2013-2014 Boys U11 Top Teams (MA)

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More qualified coaching is supposed to result in higher quality teams. Guess they missed the boat on that one as well.

Coaches can't perform miracles. There are about 120 club teams total in NEP and Maple of which 40 are in the top division. Not enough talent to support these 40 teams. If the more talented players had gravitated to NEP as many expected, we'd basically have a two tier system for better or worse. Hasn't happened. So instead we have a diluted two league system with a handful of powerhouses (in terms of skill not necessarily size) playing against teams without enough skilled players to compete. If the big fish had swallowed up the minnows as many had predicted, there would be more competive teams, not less.

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Coaches can't perform miracles. There are about 120 club teams total in NEP and Maple of which 40 are in the top division. Not enough talent to support these 40 teams. If the more talented players had gravitated to NEP as many expected, we'd basically have a two tier system for better or worse. Hasn't happened. So instead we have a diluted two league system with a handful of powerhouses (in terms of skill not necessarily size) playing against teams without enough skilled players to compete. If the big fish had swallowed up the minnows as many had predicted, there would be more competive teams, not less.

Yes but NEP is apparently voting clubs in based on other merits besides having an upcoming "talented" U11 team. Another posted suggested a pre-season tournament to seed teams, not clubs, in the top division. That is a good idea.

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Yes but NEP is apparently voting clubs in based on other merits besides having an upcoming "talented" U11 team. Another posted suggested a pre-season tournament to seed teams, not clubs, in the top division. That is a good idea.

That will never happen, as the member clubs will never let their so called "top" teams be diminished--it directly undermines their marketing efforts. How can they call their teams "Elite" if they are playing in the second or third division?

The prior poster who suggested that the creation of the NEP was based on better "development" goals was buying the nonsense that the NEP has repeatedly spewed. Those who were there know that the real reason that NEP formed was because the "bigger" clubs were unhappy with the results of the strict relegation format followed by MAPLE--something they could not control. By forming NEP, they could get away from that, while also creating the veneer of a more "elite" status--thereby justifying their ever-increasing fees to their customers. Given the history, its pretty amusing that (at least based on this forum) many of their customers are now longing for a return to the strict relegation system that they ran away from.

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That will never happen, as the member clubs will never let their so called "top" teams be diminished--it directly undermines their marketing efforts. How can they call their teams "Elite" if they are playing in the second or third division?

The prior poster who suggested that the creation of the NEP was based on better "development" goals was buying the nonsense that the NEP has repeatedly spewed. Those who were there know that the real reason that NEP formed was because the "bigger" clubs were unhappy with the results of the strict relegation format followed by MAPLE--something they could not control. By forming NEP, they could get away from that, while also creating the veneer of a more "elite" status--thereby justifying their ever-increasing fees to their customers. Given the history, its pretty amusing that (at least based on this forum) many of their customers are now longing for a return to the strict relegation system that they ran away from.

What evidence do have to support this? Sounds like conspiracy theory quackery. The driving force behind NEP was MPS and they needed to convince Bolts (yes this sounds strange now) and a couple of major players to go in with them. Bolts at the time were at the top of every table in Maple, they could have cared less about relegation then. Fear of relegation may well have been a motivating factor for some of the crap boys teams clubs like Stars and Scorps but not the other initial players. Nice cloak and dagger theory but no facts or logic to support it. That the big fish benefit now by being protected from getting thumped by riff raff is undoubtably true, just not onthe initial cards by those who created NEP.

[Unregistered]

That will never happen, as the member clubs will never let their so called "top" teams be diminished--it directly undermines their marketing efforts. How can they call their teams "Elite" if they are playing in the second or third division?

The prior poster who suggested that the creation of the NEP was based on better "development" goals was buying the nonsense that the NEP has repeatedly spewed. Those who were there know that the real reason that NEP formed was because the "bigger" clubs were unhappy with the results of the strict relegation format followed by MAPLE--something they could not control. By forming NEP, they could get away from that, while also creating the veneer of a more "elite" status--thereby justifying their ever-increasing fees to their customers. Given the history, its pretty amusing that (at least based on this forum) many of their customers are now longing for a return to the strict relegation system that they ran away from.

