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The haters are coming out. I think this is a good sign for Brave. Haters want to maintain the status quo or have an axe to grind. I hope it works out for them. I don’t believe it will be a huge impact for the older ages but if 2-3 starting caliber players move, this could make a huge difference. At the younger ages, the core VYS + Bryc players will result is a strong team. More organization as I see that they’re hosting ID session, which I don’t remember bryc doing before. Boys side looks like it needs work but I believe this partnership was probably to shore up the girls side. Consolidation is good and it looks like a true partnership, not some feeder agreement.
This is great news for both clubs. So how does it work? One ecnl team per age group? One or two ecnlr teams per age group? Is ecnlr part of brave or branded as VYS and bryc?
SoccerD wrote:
Swaggalicious wrote:
SoccerD wrote:
Swaggalicious wrote:I don’t understand that issue here. To me it looks like the Union partnership or merger. Bringing together player pools to make both the girls and boys sides more competitive. Did these clubs get buy-in before creating Union? No. Isn’t everyone always posting about dilution? Doesn’t this help?

I don’t see treachery here or understand why bryc’s board and how they interface with the board is an issue. The board can always vote no, if a vote is even needed. More like a club struggling and making moves to improve the root issue.

After a closer read, I think SoccerD has some axe to grind with the bryc TD. Treachery, board is illegitimate, people are PM him about this, emasculated, hate backroom deals and failure to follow process/protocol/by-laws. These words and pov doesn’t come from an outside observer. If you’re upset, why don’t you just talk to Dolansky vs. posting here?


No axe to grind with the TD. I don't know Dolansky and it's not my role, obviously, to talk to him. The PMs I got were following my post. Folks should talk openly, IMO, if they have something to share. Obviously, people can disagree with my take and what I've been told. And they have. It's been an interesting dialogue from my perspective.


I appreciate the dialogue. I’m interested but not directly impacted. I just found it hard to believe that someone outside of bryc and doesn’t know the TD has such strong opinions of this person and how he’s communicating with his board. Just pointing out my point of view.


Got it. I believe the TD is Brian Welsh.
Mark Dolansky is the Travel Soccer Sports Commissioner acc. to the website. And I truly don't know him beyond the facts relayed, which are troubling to a lot of folks. I'm now hearing there is a petition in protest. What a mess.


You’re right. Dolansky is the Commish.

But I can’t resist taking one last bite of this apple. What facts are you referring to? My read of his email is basically there is no merger and very little info beyond that. Why would any parent protest this? What could be their concern beyond more competition for starting positions. How do you know about how Dolansky is communicating with the board?

I think if you were a bit more transparent, it would help all of us understand the reasoning behind your pov.
SoccerD wrote:
Swaggalicious wrote:I don’t understand that issue here. To me it looks like the Union partnership or merger. Bringing together player pools to make both the girls and boys sides more competitive. Did these clubs get buy-in before creating Union? No. Isn’t everyone always posting about dilution? Doesn’t this help?

I don’t see treachery here or understand why bryc’s board and how they interface with the board is an issue. The board can always vote no, if a vote is even needed. More like a club struggling and making moves to improve the root issue.

After a closer read, I think SoccerD has some axe to grind with the bryc TD. Treachery, board is illegitimate, people are PM him about this, emasculated, hate backroom deals and failure to follow process/protocol/by-laws. These words and pov doesn’t come from an outside observer. If you’re upset, why don’t you just talk to Dolansky vs. posting here?


No axe to grind with the TD. I don't know Dolansky and it's not my role, obviously, to talk to him. The PMs I got were following my post. Folks should talk openly, IMO, if they have something to share. Obviously, people can disagree with my take and what I've been told. And they have. It's been an interesting dialogue from my perspective.


I appreciate the dialogue. I’m interested but not directly impacted. I just found it hard to believe that someone outside of bryc and doesn’t know the TD has such strong opinions of this person and how he’s communicating with his board. Just pointing out my point of view.
I don’t understand that issue here. To me it looks like the Union partnership or merger. Bringing together player pools to make both the girls and boys sides more competitive. Did these clubs get buy-in before creating Union? No. Isn’t everyone always posting about dilution? Doesn’t this help?

I don’t see treachery here or understand why bryc’s board and how they interface with the board is an issue. The board can always vote no, if a vote is even needed. More like a club struggling and making moves to improve the root issue.

