Announcement

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2021, 10:39 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Where did the kids actually play to develop? Most of those kids arrived there late in the club careers (particularly the kids at Rutgers and UNC).

Some of the kids are not even playing at those schools listed. One thing to go there, another to get on the field.

I think there are injuries with some of the players. UVA had 5 PF players 2019 season and they played. Several graduated and are in NWSL.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2021, 10:44 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Where did the kids actually play to develop? Most of those kids arrived there late in the club careers (particularly the kids at Rutgers and UNC).

Some of the kids are not even playing at those schools listed. One thing to go there, another to get on the field.

What is considered late? Isn't 13/14 yrs old the time most serious players move to destination clubs? If you play 3-4 yrs at a club, they contributed to development as well. That is when the game gets faster, opponents get tougher, etc. It can be easy to dominate when younger.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2021, 11:40 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Where did the kids actually play to develop? Most of those kids arrived there late in the club careers (particularly the kids at Rutgers and UNC).

Some of the kids are not even playing at those schools listed. One thing to go there, another to get on the field.

Of course they did. Happens all over the country and all over the world. Players can end up being held back by staying at their current club due to a number of factors, then need to move to push on in their development. Coaching, facilities, level of competition to name but a few. Happens at the youth level and pro level. This isn't a negative, it's a positive. It's players moving on to the next level of play. Great to see a club like Penn Fusion playing a key role in moving players on to that next level!

**Unregistered** · 05-14-2021, 07:26 AM

I think this is one of the points. If the coaching was that good, they'd be developing these players instead of them moving over at 15 or 16. The big EPA clubs are not doing a great job of developing these players. Cherry picking players and then still not getting great results is why I think a lot of people are down on PF, FCD, Bucks. All have significant drawing areas (as far as PA goes), all rely on kids coming into the program late. It is disingenuous to take credit for kids who spend 6-7-8 years playing elsewhere.

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

What is considered late? Isn't 13/14 yrs old the time most serious players move to destination clubs? If you play 3-4 yrs at a club, they contributed to development as well. That is when the game gets faster, opponents get tougher, etc. It can be easy to dominate when younger.

**Unregistered** · 05-14-2021, 08:00 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

What are you talking about? Currently kids at UNC, UVA, Rutgers, PennState, Georgetown, Duke; not 5 yrs out. Several recently graduated playing nwsl and abroad. Not 10 yrs out.

And some of those players were committed to play at those schools before they even made it to PF.

**Unregistered** · 05-14-2021, 08:57 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I think this is one of the points. If the coaching was that good, they'd be developing these players instead of them moving over at 15 or 16. The big EPA clubs are not doing a great job of developing these players. Cherry picking players and then still not getting great results is why I think a lot of people are down on PF, FCD, Bucks. All have significant drawing areas (as far as PA goes), all rely on kids coming into the program late. It is disingenuous to take credit for kids who spend 6-7-8 years playing elsewhere.

Sounds like someone's kid got pushed aside and is butt hurt. Did high school teachers teach prior basics or reinforce and develop? Which school gets the accolades when a child graduates? It is how it works.

**Unregistered** · 05-14-2021, 08:58 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

And some of those players were committed to play at those schools before they even made it to PF.

And some of those coaches said; move to PF to complete your development.

**Unregistered** · 05-14-2021, 09:43 AM

No perfect solutions. There are good and bad aspects at every club. Each club has good coaches and bad coaches and the bigger clubs definitely don't do as good a job with development as they should. PDA (where my daughter plays) is probably the outlier in the scenario. The PA ECNL clubs are definitely going to have varying age groups that are stronger. The region is different than it was 10 years ago or 5 years ago or even 2 years ago. It just seems like the 3 ECNL clubs are going to battle each other for players in EPA. It's a saturated market.

Success matter for teams for U-13 on up. It shows how clubs are molding their players as individuals and as teams. I've heard good and bad things about all of the EPA clubs. At PDA you perform or you sit. That's how it is. It sounds like there are at least some issues at the EPA clubs either with coaches or parents or development or facilities or whatever.

All I can say is that Delco seems to be getting back on track, PF has the best reputation but isn't the end all be all destination any more, and FCB probably has the potential to be a lot better than they are right now, but has a lot of administrative issues.

**Unregistered** · 05-14-2021, 10:02 AM

No perfect solutions. There are good and bad aspects at every club. Each club has good coaches and bad coaches and the bigger clubs definitely don't do as good a job with development as they should. PDA (where my daughter plays) is probably the outlier in the scenario. The PA ECNL clubs are definitely going to have varying age groups that are stronger. The region is different than it was 10 years ago or 5 years ago or even 2 years ago. It just seems like the 3 ECNL clubs are going to battle each other for players in EPA. It's a saturated market.

Success matter for teams for U13 on up. It shows how clubs are molding their players as individuals and as teams. I've heard good and bad things about all of the EPA clubs. At PDA you perform or you sit. That's how it is. It sounds like there are at least some issues at the EPA clubs either with coaches or parents or development or facilities or whatever.

All I can say is that Delco seems to be getting back on track, PF has the best reputation but isn't the end all be all destination any more, and FCB probably has the potential to be a lot better than they are right now, but has a lot of administrative issues.

**Unregistered** · 05-19-2021, 12:06 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I think this is one of the points. If the coaching was that good, they'd be developing these players instead of them moving over at 15 or 16. The big EPA clubs are not doing a great job of developing these players. Cherry picking players and then still not getting great results is why I think a lot of people are down on PF, FCD, Bucks. All have significant drawing areas (as far as PA goes), all rely on kids coming into the program late. It is disingenuous to take credit for kids who spend 6-7-8 years playing elsewhere.

What are you talking about lol. In the current system you can only develop players who look to come to your club. If PF/Delco/Bucks were a true academy that was free with the best v best system that the Union and other boys pro academies have you'd see more kids coming all the way through.

But the fact is development isn't linear. Clubs like Delco, PF, Bucks don't "cherry pick" players. They don't get to. (If you think they do think about where the first contact comes from. It's not from the coaches or staff at the club). Pro clubs with academies like the Union can cherry pick because they have the pathway. NO CLUB on the girls side can offer the same thing. It's a product. If players want to move, they'll move.

Stop the nonsense. It's extremely rare for kids to stay at one club from U9-U18/19 and go pro. And that's not just here. Look at the Union's youth rosters. And they get to 'cherry pick' and choose who they want.

At the end of the day, just do what's best for you and your kid. C

**Unregistered** · 06-08-2021, 02:21 PM

How are the PF 09s

**Unregistered** · 06-08-2021, 02:39 PM

Pretty good. NCS Champions.

**Unregistered** · 06-09-2021, 09:20 AM

Against weak PA teams good, against other teams not so much. Best 09s play on the 08 team. They also have a 2010 on the 09 team. Played them last summer at Spirit without all those kids playing up and playing down and was not impressed.