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Post by greenmonkey on Jun 3, 2021 9:44:12 GMT -5
Maybe last year was the last good year for this team. This year that team will probably drop significantly and continue dropping. Good luck to them, with the league dropping all its quality they might do well Ouch ... Maybe my new forum name is @bestintentions
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Post by greenmonkey on Jun 3, 2021 9:22:06 GMT -5
Idk about that 06 team. Sam is a good guy but UFA doesn’t make it easy to keep players at norcross. 2 left for ECNL 1 to GA Navy 4-5 more trying to make TH DPL/SCCL C teams Maybe more are elsewhere idk As long as I am out here ... Let's separate the TEAM, the COACH, and the PLAYERS from the CLUB Why wouldn't ANY PLAYER leave ANY TEAM for an opportunity to play ECNL? Yup Iggy and the boys at UFA the CLUB did not make it easy on this one team when they decided to give ECRL to all the girls NPL teams ... that ship has sailed and yup it took some players with it ... Like you said ... you don't know but I do This team will be a solid team this year, just like it has been every year, after year, after year for the past 8 years.
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Post by greenmonkey on Jun 3, 2021 9:03:33 GMT -5
Will UFA Norcross 06 girls have a team and will they stay Sccl club? We were invited to come out but have heard most of the 06’s have left. Can anyone confirm? sweeperstopperFor the first time in my forum history I will lift my mask of anonymity. If you were invited by Sam Helliwell please consider bringing your daughter out to find out for yourself about this great opportunity and feel free to introduce yourself to the team manager. (So if you know me ... now you know me) Yes some players have left. This team is a team and has ALWAYS been better than any single player. Every single year this team PROMOTES players to ECNL clubs this year is no different. (And every year we wish them well! How many other teams can say that?) Every single year this team REPLACES players with new solid skilled motivated team players AND this year is no different. (And every year we warmly welcome them to the TEAM! How many other teams can say that?) Yes a few also left for ECRL/DPL opportunities (Yup the shiny new leagues lured some away) BUT what "parents" and "the forum" don't realize is there are ALSO MULTIPLE NEW and EXISTING PLAYERS who also TURNED DOWN ECRL/DPL at TH, CF, GSA, UFA, and AFU because of the quality of THIS COACH! Ask around ... Sam Helliwell is a great coach. Ask around ... the Norcross 06 Girls TEAM have played very competitively AGAINST the CF GSA and AFU new ECRL teams and won big on a few of those games. Ask around ... over the years several players have gone on to ECNL at Concorde, GSA, and AFU. They play varsity soccer as freshman, They come from schools that have won State Championships. You will be hard pressed to find negative things to say about the coach, or the team, or the players. The coach is HONEST and FAIR. The team plays skilled, possession style soccer. The players are quality, committed players. The parents are friendly, supportive parents. And if you are spending that much time and money on soccer - ultimately aren't the coach, team, players and dare I say parents a much bigger indicator of the strength of a team than whatever club the team is at or league the team plays in? Yes the team will have new some new players this year and if your daughter is a solid skilled motivated passionate soccer player maybe she can be one of them. And now GreenMonkey needs to go find a new forum name and that is my only regret in this post! Good Luck out there! See you all on the sidelines! M.
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Post by greenmonkey on May 20, 2021 15:30:42 GMT -5
I don't think any of that is a big deal. Much like other sports in high school, tryouts are generally a formality. If soccer is anything like other sports, a head coach goes into tryouts knowing where almost every player already fits (or doesn't) in the program. The few decisions that really get made tend to be around the periphery (is Kid A a bench varsity player or going to JV, does this guy that struggled on JV get cut or kept on JV again as a junior). The few real decisions center on if a non-stud freshman can help on varsity, where does a new move-in fit, and did these tertiary players last season improve enough to matter.
And honestly, most of those decisions don't fall in the cut or keep category. If a coach picks incorrectly, they can just move up and down between JV and varsity as needed.
The open secret of tryouts is that each team is basically set in the coach's mind well before tryouts. The tryouts are more about dealing with the margins of the team rather than the heart of the team.
