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Post by soccermom4 on Apr 20, 2018 13:47:33 GMT -5
My daughter is U-11 and currently plays soccer in Florida. For now, she is a very good player. (I realize she is still young and many factors can change that in the coming years.) I also realize that most people think their child is good, but several people come up to (from the opposing teams too) and comment about her style/level of play after the game. Anyway, I have noticed, as a general rule FL struggles with soccer. Our teams can rarely compete with CF, TH, and other GA teams. From my investigating, it seems GA, TX, CA seem to field strong teams consistently. So my honest question: what is so different about your soccer programs or development than ours?
If I could move to one of these states and get my daughter in a program there, I would. For now, though, that is not possible. So I am trying to see what I can do to help to continue her development in the Florida soccer system.
TIA
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Post by SoccerMom on Apr 20, 2018 14:03:34 GMT -5
Can I ask what part of Florida?? A always felt that a few of the Florida teams were strong
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Post by soccermom4 on Apr 20, 2018 14:04:43 GMT -5
The Tampa area
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Post by SoccerMom on Apr 20, 2018 14:06:06 GMT -5
Are you near IMG?
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Post by soccermom4 on Apr 20, 2018 14:14:17 GMT -5
Most of Tampa is within driving distance of IMG, but around here, it is considered one of the most over-priced, under-delivering programs. Their GDA results from this past year kind of attest to that.
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Post by SoccerMom on Apr 20, 2018 14:19:27 GMT -5
Every soccer program is overpriced if you ask me lol
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Apr 20, 2018 14:54:27 GMT -5
From my vantage point, I believe it's the strong source of players, teams, clubs and parents, all concentrated in one area that raise the bar day in, day out. In essence the culture makes teams in Atlanta so competitive. Take CF/TH/UFA/SSA/GSA/AFC/AFU/Inter/LSA and add to that on the boys side the MLS team - Atlanta United. Those are just 10 in one metropolitan area. Now most of these clubs also have a multitude of locations. These are just the big players in the soccer landscape. There are loads of other smaller yet competitive clubs that are equally as hungry. Honestly, one could home cook and never leave the city to get good competition. Most other places I've been, other than the states you mentioned tend to have too much real estate between them to support the culture. Add to that, the beauty that many parents either played when they were young or grew up in places other than Atlanta where soccer is called football and I say you have a recipe for the Beautiful Game.
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Post by spectator on Apr 20, 2018 15:08:41 GMT -5
So my honest question: what is so different about your soccer programs or development than ours? We put growth hormones in the water and beat the kids when they lose games. I'M KIDDING!!!! Honestly, the teams we've played from Florida have been very good most of the time so I assume the perception that GA creates better soccer is in the eye of the beholder. And when we say 'GA' we really mean metro Atlanta - although that can stretch southward to Augusta and Savannah at times. There are just a boat load of competitive clubs here making for a very deep talent pool. In our age group for ODP, Florida has sent more girls to Region Pool every year than GA did. My daughter's GA ODP team finally beat Florida at Region Camp this year -only took years to do it! LOL My question back to you - how is your coach? How did your daughter develop her skills this early - was it from her own work or a good coach teaching basics? If the latter, stick with that coach!! If not, continue what she's doing and the success will come. She's 10 like you said - lots can change but if she's passionate, the good teams - and hopefully great coaches - will notice and she'll have more opportunity!
