Choices mean different things to different people.
York County currently does a pretty good job of offering choice for classic level soccer and lower level challenge. There are also a plethora of rec options for U6 to U10....
What York COunty lacks is the following:
1. Competitive rec from U8-U11 for the very good players for whom SCYSA doesn't offer a very good classic option. This development could perhaps limit the number of young kids who flee to the Charlotte challenge league.
2. Comprehensive rec for players U12-U16. Having been to Raleigh recently I watched their very large and organized rec program playing games with older kids and we have nothing like that at all.
3. Upper level challenge/R3P caliber teams. We simply don't have the population and with the dilution of talent among DSC, TC, Charlotte and some to CESA and Columbia......we rarely can get a team together that can legitmately start the season with the hope of winning State Cup. Not meaning to offend anyone....but there are 2 teams that I'm aware.....DSC '90 boys and TC '92 boys.
A single York County Club will help strengthen the classic-challenge programs and could well lead to a regional level team. But to me this is only a minor step in the direction of optimizing soccer in this area. Until the rec programs that
feed into the single York County Club are aligned you will only be skimming the surface.
CESA has what, 3000 kids? CASL has 20,000 or soemthing like that? The vast majorioty are NOT playing statewide soccer.
A single York County CLub should build from the ground floor up and the primary focus should not be on competing with regional level teams. Focus on your core and grow your CLub. In a few years...your Premier level players will be ready.
Without that structure in place.....even a unified York County Club is at best....3rd or 4th best in the State.
And without that structure.......the recent CESA announcement offers a legit option for York kids that have the ability to play at the highest level...to do so within the confines of SCYSA. Running to NC doesn't have to be the way you go anymore. Playing on teams that are middle of the pack at best.....doesn't have to be the way to go.
Conflicting opinions? Maybe...but one is how things are and one is for how things could be. For the here and now.....CESA offers options currently not available. Merged CLubs and aligned rec programs.....are perhaps wishful thinking.
