More Backroom Deals Than Tammany Hall - A Youth Soccer Tale

[The Sybian]

Sorry man.

What is the rationale, or did they not share that?

$$$

If they're anything like the kids club they have concluded they can make more cash at the other location. They told him a week before they sent the team to Peachtree City. It worked. They all crawled back.

They are already at the other location, cutting from 3 teams to 2 overall. Same owner, separate management at the two locations.

[Nonlinear FC]

Sure, I figured finances are driving things... Just not sure I understand it in the context of one town/county being more lucrative when you have a full roster already. Just jack up the fees if that's what's going on.

[The Sybian]

Sure, I figured finances are driving things... Just not sure I understand it in the context of one town/county being more lucrative when you have a full roster already. Just jack up the fees if that's what's going on.

If I’m understanding, they are just cutting the B team in North Jersey and renaming the South Jersey team. The White teams are usually mid-table in ECNL and ECRL most years and most age groups, and I think they want to only have teams that are winning the league. It’s gotta be a big financial hit. Either that, or they think there is more talent in South Jersey to field two teams down there. It wasn’t clear if South is getting 2 teams or staying at one.

Worst part is, there are no other ECNL teams within a 90 minute drive. MatchFit bought a top club in South Jersey 4 years ago, and split NL/RL between the locations. They kept the ECNL team in North Jersey for every year except my daughters, because the South Jersey team her year was incredible. Can’t imagine it’ll look good to college coaches that she left her club to play in a lower level league.

[The Sybian]

Ok, so we got some answers, and while it sucks, I feel better that it wasn't a money issue. Coach had a Zoom call with parent to explain, after talking to the girls for 30 minutes after practice (thanks for the heads up that you are keeping them 30 minutes late!). Gotta say, the coach is getting screwed more than anyone as he coaches 2 White teams, and has two daughters playing on white teams, and lives 2 hours from where the White teams are getting moved. I'm guessing he losses his job, and he pretty much said the same.

For the 3 or 4 of you who understand or care how ECNL works:

Last year, ECNL added a bunch of divisions for teams that only have ECRL leagues (ECRL is like a league of B teams for ECNL teams). They decided they are going to give ECNL badges to a few of those teams that are successful across all age groups, and going to strip ECNL badges from clubs that aren't doing well. Turns out the PDA White teams in pre-high school age groups did really poorly, and at the ECNL national meeting they were told PDA would lose their badge if they didn't improve.

PDA currently has 3 ECNL teams, Blue, White and South. They have a third location called Shore, that lost their ECNL badge a few years ago, but they have the ECRL Blue team for some reason. Never made sense to me, and they are different clubs. So they are moving White (NL and RL) to the Shore location, and moving Blue RL to North. It'll be interesting to see how many White NL players switch to the Shore. It's about 75 minutes away, and I think most of the players live even further away, so I doubt many make the move. Then the question is how many of those girls will want to stay and drop down to an RL team? I'd say not many, but there aren't many other options for top tier teams. A couple GA teams north and south of us, but I don't think GA is considered much better than RL. It'll be interesting, basically 21 spots for 42 current players plus all the new girls trying out.

Either way, it sucks. Feel bad for my daughter having the stress of needing to find a new team. Tryouts are starting to post already for some clubs. I'm thinking we find a backup plan, and have to pay $700-$1500 to hold a spot, then see what happens at PDA tryouts, and if she makes the team, eat the deposit and screw the backup club by backing out late. Oh yeah, ECNL doesn't allow tryouts before May, everyone else has tryouts in March or April and requires an immediate non-refundable down payment to hold your spot.

[Nonlinear FC]

Jeez, that's some convoluted stuff.

From my D3 soccer board, all about D3 recruiting: https://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=9642.0

It's focused on the men's side of things, but I think it's pretty much the same on both sides of the gender situation.

[HaulCitgo]

Took about 10 minutes for the kid to firmly affix himself to the bench. Turns out there are defensive responsibilities. Hes found himself in the game a couple of times since then but its a lot easier to shit the bed than do something (positively) game changing.

