Is PDA the best academy in NJ for girls college recruiting? Thinking of moving my daughter to this club. Thoughts on other academies, clubs, or avenues other than PDA that would give my daughter college recruitment opportunities better than PDA would…
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Define "better." Better colleges? Better soccer programs? Sure they do very well, but they also aggregate a lot of talent. Chicken or the egg?. It also doesn't mean 1)players can't get recruited from other clubs 2) it's a good fit for your daughter. Sitting on a good team isn't good for anyoneOriginally posted by Guest View Post
Finally, much of the process is dependent on 1) how good the player is 2) how well they target appropriate programs 3)how much effort they put into it. Clubs don't do any of the heavy lifting, the player does. They advise on targeting and make some phone calls on a players behalf. The player identifies target schools and programs, prepare their own resume and video, reach out to coaches and stay in frequent contact, play like heck in front of coaches. PDA opens more doors but after that it's all on the player -
My experience is avoid MFA. Players that left MFA in prime years landed college spots. Those that stayed had no takers or very undesirable schools. True that there’s a lot of effort on the players side.Comment
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PDA trainers at it again. PDA will take anyone. If you’re not A team just run away. Watching these teams in off season winter leagues is embarrassing. They absolutely stink. No sense of the game at all. Just rec kids paying way to much to wear tshirtsComment
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^ yes PDA blue is preferred. If not don't go out of your way unless it really is the best fit/option for your player. Lots of other options out there and the player does all the work. The clubs and leagues provide a platformComment
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PDA white has a good college placement rate. Look at the facts.
MFA is a bunch of BSersComment
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As with any of these clubs, see if you can look at not only their college placements, but whether or not those players actually played in college (and if so, how much time and how many years). Have definitely found that many players from these clubs don't last more than 2 years on their college rosters, and some don't even make their freshman roster. College placement rate for placement's sake is pointless unless the player (a) actually loves the school, and (b) will actually get to play on the team.Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
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Other clubs do similar. Don't do white unless it's a good fit all around. B teams aren't always treated the same at many clubs and B team parents sometimes have chips on their shoulders the size of bouldersOriginally posted by Guest View PostComment
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Excellent point. It's not just about landing a slot but finding success. However the drop out rate after 2 years us high regardless of club. Playing time, burnout, injuries, overwhelming schedules all take a toll. Clubs can only advise players on what are good targets. Some don't advise well, but many families don't listen to the advice. Targeting good fit programs is vital, even if that means taking a hit to one's ego. Face it, very few players are top D1 material, including most of your kids.Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
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Really not all that concerned about players transferring. The transfer rate of a student-athlete is less than the general population. In summary, students are going to change their mind, soccer players or not. This is just fodder for discussion, but not an issue to be concerned with.Comment
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The point wasn't about transfers, it was about placements that result in poor fits and players not actually getting to play. Whether they transfer or not is a secondary point.Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
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Parents choosing tiny scholarships over quality schools...you are failing your children. FYI, PDA has nothing to do with it. If you child is a player, the schools will find you. The reason PDA blue has good college numbers is bc they have good players. They would obtain those numbers wherever they played. Don't ride the bench or choose a B team bc you think that is what is best. Choose mental health and support.Comment
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So, if a school is a perfect academic, financial, geographical fit, and that means being on a team without much chance of playing, is this considered a good or bad thing? Do future employers look at how many minutes they play?Originally posted by Guest View Post
We harp on kids "academics first" and as soon as that happens, TS gets their panties knotted up.Comment
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PDA Blue is the best for recruitment and no, my daughter doesn't play there. They simply have connections and reputation and they leverage it well. Other ECNL clubs will get you recruited but it takes a lot of work.Comment
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If a school is a perfect fit for academics, financial and geography, then that's great! And if soccer is a low-enough priority where the player doesn't actually care if she plays, then that is awesome. But I thought the thread was asking about PDA being the best place for college soccer placement, which implies that the person was interested in the soccer component of it.Originally posted by Guest View Post
If your point is about using soccer as a way to get accepted into your dream college and not really caring whether or not you end up playing, then I actually agree with your point. But in that circumstance, asking if PDA is the best club for college placement is irrelevant to your goals. If you know your shortlist of dream schools, target those schools directly, and as long as you are on a team that plays in a highly competitive environment (ECNL, GA, etc), you'll have as good a shot as any (PDA or any other). The only exception to this is if your dream school is Rutgers...if your dream school is Rutgers, then PDA would be the best option for you.Comment
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