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Post by soccermamma17 on May 27, 2021 0:12:37 GMT -5
Lots of girls from ‘09, ‘07, and ‘06 moving to AFU
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Post by soccergurl on May 27, 2021 6:00:32 GMT -5
|me thinks we start gofundme for Norcross| | soccermom plz close Norcross| |Norcross only good 4 rec| |
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Post by oraclesfriend on May 27, 2021 6:19:40 GMT -5
This is nothing new. It always happens. This year at rising U11-U13 was worse than usual due to Renata leaving. The older age groups always lose a few players who want ECNL (and now ECRL).
Norcross is a great home for developing players at academy ages and for the boys. For the older teams on the girls side it is hard. At this point they should probably consider having a central location for SCCL club or doing what Tophat does and train them in multiple places like 1 day Fowler, 1 day Pinckneyville and one day South Forsyth.
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Post by Soccerhouse on May 27, 2021 7:40:53 GMT -5
This was some of my best work  |
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Post by atlfutboldad on May 27, 2021 10:41:56 GMT -5
Too bad its owned and not a merger. Norcross can't do anything, basically everyone should just leave on the girls side and force the club to do something (would they even?). I assume that since ECNL boys is partially run out of Norcross, the boys side will do fine. I'm surprised they can command the numbers WAY UP at Forsyth that they do.
A Norcross/Brookwood probably would have been a good merger had Norcross not been already owned by UFA.
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dc
Jr. Academy
Posts: 52
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Post by dc on May 27, 2021 10:45:28 GMT -5
How did the boys tryouts go this week? Did they get numbers there or is it just the girls side that’s suffering loses?
I thought someone posted last week that the 08 boys were in need of some players.
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Post by soccer94 on May 27, 2021 10:53:55 GMT -5
How did the boys tryouts go this week? Did they get numbers there or is it just the girls side that’s suffering loses? I thought someone posted last week that the 08 boys were in need of some players. From my understanding from a parent the team is basically still intact and looking to add a few more players. I saw a supplemental try out was posted for tonight on their Facebook page. Imo this is a great opportunity for 08 boys who missed the ECRL cut at GSA/Forsyth/Concorde to try out. |
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Post by mightydawg on May 27, 2021 10:54:14 GMT -5
The problem for Norcross on the girls side is that there is no place for upward mobility and the range to draw players is limited because of its top offering. The top level of play for girls is SCCL-Club. With the introduction of ECRL and DPL, it makes SCCL-Club a third tier league. The problem with this is that from Pickneyville Park, a player can drive 15 minutes south to Rush Union, 15 minutes north to AFU, 20 minutes west to Roswell, 30 minutes northwest to Ambush, and 25 minutes southeast to GSA Lilburn and get the same level of play. If you cut all of those distances in half, Norcross is the closest club for a very small percentage of players. Combine that with the fact that AFU, Roswell, and GSA offer teams at higher level of play, it really puts Norcross in a squeeze. If UFA really wanted to draw and keep better girl players at Norcross, it would offer a higher level of play at Norcross.
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Post by soccerballsforus on May 27, 2021 11:29:39 GMT -5
My kids no longer play, but a friend of a friend knew I would be interested in offering input.
This decline specifically for the women dates back now probably close to 7 years ago. Lots of things happened in succession, and the exact timeline isn't 100% accurate, but all the issues compounded one another.
*Director of club really didn't have a passion for womens soccer and basically left it to be managed by others.
*One very very good coach stopped coaching two girls teams and was basically screwed over and given a random lower team.
*Another coach stepped in, who eventually moved on to Atlanta united, and literally decimated the 2 age groups and was the polar opposite of the original coach. One team was an older team, but the damage was done, and the two teams fell apart. I believe one was the 01-02 team, the other maybe the 98-99s (could be wrong on that one). I believe this same coach also the next year ended up coaching a 99-00 team that also then fell apart the following season
*Norcross merges with UFA and the norcross director was fine with players switching from Norcross to Fowler given they were staying in the UFA umbrella and the $$ was still being captured.
*A few coaches left from Norcross to go to fowler as well.
*During this entire time period, UFA has no higher level of soccer, only RPL, once most the top girls hit u13/u14 they were leaving for greener pastures to play ecnl. It became almost impossible to retain top talent at Norcross as Forsyth was clearly the strong girls program
*Age mandate hits, and the lack of depth in the age groups is apparent. Older teams had fallen apart so beginning with the 03 up to the 00 team, the clubs depth chart took a huge hit.
*Not only did you have the departure of the primary older player, but now the siblings were departing also.
*and during this entire time, the director really checked out and focused on Ga United vs Norcross, and never really developed a true vision for the girls program
I can't understate how negative the merge truly ended up for the norcross girls program, throw in the age mandate, and some pour coaching decisions, and the club isn't even a shell of what it once was.
