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I appreciate that Tormey and Hyslop have done a good job unifying the upstate region and improving the level of training offered there. We will have to wait and see what their influence will be in the rest of the state. It seems to me that many of the impediments to unified, improved clubs in other parts of the state are more structural and political than a lack of competent and well-intentioned coaches.

While CESA seems to be the current gold standard at the state level, their performances beyond the state level are less impressive. Furthermore, while SC universities have produced a number of national level players, there is a relative dearth of homegrown players at the national level.

My biggest concern with CESA in their mission to elevate the level of SC soccer is their apparent failure to recognize the importance of the new US Soccer Development Academy. The Developmental Academy has issues that need to be resolved, but I can say having observed it closely for the past year I think it is the future of elite American youth soccer and far superior to the ODP model.

One solution to the relatively low population of SC would be affiliations on an elite level. Let the teams battle it out at the local club level U14 and below, then pool their talent (Bridge/Battery/CESA) at the Developmental Academy level.

The Academy model does not apply to the girl's side of the game at this time, but hopefully with the renaissance of the women's league (and our dismal showing at the last Women's World Cup) there will be motivation to develop a girl's Academy program.



So CESA has done more than anyone else in SC, and is more successful at it...yet you still criticize? Has SC as a whole done much past the state level year in year out? Do they take age group after age group beating the best other clubs have to offer...and then somehow lose all coordination and muscle memory once they leave the borders of the Blue Ridge and Savannah?