ECNL/Harry - SC Soccer

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wow how low can you all go?.....taking pot-shots at a kid's dream to play college ball at CU.
why so bitter?
hopefully, these hate comments aren't coming from parents.

Where is the pot shot? There is none. Great if she wants to go to Clemson.

The point is 1for has been stating how they are wanting to be the best and part of it.

That's the point. You do all that and settle for a program that is down.

Do all of what??? You act like CESA parents go to the moon in a space shuttle for their kids to play ball. Just incase you didn't know, we don't. Our fees are normal compared to others in the area, we travel as much as any other club in the state. I am not sure what the big deal is. My daughter is getting great training and we are very happy with what CESA has to offer. I am not sure why there is so much animosity towards our club and what we do for our children.

And it is a pot-shot when you down a child's dream because it does not fit into what your opinion of "Top-Tier" is....
Tell me cajunkid about your club and its accomplishments and where you are with your soccer career....

Lady, how long have you been associated with CESA?

If you live in the Upstate and know people or have your own kids involved with that club, you will know why, for some there are feelings other than "all love for CESA".

Yes, they are the best Club in the State. Are they developing and training to get to that level? Or are they recruiting? That debate has been on this Board for years.

Do they have good customer service? That debate has been on this Board for years.

Are they arrogant? That debate has been on this Board for years.

Things were a lot different for the consumer, when we had 2 good Clubs in the Upstate. St. Giles and GFC offered good soccer, good service and competitive pricing.

The ECNL is only in year 4, so I guess your daughter played the first couple of years. Again, our experience has been great over the past 4 years. We still have much too small a sample to determine of this was a good move for CESA.
Yes, CESA is a small market team...even if they pull from the entire state of SC. Look at the numbers the GA and NC clubs pull from, and its not even close population wise. I'm sure there are some other small market clubs, but they are probably still bigger than CESA.
Like I said in my previous post, there is a huge difference in being competitive in games vs. winning each game. Only been a couple of games over the past 4 years where I could say we weren't competitive in either Premier or ECNL leagues. Lets take a look at the CESA teams after year 10 in ECNL and then we will have enough data points to make an informed decision on if this was a good move or not.

Coaches from Clemson & Furman were at the ECNL games at MeSA yesterday and every college on the east coast will have a representative at the national event in Sanford in December. No complaints about exposure from this ECNL parent.

Parents who put their kids in leagues for "exposure" purposes are delusional. Put your kid in a league where player development is the No. 1 priority, and the rest will take care of itself.

so what club is sc offers the best player development? how do u qualify/quantify that if not be wins/losses?

You MAY be able to quantify TEAM development through wins and losses. (Though this isn't ALWAYS true.) But you quantify PLAYER development through multiple metrics, most of which are worked on and evaluated in training, where a different kind of competition takes place. American youth soccer has myriad shortcomings, not the least of which is a genuine shortage of "time on the ball." You don't get time on the ball in games.
My observation about exposure for exposure's sake is simply this: Exposure without development is worse than no exposure at all. In essence, all you're doing is demonstrating your shortcomings and lack of proper training. A coach at a higher level may look at an under-trained kid and say to himself: "Wow, what a RAW talent! Maybe I could get more out of that with a legitimate training regimen." More likely, he'll go with kids who already possess the requisite technical skills.

Translation: I can teach strategy in a few sessions. I can instill/evaluate toughness fairly quickly. I CAN'T get a kid thousands of hours on a ball in anything less than 3-4 years. By then, the kid's in graduate school.

No complaints here on the training that my daughter receives as part of her CESA ECNL team. I am truly touched that so many on this board spend so much time worrying about the training received by other peoples' children.

Haven't we talked this topic to death? Don't think ECNL is worth it? Don't do it. End of story.

I don't have a dog in the fight. My point was, and will continue to be, that a high-quality TRAINING environment is more relevant to player development than match competition. If I were a college coach, I'd place far more value on what I see in training than what I see in games. By the time you see most coaches at matches, they've already decided whom they want. They're just dotting i's and crossing t's.

