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Baton Rouge Soccer Competitive Placement
Posted on 5/5/25 at 1:02 pm
Posted on 5/5/25 at 1:02 pm
Completely new to the board, sorry if this is not the place for this post, but here goes. I'm looking for some advice/expectations/direction on any parents familiar with BRSC youth competitive program. This is also coming from someone who did not grow up playing soccer.
My daughter just finished her first year of BRSC pre-competitive program this year and really loved it. She had never done it before, only some dad coached rec soccer with classmates. Because of a late December birthday and yet-to-change age group rules, she had to try out for the competitive program even though she will only be a 10 year old 5th grader this coming fall season.
She was hopeful that she would make the second division "red" team, but found out she was placed on the third division "maroon" team. I understand she was late to the game and shouldn't expect her to be competing with more competent players, but looking for some feedback on what all this means. Does her lacking the experience right now and being in a lower level more or less prevent her from ever rising up in later years? What is the major skill or play differences between the different divisions, and does playing "lower skill" players in the third division make it much harder for her to improve and compete up? Can we expect quality development just from being out there competing each weekend and practicing with real coaches every week?
I have no delusions of her being a top-flight soccer player, but she really loves the game and was very upset thinking she's on the "bad" team now. I think an achievable goal is to be good enough to make her middle and high school soccer teams one day, and not just the kind that has no talent and you're on basically by default. Any feedback for those familiar with the club or the youth soccer scene in general would be great.
My daughter just finished her first year of BRSC pre-competitive program this year and really loved it. She had never done it before, only some dad coached rec soccer with classmates. Because of a late December birthday and yet-to-change age group rules, she had to try out for the competitive program even though she will only be a 10 year old 5th grader this coming fall season.
She was hopeful that she would make the second division "red" team, but found out she was placed on the third division "maroon" team. I understand she was late to the game and shouldn't expect her to be competing with more competent players, but looking for some feedback on what all this means. Does her lacking the experience right now and being in a lower level more or less prevent her from ever rising up in later years? What is the major skill or play differences between the different divisions, and does playing "lower skill" players in the third division make it much harder for her to improve and compete up? Can we expect quality development just from being out there competing each weekend and practicing with real coaches every week?
I have no delusions of her being a top-flight soccer player, but she really loves the game and was very upset thinking she's on the "bad" team now. I think an achievable goal is to be good enough to make her middle and high school soccer teams one day, and not just the kind that has no talent and you're on basically by default. Any feedback for those familiar with the club or the youth soccer scene in general would be great.
6
Posted on 5/5/25 at 1:30 pm to EveryonesACoach
Having gone through 8 of these placements with my own daughter, first thing I will say is that if you stick around long enough, you will learn that often times the placements have very little to do with actual ability, and much more to do with who knows who and "political" BS. And I say this as someone who's kid was a Red player on some very successful teams, and played several years on Black as well
Cynicism aside, your quote about her being a late birthday is very possibly the reason. I know a decade ago, when putting together the youngest teams, they would almost always default to the older/bigger kids on black, and then work their way down. If she's small of stature, or doesn't play very physical, this could be all it really is.
As far as the team aspect goes, and her ability to move up, that will all depend a great deal on the coach she gets for her Maroon team. At this age, the focus should squarely be on development and getting better at all phases of her game. Hopefully her coach will agree in that mindset, and make sure that in year from now she shows up to placement a better and more capable player, regardless of how the team W/L record goes. Again, that varies wildly from coach to coach, so hopefully she gets a good one who is wanting what's best for her
Finally, remind her and yourself that Maroon at 5th grade isn't a "death sentence", and she has plenty of time to improve, both naturally and with outside work if she so desires. Typically there is a ton of movement in the middle school years, between players going up and down in skill, as well as players leaving to do to other things. My advice is to take this year to learn and grow, and have the goal of becoming the best player she can be so next year they have no choice but to take notice and put her on a better team
Cynicism aside, your quote about her being a late birthday is very possibly the reason. I know a decade ago, when putting together the youngest teams, they would almost always default to the older/bigger kids on black, and then work their way down. If she's small of stature, or doesn't play very physical, this could be all it really is.
