Announcement

**Unregistered** · 08-23-2016, 01:39 PM

Where is NH? Makes a difference. If you are looking for premier club then NWC is not where you want to go, even if you are moving to Nashua. Seacoast and GPS will offer the most in terms of having teams for every age and level. NEFC and Stars don't have many teams and will try to lump you in with older or younger to make a team happen. There are good coaches at all the clubs but there are bad ones too. Ask to join a practice and test drive. They all want your money.

**Unregistered** · 08-23-2016, 01:44 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Where is NH? Makes a difference. If you are looking for premier club then NWC is not where you want to go, even if you are moving to Nashua. Seacoast and GPS will offer the most in terms of having teams for every age and level. NEFC and Stars don't have many teams and will try to lump you in with older or younger to make a team happen. There are good coaches at all the clubs but there are bad ones too. Ask to join a practice and test drive. They all want your money.

We'll be moving in the Concord area, so if I understand it right, I think we are 45 minutes give or take to any of the clubs.

Surprised to hear about NWC...years ago they were the top, along with Seacoast. I did get that impression you state about Stars and NEFC by looking at their pages, but that's hard to tell.

Thank you for your information.

**Unregistered** · 08-23-2016, 02:17 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

We'll be moving in the Concord area, so if I understand it right, I think we are 45 minutes give or take to any of the clubs.

Surprised to hear about NWC...years ago they were the top, along with Seacoast. I did get that impression you state about Stars and NEFC by looking at their pages, but that's hard to tell.

Thank you for your information.

I would agree with NWC going down hill. Really depends what you are looking for. A step above Rec or something a little more competitive. Would agree that GPS or Seacoast are your best bets.

**Unregistered** · 08-23-2016, 03:22 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I would agree with NWC going down hill. Really depends what you are looking for. A step above Rec or something a little more competitive. Would agree that GPS or Seacoast are your best bets.

Seacoast does have satellite clubs based out of both Concord & Manchester. You could check out the level of play at those locations first, since they will be local. If you find you're looking for something more competitive, best to try either GPS or the main Seacoast based in Epping.

**Unregistered** · 08-23-2016, 05:21 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Seacoast does have satellite clubs based out of both Concord & Manchester. You could check out the level of play at those locations first, since they will be local. If you find you're looking for something more competitive, best to try either GPS or the main Seacoast based in Epping.

I did recently hear about Seacoast in Concord. Are you saying they operate separately, and don't pool players with their Epping teams? Any idea of the quality of play?

Yes, I understand I can go and see for myself. Trying to avoid driving all over on fruitless missions, and concentrate on a few good ideas as a start.

I appreciate everyone's feedback.

**Unregistered** · 08-24-2016, 07:23 AM

Firstly, Welcome to NH Soccer! People can't help you out without knowing age and gender and level to start with. Recommendations would be different for a u17 boy vs a u8 girl. My breakdown would be better girls tend to go to Seacoast and better boys go to GPS. Seacoast has the academy program, but that is a mess right now. If my kid were young then maybe a Seacoast affiliate would work, but the level is considered upper town, similar to Nashua.

**Unregistered** · 08-24-2016, 07:34 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Firstly, Welcome to NH Soccer! People can't help you out without knowing age and gender and level to start with. Recommendations would be different for a u17 boy vs a u8 girl. My breakdown would be better girls tend to go to Seacoast and better boys go to GPS. Seacoast has the academy program, but that is a mess right now. If my kid were young then maybe a Seacoast affiliate would work, but the level is considered upper town, similar to Nashua.

My post specifically said " daughter (pre-teen)".

Is Seacoast Express, which looks to be closest to me, considered an affiliate? Do they draw from there for their NPL team?

I'm of the impression Seacoast, for girls, has the top Academy program. Yet, it's a mess you say?

**Unregistered** · 08-24-2016, 08:00 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

My post specifically said " daughter (pre-teen)".

Is Seacoast Express, which looks to be closest to me, considered an affiliate? Do they draw from there for their NPL team?

I'm of the impression Seacoast, for girls, has the top Academy program. Yet, it's a mess you say?

Sorry, I missed that in your open. Express is an affiliate and I can tell you from personal experience that it does not benefit from said affiliation. Seacoast proper will simply pluck the top couple kids and offer nothing in return but higher fees.

Seacoast does not have the top academy program, far from it. They do have an Academy program to which numbers are thin.

**Unregistered** · 08-24-2016, 08:07 AM

No apologies needed. Internet commentary always comes across snarky, whether intended or not. If you could see me, you'd see I was chuckling.

Anyway, seems like going to Express would just be a waste. IF she were to be good enough to get pulled into the United team, may as well just start there it appears.

I appreciate everyone's input, it's helpful. We'll probably go take a look in Seacoast/Epping and GPS/Bedford some day and see if there's a fit.

**Unregistered** · 08-24-2016, 08:10 AM

My advice would be for you to reach out to Seacoast and GPS and attend a couple of training sessions to see what you think is a good fit. You won't et al of the info on here, some will be helpful and some will be political. A relative of ours moved to the state a couple of years ago, practiced with seacoast team at Epping a few times and then it was decided that one of affiliate/satellite clubs of them was better option based on their ability plus location. I would go to sessions in Bedford for GPS and Epping for seacoast for your daughters appropriate age group to get true exposure of that club in its main location, which I don't think you will get of you go to a satellite location, and then it will be a little easier from there.

Best of luck to your daughter... Moving gun to a new state and soccer team can be tough!

**Unregistered** · 08-24-2016, 08:17 AM

Yes, it will be tough. Soccer at least will be a conduit to something she knows and loves while integrating from there.

I appreciate the feedback. Obviously, no decisions made but a direction is a good start.

**Unregistered** · 08-24-2016, 08:34 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

My post specifically said " daughter (pre-teen)".

Is Seacoast Express, which looks to be closest to me, considered an affiliate? Do they draw from there for their NPL team?

I'm of the impression Seacoast, for girls, has the top Academy program. Yet, it's a mess you say?

I believe the poster is referencing Seacoasts Boys DAP academy when they refer to it as a mess

**Unregistered** · 08-29-2016, 09:46 PM

I think you are approaching it correctly by visiting both locations (and do it on a Sunday as the league that both clubs play in the New England Premiership play almost exclusively on Sundays) and taking a look at the differences in coaching styles, etc before making a decision. Seacoast has affiliates in different areas but the reality is all of the better players in any of these clubs that they "merge" with end up in Epping at some point, whereas GPS NH operates a single club out of a single location (but with multiple teams at each age group so the effect is similar in terms of multitudes of teams).

On the girls side based on State Cup results it's a pretty even split in terms of top teams between the big two (Seacoast and GPS) and really varies dramatically by age group and will probably shake up again with the switch to all clubs going to birth year teams beginning this fall season. It's also not to say that these are the only two worth playing for as there are other clubs such as NEFC and FC Stars that have tried to get their feet into NH with varying degrees of success. Most clubs, are happy to have you come down and partake in a training session or two so that your daughter can get a feel for the level of play and you as a parent can try to get a read on the overall atmosphere of the club.

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

No apologies needed. Internet commentary always comes across snarky, whether intended or not. If you could see me, you'd see I was chuckling.

Anyway, seems like going to Express would just be a waste. IF she were to be good enough to get pulled into the United team, may as well just start there it appears.

I appreciate everyone's input, it's helpful. We'll probably go take a look in Seacoast/Epping and GPS/Bedford some day and see if there's a fit.