SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Club Soccer & ODP CESA-Columbia

>>[Soccer Relic] Pretty nervy to make a statement like that in these here parts of the woods.......are ya'll falling for this? How many choices are there in the Greenville area, if I remember correctly, CESA is the only game in town for Greenville, Spartenburg and Mauldin and all parts in between!<<

People would be stupid to fall for this line, wouldn't they? Just to make sure, let's do a quick count of select clubs in the two areas:

Select soccer in the GSA area: CESA, CFC, USA, Foothills Premier, TCSC, ASA, CASC [has team(s) in Greenville].

Select soccer in Columbia area: CUFC, CRSA, Lexington, Lower Lexington, and now CESA-Columbia.

Huh? Well, everyone makes mistakes...I have no doubt the rest of your post will be insightful and well-researched.

>>Kevin I certainly hope you read into the "suck up" lines created there just for you guys caught between the North and West sides of town, puleeeeeeeeease.....<<

You're right -- what a transparent ploy. I'm sure that no one involved would have talked to CRSA first but instead just "Pearl Harbored" them. Or...could that reasoning be slightly fallacious as well?

I mean, just look at CESA-Columbia tryout dates. They're clearly designed to screw over CRSA, right? Well...wait a minute, the CESA-Columbia tryout dates are after the CRSA tryout?

Okay...it's just a hunch...but somehow it doesn't feel like your primary concern is CRSA's well-being...

>>To CESA, please, don't advertise yourselves at the expense of others......the merger of CSC and NECSA was a long time coming. Those of us who have children capable of playing on the Challenge/Premier level were tired of competing with the people from the other side of town as we all saw that we have good teams but together we can have GREAT teams. Isn't that what CESA saw too? <<

Okay...more confusion. I know that this new club, "CESA-Columbia", can't be the same thing as "CESA" because CESA is in a different district than Columbia. I did notice that the two co-executive directors of CESA were the president and vice president of the new club. But there can't be a partnership between the two clubs either.

Here's a theory. Perhaps that line about choice referred to the parents who wanted their children to play at CESA in Columbia but couldn't. Admittedly, CESA-Columbia isn't CESA, but it seems the folks running it have a bit of a common background in soccer.

By the way...I have never spoken to anyone at CESA that didn't support the merger of CSC and NECSA. I think it's great as well. I hope that CUSC succeeds and offers the choice of more competitive soccer for the children of Columbia who have the ambition.

>>......make your choice for your child based on what suits you and your schedules best. [...] So choose the club that is best for you, convenient drive (gas costs should be figured in here), reasonable fees, and most of all people who you like or will want to get to know and enjoy being around.<<

Sounds like the way Columbia soccer has been for the last decade or more. I'm glad Columbia offers clubs that allow parents/children who choose to prioritize schedule and gas to be satisfied. More on this below...

>>Besides, why do we need another club here? What is the motivation besides mo money, mo money, mo money? Parents, please beware and do your research well before you committ to these carpet baggers. Please go play in Lexington or with CRSA before you give your hard earned money to people who have no loyality to your hometown.<<

Ahhhhh...I understand. It's the "us versus them" argument, right? Masterful logic.

Look...on the bright side I have no doubt that there are people that feel the same way you do. Pick a club [or day care, or school, or whatever] that is the most convenient for you and in which you're comfortable with people "just like us." And that's great -- I'm glad they have that choice.

But there are other people who feel differently -- who would like to find the best possible club matching their child's talents and ambitions. Those people want a choice beyond which field is the nearest. First we had CUFC be created and that is good -- it's hard to believe that given CSC and NECSA that CUFC won't be much more competitive. Now it appears that Columbia parents have another choice.

What is it about choice that threatens you so much?

Spot on Chico.

Relic,
I guess its OK to have a few after 6 pm. But please get the kids to spell check you next time.
I have been kicking and screaming and ranting and kicking some more for 3 years for a Cola. area merger of some clubs. And finally it has happened, but what do we hear in this soccer forum about CUSC? ...............
Thats right, nothing.
Now, it is not essential that CUSC care at all about what is said in this forum, but this is the main place that SC soccer is discussed and kicked around. Lots of creative ideas, passionate opinions(rational and otherwise), some fun, but mostly serious discussion about the state of high school and club soccer in SC. We read in this forum about CESA and its passion for soccer. We read about their training plans for mutiple regions; Rock Hill, Cola. and now, Asheville. Thats what it takes to be a great and dedicated club. Dedication to the game, but primarily dedicated to the guys/gals who want the opportunities to attain the best soccer they are capable of playing. Some will reach the very top, most will reach a very good level (good enough for some colleges), and few others will attain a level of satisfaction (based on their individual needs) with their respective levels of play. But the main point I am so inadequately trying to make, is that they were exposed to an opportunity to be the best they could be. Life and soccer and any other sport is all about choices. The more choices you have in life or in sport, the better your experiences will be.

Spot on Chico. Spot on 2004striker.

Here's the difference. Relic is happy creating teams that compete and possibly win state titles. CESA is frankly dreaming bigger. If you look at the website they are trying to create teams to win regional and national championships and they are trying to give soccer players the opportunity to work really hard and go the next level. It is all in what the players are looking for. CESA offering training in other places just gives premier players more choices.

CESA moving into other areas is a business decision. Lets not confuse the issue, CESA is a business, a not for profit business but a business nevertheless. Their business is a service, the service if it is in high demand will be purchased. Parents choose whether the service is worth the cost and select accordingly. To my knowledge nobody from CESA has ever come out and guaranteed anyone anything. The choice has always been with the consumer. There are many options and this is one of them. Having another club maybe as necessary as getting another gas station or bank at the corner (especially in a coach starved area), but as with gas stations and banks they pop-up anyway. They will either sink or swim. So the end result lies clearly with the consumer.

God I sound like Chico..woof..woof

Any word on how the CESA-Columbia tryouts went lastnight?