even with the improved training at the CC's you still will not have enough talent in any geographical area to compete. Of course the CC's will be better but so will the Bangu teams.
I agree with 5:44. Every player on a team should be "developed" and have a share of playing time in all games. If they were good enough to make the team, the coach has a responsibility to all of his/her players for the entire season until tryouts and a new team is formed. This happens a lot with the Bangu teams and it causes a lot of friction all the way around, between players, parents and the coaches and becomes a mess of egos and attitudes. Yes, other club teams have their best players playing most of the game but when the hype of a club is how much a player will learn and develop and big bucks are paid and then to be on the short side of things, it is no wonder there is anger and resentment the way a club or at least a team is run.
I agree with 5:44. Every player on a team should be "developed" and have a share of playing time in all games. If they were good enough to make the team, the coach has a responsibility to all of his/her players for the entire season until tryouts and a new team is formed. This happens a lot with the Bangu teams and it causes a lot of friction all the way around, between players, parents and the coaches and becomes a mess of egos and attitudes. Yes, other club teams have their best players playing most of the game but when the hype of a club is how much a player will learn and develop and big bucks are paid and then to be on the short side of things, it is no wonder there is anger and resentment the way a club or at least a team is run.
True, many don't and that's ok 822. There are many things on this blog that aren't of huge interest to me either, but this is a place where people can say what they want. So disregard this if you don't care, that's cool. There might be a couple of kids who might like to know this though.
I will be the "chicken or the egg" person today (which came first, the bangu lover or the bangu hater),
This morning, after a very quiet Saturday and a nice night of rest, at 7:53am, what appears to be a bangu hater struck first. Followed quickly by 9:14 & 10:27.
Anyone know how the U-17 boys tryouts went there was a lot of rumors circulating them and I was just interested in knowing any info on how they went and who showed up?
Regarding the 17's and much more. a big announcement is coming tomorrow afternoon from MTA. This, from what I hear is going to be huge for Minnesota soccer.
I would say the Blue/White/MN Regional concept has already been tried in at least two girls ages.
The Bangu Stars at U17 would be the Blue team, Bangu Select the White team, and Bangu Storm the MN South District team.
Stars were regionally and nationally successful at tournaments. They peaked at U15 by MRL results. They lost State Cup only once. In their early years, the played up in the MYSA Premier League and finished at or near the top. They moved to MRL a few years ago. Their results have regressed each year, but they still finish in the top half.
The results were fairly unimpressive for Select and Storm given the amount of year-round training (5-6 years for these teams), regional travel, and the high level coaching. Select usually finished in the lower half of the MYSA Premier league before being relegated after 2007. They moved to MRL 1st division on the strength of good State Cup results, but finished near the bottom of the league. They remain competitive with the lower level MN Premier teams/High level C1s. Not a bad level, but it reflects poorly on the training/coaching philosophy now being touted by MTA. No real improvement relative to other teams in 5 years.
Storm finished in the top half of MYSA South Classic 1 for 5 years, typically finishing 3rd. They were part of the Bangu system with no improvement in 5 years.
At 14, MA's Blue team played MRL 1st Div and MYSA U15 Premier. They won the MRL League, although they didn't advance to the Premier League. They won State Cup, and did well in Regionals, although they did not win.
The White team played MRL 1st Div only (even though they did not win their MYSA South District League at U13 (they did win Summer State), and finished in the top half. They lost to NSSA (MN U14 Premier League champ) in USA Cup. They currently would be a top 2/3 team in the MYSA Premier league. Why should anyone expect different results than Bangu Select after 3 more years?
Bangu Green took the MYSA Premier U14 spot vacated by White. They finished in the lower half of the Premier League.
In both ages, there is one regional/national team that may peak early, and a couple of lesser teams that do the training, get the coaching, and probably play to their natural athletic ability.
Kare 11 covers their tryouts, the desperate recruiting calls and parking lot stop and chats will be worse, Blame for the shortfalls will be placed on ohters.
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2:02 that is a perfect insight into next year. your number 1 team for u14 is the current bangu u13 premier team not the current Wings teams that actually earned the spot. kick 'em to the curb boys!
any talented U6's out there we all need to be made aware of?
304, I wanted to make sure everyone knew I wasn't talking about U12's that played up. The Current true Bangu U13's and Wings U13 will probably have a majority of the players on that team.
3:05 - If you don't like the thread, then start something new. It is good that things are being talked about in a somewhat civil manner.U11, U12,13 and whatever else is being talked about is what's going on and it is interesting for some. Many teams/clubs are getting better and things are getting interesting in the younger age groups. It will be fun to see how things pan out after tryouts for the U14 and younger. Don't forget 3;05, it all starts when they ARE young! They don't just wake up a U15-U16 and become a soccer player, just doesn't work that way.
I hear the top U6 teams are the "Yellow Bananas" in Farmington and the "Purple Pandas" in Rosemount. Word is the parents are already in discussion over the "best way to get these phenoms together". MTA has had scouts at some games.
Commenting on U-11 is certainly a challenge because many of the clubs philosphically try to keep teams balanced up to about U-12 or U-13. I have no doubt the teams listed are very good especially the top 2 who I have seen play, I have also watched MANY top youth teams become very average due to , No not recuitment from another club, but rather the lack of depth as they progress to the 11v11 game.
An above listed post mentioned this and I think the poster is correct. A team needs 15 players who can play at a high level in order to be effective.
You people have got to be kidding, best U11 teams??!! Come on, is it always about who is the best, at U11? These poor kids dont have a chance with mommy and daddies like you. Let the kids develop. They arent even soccer players till U17 anyway. But in sure your all the pros
People talked about the decline of the Wings club in recent years and that being the reason they chose to merge to form MTA. Looks like their U11B and U12B both took home state titles this year and U13G earned Premier.
The time to look to change is not when you're at bottom but rather when you are near the top.
Hey---For those who don't want to get involved with the whole MTA thing, and are looking to make a change, check out the Arsenal tryouts on Sunday at Northwood Park. The SE boys (will be U17 next year) just landed a new a new head coach and are looking to add some additional competitive players . Check out: www.arsenalmn.com
this is such a great idea
Congrats to PSA's U15 boys for winning the U13 state tournament!
Do you mean U15 state??
I have a daughter who has never played traveling soccer but has been playing rec soccer since she was 4. She is I believe classified as a U12 this fall. She loves the game and all she does is play. We live in Maplewood. I personally don't know a lot about how soccer works in Minnesota and until recently didn't even know there was something more than just rec. Any help would be appreciated. She is in my opinion very strong, fast, and has good ball control. That being said I am her father.
Anon 8:26, if your so blind to MN soccer, then how and why are you on this blog site? mmmmmmmmmmmm?
anyone know 16G rankings?
8:26, if she's U12 this fall in the East and looking for a more serious program contact Bangu Tsunami East/MTE. Come out to tryouts this week and see how she matches up. If she looking for a stronger team and not wanting a year round commitment seek out Centennial or NSSA. Just my opinion.
8:15: I meant exactly what I said.
Woodbury and St.Croix are options too.
10:19, Woodbury and St Croix are not good options for higher level development for next year's U12 girls. SCV is strong on the boys side but their girls team does not match Centennial or NSSA at this time. Woodbury's talent is already with MTA. Cottage Grove would be another good option but they are a closed club and frown on non-CG residents in their younger programs.
11:19
Cannot agree with your assessment about St Croix. Check the website, they have a new "select" program which appears to have focus on development. Isnt that the point in youth soccer, which helps insure success in the future. It seems a very good step in the right direction.
