07 Looking for a team

I have an 07 daughter looking for an Academy team in the far North Dallas area- preferable East of the tollway. She does not have much Academy playing experience, but I think she is ready for that step. Not really sure where to look, but I could not seem to find many academy teams for that age and location. Is that because most academy programs begin later? Any help would be appreciated- thanks.

style points wrote:I have an 07 daughter looking for an Academy team in the far North Dallas area- preferable East of the tollway. She does not have much Academy playing experience, but I think she is ready for that step. Not really sure where to look, but I could not seem to find many academy teams for that age and location. Is that because most academy programs begin later? Any help would be appreciated- thanks.

Academy "officially" starts with the '07s in July. You'll see a lot more clubs with programs then. The 2 I've heard of in your preferred geography are Solar Dallas - Pablo Solis (I believe they train near Moss) and DT North - Freddie DeLeon who train in the Richardson-area.

There are quite a few good groups further North.

Thanks I guess that is why I do not see more teams. I probably should have been more specific on location- we are actually around the Plano area- so more North is fine and wiling to drive (in reason ) for right coach.

Useful list of some of the academies in the DFW area:

http://dynamicyouthsports.com/pa_academy.php

Academy "officially" starts with the '07s in July.
There are quite a few good groups further North.[/quote]

As I said willing to go North.....but thought about your comment.......When looking for an 07 team I did not find much, but the ones I found I did not recognize many of the coaches names- but i have not been following the girls side for a few years, but curious of some of the more familiar Coaches will have teams later this summer and we should wait? Not to say we could not find the right coach that happens to be somewhat new....

Pm sent.

Androfan aka Kicksfan wrote:Pm sent.

Now now AFAKAKF. Let others have a chance. You go getting Kicks involved and its all over for everyone else.

haha, sorry buddy. Im sending you a PM next.

style points wrote:
Academy "officially" starts with the '07s in July.
There are quite a few good groups further North.

As I said willing to go North.....but thought about your comment.......When looking for an 07 team I did not find much, but the ones I found I did not recognize many of the coaches names- but i have not been following the girls side for a few years, but curious of some of the more familiar Coaches will have teams later this summer and we should wait? Not to say we could not find the right coach that happens to be somewhat new....[/quote]

That's one of the nice things about this academy system: you can go check out different coaches/teams at your leisure without any contracts/releases etc. I was in a similar situation a while back, looking for a team for my '07 gd. Having been through this thing 3 times with my own, I was pretty familiar with most of the coaches, but had been out of the loop for a few years. I had the same initial reaction as you, "wow, I don't recognize a lot of these". Here's the good news: we went and trained with 4 or 5, only 1 of which was one I was familiar with from the old days. I must say, 3 or 4 of the unfamiliar ones were excellent with the little ones. We're very happy with the choice we made, but I think we would have been with a couple of the others as well. Every coach has to start somewhere, and honestly, the list of familiar "successful" coaches who I wouldn't let near one of my kids is as long as my arm. Go check some of them out. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Thank you everyone for your feedback and PMs. I also noticed a post with at least the majority of the 07 teams out there right now. I assume that list will grow dramatically over the next several months. Thanks again and will start making the rounds and hopefully this daughter does not quit soccer for V-Ball right before select like the last one

Find a skills trainer until July. Then go out and find a academy team. Can someone give this poster a list of good trainers around the Plano area!

Trust me on this one!

I do not personaly know of one in Plano area, but I am curious why do you say that? Is that because there are more coaches out there in July to choose from?

If you truly want to find the right coach for your daughter, I suggest going to one of the multiple 3v3 tournaments this spring and summer and watch how the coaches interact with their players and watch how the team plays.

Istanbul2005 wrote:If you truly want to find the right coach for your daughter, I suggest going to one of the multiple 3v3 tournaments this spring and summer and watch how the coaches interact with their players and watch how the team plays.

I don't agree to watch any 3x3 game to judge a team, for this age one superstar could take the team to final.

A 7x7 tourney such as PT would be better since you can evaluate more players for a game. Remember to watch close how all players, not just the game result.

bigtex wrote:I do not personaly know of one in Plano area, but I am curious why do you say that? Is that because there are more coaches out there in July to choose from?

At this age they can be taught proper skills set. Before they see all the bad habits that winning academy games produces. I say that because a really good skills trainer can give them a solid soccer foundation that will stay with them thru their playing years. If it was up to me. This age group would skill all week and meet up for pick up games in their local neigborhoods and just play with limited adult interference.

07 academy = micro managed youth soccer = More Money!!!!
Don't get me wrong I will be signing my 07 girl up soon. This will be my 3rd trip thru the system. My concern will be more of training and not missing skills practice for anything. Even her academy team will play 2nd fiddle to skills training til u-11.
That is if she even likes soccer that much.