As far as the team aspect goes, and her ability to move up, that will all depend a great deal on the coach she gets for her Maroon team. At this age, the focus should squarely be on development and getting better at all phases of her game. Hopefully her coach will agree in that mindset, and make sure that in year from now she shows up to placement a better and more capable player, regardless of how the team W/L record goes. Again, that varies wildly from coach to coach, so hopefully she gets a good one who is wanting what's best for her
Finally, remind her and yourself that Maroon at 5th grade isn't a "death sentence", and she has plenty of time to improve, both naturally and with outside work if she so desires. Typically there is a ton of movement in the middle school years, between players going up and down in skill, as well as players leaving to do to other things. My advice is to take this year to learn and grow, and have the goal of becoming the best player she can be so next year they have no choice but to take notice and put her on a better team
Posted on 5/5/25 at 1:54 pm to OldManRiver
This was a very helpful response, thank you.
Your comment about politics doesn't surprise me. We're very much treating it with the attitude of any competitive team will help her get better, and that she needs to set a goal and work hard for it next year. I think with the right attitude and coach she could make a real jump by this time next year if she really wants it.
Your comment about politics doesn't surprise me. We're very much treating it with the attitude of any competitive team will help her get better, and that she needs to set a goal and work hard for it next year. I think with the right attitude and coach she could make a real jump by this time next year if she really wants it.
Posted on 5/5/25 at 2:25 pm to OldManRiver
quote:
Having gone through 8 of these placements with my own daughter, first thing I will say is that if you stick around long enough, you will learn that often times the placements have very little to do with actual ability, and much more to do with who knows who and "political" BS. And I say this as someone who's kid was a Red player on some very successful teams, and played several years on Black as well
Cynicism aside, your quote about her being a late birthday is very possibly the reason. I know a decade ago, when putting together the youngest teams, they would almost always default to the older/bigger kids on black, and then work their way down. If she's small of stature, or doesn't play very physical, this could be all it really is.
Same here and I agree.
They almost always put the new rec kids on the maroon team unless they are big and/or impress them big time at the tryout.
bunch of new rec kids joined one of the boys maroon teams this past year and you could tell were put there simply b/c they were 'unknowns". They were practicing with the black team all fall, and actually beat the red team in a game which wasnt' a fluke, and that red team just finished 1st in the 2nd division of LCSL. One of the maroon kids was moved up to the black team after a few weeks into the season.
I know with my younger son there were 2 kids who we came to know who were on the 4th team that should have been fringe black/red team players, but b/c they were unknowns coming from rec and no one is really paying attention at a tryout with 70+ kids, they got stuck on the 4th team. and now after a year in the system both are on the black team for next year.
I don't know much about the girls side of things, but I think the guy out of Dutchtown trying to run a program out there might be a better setup for the girls, at least from what I hear.
BRSC blows for the most part unless you luck into a good coach and/or a team of good parents/kids. They are constantly losing top talent on the boys side b/c the are just a money grab organization over development.
Posted on 5/5/25 at 2:49 pm to TeddyPadillac
quote:
They almost always put the new rec kids on the maroon team unless they are big and/or impress them big time at the tryout.
I think my daughter's first try out was the one and only time they actually evaluated the players from top to bottom. It was the year CCU folded and all of those players came over, along with the change from school based year to birth year, which blew up some existing teams as well. They actually had to pay attention and look at the massive amount of newcomers as well as kids who were being moved up/down a year
quote:
but I think the guy out of Dutchtown trying to run a program out there might be a better setup for the girls, at least from what I hear.