939, Thanks for the help!! Besides the year round commitment what is the difference between the three teams you listed.
Anon 1132, They can call it anything they want, but if they don't have the players they have nothing but fancy names!!
1135, spot on exact son! To even put SCV at the same level of what Bangu East/MTA offer AT THIS PARTICULAR AGE GROUP demonstrates a lack of knowledge here.
Mr Maplewood, you won't find a better program, a better coach, or a more competitive group of girls at next year's 12 age group than you'll find with Bangu/MTA, Mr Abboud, and his current Blue team. Most people would agree with this unless they either don't know much about competitive soccer at this age group or dislike the program/coach for some personal reason.
3:18
You need to up your meds dude.
My comment on St. Croix was just to "development". They are one club in the east that have the facilities and staff in place for good "development". I have no axe to grind against MTA I was just giving the Maplewood Dad some info. Any in depth search should include all East programs if you are going to be honest with yourself. Good luck Maplewood Dad - believe half of what you read on this blog from the zealots on both sides.
Mr Maplewood Go to www.twincitiesfire.org for another option. If you DD isn't a superstar already MTA Blue will not give her a second look. But the MTA U12 White will still be one of the top teams in the state just not the top.
3:37PM you're right. Families should look at multiple opportunities and take recs from this blog with a grain of salt.
I would also agree with 4:51 that breaking into the MTA Blues would be difficult but White are a solid option, like many others in the area.
There you go again talking DEVELOPMENT. Minnesota does not develop players.
Anon 8:26 buy your kid a pair of skates. Hockey is the mame of the game in Sota.
you don't have to be a superstar to make the blue team. I've seen them play and yes they are very good but not every girl on the team is a superstar. Also don't they play up an age group so wouldn't they be expanding their roster to play U13 next year. I know there current U12's played U13. I would assume they would follow the same plan. U11 and U12 play 8v8 in Minnesota so I am guessing they will need more players. So if I had a girl with talent at this age group I would send her to tryouts.
Saying that someone doesn't have a chance to make a blue team from U11-13 is silly. Every one of those teams will replace at least 40% of their players by the time they reach U16.
8:40AM I agree. Hopefully the parents are being educated along the way that their little Mia may not be around down the road. Happens all the time.
This group will be an interesting test case. They've already had a ton of success in the upper midwest (according to the road to regionals blog) and playing u12 Classic 1 tournaments in MN. Will they still be a powerhouse in 2 or 3 years? In 5 or 6? Maybe who really cares?
The only one who cares is the one who will be cashing all of those checks. And he will be smiling.
Who is cashing all the checks? The coach? Someone like that should be compensated. Bangu/MTA? Last I heard they, like most other clubs, are a 501c3. Their statements like those of MYSA are public. If members are worried about misappropriated funds then ask to see the finacials. Shhh! Don't let this little factoid leak to rec programs though as many clubs would face numerous complaints from families that their (rec families) funds are subsidizing the "elite" competitive players in the club.
I'd tell the team families in question the same things I'd tell anyone else. If you don't like the set up where you're at make a choice and find another development environment.
If MTA is holding tryouts next weekend, how come some players have been told (rumor has it) that they would be on the team if they appear? I would think that would kind of tick off the other hopefuls. Why even bother and why pay the tryout fee...Sounds a lot like the ODP teams.
That is standard order of business with them. As well as offering full scholarships not based on need. And they wonder why they are disliked?!
If you asked twenty to thirty parents on the side at tryouts, all of them will tell you their child has been assured a spot on the team (no matter where tryouts are being held). Reality is that people hear what they want to hear. Coaches will definitely lead them to believe they going to make the team but in my experience the so called "guarantees" are just parents being parents.
Players who have been on the team, had the entire previous year to make the team, if they didn't measure up, they are on the block. If your new coming in you better set yourself apart. Lets face it for a high level tryout the top 5% stick out as being a step above the rest, the bottom 50% also stick out that they don't belong. The coaches then have to sort out the remaining 45% who are basically all at the same level.
Rumors are what they are, Rumors. Started to cause conflict or to smear someone or something. They are also used by some people to try to get information at try out times. 811, way to be a mature adult and spread the rumor that you heard or maybe started.
1033, Good observations. You are correct they have had a lot of success this last year. That being said, to continue that success they will need to add quality players to the mix. Playing 11v11 is a lot different than 8v8. They will be expanding their roster to play 11v11. Time will only tell and the first glimpse will come a tryouts depending on who comes. For any Minnesota team to compete Nationally you need the best girls at each age group on one team. I wish this wasn't the case but unfortunately I believe it is.
And as 840 said the best players at U16 (when it starts to matter) will be much different than at U11 (when it doesn't). Also from reading RTR it seems this is a quite involved parent group. You wonder if there will be a springbok like rebellion when there DD's start being replaced at U13.
you can get replace anytime!
Help me here? Why does one age group matter more than others. Matter for what?? Don't they all play for the love of the game. You keep referencing U16 is when it starts to matter. I think each game for each kid is just as important no matter what the age. Maybe it is more important for the parents.
133 Exactly, the only people that put a lot of importance on youngers winning are the parents.
142, try not to be so naive, every age group parent puts a lot of importance on winning.
8:11 believe the rumors, more often than not they will be true. They commit to taking players before tryouts, after the first tryout (before tryouts are done), if they really want a player bad enough. Supposed to be hush-hush but word always gets out.
207, Do you also believe in the tooth fairy, Santa, Big Foot, Yetti, Aliens, etc. I've heard rumors that they exist also. Most rumors aren't true that's why they are rumors.
who cares if a player is told they will make the top team? if they are good and they should make the top team, then why not tell them to keep them with that particular club. makes sense to me!
1:19
I dont se the conection between what AK writes and an overly involved parent group. Connect the dots for me and indicate where you see that in what he writes - or are you trying to blow this team up by writing negative things on this blog?
235 - your looking at two different age groups. ma coaches the 97's and ak coaches the 96's.
'it doesn't matter until they are u16' - that is the biggest bunch of crap! the drop off rate for girls soccer at around u14 is probably 70%! of course there are a great many factors outside of control that contribute to that (ie friends and boys) but i believe at least some of it has to do with the player experience related to parents, team placement, burn out, fun, competitiveness, etc. starting at a young age. i would bet a great percentage of the kids quit because of parents and coaches (and programs) that make the kind of talk on this board visible to their kids. i would bet a great majority of parents teach their kids about selfishness 'what is the best team, place, coach, situation for ME' that the thought of getting on a team and sticking to it and enjoying the experience is completely foreign. the health of youth girls soccer in MN (and probably elsewhere) would be improved if people kid pay more attention to the messages, tactics and behaviors starting long before 16. how parents teach their kids 'you are too good for this situation or that so instead of trying to improve it, just move to someone else'. Is it polyanna? of course. but the number of kids forced into having a bad soccer experience is massive. how many times did a kid switch teams from a perfectly good situation because of their maniacal parent? MTA exists as a growing business(no offense) because parents are insane and they do a great job catering to the egos. the fact is the amount of supplemental paid training, camps, events, etc. that any kid could get on their own independent of going to MTA would more than offset any perceived difference between MTA and a regular club. the parent's ego is what makes them thrive (good for them!)
244- That's right, don't look for anything better. Be happy with what you are stuck with and definatley don't dream big, you might offend someone. Just be happy with the experience your getting and don't try to be the best you can be!
ANON 244, No matter how much training they would get they would still be playing with the same team!!
