2011 Boys Soccer Verbal Commitments

[Unregistered]

What is "fit with mission"?

Isn't the mission playing soccer? What am I missing?

[Unregistered]

We just don't agree. Exposure is overrated and that's not the best way IMHO to get recruited especially at the D3 level. If my kid identifies Bowdoin and Colby as targets there are much more effective ways to pursue that. The non-DAP route produced far more D3 players at good schools. The raw number argument you all make isn't that compelling. Most of those kids came from a small number of non-DAP clubs and not all players on these clubs are seeking college soccer. There are 2 DAP teams and 4 if you count Seacoast and Oakwood. Not only is non-DAP as effective or more so, it is also the more appropriate path in terms of fit with mission. So yes, end of story.

You're being quite silly. Playing DAP and doing all the other things in the recruitment process are not mutually exclusive. If you did all the things above, e.g. contacting the Colby and Bowdoin coaches, going to camps, etc. AND you played DAP where they've likely seen the player at local DAP games, showcases, etc. not to mention the cache that the player has been vetted by professional DAP coaches and achieved results in DAP with a higher level of competition, wouldn't that be MORE effective? You may argue that it is not worth the time or energy to do DAP and that you MIGHT get to the same recruitment results without DAP, but the fact of the matter is DAP make you more attractive and helps in the recruitment process. Period. To argue that it is as effective or even better not to play DAP is illogical.

[Unregistered]

First of all, I apologize for the initials name thing. That was inappropriate.

All DAP players aren't starting or playing a lot. And some aren't playing anywhere. Given the pool DAP has we should expect a high number on a % basis. I get your point but all club players aren't looking to play in college, so its not about just the % of players. The question is whether non-DAP routes can be just as effective as a path. The answer is yes. I tire of hearing about using DAP for unintended purposes and then claims that distort the truth for those out there worrying about what to do themselves and what is real.

I agree that not all club players are looking to play in college, but I have to assume that the club players on the list of Mass players on this thread are looking to. I am not trying to be argumentative, but would like to know what you mean regarding unintended purposes and what is real. Is it so hard to believe someone would play DAP just to play DAP? Whatever comes of it is a bonus? You have to be realistic and understand that the chances of your kid being picked for the national teams are slim, so what is the next best thing besides the training? Exposure. Coaches were always there to see the kids. And stop telling people they are liars when they say that they had choices in college divisions. You don't know that. People make decisions for different reasons. On the flip side. DAP is not the only way to go. Again, whatever works for you. Of course there are players that are doing great things without the benefit of preps, DAP, and super-clubs. I would think it's a little bit harder, but it's done. I still think it's sad that we hear sports in the same sentence as college more than we do the word education. Just my opinion and am not saying one way is right or wrong.

[Unregistered]

You all talk about and try to create an impression of the non-DAP path as something that happens but that is some kind of exception or rare or something very hard when it is by far the most common route. Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, MIT and [name your favorite] have the most outstanding student bodies in the country. They could fill all their slots with elite prep school kids but they don't . Indeed, they have a higher % of public school kids. Not just one very viable path.


And yes, DAP was not created for kids to increase their chances for a NESCAC.

[Unregistered]

I agree that not all club players are looking to play in college, but I have to assume that the club players on the list of Mass players on this thread are looking to. I am not trying to be argumentative, but would like to know what you mean regarding unintended purposes and what is real. Is it so hard to believe someone would play DAP just to play DAP? Whatever comes of it is a bonus? You have to be realistic and understand that the chances of your kid being picked for the national teams are slim, so what is the next best thing besides the training? Exposure. Coaches were always there to see the kids. And stop telling people they are liars when they say that they had choices in college divisions. You don't know that. People make decisions for different reasons. On the flip side. DAP is not the only way to go. Again, whatever works for you. Of course there are players that are doing great things without the benefit of preps, DAP, and super-clubs. I would think it's a little bit harder, but it's done. I still think it's sad that we hear sports in the same sentence as college more than we do the word education. Just my opinion and am not saying one way is right or wrong.

Agree. New poster here. Both sides of this debate has merit as there is no right or wrong answer whether to play DAP or Club, nor is there proof positive which players (DAP or non-DAP) have transitioned to college soccer better or worse. Thus, both sides give it a rest. Be happy for all of these Mass HS Class of 2011 players that they are in fact playing college soccer at all and attempting to garner a college education at who cares what school. In the end it's all about doing well in the classroom in college and HOPEFULLY finding employment in their desired field upon graduation. If they used soccer to get into their top school of choice, then great. If they continue to play soccer in college, then great. If they graduate and do well in the classroom, THEN GREAT! It's all about individual choices, and ultimately that's all anyone can hope for or expect, a choice. Congratulations and good luck to all the boys!