July is just a month that someone threw out there as to when 07's begin academy. In a previous post. I will pipe down now!

Well I actually think that makes a lot of sense. So curious do you plan on signing your daughter up for a twice a week Academy practice/with games, plus a weekly skill session? If so it just seems like a big time commitment at this age? For my dd at least- I think I would be walking a fine line between development and burn-out.

And planogirl I do not disagree with your post- just seems like a strange subject and time for a first post, but more power to you

[quote="#2420]At this age they can be taught proper skills set. Before they see all the bad habits that winning academy games produces. I say that because a really good skills trainer can give them a solid soccer foundation that will stay with them thru their playing years.
[/quote]

Agree, so to me, you find an academy coach that teaches proper skill you stick with them. I am not sure a private skills trainer is the golden ticket.

Planogirl: Really? So seeing 6 year olds on a 40X60 field, really shows who is coached best? I am sure there will be some disagreement with that. Check out one of the other 07 threads. Many coaches from different clubs don't seem to be fans of 40X60 with 21 foot goals in the PT tourney for this age. They all wrong?

Burnout rate is inversely proportional to having fun. IMHO. If they are having fun playing with friends, getting ice cream etc, the chances go down dramatically.

planogirl wrote:

Istanbul2005 wrote:If you truly want to find the right coach for your daughter, I suggest going to one of the multiple 3v3 tournaments this spring and summer and watch how the coaches interact with their players and watch how the team plays.

I don't agree to watch any 3x3 game to judge a team, for this age one superstar could take the team to final.

A 7x7 tourney such as PT would be better since you can evaluate more players for a game. Remember to watch close how all players, not just the game result.

100% with boilerjoe on this one. Planogirl, you don't think 3v3 is a good indication because you probably haven't seen a good 3v3 team. The teams that are in the finals aren't toe-balling it to the fast kid -- they're outpassing, out"skilling" (just made that up, you can use it), and simply out playing teams that have not yet been taught positions, where to pass, when to pass, how to control a ball away from pressure, etc.

The 7v7 PT tournaments are terrible at the moment. The fields are full-sized and in this instance are tailored more for the players with the fast kid. Over a space of 30 yards, they can run freely and never look back. The fast players in 3v3 are actually at a disadvantage because of the smaller space. Not an opinion, I've seen it with my own eyes. One last point, at this age, when you've got 7 players on a field, chances are very high that only 3 or 4 of them, on the best teams no less, can actually play.. which leaves 3 or 4 others just smacking the ball down field to the fast kid and/or chasing the ball around.

I agree with Istanbul and Boiler Joe. There is more of a tendency to kick the ball into space and let the speedster run onto it and bury it in a goal that is absolutely way too big for a player this age to cover. In games like that its pretty much a matter of which team has the speed demon. It may be wishful thinking but I seriously hope pt changes the sizing of the fields and goal for this age group.

The issue is not Primetime. Primetime uses fields owned by various cities or clubs.

They have two very good fields for 7v7/8v8. Oak Grove Fields 5A and 5B are the ideal dimensions.

The cities would have to be the ones changing their field dimensions. The chance of that happening....slim.

Now the Cox fields that CFBAL use are also ideal. and the pitches are in pristine condition...

just putting that out there for you 07 folks to consider. Centally located league, outstanding fields, great league coordinator, 10 game season... just saying.

Great info Andro. You're dead on with that comment sir.

Androfan aka Kicksfan wrote:The issue is not Primetime. Primetime uses fields owned by various cities or clubs.

They have two very good fields for 7v7/8v8. Oak Grove Fields 5A and 5B are the ideal dimensions.

The cities would have to be the ones changing their field dimensions. The chance of that happening....slim.

Now the Cox fields that CFBAL use are also ideal. and the pitches are in pristine condition...

just putting that out there for you 07 folks to consider. Centally located league, outstanding fields, great league coordinator, 10 game season... just saying.

Great to know, thanks! Liverpool teams Gerrard and Fowler will most likely be playing in SDL in the fall for field size and good conditions as well. Long ways a way and about 7 tournaments and a futsal and indoor season to go in between that time!

Androfan aka Kicksfan wrote:

Now the Cox fields that CFBAL use are also ideal. and the pitches are in pristine condition...

just putting that out there for you 07 folks to consider. Centally located league, outstanding fields, great league coordinator, 10 game season... just saying.

The City of FB has always been outstanding to work with and Cox is one of those lesser-known treasures. Extremely rare to get rained out there because of the outstanding drainage as well.

Saw the '05's 8v8 and those fields were nice sized. However, also saw an '05 9v9 match on #4 and that field swallowed those kiddos up.

yeah, strictly the 8v8 fields. the others i would pass on.