I can see they want to put together the best team but it really is kind of a sham for the rest of the kids who spend the time and money to go to the tryouts.
What 811 said is true, it came from some players themselves.
so let me see........a player who has been identified as being a top player for team B has been told that if they try out for team A they will make the team........hmmm.......gosh.......i do not believe that has ever happened before.
on the other hand, it would be a shame (and a bit of a sham) if the team is pretty much already selected and all the other kids trying out are only tryout fodder.
wow! you people are way over thinking all of this. send your kid to tryouts and if they make a team, great! who cares if one kid has been told they will be on a team.. move on! kids don't know this stuff and parents wreck most things in sports for their kids. as most poster will say - it doesn't matter till your u15, right?
You conspiracy theory people are all nuts. Already making excuses if your kid doesn't make a certain team. MTA wants the best players possible. If they take weaker players, because thats what you think might happen, then they won't win as much. The leaders of MTA are smarter than that. They know they need to have a good product and the only way to do that is field the best team possible. Success breeds more success. The top players parents of each age group always want the same thing. They want the best players possible on the team. If MTA were dumb enough to put weaker players on the field, as you assume, that would cause more problems with there top players and parents than they would want to deal with. Give them some credit they are smarter than you think. Please bring your kids to try outs. It is a very exciting time of year for many and a nervous time for others.
Hi, folks. Shekki's back.
Shekki
3:53 the MTA guys are soooo smart they changed out half of a u-12 team for "faster" players basically breaking up a team. New team wins 0 league games real forward thinking. Let them run my kid's soccer program please!
Welcome back Shekki. You are the greatest
Oh Please....the greatest, at what?
6:55, Would you have been happy if they kept everyone the same. If they wouldn't have made changes you would still be complaining. Didn't you believe them when they told you being on the top team one year doesn't guarantee you a spot the following year. Who does run your kids program? I bet they don't have the credentials or experience that they do. They replaced players who were slower. Everyone knows you can teach skills. Unfortunately for the girls cut you can't teach speed. For any Bangu or MN team to try to compete Nationally you must be quick and fast.
6:55pm - please keep showing support for a guy like Shekki. Your statement shows the cluelessness of many out there. To think that a u12 team who had success at u12 should not have had to go through tryouts and change the roster around is living in a dream world. Parents like you are a dime a dozen. Think that "success" one year entitles you to be named to the team the next. Hopefully you told your kid that was cut that they probably had a very good year of development with the group and that life is not all about getting what you want. Playing at the the higher levels of the game takes work. Soccer is not the end all be all of life for them (though it may be for you) and there are many other good opps out there. Hope they landed in a good place.
11:08 and 11:22 you both are out of touch with the post meaning. Any and everyone knows and believes in the idea of tryouts and changes to teams annually. The idea is to upgrade a team correct? That was a team in a relatively mediocre league who won. I find in very odd these soccer minds you support so blindly managed to put together a team that could not win a league game and to be honest, based on the Bangu hype they did not do well compared to expectations. If the Bangu directors are so skilled and the training is so great, they got the "best" players ('cause they always do) how can none of you just say they booted it on this one? Please don't respond with the played up bs. If they'd have won the league there would have not been that whine.
So the "speedy" U13 team got mowed over in premier. Maybe they needed more skill. Your excuses don't add up.
newbie here and need some help. does bangu have any girls teams at u12 or u13? if so, could someone please provide me an update with how they did last year?
7:29,
They'll win State Cup next spring.
We sense your jealousy.
Who will win State Cup next year?
729, Everyone knows this age group is lacking the players to compete at the premier level and win playing up a year. They won the East as U12's. The East last year was a weak league. They played stronger older teams in Premier and had some good games. They didn't get the results they would have wanted but such is life. Regardless of the players they replaced they still wouldn't have won any games. They lack a difference maker on the field who can take over a game and deliver the goods. Unfortunately for this age group non of those type of players play at the U13 age group, maybe those players are playing up!!
853 (Newbie)
Both age groups did very well. The new U12 team will be increasing roster size to play up at U13. Tryouts for New U13's is tonight I believe and New U12's is Wednesday and maybe Saturday. Check Bangu website for dates, times, and location.
newbie - I am from a different club than bangu but my teams have played against the teams across the age group you mention. the previous year u11c2 team was powerful and they will skip u12 and play u13c1 this year. your daughter won't make that team (no offense) but it is a powerhouse. they will win a great deal at u13 even as a play up. nice families too at least from what i gather. if she is a true u13 this year, your enjoyment will depend on where you are geographically. the u12 team that won state cup last year (in the east) is also very strong but i doubt they will change it much given the success. the u12 team that played up in the south was not very good and the regular u12 team that played u12c1 was decent but check into to see who coaches that group next year and ask some parents about how much the kids and parents enjoyed (a good rule in general). bangu (like most clubs) are biased towards certain geographies (east, north) and where certain kids have grown up (ie they are more likely to pursue a Woodbury kid than a less accomplished kid). also, with the Wings merger the number of available spots in this age group will be very small especially this year just once you combine those clubs. if you throw in the u12-u13 wings team you'll find little room for additional outside kids.
all that said, you should go to tryouts but then also go to a top club in your local area. depending on wher eyou live in the metro there is always a club in your area that can offer equally good year round experience (west - eden prairie, edina, south - dakota rev, burnsville, east - woodbury, etc.).
good luck
11:28 Pretty good anaylsis except that if Newbies kid is a good player she would make one of the MTA/Bangu teams. There is no favoritism towards geography or current players. Bangu/MTA is always going to place the best kids on a team if they can compete at that level regardless of who or where you are from.
me thinks newbie might have been using a bit of sarcasm......
1156 you are correct. Also with U12 team playing up they will need more players.
It seems to me that by reading this blog some people (1128) are basically stating that your daughter won't have a chance making a top MTA (Bangu Blue Team. That is ridiculous! Yes those teams are good but I have seen some kids in other Clubs and CCC's who could make the team. Please ignore posters who try to scare you away from having your kids try out for a certain club. The posters above could have a kid in that age group and are hoping to have their kid make the team and maybe just maybe they are trying to scare your kid off so they don't take their kids spot?!
3:10 - look the poster is a ruse (a red herring). if they are the parent of an accomplished soccer player that actually could crack into the top bangu teams at age 12/13, they would know who bangu is already (thanks to your marketing prowess - accomplishment). that post is a ridiculous fishing expedition designed to elicit a response such as 'why yes, bangu has the super greatest most wonderful teams ever and everyone should join!'. the last line of the post says 'you should go to tryouts but also go to others in your area...'. to MTA credit, if you are a top level players capable of making the elite team, you have heard of MTA. based on what you know you are either going to try to make it or not interested because of some prior reason (experience, satisfaction with your current team, etc.). i am in a good situation where my daughter has been able to guest play on bangu teams over years and has had the opportunity to join a blue team but our local club offers us a similar quality experience so we can stay close to home.
me thinks the original newbie post was a tweak at all the U12 & U13 non-stop posts on this website.
Ok, maybe in the THOUSAND post on this thread someone already answered this question.
At a tournament this weekend a Wings representative said they were an Academy. The person she was talking to said, no, you are not an US Soccer Federation Developmental Academy. Again her response was "yes, we are and I should know." Well it made me kind of interested. insert no life here) When I went on the USSF web site it does not list either Thunder/Bangu/Wings nor SSM. So, is the Thunder/Bangu/Wings organization calling themselves an academy like other organziations either call themselves an club or association? Or what?
Bangu had an academy last year. The USSF designation will come this year with the Thunder and Wings joining forces with Bangu.
