Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2016 16:21:12 GMT -5
Any truth to NASA & Tophat Merger?
I don't see what Tophat is gaining from this other than affiliation with a boys club?
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Post by SoccerMom on Feb 6, 2016 22:15:34 GMT -5
I have heard it's true
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Post by stevieg on Feb 7, 2016 17:54:45 GMT -5
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Post by spectator on Feb 9, 2016 17:23:13 GMT -5
No one I know at either club has heard a thing.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Feb 9, 2016 19:40:51 GMT -5
I won't believe it until I see something official from either club.
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Post by stevieg on Feb 10, 2016 7:03:00 GMT -5
Don't we have a top hat person on here? I think the lack of a denial speaks volumes.
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Post by SoccerMom on Feb 10, 2016 8:16:18 GMT -5
The other forum posted a letter, not sure how true the letter is. Now this is NOT where I heard about the merger.
All,
As we move into 2016, many of you may realize that the soccer programs at Tophat are beginning to outgrow the floodplain facility on Fairfield Rd. We share other fields around the area with different organizations, but we are not always able to depend on consistent scheduling from these alternate sites. Our main alternate, Atlanta International School, will shut down in April for a major renovation. With the future in mind, we have made the decision to combine efforts with the North Atlanta Soccer Association to accomplish two major objectives. First, the age group changes scheduled for fall 2016 will cause significant reshuffling of players throughout the age groups leaving some ages very short of players. By combining with NASA, we are assured enough players to build strong teams at every level. Second, NASA has access to considerable field space in the North Atlanta area which will allow a much better field usage opportunity for the combined organizations. We will make a formal announcement of this combined effort in the very near future, and we will follow up with much more information. For the present you need to know that the Tophat leadership will continue to guide the combined girls program, and maintaining excellence in our programs remains our highest priority.
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tnt
Rec
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Post by tnt on Feb 10, 2016 8:22:20 GMT -5
Lurker here who just joined. That is the letter Tophat sent out to parents overnight.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Feb 10, 2016 8:49:40 GMT -5
There you go! I'm still stunned.
The era of the mega club is upon us. Any discussion about name - NASA&T
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Post by SoccerMom on Feb 10, 2016 8:57:29 GMT -5
There you go! I'm still stunned. The era of the mega club is upon us. Any discussion about name - NASA&T What i heard is that it will carry both names for now...like Tophat-Nasa or viceversa. Same way that TH did the last time they merged, not sure how long they will keep that name like that.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Feb 10, 2016 9:07:42 GMT -5
Tophat in my mind is just an iconic name that is a well know established brand on the girls side. At least now tophat has a boys program!
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Post by aliensource on Feb 10, 2016 9:14:08 GMT -5
NASA members and families,
Earlier today, NASA and Tophat Soccer Club announced a strategic alliance to create, NASA Tophat, one of the nation’s strongest youth soccer programs. We could not be more excited about this development.
As most of you know, Tophat is a youth soccer organization located in the Buckhead community, committed exclusively to serving girls soccer players throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area. Tophat is a perennial top performer in state, regional and national play, regularly placing girls in the Olympic Development Program, in the U.S. Youth National Team pools, and sending girls to top-tier collegiate women’s soccer programs. In 2015, Tophat was selected as a member of the girls Elite Club National League (“ECNL”).
Providing an appropriate range of opportunities for our girls has been an important strategic objective for our board and coaches, and the new NASA Tophat will do just that. By combining forces with Tophat, we now will have an unprecedented depth of teams at all levels of play, giving every girl at our club the opportunity to play at the most competitive level that she is capable of playing. This is especially important in the context of the pending calendar-year age change – we want every child to know that there will be a competitive team at their age classification.
With progress there are always changes. Here are a few that we are excited to share. Starting next year, the combined girls programs will play under the Tophat brand. We are excited that the Tophat leadership team of Ted Coburn and Troy Garner, who have built Tophat into a leading national girls club, will be responsible for oversight of the girls programs beginning with tryouts this spring. Ted and Troy are already working with Dave Smith and Eric Ritter, and soon will be working with the rest of our girls’ coaching staff, to ensure a smooth transition and to share their experience that has made Tophat such a tremendous success. Beginning with tryouts this year, Eric Ritter will transition into an administrative role, where his on field experience and deep relationships within NASA and the Georgia soccer community will be invaluable as we tackle a range of strategic initiatives, including growing our tournaments to include a strong regional and national presence.
On the boys’ side of the club, we continue to make progress. Earlier this month the U.S. Soccer Federation confirmed that NASA will serve as an initial member of the U12 Development Academy. NASA also will continue with its leadership role in Georgia United, which will oversee the U13 and U14 age groups. The boys program at NASA continues in the good hands of Ray Tomlin and his coaches.
Lastly, it’s important to note that Dave Smith will serve as Executive Director for the combined NASA Tophat organization. Further, the NASA administrative staff will be responsible for day-to-day oversight of all aspects of the combined organization. On a combined basis, the programs will serve over 4,500 youth players.