[Unregistered]

Season update

I thought I would start an update. Since the DAP is a hot subject today - I started with them. Please add on and maybe between us all, we can see how the MA players have done.

Originally Posted by Unregistered
Certainly not exhaustive, but presents a range of schools and backgrounds. Did not include rostered kids who have not played in more than 1-2 games (and who may be injured). Clubs not listed except where knew affiliated with DAP. Additions/revisions welcome.

College Town/HS GP/GS

Babson

BM -- Marlborough -- 14/0
PE -- Braintree -- 9/3

Bates

AN -- Concord-Carlisle -- 4/1
JS -- Whitman-Hanson -- 5/1

Brandeis

RL -- Weymouth -- DAP -- 21/15
TS -- Nauset -- 14/1
FA -- Lynn/Phillips Exeter -- 10/0

Bridgewater State

KG -- Uxbridge -- DAP -- 13/11
RA -- Canton -- 12/11
CN -- Braintree -- 3/2
JG -- Haverhill -- 9/7
SM -- Walpole -- 13/12

Catholic

CM -- Concord-Carlisle -- DAP --6/4

Chicago

MC -- Springfield/Loomis Chaffee -- DAP -- 17/15 UAA ROY First team UAA

Colby

JS -- Brooks -- DAP -- 15/11
KC -- Brookline -- 13/0
AW -- Phillips Andover -- 13/0
NR -- BBN -- 9/1
BS -- Duxbury -- 4/0
PQ -- Rivers -- 5/3

Conn College

KO -- Wellesley -- 13/12
DG -- Bishop Fenwick -- 7/2
DK -- St Sebs -- 4/0

Curry

ED -- Belmont -- 14/1
JH -- Foxborough -- 19/2
CB -- Andover -- 6/1
NG -- Longmeadow -- 18/16
SB -- Bridgewater -- 13/4
BD -- Winchester -- 5/1
CD -- Canton/Simsbury -- 6/1

Elizabethtown

PS (2010) -- BBN -- DAP -- 16/9

Elms

CR -- Agawam -- 15/15
JC -- Easthampton -- 15/15
AN -- Agawam -- 12/12
DG -- Belchertown -- 9/7
JR -- Lynn Classical -- 14/14
AR -- Fitchburg --15/15
AK -- Foxborough -- 4/4
LB -- Lynn English -- 12/2

Emmanuel

GC -- West Springfield -- 11/9
TD -- Oxford -- 17/13

Endicott

AJ -- Billerica -- 10/8
RS -- Millbury -- 9/1
CG -- Westborough -- 15/5
JL -- King Philip Reg -- 14/0
PG -- Brookline -- 11/4

Keene State

YE -- Newburyport -- 11/0
NG -- Wilmington -- 8/0
NB -- Monson -- 13/12
PA -- Hampshire -- 7/5
MK -- Monson -- 8/4

Kenyon

RM -- Natick -- 13/2
NP -- Silver Lake -- 12/9

Lesley

HB -- Brighton -- 12/1
BH -- Lowell -- 12/0

Mass Maritime

SK -- Granville/Southwick-Tolland -- 13/2
JK -- Newburyport -- 8/0
RR -- Braintree -- 12/10

Nichols

AU -- Milford -- 3/2
IA -- Marlborough -- 13/9
JS -- Framingham -- 11/0
MP -- King Philip Reg -- 16/16
RF -- Wachusett -- 6/1

Rochester

AS -- Marshfield -- 11/7

Salve Regina

NC -- Quincy -- 6/1

Springfield

TA -- Tantasqua -- 10/0
BD -- Williston Northampton -- 8/0

Trinity

TS -- Somerset/Deerfield -- 11/3

Tufts

MM -- Middlesex -- 11/0
KV -- St Marks -- 13/0
GS (2010) -- Framingham/NMH -- DAP -- 14/13 NESCAC ROY First team NESCAC

Wentworth

NC -- Sandwich -- 9/8

Wesleyan

BB -- Winchester -- 13/12

Wheaton

LF -- Peabody -- DAP -- 19/19 NEWMAC ROY Second Team NEWMAC
MR (2010) -- Framingham/Bridgeton -- DAP -- 19/19
DD -- Bourne -- 12/11
SG -- Belchertown -- 7/0

