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I’m a big believer in telling it the way it is. Rubs a lot of people the wrong way, but so be it.
So here we go:
Let’s say the IHSA allowed high school players to play club during the high school season, do you think the clubs and Fire Academy would allow the players to do both next season?
While the IHSA is one of the few states that doesn’t allow players to do both during the same season, it’s only a matter of time before someone sues the organization like a parent in Texas did to gain access to both. But would the clubs and Chicago Fire work with the high schools, so the players could play for their community?
If I’m a betting man, I say the answer is no - no matter what they say. There is no way they would work fairly with the high school programs.
Why would they need to?
If the IHSA did allow players to do both, it would be giving up the only power it currently has. If players do both, the IHSA is basically powerless.
Thoughts?
-Joe Trost
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So let's get this straight:
2 teams at a time (high school and club). How do we make sure EVERY player involved doesn't have game conflicts. What happens when a club team goes out of town for a tournament during a high school game? How does a player choose between a club game, and his high school practice?
2 practices a day with two different teams?
And let's not forget these kids go to school. Sometimes those on the outside of the equation (you in this case), forget that these are high school students who play soccer in their extra time away from class and homework.
And while I am an advocate of both high school and club soccer, they offer completely different things. The Sockers have players in their "Top Talent" program, who weren't even starters on their high school teams. I'd put their names here, but again, they're high school students. They weren't starting caliber players, and they decided thats the route they wanted to go instead of sitting the bench their senior years.
But I'm sick of people saying that "all" the top players don't play high school soccer, because its clearly not the case.
It is a very bad idea to allow this. I have been a club coach for the past 10 years and have seen kids play on both their middle school and club teams at the same time. I know of many 7th and 8th graders who have played 30 - 35 games in a 10 week period. In our area, the middle school teams are co-ed and the level of the middle school games is not intense, however, when you play that many games in such a short period of time, you end up with a lot of injuries.
If you allowed high school aged kids to play a similar number of games at their intesity level, both the club and high school teams would lose kids to injury and of course, it's the injured kids who would suffer the most and, I'm pretty sure this is about the kids. Of course, even if the IHSA were to allow this, parents could still exercise their right to say no....
Coming from a place where High School teams were a second to the IMG Academy team in Bradenton,Florida. While being a player at the Academy, you had a choice to try out for the high school if you went to St. Stephens. The academy coach would allow you to miss a decent amount of practices to play only for High School games, to miss a practice for a practice was not allowed.
The main thing players were told when going to play in these high school games, if they get hurt and they are out for an extended period of time, to earn there spot back would almost be impossible.
It was their decision to play in extra activites, so they must pay the consequences. Also I think most high school coaches in Illinois, understand that the competitive level of a Academy team is higher and practicing/playing with the Academy team and playing only for the High school would be acceptable.
The top players in the country do not play high school they are committed to other programs that are way more beneficial then high school will ever be. There are still extremely good players that play high school. But the best players in the nation don't play High School.
If the clubs created a season for their team IHSA would be in trouble. There are far too many high school teams with clueless coaches. Having a player practice 5 days a week with games 2-3 times a week is just plain dumb. My god, even the EPL gives it adult players a day off. IHSA will never allow it because it does not have a great product.
I think the answer to your question is no; based on the fact that the mission for club soccer is completely different than high school soccer.
I also think that your idea that the IHSA is powerless in this situation is incorrect based on its mission. It is to use sports to build the individual into a contributing part of society whereas the club's mission is focused on itself. I'm not sure what power you are speaking of that they will lose when allowing players to play club as well. That to me allows the player the opportunity to make decisions.
That is not to say that playing for a club is bad. I think club soccer is fantastic in the Chicago area. But the focus is certainly on building the soccer and not the individual outside of soccer.
I guess I feel the decision should be opened up and be made by the players and their families. I believe the soccer will always be better at the club level as that rightfully is the sole focus. But being part of a community can be just as if not more important in the player's development as a person.
TROST RESPONDS: The power I'm referring to is all or nothing. Right now, it's all high school or no high school. But I agree 100 percent with your thoughts above. I think in today's society, we forget a game is more about wins or losses or goals scored.