OT: Who watched US MNT instead of NBA last night?

[Pitt79]

I love American football, but one of the things in the future that will make soccer more popular is concussions and injuries. I played American football through high school. I had an unforgettable memorable experience. But looking back, it is pretty stupid "playing" something where you are 95% sure to be injured to some degree every season.

 

[Swervin27]

I love American football, but one of the things in the future that will make soccer more popular is concussions and injuries. I played American football through high school. I had an unforgettable memorable experience. But looking back, it is pretty stupid "playing" something where you are 95% sure to be injured to some degree every season.

95% chance of being injured? Comments like that make you really tough to take serious. I played football like a lot of posters on here, that comment is ridiculous. Unless your definition of "Injured" is different than mine..

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

It's apples & oranges, USAMNT can't control the development of every kid in the USA, just like Argentina MNT doesn't. There has to be some organic development of players. China has more resources and 4 times more people, and they probably have authoritarian power to force the best kids to play, why aren't they World Cup Champs?

Cause they are Chinese. They are busy solving math problems and taking over the world instead of playing kick ball.

 

[Pitt79]

95% chance of being injured? Comments like that make you really tough to take serious. I played football like a lot of posters on here, that comment is ridiculous. Unless your definition of "Injured" is different than mine..

I think everyone is hurt almost every year, more so than other sports, I played high school football and was injured every year. I had a broken ankle and cracked ribs. I don't mean injured enough to miss practice even, I mean everyone is beaten up and bruised and sore all the time. I played basketball too, and that was never the case. So maybe yes, my definition is different, I don't mean "serious injuries". You can play basketball or baseball or soccer every day and all you are is tired, football your are more "battered and bruised" is my point. What you do as a normal part of the game in football is a foul in most other sports. And yes, the number of players "injured and out for the season" is way more in football too.

 

[Pitt79]

Cause they are Chinese. They are busy solving math problems and taking over the world instead of playing kick ball.

So I guess in your estimation, if we get some rich guy to just go down to the 'hood and sign up and pay a bunch of ghetto black kids to play soccer every day, we'll win the world cup in 20 years?

 

[Swervin27]

I think everyone is hurt almost every year, more so than other sports, I played high school football and was injured every year. I had a broken ankle and cracked ribs. I don't mean injured enough to miss practice even, I mean everyone is beaten up and bruised and sore all the time. I played basketball too, and that was never the case. So maybe yes, my definition is different, I don't mean "serious injuries". You can play basketball or baseball or soccer every day and all you are is tired, football your are more "battered and bruised" is my point. What you do as a normal part of the game in football is a foul in most other sports. And yes, the number of players "injured and out for the season" is way more in football too.

can I use a tom hanks quote to reply to this? I'll assume the answer is yes..

If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. It's the hard that makes it great

my biggest complaint was playing on turf, freakin sucked. getting into shower after playing on turf felt like someone was pouring battery acid over you.. now this is mid 90s, some advancements in the turf industry. Mt. Lebanon's turf in 1994 was basically the green carpet you buy for your outdoor patio if you are broke, North Allegheny's was better but not much. Zero padding too so imagine green outdoor patio carpet over cement..

 

[Swervin27]

I think everyone is hurt almost every year, more so than other sports, I played high school football and was injured every year. I had a broken ankle and cracked ribs. I don't mean injured enough to miss practice even, I mean everyone is beaten up and bruised and sore all the time. I played basketball too, and that was never the case. So maybe yes, my definition is different, I don't mean "serious injuries". You can play basketball or baseball or soccer every day and all you are is tired, football your are more "battered and bruised" is my point. What you do as a normal part of the game in football is a foul in most other sports. And yes, the number of players "injured and out for the season" is way more in football too.

not playing football would have been easier, going home after school and watching tv every day, meeting buddies in woods to drink a case would have been great BUT playing football THEN drinking in woods after made it that much better.. It's like going to happy hour.. It's better because it's almost like a reward. If you are unemployed then go to happy hour, sure it's ok but not the same..

 

[Pitt79]

If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. It's the hard that makes it great

So true, like I said, I loved it, and would I do it again? Hell yes! But with law suits, insurance costs, helicopter parents, concussion obsession, just saying, KIDS IN THE FUTURE will be discouraged way more than any of us where, you know that is true. And I can see schools dropping it eventually, and insurance costs going through the roof, and rule changes eventually making it unrecognizable.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

I love American football, but one of the things in the future that will make soccer more popular is concussions and injuries. I played American football through high school. I had an unforgettable memorable experience. But looking back, it is pretty stupid "playing" something where you are 95% sure to be injured to some degree every season.