Hey Mom,

The purpose of this Message Board is to allow open discussion of different thoughts and ideas.

It is not intended for everyone to have the same opinion.

If you don't like what you read here, don't visit this site.

It's as simple as that.

Bomber, at no point did I suggest any differently. Just adding my thoughts & ideas to the "open" discussion.

upstatesoccermom, i may be wrong but isnt your player one of three goalies on the u-17 team.

HH - Nope.

Bomber - Not in the least. Question away!

I can see both sides of the argument.

I agree that training time on the field is the most vital part of player development.

I would also say that playing against top flight competition during match play is also good for player development.

I am not a CESA guy, but I respect what they do and think by and large they turn out a pretty good product.

Hard headed you sound like you have sour grapes because you feel your child was wronged.

Soccer mom as long as you and your daughter are happy and feel like you are getting what you pay for then that is really all that matters.

None of the kids are getting training worth the $6,000 to $8,000 turn key costs I have been quoted by ENCL parents. It is the same schedule of training and same trainers when the cost was, $2,000, turn key.

Traveling with your kid may be worth it, but that can be done in other ways.

If someone wanted to buy enough exposure time to get your kid a D1 shot, and that is their goal in life, it may be worth it.

If it is the scholarship chase the person is after, the math does not add up, though.

This is a forum for opinion, obviously mine is wrong to many people.

In my humble opinion, and based on my experience with them,
CESA long stopped being about training.

For them it's recruiting. Who can we lure to come to us, so that we can make our teams better.

If they were successful at training, this would not be so important.

For us, the return with this was, we often did not have enough players to proctice properly because so many of the players were from out of town, they were never at all or many of the practices, only the games.

You do not build successful TEAMS this way. CESA could get away with it, if the team simply had more talent than the opponent.

Appears now, against ECNL, they do not have the talent.

At some point, real trainers/programs relegate parents' checkbooks and opinions to secondary status and focus on what they should KNOW is right: That TRAINING is the common denominator in successful player development scenarios, and competition is nothing more than a measuring stick for how well it's getting done.

Seems like the money, travel, and headache is plentiful for a bunch of players that at best will play at D1AA schools and have no professional futures. Bad return on investments if you ask me! No wonder the economy sucks

Bomber, I agree 100% with your post. During our two year experience with CESA and ECNL, we felt like the training was excellent; however, we saw a team transform from all players located in the upstate or at least close enough to travel to every training session to a team where many players were located too far away to make even one training session/week. Local players who made the team successful were displaced to allow room for the recruitment of out of town players who couldn't take advantage of team training offered at CESA. This is not player development or good training - it's recruitment, which brings in more training fees and name recognition for CESA. I understand recruitment at the college level where players are on scholarship; however, at the club level the focus should be on player development instead of name recognition. CESA coaches continually say they are always looking for more talented players to improve the team; why can't the focus be on developing the current level of talented players who played together for years? It appears the allure of having CESA earn a national ranking has overtaken what should be the positive effects of youth sports; player development, team commitment, self-esteem, and quite simply a love for the sport.

When we we're members of CESA thing. If CESA had 2 players of equal skils one from Greenville, one from Columbia, they were taking the one from Columbia. Why? Too increase their footprint.

Will someone please call the CESA office and ask them to ask Harry to post and answer some of the many questions on this thread?

And also, ask Harry to ask JAK to post.

Thank you.

CESA vs ECNL of recent is not going well for the CESA teams.

What is the difference now as compared to Regionals, where CESA had a number of teams do quite well?

Competition is quite a bit tougher in ECNL than R3PL

I am a mom of a CESA ECNL player and my daughter played for several clubs before coming to CESA, the level of training she gets and the improvement of her game has been incredible and worth every single penny. It is to each person to decide what sacrifices they make to better their child for whatever reason. CESA produces some great soccer players and has a great record. The level of competition at ECNL is far greater than the state level competition and all of the games won or loss are very close. None of the ECNL teams from CESA are getting blown out.

Taking 1 for the team..... Great name

Just so you are aware, in GA, the years on their teams are different than SC. Atlanta Fire United 99 ECNL is a U14 team. They are the same age as CESA 98 and SCUMP 98. Where did you get the 7 goals?

