What is Great About High School Soccer

WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER?

The talking points below are designed to assist high school coaches in communication with administrators, players and parents.

High School Benefits:

• Peer & community activity heightens emotional connection and can act as a community rallying point
• Family environment is incapable of being replicated by clubs and provides unparalleled camaraderie
• Experiences & values to last a lifetime
• Better players enjoy greater role & more playing time on high school team during their seasons proving critical leadership development
• More off-the-field behavioral accountability
• Academic focus & accountability via eligibility standards provides motivation & suits preparation for college (high school scholastic experience most closely resembles collegiate scholastic experience)
• Intensive physical, mental & emotional demands of 10-14 week high school season accelerates player development (5+ team sessions per week / championship title pursuits / rivalries / school pride / time management / organizational skills for life)
• Tradition
• Activity promoting diversity & inclusion
• Superior access to media attention & team/individual awards & honors
• Opportunity to play in front of family, school, community & excited crowds
• Individual player development as extension of the classroom / integral to education of the whole child
• High school sports often the fabric of community identity & pride
• Credibility & strength of high school community is a source for college recommendations
• Foreign exchange students from countries lacking high school sports find American high school sports environment exhilarating
• Nations without organized high school sports are envious of American high school experience & opportunities

High School authority & responsibility:

• Ultimate authority over high school attendance reporting lies with the high school
• Student grade reporting as required by the NCAA is the responsibility of the high school
• Use of all high school affiliations (facilities, high school names as identification, letters of reference to college, etc.) is controlled by high school

What can high school coaches do?

• Market your teams and your programs
• Work with your school administrators & associations, so that everyone is clear on the Development Academy policies (Athletic Director, Principal, School Heads, School Boards, State Associations, National Associations)
• Proactively approach families and invite them to engage in discussion
• Highlight all of the benefits to your communities, schools, parents and young people
• Share facts regarding advantages of high school sports involvement
• Share facts regarding realities of college scholarships, professional teams, and national team inclusion
• Make being a member of your high school team an offer that can’t be refused
• Assist athletes choosing to play high school soccer in finding competitive youth clubs that will allow them to play both youth and high school soccer giving them additional exposure to college programs

Please feel free to contact the Chair of the High School Membership Group, Greg Winkler at gregwinkler10@gmail.com.