Ask a concussion dr about his patient population. Soccer players are at the top or near the top of the list.

 

[Pitt79]

Ask a concussion dr about his patient population. Soccer players are at the top or near the top of the list.

Maybe so, but I don't see any other sport criticized and changed based on injury fears like American Football.

 

[Swervin27]

Maybe so, but I don't see any other sport criticized and changed based on injury fears like American Football.

This message brought to you by The Helicopter Parenting association of America..

 

[Pitt79]

This message brought to you by The Helicopter Parenting association of America..

Don't count me in that group! I tell my daughter to ignore fears of heading a soccer ball and risk scrambling her brain anyways. I'm just telling it like I see it.

 

[Swervin27]

Don't count me in that group! I tell my daughter to ignore fears of heading a soccer ball and risk scrambling her brain anyways. I'm just telling it like I see it.

I very vocal yet very small minority, squawking about the cause of the day. Common sense should win. hey Pitt79, serious question here from a non soccer fan. . Would eliminating heading really change the game of youth soccer all that much? "heading" seems hard, something that we see at the professional ranks but I can't imagine too many 10 year old kids really possess the coordination (or determination) to jump in air and "head" a soccer ball. Am I wrong? Naïve?

 

[Pitt79]

I very vocal yet very small minority, squawking about the cause of the day. Common sense should win. hey Pitt79, serious question here from a non soccer fan. . Would eliminating heading really change the game of youth soccer all that much? "heading" seems hard, something that we see at the professional ranks but I can't imagine too many 10 year old kids really possess the coordination (or determination) to jump in air and "head" a soccer ball. Am I wrong? Naïve?

I don't think it's that difficult, and having done it, I also don't think it's very dangerous. And I don't even see younger kids try it that much, as they get older they get comfortable and learn it. I wouldn't change it or eliminate it. Most of the intentional headers I see from kids are balls coming at them when they are stationary, not much of the jumping in the air variety, they might start trying that at the high school age.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Maybe so, but I don't see any other sport criticized and changed based on injury fears like American Football.

True. Although the youth soccer game has changed already. They just implemented a rule that players under the agreement of 13(?) are not allowed to head balls.

I don't think it's that difficult, and having done it, I also don't think it's very dangerous. And I don't even see younger kids try it that much, as they get older they get comfortable and learn it. I wouldn't change it or eliminate it. Most of the intentional headers I see from kids are balls coming at them when they are stationary, not much of the jumping in the air variety, they might start trying that at the high school age.

heading is now banned in this country for players under the age of 13(?).

 

[Swervin27]

banning heading just seems a very easy to fix.. cant imagine too many kids do it effectively anyways.. I'd almost compare it to some checking rules in youth hockey.. again, not really done effectively until kid gets older so no purpose to allow it since it is mostly all bad with little benefit..

 

[Pitt79]

My daughter just finished up playing U14, and the 13-14 year olds where allowed to head the ball, in fact coached to. I haven't heard about this ban, She's played since she was 8 and it was always allowed. So it must be new, and I'm not involved with the younger groups anymore, so maybe I just missed that.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

My daughter just finished up playing U14, and the 13-14 year olds where allowed to head the ball, in fact coached to. I haven't heard about this ban, She's played since she was 8 and it was always allowed. So it must be new, and I'm not involved with the younger groups anymore, so maybe I just missed that.

There are new rules being implemented in youth soccer. Our rule in Virginia is no heading in U-11, but U-12 and above can.
I'm fine with this, because truthfully, there is no need for a 10 year old to head the ball. Lets focus on keeping the ball on the ground and maintain possession. When goalies punt, many of the kids are too scared to take the ball out of the air anyway.

If a child in the restricted age heads the ball, it is actually whistled as an indirect foul. Also if a kid gets hit in the head or face, the referee stops play to check on the child.

My oldest who plays in college has had way too many concussions, and she is far more susceptible to concussions from here on out. She has worn head protection, and avoids heading unless totally necessary.

Let the older kids head the ball until the young ones learn to do it the right way.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

My daughter just finished up playing U14, and the 13-14 year olds where allowed to head the ball, in fact coached to. I haven't heard about this ban, She's played since she was 8 and it was always allowed. So it must be new, and I'm not involved with the younger groups anymore, so maybe I just missed that.

I have 4 kids who are all 4 years apart. My oldest daughter just graduated from Pitt and my youngest just played U11. I've been around youth soccer for almost 20 years. In the Fall they were allowed to head. In the Spring the rule took immediate effect. So kids who were used to headling balls were getting whistled all Spring long. Watching balls served into the box on corner kicks is the most ridiculous thing ever. The rule must be U12 and under.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

There are new rules being implemented in youth soccer. Our rule in Virginia is no heading in U-11, but U-12 and above can.
I'm fine with this, because truthfully, there is no need for a 10 year old to head the ball. Lets focus on keeping the ball on the ground and maintain possession. When goalies punt, many of the kids are too scared to take the ball out of the air anyway.