Without sharing any dirty laundry, the BVB/LA Force club situation has had a pretty messy last year in regards to ownership, coaches and players leaving. There are still some very good coaches at Force, and any girl should give them consideration when choosing a club, but they are far from immune to the same club squabbles that plague BRSC
Posted on 5/5/25 at 3:18 pm to TeddyPadillac
Interesting feedback. I'm sure this happens in every sport in every city to some degree. It at least sounds like if a kid really wants it and improves to a level that they can't co unnoticed, they'll eventually get their shot.
Posted on 5/5/25 at 3:20 pm to EveryonesACoach
I didn't start playing until I was 8.
It took me a few years before making a decent team.
I always played up an age group. So at 8 I was playing U10, at 10 I was playing u12, at 12 I was playing U14, etc.
It took me a few years before making a decent team.
I always played up an age group. So at 8 I was playing U10, at 10 I was playing u12, at 12 I was playing U14, etc.
Posted on 5/6/25 at 7:31 am to EveryonesACoach
Also big thing to consider is that next summer US Soccer is changing the age groups - so instead of all girls born in the year 2016 being in the same age group, the cutoff date will now be August 1st. So whatever age group your daughter will be competing in this fall and next spring, with her late birthday she will stay in that same age group for another year
Posted on 5/6/25 at 9:56 am to EveryonesACoach
My daughter is exact same age. Has been in it for 2 years here in palm beach gardens.
She’s been on the second team for 2 years and we’re hearing she’s going to move to the first this coming fall.
Honestly the first team was a bunch of tall thin fast girls that just kind of grew quicker. My daughter is smaller and didn’t fit that athletic profile a few years ago (also a late bday).
I will say the ONLY thing that matters is coaching at this age.
In year one the “A” team had a ton of good coaching and stability while our team’ was a joke of a revolving door.
In year two I think we actually had the better developmental coach and the better girls on our team have largely caught the A team.
I wouldn’t have traded this past year for anything. My girl was kind of made the defacto captain by the other girls and rarely left the game. Our club builds from the back roster wise in terms of talent and she had one of the 2 defensive spots locked down, occasionally moving to mid when we needed goals. She’s really embraced being a lockdown defender/mid and her ability to read the field has improved greatly since August.
She wouldn’t have had these leadership opportunities and playing time had she been slotted into the first team this year.
The way I see it as we move to 9v9 and then 11v11 the cream is going to rise to the top hence her likely moving “up” at this point as there are more roster spots needed.
They still have tons of time. Just make sure she isn’t getting the throw away coach.
She’s been on the second team for 2 years and we’re hearing she’s going to move to the first this coming fall.
Honestly the first team was a bunch of tall thin fast girls that just kind of grew quicker. My daughter is smaller and didn’t fit that athletic profile a few years ago (also a late bday).
I will say the ONLY thing that matters is coaching at this age.
In year one the “A” team had a ton of good coaching and stability while our team’ was a joke of a revolving door.
In year two I think we actually had the better developmental coach and the better girls on our team have largely caught the A team.
I wouldn’t have traded this past year for anything. My girl was kind of made the defacto captain by the other girls and rarely left the game. Our club builds from the back roster wise in terms of talent and she had one of the 2 defensive spots locked down, occasionally moving to mid when we needed goals. She’s really embraced being a lockdown defender/mid and her ability to read the field has improved greatly since August.
She wouldn’t have had these leadership opportunities and playing time had she been slotted into the first team this year.
The way I see it as we move to 9v9 and then 11v11 the cream is going to rise to the top hence her likely moving “up” at this point as there are more roster spots needed.
They still have tons of time. Just make sure she isn’t getting the throw away coach.
Posted on 5/6/25 at 9:58 am to etm512
quote:
Also big thing to consider is that next summer US Soccer is changing the age groups - so instead of all girls born in the year 2016 being in the same age group, the cutoff date will now be August 1st
I’ve heard this. So with my daughter will literally be a week before the cutoff. It’s going to flip a lot of the teams I guess as we have a bunch of “2015s” born in late summer/fall.
