We are considering a move from out of state to the Ponte Vedra area next year. Are there any ECNL/GA teams within driving distance? Our daughter is an '07 and currently plays for one of the top-ranked teams in our state. We know it would be very hard to leave her coaches and teammates, so we're trying to get a sense of the landscape. Also, do most ECNL/GA girls play high school soccer too in Florida? Thank you!
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No such thing as DA anymore. But I'm sure you knew that.Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
https://ecnl.totalglobalsports.com/p...=2038&fid=8880 -
If youth soccer development is really important, you should move elsewhere. Far away.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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Thanks for the schedule! In our area, ECNL and the new Girls Academy League are pretty even in terms of competition. Maybe it's different in Florida?Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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Is the Girls Academy League basically the old DA run by US Soccer? Clay soccer girls teams might be in it.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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I know this question is a damn joke, right?Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
You can't possibly be seriousComment
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It was an honest question but, after reading through this forum, the Florida soccer scene seems pretty gross. Guess we're spoiled living in an area where you can find high level teams and coaches without the crazy...Comment
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I'll bite. Assuming you are real. NE FL soccer parents are generally @sshats on TS.
High School Soccer
Yes, most ECNL girls play HS soccer. NE FL has some good (as defined for good for HS) HS soccer teams. Private schools to play for are Bolles or Saint Johns CD. Public in SJC is Bartram but being PV area probably zoned for PV or Nease. PV is generally decent. Nease not so much.
Overall, soccer in Jax is a crap shoot. My girl is graduated and playing in college and I'm 100% glad to be done with club soccer.
Clay County/aka United Soccer- Former DA, whatever DA is called now. Luis will sell you his kidney and make you think you need it. He'll tell you about Morgan Bryan and a few others. Not much comes out of Clay. Clay forbid HS soccer. Only 1 DA team was remotely successful. Morgan Bryan holds a camp here every winter. Most girls like it.
Florida Elite/FESA- ECNL. Sean is another snake oil salesman. Tells you every thing you want to hear. All of it and then some. Will close the deal by upselling your "big time" player. Girls side cannot keep an ECNL director. Sean demotes or fires them if they don't quit. Basically 5 ECNL directors in 4 years of ECNL. Started off with the worlds best coaches according to Sean and now has a local guy that used to coach college soccer. No stability in coaching. Lots of promises on recruiting but its up to what you and your kid to and contact. Don't believe anyone that tells you otherwise.
JFC/Jacksonville FC- ECNL Director at JFC left FESA in the middle of the season after a Sean incident at ECNL Florida. Too soon to tell how he'll handle JFC but JFC's girls programing has been in shambles for years. Inconsistent coaching and heavily involved parents have plagued the girls side for years. Foley promises change and if JFC lets him piss off the parents, change will come.
Last option: North Florida Soccer Academy. Newish. Run by former FESA coach Mike Pickett, coach for Saint Johns CD. Some people love him, some people hate him.
On Talking-Soccer, you have JFC loyalists and FESA loyalists. Ignore all their bullcrap and name calling. Actually, ignore everything they say. TS is only good for coaching change rumors, if you see it on TS, before it's been announced in NE FL, theres a good chance its true.
Clay claims to play possession. It's at a snails pace.
JFC used to be a possession based club crazy about foot skills. The girls side is little more than kickball now.
FESA has always been a brute force club. They're style of play is very heavy on the direct style with much aggression.
Bottom line- let your kid train with all options atleast twice before you decide where to go. Don't fall for the pressure.
Oh and HS soccer starts in mid October so club soccer goes on hold in November-February. Don't expect any club training for HS kids during that time with exception of right before the ECNL showcases which are a complete waste of time if your kid desires D1.Comment
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Best 07 girls team in the area, and probably the state, is the JFC side. They are a recent merger of the best players from FESA and JFC and have seen some good results in pre-seasoN play.Comment
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Thanks to those who took the time to genuinely respond. We're still in the early stages of considering a move, but this information is helpful to keep in mind. I know high school soccer doesn't compare to ECNL, but it's nice to know many of the coaches allow it. Moving in high school stinks, and being on a school team definitely helps with meeting new friends. Wishing everyone a good season!Comment
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You forgot one
I’m surprised you forgot to mention Bishop Kenny in your list of Private (Catholic) high schools. They did win a state championship in 2019 you know?Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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Yes, they did. One state championship is a little different though than the scads of state championships SJCDS and Bolles pull year after year.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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It’s like a dagger in your heart every time, ain’t it? 😘Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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