Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all a large reason why BRYC ECNL/pre-ECNL teams might look "poor" for boys or girls from time to time -- they never have the top talent within the club on the same team at any given time. There also is often several players playing up an age level on each Bridge team, too.

There is plenty of talent within the club across all the player pools--it's just spread out all over the place and not condensed like it is at other clubs. Things simply are run differently.

The elite academy side is very clique loaded meaning promotion is rarely accepted. Demotion is unheard of there. There is a clear line drawn between elite and bridge. Parents and coaches of elite really look down on the bridge teams and families. It is almost like how dare you pretend to be part of the club.

I'm not sure who continues to perpetuate this myth, but we've been involved with the club for many years and I can tell you at least on the girls' side, this is patently untrue. I know kids who left the ECNL program and went to the bridge program and they remain friends with and are supported and cheered for by the girls/parents from the ECNL teams. Maybe hard to believe (esp based on posts to this site), but most of us travel soccer parents understand differing priorities and really just want the kids to enjoy the sport regardless of which option they choose as their soccer home. We spend exactly zero time feeling superior (or inferior) to other teams/programs. Stop generating drama where there isn't any.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all a large reason why BRYC ECNL/pre-ECNL teams might look "poor" for boys or girls from time to time -- they never have the top talent within the club on the same team at any given time. There also is often several players playing up an age level on each Bridge team, too.

There is plenty of talent within the club across all the player pools--it's just spread out all over the place and not condensed like it is at other clubs. Things simply are run differently.

The elite academy side is very clique loaded meaning promotion is rarely accepted. Demotion is unheard of there. There is a clear line drawn between elite and bridge. Parents and coaches of elite really look down on the bridge teams and families. It is almost like how dare you pretend to be part of the club.

Can only speak for myself, but as the parent of a kid on one of the bridge teams, the bolded is a non-issue. My kid is happy, learning and appropriately challenged. Personally, I don't think the word "elite" is at all appropriate to use with soccer for younger kids. But that's just me.

Same here. I have kids on Bridge and kids in Elite. I don’t get sense of anyone looking down on the other. There are simply different priorities for those players. I have one who is content with Bridge and another who is more competitive and eats sports for breakfast lunch and dinner and welcomes that more committed and cerebral atmosphere as it relates to the nuances of the game from the coaches and other players in the Elite pool.

My sense from other clubs in the area is there is not much middle ground unless you kid is just not good enough to be in the A or B team then they are on the C team and dumped into NCSL or another league.

Well if you have a kid in BRYC elite. you must be in NCSL. Thats where their elite teams play. I have a child on an older bridge team and can tell you at BRYC the ecnl group looks down on elite and emir down on bridge. Its almost like the little step brother they wish they didn't have. from field space , location, communication , even as much as different uniforms even though we are in the same fridge club.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all a large reason why BRYC ECNL/pre-ECNL teams might look "poor" for boys or girls from time to time -- they never have the top talent within the club on the same team at any given time. There also is often several players playing up an age level on each Bridge team, too.

There is plenty of talent within the club across all the player pools--it's just spread out all over the place and not condensed like it is at other clubs. Things simply are run differently.

The elite academy side is very clique loaded meaning promotion is rarely accepted. Demotion is unheard of there. There is a clear line drawn between elite and bridge. Parents and coaches of elite really look down on the bridge teams and families. It is almost like how dare you pretend to be part of the club.

Can only speak for myself, but as the parent of a kid on one of the bridge teams, the bolded is a non-issue. My kid is happy, learning and appropriately challenged. Personally, I don't think the word "elite" is at all appropriate to use with soccer for younger kids. But that's just me.

Same here. I have kids on Bridge and kids in Elite. I don’t get sense of anyone looking down on the other. There are simply different priorities for those players. I have one who is content with Bridge and another who is more competitive and eats sports for breakfast lunch and dinner and welcomes that more committed and cerebral atmosphere as it relates to the nuances of the game from the coaches and other players in the Elite pool.