SO ACCORDING TO THIS ^^^^^^^^^
Should I tell my rising 9th grader to just hang up the cleats now. I mean there is no middle soccer at our school so I have no idea how the coach is supposed to already know who the 8th grade club superstars are that are arriving at his school looking to try out next year?! But I guess the open secret is he already knows. I hope he has our phone number and email. Fingers crossed.
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Post by greenmonkey on May 3, 2021 8:58:14 GMT -5
I have heard her name several times in person and seen it on the forum but I can not figure out which NK is the one I am looking for.
She has a summer camp and does personal training but is top notch for pushing players to identify their goals and self motivation? If anyone has PERSONAL FIRST HAND knowledge I would appreciate it as well.
She is either NK = Nkiru Okosieme at UFA
or NK = Nadine Kezebie at AFU
Thanks in Advance
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Post by greenmonkey on May 2, 2021 21:54:43 GMT -5
Given that all of the Tryouts overlap, wanted to get some advice on your experience been with the U14+ ID camps. Will coaches provide meaningful feedback on your child’s level and if you’re a good fit for the team/level (ECNL, ECNL-R) or will be generic to encourage Tryout attendance? Is it better to have your child solicit feedback or passively see if the coach pulls them aside? If you can’t make an ID camp, does it even make sense to tryout “cold” at a club? AFU was very well run. Players had ID numbers and were divided into positions (defense, midfielder, offense) as opposed to the other three clubs that divided players by "current team" and "everyone else". Very smart to be the FIRST ID Camp AND the LAST ID Camp. Coaches were definitely the most engaged of all the camps. The UFA coaches didn't even stay on the field and watch the entire time. All 90 minutes was the current ECNL vs ENRL 11v11 on one field and everyone else on the other field 11v11 and 11 kids on the bench. All three coaches stayed on the ENCL/RL field and two of them wandered off after about 30 minutes to watch a different age group. When the ECNL/RL field took a water break they let the 11 players switch off with some of the everyone else players on that field. The Concorde fields were PACKED and no numbers or anyway at all to keep track other than the sign up roster which of course had your current club and league listed. (I always wondered can you just lie when you fill that out online) The GSA camp asked all current ECNL/RL players to wear RED and all other players to wear black. At least it made it obvious who was being considered when they pulled TWO black shirts of the field and put them on the RED field. Most coaches absolutely gave feedback when asked.
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Post by greenmonkey on May 2, 2021 21:47:08 GMT -5
AFU was very well run. Players had ID numbers and were divided into positions (defense, midfielder, offense) as opposed to the other three clubs that divided players by "current team" and "everyone else". Very smart to be the FIRST ID Camp AND the LAST ID Camp. Coaches were definitely the most engaged of all the camps.
The UFA coaches didn't even stay on the field and watch the entire time. All 90 minutes was the current ECNL vs ENRL 11v11 on one field and everyone else on the other field 11v11 and 11 kids on the bench. All three coaches stayed on the ENCL/RL field and two of them wandered off after about 30 minutes to watch a different age group. When the ECNL/RL field took a water break they let the 11 players switch off with some of the everyone else players on that field.
The Concorde fields were PACKED and no numbers or anyway at all to keep track other than the sign up roster which of course had your current club and league listed. (I always wondered can you just lie when you fill that out online)
The GSA camp asked all current ECNL/RL players to wear RED and all other players to wear black. At least it made it obvious who was being considered when they pulled TWO black shirts of the field and put them on the RED field.
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Post by greenmonkey on May 1, 2021 12:30:21 GMT -5
Boys only at this point. Still no word on the girls. TPDL UFA sent new pyramid out to all members via email NO NPL or equivalent on the GIRLS SIDE.
