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Post by reinalocura on Mar 31, 2014 20:29:33 GMT -5
UFA & NSA Announce Merger FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2014 Dear Club Members, As representatives of one of the most successful soccer organizations in the state of Georgia, we continually seek ways to offer the best in soccer for our community’s recreational, intermediate and advanced players. In an effort to increase opportunities and provide an even greater level of service, we are pleased to announce the merger of United Futbol Academy (United FA) and Norcross Soccer Academy (NSA). The combined strengths of each organization will provide a superior soccer program at all levels of play, making this already widely popular sport even more accessible. The combined resources of each organization will also enable all soccer players in our communities to enjoy soccer at their level of enjoyment and compete at their highest level of ability. United FA will be under the leadership of our current Executive Board: Iggy Moleka, Gaucho Pinho, Don Schultz, and Deo Moleka. Tony Annan will also join the Executive Board as a valuable addition to the United leadership. The leadership brings many years of combined experience in training, development and the operations management of a soccer program. United FA and NSA will continue operating through the end of the Spring 2014 Season. No changes will be made with teams or uniforms during this period. Combined tryouts will be held starting in May 2014 and all of the current facilities will be available for use of this event as well as in the future. All team formations will be determined for Fall 2014 during this combined tryout process. United FA will be open for registration in April 2014 and will also show the anticipated coaching assignments for the Fall 2014 season in May. The United FA and NSA will cease operations as independent organizations by the end of May 2014. When both clubs opened up communication last fall, it became clear that we were both working toward the same goals and it made sense that creating a single club could offer a much higher level of service to the youth soccer community. By pooling our resources together, a greater opportunity exists for a more cohesive soccer presence in the area and to learn some best practices from UFA and NSA. If you have further questions, please email us at Deo@unitedfa.org. We look forward to serving you and this community for years to come. United Futbol Academy Executive Board PDF - aq137.infusionsoft.com/app/linkClick/2900/ad739c3667df2a90/204346/680a63375cebcbb5UFA - Norcross Website clubs.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=280973&inf_contact_key=112b9bbf573adef4c89f3f83fb4c30d0b00031ea0170212da5c535b4efd08527 |
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Post by zizou on Apr 1, 2014 6:43:23 GMT -5
I have no idea what this is going to mean for these clubs. Like I mentioned previously, historically for some reason there has been slippage at the older age groups at least on girls side. This is evident in paucity of players getting scholarships to big time college programs from both clubs. Both clubs have tended to have really good academy aged teams then quality has not seemed to hold. Maybe this will change as a result of this merger.
Where this could have a real effect, though, is on neighboring clubs. I am thinking of AFU. This new mega club sandwiches them. They are by far the weakest ECNL club of those in Georgia. It seems pretty clear that Atlanta metro cannot support more than 3 quality teams per age group in this organization. If this new mega club was going to get ECNL it seems it would have to be at someone's expense. Will AFU be able to survive as a top club if they continue with current operating procedures?
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Post by Soccerhouse on Apr 1, 2014 8:16:26 GMT -5
i think an issue i've noticed is just inconsistency from year to year. one age group is strong, then it might not be the case for another agegroup 1 to 2 years below. This is not a problem just with norcross/ufa, but probably an issue across the board with many clubs in the ATL
i think this merge will in the future ensure that every age group on both the girls and boys side will be strong at u13 and above. obviously, there top u13 and above boys players get taken for DA, so you could easily see slips on the boys side.
you have to wonder what this means for afu. a program not only sandwiched now between ufa (northern) and ufa norcross. Throw the fact that concorde north is right around the corner from them, you can easily see the slippage. but i would think concorde north parents would wise up and stop sending their kids to central at u13 above, stay near home and play at ufa or afu. We've talked about this before, not sure what type of evaluation criteria they have for ecnl, but i can't imagine they are in the business of kicking teams out. anyone know the last time an ECNL team was given the boot?
based upon the q&a, i think they are a few years removed from creating top teams all locations, but the crazy parents will be out at tryouts - bouncing from location to location i'm sure.
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Post by soccergator on Apr 1, 2014 11:30:40 GMT -5
Big Time news and a positive for both clubs. 2-3 years down the road, teams will be very strong. lots of quality coaches at norcross.
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Post by jash on Apr 1, 2014 14:37:34 GMT -5
I think the continued Atlanta consolidation will make it even harder for rural clubs to compete. Maybe that's one of the goals, but I think the end result will be better visibility for metro players and worse visibility for rural players.
That's the way it goes, I guess.
