The Rise of the Big 4

by eredivisie 5/24/2010, 7:00 pm

I know that there have been some posts regarding the relative merits of the Big Club vs. the Small Club experience. Having had sons that have played for the largest club, a medium club, and a very small club, I can see the relative merits and arguments for each. However, I have noticed a recent trend that seems the Big 4 clubs are dominating Classic League, and D1 in particular, more than ever.

First some background. Below are the number of teams by club for each age group of Classic League U11 – U17. As you can see, 40% of the teams that compete in Classic League are from the Big 4 clubs of Dallas Texans, FC Dallas, Andromeda, and Solar.

Number of Teams competing in each Classic League Division by Club:

		D1	D2	D3	Total	%	Cumulative %
1	Dallas Texans	15	8	7	30	14.3%	14.3%
2	FCD	9	9	6	24	11.4%	25.7%
3	Andromeda	7	4	5	16	7.6%	33.3%
4	Solar	12	2	0	14	6.7%	40.0%
5	Longhorns	2	6	3	11	5.2%	45.2%
6	ASG	0	5	3	8	3.8%	49.0%
7	Tejanos	4	2	1	7	3.3%	52.4%
8	TFC	2	4	0	6	2.9%	55.2%
9	FWFC	2	1	2	5	2.4%	57.6%
10	Club Classic	0	5	0	5	2.4%	60.0%
11	Tornados	1	1	3	5	2.4%	62.4%
12	CD Independente	3	0	1	4	1.9%	64.3%
13	Barcelona	2	0	2	4	1.9%	66.2%
14	Comets	2	1	1	4	1.9%	68.1%
15	Titans	1	2	1	4	1.9%	70.0%
16	NT Strikers	0	3	1	4	1.9%	71.9%
	Others	8	17	34	59	28.1%	100.0%
		70	70	70	210

U11 is broken down by the final standings (Top 10 are shown as D1, 2^nd 10 are D2, 3^rd 10 as D3).

Does this give the Big 4 too much power and control over Classic League policies? Things like the Club retains the Bye rule, the lack of ability for players to guest practice and play until June 1, etc. all seem to favor the big clubs.

by eredivisie 5/24/2010, 7:01 pm

Part 2:
What is even more striking is that looking only at D1 teams, the Big 4 control over 61% of the teams in Classic League!

Concentration of D1 Teams:

		D1	%	Cumulative %
1	Dallas Texans	15	21.4%	21.4%
2	FCD	9	12.9%	34.3%
3	Andromeda	7	10.0%	44.3%
4	Solar	12	17.1%	61.4%

There are more than 40 Clubs in North Texas. Combined they have about 1/3 the teams that the Big 4 control in D1.

Does anyone think this is a good thing?

by outtabounds 5/24/2010, 7:49 pm

eredivisie wrote:Part 2:
What is even more striking is that looking only at D1 teams, the Big 4 control over 61% of the teams in Classic League!

Concentration of D1 Teams:

D1
%
Cumulative %
1

Dallas Texans
15
21.4%
21.4%
2

FCD
9
12.9%
34.3%
3

Andromeda
7
10.0%
44.3%
4

Solar
12
17.1%
61.4%

There are more than 40 Clubs in North Texas. Combined they have about 1/3 the teams that the Big 4 control in D1.

Does anyone think this is a good thing?

Thanks for putting this together. It does make one think. Texans and FCD have a lot of strong backing and will continue to control much in the league. Hopefully the new Andro money infusion will help them gain teams and grow. Solar I have my doubts about with their financial, managerial, field, and coaching issues. I don't think it's a good thing to have these clubs controlling things but that is America for you where the big guy has the money, power, and control.

by OnTheSurface 5/24/2010, 10:16 pm

What matters:
1. Is your BB learning the game of soccer in an environment that's healthy for him;
2. Is your BB having fun.
All of the rest of this stuff is just noise.

by eagle 5/24/2010, 11:13 pm

The participation in the Academy by the big 4 has certainly tilted things even more in their favor. I don't see anything to turn it around any time soon.

by Soccernovice 5/24/2010, 11:42 pm

U19 is just the same as ever other age in classic league those clubs should be added in to get complete result.
I count 5 more FC Dallas, 4 Texans, 3 Andro, 2 Solar, and 1 Longhorns.