Our Board of Directors has unanimously approved our alliance with Tophat and we are already working to integrate both clubs’ operations to hit the ground running this summer.
We understand that while this change brings many obvious benefits, there naturally will be many questions and some concerns on the part of our players and families. To answer many of these questions, we will be hosting team and club meetings in the coming weeks and months to discuss any questions you may have. For your convenience, we have attached a copy of the press release that was issued earlier today and an FAQ document that will provide more information.
We look forward to welcoming our new partners, players and families from Tophat to our family, and we look forward to the tremendous future of the new NASA Tophat.
Sincerely,
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Post by aliensource on Feb 10, 2016 9:18:03 GMT -5
Best part so far... NO MONEY exchanged in merger.
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Post by zizou on Feb 10, 2016 9:32:31 GMT -5
NASA members and families, Earlier today, NASA and Tophat Soccer Club announced a strategic alliance to create, NASA Tophat, one of the nation’s strongest youth soccer programs. We could not be more excited about this development. What is the difference between a "merger" and a "strategic alliance"?
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Post by aliensource on Feb 10, 2016 9:41:29 GMT -5
It will be a MEGA CLUB but it grew out of two home grown teams...NOT some franchise moving in and dropping big bucks. I like what that says about this move.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Feb 10, 2016 9:46:04 GMT -5
Will be interesting to see how this moves forward because many top players could always leave for other clubs, but parents choose to stay with the club that is close and easy to get to that is near their home.
And others will drive hours every night to play on the best team their kid should/could play for.
I would think the majority of kids regardless of talent though, play at the club that is most convenient for them.
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Post by aliensource on Feb 10, 2016 9:59:49 GMT -5
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Post by spectator on Feb 10, 2016 10:00:54 GMT -5
NASA members and families, Earlier today, NASA and Tophat Soccer Club announced a strategic alliance to create, NASA Tophat, one of the nation’s strongest youth soccer programs. We could not be more excited about this development. What is the difference between a "merger" and a "strategic alliance"? Field space? TopHat's fields are horrible and on a flood plain. They have to borrow other facilities all the time so I'm assuming they like NASA's access to fields - probably most of all Lake Point. Isn't NASA in some kind of alliance with Lake Point? That's a haul for the folks from Buckhead - but honestly, how many Top Hat top players actually live there - the ones I know drive incredible distances to practice there so this is probably better for those girls. What remains to be seen is how they will 'merge' the talent - most age groups have RPL teams for both TH and NASA. That'll be interesting.
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Post by aliensource on Feb 10, 2016 10:06:43 GMT -5
NASA will have turf fields at North Metro and be in control of a turf field at Terrill Mill park as well. That doesn't solve travel problems but that's more of an ATL problem than a soccer club problem.
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Post by TheMadOx on Feb 10, 2016 10:20:43 GMT -5
I'm not associated with Tophat or NASA...but just not a fan of the mega club junk...Tophat is iconic to the girls soccer scene nationally and I think they just watered down their product.
And...what does Nasa gain as a club from this? Yes, their girl players can all come together with Tophat now...but that's a benefit to Tophat. Tophat has nothing to offer in fields...only Nasa has that, again benefit to Tophat.
I just don't get this merger if I'm on NASA side of things...It will be interesting to see this develop. The girls program just got super stronger if the NASA girls and Tophat Girls all stay and form together (if it works out logisitically)...
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Post by aliensource on Feb 10, 2016 10:31:46 GMT -5
The merger sort of locks in a DA spot. NASA is a boys DA starting in 2016 and now Top Hat has a chance to be a DA / ECNL / RPL / Athena / NPL / that sounds kind of like a no brainer.
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Post by TheMadOx on Feb 10, 2016 10:38:46 GMT -5
I do see the strategy to get to DA for Tophat, but again, benefit to Tophat...still don't understand what NASA gains from this...money? Overtime, couldn't Tophat earn DA just as they did ECNL? I think there is more to be told on this story....It will be fun to see the developments.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Feb 10, 2016 11:24:39 GMT -5
The statements in bold to me was just as interesting -- I've heard "rumors" that the executive director was thinking of focusing his efforts on Lake Point vs NASA leadership. In addition, the statement seems to verify that Georgia United will still be an alliance. My guess is all the alliance clubs now are probably jocking against each other for a better position in that alliance. For example, I'm sure all the u12 new DA clubs applied in hopes that in future years they get awarded u13, u14 etc
On the boys’ side of the club, we continue to make progress. Earlier this month the U.S. Soccer Federation confirmed that NASA will serve as an initial member of the U12 Development Academy. NASA also will continue with its leadership role in Georgia United, which will oversee the U13 and U14 age groups. The boys program at NASA continues in the good hands of Ray Tomlin and his coaches.
Lastly, it’s important to note that Dave Smith will serve as Executive Director for the combined NASA Tophat organization. Further, the NASA administrative staff will be responsible for day-to-day oversight of all aspects of the combined organization. On a combined basis, the programs will serve over 4,500 youth players.
