SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Club Soccer & ODP NC/SC Merger

Wow, the implications here are huge. We have all been in-fighting over which club in our state is the strongest and we are about to be pushed aside by a SC team compromised of mostly NC players. Since high school soccer is played in opposite seasons between SC and NC, this creates not only a year round club program, it also create a predominately NC team competing for SC spots in Region III.

After running some quick numbers based on 2006 Census Bureau statistics, the player pool in Mecklenberg County, is over 50% of Greenville, Spartanburg, Richland, Lexington, Dorchester and Charleston counties combined.

Touche' its going to get rough.

If I'm not mistaken, doesn't SCYSA have a 50% residency rule or was that changed?

The majority that benefit from this are SC players and to give the BU15-18 chance to pool players to contend for State in the next few years. SC HS age boys have limited choice here. Girls are OK with system in place.

My understanding is that the 50% rule is alive and well. There won't be any influx of NC kids into SC, nor will there be NC teams coming into SC to play.

My take is that this Alliance will be the vehicle to allow SC kids from York County to flow back and forth across the border and play where it makes sense. At the younger ages....that means NC and Charlotte United. As the kids get older (U13) they'll flow back across into SC and play for CSSC. Will also provide, as you pointed out, a logical path for rising U15 boys who have been playing in Charlotte to come back and compete at a pretty good level.

But I really think this is more about U9-12 kids being able to play in a more local settting.

Big Daddy or anyone else who can answer,

Won't this really help out CSSC?
How many kids from that area play for United at the Palisades?
If I read this correctly, a team deemed by the DOC to be in the top 3 in SC will play in SC. Wouldn't that mean that a good team at United would come down and try to win state in SC? That would work if the team is made up of mostly SC kids, especially considering that it will be much easier to win state in SC than NC. That would also give CSSC a number of teams who may be able to win state in SC.

cid,

This has nothing to do with Charlotte United teams. There are no CUFC Gold teams that are made up of primarily SC kids. Gold teams typically pull from the entire Charlotte metro area.....a normal Gold team would have 1-3 SC kids on the roster. In weird, rare cases....maybe 1-2 more.

To re-state, there will be no CUFC Gold teams rolling into SC to try to win state championships.

This has to do with Carolina Select teams, whose kids will now be rolling into CUFC at the Palisades, which is geographically contiguous to SC/Tega Cay. Those kids will now form teams and play in NC as CUFC Palisades teams. As those teams hit U13 a decision will be made as to whether or not they can successfully compete as a top 2-3 team in SC with the CESA's and Bridge's and Mount Pleasant's and Columbia United's.

When you hit a team that can do so.....and if it meets the 50-50 rule in SC....they will slide back to CSSC and compete in SC. Otherwise they'll stay in NC and play at a lower level with a lot less travel and headache.

Big Daddy,

I guess I will ask in a different way. ON the United website. there are 3 teams listed as classic teams on the girls side (which would be challenge in SC). If those teams are over 50% SC kids, doesn't it make sense for them to come over to SC and try to win the SC Challenge division as opposed to the NC division? If I am correct, isn't the 15 or 16 group made up of a lot of the Clover varsity? If that is true, as talented a group as they are, I can see them competing for a state title at that age group. Or are there teams that can be merged together to make a strong SC challenge teams in multiple age groups?

And I guess what I'm saying is that none of the CUFC classic or Premier teams have remotely close to 50% SC kids, other than those teams that play at Palisades.

The 91 girls (CUFC Emerald).....this is the group with all the Clover girls, as well as Nation Ford girls, Fort Mill girls, and from NC....Olympic, Weddington, and South Meck girls. Team has been promoted to 1st division in NC classic play and is unlikely to move to SC.

I guess my question then would be, "can they win the NC state cup and become a premier team?" If they can, then stay. If they don't know, come to SC and win state cup and become premier.

By the way, how many team are they going to be able to come up with? It doesn't seem by the websites that Palisades or CSSC have alot of teams.

it is more of a trade then a merger.seems they are trading age groups. you are right,neither has more than a few teams and neither has more than 1 team that could even come close to winning a state cup in nc or sc.i think with the merger/trade they are hoping to grow so all that can change.

That's a negative Bones......Emerald is playing NCYSA D1 in the Fall. My guess is that this Alliance will only produce one new team for the Fall....and that's a new '93 Elite boys team for Carolina Select, to compliment the existing team. There will also be a sprinkling of additional players brought it to spice up current teams.

94 CUFC Silver is a very good boys team that will likely move to SC in a year and become 94 Elite.

I think this will be an incremental process.....

Interesting BD. I would have thought, with the infusion of talent coming to Emerald from Div 1 and Premier, that they would have been ripe for a move. CUFC already has Green and Black playing Div 1 this coming year. The 3 Div 1 teams will spend time beating up on each other? I'm not an expert, but that doesn't necessarily seem like the best way to go.

