National Youth Soccer Rankings

What teams besides Colvin is this rankings missing?? Colvin's team has not played enough 9 v 9 games yet, or U-11 opponents to qualify... This list is actually becoming more and more accurate each and every week. Most of the top teams have also played on another either at Vegas Cup, or Super Copa in Denver so quite a few common opponents.

Not knowing much about the other national teams, the list seems pretty accurate. Not sure any teams are missing.

It does not look like the Vegas Cup (7v7) and Super Copa (7v7) data is included for these rankings.

Hopefully, some teams can make Surf Cup this year, it will be tough with LHQT but we would benefit from traveling there to beat some California teams.

Current National rankings has North Texas represented well with 6 teams in the top 13....Some real good 09 girls teams in our area...Now let's hope we get to play some more games soon.

https://youthsoccerrankings.us/rankings/National/10/Girls/

Current National Rankings update as of 10/8....DeFeeters #7 (should be higher) and Solar South #8....Should be a good game when these two play in LHJCL...
https://youthsoccerrankings.us/rankings/National/10/Girls/

That will be an interesting game to keep an eye on. Likely best matchup in JCL as the divisions are sooo diluted.

On that day, DFeeters plays Solar South, Cosmos plays Solar Colvin and Solar Angelone plays DT Samba.

Should be a good day of soccer.

I have looked at these rankings and they seem to really overweight games where you play up. If you look at the top teams, they played up against U11 competition and did well which really increased their score... much more so than pounding an ‘09 team would or even beating a quality ‘09 team. We all know a quality ‘09 Gold team is better than a silver ‘08 team but this ranking gives more credit to beating the ‘08 team or being competitive in a loss with an ‘08 Gold team.

NTX teams are dropping right now b/c of two reasons... one, they are playing inferior ‘09 competition whereas other teams nationally are playing up to find quality opponents AND second, new teams around the country are being added to the rankings every week due to finally having at least 10 games to qualify. Many of these new teams are overrated due to low sample size and will drop in the coming months as they play more games. Here in NTX we have plenty of quality competition at the ‘09 age group but we need to remember in other parts of the country, they aren’t so blessed and they have to travel or play up to find quality. This necessity benefits those teams in this ranking. In Denver, NTX finished 1st and 2nd but there are several teams that didn’t fair well in Denver ahead of those same NTX teams.

I recently found out that the rest of the country plays 7v7 at the ‘09 age group so top ‘09 teams in other parts of the country are playing up a lot to play 9v9 whereas in NTX we are playing 9v9 against other ‘09 teams. This is also playing a role. Many of the NTX teams are clearly better than many of the teams in front of them but it may be as much as a year before this ranking starts to be more accurate. Just like FBR, it’s fun to watch but it still isn’t very accurate and will remain that way for quite some time.

As u10s, our 2009s should also be playing 7v7. Usually they make a U11 developmental division for 2009s to play 9v9. That's how it is on the U90c website for tournaments. We push ours to play up since local leagues hold their qualifiers in 9v9 format right as we should be transitioning into 9V9 play. Most local leagues and tournaments offer both options in some way, shape or form for our age group.

I might be in the minority but I don’t think playing smaller sided games helps development as much as many think. Sure, small sided play means each kid gets to touch the ball more per game but their are negatives to small sided play as well. I’ve seen more passing in 9v9 games than I saw in 7v7. Smaller sided games encouraged more dribbling and made a super star player more impactful. 9v9 makes dribbling too much more unproductive and teams that had a single star player now struggle with more players on the field and that star player can’t just take over a game by themselves. This is good for the development of all players on the team. Remember when we played 4v4 and a star player that was an outstanding dribbler could just take the ball from one end to the other... that didn’t help kids learn to pass or work as a team.

In the end, it’s all about coaching. The build out line or how many players on the field or whether the goalie can punt; all these things don’t matter... it’s how the kids are coached that matters how they develop.

U10 at SuperCopa 2019 is 7v7. Should be interesting.

IT will be interesting to see if teams play 7v7 in the qualifier or stick with 9v9 at League Challenge and plan to apply for SuperCopa.

I think the supercopa qualifiers should be 9v9, even if we have to play 7v7 next year in supercopa....

I have contacted the Supercopa officials about having a 9 v 9 division for the U-10 teams since most are playing 9 v 9 already. Waiting on their response...Makes no sense to play boring 7 v 7 soccer....

They have already been approached with this question. The reply was they would work on trying to get something in place but it probably wouldn’t happen.

However, everyone else around the country is playing 7v7 still so we would probably have a division with Texas and Oklahoma teams if it happens.

ProphAC wrote:I might be in the minority but I don’t think playing smaller sided games helps development as much as many think.  Sure, small sided play means each kid gets to touch the ball more per game but their are negatives to small sided play as well.  I’ve seen more passing in 9v9 games than I saw in 7v7.  Smaller sided games encouraged more dribbling and made a super star player more impactful.  9v9 makes dribbling too much more unproductive and teams that had a single star player now struggle with more players on the field and that star player can’t just take over a game by themselves.  This is good for the development of all players on the team.  Remember when we played 4v4 and a star player that was an outstanding dribbler could just take the ball from one end to the other... that didn’t help kids learn to pass or work as a team.  

In the end, it’s all about coaching.  The build out line or how many players on the field or whether the goalie can punt; all these things don’t matter... it’s how the kids are coached that matters how they develop.  

I agree with you about small-sided play -- but when it comes to 9v9 versus 11v11. Our girls all find the 11v11 game much easier The coaches try to teach spacing, but in a 9v9 game with small field, there is no space. Suddenly, playing 11v11, they understand the concepts that were just theories on the smaller field. The game slows and allows the players to find the open pass.

In short, I am a big believer in space over crowding a small field. (Now, if they want to play 9v9 on a bigger field, I would be ok with that. And, that may be what 7v7 is compared to 9v9...).

I’m thinking Slammers is number 1 just because they can actually get games in

Check out the new rankings there are three Texoma teams I don’t think were included previously. Teams are in TXN. Anyone seen or heard of this club? Don’t recall seeing them at any major 09 tourney.

Those Texoma teams are rec teams... it’s a lack of data points issue. It will work itself out.

Regarding Cali teams being ranked high, California academy teams like Slammers play in a developmental league that doesn’t keep scores till 10 yrs old so the only games being used for them are when they play up against ‘08s or major tournaments. This distorts the rankings for them. Michigan teams are the same way. National rankings are useless till the teams start traveling more and create more cross data points.