Sri

[Unregistered]

us club soccer

That was less true 5 to 10 years ago, but with the consolidation of premier, emergence of NEP/NPL, and the failure of SRI/superliga to adapt, the gap is becoming is greater.

so many things to fix that it is almost intractable without some major disruption like the impact of US Club at the higher levels of play to occur at the superliga/town level. there has been too much influence by those who make a significant part of their living from soccer in decision-making leadership roles. You ended up with stupid rules from the past like the 3 town rule or the impossible process to create alternative leagues that was actually bad for premier (despite some of the premier clubs thinking it was a good rule), ensured crappy town programs and bad management could endure, and kept a downward slide to quantity over quality when it came to superliga. Plus, I have never understood how you can have a state association with no focus on recreational soccer (well except having the TOPS and occasional promotion of Kohls cup)..

Geez, what happened to the R1 commissioner (from Rhode Island) who was forced out under the cloud of misappropriation of a boatload of money..that is a microcosm for RI.

Is there a local league under US Club soccer aside from NEP or NPL? Without somewhere to go by default USYS and SuperLiga/Maple are the only options.

[Unregistered]

Almost like rec? If it were a little better it would be almost like rec.

Dont bother ,This guy is to smart for his gene pool.

[Unregistered]

Is there a local league under US Club soccer aside from NEP or NPL? Without somewhere to go by default USYS and SuperLiga/Maple are the only options.

The question is can associations (teams?) join US Club and form their own leagues - given it seems most town associations couldn't care a lick about USYS State Cup and those outlier premiers have MAPLE or Region 1 leagues to satisfy the league requirement, couldn't some go getting association heads make their own league via US Club?

[Unregistered]

The question is can associations (teams?) join US Club and form their own leagues - given it seems most town associations couldn't care a lick about USYS State Cup and those outlier premiers have MAPLE or Region 1 leagues to satisfy the league requirement, couldn't some go getting association heads make their own league via US Club?

I think we've gone full circle. I would believe it's possible for some associations to band together and make their own league. If you've ever attended an SRI or Superliga meeting you can see how difficult this would be. OD at SuperLiga is stuck in a time warp, this would make his head spin.

[Unregistered]

That was less true 5 to 10 years ago, but with the consolidation of premier, emergence of NEP/NPL, and the failure of SRI/superliga to adapt, the gap is becoming is greater.

so many things to fix that it is almost intractable without some major disruption like the impact of US Club at the higher levels of play to occur at the superliga/town level. there has been too much influence by those who make a significant part of their living from soccer in decision-making leadership roles. You ended up with stupid rules from the past like the 3 town rule or the impossible process to create alternative leagues that was actually bad for premier (despite some of the premier clubs thinking it was a good rule), ensured crappy town programs and bad management could endure, and kept a downward slide to quantity over quality when it came to superliga. Plus, I have never understood how you can have a state association with no focus on recreational soccer (well except having the TOPS and occasional promotion of Kohls cup)..

Geez, what happened to the R1 commissioner (from Rhode Island) who was forced out under the cloud of misappropriation of a boatload of money..that is a microcosm for RI.

The former R1 Commish got a job at FIFA..he obviously knows how to "get things done the FIFA way"..

[Unregistered]

The only greed driving the cart in RI and New England Soccer are the Clubs trying to make a dime. Every year or two for the last ten regenerating a new acronym and developing a new league. They've done this in the interest of exclusivity because the Clubs were just barely beating the best towns teams. The only way around this was to stop competing against the town teams by forming their own league. They dumped on Super Liga and went to Maple, and the towns went to Maple. When Maple didn't exclude the towns, they formed their own league, and now dump on Maple. The town team competitive teams are all now much worse off, the town rec leagues are decimated, and a large majority of the kids are now giving up the sport by U12. This has nothing to do with Maple or Super Liga and everything to do with former soccer players trying to make a living by forming or coaching a team. The development model is severely broken but it has nothing to do with Super Liga or Maple so go shoot your bullets somewhere else.