You can have an "academy" program without being part of the USSF academy program. The so-called Wings representative may not have understood what the USSF Developmental part was, which MTA is not yet a part of but may be by 2010. And the asker apparently had the impression that only the USSF Dvlpmt clubs could be considered academies, which would be incorrect. Slight misunderstanding between the two parties. Nothing to get too concerned about.
We could do better at Nationals if we played Down one or two years.
Fuzzy Knight
Anyone know why RTR hasn't been updated in ages?
Hopefully the new owners told them to knock it off.
Wasn't much to brag about lately.
Exactly. Hey AK, why is there no summary of the road back to C1 at the State Tournament? 0-2-1 and no goals scored?! Here I thought you had to leave MN to find decent competition? What about the 3 (yes, 3) premier spots you boys were promising?! LMAO! It's probably because you are focusing more on development than winning, right? Or perhaps you played better soccer but lost to a bunch of bootballers? Well, either way, it does not reflect well on the statements about having 3 premier spots next year...
Keep laughing hater. And keep reading his posts though you hate the guy. Funny the power he has over you.
7:02 thanks for calling someone a hater, it's beeen what? 3,4 posts. Remember they were playing up and apparently that is an acceptable excuse. When the team was formed there was heady talk of domination of all the older teams the parents bought it so did the players.
Rumor has it a bunch of Bangu players have joined Woodbury at U14
7:34
As a parent with a child on the AK team you have no idea what you are talking about. Andy never said we would "dominate" any teams we played. Actually the opposite is true - his stated goal was to be competative in all games with a .500 record a realistic possibility. The coach and parent group for this team are terrific to the coaching staff, each other and the opponents.
Sorry to burst your bubble but you will get nowhere with your baseless charges - at least with this team.
8:53:
With Julie coaching this WDB team, it wouldn't surprise me one bit. Her Inferno team is quite solid at U-17 and it's my understanding the U-18 Stars refused to ever play them for obvious reasons. The Inferno would have beat them. Some may ask, then why didn't the Inferno win the U-17 Premier League this past Summer? Simple, it wasn't important to Julie or the team. They had bigger fish to fry around the country, which is what they did to get their National ranking. Fact is, the new U-17 group is better than last years. We shall see!
I can attest that "a bunch of Bangu players" have not joined Woodbury. Two did attend tryouts, after being recruited. The email from Woodbury started as follows:
You are invited to attend:
WSC U14G MRL/Premier Tryouts - WSC AZZURRI
Sun Aug 3 12-1:30pm
Mon Aug 4 5:30-7:00pm
My daughter received it about a week ago. Funny how other clubs point fingers at Bangu for recruiting. We never expressed any interest in Woodbury, so I am uncertain how they got my daughter's name.
Burnsville was also heavily recruiting, and will likely replace a number of the girls from their community with former Bangu players (2 that were cut last year, one that played Woodbury, one from the Rev 14, and some other Bangu Blue players who have been promised starting positions if they move to Burnsville). If I were a parent in that community, I would be a little upset if my daughter was cut because some girl from Oakdale or Shoreview was recruited by the coach.
959, Make sure to pass the bong when your done with it. You Obviously have smoked way to much!! Please come back to reality!!
959 is that the team that has gone 1-8-3 at regions the last 4 years?
I know of ONE Bangu player that accepted a position on the Woodbury team. That player committed after CONSIDERABLE pressure from Woodbury.
THey hold their tryout three days before Bangu, offer spots to Bangu players and give them 48 hours to accept a roster spot. They do this to force a decision before the player even steps on the field.
I head a lot of talk about this at angu tryouts. Seems a little bit out of line to me.
After hearing all this, I don't want to hear anymore complaining tha Bangu recruits. This isn't just recruiting it borders on extortion.
Yes, we received the same e-mail from Woodbury and other recruiting calls. After a bit a research, I heard that a lot of girls were leving the Woodbury team because tey were dissatisfied with the tring. We chose NOT to attend Woodbury tryouts, but did attend tryouts for another club. THere were several Woodbury players at that tryout.
I have no problem with teams reaching out to players to attempt to improve their teams, but applying pressure to keep a player from attending other tryouts crosses the line.
Also, all but two of the players from last year's Bangu 13 team DID attend tryouts last night. THe only missing players were one that went to Woodbury and another player. Both were leaving the club regardless.
Be careful with reactions to Anon 9:59. Granted the post is laughable, it seems too silly though to actually be sincere. More likely someone trying to embarrass the coach or team or both. Wouldn't be the first time that has happened.
Last time I checked providing info on tryouts is acceptable by MYSA rules. Many clubs email out tryout announcements. Bangu, St. Croix, Woodbury, EP, etc.
What is not acceptable is promising players spots on team or having tryouts prior to Aug 2.
Looks like Bangu gets a little testy when others do what they have been doing.
Why would Bangu girls even go to other tryouts if they were so happy with their current club? They shouldn't care if they are on the blue or white team because "either way they are getting the best training around" according to what is told to them. Obviously, the club does not live up to their hype and promises. Why wouldn't they look around and change clubs? It is probably in their best interest in the long run.
Why is recruting such a bad thing in the long run almost all players will find a place to play where they belong and are happy.
So what if you lose your number 16 spot on a roster of 16 because another kid was brought in is it not better to play and develop on another team than ride the bench.
Is it really recruting if a player/parent contacts the coach and express some interest in a team and than the coach try to sell them on it?
It is wrong when coaches promises a starting spot when they have know idea who will be on the team and how the kids will develop over the winter.
On a different note would it not be better if all teams do their try outs and than offer spots to players at the same time this would really help players that are trying out for multiple clubs. That way the player could make a choice when they know what all their options are. As it is now many players are offered spots and asked to provide an answer before they even know what otehr teams thay make or do not make.
It is so fun to watch the Bangu parents get their undies in a bunch. Keep up the justifying, fingerpointing, and general hyper-defensiveness.
So when you recruit and promote your club it is in the best interest of the players, but when other clubs do it...
Keep posting Goons!
Post 11:27 is not from a Bangu person.
11:38
Maybe you should read the post more clearly, what is being pointed out is that not just Bangu recruits and it is getting more and more common with other clubs if not worse. No one is pointing fingers they are pointing out that those that come on here and bitch about Bangu recruiting should take a look at their own CC when accusing someone of recruiting.
blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.....
Fortunately, I believe most clubs will have things wrapped up by early next week which will then give all the U12-U14 girls parents only about 8 months to start debating who's going to win State Cup.
Word is at MTA tryouts the parents were told players were to be "pooled" then in late October split into blue and white. Hope the players and parents wise up, this is a ploy to keep the white team players there so they have no options to go elsewhere. I think referred to earlier as cash cows. Make a decision place the kids on teams, if the system is sooooo good you think they could make a decision.
There you go again criticizing parents of younger players. Have you seen any posts as foolish as 959 from the younger parents? U17 is not young. There are parents at all ages that are over the top. They aren't all U12-U14 as you seem to think.
12:14 - I agree. Now if we can come up with another 500+ posts like 959 we'll call it a draw.
Pooling is so bad. Gives coaches and trainers 2 months to best place kids for next season. That idea sucks. Why should I want to go to a club that spends so much time placing kids where they belong. I'd rather go play for a CC's top team.