The game went to PK's...

SCUMP 98s haven't played the 99 per-ecnl team this year as they play up in U15s this fall and have a premier league spot. SCUFC 99s beat Cesa's pre ecnl team 7-2 according to the Scysa schedules. So did Lexington 99s and Palmetto United 99s

SCUMP played AF in the tournament and went to PK's, we all know how PK's go. You can be the #1 GK in world and still lose in PK's, its not skill its luck. A PK win does not always favor the best team. Ask Hope Solo. Anywho... I am not saying the SCUMP team is bad, actually they have always been CESA's best competition, I am saying that ECNL play is a whole different ball game than playing in state league and premiere league,you can sub in and out versus the sub rules in ECNL, it is a total game changer. THE CESA 98 team, won Disney, won Aiken, won State and now they are playing at the next level. Why is that bad? We are all entitled to our opinion and I find it very flattering that you guys are so concerned about our soccer club. Pearse and Andrew are doing a great job! We are all very happy to be part of the ECNL program for SC. I know for myself and my child we are well on our way to a college of our choice under the training and direction we are getting. We already have National recognition!

So 1for, if you are new to this Board, it's been said before- the purpose of this Message Board is for open discussion with varied thoughts and ideas.

You need to go hang out with Upstatesoccermom and you two can compare notes.

Note to you, it's OK for some to question Mighty CESA or other Clubs. No offense to you or your kids.

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SCUMP played AF in the tournament and went to PK's, we all know how PK's go. You can be the #1 GK in world and still lose in PK's, its not skill its luck. A PK win does not always favor the best team. Ask Hope Solo. Anywho... I am not saying the SCUMP team is bad, actually they have always been CESA's best competition, I am saying that ECNL play is a whole different ball game than playing in state league and premiere league,you can sub in and out versus the sub rules in ECNL, it is a total game changer. THE CESA 98 team, won Disney, won Aiken, won State and now they are playing at the next level. Why is that bad? We are all entitled to our opinion and I find it very flattering that you guys are so concerned about our soccer club. Pearse and Andrew are doing a great job! We are all very happy to be part of the ECNL program for SC. I know for myself and my child we are well on our way to a college of our choice under the training and direction we are getting. We already have National recognition!

"...we are well on our way to a college of our choice..."

Let me ask you this. How many girls, over the life time of CESA, have made a top tier program, a UNC, Notre Dame, Stanford level?

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So 1for, if you are new to this Board, it's been said before- the purpose of this Message Board is for open discussion with varied thoughts and ideas.

You need to go hang out with Upstatesoccermom and you two can compare notes.

Note to you, it's OK for some to question Mighty CESA or other Clubs. No offense to you or your kids.

I said that we are all entitled to our opinion and I am not sure why you think my thoughts are otherwise. I enjoy a great debate of opinion.

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SCUMP played AF in the tournament and went to PK's, we all know how PK's go. You can be the #1 GK in world and still lose in PK's, its not skill its luck. A PK win does not always favor the best team. Ask Hope Solo. Anywho... I am not saying the SCUMP team is bad, actually they have always been CESA's best competition, I am saying that ECNL play is a whole different ball game than playing in state league and premiere league,you can sub in and out versus the sub rules in ECNL, it is a total game changer. THE CESA 98 team, won Disney, won Aiken, won State and now they are playing at the next level. Why is that bad? We are all entitled to our opinion and I find it very flattering that you guys are so concerned about our soccer club. Pearse and Andrew are doing a great job! We are all very happy to be part of the ECNL program for SC. I know for myself and my child we are well on our way to a college of our choice under the training and direction we are getting. We already have National recognition!

"...we are well on our way to a college of our choice..."

Let me ask you this. How many girls, over the life time of CESA, have made a top tier program, a UNC, Notre Dame, Stanford level?

Top Tier program is of ones opinion as well. A top choice for my daughter would be Clemson. That is the school she loves and would be her choice when the time comes, I will let you know. Stay tuned.