[Unregistered]

The only greed driving the cart in RI and New England Soccer are the Clubs trying to make a dime. Every year or two for the last ten regenerating a new acronym and developing a new league. They've done this in the interest of exclusivity because the Clubs were just barely beating the best towns teams. The only way around this was to stop competing against the town teams by forming their own league. They dumped on Super Liga and went to Maple, and the towns went to Maple. When Maple didn't exclude the towns, they formed their own league, and now dump on Maple. The town team competitive teams are all now much worse off, the town rec leagues are decimated, and a large majority of the kids are now giving up the sport by U12. This has nothing to do with Maple or Super Liga and everything to do with former soccer players trying to make a living by forming or coaching a team. The development model is severely broken but it has nothing to do with Super Liga or Maple so go shoot your bullets somewhere else.

Agree with much of this and yes the clubs have moved around and now have US Club Soccer and NEP. The original topic was SRI and it's ignorance or inability to adapt to reality. SuperLiga and Maple have gotten hosed because town level soccer is falling apart.

[Unregistered]

The only greed driving the cart in RI and New England Soccer are the Clubs trying to make a dime. Every year or two for the last ten regenerating a new acronym and developing a new league. They've done this in the interest of exclusivity because the Clubs were just barely beating the best towns teams. The only way around this was to stop competing against the town teams by forming their own league. They dumped on Super Liga and went to Maple, and the towns went to Maple. When Maple didn't exclude the towns, they formed their own league, and now dump on Maple. The town team competitive teams are all now much worse off, the town rec leagues are decimated, and a large majority of the kids are now giving up the sport by U12. This has nothing to do with Maple or Super Liga and everything to do with former soccer players trying to make a living by forming or coaching a team. The development model is severely broken but it has nothing to do with Super Liga or Maple so go shoot your bullets somewhere else.

This by far the dumbest post I ever came across here in TS land written by a town admin or a delusion parent who been brainwashed. Town soccer serve a purpose so as premier and academy. To identify the best players at their level and move them on to the next level. Here lies the problem with young soccer in Rhode Island. Town vs Premier. It has been going on since I can remember. Soccer development follow a certain progression. You move from one level to another. Coaches will identify players for the right program. That is why at the elite level there are only so much roster spot available. To say the premier clubs are scare of town clubs is foolish at best. Once in awhile a town team will beat a premier team. That is part of the game. Have you watch FA Cup? Once in awhile a 2nd or 3rd division can beat a team in the English Premier League. Does that make the 2nd or 3rd division better? No, however there are that special moment the merical does happen. So please give it a rest. That is why Rhode Island is so far behind in youth soccer and the development of our players. The disconnect and lack of understanding of the roles we all play in the development of players in RI. By the way I coach at the town level.

[Unregistered]

Actually, the previous poster is largely on point. You would like to believe youth soccer in our area is set up to progress kids from a lower level to higher level and maybe in some cases that actually happens, but instead it's a money grab by most (not all) of the premier clubs out there. Parents are foolish not to see that this is more about youth soccer being a billion dollar business than development of players. Do you really think kids playing on Bayside or NEFC's "C" teams are ever going to progress to their NPL teams? Then why does the club take them and keep them? $$$$$ The NEP teams absolutely pushed for a new league (NEP) because town teams were being allowed into Maple. They weren't afraid of playing the town teams occasionally (ie State Cup), but they couldn't let parents perceive that they could get a similar experience and pay a fraction of the cost vs paying to join their club so they needed to create a new league that would be perceived to be better. If you know any of the SRI staff and talk to them (off the record) they will tell you they blew the whole premier side by allowing too many premier clubs to be formed in RI and then they couldn't control the beast they created. The original concept was to have a true premier level of play for RI's best players but once everyone realized they could make more $$$ by starting premier clubs SRI couldn't control the stampede for parents $$$. Last year SRI came up with the idea of a "scorecard" so parents could actually compare premier clubs, cost, success, etc. Have you seen it yet? Of course not, that's the last thing premier clubs want parents to see! You can believe whatever you want, but that's a true insiders view...

[Unregistered]

But shouldn't players who play on a big club's C team still have a place to develop that is better than the town league and the uncommitted rec players that they are playing with there. Sometimes people are just not finding what they need in their travel club for whatever reason, and if the only "moving up" a player does is to reach their own personal best (not some NPL team), the town program should encourage that as well, instead of ridiculing and deriding them for leaving their program. You know why they do that? Same reason you fault premier clubs ... they want that players $$$.