Whatever your conspiracy is and there are plenty of them it does not matter. What matters now is how do we try to make it better. Maybe a tournament between each league at all age groups? A seasons ending jamboree in the fall and spring perhaps. BTW it is mostly the MAPLE teams complaining about competition and really only 2 in NU and Valeo. Before you jump to respond, I am not saying one league is better than the other or even that they are incorrect with this gripe. I just can't find on here any NEP teams complaining about the level of play. I had to throw that in just for fun...hehehe. I hope that changes in the spring but don't think teams won't be put in the top division in either league that belong either.

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Whatever your conspiracy is and there are plenty of them it does not matter. What matters now is how do we try to make it better. Maybe a tournament between each league at all age groups? A seasons ending jamboree in the fall and spring perhaps. BTW it is mostly the MAPLE teams complaining about competition and really only 2 in NU and Valeo. Before you jump to respond, I am not saying one league is better than the other or even that they are incorrect with this gripe. I just can't find on here any NEP teams complaining about the level of play. I had to throw that in just for fun...hehehe. I hope that changes in the spring but don't think teams won't be put in the top division in either league that belong either.

I do not believe that the top teams in NEP at U11 will be challanged very much..... So, there is your NEP complaint.... As for any type of joint tourney co-sponsored by Maple and NEP..... why would the EVER do that? Their missions are different so it would almost be counter productive for them to do something like that.

Let us all wait until they are older and have something significant to play for (not this U11 victories are not important to us)..

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I do not believe that the top teams in NEP at U11 will be challanged very much..... So, there is your NEP complaint.... As for any type of joint tourney co-sponsored by Maple and NEP..... why would the EVER do that? Their missions are different so it would almost be counter productive for them to do something like that.

Let us all wait until they are older and have something significant to play for (not this U11 victories are not important to us)..

Everyone should apply for the NEFC tournament in March.

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Everyone should apply for the NEFC tournament in March.

Yes and hopefully the directors will place teams in sections appropriately.

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Everyone should apply for the NEFC tournament in March.

I don't want to see this happen in March. I'd like to see it Memorial Day.

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I don't want to see this happen in March. I'd like to see it Memorial Day.

Why? By Memorial Day, they will be done being U11's. ;(

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[QUOTE=Unregistered;1117566]That will never happen, as the member clubs will never let their so called "top" teams be diminished--it directly undermines their marketing efforts. How can they call their teams "Elite" if they are playing in the second or third division?

The prior poster who suggested that the creation of the NEP was based on better "development" goals was buying the nonsense that the NEP has repeatedly spewed. Those who were there know that the real reason that NEP formed was because the "bigger" clubs were unhappy with the results of the strict relegation format followed by MAPLE--something they could not control. By forming NEP, they could get away from that, while also creating the veneer of a more "elite" status--thereby justifying their ever-increasing fees to their customers. Given the history, its pretty amusing that (at least based on this forum) many of their customers are now longing for a return to the strict relegation system that they ran away from.[/

A good indication of where players are developing is to take a look at the rosters of the U14 Revolution and U13 Bolts DAP teams. A large majority of the players come from NEP teams. I'm not saying the best teams are in NEP but maybe they are developing the type of players that are needed for the next level...

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[QUOTE=Unregistered;1118127]

A good indication of where players are developing is to take a look at the rosters of the U14 Revolution and U13 Bolts DAP teams. A large majority of the players come from NEP teams. I'm not saying the best teams are in NEP but maybe they are developing the type of players that are needed for the next level...

But then where do THOSE players go?

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[QUOTE=Unregistered;1118139]

But then where do THOSE players go?

Further than the MAPLE kids. That may not be far, but it's farther.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;1118220]

Further than the MAPLE kids. That may not be far, but it's farther.

Yes. Keep writing those checks. When your son's mighty NEP team gets drilled again by another Maple riff-raff team you can console yourself with DAP dreams of glory. And remember, "It's all about development."

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Why? By Memorial Day, they will be done being U11's. ;(

And next season the team will be changed (kids going to other clubs, kids getting cut). Next years teams will be different. Get a grip your kid might play with the same 4 or 5 kids but the team (as a whole) in general will be different every year.