Theres a good amount of space between the top 11 field players and everyone else. Coach is trying to limit changes but kid found himself in the middle of a heated game against legacy powerhouse. Dad couldnt be bothered to travel for a 8pm (always late) start to see his kid ride the bench so lesson learned. No idea what happened but the final score wasnt good and trying to get truth out of the wife and kid is pointless. The kid remembers the way he wished it would have gone and the wife remembers goals and not much else. I suspect it did not go well. Great learning opportunities though. Doubt he will ever get to play with kids this far above his level again. Needs to be a little more confident and dictate but its hard out there and championship ambitions mean avoid disaster first and make a play second.

Cheering little things like its U14 again. Foul someone. Win a ball. Break a line. Hes on track for the most part but its gonna change 180 next year. There are no impact freshmen and two sophomores get regular time and only three juniors so he better enjoy winning on the bench before it turns into losing on the field.

[The Sybian]

What year is your son?

[HaulCitgo]

sophomore but hes an 08. the hs team is way way above the level of his club team. hell the HS team may be above the level of the 08 mls next team. the outside backs and wingers can come on and sprint around without too much worry about mistakes but the center backs and midfielders dont have luxury

[HaulCitgo]

Opportunities coming as the season closes and senior night. Made playoffs and they can win so blessing and the curse. He found a role and proved himself but they're not better with him out there. Ten seniors on the fence. Feels a bit out of control yet that's the teacher. Club grumbles but my job is water.

[rass]

Just the fucking best. I’m stealing those last three lines for my next spoken word poetry competition, gonna kill.

And good luck to the kid.

[A_B]

Just the fucking best. I’m stealing those last three lines for my next spoken word poetry competition, gonna kill.

And good luck to the kid.

Next time he's at home alone with the Biz...Deaf Poetry Jam.

[HaulCitgo]

The legend himself in the house tonight. And another W against the intown rivals. Second seed in the region means a game or two or four. The girl has senior night tomorrow. Big heads

[The Sybian]

So as I mentioned, they are moving my daughter's team over an hour away, which I'm not willing to commute 3 days a week. Basically combining her team and a higher level team to make one next year. Got a bit of jolt last night as my daughter's team practiced with the coach who will coach the combined team next year, and he told them he is sending out offers to some girls tomorrow (today). The girl is completely freaking out. I know a couple of girls from the higher team are leaving. Some live close to the South location, others are going to different clubs. Just have no idea how many spots will be available. She will be devasted if she doesn't get it. They still have two tryout dates on the calendar for May, so I wasn't expecting anything this early. On the plus side, it gives girls a chance to attend other tryouts if they know they don't have an offer. On the downside, I signed my daughter up for several tryouts and now she'll have more competition. Already brought her to train with her former team, and bringing her again tomorrow. They have an ID clinic next week, and now it'll be full of my daughter's teammates. There are really only a handful of teams at this level in the entire state, so I don't know what we'll do. She is getting good feedback from college IDs and a few coaches who came to her showcase tournament to watch her, but if you aren't playing at a high level club, colleges aren't going to look at you and she still wants to play in college.

[Nonlinear FC]

So, how many realistic land spots does she have. And, remind me... So or Jr?

[The Sybian]

So, how many realistic land spots does she have. And, remind me... So or Jr?

Sophomore this year. Really 3 possible teams. 2 more I signed up for, but I don't know if they are worth going to. They are ECNL-RL, but in the new divisions and don't have an ECNL team. She knows a couple girls playing on both teams, and she wouldn't be happy going there and I don't know if it's worth it if they aren't helping her get into a school.

Got an offer this morning, but the coach had a note that said "with conditions, I'll call you." I'm guessing it's either to tell me they have a huge roster, or she'll start as a practice player. They usually roster 20-23 on their teams, only 18 can dress for games. Always stressful when they email the dressing players before every game. Fortunately never been an issue for her, but that's my guess. I also think they will lose players. They are an ECNL team dropping to ECNL-RL, and I know 10 tried out for the South team, and I heard at least one is trying out for an ECNL team in NY and at least one more in PA. Since they can't try out until May, I'm guessing they got offers at PDA and will accept then eat the down payment and leave. And they still have May tryout dates, so who knows. This is stressful.

