Is it worth playing for an academy if…

[Guest]

Is it worth playing for an academy if your town team/club plays almost every time near the same flight and could compete with academy teams in top tournaments like FC Delco, Jeff Cup, WAGS? I’m talking about U13+ and what do you guys think?

[Guest]

Is it worth playing for an academy if your town team/club plays almost every time near the same flight and could compete with academy teams in top tournaments like FC Delco, Jeff Cup, WAGS? I’m talking about U13+ and what do you guys think?

All about the training and development. The U13+ team may compete now, but likely won’t in the future. But if the training is high level now and the players push your child to be better, then town team probably fine.

[Guest]

I think if you are competing with top teams …stay with your town team.

[Guest]

I don’t see a single town team in top 5 brackets at Jeff cup U13. So I’m assuming program is competing with lower tier academies and/or ECRL (?) and that is still impressive because most towns struggle to keep a strong team together at that age. IMO, no need to make a lateral move to one of those clubs if your program can stay together. BUT, those are not the top teams in the state. Most of the top teams aren’t even playing those tournaments at the older ages.

[Guest]

I don’t see a single town team in top 5 brackets at Jeff cup U13. So I’m assuming program is competing with lower tier academies and/or ECRL (?) and that is still impressive because most towns struggle to keep a strong team together at that age. IMO, no need to make a lateral move to one of those clubs if your program can stay together. BUT, those are not the top teams in the state. Most of the top teams aren’t even playing those tournaments at the older ages.

I said u13+ not just u13.

[Guest]

I don’t see a single town team in top 5 brackets at Jeff cup U13. So I’m assuming program is competing with lower tier academies and/or ECRL (?) and that is still impressive because most towns struggle to keep a strong team together at that age. IMO, no need to make a lateral move to one of those clubs if your program can stay together. BUT, those are not the top teams in the state. Most of the top teams aren’t even playing those tournaments at the older ages.

I gave a few examples chat. There are also showcases too like Jeff Cup, PDA, etc

[Guest]

There isn’t a town team that plays top teams at u14+. Playing an academy C team in EDP is nothing to brag about and is awful soccer.

[Guest]

I said u13+ not just u13.

I wasn’t trying to be a jerk but sometimes people don’t appreciate how big a difference there is between the top 5 clubs u13+ and a top 15-20 club even with a big academy name associated with it.

[Guest]

What town teams are still top 10-15 at those age groups? Maybe Wall on girls side, Torpedoes on boys. Anyone else?

[Guest]

Is it worth playing for an academy if your town team/club plays almost every time near the same flight and could compete with academy teams in top tournaments like FC Delco, Jeff Cup, WAGS? I’m talking about U13+ and what do you guys think?

At U13 and above, most of the top teams are no longer attending those tournaments so you'll never know if you can compete with them and you are not getting exposure for the future. They are at ECNL showcases instead of WAGS, Jeff Cup etc.

[Guest]

Is it worth playing for an academy if your town team/club plays almost every time near the same flight and could compete with academy teams in top tournaments like FC Delco, Jeff Cup, WAGS? I’m talking about U13+ and what do you guys think?

Depends on your goals. If your kid wants to have a great high school soccer career and then just play recreationally after that, then stay with the town team. If your kid wants to play in college, go to the academy team where college coaches will feel more comfortable with the credible of having that academy experience.