Originally posted by Guest
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The problem is PDA has 2 other ECNL teams that are no good. Why not let other NJ clubs have access to ECNL for their top teams? How they going to catch up with PDA controlling ECNL in NJ? -
Thank you and although I am not a RU alum I did commit to them back in the day for Football of course and now I have my oldest daughter playing at South Carolina my support for RU still stands but just in different order and we all know blood is thicker than water so although my support for my daughter is greater I am still a RU fan and I go and support them along with the young ladies that played with my daughter in club. I don't think its a RU issue when it comes to opening their doors to other clubs outside of PDA. Those other clubs have to separate the idea that MO although is our DOC at PDA and change that thought process to hey this RU Heads Coach and "I WANT HIM" around my kids and I WANT HIM to recruit our kids. That has to be the conversation but to not fault the other clubs and certainly not MO but some clubs have other relationship with other coaches around the country and they would rather push their kids in that direction. PDA has many competitor clubs out there but what we also have is many affiliates. Some are known and some don't even know they are. You know who gets all the bad rap or less press about these kids and thats our local town clubs where most if not all of our kids come from to attend these bigger clubs. Most of our kids started in Rec soccer in some town, but we never hear about that but hey SHOUT OUT to all those clubs that helped and keep producing the BEST athletes in the country. To your other observation I agree with you that it shouldn't be just PDA Day at RU but it should be NJ DAY. RU has such a great program that those seats should be filled game in and game out. WE as parents need to get our girls to these game and support RU and if not for RU support WOMENS soccer. The more we all stand behind the game the more relevant the topic stays and grows. A buddy of mine told me a something just last night as we were talking about a SHOW him and a couple other DAD's are going to try to create soon lol lol yep we are going to livestream us talking about soccer from High School, Club, Recruiting etc. Its going to be funny but with the characters we have lol lol I can tell you this......someone is going to be in trouble. Back to what my buddy was saying and thats for every little girl in America to turn on there TV and just find any NWSL game and leave the the TV on that channel. You dont even have to watch the game but leave the channel turned in to drive the RATINGS up and thats how revenue can be part of the conversation......when rating are up then someone has to get paid and why not keep pouring that money into these young women. Again RU has a spring game this Sunday March 27th I hope you can make it. I will be down in South Carolina at my daughters spring game but since you can't make it to South Carolina because I believe they have the best college atmosphere out there you got to see it if you get a chance or YOU SHOULD get your daughter down for a visit.Originally posted by Guest View Post
Eric HarrisComment
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Eric,Originally posted by Guest View Post
I wonder if you would have a less positive perspective if your daughter(s) were left off a game roster- or if you as a family, flew to Florida only to see your daughter get minimal playing time. Perspective is personal and there have been enough players throughout the years treated like this for PDA to earn a reputation as being joyless place for a great many players not in the top 12 or so. It's the only girls program I know in the state that allows a player and their family to pay for the privilege to be left off rosters and get minimal playing time. And yet, they ask those same players back year after year. i find that one Perspective of PDA changes depending on how ones daughter is treated.
and I Know your daughters have been treated well. So i Understand the enthusiasm
But everyone's milage may vary.
Soccer Nut
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We wonder no more because it has happened in the past to my daughters. Often no but yes and in my oldest career early on she was maybe playing about 30 minutes a game out of 70 min games. But that is the reason why I don't fly off at the mouth as say that the ENVIRONMENT for everyone or even fair. Soccer Nut what you say is 100% and people need not to shun you or come out saying you are an actual "NUT" lol. What you are saying is 100% truth from your family's experience. You will never hear me brag on how GREAT a place is because that only lies in the eyes of the experience my child is experiencing at the time. Could that feeling change.....sure I guess I would be a hypocrite to sit here as say that if my child was going through what your child went through I would still feel warm and fuzzy. My only question is or statement is that it happens everywhere. There is not one club that you can name that it hasn't happened to kids or still happening. PDA is not the only guilty one I can name examples from everyone club well big club of this happening and its not an opinion I can throw names out to back anything I am saying as you know I put my name to it. Again I am not here to throw in your face or anyone else what great experience either of my children had or haven't had. I am here as a parent like you to discuss the issues that we all deal with on the club level. Are all of our stories good, no not at all but when I can and hope is that we can support on another as our kids go through the process.Originally posted by Guest View Post
Eric HarrisComment
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Eric,Originally posted by Guest View Post
I have not had a particularly bad experience at PDA, I have had two daughters pass through, one a top 3 player, ACC graduate and player. one a top 14 player or so that left .Your older daughter use to come to some of our practices, she was well thought of by MS. and deservingly so. I also know your perspective is unique as not all families feel the same way as you do. And you are part of the OG's at the facility. I also understand that the difference between Blue and other teams/clubs is that for the most part, each girl sitting on that bench or not rostered is a very good player in their own right and its a shame that their experience cannot be as positive for their youth soccer career. feel for the parents and the kids. But in the end I realize that they are choosing that path- no matter how difficult
I have seen numerous times where the script has been flipped on a young lady because of a coaching change, and parents that were once positive become the biggest malcontents.