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Post by aliensource on Feb 10, 2016 11:27:52 GMT -5
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Post by Soccerhouse on Feb 10, 2016 12:23:50 GMT -5
Seems like one really big item will be aligning the fees from the 2 clubs. The difference here is you can't have boys and girls paying different amounts for the same product...... From Tophat, doesn't have ECNL fee U-15 – U-18 Gold Teams RPL, SPL, NL $1725 U-15 – U-18 Gold Teams $1625 U-15 – U18 Navy, White, Blue Teams $1125 U-13 – U-14 Gold Teams RPL, SPL, NL $1725 U-13 – U-14 Gold Teams $1625 U-13 – U14 Navy, White, Blue Teams $1425 U-12 Academy $1425 U-10 – U-11 Academy $1325 U-8 – U-9 Academy $1225 From NASA Age Group/Team | U13–U14 Elite | U13–U14 Premier | U13-U14 Select | U13–U14 Royal, White, Black | U15– U19 Elite | U15– U19 Premier | U15– U19 Select | U15–U19 Royal, White, Black | One Time Total | $1,430.00 | $1,425.00 | $1,420.00 | $1,130.00 | $1,125.00 | $1,120.00 | $1,115.00 | $630.00 |
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Post by SoccerMom on Feb 10, 2016 12:43:24 GMT -5
NASA will have turf fields at North Metro and be in control of a turf field at Terrill Mill park as well. That doesn't solve travel problems but that's more of an ATL problem than a soccer club problem. North Metro doesn't have any lights...does Terrill Mill? (I'm not familiar with this park at all)
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Post by aliensource on Feb 10, 2016 13:03:21 GMT -5
Terrill Mill park does have lights. SPLOST builds the pitch. Probably as a gesture of good faith after they spent all that SPLOST money on the new Braves field. I don't think saying - lights never at N. Metro. It's easily solved with technology, schedules and level heads. All three were not in place until recently.
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Post by zizou on Feb 10, 2016 13:31:25 GMT -5
This particular issue has been discussed at some length both here in other threads and elsewhere. There also has been a considerable amount of additional reporting since that story. How this will work is yet to be determined.
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quest
Jr. Academy
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Post by quest on Feb 10, 2016 14:02:15 GMT -5
From Tophats webdsite: NASA and Tophat Soccer Clubs Announce Strategic Alliance ATLANTA, GA (February 10, 2016) – Two of Atlanta’s leading soccer clubs, North Atlanta Soccer Association (NASA) and Tophat Soccer Club, today announced a strategic alliance to create, NASA Tophat, one of the nation’s strongest youth soccer programs. Tophat is a nationally-recognized youth soccer organization located in the Buckhead community, committed exclusively to serving girls soccer players throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area. Tophat is a perennial top performer in state, regional and national play, regularly placing girls in the Olympic Development Program, in the U.S. Youth National Team pools, and in top-tier collegiate women’s soccer programs. In 2015, Tophat was selected as a member of the girls Elite Club National League (“ECNL”). NASA is a nationally-recognized youth soccer organization located in Cobb and Cherokee counties. NASA is a leader in boys and girls soccer in the southeast and nationally, developing both boys and girls for the U.S. National Team pools. As recently as 2013, NASA’s elite girls won the U.S. Youth National Championships. In January of 2016, NASA alum Emily Sonnett was both named to the U.S. Women’s National Team qualifying for the Rio Olympics and selected with the first pick in the NWSL draft. In addition to its success in girls soccer, NASA is a founding member of the Georgia United Development Academy, part of the boys U.S. Development Academy. The combined girls programs will play under the Tophat brand and the boys program will operate under the NASA brand. Ted Colburn and Troy Garner, who have built Tophat into a leading national girls club, will oversee the girls programs, and Ray Tomlin, leader of the NASA boys program since 2008, will oversee the boys program. Dave Smith, Executive Director of NASA, will serve as Executive Director for NASA Tophat. Through the combined programs, Tophat and NASA girls will be able to participate in youth soccer from junior academy through competitive teams at all levels of Athena, Regional Premier League, National League and ECNL. On a combined basis, the programs will serve over 4,500 youth players. “I am very excited about the partnership with NASA,” said Cy Strickler, founder and president of Tophat. “Our combined programs will provide girls in our community with a full range of teams and facilities to play and compete at every level.” “NASA Tophat will offer boys and girls of all ages the training and development they need to excel. From Athena and Classic, through ECNL and U.S. Soccer Development Academy, we will have strength and teams for every level of player,” according to Dave Smith, Executive Director of NASA. The combination will be effective beginning with tryouts for the 2016-2017 season. In the interim, club leaders will interact on a regular basis, hold informal practices and scrimmages of combined club players, and work together on integration planning. The clubs also will publish FAQs to club members and hold town hall meetings in the coming weeks for players and parents to learn more about the strategic alliance. Tryouts for NASA Tophat’s academy, select, ECNL and DA programs will take place in May and June of 2016. For more information, visit: nasatophat.com.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Feb 10, 2016 14:06:08 GMT -5
Well as of right now, there is only one other club in the city that can say they have access to both:
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