As far as JE, her best quality is that she is female. Though she acts ruder and more aggressive than most male coaches I've seen as I witnessed when the State final appearance was slipping away from her against MB in Blaine last week. Yelling at the ref, stomping up and down the sidelines, real good role model there. She's done nothing regionally and nationally with a team that should be doing better. Why would girls flock to her banner now is beyond me. Though some surly will and that is their choice. She might as well just come over to the MTA tryouts as those are the kids she's trying to get.
As a former bangu parent (aren't we all, these days??) I can think of several reasons why you might leave the ALL MIGHTY CLUB (AMC) despite being relatively happy with the product (blue, white, or otherwise).
1. You reach a point of diminishing returns. Most of the improvement you will see in the AMC atmosphere will come in the first several months to a year. This is not a knock on the AMC, just a fact. Think of it as learning a new instrument - you improve tremendously at first, but after a while you need to practice more and more, and you get less and less in return.
2. The player (or parent) may prefer to be a playmaker with a solid, though not great, supporting squad rather than be a role player on a regional team. Plenty of coaches would argue, in fact, that this is actually better for the player's development, as it will lead to more creativity, etc. Especially after the returns with the AMC have begun to diminish.
3. The ends don't justify the means. In today's economy, it becomes more and more difficult to justify the expenses associated with the AMC. I'm not talking about club or coaching fees, which are dwarfed by travel costs. I know many will argue otherwise, but all of the travel involved for MRL isn't worth the competition that barely exceeds MYSA premier, if at all. You can justify that expense if you want, along with the air fare and hotel costs, etc, but the price of gasoline makes the travel to practice more and more expensive.
4. Some families have priorities that extend beyond the soccer field. There, I said it. You may be shamed for this, and be told that your child will be left behind if you don't stay with the AMC. Don't believe it.
12:42 - you are not allowed to every post again as your comments were well thought out without any sense of partisanship.
Hopefully all the parents out there can find the right fit for their child/family. For some it might be the All Mighty Club, for some another large club, for some the local CC, for some rec soccer.
12:37 WRONG! Pooling is about stringing along the kids and parents to keep the second team "white" team from bolting for a better opportunity to play on another club's top team. Witness last year hte kids left so now the plan is to string them along for 3 months. With all those great soccer minds moving us towards interstelllar soccer domination, you'd think they could be honest with the kids.
You say pool training is a way to keep the second team around. Sure is. But is that bad? It seems an ideal way to educate us parents that it's not all about playing on the best team in a club. Worked for me. Pool training saw Bangu produce two 2x defending State Cup teams, a regional champ, and a regional semi-finalist. Kids develop at different rates.
If your family life plans or your view on your current club has changed, seems perfectly logical to look at other options. I listened to MA speak yesterday to the parents at tryouts. Not once did he claim that MTA was the best option out there. It was all about being AN option for interested players. Contrary to that, I walked down to listen to the MU guys at their tryouts. They were all about being the best club and offering the best training. Clear example of one club having to sell promises and one club confident in what they offer based on proven results.
1242, do you feel better know, take a deep breath.
12:48, so run along and go play on the "top" team in another club. Surly must be a better development environment than MTA's second teams because, well because it's the top team in another club.
There seems to be a Goober double standard cry foul and accuse other clubs of treating players as possessions unless it is for pooling to keep them there. Also very fun to see all the goobers so nervous about kids exercising their right to go elsewhere.
When all your little U12-14 princesses are done with college, you will all be looking back at how foolish this all is. This is good humor actually.
Bangu is very upfront when they pool train. If you have questions about where your kid stands ask them. Every kid who does pool training is guaranteed a spot on a team, just not what team. If you don't like it then go somewhere else!
anon 12:11,
Seems the system works fine as a result of the "pooling".
Take a look over the last 3-4 years and see how many of the Bangu white teams make State Cup quarter finals and even finals only to play another Bangu team. There have been several instances of a Bangu team playing another Bangu team in the championship match at State Cup.
I think you'll be surprised to see the success level of many of the white teams. It's hard to argue with that kind of success.
ANON 12:42
BEST POST I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME
I agree, 12:42 well said you spoke the truth and are admired for it. Prepare to be viciously attacked by lurking goobers on here who will call you a hater.
1242, I'm sorry your kid got cut! Better luck next time.
Dang, I said they'd call you a hater but you got hit with the old reliable your kid got cut an equally disparaging remark in the koolaid blinded eyes of a true goo believer.
1:57 Why do I have a feeling that was not a so called goober? Just somone trying to stir the pot. Seems like lots of that stuff going on here.
Don't get me wrong the goobers can be obnoxius but a lot of this stupid crap is people posing as goobers to get people riled up.
206, you are correct, BEST POST I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME!!
Why is anyone so concerned about who showed up at which tryouts? Are clubs like Eden Prairie, Burnsville, Woodbury a good choice for players? Yes! In some cases a great choice! (Even if they are one of the "top" players in their age group). What's the point of the undercover reporting of who was where? It is meaningless until the players/families commit to a club for next season. Choice is a good thing.
I agree all the cloak and dagger reporting is not ok. Interesting the MTA Bangu folks are only for concentration of talent if it's at their club, otherwise they meanly criticize as they do the Inferno team.
No one is criticizing the team from what I read. Just the coach and the results she's had, or not had, with that group. Love all the haters on here. Keep it up. You're posts are really having a great effect on MN soccer. The vocal majority will never support the opportunities of the minority. That's life and everyone has to deal with it. MTA will go on and do what they do and CCs will always look to follow and find ways to retain.
Lots of great posts on here on both sides. Lots more idiots.
About pooling...
For the U14 Thunder Academy girls, we were told last night that we would know the blue and white teams next week - no pooling.
The arrogance of many of the CC posts astounds me. Goo guys got everyone going on here but they do not monopolize the market on egos.
They are not pooling because there will be several girls playing HS soccer an unable to play in the pooling process. Not fair to them if you pool and they cannot participate, therefor pooling only works for the U13 age group.
anon 1:12 is right.
In 2006 Bangu U18 girls played another Bangu U18 girls team in final of State Cup
2007
U13 was all Bangu Final at State Cup
U14 was all Bangu Final at State Cup
U16 Bangu State Cup Champ + a semifinalist
2008
U13 all Bangu State Cup Final
U14 all Bangu State Cup Final
U17 Bangu State Cup Champ + semifinalist
It looks like what they're doing is working as their 2nd teams are having great success in some age groups.
thanks anom 5 51pm{Bangu Coach}
551 congratulations on putting out some facts instead of just opinions.
BEST POST I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME
I like how 7:17 gave his opinion that the best posts don't have opinions.
MOST IRONIC POST I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME
The best of all this is the idea that people are looking around for what is best for their kid. I am very glad to hear about so many Bangu players seriously looking elsewhere this year. All the hype aside, being interested and willing to make soccer a year around sport will raise the level of soccer here better than the whole MTA scheme. The fact the boys there don't like a two way street makes it sweeter.
Bangu director 5:51 good job I don't think we've heard yet of the success of Bangu at beating the other teams in Mn 2-1 1-0 etc. For all the recruiting talks you give and the talking poorly of the other club's ability to provide for kids, you ought to be beating them by bigger margins. Fact is, all the other clubs just need to keep improving and doing right by the kids and we'll pare that number of Goo/mta state cup titles down real soon. In the next year or two Shattuck will own the 17 and 18 State Cup on both the boys and girls sides. Other clubs will keep improving at the younger ages then there will not be much left to sell on.
I think MTA is selling the best program easily available to kids from MN. That would not include SSM. Also, in the foreseeable future SSM will not be dominant (though competitive) on the girls side. The have a strong group of U18's this year but after they leave the ages behind are not as good. That can change with a good recruiting year of course but that is how it stands now.