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Post by zizou on Apr 1, 2014 14:59:08 GMT -5
I think this is absolutely correct, jash. Georgia soccer will end up like La Liga. Georgia Soccer itself could do things to try and even the playing field (e.g., outreach to smaller clubs outside Atlanta, change ODP evaluations to be more inclusive and less biased toward the big clubs, run camps that encourage participation from smaller clubs). I still blame the smaller clubs (some of whom are fond of calling themselves "boutique") for trying to maintain their stats quo and not developing effective solutions to their numbers and competitive problems. They will be the death of themselves by virtue of their inactivity and lack of creativity.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2014 16:51:22 GMT -5
the ODP process is a joke. jacob daniel comes out and runs a session and then based upon his observations from an hour session, he determines which kids deserve to go to the pre camp. the tryouts are even worse. the pre tryout kids have a major advantage.
odp is meaningless to clubs with encl and DA opportunities.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Apr 1, 2014 17:05:35 GMT -5
with DA and ECNL , there is nothing ga soccer can do.
imagine if ssa and concorde now join as well......... yikes!
metro atl is a competitive soccer town. i assume very similar to LA, dallas, houston and south florida.
small clubs usually are fine until you go to 11v11. its tough to find 13 strong players as a single club that can compete with sprawl of the larger clubs, almost impossible.
small clubs are always 2 players away from being great, but then 2 players away from being very bad and potentially falling apart.
personally, i think that is one of the big positives of this merger. ufa will have strong teams in every age group on both the boys and girls side. it should also add alot of depth to their 2nd teams.
norcross girls rec/academy program was loosing numbers every year. 6 good kids doesn't cut it. you need 6, then 9, then at least 13.
if managed properly, it will be a success. i personally think concorde is poorly managed and the new UFA knows this and will do what ever it takes to make it work the right way.
Tony Annan knows how to run a club. go watch his teams play, extremely well coached and play quality possession soccer. he brought in quality coaches now for years at norcross. he is in it for the right reasons.
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Post by 4theloveofsoccer on Apr 1, 2014 17:16:53 GMT -5
IMO this will help Norcross much more than UFA. In the past 5 years or so Norcross has lost many of their recreation players to other "church" and recreation park leagues. While losing Academy and Select players to surrounding clubs. I agree with a previous poster that they do have excellent coaches, at the same time there are too many poor leaders. UFA on the other hand will continue to grow as it has been in recent years. It is a win-win situation for both and hopefully all goes well.
I wonder if this new merger will have a player pool which involves plenty of travel for example with SSA Academy Teams - where we have seen the same 4-5 players play for all locations with 2-3 different teams on a Saturday. Or have set teams for the separate locations such as Concorde Academy Teams.
Interesting if any other clubs will decide to do the same soon and how the dynamics this will be.
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Post by silverback on Apr 1, 2014 21:03:42 GMT -5
Disagree with comments about ODP and Jacob Daniels. A lot of work and effort goes on behind the scenes to make ODP a viable option for players. No doubt, DA is having an impact on the boys side and you can't please everyone, but JD does an excellent job and is having a positive impact at the region level.
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Post by rifle on Apr 2, 2014 6:04:14 GMT -5
the ODP process is a joke. jacob daniel comes out and runs a session and then based upon his observations from an hour session, he determines which kids deserve to go to the pre camp. the tryouts are even worse. the pre tryout kids have a major advantage. odp is meaningless to clubs with encl and DA opportunities. Curious. If the pricess is a joke... why? What kind of player does JD like which doesn't fit your idea of quality? |
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Post by jack4343 on Apr 2, 2014 7:09:44 GMT -5
It is definitely an exciting time around these parts. What will happen? Who knows! Of course, there is alot of optimism and excitement as well as some nervousness to see how and when things play out.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Apr 2, 2014 7:45:58 GMT -5
Love it jack4343 ! nice avatar. you don't waste anytime. I think its great that share your club affiliation! personally, I know I sound like a broken record, but the merger will help the girls program tremendously. Things as simple as, "what we need 2 players to play in the nasa tourney, lets just grab a few from forysth" no clubs are perfect and you will have some bumps and bruises, but I personally I like the merger from a soccer standpoint. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2014 9:51:51 GMT -5