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Post by greenmonkey on Apr 11, 2021 16:32:30 GMT -5
Something I’ve often wondered is why some clubs don’t adopt a more European model and just have one team-make tryouts meaningful where only the better players get in rather than having 2-3 mediocre teams per age group. Maybe you don’t compete with the very top but you could have a decently competitive team. THIS ^ Especially when you have the McGinnis Ferry fields halfway between. No reason why the NPL teams who are being “promoted to ECRL” shouldn’t “combine” with the Norcross SCCL Club teams (that are left) Why aren’t there 08, 07, 06, 05, 04, 03 teams made up of the top players in the age groups for college showcases etc? Why don’t they use developmental players from Norcross or from their own Fowler second teams? Because it’s the girls side. Period. The top boys teams are run out of Norcross or South or Fowler each depending on the strength of the team or the willingness of the coach or the benefit of the club. The girls are always told if you want a higher level of play go try out at Fowler.
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Post by greenmonkey on Apr 10, 2021 19:55:44 GMT -5
I'd be really curious to know if these clubs applied to ECNL/ECRL and/or GAL/DPL. I think we all assume that each of them have applied to one or both and were denied. Under that assumption, I am disappointed to hear that these pathways to higher level leagues are closed off. There are some really talented players and good coaches at these clubs. Maybe they will get bought by the bigger clubs at some point - and for all we know, maybe that's the whole idea behind excluding them. Ask the Norcross Fury Girls how being bought out by UFA worked out for them ...
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Post by greenmonkey on Mar 29, 2021 13:38:49 GMT -5
Dear HateAllTheseChanges
Can I borrow your screen name ... AGAIN ... YES for the 8th year in a row?
(I think that's right - counting the age change, club mergers, DA add, TPDL, SCCL create, ECNL add, DA drop, NPL drop, ECRL create)
Also does anyone have an inside connection to the entertainment industry here in ATL. I have a great reality tv show idea! LOL
#SoccerLeaguesGoneWild
Thanks!
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Post by greenmonkey on Mar 25, 2021 14:46:25 GMT -5
DOES ANYONE REMEMBER WHICH CLUB POSTED THE ORIGINAL PYRAMID THAT STARTED THE TPDL?
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Post by greenmonkey on Mar 25, 2021 14:44:52 GMT -5
FootyFan You are going to make me do research aren't you LOL
Or I can just wait until the chips fall where they do. So much soccer left before the end of May.
My only point is ... it is NOT as easy as saying ECNL regional will simply "be" the SCCL Club level.
Too many moving parts in NPL/SCCL Club
AND the DPL announcing it is the "official" second level to GA League.
OraclesFriend .... so so so much UFA grumbling lol
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Post by greenmonkey on Mar 25, 2021 14:25:53 GMT -5
On the girls' side the NPL of SSA and AFC is likely not happening as they have second teams going into DPL. But I think the SCCL makes a perfect ECRL. They could consider two teams from one club like other areas do and that would allow UFA Norcross and Forsyth to have teams in ECRL at both locations. If not then UFA might have some grumbling Yes but NPL South Atlantic is a bigger league than just AFC, SSA, and UFA. Combining NPL and SCCL Club would be a LARGE ECNL Region. 2020-21 boys clubs: Wake FC Triangle United Wake FC North SC Surf GPS Charleston AFC Lightning Hoover Vestavia SSA UFA Tormenta FC 2020-21 girls clubs: Triangle United Wake FC North SC Surf AFC Lightning SSA UFA Hoover Vestavia
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Post by greenmonkey on Mar 25, 2021 12:22:27 GMT -5