I love all the haters. Keep working on your clubs for the wrong reasons - envy, player retention, etc. In the end the kids are developing and Bangu/Wings/MTA/insert any other elite club here with regional and national recognition are leading the way. Directly or indirectly. Keep doing a good job so that when the players are ready to leave they'll be ready. Simple truth, not cockiness.
Bring on the responses. Won't be something we haven't heard already 100 times from the 4 haters on here.
ANON10:09, I think your words will taste really good to you in the very near future.
The SSM team will get better each passing year, and the bar will continue to get higher for acceptance into the program. There is considerable attention being given on multiple sites like Top Drawer Soccer and the like for players in the program. This kind of reporting will lead to more interest from the level of players which cannot typically be found in Minnesota.
If you want to find out where the SSM teams fit within the Minnesota soccer scene, start sending Blue teams to play them during the winter instead of the usual white team fodder. Don't give me the crap that you are worried that someone will see the good players and recruit them....the coaching staff at SSM already know what is in your arsenal. I think that excuse is just that, an excuse given to blue team parents. The real deal is that you don't want to force your kids into a position where they know ahead of time how good the Faribault teams really are.
Yeah, the only problem is that the crap you're shoveling has been written here and on RTR 1000 times by MA's four personalities and his wannabe minions and the currently happy gu parents (I hope your daughters don't go "white" waiting for the pool announcements). There is a noteworthy pool of kids suddenly appearing at "cc" tryouts because they don't want to fall for that money-grubbing garbage and have their daughters get manipulated. That's justice, baby.
In the meantime, go back to the hallucinogens.
1102,
I noticed the same thing. Each of the three tryouts my dd attended had nervous MTA parents and players in attendance, and a couple were previously pro-bangu types who were utterly disillusioned by the "give us your registration and we'll find a place for you" policy. I was surprised to hear how much the waffling and poor explanations of the road ahead had shaken their faith. It will be an interesting year in MTA-land.
Leave over on the idiocy here. SSM is good for soccer. MTA is good for soccer. CCs are good for soccer.
CCs are looking to battle the recent elite team programming and marketing success we've all see in recent years. Are the CC efforts working? Depends how you define that. If working means that it's attracting back the "disillusioned" elite White team kids than some may say yes. And you know what? The CCs seem to be clamoring to have these players back as they look to lock in players with severe time constraints regarding families confirming their commitments. You tell me what is better - recruiting a player or restricting a player?
Blue team players seem to be staying put in the environment that probably best suits them. Maybe the elite club should think about only one elite team at the older ages.
1111, Three tryouts, what are you worried about? That maybe your kid won't make a certain team and you want a backup. Maybe they were disillusioned because they were coming to the realization that their kid wasn't as good as they thought. What only Bangu Parents get nervous at tryout time. Give me a break, unless your kid is a superstar and one of the best players on the team you should be nervous.
Boy is it going to be interesting after tryouts for the New U14 Blue team. I heard the coach of that team was wings coach for U13. God help him deal with any kids parents he doesn't put on the top team. Either players he coached on the Wing team or any players cut from the Bangu team that played U14 premier. Good Luck with that one.
anon 11:35,
Which clubs are sleazy enough to ask a kid to do that before having the chance to tryout for another team or club?
I find it hard to believe clubs are actually putting severe time restraints on players to make this type of decision.
It sounds like a desperation move by a club if they're really doing this.
Is this legal within the current rules?
If I was a player or the players parents I'd be contacting MYSA about this unnecessary pressure.
It seems like something MYSA should know about.
10:55 Always with the hater name calling from you (one of 4 Bangu zealots multiple posting) Fact is others have had enough of the big promises and under delivery. The market place is working and not to the favor of MTA to the degree expected. The true super star players will end up in residential program similar to Shattuck as is done in most if not all other sports. Those kids are a small minority and will gravitate to those true elite full time opportunities. The rest will go where they are comfortable with the value of the investment not just money but time, effort, and mostly the manner in which they are treated. So keep lashing out you are proving the rule "there is no zealot like a goo zealot"
Although I can't confirm it, I've heard of a few clubs that are announcing teams on the field and wanting commitments right there. I've also heard of a club or two that once you pay your tryout fee, they are considering that a down payment on registration and if you make one of their rosters they are using that as justification for the club commitment rule. It's what I've heard from some players, so I don't have first hand knowledege, but it doesn't surprise me.
My son was at the MTA U12 tryouts last night. There were about 55-60 players there.
Lots of new faces and interest and a lot of new talent coming in.
He has been with his current Bangu team for the last 2 years.
Now it looks like there will be at least 3 teams and maybe 4 if the new club wants to field that many teams at one age group.
No promises if the current players get to stay with their old team or if there will be a lot of shuffling around.
1059 it sounds like you agree with me. The current crop of SSM 18's are very good and will be one of the favorites for state cup and regions. The younger SSM team is not as talented AT THIS TIME. Do you disagree with this? And as I said previously, one good recruiting year can change that. Thank you for reinforcing my main point which is that MTA is so far offering the best option for higher level MN players. As you said yourself of SSM "more interest from the level of players which cannot typically be found in Minnesota." I could not agree more. That is why SSM is not a development option for MN players.
As for your last paragraph/diatribe, I have no idea what you are talking about. I am not a member of the MTA nation.
6:06 am (up early?) - in the younger age groups (up to u14), frankly Monday August 11th is the deadline to submit fall competitive rosters to MYSA. i am not sure that is the reason for the 'on field' requests for commitment but it could be. probably (as you are contemplating) there are some that just want to know if a particular kid who is club shopping would commit to avoid them going to tryout elsewhere.
the 34 girl pooling concept at u13 is interesting at MTA. the concept is good for MTA, a non impact for the top players and probably aggravating for those 'in the middle'. Their are clearly girls (families) out there trying out for other clubs that don't want to be a part of that but for MTA that really doesn't matter (it shouldn't). Just like last year when a team folded mid stream and sent the girls and families scrambling, that will happen in some fashion this year (probably not as dramatic). I think MTA is doing the right things for their business and applaud them. the fact is their business isn't right for everyone and the shopping choices are getting better. many posts have given credit on the good side to raising the level of training and soccer in mn and so do i. unfortunately, the alternate is that their tactics (especially early) also has raised the level of sleaze now. its funny, now that mta is established and they are a destination club, they can profess to rise above it all. the cc's are scrambling to recapture some of that lost talent and they are reverting to the 'recruiting' tactics that helped launch bangu. what goes around comes around and it's all a big cycle.
In the interst of full disclosure, I am a parent of a Bangu player. I have no problem with recruiting. I am suspisious of a club that tries to pressure a player or parent into making a decision. It causes far too much stress for the player if you ask me.
Yes, we have been recruited by other clubs. I took the time to talk to coaches and coaching directors and enjoyed those conversations. Those conversations centered on player development and their plans for the upcoming year.
I did not enjoy the pressure applied by one east metro club in particular and told them to shove it. I may have listened more and had a serious discussion with that club if they didn't make it about them and sticking to MTA.
I've been reading all these posts with interest (oldest daughter is now off to college - was never a Bangu player) and in a round about way all the people poster with negative comments about Bangu should actually be thanking them for forcing their current club to step up their programs. I wish our daughter had had the developmental options that her old club now offers when she was younger.
Most clubs have a time limit to make a decision if you want to accept a team placement, such as 48 hours. The problem with not having that in place, it has a trickle down effect on all other players. The next player in line that didn't make the top team might want to attend a different try out. By putting everyone in limbo it affects others. It is a tough decision to put players in, but if you are trying out at more than one club, you have to realize that you will have to make decisions. Those that are doing it are probably the bubble players.