[Unregistered]

But shouldn't players who play on a big club's C team still have a place to develop that is better than the town league and the uncommitted rec players that they are playing with there. Sometimes people are just not finding what they need in their travel club for whatever reason, and if the only "moving up" a player does is to reach their own personal best (not some NPL team), the town program should encourage that as well, instead of ridiculing and deriding them for leaving their program. You know why they do that? Same reason you fault premier clubs ... they want that players $$$.

Right on point... Town club in Cranston charge $500 (tournaments not included). Same here in Cumberland. Add them up and the average cost including tournaments is right around $800-$900. And you get some coaches who don't know crap about game. Not saying all premier coaches are the best.

The bottom line here is all kids aspire to hopefully play on the top team. If not and they still enjoy competing at a level best match their skills. So what if with a premier or town club. It is market driving. No one forces players to join premier or town other then their parents. My kid play on a premier team and also with our town club because he enjoy it and we can afford. Again, my issue is this propaganda between town and premier are not good for player development in RI. Ocean State Soccer is one example. They don't allow premier players playing on their select teams. Guess who gets hurt by this rule, the kids. Heard they are now affiliated with Bruno United which is great.

[Unregistered]

Actually, the previous poster is largely on point. You would like to believe youth soccer in our area is set up to progress kids from a lower level to higher level and maybe in some cases that actually happens, but instead it's a money grab by most (not all) of the premier clubs out there. Parents are foolish not to see that this is more about youth soccer being a billion dollar business than development of players. Do you really think kids playing on Bayside or NEFC's "C" teams are ever going to progress to their NPL teams? Then why does the club take them and keep them? $$$$$ The NEP teams absolutely pushed for a new league (NEP) because town teams were being allowed into Maple. They weren't afraid of playing the town teams occasionally (ie State Cup), but they couldn't let parents perceive that they could get a similar experience and pay a fraction of the cost vs paying to join their club so they needed to create a new league that would be perceived to be better. If you know any of the SRI staff and talk to them (off the record) they will tell you they blew the whole premier side by allowing too many premier clubs to be formed in RI and then they couldn't control the beast they created. The original concept was to have a true premier level of play for RI's best players but once everyone realized they could make more $$$ by starting premier clubs SRI couldn't control the stampede for parents $$$. Last year SRI came up with the idea of a "scorecard" so parents could actually compare premier clubs, cost, success, etc. Have you seen it yet? Of course not, that's the last thing premier clubs want parents to see! You can believe whatever you want, but that's a true insiders view...

True and add the thinking that produced the 3 community rule or that without any discussion changed the definition of "premier" from being in a premier league (fine when MAPLE excluded RI town teams) to being in a "premier" club, which of course access (just like creating a league) is controlled by the same people with the financial vested interest to
keep these distinctions (premier to justify the significant price differential especially when town teams could play in MAPLE; superliga and SRI to keep more associations and thus more teams which means more dues, superliga registrations, etc.).

Add to the long list of things SRI "blew". Could have had a quality small state complex (a la what you see in Farmington CT with CT Soccer); could have promoted a system of establishment by qualifications (kind of like NEP assuming NEP follows its own rules) to be awarded a premier designation (hell, SRI couldn't even follow the "4 team" rule for premier clubs), established a state wide Academy program for u8-u10 instead of the mess that came about because superliga $$ driven need for 7 year olds to travel all over the state to play counter productive matches (which also feeds the parental cultural of my kid needs to be in competitive early and playing all these matches or heaven forbid that D1 scholarship a decade away won't happen)..could have had a real ODP (player identification and development) instead of the nice "pay (or fundraise) to play nice side gig for premier coaches". could have driven the consolidation of town associations into more regional programs with the economies of scale so you wouldn't feel compelled to be on the "c" team of a premier because quality A and B teams at each appropriate age level would exist (sort of like the model lacrosse uses).

Add simple greed -- SRI charges $600 or so dollars for state cup tournament when only one team enters -- or two. that alone is outrageous, but add that it discourages a true state open type tournament..