Williams

ABC -- Brooks -- DAP -- 14/13
ZG (2010) -- Thayer/Hotchkiss -- 12/7

Worcester State

MJ (2010?) -- Ludlow -- 13/13
BG -- Wachusett -- 15/1

WPI

TR -- N. Attleboro -- 3/1
TM -- Groton-Dunstable -- 9/0
TM - Acton-Boxborough -- 12/2

UMass-Boston

KJ -- Archbishop Williams -- 12/1
OG -- Revere -- 6/1
KM -- East Boston -- 13/12
DS -- Watertown -- 13/11
AM -- Boston International -- 3/3
AJ -- Haverhill -- 7/0

UMass-Dartmouth

TW -- Marian -- 5/3
GD -- New Bedford -- 14/11
RFB -- Catholic Memorial -- 14/4
MS -- Leicester -- 5/1
JS -- New Bedford -- 15/15
NG -- Hudson -- 14/14
EB -- Burke -- 15/9
JC -- Madison Park -- 15/6
JM -- New Bedford -- 13/1

[Unregistered]

I thought I would start an update. Since the DAP is a hot subject today - I started with them. Please add on and maybe between us all, we can see how the MA players have done.

Originally Posted by Unregistered
Certainly not exhaustive, but presents a range of schools and backgrounds. Did not include rostered kids who have not played in more than 1-2 games (and who may be injured). Clubs not listed except where knew affiliated with DAP. Additions/revisions welcome.

College Town/HS GP/GS

Babson

BM -- Marlborough -- 14/0
PE -- Braintree -- 9/3

Bates

AN -- Concord-Carlisle -- 4/1
JS -- Whitman-Hanson -- 5/1

Brandeis

RL -- Weymouth -- DAP -- 21/15
TS -- Nauset -- 14/1
FA -- Lynn/Phillips Exeter -- 10/0

Bridgewater State

KG -- Uxbridge -- DAP -- 13/11
RA -- Canton -- 12/11
CN -- Braintree -- 3/2
JG -- Haverhill -- 9/7
SM -- Walpole -- 13/12

Catholic

CM -- Concord-Carlisle -- DAP --6/4

Chicago

MC -- Springfield/Loomis Chaffee -- DAP -- 17/15 UAA ROY First team UAA

Colby

JS -- Brooks -- DAP -- 15/11
KC -- Brookline -- 13/0
AW -- Phillips Andover -- 13/0
NR -- BBN -- 9/1
BS -- Duxbury -- 4/0
PQ -- Rivers -- 5/3

Conn College

KO -- Wellesley -- 13/12
DG -- Bishop Fenwick -- 7/2
DK -- St Sebs -- 4/0

Curry

ED -- Belmont -- 14/1
JH -- Foxborough -- 19/2
CB -- Andover -- 6/1
NG -- Longmeadow -- 18/16
SB -- Bridgewater -- 13/4
BD -- Winchester -- 5/1
CD -- Canton/Simsbury -- 6/1

Elizabethtown

PS (2010) -- BBN -- DAP -- 16/9

Elms

CR -- Agawam -- 15/15
JC -- Easthampton -- 15/15
AN -- Agawam -- 12/12
DG -- Belchertown -- 9/7
JR -- Lynn Classical -- 14/14
AR -- Fitchburg --15/15
AK -- Foxborough -- 4/4
LB -- Lynn English -- 12/2

Emmanuel

GC -- West Springfield -- 11/9
TD -- Oxford -- 17/13

Endicott

AJ -- Billerica -- 10/8
RS -- Millbury -- 9/1
CG -- Westborough -- 15/5
JL -- King Philip Reg -- 14/0
PG -- Brookline -- 11/4

Keene State

YE -- Newburyport -- 11/0
NG -- Wilmington -- 8/0
NB -- Monson -- 13/12
PA -- Hampshire -- 7/5
MK -- Monson -- 8/4

Kenyon

RM -- Natick -- 13/2
NP -- Silver Lake -- 12/9

Lesley

HB -- Brighton -- 12/1
BH -- Lowell -- 12/0

Mass Maritime

SK -- Granville/Southwick-Tolland -- 13/2
JK -- Newburyport -- 8/0
RR -- Braintree -- 12/10

Nichols

AU -- Milford -- 3/2
IA -- Marlborough -- 13/9
JS -- Framingham -- 11/0
MP -- King Philip Reg -- 16/16
RF -- Wachusett -- 6/1

Rochester

AS -- Marshfield -- 11/7

Salve Regina

NC -- Quincy -- 6/1

Springfield

TA -- Tantasqua -- 10/0
BD -- Williston Northampton -- 8/0

Trinity

TS -- Somerset/Deerfield -- 11/3

Tufts

MM -- Middlesex -- 11/0
KV -- St Marks -- 13/0
GS (2010) -- Framingham/NMH -- DAP -- 14/13 NESCAC ROY First team NESCAC