[The Sybian]

Crisis averted. Coach called me up, apologized for using the word conditions. I sent him an email a couple weeks ago asking him for advice on what my daughter needs to do to improve for consideration in being called up to his team. She has gone to private clinics this guy runs since she was 7 or 8. He said he wanted to talk to me and give me his observations because he likes my daughter and has known her for years, so he gave me tips on what he looks for to get more playing time. Said he doesn't believe in the idea of practice players (some coaches will make kids pay to practice with the team but not be eligible for games) and tries to keep a roster to around 20. My daughter's team started the year at 23, we are down to about 15 due to injuries, 2 kids moving up, and our coach has an older team that was decimated by injuries, so 2 girls are playing up in age for him.

[Nonlinear FC]

Glad that all worked out... Very stressful!

[The Sybian]

Glad that all worked out... Very stressful!

I can't believe the callousness of some of the girls sending group texts asking if people got offers. It sounds like girls who didn't get an offer just got nothing. My guess is they could potentially get an offer if others decline. I'm glad it's spring break, and they cancelled today's practice and no game this weekend. They have an optional fitness torture session on Wednesdays, and only one other girl on my daughter's team showed and that girl didn't get an email. Feel horrible for her. Sounds like about half got an offer, which surprised me, I really thought it'd be 5 at the most. Last year when girls were cut, they stopped showing, but it was closer to the end of the season and they weren't dressing for most games anyways, so I didn't blame them. My daughter talked to a girl on the team a year younger, only 2 girls on that team got offers to stay, so about 18 stuck looking. I guess Freshman were willing to take the hit of dropping from ECNL to ECRL.

[HaulCitgo]

Home playoff cancelled. Girl got punched at track senior night and now a home game is a road game. Team has NEVER lost a home playoff in school history. Gets a bit wild on the hill with the current config but that's what provides the juice. Scholly got shot down by the yt boys and the game got moved by the yns. 2025 wants your wallet and your dub

[rass]

Is that bad?

[The Sybian]

Is that bad?

Was that English?

[A_B]

Do I use the yt restroom or the yn's?

[The Sybian]

Do I use the yt restroom or the yn's?

No judgement here, however you identify we still love you.

[rass]

While I was no doubt once again making light of the enjoyable stream of consciousness nature of some of Citgo's posts, I wasn't asking a rhetorical question. I assume/hope his kid didn't get punched, but not sure what the "Scholly got shot down" comment means, especially given this post.

[The Sybian]

While I was no doubt once again making light of the enjoyable stream of consciousness nature of some of Citgo's posts, I wasn't asking a rhetorical question. I assume/hope his kid didn't get punched, but not sure what the "Scholly got shot down" comment means, especially given this post.

Daughter decided not to accept a scholarship? Oh, I was thinking a random girl got punched, not Citgo’s daughter. Now I’m confused and concerned.

[A_B]

While I was no doubt once again making light of the enjoyable stream of consciousness nature of some of Citgo's posts, I wasn't asking a rhetorical question. I assume/hope his kid didn't get punched, but not sure what the "Scholly got shot down" comment means, especially given this post.

Daughter decided not to accept a scholarship? Oh, I was thinking a random girl got punched, not Citgo’s daughter. Now I’m confused and concerned.

Put me in this camp. I made assumptions and I don't know which are right. Didn't mean to make fun of a shitty situation, so I'm sorry for that.

[Nonlinear FC]

Put me in the camp of not understanding a lot of the posts in here.

[The Sybian]

Put me in the camp of not understanding a lot of the posts in here.

Clearly you don’t follow soccer closely enough.

[HaulCitgo]

The girl doesn't want to go to free shoes for free because Florida man showed his ass yesterday. A girl got punched in a fight that cancelled the track meet this week and now AD won't allow the boy to play at home.

[The Sybian]

The girl doesn't want to go to free shoes for free because Florida man showed his ass yesterday. A girl got punched in a fight that cancelled the track meet this and AD won't allow the boy to play at home.

Glad the girl wasn’t punched. Any chance the stain of the shooter fades before a final decision is made?

[HaulCitgo]

May 1. Maybe. But even I'm like wtf. I turned a blind eye cause wallet but that's a bit of a red flag there. That said, science lab has to be right behind high school cafeteria and post office

[rass]

"It's America, you can be shot anywhere!" Done?


And Florida giving her pause means you raised her right.

[HaulCitgo]

Urban warfare pops up from time to time here so it's not the guns, murder or death. Id say its more of self justification for a bunch of loans