West LA merger?

espola said:
Do you think discussing it here is going to make any difference?
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yes, some of the people at the club use this site as well, Go SoCal GK mom is on the right track......
 
Overlap said:
plenty of field space, everyone is fighting for the same talent pool....the one's listed above are having the same issue and way behind
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I agree that these clubs are competing for the same talent pool. Unfortunately your statement of “plenty of field space” is way off. Quality field space to accommodate the amount of players on the Westside is extremely limited.
 
SC310 said:
Confirmed by a parent of the Breakers. Email went out.
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An e-mail confirmed that it is happening or confirmed that it was under discussion (and soliciting input etc)? I think it's the latter, although most assume it wouldn't have gone out if it wasn't close to being done.
 
I would think there are enough Type A parents between the three clubs that word would have spread if there had been an official announcement yet...besides PR 101 says it is best to announce good news on a Monday not on a Friday...but who knows??
 
Not a done deal yet.

My cynical .02 is that this is just yet another geography in SoCal succumbing to the inexorable evolution of mega-clubs. I get why they would feel it is necessary, but I think it's too bad if they do it. There is something to be said having lots of mid-size clubs like SMU and Breakers. In the old days, they would be considered to be "big" clubs by comparison to local boutique clubs. But with everyone scrambling to play national leagues (I contend this ought to be patently unnecessary for SoCal teams, but that's another discussion), the DA and ECNL trying to siphon each other's talent pool, you get mega-clubs like Galaxy, Slammers, Surf, Legends, Arsenal, etc. continuing to gobble up teams and turning youth club soccer into a mini-version of the telecom industry where consumers have fewer choices and no power. As usual, this type of thing is going to benefit a small group of people (the guys at the top) and a few players on a few teams who need to play nationally to get exposure. The vast majority of the kids at these clubs won't benefit at all from merging. Economically and socially, the westside kids aren't using soccer as their one hope to get to college. Soccer is a passion for many of them and they can get everything they need with a small club, and if they want to shop around, there are choices. But mega-clubs put everyone in a funnel and hope to squeeze out the best into one team and line their pockets with everyone else's money.

This model is quickly becoming the ONLY model in So Cal, and I think that sucks. My impression has been that Breakers and SMU were not like that. Smaller clubs usually have 2-3 really great coaches with really great teams that tend to stick together and a scattering of other coaches/teams that come and go. Their model for success is usually in stability. Keep good coaches, keep teams together, and add a couple of players here and there that could contribute, and do the best you can with the rest. Mega clubs also usually have 2-3 really great coaches with really great teams. But then they have about a hundred mediocre teams with a carousel of coaches and players that come and go constantly. Their model for success is to post "OPEN TRYOUTS" notices all over the place and get as many people to sign up as possible and field as many teams as they can every year. Their primary focus is not stability and "development," but recruiting. Recruiting other coaches. Recruiting other players. Recruiting entire teams and small clubs. Then, by sheer force of numbers, they compile enough talented kids in one spot to win big kickball contests and get national "exposure." Yuck.

If they do merge, I would hope they can keep their customers happy and cared for, but a quick scan around SoCal mega-clubs would indicate that outcome is unlikely in the long run.

Cynical rant over . . .
 
Mystery Train said:
Not a done deal yet. My cynical .02 is that this is just yet another geography in SoCal succumbing to the inexorable evolution of mega-clubs...
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I agree with this post. But I think there's a cyclical nature to clubs where the smaller ones that have lost their edge or are not doing so well will fade away (or get merged) and are replaced by new clubs. I don't think the soccer landscape will only be about the mega clubs. I believe there are some new smaller clubs (like Ole and Tudela) that seem to be enjoying some level of success.
 
rainbow_unicorn said:
I agree with this post. But I think there's a cyclical nature to clubs where the smaller ones that have lost their edge or are not doing so well will fade away (or get merged) and are replaced by new clubs. I don't think the soccer landscape will only be about the mega clubs. I believe there are some new smaller clubs (like Ole and Tudela) that seem to be enjoying some level of success.
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yes, but, what age level are the Ole & Tudela (looks like U littles)? What will these clubs do when they keep losing their top talent to the bigger clubs as those teams get older (merge or stick with U little?) Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of teams staying together however, the reality is, the A type parents will always take their kid to what they think is the best option for them (and I don't just mean the kid), I was lucky enough to have my older DD (G98), stick with her team & club until they aged out, she loved her team mates and her team, a few left over their last 2 years for ECNL and they still managed to keep the core together. I'll be honest, there were a few times I didn't think they'd continue. They had a great deal of success on and off the field, all went to very good academic schools, 10 are still playing at the college level, and for the one's that stuck together, it was the most fun watching their growth as players and young adults you could ever wish for your kid. I've seen the changes over the last 2 seasons with my younger DD, age matrix & DA, I'm not a fan at the moment although, I hope it develops US soccer in general. I just think it's going to be a bumpy few more years until it all gets figured out.
 