Even without ecnl, norcross had some very strong girls teams, but the program has taken to many hits over the years now. 7-10 years ago, they were fielding 2-3 teams in each girls age group.
and it is critical the Norcross side maintain "control" over the boys ECNL program or I fear the same thing could happen to the boys.
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Post by atlfutboldad on May 27, 2021 12:16:08 GMT -5
Have ANY merges actually benefited the club merging-into another club?
We've seen what happened with Norcross and Dacula.
Will Brookwood be the next location to fall apart? Has the merger with NTH actually benefited anyone at Smyrna? Does NTH put any DPL or GAL (Navy) in Milton?
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Post by bogan on May 27, 2021 12:39:02 GMT -5
Have ANY merges actually benefited the club merging-into another club? We've seen what happened with Norcross and Dacula. Will Brookwood be the next location to fall apart? Has the merger with NTH actually benefited anyone at Smyrna? Does NTH put any DPL or GAL (Navy) in Milton? 🤔🤷🏻♂️ |
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Post by mightydawg on May 27, 2021 12:55:56 GMT -5
Have ANY merges actually benefited the club merging-into another club? We've seen what happened with Norcross and Dacula. Will Brookwood be the next location to fall apart? Has the merger with NTH actually benefited anyone at Smyrna? Does NTH put any DPL or GAL (Navy) in Milton? You are exactly right. The only two examples that I can think of are Northside becoming a part of SSA and CFC Red Star becoming part of Concorde (although this is still fresh and long term effects are not known). Northside has had some NPL teams and such out of Northside that Northside would not otherwise have had and CFC is going to have a girls ECRL team at each age group and boys ECRL teams at U13 and U16. |
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Post by bogan on May 27, 2021 12:59:30 GMT -5
Have ANY merges actually benefited the club merging-into another club? We've seen what happened with Norcross and Dacula. Will Brookwood be the next location to fall apart? Has the merger with NTH actually benefited anyone at Smyrna? Does NTH put any DPL or GAL (Navy) in Milton? You are exactly right. The only two examples that I can think of are Northside becoming a part of SSA and CFC Red Star becoming part of Concorde (although this is still fresh and long term effects are not known). Northside has had some NPL teams and such out of Northside that Northside would not otherwise have had and CFC is going to have a girls ECRL team at each age group and boys ECRL teams at U13 and U16. Yeah-I wouldn’t count the RedStar merger yet-I would say TBD on that for now. |
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Post by oraclesfriend on May 27, 2021 13:01:48 GMT -5
Have ANY merges actually benefited the club merging-into another club? We've seen what happened with Norcross and Dacula. Will Brookwood be the next location to fall apart? Has the merger with NTH actually benefited anyone at Smyrna? Does NTH put any DPL or GAL (Navy) in Milton? Milton is not really the same since it was a new location and not a merger. However in the past Tophat has put some of their SCCL teams at U12 out of Milton. That was the plan this year but I don't think that will happen. Also Tophat top teams are not really based out of the main location. I think the Tophat merger with NASA has benefited the girls side. At least they seem to have the same number of teams overall. Plus those NASA locations are actually used for the top teams trainings at least sometimes. Really all of the GA and DPL teams train in Marietta for most of their practices and some do a day in Milton so it does keep those top players in the Tophat system. |
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Post by mightydawg on May 27, 2021 13:08:01 GMT -5
You are right. I had forgotten about the NASA and Tophat merger. That is one that has worked out for the girls.
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Post by atv on May 28, 2021 11:42:47 GMT -5
Have ANY merges actually benefited the club merging-into another club? We've seen what happened with Norcross and Dacula. Will Brookwood be the next location to fall apart? Has the merger with NTH actually benefited anyone at Smyrna? Does NTH put any DPL or GAL (Navy) in Milton? I think mergers only benefit if there is close geographical proximity and if the timing is right. I think rotating practice fields also help so the sites don’t become isolated from one another. Assuming coaching across clubs is the same the advantages are access to higher level leagues and improved player pools. For example, GSA merger with Dacula in retrospect was a win/ win primarily because of timing (Boys ECNL and DA ending), nearby locations, and Dacula’s need for an improved player pyramid. I’m a little surprised Norcross is still having issues after bringing in Jason Smith. High profile Director with years of experience. He was suppose to fix this …? |
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Post by oraclesfriend on May 28, 2021 11:53:24 GMT -5
Have ANY merges actually benefited the club merging-into another club? We've seen what happened with Norcross and Dacula. Will Brookwood be the next location to fall apart? Has the merger with NTH actually benefited anyone at Smyrna? Does NTH put any DPL or GAL (Navy) in Milton? I think mergers only benefit if there is close geographical proximity and if the timing is right. Rotating fields also helps. Assuming coaching across clubs is the same the advantages are access to higher level leagues and improved player pools. For example, GSA merger with Dacula in retrospect was a win/ win primarily because of timing (Boys ECNL and DA ending), nearby locations, and Dacula’s need for an improved player pyramid. I’m a little surprised Norcross is still having issues after bringing in Jason Smith. High profile Director with years of experience. He was suppose to fix this …? In the last two years they lost two high profile and well liked coaches in Sergio and Renata. Hard to replace those people. Sergio took the teams with him. Renata did not do that (and stayed within UFA) but she WAS the WHOLE GIRLS ACADEMY program. She coached all of the academy teams. The coaches he brought in to replace Renata are well liked from other clubs and may build it more. They need two teams at each age group in academy IMO. If they can do that again it will help. |
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Post by soccerparentx on May 29, 2021 18:34:36 GMT -5
This was some of my best work Where is Metro Atlanta? How did the boys tryouts go this week? Did they get numbers there or is it just the girls side that’s suffering loses? I thought someone posted last week that the 08 boys were in need of some players. |
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Post by sweeperstopper on Jun 2, 2021 23:03:52 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?