Daddy,

If this U-17 Girls team doesn't play in South Carolina (and I'm not necessarily advocating that they should), paint me a scenario in which a CSSC/CUFC-Palisades girls team would EVER play in South Carolina?

Daddy,

I agree with what they are both saying. It would be in the best interest of these girls to play in SC, win state cup and become a premier level team. The website says that any team that is top 3 will move to SC. That way they can win and become premier (which would be great for those kids). Is there some sort of negative feeling toward SC or CSSC? That would be the only reason not to go to SC!!!

All right, then! It's settled! Let's have a vote. All in favor?

*Chuckle* Of course, these decisions are never made this way, but it's fun to debate

cid & mccoy,

I never said these girls belong playing in South Carolina.

My question to Daddy is: give me an example when one of these teams should?

Hairsplitter A democracy thrives on innuendo, half-truth, and misinterpretation. So your vote would be "present"?

Alas, I digress. We still await the response from the Honorable BD, Representative from Bailiwyck

Emerald is getting a nice infusion of players....making a good team even better.

Hypothetically, this team would have been playing SC already. This is exactly the type of team who would roll back into SC.

Practically speaking tho, there are absoluely no reasons why they couldn't play in SC. There are no heartaches or gripes or anything along those lines. And if Efrain decides to move the girls I'll be cool with it.

But I just don't see it happening. This group of girls have worked their tails off to earn promotion and I just don't see the benefit in moving. The top 2 teams in SC will be off playing R3PL.....so the league play will be versus who?

Theoretically you move these girls over a couple of years ago and its a non issue where they're at today. But this specific group of girls have traveled a different road and I just don't see what playing in SC as 17's gets them. Play R3 as seniors? Why bother?

Those are my thoughts only. There is a great little u12 girls team at CSSC....give them 2 years in Charlotte and then bring them back as a rising u15 team.

And the current u13 boys will make a fine SC team at u15.

Bringing the boys back at U-15 is a no-brainer.

A question for the audience......

After CESA Premier and CUFC Elite (who play R3PL), how do the rest of this fall's U-17 Girls stack up in the SCYSA Challenge League?

I would be interested in that as well. Who is out there to play U17G in the SCYSA Challenge League this fall?

NeverPlayed,

Do you play everbody twice in league play?

So, if there were 8 teams, you would get 7 regular season matches and fill in with tournaments. I think NC Div 1 U16G only had 7 regular season matches last year.

That would be 7 games you had to play. You are free to schedule second games though, a good thing to do with other local teams to save on gas, or if you wanted to get a double header in on a trip to Columbia. We (CASA) have to play the coastal teams (Coast, Bridge, FSA) in the Columbia area.

Daddy,

The advantage of playing in SC would be that once you make premier, you season schedule would be WAY better then either NC or SC. Plus, some of the kids may need more exposure to college coaches. You will definately get that in Premier. Just a thought. Some seniors don't have scholarships or playing offers!!!

cid,

Define "premier" in South Carolina? I'm familiar with the Region 3 Premier League, but I don't think their is a state premier league in South Carolina. It goes "classic", then "challenge".

Hurst: Is this CUFC Emerald team the remnants of the old Northside Koala's? If so, I remember them as being pretty good even as U-13s.

NP,

Yes, the bulk of the team is the old Northside Koalas. They have a very good coach who has really improved their play.

Good group of girls......great group of parents.

what was the highest the koalas finished in the sc league before going to nc?

i guest a question would be do you stay in nc and play division 1 which may not be the top league in nc but you play good competition. or do you move to sc and play lesser teams for a year in the hopes you finished 1 or 2 in the state to get a region spot.

what is the worse that can happen? in nc you have a good year but stay in D1 for your u-18 year and still play good teams.in sc you do not finish 1 or 2 and have to spend your u-18 year playing a week sc league all over again.

what is the best scenario? you win D1 in nc and get to play in the premier league but not in time to get a region spot.you finish in the top 2 in sc and get a region spot for your u-18 year,still a little late for any exsposure

hurst,

I was speaking about the region 3 league. I guess my comment would be this - do they have a better chance to win the NC 1st division or the SC challenge? if the answer is the SC challenge, don't you have to go there simply to get into RP3? What better competition is there?

The team is currently known as CUFC '91 Emerald (although I am fond of the Koala name). I'm not sure how high up the totem pole they finished before they moved north. I know they won a "classic" state cup in South Carolina and historically had pretty good matches against the Aiken Heat, Orange Crush and NECSA (prior to the Columbia United merger).

What are they looking for now? Probably competitive league games and some exposure through tournaments. I don't think they are too concerned with Region 3 Premier or some of these girls would have tried out for Charlotte Soccer Club, CESA or Columbia United.

