2014-2015 Boys U12 Best Teams

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I might have agreed with you last year but I think in New England, DAP is not important as originally thought to be. Additionally, I think Valeo found a way around the benefits of the DAP program with EDP/NE-NPL/National tournaments

I believe pretty much all the non-DAP clubs that are relevant at the older age groups participate in EDP/NE-NPL/National. Even the DAP clubs themselves participate in these with their non-Academy teams. It's not going to stop the talent from going to DAP. Look at the Revs rosters. There's a Valeo kid, a couple WUP kids, several MPS kids, several NEFC kids, etc. Last year, over 85% of D1 recruits came from DAP. Plus, US Soccer is pushing that momentum with all their might. Every US Pool Camp summary has a sentence that promotes the number of kids called into camp that are from DAP. Even Klinsmann (as much as he favors play in EU) is spewing the progress of DAP. Of course there are other avenues but the whale is getting bigger.

[Unregistered]

You are soooo wrong. If your kid is that good, get him on a good team asap. The pace of play between players has risen 10 fold since my son has joined a team with a high concentration of solid players. Good players need to learn to play with players better than they are. A high ranking team is somewhat indicative of the concentration of high level players.

My kid isn't that good but I have seen kids that are really good on average teams. I agree with you that ideally they should play on the top team but that is not everyone's circumstance.

My point is that there are a fair amount of one off superstars on average teams that will replace at least 1/2 of the kids on the top teams.

[Unregistered]

LOVE this thread - long time reader, first-time writer. My kids have played in MAPLE and NEP (different genders and clubs).

Serious question that I figure I'll get ripped for even asking, but that appears to be what this site is about for some anyway...

There is often reference on this site to "no wonder the Bolts wanted to merge with Valeo".

- Did the Bolts want to merge with Valeo, was it the other way around, or was it mutual?
- Since the Bolts have a DAP program, would merging with Valeo put that part of their program at risk (contractual question, not about talent)? Would they have been able to keep that program only if they "absorbed" Valeo? - What I'm asking here is, post-merger, would the club have a Bolts "brand" or Valeo "brand"?
- Is the Bolts DAP (and pre-DAP, whatever) the desired path that many of the Valeo parents want their kids to take anyway?

It sounds to me (and seriously, what do I know) like a merger would have been better for Valeo - since Bolts has all of the programs (meaning DAP) that Valeo parents want, and the player "flow" at U13/U14 and up would more likely be from Valeo to Bolts instead of the other way around (because of the DAP). So except for getting some of the players a few years early, why would Bolts want to merge with Valeo?

Now you can all feel free to ridicule me.

From what I heard, Bolts wanted Valeo to be a feeder program for Bolts DAP and for Valeo parents to pay for DAP program, since while Revs is free, Bolts DAP is not so the best go to Revs.
Valeo DOC probably thought what is in it for his club? Nothing but another burden and bleeder of funds.
Valeo players likely do want to end up in some DAP and having an inhouse pathway might be beneficial. However, would families want to give up their access to club house and fields? Probably not. Thus V would lose business in the long run.

[Unregistered]

LOVE this thread - long time reader, first-time writer. My kids have played in MAPLE and NEP (different genders and clubs).

Serious question that I figure I'll get ripped for even asking, but that appears to be what this site is about for some anyway...

There is often reference on this site to "no wonder the Bolts wanted to merge with Valeo".

- Did the Bolts want to merge with Valeo, was it the other way around, or was it mutual?
- Since the Bolts have a DAP program, would merging with Valeo put that part of their program at risk (contractual question, not about talent)? Would they have been able to keep that program only if they "absorbed" Valeo? - What I'm asking here is, post-merger, would the club have a Bolts "brand" or Valeo "brand"?
- Is the Bolts DAP (and pre-DAP, whatever) the desired path that many of the Valeo parents want their kids to take anyway?

It sounds to me (and seriously, what do I know) like a merger would have been better for Valeo - since Bolts has all of the programs (meaning DAP) that Valeo parents want, and the player "flow" at U13/U14 and up would more likely be from Valeo to Bolts instead of the other way around (because of the DAP). So except for getting some of the players a few years early, why would Bolts want to merge with Valeo?

Now you can all feel free to ridicule me.

Yes and no. Parents of the top Valeo team are not so eager to choose Bolts DAP path any nearest future. Not at this stage of development. As a fact players may be able to achieve more each individually sticking with Valeo.