1for, clemson has top tier teams in other sports. clemson's womens soccer program isn't one of them, they have been bad for years and is not even close to top tier. tell her to shoot for UNC, ND, Stanford,Florida, that's top tier. If your daughter plays on one of the better HS teams in the area she'll play in front of more people at one of those games than any game she plays in at Clemson.

1for, if your daughter is as great as you make her out to be, why would she settle for Clemson?

As of October 19, Clemson is 5-10-2, 0-9 in ACC play.

Seems like she is putting in a lot of effort, you moved her to CESA to play for the best, and if she goes to Clemson, she will settle for a ACC cellar dweller.

wow how low can you all go?.....taking pot-shots at a kid's dream to play college ball at CU.
why so bitter?
hopefully, these hate comments aren't coming from parents.

Again as I said Top Tier is of ones opinion. CU is a great education and she will get to play soccer. Her dream. I was just reading yesterday the following that you can find yourself on CESA's FB page. But I will post here so you can continue to shoot down kids dreams since it must make you feel so much better about you and yours....
Furman freshman forward Jamie Alexander ( CESA 93 Girls Premier) has been named the Southern Conference�s women�s soccer player of the week for all matches Oct. 24.
FROM SOCCER AMERICA: Minnesota's Taylor Uhl joined Georgetown's Daphne Corboz and Furman's Stephanie DeVita at the top of the NCAA Division 1 women's scoring charts with 16 goals apiece.
Lexi McMullen (14 Girls ECNL), Kathryn Conn (14 Girls ECNL), Katie Colwick (14 Girls ECNL), Libby Stahlman (15 Girls ECNL), Kailey Mattison (15 Girls ECNL), Monica Coelho (16 Girls ECNL), India Kozel (16 Girls ECNL), Sarah Dooley (16 Girls ECNL) and Kelsey Yeager (16 Girls ECNL) have been invited to attend the October 22nd US Soccer Training Center sessions in Atlanta, Georgia. Good luck to the girls.
Congratulations to former CESA 91 Boys Premier player Hunter Wyer who is a Red Shirt Sophomore at the University of South Carolina. Hunter scored his first regular season goal for the Gamecock.
Congratulations to Kailey Mattison ( Under 15 Girls ECNL) who has been selected to the U.S. Under 14 Girls' National Team for their training camp in Cary, North Carolina from October 20-27, 2012. US Soccer will bring in 30 players who will participate in both training sessions and matches during the week.
Furman forward Stephanie DeVita ( CESA 93 Girls) has been named Southern Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Month for September, it was announced on Thursday.
Furman's Stephanie DeVita has been named Southern Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Week after leading the Paladins to a 1-0-1 record this past week, it was announced on Tuesday by the league office.
Kristen Baker ( CESA 93) was named America East Conference Rookie of the Week after scoring both goals in Stony Brook University's overtime win at Binghampton University.
CESA 95 Girls were the recipients of the Fair Play Award while finishing 3rd at the National Championships this summer. Congratulations.
mily Brown (CESA 90) was named player of the week for Conference of the Carolinas last week. Congratulations to Emily who is enjoying her senior year for Erskine.
The 2012 US Youth Soccer National Championships- Best 11 has been released and four CESA players were selected after standout performances during the National Championship event held in Rock Hill, SC. This is quite an honor for the players as only 11 players were selected in each participating age group at the USYSA National Championships. Congratulations to Eric Bykowsky ( 95 Boys), Meaghan Carrigan ( 94 Girls), Savannah McCaskill (95 Girls) and Tahirih Nesmith (94 Girls).

I could continue to post, these might NOT be top tier schools in your mind but it is where these kids have chosen to go and play and they are doing pretty good even if they did not get the so called "good training" you are claiming CESA does not have. If you would like to read more CESA has a FB page that they post all player accomplishments on.... Oh and by the way one of these kids mentioned happens to belong to me, she is that good....

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wow how low can you all go?.....taking pot-shots at a kid's dream to play college ball at CU.
why so bitter?
hopefully, these hate comments aren't coming from parents.

Where is the pot shot? There is none. Great if she wants to go to Clemson.

