Girls Soccer

[Unregistered]

Agree PDA several levels above all other clubs in this area. Other ECNL/GDA clubs have whole teams leaving them and so much other drama. PDA is an a league all their own.

[Unregistered]

Big PDA supporter and if you can get on the ECNL teams that’s the way to go. Stay away from other dumpster fires like MFA, PSA, CSA, I guess even STA with what’s going on there now. PDA Shore still has the letters on the chest but does not attract the same level talent or gets the respect as at Zerapath. Lots of instability at those other clubs which only leads to one obvious choice in NJ, PDA ECNL.

[Unregistered]

Big PDA supporter and if you can get on the ECNL teams that’s the way to go. Stay away from other dumpster fires like MFA, PSA, CSA, I guess even STA with what’s going on there now. PDA Shore still has the letters on the chest but does not attract the same level talent or gets the respect as at Zerapath. Lots of instability at those other clubs which only leads to one obvious choice in NJ, PDA ECNL.

OK Dad - hope you aren’t on the White team, as they are literal B teams and treated as such by PDA

[Unregistered]

So what do you want this dude to reference? How about USYNT call ups? How you quantifying ‘for the individual kids’. My kid is at another ECNL club but PDA clearly the strongest around and to say ‘prove it’ but you are not allowed to quote results, achievements or college commits leaves what a subjective view of improvement?

What is the point of a soccer Club? I'm guessing it is different things to different people. For some it is all about results. For others its about individual development with a view to improving College options. I'm sure there are many other things other people could add.

Results to what end? What does winning games really achieve for the individual? Especially when its often winning games that on a relative talent basis you should win anyways? If you have better players, then surely you should be winning.

College commits should also be better given the relative strength of player pools. Are they? Yes there are more on a pure numbers basis, but thats a pretty meaningless statistic. You would need to dig a lot deeper to compare Clubs. Lets face it, the only commit that counts is the one your kid makes. I dont see any evidence the PDA are any more likely to secure that for a player than several other clubs.

PDA are a very good Club, but they are not the only one capable of delivering on many of the things people look for. Like i said, winning games vs teams you have a big personnel advantage over should be expected. If attracting better players is the measure , then sure PDA are the best.

Over the years I have seen all the other Clubs in the area develop and grow YNT players. In the early years PDA and FC Stars led the way, in recent times far less so. PDA used to consistently have the "best" player in the area for most age groups. Not so much now.

[Unregistered]

What is the point of a soccer Club? I'm guessing it is different things to different people. For some it is all about results. For others its about individual development with a view to improving College options. I'm sure there are many other things other people could add.

Results to what end? What does winning games really achieve for the individual? Especially when its often winning games that on a relative talent basis you should win anyways? If you have better players, then surely you should be winning.

College commits should also be better given the relative strength of player pools. Are they? Yes there are more on a pure numbers basis, but thats a pretty meaningless statistic. You would need to dig a lot deeper to compare Clubs. Lets face it, the only commit that counts is the one your kid makes. I dont see any evidence the PDA are any more likely to secure that for a player than several other clubs.

PDA are a very good Club, but they are not the only one capable of delivering on many of the things people look for. Like i said, winning games vs teams you have a big personnel advantage over should be expected. If attracting better players is the measure , then sure PDA are the best.

Over the years I have seen all the other Clubs in the area develop and grow YNT players. In the early years PDA and FC Stars led the way, in recent times far less so. PDA used to consistently have the "best" player in the area for most age groups. Not so much now.

"Best" player in the area is very subjective...not really a great measurement of a club

[Unregistered]

The only other quality non ECNL team round these parts was STA DA but that will be quite depleated with SC’s departure. They can rightfully go back to being a PDA ECNL feeder now, thank you very much.

[Unregistered]

"Best" player in the area is very subjective...not really a great measurement of a club

OP and yes, I agree. What is a good measure? for me its facilities and coaches.

