U17's weaker?

fb4e · Post by **fb4e** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 6:44 pm

This year the U17 teams do not seem as strong as they were in the 15's last year (especially croydon). Is there any specific reason for this eg, have a lot of players been pushed up into 19's / 23's etc.

p.s. which teams are title contenders this season? I think Metro, Birks, possibly Adl Hills and possibly campelltown

BocaChiefs · Post by **BocaChiefs** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:45 am

I think title contenders are Adeladie City, Metro and Campbelltown. In the past two years Campbelltown and Adeladie City battle it out in the 17's. Last year is was Campbelltown who won and the year before it was City. It always comes down to the last day of the season. City have had a good start to the season but Campbelltown haven't loosing the first two games 3-2. But yesterday made a statement by winning 11-0. It will be close again and will be good to see who will have bragging rights this year.

the juggler · Post by **the juggler** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:03 pm

Far too early to talk about who will win the league...lots can and will happen over the coming few months. Consistency is the key and those who consistently brag about their chances generally come off second best. Couple of dark horses this year but Adelaide City look the goods so far. Lots of teams will be taking points off each other as the season progresses I'm sure.

glebe · Post by **glebe** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:43 pm

some clubs 16s teams are stronger than their 17s teams but shouldnt it be the other way round seing the 17s are backup 4 19s..? the 19s standard now is equivelant of 17s 5 years ago. too many juniors getn a shot

Clubsport · Post by **Clubsport** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:41 pm

youngdemon wrote:some clubs 16s teams are stronger than their 17s teams but shouldnt it be the other way round seing the 17s are backup 4 19s..? the 19s standard now is equivelant of 17s 5 years ago. too many juniors getn a shot

Name which club have got U16 teams stronger than their U17A's not U17B or U17C but U17A's.
You will find none.
As for U19s the competition is very strong and yes the team should be full of 16 & 17 year olds. Any 19 year old still playing for the 19s, should seriously be thinking about playing amatures if they still enjoy playing.

glebe · Post by **glebe** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:38 pm

ABE and i would say modbury.. clubsport u obviously have no idea about the standard of 19s.. its slow and possesion is given away so easily. it was never like this when i broke into the 19s at 15yrs old with very1 else 18,19,20+..

Clubsport · Post by **Clubsport** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:53 pm

youngdemon wrote:ABE and i would say modbury.. clubsport u obviously have no idea about the standard of 19s.. its slow and possesion is given away so easily. it was never like this when i broke into the 19s at 15yrs old with very1 else 18,19,20+..

ABE U17S are playing in the B division and I dont agree about Modbury.

Regarding U19s comp I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

As 15 year old playing U19s you obviously went on to play 1st team seniors.

What club did or do you play for ?

blerko · Post by **blerko** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:07 pm

With regards to Croydon (fb4e's comment), there are 5 players listed in the SASI squad probably from last years U15s. Having said that, there are also 6 players from Para Hills in the squad too, and they seem to be doing fine in the 17a's so far (4 games; 2 wins). I've recognised at least 2 players from last year's Croydon 15a's playing for 19s, so that accounts for half their squad. Perhaps it also has to do with depth in the lower age groups to draw from; Para Hills, for example, won the 14a's premiership and had a strong B grade team last year. Croydon had one C grade team that won 1 and drew 2. That's just my research - comments welcome...

BillShankly · Post by **BillShankly** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:19 pm

compared to last year the 17s comp is definately weaker.

glebe · Post by **glebe** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:03 pm

BillShankly wrote:compared to last year the 17s comp is definately weaker.

thanku billyshanks, it gets weaker every year..

katsouranis3 · Post by **katsouranis3** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:38 pm

in regards to what billy boy and yungdemon are sayn i can totally agree with them.. 17s league is definately getting weaker and weaker every year.. it has happend to the club i play at over the yrs and the standard is definately gone down since i was in the team.. and in regards to the 16s teams being stronger than most 17s it has erupted at most clubs but its not necessarily a bad thing..

Huddo #3 · Post by **Huddo #3** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:46 pm

is this all due to players playing beyond their own age group? whatever happened to a 17's squad being full of 16/17 year olds, instead of the younger kids we have these days? just an opinion..

the juggler · Post by **the juggler** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:38 am

I don't think the 17's competition is particularly weaker than last year but totally agree with Huddo #3s observation about the age of the squads. For as long as clubs/parents insist on kids being pushed up one or sometimes several age groups, you will find that for some clubs the 17's are weakened somewhat as the so called "better" kids jump to the 19's. Talent identification by the Club is the key and in my opinion there are lots of kids making the jump to higher age groups far too early. Clubs in general need to identify the talent and just as importantly hold kids back despite pressure from parents etc to push them up. Interesting to note that there are no Under 15 zone teams again this year. Given the fact that the State Championships are mainly to identify talent why is this age group omitted? Also, kids play in their own age group during the Championships....?..just an observation. When I quizzed somebody once about why kids are pushed up to senior soccer so early his reply was "well my kid played first team when he was 16".... 6 or 7 years later he is still there so what did that achieve? Happens all the time.

Nova · Post by **Nova** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:37 am

Every year at the begining of the season I hear and read about how weak the 17's are compared to last year! Blah blah, of coarse it is and always will be, it's an age group when kids make the transition to senior football and yes at the begining of the season they will look a bit slow and weak but by the end of the season with coaches like sc1 and the likes of, they will look a lot sharper and we'll critisize the next bunch of kids coming through!

PENALTY 5 · Post by **PENALTY 5** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:15 am

A team getting beaten 11-0 in the 17A's would indicate that the 17s competition is weaker than last year.
I don't think any teams lost by 10 goals last year.

Jeda · Post by **Jeda** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:59 am

sc1 wrote: I don't think the 17's competition is particularly weaker than last year but totally agree with Huddo #3s observation about the age of the squads. For as long as clubs/parents insist on kids being pushed up one or sometimes several age groups, you will find that for some clubs the 17's are weakened somewhat as the so called "better" kids jump to the 19's. Talent identification by the Club is the key and in my opinion there are lots of kids making the jump to higher age groups far too early. Clubs in general need to identify the talent and just as importantly hold kids back despite pressure from parents etc to push them up. Interesting to note that there are no Under 15 zone teams again this year. Given the fact that the State Championships are mainly to identify talent why is this age group omitted? Also, kids play in their own age group during the Championships....?..just an observation. When I quizzed somebody once about why kids are pushed up to senior soccer so early his reply was "well my kid played first team when he was 16".... 6 or 7 years later he is still there so what did that achieve? Happens all the time.

Good read

I can not understand peoples fascination & persistance with pushing kids into older age groups :?

First there is the social & mental difference for the kids to contend with, then there is the different physical attributes. If not treated carefully can lead to self destruction

If a kid is showing exceptional talent; why not play them up for one or two weeks, then bring them back to their correct age group for three of four weeks?

Because some coaches & clubs want it all or nothing

They're more concerned with themselves & the team than the player

robinfriday10 · Post by **robinfriday10** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:45 am

i believe if their good enough age is irrelevant, but also like jedas idea of bringing them back to their own age group every now and then,that way if they dominate in their own age group when they come back they will know the right decision was made in taking them up and eventually they will stay up.