A tryout fee is just that - a fee with no binding registration to a club. Bangu actually started down that road last year (using registration forms at tryouts) but must have been told not to do that and changed to a tryout form. Some clubs apply the tryout fee to the team registration if a player joins.
Off the subject, but of interest in regards to ODP and the Olympic team (copied and pasted from the USYS website).....
"Team USA's roster is comprised of 18 players that played their US Youth Soccer ball in various clubs from across the country. Of these, 17 have the common thread of participation in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP). The breakdown of players via their respective US Youth Soccer Region is as follows: Region I (5), Region II (5), Region III (0), Region IV (7)."
Not saying it's right or wrong, just passing on the info.
its funny how so many players go to a tryout and make that team but decide not to take a spot on it. it then does trickle down and the coach and others involved knows that the next players were alternates. heres a question, why would the alternates take a spot on the team as the player already knows they will not get the playing time and possibly not the attention at the training sessions as the coach is probably looking for replacements for next year. Whats your thoughts?
It's the parents. How many times have we heard "my daughter has been getting calls", "my daughter is being heavily recruited"? It's the parents making the decisions about how many tryouts to have their child attend and they are making the final decisions about where their child plays. How many are really listening to their children? Too many parents are living their child's athletic career as if it is their own. The old bumper sticker that said "have you talked to your child today?" should say "have you listened to your child today?". Maybe playing on a good C1 team with their friends with a really great coach is what they really want to do but dad thinks he is raising the next Mia Hamm and a DOC really wants his daughter on a club. Guess what most do?
To quote the missing in action Tomass, "Spot on".
1013 what is your point?? ODP and its youth national teams have always been the major part of the feeder system for the MNT and WNT. That will change soon on the male side but will continue on the female.
one of the interesting debates on this issue (would it be better to be the 16th best kid on an elite team and rarely get game experience or be the best kid on a good team and play all the time) comes straight from the MA pitch. that is, the majority of long term player development comes from training day in and day out with the best players not the game experience. a kid would therefore be better off developmentally sitting the bench for 80% of a game but training everyday with the top players than not being challenged everyday and playing 80% of the game. it's probably not far off but if you were honest with a kid and asked them up front which would they rather do, I bet 80% would say they want to play. i have a high level daughter and frankly would move her in a second if she sat 80% of the games but that's just me. of course I would also move her if 90% of the players on her team didn't have near the level of commitment and skills. the point is, there is something for everyone depending on your philosophy. as i have said before, via MTA's own recruiting and marketing efforts, the cc's that have raised their offering for high level players will thrive or become c2/c3 clubs. it is clear that some clubs get it and are out there offering a pretty good product at an affordable rate
12:31 Interesting debate, however MTA tells every player they will play at least half of the game all year, the only event(s) that playing time is not quarenteed is state cup and regionals. If that is the case how do your pecentages work. Training environment, more games vs being a stud on a cc that does not get as many games or the same competitive training environment.
Ask the U13 Blue girls team how many players sat on the bench for most or all of the games - premier games and NSC cup. Playing time was a huge issue on this team. Believe what you want to hear.
12:31, thank you for strengthening 11:09's point. You're the problem with sports parents. This is copied from your post:
"i have a high level daughter and frankly [I] would move her in a second if she sat 80% of the games but that's just me. of course I would also move her if 90% of the players on her team didn't have near the level of commitment and skills."
It's all about you. You aren't listening either...
1:10 - how do you know her daughter does not agree with her? Please don't twist you ankle when you step down off your soapbox.
12:31 - listen, i did not say that MA sits kids on the bench (although many do) so don't twist the words. i agree with his statement about player development happening day in and day out. i have no idea what he does in games and don't care. i was only agreeing with his pitch. i saw many games this year where the kids on the end of the bench barely played in games. that includes bangu and just about every cc.
as to 1:10 you have no idea who I am and my influence and support of youth soccer. for my daughter and my family, the experience we want out of soccer is to both play the majority of games. and when you accuse me of being about me, who should it be about? you? MTA? the fact is the best thing for my daughter is the best thing for youth soccer. she is on a team where she gets to play the amount she wants and trains with kids with a similar degree of skill and commitment. you see, that's why she likes it and comes back. in fact, that is the desired outcome for all kids, that is to match them on teams and with players like them.
so screw me the selfish hater for finding a place for my daughter that she likes
Bangu has had by far the best record in the State Cup games and the most State Cup Championships over the past several years.
The reason for this success is because they were different than the Community Clubs offering year around training at a relatively high level. the truth is they were much better prepared as players and as a team in the State Cup because of the training they did in the"offseason" and the fact that the State Cup is such an early season tournament. It is rarely discussed, yet I believe highly relevant that their success in this Early season tournament is due to Bangu's near exclusivity on substantial off season training. This advantage gave Bangu a real competitive advantage in recruting the most committed kids to their program.
Those days are gone, Many Community Clubs now offer high quality off season training programs which not only will help the quality of play come State Cup, but will also help retain and recruit the top players to those clubs. Bangu's true uniqueness is now history and therefore their pool of dissatisfied players to recruit from will continue to shrink.
Hats off to MA and the early Bangu management team who did raise the level of play in MN, but as is the case with everything when you have success others will follow your lead and create a program consistant with what works. That is the case today (IMO) with some of the favorable winter training programs offered by several CC's
MTA (or bangu) usually makes it very clear to everyone that play time will be very even except for State Cup and Regionals (I would also assume Nationals but we'll never know) where the #1 priority is to win. The best kids will play and some may not. Someone out there please tell me of major club where that is not the case? I do not believe I've ever seen a State Cup final where player #16 or #17 received equal play to all the starters. Seems like much to do about nothing.
The advantage that Bangu still has is as a magnet for the top players. How well you develop depends a lot on who you develop with. Every club could have year round training every day with great coaches, but if the calibre of who you train with is not great, the develpmental results will be diminished. We should also all drop the "CC" label for all clubs as except for their name, very few of them are still Community Clubs at the higher levels.
The magnet is becoming weaker....
2:31 - I respect your opinion and maybe things will change in the future, but until they stop winning State Cup titles (14 out of the last 21 girls crowns), you will only be stuck with an opinion. My guess is most of the MTA folks would prefer the hardware.
imo they prefer the hardware as that equals more money, on;ly makes sense to me
12:31/1:54, this is 1:10 again...you're right, I don't have a clue who you are or your influence, and frankly, I could care less. Same goes the other way. That's the beauty and the curse of the whole anon thing.
I really don't care where your DD plays, and to be honest, I'm 100% for her findings where she fits in the best and enjoys playing. It's not about me, MTA, CC's or anything other than the players getting what they want out of it. My beef is with the fact that you felt the need to place everything in the first person, which when read says it's all about you. If your daughter is full partner in deciding where she plays, kudos and my apologies. But be careful what you write, because it easily gets taken literally.
1:41 - Does you eye hurt? Might want to check and see if you have any logs sticking out of it.
CCs can offer all the programming they want. It doesn't equate to what MTA is offering - bringing talent together. CCs will not be able to do this nor should they focus on this. They are community organizations. COMMUNITY organizations not elite player organizations. It's so simple yet some don't see it. Focus on players who want your option. Get out of the way of players who want something else.
Very few "CCs" fit your textbook definition of a CC, anon 3:24. They're developing players, developing players, and winning. They are an option for strong players, and they WILL compete.