Wentworth

NC -- Sandwich -- 9/8

Wesleyan

BB -- Winchester -- 13/12

Wheaton

LF -- Peabody -- DAP -- 19/19 NEWMAC ROY Second Team NEWMAC
MR (2010) -- Framingham/Bridgeton -- DAP -- 19/19
DD -- Bourne -- 12/11
SG -- Belchertown -- 7/0

Williams

ABC -- Brooks -- DAP -- 14/13
ZG (2010) -- Thayer/Hotchkiss -- 12/7

Worcester State

MJ (2010?) -- Ludlow -- 13/13
BG -- Wachusett -- 15/1

WPI

TR -- N. Attleboro -- 3/1
TM -- Groton-Dunstable -- 9/0
TM - Acton-Boxborough -- 12/2

UMass-Boston

KJ -- Archbishop Williams -- 12/1
OG -- Revere -- 6/1
KM -- East Boston -- 13/12
DS -- Watertown -- 13/11
AM -- Boston International -- 3/3
AJ -- Haverhill -- 7/0

UMass-Dartmouth

TW -- Marian -- 5/3
GD -- New Bedford -- 14/11
RFB -- Catholic Memorial -- 14/4
MS -- Leicester -- 5/1
JS -- New Bedford -- 15/15
NG -- Hudson -- 14/14
EB -- Burke -- 15/9
JC -- Madison Park -- 15/6
JM -- New Bedford -- 13/1

Looks like they've done just fine. Congratulations boys!

[Unregistered]

I'm just surprised that there are that many DAPs playing D3. Quality of D3 soccer must be going up.

[Unregistered]

I'm just surprised that there are that many DAPs playing D3. Quality of D3 soccer must be going up.

I count 10 DAP players out of approximately 100 players listed. More schools could be added to drive the total number to 150 or higher, and the DAP number would stay at 10. And I think 3 of those are 2010s and another one's commitment has almost nothing to do with DAP.

Certainly most of those 10 had very good showings, including all of the 2010s as one would expect. The ROY awards are impressive. These are all DAP level players, right? So no real surprises. But that said, 90%, yes 90% of the the whole list is non-DAP. Yes, 90%. And many of those have GS/GP stats very similar to the DAP players.

And I've seen almost all of those 10 DAP kids play before there was a DAP. I doubt that anyone can argue that those same kids would not have achieved the same or a very similar result without DAP by just continuing to play on a good club team. Can't do it.

[Unregistered]

I count 10 DAP players out of approximately 100 players listed. More schools could be added to drive the total number to 150 or higher, and the DAP number would stay at 10. And I think 3 of those are 2010s and another one's commitment has almost nothing to do with DAP.

Certainly most of those 10 had very good showings, including all of the 2010s as one would expect. The ROY awards are impressive. These are all DAP level players, right? So no real surprises. But that said, 90%, yes 90% of the the whole list is non-DAP. Yes, 90%. And many of those have GS/GP stats very similar to the DAP players.

And I've seen almost all of those 10 DAP kids play before there was a DAP. I doubt that anyone can argue that those same kids would not have achieved the same or a very similar result without DAP by just continuing to play on a good club team. Can't do it.

And so could anyone argue that those same 10 DAP kids would have achieved the same (or very similar result) by just playing on a less than "good" (fair) club team? To me when "good" is used as a descriptive modifier I also think/consider "very good" and "excellent."

[Unregistered]

I count 10 DAP players out of approximately 100 players listed. More schools could be added to drive the total number to 150 or higher, and the DAP number would stay at 10. And I think 3 of those are 2010s and another one's commitment has almost nothing to do with DAP.

Certainly most of those 10 had very good showings, including all of the 2010s as one would expect. The ROY awards are impressive. These are all DAP level players, right? So no real surprises. But that said, 90%, yes 90% of the the whole list is non-DAP. Yes, 90%. And many of those have GS/GP stats very similar to the DAP players.

And I've seen almost all of those 10 DAP kids play before there was a DAP. I doubt that anyone can argue that those same kids would not have achieved the same or a very similar result without DAP by just continuing to play on a good club team. Can't do it.

100 players?? There can't be 100 dap players in MA... right? more like 40 ish?

[Unregistered]

100 players?? There can't be 100 dap players in MA... right? more like 40 ish?

100 players are listed in post #1221. Of those 100 players, 10 are DAP veterans.

