PDA Showcase

[Guest]

I wasn't involved in the soccer scene heavy then as my oldest was only 8 years old but I use always hear well read lol lol on forums. What was the ranking system long time ago.......(I forget) but people use to get pissed every time those rankings came out on the forum lol lol. Was it Youth Soccer Talk (Something like that) but they had a "National Ranking" system back in the day. Boy those was the good ol' days lol lol. I could be wrong but Freehold also had a very good team back in the day Coach by USP soccer at the time Kevin McD. and Frank C.

Eric Harris

I don't recall who was voting (too many years gone by-lol) I want to say it was coaches for the most part back then and also some writers picks (maybe slightly more informed back then/they had more staff involved locally).

There are several areas that are still putting out some high level talent in NJ, but sadly not my area anymore. In those days NJ was producing a high volume of quality players/teams. If memory serves I believe ND and Hamilton East were top 5 nationally in 83 (only about 10 miles apart) and there were a few publications back in those days/I forget what the national one was but the 70's/80's were a hotbed of soccer for me growing up. There were no travel team rankings/everyone played state cup while flawed determined who the best team was for that given age group/year. Also back then you had to play rec to play for the travel program so you didn't have kids all over the place as ringers and the league you started in was your league and teams from u-little until you went to college for the most part.

If you didn't experience the landscape in those days it would be impossible to think kids today could become that accomplished playing against the same teams year after year throughout their careers yet it happened and quite often. Today everyone thinks you have to play ECNL and travel all over to be on top.

I may be naïve but I also think it was more on merit then as it didn't matter who you knew if you could ball you were in and if you couldn't they didn't care how much they liked your dad you weren't cutting it you weren't cutting it. It was more about ability than making adult friends.

And I have had more than a few conversations with Mike as both my girls teams were treated like doo-doo at PDA. I can give you Trish and Mike Holt stories all day long but I guess someday I will have to let it go.

[Guest]

I believe you trying to get me assassinated lol..

Eric Harris

Lol. You are correct. They masses would lop off your head. It is a real question for Blue parents who believe in PDA. I’m not convinced the experience is the same for everyone which perpetuates some of the negativity.

[Guest]

Okay Derek A. since you are answering your own post lol lol which is pathetic let me explain to you and maybe I can help you as I always have. Soccer owes my kids or my family $0. Just like any other kid I don't care what sport it is I hope that you are playing this game because you LOVE IT and even if you are not getting paid you still play it. Listen for many of us and that goes for you also Derek A. when it's time to hang up the cleats its time and then you move on. If any of my kids or any other kids have the opportunity to continue this game further after college I say go for it because they have their whole lives to work and these time will not last forever. So to make "$30K" in your opinion I say that is a STEAL and to play this game that you love and they pay you......HECK YEAH I say you do it. Don't worry about the money live your life man.....And yes Derek A. I will be at PDA long after my kids are gone. Everyday naw I doubt that but if they need me sure I would do it in a heartbeat. And you are wrong Derek A. unlike you who only wish harm on young kids who you think took a spot from you kids (you're pathetic) and stupid but anyway I cheer for every kid including my own. Yep I support every last one of these young athletes male and female because I remember when I was their ages and how hard things were then and the struggles that these young athletes deal with now and probably 10X worse in today's age with all this social media and the hype of trying to live up to the next best thing. Its tough for these young children but I will say I keep things in perspective Derek A. and I never put the cart before the horse.

Eric Harris

Interesting post

[Guest]

PDA is ECNL in NJ so maybe just a different variety of apple eh. Let’s be fair, you love PDA because what......you get your ego stroked by having a kid there. PDA can and should do better but you just can't admit that in any way. We can all see the bias even if the mirrors you look into aren't showing it.

PDA has been and continues to be one of the top academies in the country for girls and that is a fact. That does not mean it’s the best for everyone just that it’s a great place that gives you opportunities and exposure. Just look at the track record it speak for itself.

[Guest]

Lol. You are correct. They masses would lop off your head. It is a real question for Blue parents who believe in PDA. I’m not convinced the experience is the same for everyone which perpetuates some of the negativity.

You are 100% correct that each of our experience with soccer will be different and will sound different coming out of my mouth than someone else's with a different perspective. I would be a fool to sit here and say that my experience should be as everyone else. That's why I like talking and listening to Soccer Nut and a few others because although we have different experiences I can learn from his and although I may still have a different opinion I can respect his enough to get off maybe my high horse and look at things from a different perspective. I'm really not worried what the masses may or may not think of me with my responses. I do know that my answers to questions are my opinion and when asked I will share them only for conversation and not to try to convince someone that I am right and they are wrong. I think that's where all the fighting on this blog comes from is when people think that there way of living or thinking is the LAW and that's not true at all.

Eric Harris

[Guest]

PDA has been and continues to be one of the top academies in the country for girls and that is a fact. That does not mean it’s the best for everyone just that it’s a great place that gives you opportunities and exposure. Just look at the track record it speak for itself.