[Unregistered]

But shouldn't players who play on a big club's C team still have a place to develop that is better than the town league and the uncommitted rec players that they are playing with there. Sometimes people are just not finding what they need in their travel club for whatever reason, and if the only "moving up" a player does is to reach their own personal best (not some NPL team), the town program should encourage that as well, instead of ridiculing and deriding them for leaving their program. You know why they do that? Same reason you fault premier clubs ... they want that players $$$.

I would say with the current state of things (at least in my town) after u12/u14 there is a significant drop off in
1. Talent - because players move to club
2. Commitment - many multi sport athletes with conflicts
3. Parental Interest in Soccer - they don't know what they don't know
4. Qualified Coaches - move with their kids to club

If you are a fringe player who isn't an "A" team player in a big club, it's understandable to take a roster spot on a "B" or "C" team. You'll have a better overall experience and you'll have kids who show up consistently for training and games. Not everyone is a Messi or will make an academy team or whatever, but they can learn and enjoy this beautiful game. If the parents have the disposable income to support it, it's their money and their choice how to spend it.

[Unregistered]

I would say with the current state of things (at least in my town) after u12/u14 there is a significant drop off in
1. Talent - because players move to club
2. Commitment - many multi sport athletes with conflicts
3. Parental Interest in Soccer - they don't know what they don't know
4. Qualified Coaches - move with their kids to club

If you are a fringe player who isn't an "A" team player in a big club, it's understandable to take a roster spot on a "B" or "C" team. You'll have a better overall experience and you'll have kids who show up consistently for training and games. Not everyone is a Messi or will make an academy team or whatever, but they can learn and enjoy this beautiful game. If the parents have the disposable income to support it, it's their money and their choice how to spend it.

Correct. This is the reason my child first went to club. Got sick of having half the team miss practice and games all the time because there just was no commitment to the team and soccer. Wanted to find like minded players, and that was at a premier club. Not to mention all the other soccer-first and talented kids on the team had already gone to premier, so the quality of the team had fallen off considerably.

[Unregistered]

Right on point... Town club in Cranston charge $500 (tournaments not included). Same here in Cumberland. Add them up and the average cost including tournaments is right around $800-$900. And you get some coaches who don't know crap about game. Not saying all premier coaches are the best.

The bottom line here is all kids aspire to hopefully play on the top team. If not and they still enjoy competing at a level best match their skills. So what if with a premier or town club. It is market driving. No one forces players to join premier or town other then their parents. My kid play on a premier team and also with our town club because he enjoy it and we can afford. Again, my issue is this propaganda between town and premier are not good for player development in RI. Ocean State Soccer is one example. They don't allow premier players playing on their select teams. Guess who gets hurt by this rule, the kids. Heard they are now affiliated with Bruno United which is great.

Good point..don't forget the twisting from superliga about the premier rule or incredible lack of roster flexibility.. and the vocal town coaches who would cry about towns that did allow a few premier kids to play..

I heard the same crap that premier kids don't show up or are taking a spot from a town player..will it's never 100% one way or the other, but most premier kids (not all, but most) are doing both because it adds to their fun and they're committed to soccer..sure, maybe they can't make all training, but as a town coach, I loved when (the right) premier kids wanted to do both. They usually up the attitude in training, allowed us to be more competitive, and didn't mind that they were playing where and how the coach needed them and often that was a nice break (different position, less pressure, more freedom to try things on the field) from their premier club situation.

Plus, for the most part, these were kids that were going to or were playing in MS/HS together and for 95% of them, HS soccer was going to be their pinnacle..

It's not only the kids, but look at Ocean State..used to have something like 40 competitive teams and a handful doing okay in MAPLE and not embarrassing themselves in state cup or out of state tournaments against "premier" teams as well as a robust Academy program..now the affiliation with Bruno is more out of desperation than for the players..North Kingstown soccer even worse..pathetic you can't even get two associations in serious decline to put their egos aside for the kids..

For SRI - add to the list -- the incredibly slow adaption and support for coaching development..again, another "money" maker for those in the "club'..we have a B license coach and SRI wouldn't allow him to do internal Y1/y2/E license (heaven forbid our coaches would have to pay more $ and drive 35 minutes after work 6 times over 3 to 5 weeks because only the SRI "expert' could impart some basic coaching lessons..)