As far as your "other club comments", Of course , some of this goes on with other clubs but not nearly to the extent, and to the quality of player at PDA Blue.
Your truth is your truth and I respect that - I just wonder if a little more balance might be in order
Soccer NutComment
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You are right my truth is my truth...but not the only truth. I really feel that this happens all all clubs equally. We hear more about PDA because of the reputation it has built through these years. Depending on who you are talking to you would think things are worse outside of PDA. I have had friends that have told me that them leaving PDA was the worse thing they did. Again its their opinion but we all know the saying that the grass isn't always greener on the otherside. Yes I am in my 15th year at PDA and its has been a ride. I have met a lot of really nice families and people who I call family still to this day. It would be great to reverse matters and have it to where teams of full sided soccer only had at most 18 players per team and small sided had only 14 at the most. Man those were the days lol lol. I wonder if someone could do a study on the long effects of these kids that go through the process and in a time where we are big on mental health. I almost wonder are we as a soccer community causing more harm than we know. Take any team or club you want and with a show of hands just poll any team and ask that the kids by a show of hands, how many stress seeing or knowing what the game day roster will look like. I am willing to bet you that more than 70% of the kids on any team will raise their hand or answer yes. And just think this goes on for weeks and months. I can't imagine the stress, mental and physical stress we are creating for these young players as young as 8 years old. I am not talking about any club directly but as a whole we really need to be having that discussion because we talk about MENTAL HEALTH but what are really doing to help identify where it's coming from at these young ages.Originally posted by Guest View Post
Eric HarrisComment
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Nut,Originally posted by Guest View Post
how do you know that only PDA does what you are describing? Have you done research first hand with other clubs or perhaps other leagues like GA and USYS have mandated minimum playing time whereas ECNL does not. Wouldn’t playing time be solely each coaches decision regardless? How can you pinpoint just to PDA? Respect your opinion Nut.Comment
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First ,I never justify something that is a bad practice by saying "well other clubs do it too" That doesn't solve the issue. It just gives the culprit the justification to keep doing it.Originally posted by Guest View Post
To answer your question, I have had 3 daughter play this game , my youngest is still playing youth soccer .Our family have experienced a number of high quality clubs/leagues, which include ECNL, The US development academy and The old National league. In our journey ,the clubs that we experienced have kept a very manageable number of players-max 18 or 19 players-two goalies would be included if 19. however, must times numbers reached no more than 18-some as low as 16 depending on the quality of the player the teams attracts. . So that eliminated the issues of being left off a roster. This can be painful for a coach as well and they try to avoid these extra players unless mandated by the club. The US Development Academy actually mandated a certain number of starts for each player up to a certain age.
When a club did try to take more than 18 players -they were always met with resistance from parents and players to the point that kids would just walk the next year. They(the club) had no "Honey pot " keeping them there, so a bloated roster was always short lived.
The "Honey Pot" enables clubs to keep bloated rosters where a club like CSA or STA may not. I would argue that STA or CSA may have trouble finding that many quality players to consider.
What is the" Honey pot" ? The allure of recruitment- and the branding of the label. Why else would good quality players stay put when they are getting such little playing time? Training is great ! but any player will tell you -playing is better.
I realize times may be changing and more clubs/teams may take more players but my truth is that those clubs are the clubs that parents should be wary of -especially if they find themselves on the wrong side of the numbers.
That has been my Truth and others may certainly have their own
Soccer NutComment
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Even when USDA mandated starts it was starts, not actual PT. some coaches would start kids then yank them, or save the weaker players for the easier games. I'm not a Gan of mandating PT per season but all coaches should strive to give players meaningful time. Unfortunately many worry more about the wins - because face it there will always be a drop off in skill thebdeeper you go down thr bench. Coaches have little say on ther roster size either.
Whenever possible chose a team with good coaching that has strong teammates and challenging competition. Ideally you want to be a regular starter or subs #12-15. Players 16+ need to balance out the training and competition vs PT issue. Normally go for the PT, but not if that means a substantive drop in training or competition. It's easy to be a top player in a weak league.
It's a crappy system but can be navigated. Do your homework, talk to a lot of people. Find the best place for your player , which is unlikely to be the "best team"Comment
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Soccer Nut,Originally posted by Guest View Post
I have to say that I have seen this happen at another club that is mentioned quite a bit on this board. It's hard to watch and really left a bad impression of coach and club. It's all well and good to people when it does not affect them.Comment
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PDA also loses badly outside of state quite often but it gets covered-up rather well.Originally posted by Guest View Post
Jan showcase lost 1-8 to Ohio and 0-3 to WC and more…just ask and we can share!Comment
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Hmmm....same post as another thread only you left off that its two different teams. Tell us how "games get covered up" when all league and showcase results are posted online? A few games, even blowouts, do not make a trend.Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
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Spot on insight on the ability of STA/CSA to attract enough quality players. But the flip side is you do not ever have to fight for playing time if you’re an established player. Whereas as with PDA it’s always huge rosters and constant competition.Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
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