They could do that without having 3 teams 2 of which are not IMO deserving of ECNL level status. Keep watering down the soup eventually it will be tasteless.

[Guest]

They could do that without having 3 teams 2 of which are not IMO deserving of ECNL level status. Keep watering down the soup eventually it will be tasteless.

Its been said many times before, if you will be in the top 14 or 15 on PDA blue, preferably a starter with lots of time on the field, there is no better platform to show your stuff to college coaches. Each players experience is different depending on where you are in the pecking order. It can be glorious or miserable.

Soccer Nut

[Guest]

Its been said many times before, if you will be in the top 14 or 15 on PDA blue, preferably a starter with lots of time on the field, there is no better platform to show your stuff to college coaches. Each players experience is different depending on where you are in the pecking order. It can be glorious or miserable.

Soccer Nut

Soccer Nut I will take it a set further.....and tell me if you agree or disagree. I believe and understand that college coaches recruit PLAYERS not teams. So in my opinion it doesn't matter what team you are on. If you out there performing as a players trust me they will find you. So it doesn't matter if you are A team B team C team etc if colleges are looking for certain positions to fill and trust me colleges do have NEEDS...WANTS...and if you want to come here thats up you type of offers. Trust me there is definitely a VALUE to what they need for that particular recruiting year.

Eric Harris

[Guest]

Soccer Nut I will take it a set further.....and tell me if you agree or disagree. I believe and understand that college coaches recruit PLAYERS not teams. So in my opinion it doesn't matter what team you are on. If you out there performing as a players trust me they will find you. So it doesn't matter if you are A team B team C team etc if colleges are looking for certain positions to fill and trust me colleges do have NEEDS...WANTS...and if you want to come here thats up you type of offers. Trust me there is definitely a VALUE to what they need for that particular recruiting year.

Eric Harris

Eric, I agree colleges recruit players not teams, but you can only see so many players so that is why club is important. I have coached at the D1 and D3 college levels and can tell you resources are extremely limited in terms of how many events we can get to, games we can watch etc. We rely on local coaches we know often pointing out opposing players who may be a good fit for us too, so sportsmanship ends up huge in that case in addition to playing ability and fit for our team. I know we miss out on tons of girls that would be a great fit, but given logistical constraints, we only go to games, showcases and tournaments where certain teams play as we think those are best to find the players who are the best fit for us.

Coach Me

[Guest]

You guys should start your own thread :)

[Guest]

PDA has been and continues to be one of the top academies in the country for girls and that is a fact. That does not mean it’s the best for everyone just that it’s a great place that gives you opportunities and exposure. Just look at the track record it speak for itself.

Pretty much the only factual post on this thread.

[Guest]

I was told a long time ago when my D went to play at PDA they don’t develop players they develop teams I didn’t understand it at the time but now at the high school level it makes sense good luck to all and go USMNT

[Guest]

PDA has been and continues to be one of the top academies in the country for girls and that is a fact. That does not mean it’s the best for everyone just that it’s a great place that gives you opportunities and exposure. Just look at the track record it speak for itself.

Yes let’s look. At their home field and most recent showcase- PDA blue did not prove to be top dog and white and south were in the C and D brackets so not sure what to say there.
Then you look at the next gen and 1 team faired well 2009 blue. The white, South and 2010 all groups were not strong. So if we go by wins, PDA is currently not the top at each age group. Not in Nj and Not in the country. We can only go by recent performances. 75 games played since August and PDA blue isn’t the top dog and the rest are just that. And these are facts. Eric Harris how do you explain to the board the recent and consistent loses?

[Guest]

Soccer Nut I will take it a set further.....and tell me if you agree or disagree. I believe and understand that college coaches recruit PLAYERS not teams. So in my opinion it doesn't matter what team you are on. If you out there performing as a players trust me they will find you. So it doesn't matter if you are A team B team C team etc if colleges are looking for certain positions to fill and trust me colleges do have NEEDS...WANTS...and if you want to come here thats up you type of offers. Trust me there is definitely a VALUE to what they need for that particular recruiting year.

Eric Harris

Now this contradicts everything you have said before. You are now saying that if you are any team you will be found and it doesn’t matter where you play? How does that make any sense? We all know that the competition gets stronger when you play against top ranked teams. If you are shining on a field with D players against D teams how does get you noticed? It doesn’t - you know why? Because then when that same kid plays against the A team and can’t move the ball or loses it with every touch you see why. There are very few soccer players in the World that can carry an entire team. Not even Messi can do that.

[Guest]

Now this contradicts everything you have said before. You are now saying that if you are any team you will be found and it doesn’t matter where you play? How does that make any sense? We all know that the competition gets stronger when you play against top ranked teams. If you are shining on a field with D players against D teams how does get you noticed? It doesn’t - you know why? Because then when that same kid plays against the A team and can’t move the ball or loses it with every touch you see why. There are very few soccer players in the World that can carry an entire team. Not even Messi can do that.

Messi in his prime carried Argentina to the world cup final, so you should watch some highlights from 2014.