SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Club Soccer & ODP Anderson and Clemson Clubs Merge

The Clemson Area Soccer Club (CASC) and Anderson Soccer Academy (ASA) Board of Directors have unanimously voted to merge the two clubs. Our goal is to provide our youth with structured, progressive, and challenging training that will enable boys and girls to enjoy and achieve their potential in the great game of soccer.
During the week of April 9-13, we are conducting a series of three "town hall" meetings to provide information about the merger. Specific locations, dates, and times are listed below.
Sandy Springs (CASC fields): Monday April 9 @ 6:00pm
Gignilliat Park (Seneca): Tuesday April 10 @ 6:00pm
Anderson Civic Center (fields): Thursday April 12 @ 6:00pm
We will announce details about the club structure, tryout schedule, team camp, and club fees at these meetings. It’s a busy time of the year with many potential conflicts, so you are welcome to attend any of the three scheduled meetings. You do not need to be a current CASC or ASA family member to attend these meetings.
For more and current information, visit the ASA or CASC websites at www.andersonsoccer.com or www.clemsonareasoccerclub.org

Is this do to the falling numbers of players in each club? Or is this for financial reasons?

Wake up York County!

Idle question: approximately how far apart are the fields of CASC and ASA?

The clubs are merging, not for falling numbers, but for the opposite reasons. The Anderson Club has grown by 2-3 team each of its last 2 season's. I can not speak for the Clemson club, but think their numbers have been pretty consistant. The two clubs compete against each other every year for players. The towns are only 15-20 minutes apart with the fields only being 10-15 minutes apart. The Clemson Club primarly has been stronger in the boys divisions and the ASA club the same with the girls. They are merging mainly, becuase it makes since. And hopefully they can put better competitive teams together, and allow more age appropriate teams. Having a child that has to play up two age groups to play competive soccer is not fun for the child or the parents. It should be a good marriage. I know they have some very good players, coaches, and trainers. This may keep some of the future Challenge/Premier players from leaving and going to CESA. At least the Challenge level players.

Should USA and CFC do the same. Both clubs are splitting the same kids. The fields are only 5 minutes apart. Would this make these clubs able to field more challenge teams or a premier team.

Does USA or CFC have Challenge or Premier teams?

CFC fields challenge teams but not at every age level. I think this is due to lack of numbers. i think CFC and USA lose players to CESA every year because of this. I know of some players that jumped ship from both clubs because CESA fields higher level teams. If these clubs merged it would give them the player pool to build on. Just an Idea.

i would be real interested to know what others in the Spartanburg area think about this. My daughter is torn right now on which way to go. She plays '95 and is at a crossroads with the different clubs.

>>[Giggs] Does USA or CFC have Challenge or Premier teams?<<

Pretty much the only clubs that have had Premier teams in the last few years have been CESA, Bridge, and CUFC with the exception of a few one-off teams from DSC, MPSC, and LCSC.

If I remember correctly, USA has primarily classic teams. CFC has and does field challenge teams.

I would suggest talking to the parents of other players who have made the move to get their perspective.

Yes I believe that the "clubs" would benefit from holding on to players longer, but is it really a benefit to that top player individually.

My experience has been that the longer a player waits before coming to the premier level team the less likely they are to make that team. I have seen numerous players come to tryouts hoping to make the premier level team end up on the Challenge or Classic and in several instances I believe that had they trained at CESA earlier they would likely be at the premier level.

For example, all year my daugters U-10 team has played the Furman U-11 team. They killed us the first few times. We were lucky to even get the ball on the offensive side of the field. We played them last week very evenly and won 2-1. It is a combination that brings about the advancement; coaching, training, and competition.

Just curious, has USA ever fielded a Challenge team? I know CFC has challenge teams every year and on several occassions I've noticed that their teams advance past the first round of the state playoffs.

If both of those clubs merged they would have some of the nicest facilities in the upstate, CFC just recently built new fields. One thing holding both clubs back is numbers as stated before. Both clubs are also competing with AYSO for the rec players.