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**Unregistered** · 08-07-2010, 05:45 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

What Happened to the Bolts, used to be top 10?

Was it the changing of the guard, JC to BA and new adminisration? Are they just a rich kids country club, where parents have bragging rights?

What happened and what are the Bolts not doing or the lack of not doing?

Soccer America's 2009 Top 40 Boys Rankings

1. Baltimore Bays
2. Dallas Texans
3. Michigan Wolves
4. PDA
5. Andromeda SC
6. LAFC Chelsea
7. CASL
8. Arsenal FC
9. Carmel United
10. FC Delco
11. Chicago Magic
12. Solar SC
13. Chicago Fire
14. Real Colorado
15. FC Dallas
16. Colorado Rush
17. NJSA 04
18. Real So Cal
19. West Coast FC
20. D.C. United
21. New York Red Bulls
22. Cal Odyssey
23. Columbus Crew
24. Washington Premier FC
25. IMG Academy
26. Vardar SC
27. De Anza Force
28. Concorde Fire
29. FC Westchester
30. Discoveries SC
31. Triangle United
32. Kendall Soccer Coalition
33. St. Louis Scott Gallagher
34. Javanon SC
35. Schulz Academy
36. Crossfire Premier
37. Albertson SC
38. CZ Elite FC
39. Grand Rapids Crew Juniors
40. Sereno SC*

You seem to be taking these rankings as gospel. I don't think you should do that.

As you noted, the Bolts were ranked 10th in the 2008 rankings, which follow:

2008

Boys Top 25
1. Dallas Texans* North Texas
2. Chicago Magic Illinois
3. Arsenal FC* California South
4. Real So Cal* California South
5. Schulz Academy Florida
6. FC Delco Eastern Pennsylvania
7. Baltimore Bays* Maryland
8. Sockers SC Illinois
9. Michigan Wolves* Michigan
10. FC Greater Boston Bolts Massachusetts
11. CASL Elite North Carolina
12. PDA New Jersey
13. Solar FC North Texas
14. FC Milwaukee Wisconsin
15. Bethesda SC Maryland
16. Valley United* California South
17. Team Ohio FC Ohio South
18. Concorde Fire Georgia
19. Vardar SC Michigan
20. Andromeda* North Texas
21. Real Colorado* Colorado
22. Nomads SC California South
23. Scott Gallagher Missouri
24. Javanon* Kentucky
25. LAFC California South
25. New York Red Bulls New York East

You'll notice that the Bolts are not the only team with a dramatic fall from the 2008 rankings. For example, Schulz Academy dropped from 5th to 35th. Sockers fell from 8th to out of the top 40.

When you've got such dramatic changes in rankings from year to year for multiple teams, it calls the ranking system into question. I suspect that's the answer to your questions.

**Unregistered** · 08-07-2010, 06:24 AM

Between 2008 and the 2009 listing, you will find MLS academy teams added in : Chicago Fire (#13), FC Dallas ( #15), DC United (#20), NY Red Bulls ( #21), Columbus Crew ( #23). As more clubs are added to the academy ( NJSA 04) , it raises the visibility of those clubs.

The Chicago Fire drew players from Magic and Sockers. Good club teams such as Javanon and Team Ohio lose players to Indiana United and the Columbus Crew. Schulz was kicked out of the academy for failing to meet standards. I am sure that part of the fall of Bolts can be attributed to the departure of JK. But, they are also facing competition from the Revolution for players in the Boston market.

**Unregistered** · 08-07-2010, 11:26 AM

If its top clubs, and not top boys clubs, then Bolts have also gotten worse in the girls department. Also, they don't have the draw for the U13 and younger top boys like they used to - JK was pretty good at attracting them (was it the Harvard connection? Kerr Camp?). BA seems content to have them show up for academy, or go to Revolution. This however is not a formula for an all around strong club, like PDA. Do kids on NEFC etc realize they have a much better chance at making the academy roster by joining the bolts younger teams?

**Unregistered** · 08-07-2010, 12:04 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Do kids on NEFC etc realize they have a much better chance at making the academy roster by joining the bolts younger teams?

Not when NEFC replaces FCGB in the DAP

**Unregistered** · 08-07-2010, 12:16 PM

Revs happened

**Unregistered** · 08-07-2010, 12:27 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Not when NEFC replaces FCGB in the DAP

The only way that's happening is if the bolts are consistently at the bottom of their division. And with Seacoast and SouthCentral in there, it's not going to happen, especially within the time it matters to you and your kid. NEFC is a bad bet if your not the top 2 kids on your team, national pool etc. Academy = no chance

**Unregistered** · 08-07-2010, 03:16 PM

[QUOTE=Unregistered;375865]What Happened to the Bolts, used to be top 10?

Was it the changing of the guard, JC to BA and new adminisration? Are they just a rich kids country club, where parents have bragging rights?

What happened and what are the Bolts not doing or the lack of not doing?