The point is 1for has been stating how they are wanting to be the best and part of it.

That's the point. You do all that and settle for a program that is down.

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wow how low can you all go?.....taking pot-shots at a kid's dream to play college ball at CU.
why so bitter?
hopefully, these hate comments aren't coming from parents.

Where is the pot shot? There is none. Great if she wants to go to Clemson.

The point is 1for has been stating how they are wanting to be the best and part of it.

That's the point. You do all that and settle for a program that is down.

Do all of what??? You act like CESA parents go to the moon in a space shuttle for their kids to play ball. Just incase you didn't know, we don't. Our fees are normal compared to others in the area, we travel as much as any other club in the state. I am not sure what the big deal is. My daughter is getting great training and we are very happy with what CESA has to offer. I am not sure why there is so much animosity towards our club and what we do for our children.

And it is a pot-shot when you down a child's dream because it does not fit into what your opinion of "Top-Tier" is....
Tell me cajunkid about your club and its accomplishments and where you are with your soccer career....

My points are simple. Playing for CESA will not get your kid any choice, for college. It MAY get the one she wants, they ARE two different things.

My next point is you are just blowing smoke,... I will save the rest of that line, so the kids can read this.

At the current time CESA is the best program in SC. They are the big fish in the little pond. I am not bashing them. You have bought the company "line", hook, line and sinker. Okay - good for you, good for your daughter, good for CESA. So, in the future your kid makes the Clemson team good for her. Good for them, we WILL have to wait and see.

Read the Post carefully!

I never used the term "Top Tier".

I love this thread.
For the one whos kid is a 98 or 99 year. Your fees may be normal compaired to other clubs in the state and you travel just the same for now. Just wait. In the end you will not get what you pay for unless something changes down there. Cost and travel will go up.

1forteam, I actually believe that some of these posters are actually trying to warn you or at least encourage you to keep your eyes and ears wide open! Some of these posters are in fact past AND present CESA members.

It is well known that the majority of CESA top teams are recruited and not necessarily developed. What I ask, will come of your daughters 'guaranteed' scholarship once the powers that be recruit your daughters replacement?

Do your homework and protect your daughter. I personally hope the above never happens to your family and we do indeed get to see your daughter play for Clemson one day.

1forteam-
Congrats to your daughter for being recruited by CU and wish her all the best!
It�s a great school for many reasons beyond soccer.
Many of the bashers would love nothing more than to have their kid play at CU.
Don�t let the haters pull you down.

Anyone who sends their kid to college for the soccer program, rather than the educational and other benefits, is an idiot.
Why?
1) Because the vast, VAST majority of college soccer players will never make a dime playing professionally.
2) Because injury/illness/coach's decision can effectively end a playing career at any moment.
3) Because coaches and schools part company on a regular basis, and when the one who recruited you leaves, what THEN?
Shall I continue?
Finally, for the fool who quoted records in denigrating a specific program, records come and records go. Great athletes, real difference-makers, change the culture and change the record.
And that process generally start with one coach and one kid.

Amazing when a differing opinion from the "Love CESA" crowd is offered, one is labeled a "basher" or "hater".

What happened to Free Speech?

I appreciate everyone's concern. It is interesting to me that the common theme is that CESA is not good. I also find it interesting that many people who are the nay sayers has either been a part of CESA (per the poster above) or is a current part. As a parent of several kids, one who plays for another soccer club that we love as well for other reasons, I have realized that CESA is not for everyone. Different needs for different kids. One of my girls plays well under what CESA has to offer and the other would never flourish under them. One is very driven and the other enjoys soccer for fun and for the social aspect of it, we have her where she gets what she needs and we enjoy it very much.
I think it is sad that so many of you have been debating these issues for so long, has it changed anything? Will it ever? Are you debating because your kids did not flourish under them and get in that top tier school like UNC, ND or Stanford? I think we should all take a look at our expectations of the club and our children, maybe your child is not cut out to be a top tier soccer player and they turned out to be the best they can be and there is nothing wrong with that. We should all be proud that we can give our children all that they have, and that our children are great athletes that play an incredible sport.

