San Diego Surf SC Welcomes New Affiliate, New York Surf SC

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To add, I believe many kids will leave GDA for ECNL for this reason as well. The sub issue will be a big one.

Some GDA clubs aren't even doing the required 4 practices a week, only 3 which is the same as ECNL

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Many kids operate under the misconception ( fueled by parents) that winning only occurs on game day. Its important to define winning much more broadly. i want kids who define winning as getting better every day. Winning in practice. Winning in getting fit etc. I rarely have issues with kids on game day, but the level of practice is often not where it should be in terms of focus.

My hope is that the GDA environment will contain more kids willing to focus - irrespective of what their talent level is. Attitude, work rate and fitness do not have to be reserved for elite players, and al players can do it. Im not that concerned about other players quality. Never have been.

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Some GDA clubs aren't even doing the required 4 practices a week, only 3 which is the same as ECNL

Which GDA clubs are doing 3 practices a week?

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Many kids operate under the misconception ( fueled by parents) that winning only occurs on game day. Its important to define winning much more broadly. i want kids who define winning as getting better every day. Winning in practice. Winning in getting fit etc. I rarely have issues with kids on game day, but the level of practice is often not where it should be in terms of focus.

My hope is that the GDA environment will contain more kids willing to focus - irrespective of what their talent level is. Attitude, work rate and fitness do not have to be reserved for elite players, and al players can do it. Im not that concerned about other players quality. Never have been.

How can the players successfully execute higher level strategic play without like-minded team mates ready to play at that level? That is not something that can be accomplished alone. Have not come across as many girlsplayers that are interested in watching pro games and trying to understand and emulate the play. Some yes, but not that many.

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There are 2 sides to that argument and it depends on the player. I dont think that PDA is teaching anything that other places are not and I think the majority of the attraction is winning games- nothing more.

If you are a kid on an ECNL team playing 80 pct of the minuntes and getting good coaching are you better there or going to PDA to get similar coaching, play 50 pct of the minutes and win more games?

Its not a no brainer .

You're making the assumption that area ECNL clubs are as successful as PDA. They aren't .... in terms of ECNL success. Has EM, Alby or WC won as many individual team ECNL championships, been consistently ranked in the ECNL top ten, or won overall ECNL titles than PDA.

You're also assuming the central NJ area has the same caliber of coaches and training as PDA. I can't think of any area club that has produced more WNT players than PDA. You are going there for more than just W's. Kids have to be good to be there. Their tryout draw is big. And they have cuts well earlier than any other club I know (U9-U10). Tryout season is hell on kids as they are competing against each other in practices and games to make sure they keep their roster spot or not move down to the B team.

PDA wins games because they are that good.

What other area ECNL team has as good of coaching and success rate as PDA?

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You're making the assumption that area ECNL clubs are as successful as PDA. They aren't .... in terms of ECNL success. Has EM, Alby or WC won as many individual team ECNL championships, been consistently ranked in the ECNL top ten, or won overall ECNL titles than PDA.

You're also assuming the central NJ area has the same caliber of coaches and training as PDA. I can't think of any area club that has produced more WNT players than PDA. You are going there for more than just W's. Kids have to be good to be there. Their tryout draw is big. And they have cuts well earlier than any other club I know (U9-U10). Tryout season is hell on kids as they are competing against each other in practices and games to make sure they keep their roster spot or not move down to the B team.

PDA wins games because they are that good.

What other area ECNL team has as good of coaching and success rate as PDA?

I agree with you that PDA is a much more successful club than any other ECNL club in our area. Not sure I agree that their coaching is any better or worse than others. As you say, they attract a lot of players to tryouts, so they do not have to settle for taking kids who aren't good. My daughter's team has played their teams a few times, and I am always amazed that their rosters are really athletic/strong/fast 1-18. The coaches appear to get the most out of the talent, but the talent is definitely consistently higher because the prestige of the club attracts the best talent.

I wonder how many kids on their top U17 team started with PDA at U8/U9? Just curious.

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You're making the assumption that area ECNL clubs are as successful as PDA. They aren't .... in terms of ECNL success. Has EM, Alby or WC won as many individual team ECNL championships, been consistently ranked in the ECNL top ten, or won overall ECNL titles than PDA.

You're also assuming the central NJ area has the same caliber of coaches and training as PDA. I can't think of any area club that has produced more WNT players than PDA. You are going there for more than just W's. Kids have to be good to be there. Their tryout draw is big. And they have cuts well earlier than any other club I know (U9-U10). Tryout season is hell on kids as they are competing against each other in practices and games to make sure they keep their roster spot or not move down to the B team.

PDA wins games because they are that good.

What other area ECNL team has as good of coaching and success rate as PDA?