Soccer America's 2009 Top 40 Boys Rankings

We've been with the Bolts for 4 years. My older son is now on one of the Academy (previous pre-Academy) teams. My younger son will play this year for the U10 team. With regard to the coaching, my older boy has thrived and has had great time. I am hoping that my younger son will have the same training. I will brag about that as much as you want to hear.
I am not sure what the rankings mean. If they are based on GotSoccer rankings, then they are, for the most part, a farce. This past year I saw teams get awarded 10 times the number of points that the GotSoccer rules should have allowed in a number of tournaments.

I do suspect that there is greater competition for soccer players from the explosion of more clubs. Many of these clubs offer a very good deal with regard to cost and geography. This is very important for many many parents.

If, however, you are interested in the rankings then seek out the clubs that are ranked high. It does not insure that your child will get good training.

To date, we have been extremely happy with the training, competition, and play-time. The coaching has been excellent, supportive, and have helped to build confidence in the players. If this is important, then consider the Bolts.

**Unregistered** · 08-07-2010, 03:37 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

What Happened to the Bolts, used to be top 10?

Was it the changing of the guard, JC to BA and new adminisration? Are they just a rich kids country club, where parents have bragging rights?

What happened and what are the Bolts not doing or the lack of not doing?

You're joking right? Bolts were selected based on a couple of classes of national pool players and national championship caliber teams. No more of that level of quality at Bolts, and that's the SA criteria.

**Unregistered** · 08-07-2010, 05:12 PM

Kze8GW

[QUOTE=Unregistered;375865]What Happened to the Bolts, used to be top 10?

Was it the changing of the guard, JC to BA and new adminisration? Are they just a rich kids country club, where parents have bragging rights?

What happened and what are the Bolts not doing or the lack of not doing?

There are many changes that have happened to the Massachusetts landscape including an explosion of soccer clubs and the drawing away of players in preference of less travel and possibly less cost. The Bolts, and other clubs, offer a number of scholarships/discounts per team, but cannot compare (cost-wise) to clubs that charge less than 1500 per year.

The Bolts coaching has changed from FO types to BA, the latter emphasizing development, while the former was intense on winning way over developing individual players by offering substantial play time

With regard to rankings, I suspect that if the Bolts Academy teams (last years 1994/1995 and 1995 pre academy teams and the Academy U16 and U18) teams played in MAPLE, the state results would have been very different.

Finally........the Boys 1996/1997 ODP national pool has 4 players from Mass.....two are from the Bolts.

As for choosing the club for your kid......if you are willing to ignore these rankings then ask other kind-of important questions that pertain the developing soccer skill

**Unregistered** · 08-07-2010, 07:05 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

You're joking right? Bolts were selected based on a couple of classes of national pool players and national championship caliber teams. No more of that level of quality at Bolts, and that's the SA criteria.

Agreed. The other issue I note is the coaching - having coaches like DC (now with Blazers) and JK is a strong draw. The U15 and U16 boys D1 MAPLE teams both had poor spring seasons. If the club isn't really interested in supporting MAPLE teams in the older age groups any more, it should just pull out.

With regard to the teams of the past, the team which won State Cup at U13 & U14 only won once DF joined (FC United beat them with DF before then). Now he's with Revs, and as far as I'm aware his team has been fairly successful against the Bolts DAP team.

**Unregistered** · 08-07-2010, 07:06 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

The only way that's happening is if the bolts are consistently at the bottom of their division. And with Seacoast and SouthCentral in there, it's not going to happen, especially within the time it matters to you and your kid. NEFC is a bad bet if your not the top 2 kids on your team, national pool etc. Academy = no chance

First of all, NEFC doesn't meet any of the criteria listed on the US Soccer web site for admission. They wouldn't replace the Little Sisters Of The Poor.

Second, no club, including your hated Bolts, gets replaced for finishing at the bottom of the division. That happens in MAPLE, not DAP.

Really, why is it so hard for you people to understand the most basic concepts of the programs you post about?

**Unregistered** · 08-07-2010, 10:42 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

First of all, NEFC doesn't meet any of the criteria listed on the US Soccer web site for admission. They wouldn't replace the Little Sisters Of The Poor.

Second, no club, including your hated Bolts, gets replaced for finishing at the bottom of the division. That happens in MAPLE, not DAP.

Really, why is it so hard for you people to understand the most basic concepts of the programs you post about?

At least there's one clueless moron reading the posts. If you slow down and read the 1st post, it makes reference to a relegation system like 'MAPLE', it merely said a club can be kicked out (like Schulz Academy) for consistently producing weak teams - not like to happen to Bolts.

Second, I don't see anything in my post that connects to the 'hated Bolts' comment. U smoking something?

**Unregistered** · 08-08-2010, 02:14 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

First of all, NEFC doesn't meet any of the criteria listed on the US Soccer web site for admission. They wouldn't replace the Little Sisters Of The Poor.

Second, no club, including your hated Bolts, gets replaced for finishing at the bottom of the division. That happens in MAPLE, not DAP.

Really, why is it so hard for you people to understand the most basic concepts of the programs you post about?

Could MPS meet the qualifications for DAP and to become a 3rd team in MA?

**Unregistered** · 08-08-2010, 05:08 AM

Doubtful. 2 Ma teams, Seacoast and Oakwood cover the area pretty well. More likely a move to far western Ma to cover lower VT, NW CT, Ma and NY. MPS doesn't operate in these areas.