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Post by SoccerMom on Apr 20, 2018 15:18:34 GMT -5
So my honest question: what is so different about your soccer programs or development than ours? We put growth hormones in the water and beat the kids when they lose games. I'M KIDDING!!!! Honestly, the teams we've played from Florida have been very good most of the time so I assume the perception that GA creates better soccer is in the eye of the beholder. And when we say 'GA' we really mean metro Atlanta - although that can stretch southward to Augusta and Savannah at times. There are just a boat load of competitive clubs here making for a very deep talent pool. In our age group for ODP, Florida has sent more girls to Region Pool every year than GA did. My daughter's GA ODP team finally beat Florida at Region Camp this year -only took years to do it! LOL My question back to you - how is your coach? How did your daughter develop her skills this early - was it from her own work or a good coach teaching basics? If the latter, stick with that coach!! If not, continue what she's doing and the success will come. She's 10 like you said - lots can change but if she's passionate, the good teams - and hopefully great coaches - will notice and she'll have more opportunity! My daughters ODP team always beat FL lol But remember that being the big game! I also remember the table tipping and GA sending more than FL. Your daughter is a couple of years older than mine though. But i agree about the coach...if its the coach thats made a difference for her, stick to that coach for now
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Post by Soccerhouse on Apr 20, 2018 15:19:04 GMT -5
Georgia soccer is different because, sorry for saying this Savannah/Columbus/Macon --- Atlanta soccer is Georgia Soccer. Sorry again for saying this --- but we have what 80+clubs (just guessing - dreaddy will know the answer!! ) in the greater atlanta area all competing for players ---- The talent pool and an catchment area is insane in atlanta. Again why --- people will drive 1.5 hours for nightly training. Girls drive from Rome 3 nights a week, cobb county to North druid Hills area, south of the airport to north of spaghetti junction. For us crazy atlanteans, everything is 45 minutes away at rush hour, so whats an extra 10-15 minutes to drive across town to get your kid to training. The talent pool is rich. we have many many skilled and excellent coaches Clubs are committed to success Clubs have competition, and hence players have competition -- girls soccer here is brutal, if you slip you will be replaced People are willing to drive many miles for weekly training Financial Assistant programs are always in place for top female players ECNL has a strong history here with Concorde and GSA. Atlanta has Tophat --- microphone drop....
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Post by soccermom4 on Apr 20, 2018 15:48:55 GMT -5
Great point about the number of clubs and talent pool CF/TH etc are pulling from at the older ages (ecnl/da)! My daughter’s coach has been a significant factor in growth, along with her own passion and drive. (She practices a lot on her own outside of practice too.) Another club wanted her to play up a year next year in u13 ecnl, but my daughter wants to stay with her own club in hopes of da in the future. Plus we recently found out her coach is moving up with their age group. Even at our own club, the coach the year above us has expressed interest in her playing up on his team. My daughter wants to stay with her current coach. I like him and he has helped her a lot, so I hope I’m doing the right thing by not pursuing these opportunities. If anyone has thoughts/comments on that, I would love to hear.
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Post by soccerdaddy on Apr 20, 2018 15:54:30 GMT -5
From my vantage point, I believe it's the strong source of players, teams, clubs and parents, all concentrated in one area that raise the bar day in, day out. In essence the culture makes teams in Atlanta so competitive. Take CF/TH/UFA/SSA/GSA/AFC/AFU/Inter/LSA and add to that on the boys side the MLS team - Atlanta United. Those are just 10 in one metropolitan area. Now most of these clubs also have a multitude of locations. These are just the big players in the soccer landscape. There are loads of other smaller yet competitive clubs that are equally as hungry. Honestly, one could home cook and never leave the city to get good competition. Most other places I've been, other than the states you mentioned tend to have too much real estate between them to support the culture. Add to that, the beauty that many parents either played when they were young or grew up in places other than Atlanta where soccer is called football and I say you have a recipe for the Beautiful Game. Futsal Gawdess, you and SoccerMom keep taking the words right out of my mouth and always beat me to it! Just kidding, I acknowledge just what is described here and I think the Atlanta United Home games are a true picture of the Soccer Vibe going on in GA!
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Post by soccernotfootball on Apr 20, 2018 15:55:10 GMT -5
Great point about the number of clubs and talent pool CF/TH etc are pulling from at the older ages (ecnl/da)! My daughter’s coach has been a significant factor in growth, along with her own passion and drive. (She practices a lot on her own outside of practice too.) Another club wanted her to play up a year next year in u13 ecnl, but my daughter wants to stay with her own club in hopes of da in the future. Plus we recently found out her coach is moving up with their age group. Even at our own club, the coach the year above us has expressed interest in her playing up on his team. My daughter wants to stay with her current coach. I like him and he has helped her a lot, so I hope I’m doing the right thing by not pursuing these opportunities. If anyone has thoughts/comments on that, I would love to hear. Staying with a good coach that you and your daughter likes - and is developing her skills - is never wrong. Those opportunities will still be there and possibly more to come. Stay with your coach and club. Perhaps do additional training with the team the year above and guest play with them when there are no conflicts with your team. I bet both coaches would be good with that.
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