Why don't we just wait and see, my money is MTA will still dominate State Cup, all the cc's are doing is luring away role players and white team kids. At some point you have to make a decision you are not an elite player and you will head back to the cc's. Cc's will market and brag that kids are leaving MTA, but the truth is the top kids are staying and will still be attracted to the MTA program.
if your goal and priority in being happy playing youth soccer is to win state cup and play regionally, join mta (this is an admirable goal). if your goals are different, find a high quality team on a local club. don't play c1 or c2 soccer at mta. 3:24 implies MTA is about bringing talent together. mta is about making money. there is nothing wrong with that. 'bringing talent together' is bs. if so, they wouldn't have put some of the stinker teams on the field they have the past few years
3:20 - ouch, you've got me, man. "Uncle" LOL
Making money? All MN clubs are non profit and all MN clubs are out to make money. Many have to pay overpriced and overrated coaching directors, MTA included. Your argument is not new and still holds zero water.
There will always be strong teams outside of MTA at other clubs (I refuse to call them "community") as there is lots of talent out there. There are also parents who prefer for their child to be the big fish in the little pond. There is nothing wrong with that. There are parents/players who would prefer to be player #16 on a top MTA team and there are parents/parents who do not. There is nothing wrong with that.
This comments gets tossed out all the time.......find the club/team that fits your needs and make that choice. Why should any else care what anyone else does?
Like the chicken or the egg, I'm not sure which came first...the bangu lovers or the bangu haters.
The reason Bangu has had the Champions is answered above in a post explaining how they were the most innovative club with the year around training. As the U-9 - U-12 players get to the U-13 and up age group you will see a more balanced list of State Cup Champions. This doesn't mean MTA will be a bad choice, it just means other clubs have stepped it up and will be much more competitive as these younger kids age.
2:04 Can't agree with you about MTA. I've seen several instances where some kids got no playing time at Showcase tournaments.Some MTA coaches do not practice what is preached. It's called ego and that's a fact.
I'm a Bangu supporter but am tired of all this, especially the constant reminders of State Cup titles. We need to get beyond that and focused on winning beyond Mn which we are relatively unsuccessful at. An earlier post made snide reference to beating in state team 2-1, 1-0 not much to be spending so much time bragging about.
503, I'm sorry but you are crazy to think CC's will have a better chance at State cup in the following years. The amount of turnout at their U9 age group was huge and will continue to get bigger as the club grows. Current U10-U12 will dominate when they play at State Cup. You can dream but that's about it. Even with the improved training at the CC's you still will not have enough talent in any geographical area to compete. Of course the CC's will be better but so will the Bangu teams.
I agree with 5:44. Every player on a team should be "developed" and have a share of playing time in all games. If they were good enough to make the team, the coach has a responsibility to all of his/her players for the entire season until tryouts and a new team is formed. This happens a lot with the Bangu teams and it causes a lot of friction all the way around, between players, parents and the coaches and becomes a mess of egos and attitudes. Yes, other club teams have their best players playing most of the game but when the hype of a club is how much a player will learn and develop and big bucks are paid and then to be on the short side of things, it is no wonder there is anger and resentment the way a club or at least a team is run.
I agree with 5:44. Every player on a team should be "developed" and have a share of playing time in all games. If they were good enough to make the team, the coach has a responsibility to all of his/her players for the entire season until tryouts and a new team is formed. This happens a lot with the Bangu teams and it causes a lot of friction all the way around, between players, parents and the coaches and becomes a mess of egos and attitudes. Yes, other club teams have their best players playing most of the game but when the hype of a club is how much a player will learn and develop and big bucks are paid and then to be on the short side of things, it is no wonder there is anger and resentment the way a club or at least a team is run.
MTA is about satisfying egos. Players, parents, coaches and the head 'Goons. These folks all need each other.
ARS SE have been accepted by MYSA to play in the MN premier league (U17) for 2009
Big deal 632. Most of us do not care.
True, many don't and that's ok 822. There are many things on this blog that aren't of huge interest to me either, but this is a place where people can say what they want. So disregard this if you don't care, that's cool. There might be a couple of kids who might like to know this though.
MTA tryouts had 23,000 kids 1000 for each state cup title they've won Thought you all would want to know since everyone's life revolves around them
Isn't that down about 7 percent from last year, 7:53? The economy must be worse than we thought! LOL.
MTA's tryouts were filmed by Kare 11 News. All you haters should tune in tonight to learn what a real soccer club is like.
I know MTA had about 60 kids at their tryouts at Ft Snelling for the U12 boys teams. Couldn't tell you about other age groups.
SSM is the future of soccer at the regional/national level and MTA is the future at the state level. Get used to it.
I will be the "chicken or the egg" person today (which came first, the bangu lover or the bangu hater),
This morning, after a very quiet Saturday and a nice night of rest, at 7:53am, what appears to be a bangu hater struck first. Followed quickly by 9:14 & 10:27.
I will try to update this daily.
Who cares?
Who cares is right, as long as your player is getting good training for the next level, being College, State Cup, ODP, whatever.
Anyone know how the U-17 boys tryouts went there was a lot of rumors circulating them and I was just interested in knowing any info on how they went and who showed up?
914 woke up in a sarcastic mood. 914.
Regarding the 17's and much more. a big announcement is coming tomorrow afternoon from MTA. This, from what I hear is going to be huge for Minnesota soccer.
Another Huge announcement from MTA , I don't know if I will be able to sleep tonight.
You will be glad you're part of the team there if you are already there. This is BIG!
I would say the Blue/White/MN Regional concept has already been tried in at least two girls ages.
The Bangu Stars at U17 would be the Blue team, Bangu Select the White team, and Bangu Storm the MN South District team.
Stars were regionally and nationally successful at tournaments. They peaked at U15 by MRL results. They lost State Cup only once. In their early years, the played up in the MYSA Premier League and finished at or near the top. They moved to MRL a few years ago. Their results have regressed each year, but they still finish in the top half.
The results were fairly unimpressive for Select and Storm given the amount of year-round training (5-6 years for these teams), regional travel, and the high level coaching. Select usually finished in the lower half of the MYSA Premier league before being relegated after 2007. They moved to MRL 1st division on the strength of good State Cup results, but finished near the bottom of the league. They remain competitive with the lower level MN Premier teams/High level C1s. Not a bad level, but it reflects poorly on the training/coaching philosophy now being touted by MTA. No real improvement relative to other teams in 5 years.
Storm finished in the top half of MYSA South Classic 1 for 5 years, typically finishing 3rd. They were part of the Bangu system with no improvement in 5 years.
At 14, MA's Blue team played MRL 1st Div and MYSA U15 Premier. They won the MRL League, although they didn't advance to the Premier League. They won State Cup, and did well in Regionals, although they did not win.
The White team played MRL 1st Div only (even though they did not win their MYSA South District League at U13 (they did win Summer State), and finished in the top half.
They lost to NSSA (MN U14 Premier League champ) in USA Cup. They currently would be a top 2/3 team in the MYSA Premier league. Why should anyone expect different results than Bangu Select after 3 more years?
Bangu Green took the MYSA Premier U14 spot vacated by White. They finished in the lower half of the Premier League.
In both ages, there is one regional/national team that may peak early, and a couple of lesser teams that do the training, get the coaching, and probably play to their natural athletic ability.
What is going to be different with
MTA?
Kare 11 covers their tryouts, the desperate recruiting calls and parking lot stop and chats will be worse, Blame for the shortfalls will be placed on ohters.
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