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**Unregistered** · 03-18-2012, 07:08 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Why is there such a dislike for Sachems FC? People on this forum are saying they're a bad club and they don't belong with the Tier 1 teams.

Is it because they're a club team that started off as a town team? My U17 Boys team played the Sachems U17 team and they're pretty competitive for a "town team."

They probably feel threatened by them. Club soccer makes money and they don't want other "town programs" to pull from the talent or the number of kids willing to pay. Maybe some parents need to justify why they pay all that money for their child to play on another club's B or C team.

**Unregistered** · 03-18-2012, 07:21 AM

Sachem bylaws

What are the bylaws of the Sachem FC? From what I have heard they are only committed to Winchester for a percentage of each team i.e. it is not just a town club, but includes players from surrounding towns as well. I don't know the percentage, but if it is significant then why is everyone calling them a 'town team' organization.

Furthermore, if the teams are good then they should seek similar or better compensation. I think it is great that these teams are out there playing against club teams as it opens parents eyes and forces them to re-evaluate what they are paying and getting when they join a club team. This is even more significant when you are paying a club team for your child to play on the lower tier teams.

However, regarding those purely town teams that play against club soccer teams, my impression from watching some games and reading the tournament results is that at U10 and U11 town teams with very athletic kids with speed and size will be competitive with even top club teams. However, at the U12 and older brackets the difference is striking and very quickly the town teams fall to the lower brackets. Although not a bad thing as town teams should still seek the highest level of play, but certainly telling of the difference in level of play between town and club as the kids get older.

All that being said...........I don't think it is worth paying excessive club fees to have your child play on lower tier teams for a club.

**Unregistered** · 03-18-2012, 07:52 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

What are the bylaws of the Sachem FC? From what I have heard they are only committed to Winchester for a percentage of each team i.e. it is not just a town club, but includes players from surrounding towns as well. I don't know the percentage, but if it is significant then why is everyone calling them a 'town team' organization.

Furthermore, if the teams are good then they should seek similar or better compensation. I think it is great that these teams are out there playing against club teams as it opens parents eyes and forces them to re-evaluate what they are paying and getting when they join a club team. This is even more significant when you are paying a club team for your child to play on the lower tier teams.

However, regarding those purely town teams that play against club soccer teams, my impression from watching some games and reading the tournament results is that at U10 and U11 town teams with very athletic kids with speed and size will be competitive with even top club teams. However, at the U12 and older brackets the difference is striking and very quickly the town teams fall to the lower brackets. Although not a bad thing as town teams should still seek the highest level of play, but certainly telling of the difference in level of play between town and club as the kids get older.

All that being said...........I don't think it is worth paying excessive club fees to have your child play on lower tier teams for a club.

Good post. Agree that the vast majority of town teams have inferior skills when placed against club teams. The town teams however have the added advantage of convenience and local friends on the team. If the coaching is not terrible, they offer a Sat. game and a few more practices for the dedicated U11 - U14 club player. Can they ever stand alone for training? Only if the town coach is also a club/top HS/college coach.

There is no comparison between 95% of the town vs club team's training, even on the B teams. If you have the money for your less talented player, then go for it. It is silly, but it will most likely give your player better skills than the town program, and in doing so keep their hopes alive of coming into their own as an A team player. For unathletic children, club is a huge indulgence. Town makes way more financial sense, but emotionally, every situation is different.

Sachem is obviously working hard on a new model that will offer the best of both worlds. Good luck to them!

**Unregistered** · 03-18-2012, 09:02 AM

I would guess the more organized towns that have instituted MAPLE teams over the last couple years will recognize the fruits of their current labor as the U6 & U8 players of today tranistion to U10, U12 and beyond. They younger kids are getting 10x the skill training that their older siblings ever received. If the kids see some success as little ones, and they decide to stay with the town organization as they grow older I think some towns will become very competitive.

**Unregistered** · 03-18-2012, 10:42 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

What are the bylaws of the Sachem FC? From what I have heard they are only committed to Winchester for a percentage of each team i.e. it is not just a town club, but includes players from surrounding towns as well. I don't know the percentage, but if it is significant then why is everyone calling them a 'town team' organization.

Furthermore, if the teams are good then they should seek similar or better compensation. I think it is great that these teams are out there playing against club teams as it opens parents eyes and forces them to re-evaluate what they are paying and getting when they join a club team. This is even more significant when you are paying a club team for your child to play on the lower tier teams.

However, regarding those purely town teams that play against club soccer teams, my impression from watching some games and reading the tournament results is that at U10 and U11 town teams with very athletic kids with speed and size will be competitive with even top club teams. However, at the U12 and older brackets the difference is striking and very quickly the town teams fall to the lower brackets. Although not a bad thing as town teams should still seek the highest level of play, but certainly telling of the difference in level of play between town and club as the kids get older.

All that being said...........I don't think it is worth paying excessive club fees to have your child play on lower tier teams for a club.

By u12 many of the town teams lose the top end of their teams to clubs. Losing a few of the town teams impact players lowers their level of play dramatically as they don't have recruits to come in and take their place the way a club that draws from multiple towns can.

**Unregistered** · 03-18-2012, 02:38 PM

Sachems started as a town club team intent on creating the best high school team players, then evolved slowly into a real club but still limits the number of players from outside Winchester on any team. They are clearly not a "Tier 1" club and have no intention of being a Tier 1 club. Fundamentally they are still focused on training their players for their own high school and if they were driven to be a top club then they would be shedding Winchester players and going far more broadly disbursed geograohically for players. They have some very talented players and some very good teams and have some teams that are pretty poor as well.

This does not mean they are a bad club or have no value to players inside or outside of Winchester. It simply means you must be aware of what you are getting into in each and every cub you consider.

**Unregistered** · 03-18-2012, 04:37 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Sachems started as a town club team intent on creating the best high school team players, then evolved slowly into a real club but still limits the number of players from outside Winchester on any team. They are clearly not a "Tier 1" club and have no intention of being a Tier 1 club. Fundamentally they are still focused on training their players for their own high school and if they were driven to be a top club then they would be shedding Winchester players and going far more broadly disbursed geograohically for players. They have some very talented players and some very good teams and have some teams that are pretty poor as well.

This does not mean they are a bad club or have no value to players inside or outside of Winchester. It simply means you must be aware of what you are getting into in each and every cub you consider.

Those were the club rules previous to GC becoming the DOC, they are much less stringent now

**Unregistered** · 03-18-2012, 05:20 PM

Sachems must be taking kids from one of the big clubs next to them. This same type of crap is said about any number of clubs not named NEFC, MPS, Bolts or Scorpions. It must be part of the big club script to have one person criticize rhe club and another give underhanded compliments (ie - some kids are less serious and Sachems is good for them, etc...)

If you are considering Sachems, check them out yourself, decide whether you like the coaching, parents and team. Please don't listen to the comments posted on this board.

**Unregistered** · 03-18-2012, 09:52 PM

Falcons

http://www.mcfalcons.com/

Since the experienced coaches moved to Mcfalcon sachem is not the same anymore not sure about their future as a Club