[ First it appears that VPL was an NPL league so not really apples to apples comparison unless it’s the South Atlantic NPL that becomes the ECNL Regional league Second I think it depends entirely on the requirements from the league on which level and how many teams a club can place in the league ... until the league comes and sets that standard it’s all speculation In typical TPDL the pyramid doesn’t lie hierarchy the GA and ECNL require clubs to place their “top team” in the league (Unless you are a girls national championship team that plays at a different branch location but that’s another story entirely) So does ECNL Regional REQUIRE the second level teams from the ECNL clubs and THEN any other teams the league allows? Taking out the GA/ECNL level teams who do you realistically expect to be invited to join an ECNL Regional League? The teams being talked about as potential ECNL Regional teams a HUGE hodge podge of a variety of clubs 1st 2nd 3rd and even 4th levels teams... NPL AFC - SSA - UFA SCCL CLUB AFU AMBUSH BUSA CONCORDE GSA NTH RUSH SANTOS SSA TENNESSEE UFA
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Post by greenmonkey on Mar 18, 2021 16:39:26 GMT -5
I would assume that means all 4 ecnl teams in town and maybe Busa and the north florida ecnl teams will be part of it. Makes for more fun at tryout time. For UFA probably a pretty easy swap out npl for ercl but for the SCCL 2nd team clubs that will drop SCCL down a peg. RIP Norcross
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Post by greenmonkey on Mar 4, 2021 17:22:58 GMT -5
ECRL is coming because ECNL wants it. Plus I doubt ECNL give SCCL any choice when they go to AFU, GSA, CF and UFA and tell them they need to send second teams into ECRL or risk losing ECNL. Think NASATophat doesn’t jump at the chance at sending their boys 2nd team and 3rd/4th girls team to ECRL. Imagine SSA having a branch play GAL and one playing ECRL. I know SSA Northside would jump at sending their top teams to ECRL while SSA Blue/Black build those GAL and DPL teams. Don’t think Santos, Ambush, Rush, Inter, Athens, or these other clubs that want a solid spot for their top or second team (to NLP) in ECRL as ECRL applications are open to individual teams, boys or girls, or the entire club. Covid slowed things down but I wouldn’t be surprised if this news drops in April. I seriously doubt that ERCL is going to accept NTH 4th team or SSA's 3rd team. That seems to be a sticking point with both ECNL or ERCL. The nice thing about SCCL-C is that it keeps all of the big local clubs playing each other. It is the only league where it is happening. If ECRL enters Georgia, it will likely be the end of all of the big clubs playing each other in the regular season. The landscape will be divided into GAL clubs and ENCL clubs. UFA, Concorde, GSA, and Atlanta Fire will have their teams in ECNL and ECRL. NTH, SSA, and AFC will have their teams in GAL and DPL. Do you think SCCL-CLUB then becomes the true THIRD tier for the BIG CLUBS? UFA (well it will be Norcross), Concorde, GSA, AFU, NTH, SSA all have enough teams at most age groups to send third teams to SCCL
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Post by greenmonkey on Mar 4, 2021 15:41:38 GMT -5
Soccerhouse
Which in a perfect world made it so much easier like it’s was all GA Soccer unless you played ECNL as a girl or DA as a boy
Now after ECNL (or GA) it’s all the middle ground that’s for everyone all wrung out
DPL or ECRL or NPL or SCCL CLUB
There is no way to empirically evaluate all that middle ground
Impossible situations for clubs, college coaches, parents and players to navigate
Not to mention in most age groups in Georgia in ECNL how do decide between a lower ranked ECNL team your player will likely not be a starter as the new kid on the block and a top level player on a next tier team where they are playing every minute but your being told no one looks at the second tier leagues for college
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Post by greenmonkey on Mar 4, 2021 15:35:48 GMT -5
ECNL or any pre-tryout camps are going to be more important than any actual tryout date anyway.