Posted on 5/6/25 at 11:29 am to St Augustine
Off subject but in speaking about clubs with multiple teams on different levels…are they allowed to move players among teams for state tournament play? For example could they move some players down from the top team to play for their other team in the Presidents Cup, or is their second tier team roster frozen based on what was used in league play?
Posted on 5/6/25 at 11:38 am to MOT
quote:
Off subject but in speaking about clubs with multiple teams on different levels…are they allowed to move players among teams for state tournament play? For example could they move some players down from the top team to play for their other team in the Presidents Cup, or is their second tier team roster frozen based on what was used in league play?
In Florida you can as long as they have the player card.
They keep our teams small 10 girls for 7 v 7 so for some tournaments in September and may especially they’d give or take players.
Posted on 5/6/25 at 12:25 pm to St Augustine
quote:
For example could they move some players down from the top team to play for their other team in the Presidents Cup, or is their second tier team roster frozen based on what was used in league play
In Louisiana LCSL you can't move down, but you can move up, or pull from teams registered in USYouth or US Club soccer that aren't participating in LCSL
Posted on 5/6/25 at 2:04 pm to St Augustine
Relative age effect does have an impact on youth teams, Gladwell brought it to the masses in 2008. Here is how it applies to youth sports in a layman's format.
quote:
At that age, being almost a full year older than other players on your team can be a huge advantage in both size and current skill. And that early age advantage can unfairly separate players.
“Historically with youth sports, the kids who make the ‘A’ team are the ones that are maybe a little older – 6 months more than the one born in December,” Martel said. “When you group teams that way, that ‘A’ team gets the best coach and the best ice time. It starts to become a self-fulfilling prophecy that those are the best players.”
Posted on 5/6/25 at 2:07 pm to LemmyLives
quote:
“When you group teams that way, that ‘A’ team gets the best coach and the best ice time. It starts to become a self-fulfilling prophecy that those are the best players.”
Exactly what I was talking about in first post. I didn’t give a shite about wins/losses or thought that my daughter was the best player out there.
What DID piss me off was paying the same as the “A” team and having them work on very relevant things with lots of coaching while our team basically played recess soccer 2 years ago. This year was much different.
With my daughter becoming a lot more skilled this year it’s negated some of the difference in size and pure speed. Now some of the early ones who were turning and burning can’t really play actual soccer.
This post was edited on 5/6/25 at 2:11 pm
Posted on 5/8/25 at 1:43 pm to OldManRiver
quote:
the BVB/LA Force club situation has had a pretty messy last year in regards to ownership, coaches and players leaving.
Damn, hadn't heard about this. Their u16 boys team went from being a shitty rec team to the most technical team I played against in a matter of 2 years.
Posted on 5/8/25 at 2:03 pm to LemmyLives
There will always be old and young kids no matter where the cutoff falls. Does anyone know the reasoning for soccer’s original switch to birth year and now back to whatever Fall date they landed on?
I suspect I know the reason for the switch back, so I guess it’s more about the original change to birth year.
I suspect I know the reason for the switch back, so I guess it’s more about the original change to birth year.
Posted on 5/8/25 at 8:28 pm to EveryonesACoach
She's 10- it should be all about her individual development and where that will best benefit her. She is just beginning her journey on the player development pathway. Be patient. Enjoy the ride. Don't worry so much about the "color" team she is on right now.
Posted on 5/8/25 at 10:26 pm to etm512
quote:
Also big thing to consider is that next summer US Soccer is changing the age groups - so instead of all girls born in the year 2016 being in the same age group, the cutoff date will now be August 1st.
My daughter has a November birthday and she's been one of the youngest on her team for the last 2 seasons. She'll be one of the older girls by the Fall of 2026.
Posted on 5/9/25 at 10:52 pm to MOT
quote:I believe to put it in line with the European model
Does anyone know the reasoning for soccer’s original switch to birth year and now back to whatever Fall date they landed on?
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