Disagree with comments about ODP and Jacob Daniels. A lot of work and effort goes on behind the scenes to make ODP a viable option for players. No doubt, DA is having an impact on the boys side and you can't please everyone, but JD does an excellent job and is having a positive impact at the region level. sorry was referring more to the pretyout selection of players and camp. he didn't listen the recommendation of the coaching staff (director of the club) and selected kids that were inferior to top players. just left a sour taste in folks mouths. i have no problem with JD personally or professionally and think he does a fine job for ga soccer and was impressed with his session. i think that is part of the problem, identification of players is an issue. the pre-tryout camp costs $$$ and tryouts cost $$$ (minimal, but not free). is this in the best interest of soccer in the US? i think it should be a combination of jacob daniels and others identifying players from these sessions at clubs, reputable coaches and directors recommendations of players, open tryouts and evaluations by opposing team coaches during either youth academy or athena/classic play. i'm just emphasizing that for boys with DA in place and almost zero cost to families has much more value. our coach constantly sees ability and talent in opposing team players and should have a venue to recommend them. maybe they can do this, but a lot of clubs honestly don't care much about odp given history of some top players not being selected (so yes, for some selfish reasons) I think super y does something similar for their identification process, but might be mistaken. yes, but regardless of what odp is for, it still offers great opportunities for players. great travel opportunity, opens doors, allows playing with other top talent, identification for regional and national team pool etc. i dont' work in the soccer business and do not try to do soccer coaches jobs, but i just think the odp process can be improved and it starts with player identification and evaluation. |
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Post by mamampira on Apr 2, 2014 11:55:59 GMT -5
Disagree with comments about ODP and Jacob Daniels. A lot of work and effort goes on behind the scenes to make ODP a viable option for players. No doubt, DA is having an impact on the boys side and you can't please everyone, but JD does an excellent job and is having a positive impact at the region level. sorry was referring more to the pretyout selection of players and camp. he didn't listen the recommendation of the coaching staff (director of the club) and selected kids that were inferior to top players. just left a sour taste in folks mouths. i have no problem with JD personally or professionally and think he does a fine job for ga soccer and was impressed with his session. i think that is part of the problem, identification of players is an issue. the pre-tryout camp costs $$$ and tryouts cost $$$ (minimal, but not free). is this in the best interest of soccer in the US? i think it should be a combination of jacob daniels and others identifying players from these sessions at clubs, reputable coaches and directors recommendations of players, open tryouts and evaluations by opposing team coaches during either youth academy or athena/classic play. i'm just emphasizing that for boys with DA in place and almost zero cost to families has much more value. our coach constantly sees ability and talent in opposing team players and should have a venue to recommend them. maybe they can do this, but a lot of clubs honestly don't care much about odp given history of some top players not being selected (so yes, for some selfish reasons) I think super y does something similar for their identification process, but might be mistaken. yes, but regardless of what odp is for, it still offers great opportunities for players. great travel opportunity, opens doors, allows playing with other top talent, identification for regional and national team pool etc. i dont' work in the soccer business and do not try to do soccer coaches jobs, but i just think the odp process can be improved and it starts with player identification and evaluation. Have to agree the ODP selection process is flawed. Have heard many current and past ODP players share amongst themselves how certain players got left out for the wrong reasons. |
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Post by mamampira on Apr 2, 2014 11:57:27 GMT -5
with DA and ECNL , there is nothing ga soccer can do. imagine if ssa and concorde now join as well......... yikes! metro atl is a competitive soccer town. i assume very similar to LA, dallas, houston and south florida. small clubs usually are fine until you go to 11v11. its tough to find 13 strong players as a single club that can compete with sprawl of the larger clubs, almost impossible. small clubs are always 2 players away from being great, but then 2 players away from being very bad and potentially falling apart. personally, i think that is one of the big positives of this merger. ufa will have strong teams in every age group on both the boys and girls side. it should also add alot of depth to their 2nd teams. norcross girls rec/academy program was loosing numbers every year. 6 good kids doesn't cut it. you need 6, then 9, then at least 13. if managed properly, it will be a success. i personally think concorde is poorly managed and the new UFA knows this and will do what ever it takes to make it work the right way. Tony Annan knows how to run a club. go watch his teams play, extremely well coached and play quality possession soccer. he brought in quality coaches now for years at norcross. he is in it for the right reasons. Yes, we are confident in Tony Annan and the combined leadership of the new mega club! Very exciting times. |
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Post by Soccerhouse on Apr 2, 2014 12:19:33 GMT -5
yea, zizou, might need its own thread, i think we hijacked the merger thread! go ahead and start a new thread with your post and maybe link to this discussion. what ever you want to do! and yes, my joke a few years ago was we need to buy our girls tophat shorts to wear to odp tryouts....... |
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Post by Soccerhouse on Apr 2, 2014 12:41:59 GMT -5
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