After a closer read, I think SoccerD has some axe to grind with the bryc TD. Treachery, board is illegitimate, people are PM him about this, emasculated, hate backroom deals and failure to follow process/protocol/by-laws. These words and pov doesn’t come from an outside observer. If you’re upset, why don’t you just talk to Dolansky vs. posting here?
Doesn’t look good for GA. At least they have ODP and State Cup to fall back on…

I say that in jest. I’m sure GAL will figure it out but I also believe a few clubs may bite on the elite 64 if push comes to shove. I’d hate to see the travel costs for league games.
jenmax4real wrote:My DD has decided she no longer wants to play soccer. I still have about 4 payments left to pay for the spring season; and I'm not sure how to handle this. Should I ask her to at least finish off the season? Let her quit? Or see if I can stop the remaining payment?


Depends on why and what you committed to with the club.
Liv4Life wrote:
Swaggalicious wrote:
Liv4Life wrote:So how important is a GA or ECNL team for a girl who is looking at D3 colleges- schools that make NCAA tournament - maybe even lower level D1 if it fits. My daughter plays on a CCL team and the closest GA/ECNL program practice/games are 45- 1 hour away. She was a 4 year state ODP player before stopping that when she made varsity in HS. One of the 2 best players on her CCL team for reference. We are realistic in the process but do not want to drag her that far if not necessary 3-5 times a week.

Thanks in advance


I’ll take a swing at this but take it for what it’s worth bc there is no set path or definitive rules here. I think of it like applying for jobs out of college. If you go to Stanford, employers know and are familiar with what training and education you received. Does that automatically mean you are smarter than someone that went to GMU? No, it just takes more work to vet a candidate from a less prestigious school. Playing in ecnl gives college coaches a known standard to judge a potential recruit. Are there good players on CCL teams, of course, but it takes more work for the college coach. Maybe there isn’t a ecnl club nearby. Lots of Beach FC players play at top D1 schools. Maybe the player is a top two sport star. Whatever the case, it takes more work from the player to explain and the coach to vet. Can it work. Yes but just a harder path. Coaches recruit players, not teams so whatever the situation, you want your DD to be featured, get a lot of touches, make an impact on the field and not just be seen as a role player. Don’t misinterpret that as being a ball hog but think key passes, big chances, completed passes, interceptions, tackles, etc.


Thank you for the info- this is very consistent with the advice a college coach gave my daughter.


Anyways happy to assist (I was a midfielder growing up

I will also add (again, my two cents) that I and my DD preferred a possession focused coach, especially at younger ages. Acknowledging the post above from the OP, this promotes technical development and more touches, usually at the expense of wins. If the team gels, speed of play comes next and you get beautiful soccer (Barca fan here). Maybe not for everyone as direct play is less risky and can win games, especially at younger ages but also at all ages. If you think your DD will be the biggest and fastest then maybe a direct style will be better suited but we didn’t have that luxury. I will note that at older ages, in more competitive leagues, the gap between the fastest and lowest kept getting smaller.
Liv4Life wrote:So how important is a GA or ECNL team for a girl who is looking at D3 colleges- schools that make NCAA tournament - maybe even lower level D1 if it fits. My daughter plays on a CCL team and the closest GA/ECNL program practice/games are 45- 1 hour away. She was a 4 year state ODP player before stopping that when she made varsity in HS. One of the 2 best players on her CCL team for reference. We are realistic in the process but do not want to drag her that far if not necessary 3-5 times a week.

Thanks in advance


I’ll take a swing at this but take it for what it’s worth bc there is no set path or definitive rules here. I think of it like applying for jobs out of college. If you go to Stanford, employers know and are familiar with what training and education you received. Does that automatically mean you are smarter than someone that went to GMU? No, it just takes more work to vet a candidate from a less prestigious school. Playing in ecnl gives college coaches a known standard to judge a potential recruit. Are there good players on CCL teams, of course, but it takes more work for the college coach. Maybe there isn’t a ecnl club nearby. Lots of Beach FC players play at top D1 schools. Maybe the player is a top two sport star. Whatever the case, it takes more work from the player to explain and the coach to vet. Can it work. Yes but just a harder path. Coaches recruit players, not teams so whatever the situation, you want your DD to be featured, get a lot of touches, make an impact on the field and not just be seen as a role player. Don’t misinterpret that as being a ball hog but think key passes, big chances, completed passes, interceptions, tackles, etc.
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