My sense from other clubs in the area is there is not much middle ground unless you kid is just not good enough to be in the A or B team then they are on the C team and dumped into NCSL or another league.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all a large reason why BRYC ECNL/pre-ECNL teams might look "poor" for boys or girls from time to time -- they never have the top talent within the club on the same team at any given time. There also is often several players playing up an age level on each Bridge team, too.

There is plenty of talent within the club across all the player pools--it's just spread out all over the place and not condensed like it is at other clubs. Things simply are run differently.

The elite academy side is very clique loaded meaning promotion is rarely accepted. Demotion is unheard of there. There is a clear line drawn between elite and bridge. Parents and coaches of elite really look down on the bridge teams and families. It is almost like how dare you pretend to be part of the club.

Can only speak for myself, but as the parent of a kid on one of the bridge teams, the bolded is a non-issue. My kid is happy, learning and appropriately challenged. Personally, I don't think the word "elite" is at all appropriate to use with soccer for younger kids. But that's just me.

Anonymous wrote:This is all a large reason why BRYC ECNL/pre-ECNL teams might look "poor" for boys or girls from time to time -- they never have the top talent within the club on the same team at any given time. There also is often several players playing up an age level on each Bridge team, too.

There is plenty of talent within the club across all the player pools--it's just spread out all over the place and not condensed like it is at other clubs. Things simply are run differently.

The elite academy side is very clique loaded meaning promotion is rarely accepted. Demotion is unheard of there. There is a clear line drawn between elite and bridge. Parents and coaches of elite really look down on the bridge teams and families. It is almost like how dare you pretend to be part of the club.

This is all a large reason why BRYC ECNL/pre-ECNL teams might look "poor" for boys or girls from time to time -- they never have the top talent within the club on the same team at any given time. There also is often several players playing up an age level on each Bridge team, too.

There is plenty of talent within the club across all the player pools--it's just spread out all over the place and not condensed like it is at other clubs. Things simply are run differently.

Anonymous wrote:You can also go on the NCSL website standings to see how the teams are doing this season and what division they are playing in. It should give you a sense of their level of play.

I am the PP - the only caveat to this is if your player is currently a U10 (2011 birth year), the scores/standings won't be posted, but you can see the division that the various teams are in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also go on the NCSL website standings to see how the teams are doing this season and what division they are playing in. It should give you a sense of their level of play.

I would totally agree in fact one of the 07 boys bridge team is actually better than the elite team from the academy part of the club.

Same also might be true of the 06 boys silver

Anonymous wrote:You can also go on the NCSL website standings to see how the teams are doing this season and what division they are playing in. It should give you a sense of their level of play.

I would totally agree in fact one of the 07 boys bridge team is actually better than the elite team from the academy part of the club.

You can also go on the NCSL website standings to see how the teams are doing this season and what division they are playing in. It should give you a sense of their level of play.

Good option for kids who want more than rec but whose parents are not ready for travel insanity.

Email the coaches directly. The teams are a great option. Great chemistry on the teams we know and play for.

Decent teams and likely exactly what your kid is looking for. Per PP above, they do have high retention rates so not sure how many kids they are taking on. You may want to reach out to coaches directly.

Is your DC a 2010 (current U11) or a 2011 (rising U11/a U11 come this Fall)?

Many of the Bridge teams are as competitive as the BRYC pre-ECNL teams, and the younger age groups (e.g. U11 and below) are all pretty strong across the board for both Bridge and Elite/pre-ECNL. NCSL would be plenty competitive for what your DC probably wants. You could do a lot worse.

The Bridge coaches for the 2010s on both boys and girls side are good, experienced coaches with high player retention.

My u11 doesn’t want to play ECNL and I was searching and found the BRYC bridge teams under the “elite” website. They seem to play on NCSL and have different coaches per age group. Any feedback on them?