And for all those waiting to hear about ECRL or any other what will our club do for leagues ... my guess is they will announce all that sometime about August
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Post by greenmonkey on Mar 4, 2021 11:09:37 GMT -5
With two clubs (SSA & AFC) adding GAL and Concorde now having to field two ECNL teams without SSA, I suspect change is coming just about everywhere. For sure more changes are on the way and they won't stop soon. Also while CF having 2 ECNL spots (for now) will help them recruit some players including 1-2 SSA teams already playing ECNL in CF uniforms, I think CF's 2nd ECNL teams (Premier) will struggle far more than SSA ever did playing under CF Premier. At the end of the day only CF Platinum and GSA have really shown well consistently over the years. Those other CF Premier (except a couple SSA ones) and most AFU teams have been too weak for ECNL. Comparing ECNL to GA with NTH, SSA and AFC I still give the slight edge to ECNL for now in Georgia. But down the road getting GA will help both SSA and AFC to not only stop bleeding talent but also recruit better and that may tilt the scale the other way and give the competitive advantage to GA over ECNL in Georgia at least. And this might happen faster if UFA ever decided to join GA with its top teams. With DPL and ECRL also in play as good alternates to 2nd teams for the big clubs or top teams to next tier/size clubs (matter of time before ECRL happens here too), I don't see how SCCL or SAPL/NPL or any other US Club league can stay relevant much longer. They'll be as competitive as those Georgia Soccer leagues or what's left of them. I read a press release somewhere (probably on this site - but I verified it on the GA/DPL site) that DPL is now OFFICIALLY the second tier league to GA but I have yet to see anything official that NPL as a league is defunct not have I seen anything that ECRL is happening in just a matter of time. As far as US CLUB no longer being relevant isn’t ECNL a US CLUB program? Why would ECNL no longer be relevant? Especially since everyone is convinced that ECRL is happening and that’s also US Club
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Post by greenmonkey on Mar 4, 2021 11:02:19 GMT -5
When ECRL comes to Georgia?
Have decisions been made?
Just because we say it doesn’t make it so
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Post by greenmonkey on Feb 17, 2021 11:22:36 GMT -5
Omg #greenmonkey! You managed to work in Tophat and the age mandate in the same post. Well played. It’s like Pokémon ... Gotta get them all I alsos hit upon TPDL (the pyramid doesn’t lie) So basically I got the triple crown trifecta
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Post by greenmonkey on Feb 17, 2021 10:09:56 GMT -5
As a parent I don't care what benefits the Club more as I am not in this for the club. As was pointed out above, there are plenty of second team players that are interested in playing in college. IMO having a more recognized league for those players is what is best, as opposed to something that the local clubs created to make themselves more money. I honestly don't care if that league is DPL, NPL, ECRL, SCCL, etc., I just want something that is actually putting the kids first instead of the directors & clubs that are making all the money. I realize I am living in a dream world, but my loyalties are with my child and not the club she plays at. soccernoleukThis is exactly my point. Is it up to the league to care? Or the club? Exactly it’s neither ... its completely with the parents and the players. Even the coaches have no club or league loyalties. A “more recognized league”? When they all insist they are the best platform and most meaningful? Girls Side “Second team player” I will define as clearly not playing on a National Team or top performing D1 school (not looking at FSU, Clemson, UNC, Sanford, etc). Not playing at Concorde Platinum or GSA undefeated teams and not a Tophat GA level player. Everyone else we have all agreed on any given game day a SCCL team could best an NPL team. A DPL team could best an ECNL team. SCCL teams have played well matched against ECNL teams out of town etc etc etc. After the top 36 girls in an age group in ATL are pull aside (mostly by filling TH and CF and the rest as those truly one or two stand players on the rest of the teams) the next let’s say 150 girls (15 per team x 10 teams in Lower ECNL, DPL, ECRL, NPL, SCCL, etc). If we put egos and clubs and leagues aside .... There isn’t much that differentiates those next 150 Sure ECNL is a very well recognized league but Why would I as a parent pay more $$$ for name recognition in a league that in their age group of the five ATL three will likely finish the bottom three in the conference. How is playing less than half a game and getting beaten down for 10 games help to develop those 150 players? Then at the risk of waking up Tophat dragons The club provides meaningful training to develop players but does the league DPL provide enough benefits for those SSA, AFC players, Roswell players that fall in that “second group” of 150 NPL failed to provide something for that group (if it had why would SSA and AFC leave unless it was financial - which how does leaving NPL for DPL benefit the club?) ECRL in ATL is an interesting idea but my point is in ATL that looks like: CF third team (which I guess the next in the pecking order is their SCCL Club team ... AFU team (assuming AFU puts their SCCL club team in) UFA team (assuming the NPL team instead of the SCCL Club teams) Roswell SCCL Club teams AFC NPL team instead of DPL? SSA NPL team instead of DPL? So ECRL is a better choice when it’s actually the same set of 150 girls currently playing in 3 different leagues (NPL,DPL,SCCL Club) and frankly I think AFU,CF, and (UFA) could all benefit from a pro/rel system between ECRL and ECNL if Roswell, AFC and etc join an ECRL Bottom line it’s all a crap shoot year to year for the past six years in ATL for those second level 150 girls. The only thing for certain is what it is now won’t be that next year! Hasn’t been the same thing back to back years for those girls since about 2016 when DA and the (shhhh age mandate) started the soccer shizat show for ATL girls. That’s pretty much an entire “select soccer” “career”
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Post by greenmonkey on Feb 16, 2021 23:15:59 GMT -5
AND ... IF ecrl comes to ATL do "they" just invite the ECNL Clubs to enter their second teams into the league? OR ... Does ecrl want other non-ecnl teams to test their strengths like on the girls side NTH, Roswell and AFC etc?