PDA has had more success, but all three clubs you mention have been in top ten with multiple age groups in multiple years. But, many kids go to PDA once they have developed and want to go to the big program because they feel they need to make that step. PDA attracts many more players then they have developed from very young. As most clubs do.

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PDA has had more success, but all three clubs you mention have been in top ten with multiple age groups in multiple years. But, many kids go to PDA once they have developed and want to go to the big program because they feel they need to make that step. PDA attracts many more players then they have developed from very young. As most clubs do.

Your claim that all 3 NYE ECNL clubs have had multiple age groups in top ten in multiple years, is a flat out lie.

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Your claim that all 3 NYE ECNL clubs have had multiple age groups in top ten in multiple years, is a flat out lie.

I think that claim is at least partially correct. Albertson and EMSC have been in the top ten in certain age groups multiple times to finish the season on multiple occasions. I'm not sure about World Class though.

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You're making the assumption that area ECNL clubs are as successful as PDA. They aren't .... in terms of ECNL success. Has EM, Alby or WC won as many individual team ECNL championships, been consistently ranked in the ECNL top ten, or won overall ECNL titles than PDA.

You're also assuming the central NJ area has the same caliber of coaches and training as PDA. I can't think of any area club that has produced more WNT players than PDA. You are going there for more than just W's. Kids have to be good to be there. Their tryout draw is big. And they have cuts well earlier than any other club I know (U9-U10). Tryout season is hell on kids as they are competing against each other in practices and games to make sure they keep their roster spot or not move down to the B team.

PDA wins games because they are that good.

What other area ECNL team has as good of coaching and success rate as PDA?

You define success very differently to me , but thats ok. How many YNT players do PDA have who have been there 2 years or longer? parents are seduced by the name, the brand. Thats also fine. But I dont think they are any better at coaching or training or College placement than any other Club ( unless you want to go to Rutgers)

They have done a great job of leveraging the name from when they were the only game in town. have to respect that.

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I agree with you that PDA is a much more successful club than any other ECNL club in our area. Not sure I agree that their coaching is any better or worse than others. As you say, they attract a lot of players to tryouts, so they do not have to settle for taking kids who aren't good. My daughter's team has played their teams a few times, and I am always amazed that their rosters are really athletic/strong/fast 1-18. The coaches appear to get the most out of the talent, but the talent is definitely consistently higher because the prestige of the club attracts the best talent.

I wonder how many kids on their top U17 team started with PDA at U8/U9? Just curious.

How many kids on the PDA U-17 team are on a YNT now?

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PDA has had more success, but all three clubs you mention have been in top ten with multiple age groups in multiple years. But, many kids go to PDA once they have developed and want to go to the big program because they feel they need to make that step. PDA attracts many more players then they have developed from very young. As most clubs do.

I think everyone would agree PDA has had more success. Interestingly, I looked up this years top 25 for each of the 6 girls age groups from Top Drawer (slow work day)

U13: EM #9, PDA #12, WC #12
U14: PDA #8
U15: EM #11
U16: PDA #14
U17: PDA #14
U18: PDA#2

I was surprised to see no Alby on this list anywhere to be honest. Kudos to PDA for being in 5 of 6 groups.

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I think that claim is at least partially correct. Albertson and EMSC have been in the top ten in certain age groups multiple times to finish the season on multiple occasions. I'm not sure about World Class though.

Nope, still not true...unless you're referring to "top 10" in their conference, lol. EM and Alby are lucky if they can squeak out 1 team per club that even comes close to top 10. Currently, there isn't a NYE team that ranks above 6th in their conference, most hang closer to 8 or lower. The best 6th in conference gets you is a wc.

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I think everyone would agree PDA has had more success. Interestingly, I looked up this years top 25 for each of the 6 girls age groups from Top Drawer (slow work day)

U13: EM #9, PDA #12, WC #12
U14: PDA #8
U15: EM #11
U16: PDA #14
U17: PDA #14
U18: PDA#2

I was surprised to see no Alby on this list anywhere to be honest. Kudos to PDA for being in 5 of 6 groups.

This is CLUB soccer. No one gets anything from these results other than the marketing guys who convince you to join them. I honestly dont care what the results are. All my kid wants from Club soccer is good training,a manageable game schedule and a few friends.

I cant think of anyone, outside the kids who won and the coaches , who cares about these "rankings"

All of these kids outside of the elite players (who are by no means all at PDA) end up at similar schools.

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Nope, still not true...unless you're referring to "top 10" in their conference, lol. EM and Alby are lucky if they can squeak out 1 team per club that even comes close to top 10. Currently, there isn't a NYE team that ranks above 6th in their conference, most hang closer to 8 or lower. The best 6th in conference gets you is a wc.

Yes..and in spite of that they have at least 4 YNT players in the Club. 2 homegrown