Never had a kid at CESA, though I do have one who was recruited to play there.
The primary reason he DIDN'T wind up there is geography. The secondary (related) reason? Because CESA's Lowcountry training option was laughably bad. It was essentially co-ed kick-around. Simply not good enough.
The truth is, there is no single best way to get to a "top tier" program. The only requirements are "X" amount of physicality, opportunity, access to high-quality training, and willingness to work/learn. The rest is smoke and mirrors put forward by self-serving club directors and coaches, and parents whose beverage of choice is comes in a smiley-faced pitcher.

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SCUMP played AF in the tournament and went to PK's, we all know how PK's go. You can be the #1 GK in world and still lose in PK's, its not skill its luck. A PK win does not always favor the best team. Ask Hope Solo. Anywho... I am not saying the SCUMP team is bad, actually they have always been CESA's best competition, I am saying that ECNL play is a whole different ball game than playing in state league and premiere league,you can sub in and out versus the sub rules in ECNL, it is a total game changer. THE CESA 98 team, won Disney, won Aiken, won State and now they are playing at the next level. Why is that bad? We are all entitled to our opinion and I find it very flattering that you guys are so concerned about our soccer club. Pearse and Andrew are doing a great job! We are all very happy to be part of the ECNL program for SC. I know for myself and my child we are well on our way to a college of our choice under the training and direction we are getting. We already have National recognition!

OK Disney and State good. Your thumping your chest about the Aiken Cup?

Well I have to when I can! Ha! Proud of our girls....

Love the Hope Solo reference. Why would I ask an attention-seeking, me-first diva ANYTHING? (Other than the price of a lottery ticket after she morphs back into a convenience store clerk.)

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Well I have to when I can! Ha! Proud of our girls....

I understand.

Like her or not they say she is the #1 female GK in the world, my point was not about "her" personally it was about pk wins are not always to the best team..

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Are they arrogant? That debate has been on this Board for years.

Bomber, I think I missed those debates. Who took the "CESA as humble" side?

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Are they arrogant? That debate has been on this Board for years.

Bomber, I think I missed those debates. Who took the "CESA as humble" side?

Harry, JAK and upstatesoccermom.

Probably 1for would also.

Humble? Nah.
From an honorable opponent's perspective, I'd say that CESA has a moderately inflated opinion of itself. (Who DOESN'T?)
That said, it's still a legitimate option for Midlands and Upstate kids. I certainly wouldn't travel 200 miles each way for its training however.

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I did not realize that SCUMP had an ECNL team??? They could not beat CESA for the State Champ so how are they beating AF ECNL?

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We are all very happy to be part of the ECNL program for SC.

ECNL isn't related to state championships, you don't represent SC as a state champion in ECNL. Some states have several clubs in ECNL. You're just playing in another league where, unfortunately for your daughter's ECNL team, state championships are now a thing of the past.

Claim of "top" or "best" team in/from SC for ECNL teams now becomes a matter of debate based on comparison of results against common opponents. Which is what the poster of the SCUMP vs. AF result was doing.

Looks like CESA 98 ECNL is traveling to a national event in VA
And SCU/MP 98 is traveling to CASL this weekend.
I just want to wish both teams good luck as they represent SC!!

Back to the original question.

Harry, are you still with us?

No benefit for Harry to come on here at this point with the results they are having. Being very smart to stay away.

I agree with you DD. What would be a recognizable goal in an ECNL league. Most sports teams have a goal. If they achieve the goal they are recognized for it in the newspaper, on TV, at your high school, etc. Pro Football - Super Bowl, College football - Conference Championship, High School Soccer - State Championship, etc, etc. The only group I see getting recognized in public is the soccer club itself, like when they generate revenue for the county and local businesses, the players don't get recognized at all. You never see the youths in club soccer getting recognized in the Gvile News or on one of the local TV stations. When my child played HS soccer we we're in the paper every night during playoffs with pictures and a good write up, we we're even on the local tv stations a few times. Why don't soccer players get recognized like football, basketball, baseball? It just seems like a lot of hard work by the players and a heavy investment by the parents not to be recognized.

