I'll only comment on my behalf. I'm trying to keep this anon but I'm sure someone if they really want can figure it out.... oh well, nothing I will say I haven't said in person.
I will again reiterate this is our experience only. I know there are wildly different opinions out there so feel free to comment with your first-hand experiences as well. I think it's important to get all sides so everyone can make their own decisions based on the most available information out there. With that being said...
Pros:
* Training was fantastic. While I understand the GDA coaches are long-timers, I only had a little experience with CS previously (which was positive). This year was beyond expectations. I've come across several coaches over the years, and there's maybe 2 that have really stood out for me. Ours topped that. Honest, great communicator, will be positive but will also be negative if necessary. Feedback from USSoccer, the regimen, and also the support provided by the medical staff was excellent. Training sessions included weight/fitness along with some futsal for touches which supplemented typical outdoor trainings. Hugely impressed.
* Team quality. Pretty good, not great. A little thin in some places, which is to be expected. Got much better for the most part over the year (i.e. most improved a lot, some a little, some not at all). We were difficult to play against. Overheard one comment from a parent on another team - "This is the best defensive team we've played all year".
* Game competitiveness. Quite good. A few bumps, a few blowouts, but about 75% of our games were ties or one-goal games. The blow-out losses were all ties/one-goal affairs in the second half (see note about thin roster above). This is an improvement over previous years where too many games were just long travel against poor competition.
* Results. Good. About a .500 team which probably should've been higher. Some early learnings cost a game or two, and again some of the lack of resources cost a little as well. But, no complaints as mistakes happen and the effort was there from everyone. Kids will, and did, learn and it got much better as the year went along.
* Gameday experience: Good. Refs were almost always very good, conditions were good, "professional" atmosphere, etc.
Cons:
* Roster depth. Mentioned above, but the reality is SUSC can't compete with some other clubs in MA. Mid-year additions helped, and so will additions for next year. But, there won't be 400 kids showing up for 20 spots, that's the reality of where we are.
* Travel. Can't deny that the multiple trips to NJ/NY were a drag. Would prefer a combined effort between ECNL/GDA within New England, but that won't happen. We worked it out best we could, but not easy to spin this as anything but a negative.
Mixed
* DA "Philosophy". Specifically, subbing/rostering. I'll drift from my original comment about keeping this my own opinion here. Because, my kid wasn't directly affected very often and played all (or virtually all) of every game. But, I also saw some kids not getting enough time and I can totally understand if they were disenfranchised. It's a competitive environment and everything needs to be earned. That's a change for all of us, and not everyone is cut out for it. I would say for some who maybe aren't happy, to look internally to see what they could've done differently...
* Costs. Also a mixed bag. My costs actually went down from previous years. By eliminating extra training (specifically futsal and some camps), and tournaments, there was quite a bit of savings. That was offset with the added travel for the NY/NJ games and the showcases. Showcases are optional for parents, so keep that in mind you don't need to go vs. in other leagues where it was pretty much a requirement (unless you send your kid along with someone else). We went to two, using points for one which we likely couldn't do next year. But, not sure if we will go again...two trips to Colorado over the past year is enough for me. So, this could go up or down depending on each individual's decision.
* Missed school. Had a few days missed that weren't present in other years. Grades didn't suffer and her teachers were very understanding. But, it did mean some pre-work and post-work to catch up which takes away from down- or free-time. I guess it's no different than families taking their kids out for a vacation, but it's something I've never done so it took some acceptance on my part.
OK, now for everyone's favorite topic...HS. Well, we were younger so there was no effect...yet. It's my understanding almost everyone is coming back for next year. I doubt that will be the case as it progresses through HS as the draw is there. For now, we'll take it Y2Y as though my D is adamant she doesn't want to play (and her HS is very good) the coach has put a lot of pressure on her. She may succumb later on. We'll see.
I personally look at the HS as a "nice to have" not a "have to have". Speaking for her, she does enough around the school that she gets enough of the social activity without needing it through the game. She likes that she has her school friends and her club friends...a few of which as close if not closer to her school friends. Again, that may change.