[Unregistered]

If you can get your daughter on PDA that is by far the best option in the region. Their teams typically dominate and sometimes embarrass the other local clubs in front of college scouts. Not the best option to be on the other team when that happens. PDA has really been the only club not affected by the GDA.

[Unregistered]

If you can get your daughter on PDA that is by far the best option in the region. Their teams typically dominate and sometimes embarrass the other local clubs in front of college scouts. Not the best option to be on the other team when that happens. PDA has really been the only club not affected by the GDA.

Why is embarrassing other teams go for an individual? Im assuming that College coaches want to see kids compete. You get a better feel for a player when they are evenly matched vs a good opponent. Why is playing on a team far superior better? PDA may suit you and yours, but its not for everyone. They have good and bad coaches like everyone else

[Unregistered]

If you can get your daughter on PDA that is by far the best option in the region. Their teams typically dominate and sometimes embarrass the other local clubs in front of college scouts. Not the best option to be on the other team when that happens. PDA has really been the only club not affected by the GDA.

Curious...how does that assist in individual development?
PDA does not provide a challenging environment for kids to develop in. Even when its clear they are dominating and they should be playing up in order to give the girls a different environment, they don’t do it.

Remember they were in GDA, we can debate why they left but one thing that will speak for itself is that their track record was not as good as it is in ECNL for the short time they participated.

[Unregistered]

Curious...how does that assist in individual development?
PDA does not provide a challenging environment for kids to develop in. Even when its clear they are dominating and they should be playing up in order to give the girls a different environment, they don’t do it.

Remember they were in GDA, we can debate why they left but one thing that will speak for itself is that their track record was not as good as it is in ECNL for the short time they participated.

the sub rules in GDA at the time really impacted the bigger, deeper clubs. All of a sudden in games they could not win by being deeper. They had to control the tempo and pace of games better. AT that point, it suddenly became about "developing" the lower part of the roster. It became so "unfair" on the kids who did not get into games. HS suddenly became so important.

The cynic in me says that winning games is PDAs most important marketing tool and anything that impacted that was not well met. PDA has gone back to ECNL and thats cool. Depth is huge in leagues that allow frequent subs. You dont have to have lots of top end quality, but if you can recruit your rivals "better" players you can cripple the smaller clubs and bolster your depth. They do that very well.

[Unregistered]

the sub rules in GDA at the time really impacted the bigger, deeper clubs. All of a sudden in games they could not win by being deeper. They had to control the tempo and pace of games better. AT that point, it suddenly became about "developing" the lower part of the roster. It became so "unfair" on the kids who did not get into games. HS suddenly became so important.

The cynic in me says that winning games is PDAs most important marketing tool and anything that impacted that was not well met. PDA has gone back to ECNL and thats cool. Depth is huge in leagues that allow frequent subs. You dont have to have lots of top end quality, but if you can recruit your rivals "better" players you can cripple the smaller clubs and bolster your depth. They do that very well.

You are just jealous your kid can’t make PDA!

[Unregistered]

You are just jealous your kid can’t make PDA!

Is this the same guy as before?

[Unregistered]

Is this the same guy as before?

Nope just reading this thread - my kid is on an ECNL team not pda, but one that is near the bottom of the ECNL. If pda was a geographic option for us and she could make the team she would be there in a heart beat. From reading the various threads on these boards and my experience with my kids ECNL team, people have their kids play ECNL so they will play D1 soccer. There is no other reason to play ecnl other than the possibility of a scholarship to a d1 school. What club commits the most kids to D1 - PDA - just look on top drawer or soccer wire. For whatever reason PDA in this region commits the most kids to D1. And at the end of the day the D1 ride is the prize most parents and kids are going after. PDA provides the best chance for the prize. It’s simple really. Doesn’t matter what else they do or don’t do - they give your kid the best chance for the D1 commitment.

[Unregistered]

Completely agree if you want a real shot at D1 try to make PDA ECNL top team anything else is smoke and mirrors money grab, might as well play EDP for a top team.