It seems that if you grew up in Tampa Bay and played high level competitive soccer in the 70's-90's, you played for CC. This includes a lot of the parents of kids playing today in Clubs around the area. However the Clearwater Chargers haven't been developing talent for many years. When the DA program (which was losing millions annually) went bankrupt a few years ago due to COVID and poor management, CC lost the ability to just steal and pillage players developed at other Clubs for their DA teams. Now that the DA is gone (yes I know they STILL have DA signs up at locations and on the website, but it's gone parents) and other Clubs have ECNL, MLS Next, and other options, they are no longer relevant in competitive soccer anymore, except for a few standout teams.
CC has been hemorrhaging coaches and talent to other Clubs for a few years now, but apparently things are really starting to look bleak after tryouts. PM is scrambling to make just one team at certain age groups. Post tryouts, the Clearwater Chargers are openly advertising and looking to fill roster spots for boys players at 2004/2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and looking for girls players 2004/2005, 2009 and 2010.
Status of Chargers competitive program (feel free to check standings):
1. Most MLS Next teams are near the bottom of table and not competitive > https://www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext/standings/2021-2022/
2. Most girls ECNLR teams are near the bottom and not competitive. This club shouldn't have ECNLR for girls in the first place, and they are really fortunate there is no relegation in this league after the last 2 seasons of failed results. They have not earned their spot, nor can they compete. > https://public.totalglobalsports.com...ules-standings
3. Most teams in Sunshine Academy Conference are at the bottom and not competitive. Word is that parents at most age groups are openly revolting against playing in this league again due to extensive travel and incredibly poor results. > https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/5401
There are much better options all over now, including Florida Premier, TBU, WFF, Celtic, and hell even Strictly and PCU have better results. MLSNext players (and other teams) are being asked to have 50% of their trainings in Lakewood Ranch, which is a logistical nightmare for families who live in Pinellas (and Lakewood Ranch). All that travel for their kid to be placed in a league where they are overmatched and not competitive.
What happened here? This used to be the destination for top players in the area. What caused this downfall or is it just a changing soccer landscape in the Tampa Bay area?
CC has been hemorrhaging coaches and talent to other Clubs for a few years now, but apparently things are really starting to look bleak after tryouts. PM is scrambling to make just one team at certain age groups. Post tryouts, the Clearwater Chargers are openly advertising and looking to fill roster spots for boys players at 2004/2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and looking for girls players 2004/2005, 2009 and 2010.
Status of Chargers competitive program (feel free to check standings):
1. Most MLS Next teams are near the bottom of table and not competitive > https://www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext/standings/2021-2022/
2. Most girls ECNLR teams are near the bottom and not competitive. This club shouldn't have ECNLR for girls in the first place, and they are really fortunate there is no relegation in this league after the last 2 seasons of failed results. They have not earned their spot, nor can they compete. > https://public.totalglobalsports.com...ules-standings
3. Most teams in Sunshine Academy Conference are at the bottom and not competitive. Word is that parents at most age groups are openly revolting against playing in this league again due to extensive travel and incredibly poor results. > https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/5401
There are much better options all over now, including Florida Premier, TBU, WFF, Celtic, and hell even Strictly and PCU have better results. MLSNext players (and other teams) are being asked to have 50% of their trainings in Lakewood Ranch, which is a logistical nightmare for families who live in Pinellas (and Lakewood Ranch). All that travel for their kid to be placed in a league where they are overmatched and not competitive.
What happened here? This used to be the destination for top players in the area. What caused this downfall or is it just a changing soccer landscape in the Tampa Bay area?
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