I am not from HHHW and not from a rich district and I have to agree with his description of school ball. If he didn't say he was from HHH his description sounded like most schools i have seen play

Same conversations have gone on for years and yet everyone still has their kid play school soccer. Get over it. Stop holding it to a higher standard. It is not high level soccer and nobody ever says it is. Kids play it so they can have a chance to play with and infront of their friends. Their friends never get to drive upstate and watch them play in a premier game but they will walk 50 feet to watch them play for their school. The coaches arent teaching a high level player anything but the kids are getting to touch a ball every day for two hours right after school which does have some value

Gotta love the BOTN...lol...You guys are comical with all your assumptions nor can you accept actual truths. Ask the kids that play school ball and are from Premier/D1 teams. They will tell you themselves if you don't believe me. I don't claim to be an expert but know enough to recognize the difference between the game of soccer and a school activity posing AS soccer. With what appears to be your amount of anger on this topic, would you happen to be a School Coach by any chance ? See that's a question not an assumption. No longer are a lot of the true soccer players even playing for their HS because of the new programs that are out which makes them choose one or the other. You keep being upset and making assumptions and I will keep finding you amusing. Lighten up Francis

Who cares, just about everyone who starts paying big bucks for training from club teams at U10 is wasting their money anyway. Very few get scholarships, even fewer get full scholarships and now because of the ultra competitive nature and the team jumping the kids don't even retain friendships. By U13 most of the kids view soccer as a chore and not enjoyable. Parents kill the sport. Good job.

Not defending High School ball or any particular coach, but is it possible some of the coaches are doing what they can with what they have? Even if you have 3 or 4 possession players (which most non-private schools would be extremely lucky to have), you can't really play a possession game (unless you plan those 4 players taking the ball up and down the field - and even then - someone else will eventually need to "kick" it to them).

So, you end up with what you see. That doesn't mean the coach is bad (it doesn't mean they are good either). At this point, it's clear that High School ball is what it is - a social event. Which is important, as someone has pointed out.

But, if by 16 years old, your child can't adjust between 2 teams style of play, then either they aren't good enough, or shouldn't be doing both, so as not to confuse him. I would always tell my child to "play their game," but listen to the coach. If my son has superior foot skills, he should use them within the framework of what the coach is telling the team to do. Just because it's kick and run, doesn't mean the coach just wants them kicking as soon as they get it. He can still posses and look for an opening/teammate to place the ball. Direct is a style of play that is well accepted internationally.

Also, don't presume that a bunch of 16-18 year olds are actually listening and executing everything a coach is trying to tell them. Yes, it's part of the job to figure out a way to get the kids to do what you tell them. But, as a parent, does your 17 year old also listen and do what you say to a T? And does your 2nd 17 year old react the same to the same methods? Now, extrapolate that to 15 new kids each year.

That was well said. You are 100% correct. Soccer is supposed to be fun for the kids, isn't it?

O.K. i'm starting to get a little bored with this. can we change the subject. How about those Mets!

What about some Long Island Cup Predictions for the weekend. Will there any Suffolk team left standing?

suffolk d2 predictions anyone?

Major winners: Albertson, EI, Farm, NHP, Bayport

Intermediate winners: Hauppauge, Longwood, Massapequa, Commack, Glen Cove, Syosset, Garden City

Good Luck