Oakwood

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I'm friendly with a town board member, and several years ago discussed how premier came about in my town. The board was sick of losing the best kids to outside premier clubs, so started a premier level. I can see that type of thinking, however I've kept an eye on the teams (my kids' ages) over the years and the best kids still leave for ECNL and OW. By HS age the town premier teams are almost exclusively travel-level-only players. Towns are between a rock and a hard place with this.

That's fine that the better players leave for the better clubs, that's how it should work. The town premier programs are a way to keep more town kids playing together rather than scattering to other poor quality premier clubs. They usually charge a lot less than private clubs do also.

[Unregistered]

Towns were always limited by rules that required they not take players outside their geographical boundaries, which premier clubs didn't have to follow. The problem for towns, though, is that with the geographical restriction, while they might have one or two teams with very good players, most teams were average at best with no opportunity to recruit. So, they could field a couple of decent premier teams out of all age groups and that's it. Then, while town premier teams could recruit, who would go to Griswold Town Soccer Premier over, say, Oakwood, or Southeast Premier, etc.?

Then, coaches at the town level are often lacking time and commitment, if nothing else (because there are a lot of former h.s. and college players around who are parents and do coach town). Additionally, parents are idiots who leave a good town travel program, and injure that program by doing so, to go to clubs like CFC Premier Lite United, Celtic, etc. But, it doesn't stop there.

With some "pseudo premier coaches" whose kids play with a poor quality "premier team" being on town soccer boards, town soccer clubs often work with parasitic premier outfits to share players, which further damages the town club. Shared players are never really dependable for town play, and if you have too many shared players, you can't field a functioning team. It's a mess. Don't get me started.

Yes to all of that, but I gave up years ago trying to even think about doing anything about it. It's hopeless. Dangle the word "premier" in front of a middling 9 yr old and his dumb parents and "travel" is in the rearview mirror. Even if the town program has an equivalent coach and all his friends and even if he's on some crap B or C team. I've seen it over and over.

[Unregistered]

Yes to all of that, but I gave up years ago trying to even think about doing anything about it. It's hopeless. Dangle the word "premier" in front of a middling 9 yr old and his dumb parents and "travel" is in the rearview mirror. Even if the town program has an equivalent coach and all his friends and even if he's on some crap B or C team. I've seen it over and over.

At least with a town premier program the costs and travel are usually lower and you're keeping the future HS JV team together.

[Unregistered]

At least with a town premier program the costs and travel are usually lower and you're keeping the future HS JV team together.

because towns can field entire varsity teams made up of only ECNL/OW players.....LOL

<eye roll>

[Unregistered]

because towns can field entire varsity teams made up of only ECNL/OW players.....LOL

<eye roll>

Almost none have a full squad but many HS teams have a starting lineup of club players and a 1-3 freakish multisport athletes (there's always a track star in the lineup). Other club players are the first subs, sitting along with travel players. "Club" is a loose term with a high degree of variability.

[Unregistered]

Almost none have a full squad but many HS teams have a starting lineup of club players and a 1-3 freakish multisport athletes (there's always a track star in the lineup). Other club players are the first subs, sitting along with travel players. "Club" is a loose term with a high degree of variability.

It's almost like Glastonbury, Farmington, and Hall High have a slight advantage or something.(and the only reason Hall isn't in the final every year is because WH is a two school town.

[Unregistered]

It's almost like Glastonbury, Farmington, and Hall High have a slight advantage or something.(and the only reason Hall isn't in the final every year is because WH is a two school town.

I wonder why the same isnt true on the girls side (except for Gbury in the past 6 years or so)? Hmmmm.

[Unregistered]

What league do these “premiere” town teams play in? NPL?

They play in EDP alongside local CFCs, Gingas, etc....

[Unregistered]

They play in EDP alongside local CFCs, Gingas, etc....

Their second teams play in the EDP. Their top teams play in the GA/MLS NEXT. Same as other clubs. CFCs top teams in ecnl, their lower teams in EDP

[Unregistered]

Their second teams play in the EDP. Their top teams play in the GA/MLS NEXT. Same as other clubs. CFCs top teams in ecnl, their lower teams in EDP

has ow announced there 10 month training program yet that they promised to the girls who don't want to play HS

[Unregistered]

has ow announced there 10 month training program yet that they promised to the girls who don't want to play HS

"Yes" for those of us in the club

[Unregistered]

I'm friendly with a town board member, and several years ago discussed how premier came about in my town. The board was sick of losing the best kids to outside premier clubs, so started a premier level. I can see that type of thinking, however I've kept an eye on the teams (my kids' ages) over the years and the best kids still leave for ECNL and OW. By HS age the town premier teams are almost exclusively travel-level-only players. Towns are between a rock and a hard place with this.

sometimes whole teams leave clubs too due to inner turmoil

[Unregistered]

Their second teams play in the EDP. Their top teams play in the GA/MLS NEXT. Same as other clubs. CFCs top teams in ecnl, their lower teams in EDP

I was addressing the Shelton, Che****e and Prospect Town "Premiere" teams. They play in EDP alongside Chelsea Piers, Ginga, CFC Locals, Ct Rush Shoreline, etc.

as far as I know the only MLS Next Teams in CT are OW and Beachside

[Unregistered]

Oakwood MLS Next Trial Games?

Earlier this week Oakwood held trialist games for boys 2005/2006/2007.

Isn't that a little late in the game? tryouts are usually May June at the latest- did something happen? bunch of kids leave? if yes, why?

[Unregistered]

has ow announced there 10 month training program yet that they promised to the girls who don't want to play HS

Yeah, like they did the year before GDA came .... what a waste of time and effort. So much promised, nothing delivered. Fall program is for those that cant affect their HS teams ..... although they will claim they are part of a poor program, the real reason is, there are no players capable of elevating it.