If you look at classic league DI champions this year U11 - U19 you get a little different result on Big 4:

Texans - 4 U11, U13, U15, U17
Solar - 3 U12, U14, U16
Longhorns - 1 U19

The best finish by Andro is 2nd U11 and they are being relegated out of U15 and U16 DI at end of this season.
FC Dallas best finish is 2nd U13 and U14.

It looks like at college showcase age levels Texans, Longhorns, Solar, and FC Dallas offer best opportunities in classic league right now at U16 and above. These players are also getting good offers from college soccer programs including DI schools. Going into next soccer year these are the Big 4 clubs for ages where it really counts if you stay in the classic league. The Development Academy is a separate soccer experience now than the classic league for players at U16 and above. Parents and players decide which is best for their personal situation.

by soccerrus2 5/25/2010, 8:10 am

Soccernovice wrote:
It looks like at college showcase age levels Texans, Longhorns, Solar, and FC Dallas offer best opportunities in classic league right now at U16 and above.

Why would you put Longhorns in the same level as the top 4 for showcases? I know the history but come on!

by Soccernovice 5/25/2010, 9:14 am

Longhorns will have 3 DI teams next year one in U16 and two in U17 and one at U17 is already played in Dallas Cup and Disney Showcase multiple times so that is one of the big 4 for showcases. All three teams are very good and I would expect at U17 next year one or more Longhorns team will be in top 3 in DI with chance to win DI. Those are the top college showcase tournaments for classic league players. Makes sense to me. Longhorns have some very good older boys teams which are good choices for players looking to get visibility for college coaches.

by go99 5/25/2010, 10:06 am

Longhorns will do well in D1 at those older age groups as the others strip their CL teams for the AL. With the new Preimer program at FCD you may see the top CL teams begin to rise

by finish1 5/25/2010, 11:28 am

OnTheSurface wrote:What matters:
1. Is your BB learning the game of soccer in an environment that's healthy for him;
2. Is your BB having fun.
All of the rest of this stuff is just noise.

Great scratch, Surface. For the love of Soccer, good God.

Next, somedumbbody is going to start throwing out player stats! Pummel that unlucky schmuck!. The Rise of the Big 4 Icon_twisted

by eagle 5/25/2010, 12:48 pm

go99 wrote:Longhorns will do well in D1 at those older age groups as the others strip their CL teams for the AL. With the new Preimer program at FCD you may see the top CL teams begin to rise

What is the new Premiere program at FCD?

by omega striker 5/25/2010, 3:25 pm

OnTheSurface wrote:What matters:
1. Is your BB learning the game of soccer in an environment that's healthy for him;
2. Is your BB having fun.
All of the rest of this stuff is just noise.

spoken like a true coach! or club representative! lol!!!!!! The Rise of the Big 4 Icon_cheers

by finish1 5/25/2010, 3:44 pm

omega striker wrote:
OnTheSurface wrote:What matters:
1. Is your BB learning the game of soccer in an environment that's healthy for him;
2. Is your BB having fun.
All of the rest of this stuff is just noise.
spoken like a true coach! or club representative! lol!!!!!!

Spoken like a parent! I would be more inclined to point the representative sign toward the topic on this blog...Stat callers love to throw out fragments of color, then convince you it's a painting.

by playhard 5/25/2010, 4:13 pm

soccerrus2 wrote:
Soccernovice wrote:
It looks like at college showcase age levels Texans, Longhorns, Solar, and FC Dallas offer best opportunities in classic league right now at U16 and above.
Why would you put Longhorns in the same level as the top 4 for showcases? I know the history but come on!

because his bbs play for the Longhorns