@cwponton@DKM1501 Agree that balance is key - but teaching players how to make decisions by reading the game is critical and not just booting the ball for at best 50/50 opportunities
@stewartflaherty@stu_gore Don’t downplay it. It’s a job. Athletes need to be prepared to accept that. Some thrive. Some get through it. Some don’t make it past pre-season. Not all are built the same.
@stu_gore@stewartflaherty Your list is the most accurate I’ve seen for what the athletes I know experience. And it doesn’t end in spring…you have securing and setting up off campus housing for following year, work/internship commitments, hustling for NLI opportunities, summer league commitments…
@uvadelk@stu_gore Please name a few activities for undergrads with this level of intensity. And do not include academic activity because there are plenty of D1 athletes with rigorous academics.
@mlycan12 I would be interested in reviewing a comprehensive strategy plan with clearly stated goals, objectives and KPIs put forward by US Soccer. Absent one it’s piecemealing a national network in search of…well IMO a better performing men’s national team. That should not be the goal.
@CUTtheNETS@mlycan12@ImYouthSoccer ECNL SoCal often have 22-25 in older groups. NWSL max is 26 on ACTIVE roster. Season-ending injury or maternity leave do not count. ECNL plays 25-30 games over a 10 month season. NWSL play 1 game per week. D1 soccer plays 1-2 games per week, routinely 2, over 18 weeks.
@tigerskin1@ImCollegeSoccer Not really a huge factor for women’s soccer. For men it will have impact, perhaps significant but no more significant than changes the feds are making to student visa program.
@mlycan12 I agree with you to a point. I would institute a roster waiver for 5th years but only for the ‘27 season (first season of impact). That would protect the 2028 HS class that have already committed from be negatively impacted. Thereafter soccer roster maximum should be 30.