The Girls 2007 Thread

[Unregistered]

This whole situation has made me do a lot of thinking about the state of youth soccer here in MA. My daughter has played on a “list team” for four years now, U10-U13. During that time she has become friendly with girls on several of the other top teams and I’ll make a point to have a quick chat with the opposing team’s parents whenever I’m able. If you think about it, it’s been a lot of the same kids who we’ve seen over the course of the past four years.

The last couple weeks have given me a chance to step back and realize how ridiculous it is that the next time these kids take the field (fall 2020), the ECNL, DA & NPL teams will no longer play each other at U14, other than the occasional tournament. Think about that. NEFC DA cant play Stars ECNL. Select DA cant can’t play Scorpions ECNL. GPS Red, SPOL & Aztec can’t play any of the ECNL & DA teams.

In the very few games that were actually played this spring, Stars played teams from PA, Scorpions & NEFC played NJ teams and Select played a NH team. Not one single game played between the 8 list teams. Not one. That is absurd.

There are more than enough teams in New England for a rock solid U13 league.

Stars Blue ECNL
Stars White ECNL
Scorpions ECNL
CFC ECNL
FSA ECNL
Oakwood DA
NEFC DA
Select DA
Seacoast DA
Aztec NPL
SPOL NPL
GPS Red NPL
FCUSA NPL
Ginga (CT) EDP

That’s 14 teams who would give each other a meaningful game any day of the week all within 2.5 hours from down town Boston. Youth soccer is a disaster, and if this pandemic doesn’t reset things, nothing ever will.

I sincerely hope everyone who follows this thread is healthy and hasn’t been crushed financially because of this mess.

This is spot on.

[Unregistered]

This whole situation has made me do a lot of thinking about the state of youth soccer here in MA. My daughter has played on a “list team” for four years now, U10-U13. During that time she has become friendly with girls on several of the other top teams and I’ll make a point to have a quick chat with the opposing team’s parents whenever I’m able. If you think about it, it’s been a lot of the same kids who we’ve seen over the course of the past four years.

The last couple weeks have given me a chance to step back and realize how ridiculous it is that the next time these kids take the field (fall 2020), the ECNL, DA & NPL teams will no longer play each other at U14, other than the occasional tournament. Think about that. NEFC DA cant play Stars ECNL. Select DA cant can’t play Scorpions ECNL. GPS Red, SPOL & Aztec can’t play any of the ECNL & DA teams.

In the very few games that were actually played this spring, Stars played teams from PA, Scorpions & NEFC played NJ teams and Select played a NH team. Not one single game played between the 8 list teams. Not one. That is absurd.

There are more than enough teams in New England for a rock solid U13 league.

Stars Blue ECNL
Stars White ECNL
Scorpions ECNL
CFC ECNL
FSA ECNL
Oakwood DA
NEFC DA
Select DA
Seacoast DA
Aztec NPL
SPOL NPL
GPS Red NPL
FCUSA NPL
Ginga (CT) EDP

That’s 14 teams who would give each other a meaningful game any day of the week all within 2.5 hours from down town Boston. Youth soccer is a disaster, and if this pandemic doesn’t reset things, nothing ever will.

I sincerely hope everyone who follows this thread is healthy and hasn’t been crushed financially because of this mess.

It’s so broken. We can’t even get the NPL sorted. Aztec & GPS don’t play SPOL & FCUSA.

[Unregistered]

Title of “baddest little team in the land” will be up for grabs starting at FC Stars Labor Day tournament. Only 5 months away.

[Unregistered]

Title of “baddest little team in the land” is up for grabs starting five months from now. Stars Labor Day Tournament.

[Unregistered]

Ginga lost their two unicorns to Oakwood GDA. Still a decent team but nowhere near what they used to be with the two unicorns. Move Ginga one spot above FSA.

The Oakwood 2007 team is not good.

[Unregistered]

Has anyone heard a peep about what the plan is for 2007 tryouts? Going to have to do them virtually if this keeps up.

[Unregistered]

Has anyone heard a peep about what the plan is for 2007 tryouts? Going to have to do them virtually if this keeps up.

You’re kidding right? Who cares about tryouts and how would there be any plan at this point?

[Unregistered]

Tryouts are BS anyway

[Unregistered]

You’re kidding right? Who cares about tryouts and how would there be any plan at this point?

I’m not kidding which is why I asked the question. Who cares about tryouts? The clubs. You know why? Because half of these clubs won’t stay afloat without starting to bring in money for next year.

[Unregistered]

I’m not kidding which is why I asked the question. Who cares about tryouts? The clubs. You know why? Because half of these clubs won’t stay afloat without starting to bring in money for next year.

Plenty of families won't be able to afford it any longer. If clubs can't fill rosters they're in serious trouble

[Unregistered]

100% agree. Which makes me curious how the clubs are going to handle the tryout situation. And I don’t mean just the cattle call for the little kids.

I suspect they will start trying to wrap up as many of their existing players as possible, including the “bubble” kids who they may have hoped to replace with girls coming in to try out the team in March-May practices.

So I’ll ask again, have any of the 2007 parents who are friendly with their club’s coaches gleaned any insight into this?

[Unregistered]

So 2007 are now mostly 7th graders with some fall born 6th graders- that right?
If so, then I agree it’s a valid question. club shifting goes into high gear at this age.
Clubs, parents, players - anxiety in abundance.

What should clubs and parents do? Do you wait to hear their rules or start making your own?

[Unregistered]

Yes, mostly current 7th graders. This is traditionally the age (start of 8th or 9th grade) where a lot of top level NPL level players try to get on ECNL teams. The virus aside, the shakiness of the GDA adds even more uncertainty to the mix and which kids will be moving where.

While the clubs are playing their cards close to the vest, I guarantee they have a plan in place for how they are going to handle next years rosters.

[Unregistered]

100% agree. Which makes me curious how the clubs are going to handle the tryout situation. And I don’t mean just the cattle call for the little kids.

I suspect they will start trying to wrap up as many of their existing players as possible, including the “bubble” kids who they may have hoped to replace with girls coming in to try out the team in March-May practices.

So I’ll ask again, have any of the 2007 parents who are friendly with their club’s coaches gleaned any insight into this?

Give a rest. None of this matters right now. Clubs, coaches and families are worried about much bigger issues. It will all get sorted out in the end and all the clubs in out area are facing the same government mandates.

Also, if your 07 doesn't get on a desired team this year there is still plenty of time. The recruiting timeline no longer includes 8th and 9th grade.

[Unregistered]

^ let the card game begin
At this level and stage every parent knows their player is a face card
few realize that theirs, like most, is a Jack.

Heres how the smart mom’s play the hand:
Align your J with the local Ace, bundle in a K or a couple Qs - call them suited (“all such good friends“ - gag) and then get pinky-swear commitments that the most important thing is “to keep them together“ for at least one more year. These points are actually valid. Girls like to be with friends and carpools are important. Now take your “hand” to the desired destination club, email the DOC or age level coordinator. Explain that for logistics and other reasons its package deal and every family can pay and will pay on time. Might not work for Stars ECNL - JDs has a waiting list and takes no bull - but it will work for any NPL team, or Scorps