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Playing high school matches in SC as late as starting at 7 pm—driving to VA to play a Sat morn club match at 7:30 am—turning around and playing again at 11 am—all with 13 players—priceless???

CESA U18G should be commended for their commitment—Beat NJ 1-0, fell to VA 2-0—Waiting for time of Sun match—

Self praise I see.

202677: I realize that many seem to believe that the ultimate goal of youth soccer is to get a college scholarship -- and that may be the case for many -- but at the level these kids are playing, there's not a lot of doubt about whether they can play in college.

This is a nationally ranked team that is training and playing toward attempting to win regionals this summer and then move on to nationals. A lot of the kids on this team are thinking not about whether they'll play in college, but how well they'll play in college.

What honestly confuses me about this subject is that I'm not aware of a single high school game, or even practice, that has been missed by any of these players. And yet there's this apparent knee-jerk reaction against kids wanting more chances to play at a higher level.

Look -- I realize that CESA premier-level soccer isn't for every player -- and I try my best to celebrate the diversity of different service offerings for different kids with different ambitions. But railing against the club for offering something unique in South Carolina, club-wide year-around training and playing opportunities at a incredibly competitive level, seems somewhat counter-intuitive in terms of wanting South Carolina kids to have the opportunities that kids in other areas of the country have.

Chico,

Great point. I once STUPIDLY wondered what the point of u18 teams playing in tournaments like Disney and such, when most of the players had already made their college decisions. But after I thought about it about a minutes, I came to my senses when I remembered that the reason most of, if not all of, the girls on teams this good are on the team is because of their love for soccer and passion for excellence. As far as the knee-jerk reaction against kids wanting more chances to play at a higher level, I think the jealously thing kicks in again. Like you pointed out, I can't imagine any of these girls missing high school practices or games and I imagine these girls or type of girls are the reason their high school teams have much of the success that they have.

Kudos to CESA and the CESA u18g for their continual striving
for excellence.

Exactly, Chico. Odd to me that so much of the discussions on this board are about HOW SC can become competitive regionally and nationally; then when teams/clubs/players make efforts (such as playing together in spring in high-caliber events along with high school commitments) some will criticize that commitment and purposefulness. Interesting. But a bit puzzling. . .

This U18G premier group is a fine and impressive collection of players and coaches. To be commended I feel.

"Commended or COMMITTED? Geeeeesshhhh! Give the HS teams their three months out of the year and not have these girls strung out for some mindless club tourney! "

According to scsoccer.com the high school girls games on Thursday night were determined by a total score of 77-9. There were a couple of 1 goal games that offset the 10-0 game and the 9-0 game and the two different 8-0 games. The average score on Thursday night was 4.5 to .5

The 93 CESA girls who are ranked 9th nationally on NSR went to Virginia to play the #7 nationally ranked Mt. Laurel NJ team and the #10 nationally ranked Chantilly VA team and the #46 nationally ranked Bethesda MD team. What they should have done was stay home and rest in order to prepare for a week of middle school soccer.

The 88 CESA girls who are ranked 15th in one poll went to Virginia to play FC Milwaukee who is 13th in one poll and 30th in another and Braddock Rd. VA who is ranked 24th in one poll. They also should have stayed home and rested in order to prepare for games against teams whom they may or may not beat 8-0 or 9-0.

They should be committed. Crazy girls and their crazy parents and their crazy club. What will they think of next?

Why do our top club teams need to be together year-round? To compete regionally and nationally. In order to maintain the integrity of both club and HS soccer, then, we will have the overlaps—and both arenas will need to compromise some.

A few things from having been a parent involved in the Jefferson Cup commitment:

• HS soccer cannot keep top players in the proper form for the speed of play at high-level club play. Speed of play for a club team that plays all year (or a team in season competing against a club team not in season) makes evenly matched teams seem goals apart.

• Players working on their games without being WITH their teammates cannot create what SC teams need to succeed.

• Parents from teams across the nation (with whom I spoke) were discussing these exact topics—staying together all year, whether or not to play HS, how to make the next step up, commitment by players and parents ($$$, travel, time. . .).

• The tired young ladies who made the trip laughed a great deal this weekend, smiled an awful lot, and loved being with their teammates whom they love. They spoke of missing their club coach and the high play they experience with those teammates. And as we were leaving there was talk among them all about the big HS girls rivalry game coming this week.

202677: Now that there have been several responses back and forth on this, I wanted to respectfully ask -- did any of this change your opinion or do you still believe that CESA is doing wrong offering anything for U15+ players in the spring?

One of the things I wonder about is whether this medium really facilitates the changing of opinions or whether it just cements them. I'm not trying to say you're wrong in your opinion -- I've already given my opinion above -- but I was hoping that you might let us know if you continued to disagree with this (and even better, the reasons you might disagree with it!). Thanks.