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Sunday June 1 3pm-4pm Boys Super-8s Field 4
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Sunday June 1 4pm-5pm Girls Super-8s Field 4
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Saturday June 7 3pm-4pm Boys Super-8s Field 4
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Saturday June 7 4pm-5pm Girls Super-8s Field 4
The "Super-8" teams are teams of Under-8 players that compete against Under-10 players. It is an accelerated program designed to help advanced players prepare for playing at an advanced level in future years.
A FUNdamental Reader wrote us this response:I have not seen this type of activity--yet. But, I would not be surprised if a competitive minded individual did not bring this up, as 'good for the kids'. In general, people that have the 'competitive' bug branded into them believe that competition play is the cat's meow.
The aspect of slowly developing players’ soccer skills, without putting the player in physical jeopardy is going out the window. If a younger player shows even a hint of ability, an older team coach sees an immediate reason why that player should not be moved up, on THEIR team.
It is all about winning, not about development. Even in the recreational program, where the emphasis is supposed to be on fun and development, there are people who think nothing about attempting to 'stack' recreational teams, with 'good' players.
The recreational programs of too many leagues are afterthoughts, just feeding grounds for the competitive programs. The majority of most leagues resources go into the care and feeding of competitive programs. Training items seem to only fit within a 'competitive' environment, with little thought to soccer ‘development'
People should realize that the vast majority of players in the USA are recreational players. But the existence of recreational tournaments for any age group to attend is minuscule. Competitive tournaments are pushed, recreational tournaments, play-days, festivals are not. The emphasis on soccer is wrapped in competing, and beating, not in having fun.
This is pushed by the egos of coaches, league officials, and parents. To win and be identified as a 'winner' is everything, having 'fun' is an after thought. The aspect of 'competition' brings out the best of coaches/league officials, who sometimes will seek out methods to insure that their team(s) is the best and have the best. This is the sub current of the competitive drive, which can also affect players in a detrimental way.
These people often will wave the flag of 'it's for the kids', or 'it's in the best interests of the kids'. It can be presumed that this same flag is flying when they coach players from other teams, verbally discourage parents from having their player play for another coach (play for _me_, the other coach is a bum), use their league positions to build a heavily experienced team for themselves, etc.
Finally, do I think that U8 teams should be doing tryouts--absolutely not? Leave the kids in that age group alone, let them have fun and develop. I believe that the governing youth bodies in this country should make a rule absolutely forbidding U-8 try-outs, tournaments, etc.
FUNdamental Reader we would love to publish your thoughts on this subject.