If a child in the restricted age heads the ball, it is actually whistled as an indirect foul. Also if a kid gets hit in the head or face, the referee stops play to check on the child.

My oldest who plays in college has had way too many concussions, and she is far more susceptible to concussions from here on out. She has worn head protection, and avoids heading unless totally necessary.

Let older kids head the ball until the young ones learn to do it the right way.

Is it your niece at Beadling? I can't keep up. Can't remember if it's her who would know my daughter. But anyways, my kid made a living with her head winning balls in the air at midfield and in goal scoring. More than half of her goals last season were with her head, most off corners and crosses. She graduated with not one career concussion...at least that we know of. I personally feel it's technique, luck, or predisposition. And my money is on predisposition. So much for us all to learn on the issue.

 

[Swervin27]

interesting fellas, thanks for the insight. obviously you guys have much more knowledge with heading in youth soccer.. Sounds like it plays a bigger part than I initially thought. Maybe soccer, along with several other sports, has a "danger" element to it and we can chalk that up to it being a part of life.. Train and teach our kids and at the end of the day, that's the best we can all do..

 

[Pitt79]

I talked to some of you guys before about high school vs. club teams etc. My daughter this year is playing for her high school and for the 1st time ever a club travel team, Ellicott City SC in Maryland, as she enters 10th grade. So we'll be going to some of these travel tournaments, I think in DC, Delaware, NJ, PA and NC I believe between now and next May. It should be interesting, and more expensive, but I figure if she actually gets good, within 2 years and maybe can play for a college team, why not? She's excited and wants to try, so to me it's worth it.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

I talked to some of you guys before about high school vs. club teams etc. My daughter this year is playing for her high school and for the 1st time ever a club travel team, Ellicott City SC in Maryland, as she enters 10th grade. So we'll be going to some of these travel tournaments, I think in DC, Delaware, NJ, PA and NC I believe between now and next May. It should be interesting, and more expensive, but I figure if she actually gets good, within 2 years and maybe can play for a college team, why not? She's excited and wants to try, so to me it's worth it.

Good luck to her. If she wants to play in college, she will. There's a spot for anyone who wants to play. It's just a matter of what level (D1,D2,D3), how much scholarship money she gets, how much she wants to play and finding the right fit. Most importantly obviously is school first and soccer 2nd. Since we are talking about concussions in this thread, consideration must be given to the school in case a concussion or major injury take soccer away. So have her pick a place that she will love if she ends up just being a student. And D1 schools will often discourage the more challenging "professional" majors. So if your kid wants to be an engineer, then D3 soccer is probably the better fit. I just got back from my daughters orientation at her future school. I can't be more thrilled that she's playing soccer. There are so many perks to being an athlete that will help her scholastically and career placement. But if she loses soccer, I also feel good knowing that she is at a really nice place that she will enjoy.

DM me if you have any questions. I am happy to help. I've been through the recruiting process with two kids now and am now going though it with my 3rd.

 

[Pitt79]

Good luck to her. If she wants to play in college, she will. There's a spot for anyone who wants to play. It's just a matter of what level (D1,D2,D3), how much scholarship money she gets, how much she wants to play and finding the right fit. Most importantly obviously is school first and soccer 2nd. Since we are talking about concussions in this thread, consideration must be given to the school in case a concussion or major injury take soccer away. So have her pick a place that she will love if she ends up just being a student. And D1 schools will often discourage the more challenging "professional" majors. So if your kid wants to be an engineer, then D3 soccer is probably the better fit. I just got back from my daughters orientation at her future school. I can't be more thrilled that she's playing soccer. There are so many perks to being an athlete that will help her scholastically and career placement. But if she loses soccer, I also feel good knowing that she is at a really nice place that she will enjoy.

DM me if you have any questions. I am happy to help. I've been through the recruiting process with two kids now and am now going though it with my 3rd.

Thanks, and I will. Actually, she's a late bloomer- 1st travel team in 10th grade, so we haven't given much thought ever to playing college soccer. So I'm not counting on it, it's just a possibility since she got this far. She was working out at a camp with some of her high school team this week and some of the girls are really advanced compared to her. But she' playing and trying, we'll see how it goes. Coaches like her for physical tools, speed, strength and size, which she really gained the last 3 years. So yeah, school comes first, but if she can do it, and wants to, I say why not?