Talon,
Interesting perspectives are often different than what the general consensus may seem to be. Obviously, from your post the perspective is different from your own, and without the benefit of knowing what each of those perspectives are, it's a shot in the dark trying to respond to your specific question. However, here's my opinion.
In general, club soccer in the fall is better than no soccer in the fall, as it pertains to HS teams. That said, obviously, the higher the level of play for the players from a particular school during the fall, should show tangible benefits for the HS team in the spring, in addition to the shear number of players in club soccer.
As for the effect of Bridge FA on the high schools listed, there is minimal impact to James Island and there is more with Summerville. Dealing with the HS teams, limiting the age groups to U15-U18, there are more Bridge FA players at Summerville, than James Island. It's not too surprising then that Summerville is more highly regarded than James Island.
Bridge FA though, impacts many more high schools than just Summerville and James Island, even though only SSC and JIYSC are formal members of the current alliance. Since the girls are still somewhat fragmented, I'm also limiting this discussion to the boys side. You have to look at the rosters from each of the schools to get a true picture. With that said, the teams from the low country that get talked about, (if I don't mention all, it's oversight, not intentional) Wando, Summerville, Fort Dorchester, Beaufort, Bishop England, Academic Magnet, Lincoln, and Pinewood, all have Bridge FA players, many of these schools also have SSC and JIYSC players. While other schools that are less talked about, James Island, West Ashley, Stratford, Waccamaw, Soccastee, and Porter Gaud, all have Bridge FA players that are significant assets to their respective teams. So Bridge FA seems to have an impact on the entire low country HS scene, not just Summerville and James Island.
When this was conceptualized one of the things that was talked about was the effect that CRSA has on the Brookland Cayce HS program. One of the things I was told CRSA basically exists to expose BC players to club soccer and provide a place for fall training to perpetuate their HS program. In a nutshell, a local club, supporting a local community/HS program. That I think is a very good thing, and within the structure of the current alliance the local clubs could still support their HS teams. This would/could include more HS coaches involved at the local club. I don't think that has manifested itself as much as it could. By moving the challenge program to Bridge FA, leaving the classic programs with the local clubs, it seemed to be a good way to support the local HS, and also provide for the higher level play, for those that are able and desire it.
So there is no doubt there are players at Summerville HS that either weren't selected for a Bridge FA team, or made a decision to remain with the local club for whatever reason. With those players remaining in club soccer in the fall, I don't really see any negative impact to the HS teams, unless the players stopped playing club soccer all together.
Maybe I'm looking through rose colored glasses, but I think the current structure allows for positive effects, rather than negative effects.