[Unregistered]

I might have agreed with you last year but I think in New England, DAP is not important as originally thought to be. Additionally, I think Valeo found a way around the benefits of the DAP program with EDP/NE-NPL/National tournaments

This comment is ridiculous. There is really no credible dispute that DAP is the top tier program for boys, here and everywhere else. Club soccer can still be pretty decent for non-DAP players in the high school ages, but if you think it is or can be equivalent, you are just wrong.

[Unregistered]

This comment is ridiculous. There is really no credible dispute that DAP is the top tier program for boys, here and everywhere else. Club soccer can still be pretty decent for non-DAP players in the high school ages, but if you think it is or can be equivalent, you are just wrong.

DAP, DAP, DAP!!!! Right now our boys are playing a very high level of soccer, having fun and developing much more than if they were on a very weak pre-DAP team. It's not even close.

[Unregistered]

This comment is ridiculous. There is really no credible dispute that DAP is the top tier program for boys, here and everywhere else. Club soccer can still be pretty decent for non-DAP players in the high school ages, but if you think it is or can be equivalent, you are just wrong.

DAP is important for 2 or maybe 3 years for visibility only. The top players on Valeo U12 team will not need that visibility if they keep winning or placing in National tournaments.

They will effectively do an end around from the DAP process

[Unregistered]

My kid isn't that good but I have seen kids that are really good on average teams. I agree with you that ideally they should play on the top team but that is not everyone's circumstance.

My point is that there are a fair amount of one off superstars on average teams that will replace at least 1/2 of the kids on the top teams.

The bona fide top teams don't have average players. See?

[Unregistered]

DAP is important for 2 or maybe 3 years for visibility only. The top players on Valeo U12 team will not need that visibility if they keep winning or placing in National tournaments.

They will effectively do an end around from the DAP process

"End around" is an American football term. I think you were searching for the phrase "overlapping run".

You're absolutely right - eventually D1 programs from across the country will be ignoring DAP programs to focus on that Valeo team.
I'm sure you have told your fellow team parents that nobody is allowed to leave for the next 6+ years under any circumstances.

And it's going to be hard to "keep winning or placing in National tournaments" if they haven't even done that yet, dad. The Lou" (congrats to the kids, good job) was loaded with teams from around the country - including five teams from NJ...! and two teams from PA...! and one team from MA. Wait, that's all eight of them.

And no, I'm not jealous. And my kid is very well-trained and developing.

[Unregistered]

"End around" is an American football term. I think you were searching for the phrase "overlapping run".

You're absolutely right - eventually D1 programs from across the country will be ignoring DAP programs to focus on that Valeo team.
I'm sure you have told your fellow team parents that nobody is allowed to leave for the next 6+ years under any circumstances.

And it's going to be hard to "keep winning or placing in National tournaments" if they haven't even done that yet, dad. The Lou" (congrats to the kids, good job) was loaded with teams from around the country - including five teams from NJ...! and two teams from PA...! and one team from MA. Wait, that's all eight of them.

And no, I'm not jealous. And my kid is very well-trained and developing.

I was using end-around as a business term of finding a solution without address the problem.

No where did I say that DAP can not deliver you to D1. I did however say that there are multiple roads there and presently the path that the Valeo U12 team is on will deliver some of their players to D1 without DAP. They may choose DAP or they may lose interest in soccer or any number of other events could occur but on their present course, the top players on Valeo U12 team will make D1.

[Unregistered]

The bona fide top teams don't have average players. See?

bona fide top teams have role players that are above average but they are not superstars in their role.

[Unregistered]

I was using end-around as a business term of finding a solution without address the problem.

No where did I say that DAP can not deliver you to D1. I did however say that there are multiple roads there and presently the path that the Valeo U12 team is on will deliver some of their players to D1 without DAP. They may choose DAP or they may lose interest in soccer or any number of other events could occur but on their present course, the top players on Valeo U12 team will make D1.

Which players are they?

[Unregistered]

Which players are they?

If you have to ask, you haven't seen them play.

[Unregistered]

Which players are they?

I am sorry, but to say that the top players on at U12 ANYTHING with make D1 is laughable. Perhaps it is your ignorance to drives you to make such a statement.

[Unregistered]

If you have to ask, you haven't seen them play.

How many of them are obviously better than the rest of the team?