Overlap said:
yes, but, what age level are the Ole & Tudela (looks like U littles)? What will these clubs do when they keep losing their top talent to the bigger clubs as those teams get older (merge or stick with U little?) Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of teams staying together however, the reality is, the A type parents will always take their kid to what they think is the best option for them (and I don't just mean the kid), I was lucky enough to have my older DD (G98), stick with her team & club until they aged out, she loved her team mates and her team, a few left over their last 2 years for ECNL and they still managed to keep the core together. I'll be honest, there were a few times I didn't think they'd continue. They had a great deal of success on and off the field, all went to very good academic schools, 10 are still playing at the college level, and for the one's that stuck together, it was the most fun watching their growth as players and young adults you could ever wish for your kid. I've seen the changes over the last 2 seasons with my younger DD, age matrix & DA, I'm not a fan at the moment although, I hope it develops US soccer in general. I just think it's going to be a bumpy few more years until it all gets figured out.
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How did the offers of the girls that left for ECNL compare to your core team?
 
Mystery Train said:
Not a done deal yet.

My cynical .02 is that this is just yet another geography in SoCal succumbing to the inexorable evolution of mega-clubs. I get why they would feel it is necessary, but I think it's too bad if they do it. There is something to be said having lots of mid-size clubs like SMU and Breakers. In the old days, they would be considered to be "big" clubs by comparison to local boutique clubs. But with everyone scrambling to play national leagues (I contend this ought to be patently unnecessary for SoCal teams, but that's another discussion), the DA and ECNL trying to siphon each other's talent pool, you get mega-clubs like Galaxy, Slammers, Surf, Legends, Arsenal, etc. continuing to gobble up teams and turning youth club soccer into a mini-version of the telecom industry where consumers have fewer choices and no power. As usual, this type of thing is going to benefit a small group of people (the guys at the top) and a few players on a few teams who need to play nationally to get exposure. The vast majority of the kids at these clubs won't benefit at all from merging. Economically and socially, the westside kids aren't using soccer as their one hope to get to college. Soccer is a passion for many of them and they can get everything they need with a small club, and if they want to shop around, there are choices. But mega-clubs put everyone in a funnel and hope to squeeze out the best into one team and line their pockets with everyone else's money.

This model is quickly becoming the ONLY model in So Cal, and I think that sucks. My impression has been that Breakers and SMU were not like that. Smaller clubs usually have 2-3 really great coaches with really great teams that tend to stick together and a scattering of other coaches/teams that come and go. Their model for success is usually in stability. Keep good coaches, keep teams together, and add a couple of players here and there that could contribute, and do the best you can with the rest. Mega clubs also usually have 2-3 really great coaches with really great teams. But then they have about a hundred mediocre teams with a carousel of coaches and players that come and go constantly. Their model for success is to post "OPEN TRYOUTS" notices all over the place and get as many people to sign up as possible and field as many teams as they can every year. Their primary focus is not stability and "development," but recruiting. Recruiting other coaches. Recruiting other players. Recruiting entire teams and small clubs. Then, by sheer force of numbers, they compile enough talented kids in one spot to win big kickball contests and get national "exposure." Yuck.

If they do merge, I would hope they can keep their customers happy and cared for, but a quick scan around SoCal mega-clubs would indicate that outcome is unlikely in the long run.

Cynical rant over . . .
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small local clubs backed by city/county work but they come with rules. cities require clubs to do business in a certain manner in order to get resources. big clubs dont want anyone to dictate how to do things, especially if they require a certain number of scholarships to be given - regardless of the talent level of the player. you also have to take in to account attitude of the parents. some only want to go to winning clubs and believe that some how translates into development. US Soccer needs to back the community clubs, which would combat a lot of the mergerfest. Clubs could put resources into paying coaches more and funding more teams. The problem is US SOccer makes money off this system and development isnt the real priority.

speaking of plastering "open tryouts" everywhere, ever notice the banner at the top of the forum topic list? surf spending some marketing money here
 
Fact said:
How did the offers of the girls that left for ECNL compare to your core team?
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Good question Fact...first it should be noted that after ECNL was formed, SMU's girls side more than doubled in size. The older SMU team lost 3 players to ECNL.

One went and came back after 2-3 seasons. She is out of soccer and at an Ivy League level college.

The second left bc she was playing up and needed to find a team she liked in her natural age group. She ended up using SMU coach to get her connected with her Ivy League college. She said the ECNL coaches at her club did not get the Ivy League and were better w D1 schools in CA. They regretted leaving.

The third had aspirations to play soccer professionally. She went to ECNL and thrived --displacing the incumbent player. ECNL worked out beautifully for her.
 
espola said:
The ads each reader sees on this page are different depending on posting and clicking habits.
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i must love me some Surf =)

The banner at the top of the forum listings doesnt look like google ads. Looks like an html/css banner they made and stuck at top of the forum categories.
 
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