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I agree with you DD. What would be a recognizable goal in an ECNL league. Most sports teams have a goal. If they achieve the goal they are recognized for it in the newspaper, on TV, at your high school, etc. Pro Football - Super Bowl, College football - Conference Championship, High School Soccer - State Championship, etc, etc. The only group I see getting recognized in public is the soccer club itself, like when they generate revenue for the county and local businesses, the players don't get recognized at all. You never see the youths in club soccer getting recognized in the Gvile News or on one of the local TV stations. When my child played HS soccer we we're in the paper every night during playoffs with pictures and a good write up, we we're even on the local tv stations a few times. Why don't soccer players get recognized like football, basketball, baseball? It just seems like a lot of hard work by the players and a heavy investment by the parents not to be recognized.

maybe i missed the point, but i don't see club teams of any sport recognized in the media.

Depends on the locale. In Charleston, the P&C and the weekly rags run photos, short accounts and occasional features. Check the Thursday P&C.

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Depends on the locale. In Charleston, the P&C and the weekly rags run photos, short accounts and occasional features. Check the Thursday P&C.

those are all user submitted, maybe soccer should submit is my suggestion. is that what this is about?

In Columbia, the local Columbia STAR features numerous schools in the midlands recognizing all sports during their seasons.

i think the complaint was about club

Actually, check the Thursday P&C. Tommy Braswell does a youth feature each week. Suspect he'll hit soccer. (But yes, submitting material primes the pump.)

But do you see much about other sports? I don't see that much about club soccer, but I also don't see much about travel volleyball, baseball/softball, swimming, or any other sports. Sometimes they mention the AAU basketball tournaments held over the summer. For the most part, I doubt any of the newspapers cover many sporting events that are not school sponsored.

You're both right. Original post was about club not being covered, but schools were. In my experience, if you want coverage for a club sport, the club has to engage them.

1for It seems to me that your experience with your current club may be new. Some things to keep in mind: the ECNL training centers are based on coach nominations....
As time goes by I will be curious to see if the experience your child is having now remains positive...you did mention that your child played at other clubs which could be contributing factors for current success. Where did your child learn the basic fundamental skills that are a necessity for success? I have seen clubs recruit great players, promote them for a year and then "hide them" with the goal of having less skilled politically correct players "be seen." Having a back-up plan and trying out at another club every year is something to consider because I have seen talented players (those who have gone on to play D1) lose favor with their clubs....parents and teammates get jealous the club will cater to the locals and there is always the one player on the team who the club lets do what they please... I have also seen clubs take out their frustration in dealing with parents on the child. I do wish the best for your child I hope she gets the support training and acceptance that a talented player from our state needs to be successful at the next level. Beware because soccer is a very political sport regardless of how talented your child is and what they accomplish if they are not accepted by our soccer community you will see how very ugly people can be and how adults will go out of their way to try to break that kid' s spirit.

I thought some of the CESA ECNL teams were headed to CASL Shootout this weekend, but checking the CASL schedules that's not the case. Apparently they are hooking up with the CSA and CASL ECNL teams as part of those clubs ECNL league games against a couple of Florida teams that CESA just played at the beginning of November. There is a USYS National League division as part of the CASL tournament but not an ECNL division. Anyone know why the CESA teams didn't just enter the Shootout and play at the tournament venues, especially WRAL?

I also noticed SCUMP and SCUFC teams are in the Shootout this weekend but neither of the CESA Premier teams are entered.

I wish all well in Raleigh this weekend whether at the Shootout or not, but am wondering why CESA passed on the Shootout. If not the ECNL teams, I would think they would at least enter the 2 Premier teams.

Thanks for the PM, MT4ME. The CESA Premier teams are in the Norcross Tournament.

Hey Delta, where has Harry gone?

stealth.

probably for the best. as much as he tried, fueling debate here did nothing to enhance the image of the club.

Although, it may be fairly said that the club is responsible for its image in the soccer community. Whatever that image may be.

I agree, which is why I think Harry should be focusing more of his time there than fueling debate here.