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When people look back at the 2008 girls soccer season, what will be remembered? Here are just a few ideas to get things started:
*The ridiculous Feb. 25 starting date.
*Waubonsie Valley's dominance.
*More players skip high school soccer than ever before.
*The younger talent that grabbed the spotlight.
*Downers South coach Barry Jacobson becoming the first Illinois girls soccer coach to win 400 games.
*Pepsi Showdown becomes largest girls soccer tournament in the country.
*New Trier's amazing consecutive quarterfinal run comes to an end.
*A number of long-time girls soccer coaches retire.
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In regards to players not playing high school soccer.. there are some very good high school teams out there with some good coaches.... but there are also quite a few not so very good teams with some not so great coaches.... why should a girl ( or boy ) who just happens to reside in a school district with a not-so-great coach and team play for the school when they can play club with a much better coach and team? Just to be some kind of "soccer missionary" for the school?
I'd love to see all the great soccer players in Illinois play for their high school team but something like that will only happen when ALL schools really invest in their programs with good coaches and facilities. And you know that just ain't going to happen.
Congrats Charlie you are so correct. The girls do have an advantage as they are allowed to play in the boys leagues, but the boys are not. Thus the creation of the Academy Programs, where the elite soccer player can play year round for their club.
As for Coaches, soccer will never get the billing that foorball and basketball do. Therefore we will keep the bad coaches.