I think playing competitive matches, getting better, and having fun are the prime objectives. 75% of the team is comprised of South Carolina residents, if these girls do want to play in college, perhaps playing in the South Carolina Challenge League would give them more exposure to in-state college coaches. But most of the teams in North Carolina Division 1 West are in the Charlotte area and they provide very good competition.

Pros and cons each way but I would guess they stay in North Carolina.

What in the world are you doing up at 12:23 AM?

Patriots Point is lovely......

.......but not at $4/gallon.

where is that team bus hurst????

I'm 48 years old and have an old fraternity brother of mine whose kids are older....and who lives in Raleigh.

His son was a pretty good soccer player...captained his HS team (Apex) to a state championship and played at CASL all the way thru. But he played challenge.....which is the equivalent of classic in SC.

He could have played at a higher level....but he chose not to. He played almost all the way thru with the same group of buddies....parents were buddies...etc etc. The team...was more important than moving up the hierarchy.

Isn't this an aspect of soccer that we all respect?

This is pretty much Emerald/Koalas....they've turned into a pretty good team with some players who could play at a much higher level, but choose not to. Playing R3PL is the LAST thing on these people's minds.

The girls love each other. The parents all like each other and adore the girls. People shouldn't look for anything from these kids other than what they are. A good well coached team of solid players who love to compete but aren't ready to sell their souls to play at a higher level.

Some of them may play in college....but probably more at a D2 level. The college selection process for virtually all of them will probably have more to do with academics, location, school size, major, where their friends go, etc...
then soccer.

edited by big daddy...

Big daddy,
all mine wants to do is play soccer.she wants to play at the highest level possible.she did not miss high school soccer this year but she missed playing. she also has a 4.4 gpa in honors classes and will have a wide range of choices when it comes to academics in college.she is looking at D1 schools and smaller schools for academics as well as soccer.my kids choice will have more to do with academics rather than soccer but it is nice to know she will have soccer choices also.what is wrong with having all that and wanted to play at the highest level.by knowing you,i know you did not mean anything by it but in your post you make it sound like kids have sold their sole for soccer if they want to get to the higest level possible.
i really do not understand you statement that RPLIII league is the last thing on their minds.i will have to disagree.this whole thread was started about where they should play and where would be the best place for them to win.why would a parent spend all that money and time if a kid could care less about region play or any high level for that matter.if it was just to have fun with friends then they could all go play rec together for about 50 bucks a year and im sure they could win the league.
they are good kids and im sure not all of them care about region play but does that hurt the few that do and stay with a team because of friends or any other reason.

Jim,

This thread wasn't created about one specific team.

It was created about an opportunity thats being created for York County kids by this Alliance between a YC club and a major Charlotte club.

There is NOTHING wrong with what you spell out for your daughter. She is a great, passionate player who is also gifted academically.

My son loves to play and wants to play at the highest level and pushes himself hard. But its not work....he loves it. But although he loves it, make no bones his primary driver is to compete.

My daughter isn't wired that way. She loves the game and loves her team but for her....its more of a social thing. She isn't planning camps, skipping rope or juggling constantly. Nor does she drool over the latest Nike Vapors or whatever is being highlighted in Eurosport.

You act as if there are no levels between R3PL and rec. As if a kid who isn't sufficiently gifted or desiring of playing at absolutely the highest level.....shouldn't play beyond rec.

In fact...there are a bunch of levels between rec and R3PL and the expenses are graded accordingly. I don't begrudge her one dime of soccer money. Absolutely a great investment in who she is and is becoming as a person.

In terms of selling the soul.....yeah, thats just a figure of speech. Or maybe not. My boy misses out on a bunch of stuff becasue of soccer. His football playing buddies play a bunch of other sports. Soccer is a jealous mistress. Think about it....when does your daughters season start and when does it end? Assuming she played at a decent high school....when would that start and when would it end?

Where does playing football or basketball for your school factor in? It doesn't.

His buddies are always off doing things together....he catches them sometimes, but misses a lot. No regrets....but to say his journey to R3PL has been without having to have made choices isn't accurate. He leads a pretty regimented life. Soccer and school for the most part.

That works for him...and for kids like him. Not....for most kids. Lots of kids THINK thats what they want until they get there and see what it takes and the choices they'll need to make.

i agree you have to give up alot.you know mine did not play high school so she has had pleanty of time off to do other things.it was good and bad.for her she is in shape but not soccer shape.she will always be a pretty good player but she is rusty from being off a few months.
i didnt mean to sound like there was nothing between rec and region but i think there are some girls on that team that would like to play at a higher level but maybe do not because of friendships.nothing at all wrong with that.i just took some of your earlier post to mean that something was wrong with wanting the higher level.as i stated i know there was no ill will in your statement.
i know with my youngest who could be 10 times better than my oldest still is in that "wants to play for fun" mode but i think it is changing.