[Unregistered]

And so could anyone argue that those same 10 DAP kids would have achieved the same (or very similar result) by just playing on a less than "good" (fair) club team? To me when "good" is used as a descriptive modifier I also think/consider "very good" and "excellent."

Your point seems a little tedious but I'll play along.

The 10 DAP players all have been near or at the top of the pecking order in the 2011 (or 2010) class going back to at least U12 or U13 and probably earlier than that. MC at Chicago was a great player and clearly one of the best in the age group already at U10/11. LF was a national pool player at U14. Good training is good training so no argument that DAP provides very good training, but there are no surprises among those names and certainly DAP didn't "produce" them. So yes, I think it is possible that any of the players in that group could have played on just a "fair" club team, like say at the old MAPLE 2nd division level and turned out pretty much exactly where they are at right now. Most likely would have congregated among the top 3-4 non-DAP club teams, or top half of MAPLE division 1. The kinds of schools all of them picked were accessible without DAP, and I'm sure at least a handful of those players would tell you that DAP was pretty incidental in their ultimate outcome, unless of course they are just determined to defend the DAP mantra at all costs.

There is also something to be said for having experience being an impact player on a decent team. Being in the middle or lower half of DAP may not be so much better than the experience of being a stud and getting to have play run through you on a decent or good or very good non-DAP team.

[Unregistered]

Let's put all the bluster, hyperbole, and blowhards aside.

The route these boys took to get where they are today is the least significant part of the discussion.

The ones who played their club ball on a DAP team did so because they could manage the schedule, and decided they wanted to play and train with and against better competition. They made their choices about what college or university was best for them, and presumably, they are happy.

The ones who chose to play on non DAP teams did so because they felt it was the right choice for them, whether it was because they wanted to do other things, liked their team/coach, didn't want to train or travel as extensively, or whatever their resons were. Similarly, these boys also made their choices about what college or university was best for them, and presumably, they are happy.

Why is this not enough?

We have people on a personal crusade against the DAP route. And we have people justifying their participation in DAP. Apart from the two idiots on the extreme sides of this discussion on this forum, the rest of us don't care a lick what boy played in what league. I think the majority of us are happy for all of them for surviving the grueling ane emotional process of identifying, visiting, applying, and selecting the right school for them. And if that wasn't stressful enough, they then have to assimilate themselves into a totally new living arrangement, adapt to living on their own (those that didn't live at a boarding school), deal with choosing classes, AND try and adapt to the more physical college game where they are back to being one to four years younger (and less developed) than the men they are playing with and against.

And when I look at the list of boys above, I see first and second team selections, I see boys who have stayed close to home and gone far away, I see boys who have started or played in all games, most games, a significant number of games, contributing to whatever success the team experienced. The only thing I can think when I see that is "Well Done - Congratulations". How any of you can't respect their achievements and continue to harp on and on about whether they played on a DAP team or not, why the played on a DAP or didn't, and who is better off, is completely off base.

[Unregistered]

Let's put all the bluster, hyperbole, and blowhards aside.

The route these boys took to get where they are today is the least significant part of the discussion.

The ones who played their club ball on a DAP team did so because they could manage the schedule, and decided they wanted to play and train with and against better competition. They made their choices about what college or university was best for them, and presumably, they are happy.

The ones who chose to play on non DAP teams did so because they felt it was the right choice for them, whether it was because they wanted to do other things, liked their team/coach, didn't want to train or travel as extensively, or whatever their resons were. Similarly, these boys also made their choices about what college or university was best for them, and presumably, they are happy.

Why is this not enough?

We have people on a personal crusade against the DAP route. And we have people justifying their participation in DAP. Apart from the two idiots on the extreme sides of this discussion on this forum, the rest of us don't care a lick what boy played in what league. I think the majority of us are happy for all of them for surviving the grueling ane emotional process of identifying, visiting, applying, and selecting the right school for them. And if that wasn't stressful enough, they then have to assimilate themselves into a totally new living arrangement, adapt to living on their own (those that didn't live at a boarding school), deal with choosing classes, AND try and adapt to the more physical college game where they are back to being one to four years younger (and less developed) than the men they are playing with and against.

And when I look at the list of boys above, I see first and second team selections, I see boys who have stayed close to home and gone far away, I see boys who have started or played in all games, most games, a significant number of games, contributing to whatever success the team experienced. The only thing I can think when I see that is "Well Done - Congratulations". How any of you can't respect their achievements and continue to harp on and on about whether they played on a DAP team or not, why the played on a DAP or didn't, and who is better off, is completely off base.

Well said. spot on. I say again--Congratulations and good luck to all the boys HS Class of 2011!!!