In regards to DSC, yes we do have a healthy relationship with WU, but they do not factor into who we hire as coaches or any other decisions we make. It is to our advantage to have former WU player's as coaches, but we also have other coaches from the community. We are not directly affiliated with WU and are not bound to any of their suggestions. We have an active board that makes decisions like any other soccer board on who to hire. Discoveries has been around for many, many years and it's goal is not to have 20 or 30 teams. We are a non profit organization and our mission is to serve the boys and girls in our area. If you check our fees against NS or TC we are the lowest because we are not here to supply high paying jobs to trainers or coaches, but to provide kids a place to play soccer at the next level. We field competitive challenge and classic teams for that reason and we have had our share of successes and failures like any other club.
I agree with the statements that the area may not be able to support 3 clubs and the talent pool is diluted, but it is also true that the area is growing. We have tried to keep our distance with NS and continued to do what we have been doing sucessfully for years. Clubs shouldn't be so concerned with what their neighbor is doing, but what it do better. We have been concentrating on that and have built up the club to our heighest membership level ever.
To add to the posts about Northwestern and Fort Mill HS, don't forget, these kids got their start here at DSC, and we always have most of the Northwestern varsity boys, like we do this year.
All three clubs have talented DOC's and coaches; one doesn't have a monopoly over the other. However, a parent's decision on which club to take his player to can be based on the club's philosophy, which can vary from club to club. We are about development, and want to bring the player to the highest level he can achieve through hard work and committment, not about having the biggest club in the area.