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

I agree. While in it's infancy CESA-Columbia does have some exceptional talent at the coaching level.

Being able to choose where to play from among competing clubs and/or coaches is a sign of how our community is growing and how talented coaches like Eddie and Chris are finding niches which fullfill their needs.

Granted, there certainly will come a time in the distant future when the market will say there are too many clubs and we'll see consolidation.

However, as of right now, clubs competing for players is great for the player. Clubs are investing in the future of youth soccer so they can win players. That's great for all of youth soccer in SC.

Check your ego at the gate of just about any growing Club with outstanding coaching and then put your kid in front of an excellent coach and watch what happens. I don't think you'll be dissapointed in his or her development.

Competition breeds excellence and like it or not that's the role see CESA-Columbia is playing in the market.

We played rec and then academy at NECSA and CSC. Training was non-existent. Amazing what a year of having a Coach can do for an child's level of play and confidence. CESA-Columbia may not be for everyone but it offers an option we didn't have before.

Apparently Steve you are very familiar with the lack of quality coaching and training in the Midlands can you give me some examples?

I guess you also agree that the quality is lacking in the Charleston area. My guess is that Coah Khoury or Brissom or Lundy etc. are not up to your expectations.


Point 1- the number of quality coaches is finite
Point 2- CESA is/has been succesful because of the merger of St. Giles and GFC which pooled the resources and reduced the fragmentation.

The areas you speak of are fragmented and are all fighting to stay independent, witness MPSC/Bridge and soon North Charleston.

Actually, (fs), I'm not very familar with either. I'm just going by the facts. CESA is known for their quality staff, players and program. CUFC is known for their marketability and vested interest in HS soccer. BFA is known for fielding and developing elite talent to try and compete on a regional/nat'l level.

I would assume that CESA would adequately staff the Columbia and Charleston sites? (again, I'm only assuming this b/c their reputation precedes them.) In terms of products and service, IMO, CESA clearly outpaces the other BIG 2 in that respect.

No, Charleston is not lacking quality coaching it's lacking leadership and unity. We need someone or (group) of folks to help unify all of this talent to compete on all levels.

And...it seems to me, that CESA's success stems from more than just a merger. Obviously, they seem to be doing more than cufc and BFA based on their continued success and expansion plans. cufc merged and got 1 classic and 1 challenge state champ....Summerville and JI merged to form BFA and it resulted in a 3 or 4 state champs in it's first year, but even after the CESA merger they continue to be successful, even beyond the state level. Why do you think that is and the others arent?

Both St. Giles and GFC were quality clubs prior to the merger and brought in the top players in the area.

The coaching staff are also quality coaches who know the game and most importantly teach it. Why they continue to be succesful, not barring the aforementioned. They have the base (i.e. rec players) and the credentials (which CUFC is trying to buy with marketing).

To the credentials, there is no better marketing program than to show the results.

Now there are many clubs nipping at the giant in the upstate, CFC comes to mind where they are fielding competitive teams with CESA. It is a mystery to me why these two do not merge (talk about a behemoth).
The best view is to separate the myriads of clubs associated with SCYSA and concentrate on the challenge level only.

No disrespect to anyone, IMO these come down to the following

CESA, Bridge, CUFC, Lexington, CFC and MPSC with a couple other ones here and there. Probably in that order (although Coast FC may be in the mix with MPSC).

Ironically you have two from the Upstate, two from the midlands and two from the lower state. In each region arguably one stronger and one weaker, you can decide which is which.

SO what does CESA gain from offering training, etc. far away from home? Players... the quality players already playing for the Bridges and CUFCs.
The number of quality players is finite and CESA needs them to be regionally and nationally competitive (as is their desire) but unlike the Atlanta area where there is the same number of people within 1hr drive as there is in the whole state of SC, they have to try to do it state wide, thus the expansion.

Will they succeed? maybe... maybe not. But Johnny or Sally's parents will have to vote with their wallets with gas at $3/gallon and the possibility of local team being just as well coached and competitive as the one in gville.

Choices are what parents/players make, therefore services and pedigree are important...somewhere in the mix is cost. I would have to be convinced that CESA team A is a better fit than Bridge team A to make the choice to go to the upstate. If my child is playing in a competitive team, with a quality coach, in quality environment at an acceptable cost why change?

All I am saying is there are quality coaches and teams in the other areas of the state not with the same club pedigree for sure. CESA has created a beneficial push....forcing the others in the state to keep up or step aside. This will make the state as a whole stronger.

Steve

Your are correct in stating that CESA has some quality coaches. though i think you are a little off in suggesting that is superior to other big clubs. If you check the CUFC coaches list you will see that they in fact have an equally qualifed staff

gamecock44,
"equally qualifed staff"? and you are basing this on what? coaching licenses?

Steve

I can tell from your words that you do not value the licensure held by coaches when determing the level of a coach. I will grant you that you may have some great coaches out there that do not have a USSF license. However in this day and age those numbers are dropping dramatically. To even by talked about any young upcoming coach must partake in the Education system aimed at improving the instruction our youth receive. That is probaly why the SCYSA has now implemented minimum license requirements for each different level of play. So yes licenses are important.
However when dealing with youth soccer many more variables are at play. Like what caliber of Kids do you coach. I.e if you only coach elite players then of course your records will be better then taking rec or classic teams and then improving those players. Also in play is how the players on a team have been assembled. If by the u16/17 age of an elite team the majority of the players have been together since 11 or 12 and the team is achieving great results then credit may go to the coach. Alternatively if by u16/17 you have a team made up from players recruited away from "smaller" clubs from all over the state or even region maybe the coach is not such a great coach more a great recruiter. i could go on and on but you get the point.