NTH

Nope, I'm pretty sure TH will not ever be the same after this and I'll tell you why. Right now they are can still get by with this GAL "thing" for now because the 03's are mostly all committed so it really doesn't make a difference what league they are playing in. You will see some movement with the 04's because roughly a third of the team has committed to colleges which still leaves sought 10-12 girls who will still look to showcase their skills (assuming they have any) in front of major college coaches because they were not offered spots on college teams as of yet. Meaning you will see those girls start to look elsewhere. Let's just say it takes TH at least 3 more years before ECNL will allow them back in, (they're definitely not getting in this year or next), starting from the 05 age group on down, those players will see all of the attention that the ECNL players are getting (just like DA used to receive) and want that same attention and opportunities to fetch those coveted college spots and will definitely defect. So again it won't hurt them too bad right now but its the younger age group that they need to hold on to because whenever they are allowed back into ECNL, which will happen, they need to come in with a strong presence and not coming in with a deeply weakened talent pool.

Just to clarify for the false information out there. DPL only has 2 road trips in the regular season, both to Florida from what I have been told.

I get the dislike of the affluenza and in the past Tophat reaping benefits from GA Soccer politics for it. Thankfully those days are gone. The playing field is becoming less favorable to them.

As a club they are likely trying to continue to recruit families with their 3 travel teams per age group, which is asinine IMO, but so be it. Would be nice if they joined us in the real world. Travel without an actual purpose is nonsense. May as well make the whole club into travel teams and not play any competition in Georgia at all.

Also, ECNL isn't "full", they just added Portland Thorns.  They have no problem adding other top clubs.  There's definitely a reason/reasons NTH was left out intentionally.  They will get back in in a year or two IMO.

Can some one confirm the try out dates for Tophat older girls? Was told June 7-10 but the site shows another date.

So for parents of young girls U10-U11, that are actually interested in a more complete Development, not just the Wins... it sounds like TH is still the best destination... for now, yes?

Not a rumor anymore. Email sent out this morning.  No tryouts for the older girls.

Yes please post. I have not gotten any such email and the link to register for try outs is still active on the website.

What happens if the coach you had last year is no longer coaching that team. Also team manager left due to daughter graduating. So we are in purgatory.

I don't think there was any question TH would keep the entire 02/03 team. They are all or mostly committed, so no need to leave. From what I have heard, the 04, 05, 07 and 08 teams took big hits in talent and/or numbers. I have also heard that notwithstanding the TH rosters coming out this week, some TH kids were reaching out to ECNL clubs. I suspect when kids/parents on the GAL teams saw the rosters and that a handful of starters and top talent in each age group were gone, it may have caused some pause. Of course, this gives others a chance to step up. It's a good opp for them.