) How does participating in or not participating in the overseas trip hurt / help a player? What if we are financially constrained?
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I have been on many, many international soccer tours with club, college, national teams, ODP teams. I have yet to have a poor soccer experience. It is the world's game and these trips expose the players to a passion for the sport that unfortunately cannot be replicated in this country - although we can only hope we are moving that way.
We play teams that are made up of same age players from the professional clubs of Argentina
(91 and 93 teams) and Scotland (95 trip). These are players who are trying to work their way up to the professional level. They were born with the soccer ball at their feet and the game in their hearts. Exposure to this environment never ceases to motivate me. The players will go against talent and sophistication that they are not use to. This will push them to be there best and find ways to be better. They simply do not get pushed this way at home - even when playing against older players. It is hard to describe the effect this has on the players.
In Argentina we take the U-15s and 17s. They play back to back games and that night they "critique" each other. We see the soccer brains developing at these team meetings. We see older payers helping younger players the same way a true club system would be... unfortunately not found here either.
For some players the opportunity to return to train with a professional club has happened. We had 2 players last year get invited to train with Celtic for 2 weeks in the summer. The year before we had a U-15 player invited to train with a Brazilian club.
Regarding finances for these trips - all I can say is that we price them at the absolute east we can. MSYSA makes no money off the trips - actually they lose money sue to costs of the staff. Is it worth it? I can't answer that. We can find ways to help with a payment plan and things like that, but unfortunately this is the one area where we do not have any financial assistance.
Does it hurt or help to go or not go?? Well naturally your son will have a unique opportunity for improvement and for a significant cultural education. It certainly won't be held against anyone for not going, but those who do go have an experience that they can bring back to help their game, their club team and teammates.
Hope that helps. It is an amazing culture we expose the boys to - on and off the field.
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Just to be sure everyone knows that no posts will be allowed on here that are derogatory towards anyone or anything. Constructive criticism is fine and welcomed...preferably with suggestions. I had the unfortunate experience of reading another soccer forum a few times that has since been closed due to the negativism that ran throughout it. That won't happen here. The purpose of this was for informational reasons and to be able to answer legitimate questions. Lets keep it that way please. Thank you.
I went as a chaperone with the ODP team when my son went to Scotland a few years ago with his MD ODP squad. It was an outstanding trip ... the boys learned a lot about soccer, about another nation and its culture, and about taking responsibility for themselves.
I think the parents and chaperones on the trip also learned a lot. One thing that sticks out in my memory was the way the Scottish parents conducted themselves at youth soccer games … The MD ODP boys played the youth teams of some of the top professional soccer clubs in Scotland, including Celtic FC. During these games the parents of the Scottish boys playing didn't say one word during the run of play. If there were a good shot or save, after the play completed the Scottish parents would applaud for a few seconds, or shout a few words of encouragement. But other that this show of support for a good play, not one word was said by the Scottish parents during the youth games. Indeed, when some of the parents from the MD ODP squad would shout suggestions or comments to the boys or the referees during and about the run of play, the Scottish parents would turn around and look at us sternly and disapprovingly. In talking to our Scottish soccer tour guide about this behavior by the Scottish parents, he said that the rule that everyone follows in Scottish youth soccer is that the coach is the only one who talks to the players and referees on the field during the game. It was a real pleasure to watch these games without having to listen to a bunch of adults yelling at the kids playing and the officials refereeing the game. While seemingly this sort of practice would be a tough thing to bring about in the US given that so many parents seemingly think it is their right and responsibility to shout, coach and encourage their kids and their teams during the youth games, as well as call or critique the play for the refs, US youth soccer would do well to promote such an environment here in the United States. And, our parents would do well to keep their mouths shut a lot more during youth soccer matches.
We definitely have an unhealthy environment on our sidelines. I was thinking that my next project might be to do viseo clips of youth soccer sideline comments. There is nothing worse than hearing adults berate kids form another team (or their own team).
One of the potentially most dangerous times in youth sports could also be the best time for learning- the ride home after a game where the comments come out from parents to children. I think I can leave it at that. Hopefully , we can all do better in our sideline behavior and take some note from how the Scottish parents approach their role.
See what what we can do to make our enviromnemnt better. Guaranteed that it will lead to more enjoyment for the players.
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