IT IS VERY EASY to KEEP WATERING DOWN SCCL CLUB if you have ECNL, GA, DPL, ECRL replacing NPL etc etc etc
The big six clubs who created SCCL in addition to controlling all the money and dangling the fancy new alphabet in front of parents don't win by entering second level teams into all these other alphabets.
I just want my kid to play meaningful games (win or lose regardless as long as they get quality training and quality coaching leading to quality minutes played against same quality level teams)
WHY is that so hard to accomplish?
Follow the money ...
But I don't see how DPL/ECRL/NPL etc financially benefit a club MORE than the SCCL league THE CLUBS CREATED?
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Post by greenmonkey on Feb 10, 2021 23:00:59 GMT -5
AFC Lightning will also have their second teams in DPL in the Fall and will not have NPL teams.. The current NPL teams (top) will be in the GA going forward and the second teams will do DPL.. The age groups that have 3rd or 4th teams will stay in Georgia Soccer.. Hope they are able to recruit some players or I fear their top 2 teams in most age groups will have a rough go of it..time will tell... WAIT WHAT? SSA won't be in NPL AFC won't be in NPL SO ... Where is UFA sending their NPL teams?
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Post by greenmonkey on Jan 28, 2021 1:54:32 GMT -5
#whois Peter Bunting
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Post by greenmonkey on Jan 27, 2021 18:15:57 GMT -5
Truly the only complaint was the amount of dual rostered players who played ECNL AND SCCL during the season and the tournament. It is a hard line to draw. If you are not a strong ECNL player YES you certainly deserve playing time on the next level lower team and so on and so on down the line. And technically there are no rules that anyone can find that prohibit playing on both teams. And it is always great to play competition AT AND ABOVE your current level of play. But that said ... It is unfortunate when a team/club without access to a pool of "bubble" dual rostered ECNL players loses to the team that brings them in just for the tournament. Not a new complaint. Happens all the time at every level, in every league, in every state. It is the ultimate challenge to develop the bubble players on either end of the team. There are SCCL Club bubble players that could benefit from increased playing time at SCCL p-1 AND there are SCCL p1/p2/p3 players who if they were at a different club or different location could grow and develop more by being on the SCCL Club team. Likewise there are plenty of SCCL Club players who would benefit from spending some training time with ECNL teams ... etc etc etc. But then again maybe that does assume player development is a Club priority?!
Has anyone seen or heard of a player dual rostering the loophole between USClub and USYS yet? Say playing on an NL team and an NPL team?
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Post by greenmonkey on Jan 15, 2021 15:38:05 GMT -5
Allow me to quick recap this thread:
Age Mandate Tophat (including impressive callbacks of petitions and shoes) USSoccer/USYS/GA Soccer ECNL/GA Club Soccer/High School Soccer The COST of Soccer Liquor and Lacrosse And a dash of political unrest
ALL THAT'S MISSING IS ...
CLUB MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS!!!!
I think that sums it up
Missing anything else?
LOL
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Post by greenmonkey on Jan 14, 2021 0:37:43 GMT -5
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Post by greenmonkey on Nov 12, 2020 17:22:15 GMT -5
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