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Post by Keeper on Jun 2, 2021 23:08:40 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? They were mixed with the 07s tonight (who probably won’t form or be as good) but a good majority were 06s. They should have a team if they get all the commitments but sounds like a lot or weighing other options still. Told they’d be SCCL C2C as well. |
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Post by soccermamma17 on Jun 2, 2021 23:56:24 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? We were invited too, but we chose not to do it due to so many ‘07 girls leaving. |
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Post by DunwoodySoccerDad on Jun 3, 2021 6:26:16 GMT -5
There will be an 06 team and the coach (Sam Helliwell) is excellent. I can speak from personal experience. The 07 situation is more dire, unfortunately.
The 06 team is adding some new players to offset some who are leaving (all for ECNL/ECRL opportunities). If you have a daughter invited to play for that team, I would jump on it. They will definitely play SCCL-C, BTW.
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Post by r3pl on Jun 3, 2021 7:20:45 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
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Post by oraclesfriend on Jun 3, 2021 7:26:41 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 I agree that it is difficult to keep players there. It is a testament to them that they got two on ECNL and one on GA Navy (the 06 GA Navy team is in the playoffs and above Gold in the table despite losing to Gold 2-0). What could they do to keep players? I just do not know the solution |
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Post by coffee on Jun 3, 2021 7:30:12 GMT -5
There will be an 06 team and the coach (Sam Helliwell) is excellent. I can speak from personal experience. The 07 situation is more dire, unfortunately. The 06 team is adding some new players to offset some who are leaving (all for ECNL/ECRL opportunities). If you have a daughter invited to play for that team, I would jump on it. They will definitely play SCCL-C, BTW. From personal experience I can give two (parent and player) enthusiastic thumbs-up for their coach, Sam Helliwell. My keeper daughter helped guest-play a half dozen games with his 06 team. A couple of months ago my daughter and I were discussing whether to register for the Summer SCCL league. We checked who would be coaching the 06 team, saw that it would be Sam, and pulled the trigger. I’m certain Sam will eventually be coaching ECNL teams for some club. |
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Post by DunwoodySoccerDad on Jun 3, 2021 7:34:47 GMT -5
There will be an 06 team and the coach (Sam Helliwell) is excellent. I can speak from personal experience. The 07 situation is more dire, unfortunately. The 06 team is adding some new players to offset some who are leaving (all for ECNL/ECRL opportunities). If you have a daughter invited to play for that team, I would jump on it. They will definitely play SCCL-C, BTW. From personal experience I can give two (parent and player) enthusiastic thumbs-up for their coach, Sam Helliwell. My keeper daughter helped guest-play a half dozen games with his 06 team. A couple of months ago my daughter and I were discussing whether to register for the Summer SCCL league. We checked who would be coaching the 06 team, saw that it would be Sam, and pulled the trigger. I’m certain Sam will eventually be coaching ECNL teams for some club. Agree with your last statement. He's way too good to not be coaching ECNL or similar. We are playing for his 07 summer league team. |
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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? For 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 oraclesfriend on Jun 3, 2021 9:15:38 GMT -5
greenmonkeyI wish the team all the best! Coach is so huge! My biggest factor in deciding where to go with my kids. A friend, the actual oracle, told me the other day that I was picky when looking for teams for one of my kids. Yes! I am picky! If you have a great coach then stay with them! As an aside let's talk about the former 03 UFA Norcross girls now All in under Sergio. They sent girls to D1 programs. I know of one that is going to Wofford and I think Furman for one of the others. Good coaches make good players and teams! These players GET BETTER under them. I have heard great things about Sam! He is the type of coach Norcross needs to keep players. It sounds like he usually just reloads with new talent when he loses girls to top leagues. Sounds like a great coach to me. I also happen to agree about the parents being a big deal on a team. Bad parents can poison a team.
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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 sweeperstopper on Jun 3, 2021 9:33:12 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
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