Sorry for the long-winded detail. Tried to be forthright with our experiences and, again, acknowledge someone, maybe even a teammate, will post a wildly different review.
I will again reiterate this is our experience only. I know there are wildly different opinions out there so feel free to comment with your first-hand experiences as well. I think it's important to get all sides so everyone can make their own decisions based on the most available information out there. With that being said...
Pros:
* Training was fantastic. While I understand the GDA coaches are long-timers, I only had a little experience with CS previously (which was positive). This year was beyond expectations. I've come across several coaches over the years, and there's maybe 2 that have really stood out for me. Ours topped that. Honest, great communicator, will be positive but will also be negative if necessary. Feedback from USSoccer, the regimen, and also the support provided by the medical staff was excellent. Training sessions included weight/fitness along with some futsal for touches which supplemented typical outdoor trainings. Hugely impressed.
* Team quality. Pretty good, not great. A little thin in some places, which is to be expected. Got much better for the most part over the year (i.e. most improved a lot, some a little, some not at all). We were difficult to play against. Overheard one comment from a parent on another team - "This is the best defensive team we've played all year".
* Game competitiveness. Quite good. A few bumps, a few blowouts, but about 75% of our games were ties or one-goal games. The blow-out losses were all ties/one-goal affairs in the second half (see note about thin roster above). This is an improvement over previous years where too many games were just long travel against poor competition.
* Results. Good. About a .500 team which probably should've been higher. Some early learnings cost a game or two, and again some of the lack of resources cost a little as well. But, no complaints as mistakes happen and the effort was there from everyone. Kids will, and did, learn and it got much better as the year went along.
* Gameday experience: Good. Refs were almost always very good, conditions were good, "professional" atmosphere, etc.
Cons:
* Roster depth. Mentioned above, but the reality is SUSC can't compete with some other clubs in MA. Mid-year additions helped, and so will additions for next year. But, there won't be 400 kids showing up for 20 spots, that's the reality of where we are.
* Travel. Can't deny that the multiple trips to NJ/NY were a drag. Would prefer a combined effort between ECNL/GDA within New England, but that won't happen. We worked it out best we could, but not easy to spin this as anything but a negative.
Mixed
* DA "Philosophy". Specifically, subbing/rostering. I'll drift from my original comment about keeping this my own opinion here. Because, my kid wasn't directly affected very often and played all (or virtually all) of every game. But, I also saw some kids not getting enough time and I can totally understand if they were disenfranchised. It's a competitive environment and everything needs to be earned. That's a change for all of us, and not everyone is cut out for it. I would say for some who maybe aren't happy, to look internally to see what they could've done differently...
* Costs. Also a mixed bag. My costs actually went down from previous years. By eliminating extra training (specifically futsal and some camps), and tournaments, there was quite a bit of savings. That was offset with the added travel for the NY/NJ games and the showcases. Showcases are optional for parents, so keep that in mind you don't need to go vs. in other leagues where it was pretty much a requirement (unless you send your kid along with someone else). We went to two, using points for one which we likely couldn't do next year. But, not sure if we will go again...two trips to Colorado over the past year is enough for me. So, this could go up or down depending on each individual's decision.
* Missed school. Had a few days missed that weren't present in other years. Grades didn't suffer and her teachers were very understanding. But, it did mean some pre-work and post-work to catch up which takes away from down- or free-time. I guess it's no different than families taking their kids out for a vacation, but it's something I've never done so it took some acceptance on my part.
OK, now for everyone's favorite topic...HS. Well, we were younger so there was no effect...yet. It's my understanding almost everyone is coming back for next year. I doubt that will be the case as it progresses through HS as the draw is there. For now, we'll take it Y2Y as though my D is adamant she doesn't want to play (and her HS is very good) the coach has put a lot of pressure on her. She may succumb later on. We'll see.
I personally look at the HS as a "nice to have" not a "have to have". Speaking for her, she does enough around the school that she gets enough of the social activity without needing it through the game. She likes that she has her school friends and her club friends...a few of which as close if not closer to her school friends. Again, that may change.
Sorry for the long-winded detail. Tried to be forthright with our experiences and, again, acknowledge someone, maybe even a teammate, will post a wildly different review.
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