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Sparky1 wrote:

forbin wrote:I thought the whole idea of PA (and DA for that matter) was to have the best players develop under less pressure to win and more emphasis on individual player development. It sounds like a great concept but I think there are a lot of NTX parents that are not ready to embrace that notion, hence these threads about who has the "BEST" PA team. Parents' egos just won't get out of the way.

I think the PA programs will eventually be good for giving players opportunities that might not otherwise be able to afford the training as well as giving a break to those who can. I don't think the programs are there yet as they are still in development, and are not necessarily grabbing all of the best players. In fact, there are many players I know that are in PA programs that I am not sure should even be in CL1. I would think that will work itself out in the coming years, but PA is not stocked solely with all elite players right now, and CL is not as watered down because of PA as some have surmised.

Sounds like wishful thinking to me.

Maybe PA didn't affect your team cause nobody from it went to PA, but the top teams took their hits. DTR's best player by far went pa, barcelona is a shell of what it was, DT Leite is no longer together, FCD Premier lost players to pa, SR lives and dies by it's pa players, etc., and this on top of the hit 99 classic took a year ago to pa. But no, it's not as watered down.

forbin wrote:

I thought the whole idea of PA (and DA for that matter) was to have the best players develop under less pressure to win and more emphasis on individual player development. Best players?? Hardly for PA.... price tag is too high on DT, Solar and Andro for many of the best players to afford to play. FCD is free, but maybe driving to Frisco may be the deterent. DA is probably closer to having the best players. Call me naive, but I do think that the emphasis is on individual development and there is less pressure to win.

It sounds like a great concept but I think there are a lot of NTX parents that are not ready to embrace that notion, hence these threads about who has the "BEST" PA team. Parents' egos just won't get out of the way. This is very, very true, but I think you are confusing the desire to always know who is #1 from the parents with pressure from the club to win. There will never be a league or program that will not be ranked, but that doesn't mean that the program or league is failure. It just means that this is America and in America you will always have "Top 10" lists for everything.

I think the PA programs will eventually be good for giving players opportunities that might not otherwise be able to afford the training as well as giving a break to those who can. The only way this happens is if the PA program is subsidised by USSF like DA... I just don't see the other 3 clubs digging into their pockets to cover the expense of PA teams. Having said that, with the additiona of PA teams at the U11 & U12 ages, I wouldn't be at all surprised if USSF decided to go ahead and add U13/U14 to the DA program.

I don't think the programs are there yet as they are still in development, and are not necessarily grabbing all of the best players. In fact, there are many players I know that are in PA programs that I am not sure should even be in CL1. I would think that will work itself out in the coming years, but PA is not stocked solely with all elite players right now... Agree 100%!!!

CL is not as watered down because of PA as some have surmised. Disagree 100%! All the top CL teams from the PA clubs are watered down to some degree or another.

Laimport wrote:forbin, I don't have any hard facts on costs.

But I would assume that the total costs have to be higher when travel is factored in.

I was talking to a dad at practice. His son was offered a slot with a Texans PA team. He mentioned an 'upfront' figure of around 5K.

I admit though that I may have misunderstood.

Personally, if you really wanted to argue that PA is getting all or most of the truly elite players....then that argument would be strengthened by making PA totally free for the players.

This debate to me is much like the ODP argument. ODP doesn't get all the best players anymore either. Largely due to the fact that PA/DA players don't participate.

In terms of exposure (college and otherwise) there are other venues available.

Axxman wrote:FCD PA is free. The only two major expenses are uniforms and travel. You can get by with around $400 for the uniform kits, and you pay for your bb to travel on the bus with his and other fcd pa teams which runs approx. $600. So for FCD you pay $1,000/year.

For the Texans, the fee for PA is exactly the same as it is for classic ($2,800 approx.) but there is more travel which you have to pay for on your own. Since the teams don't travel in a big group like fcd, I'm assuming those costs are higher. So with uniforms and all I could see the cost for the Texans to be around $5k/year. Note that if they want your kid bad enough, whether you can afford it or not, they will offer scholarships.

Additionally, if you end up traveling to out of town venues, such as playoffs or whatever it may be, you would pay for your bbs travel unless the club picks up that tab which in most cases is unlikely, but does happen.

Don't have experience with Solar or Andro PA, but I'm assuming their fees would be very similar to the Texans.

Ibystander wrote:

Axxman wrote:FCD PA is free. The only two major expenses are uniforms and travel. You can get by with around $400 for the uniform kits, and you pay for your bb to travel on the bus with his and other fcd pa teams which runs approx. $600. So for FCD you pay $1,000/year.

For the Texans, the fee for PA is exactly the same as it is for classic ($2,800 approx.) but there is more travel which you have to pay for on your own. Since the teams don't travel in a big group like fcd, I'm assuming those costs are higher. So with uniforms and all I could see the cost for the Texans to be around $5k/year. Note that if they want your kid bad enough, whether you can afford it or not, they will offer scholarships.

Additionally, if you end up traveling to out of town venues, such as playoffs or whatever it may be, you would pay for your bbs travel unless the club picks up that tab which in most cases is unlikely, but does happen.

Don't have experience with Solar or Andro PA, but I'm assuming their fees would be very similar to the Texans.

Yes, looks like you did your homework. FCD travels by bus, with few to no overnight stays, thus cutting down on hotel fees, etc. For the other clubs, you have to pay for your own travel, and if you play in Ca, Fl, or Vegas(and you never win in Vegas), you're paying for airfare, usually around the holiday seasons, so they're not cheap. Factor in hotel costs, dining costs, coach's traveling and tournament expenses...5K is on the low end of the spectrum. Classic is a bit cheaper, since you have more games in town, therefore less spending on hotels, food, etc.
Yes, FCD is practically free, but their training schedule is too rigid. There is no way I'm driving my kid to practice 5 days a week, during rush hour, or otherwise.

my2cents wrote:

Ibystander wrote:

Axxman wrote:FCD PA is free. The only two major expenses are uniforms and travel. You can get by with around $400 for the uniform kits, and you pay for your bb to travel on the bus with his and other fcd pa teams which runs approx. $600. So for FCD you pay $1,000/year.

For the Texans, the fee for PA is exactly the same as it is for classic ($2,800 approx.) but there is more travel which you have to pay for on your own. Since the teams don't travel in a big group like fcd, I'm assuming those costs are higher. So with uniforms and all I could see the cost for the Texans to be around $5k/year. Note that if they want your kid bad enough, whether you can afford it or not, they will offer scholarships.

Additionally, if you end up traveling to out of town venues, such as playoffs or whatever it may be, you would pay for your bbs travel unless the club picks up that tab which in most cases is unlikely, but does happen.

Don't have experience with Solar or Andro PA, but I'm assuming their fees would be very similar to the Texans.

Yes, looks like you did your homework. FCD travels by bus, with few to no overnight stays, thus cutting down on hotel fees, etc. For the other clubs, you have to pay for your own travel, and if you play in Ca, Fl, or Vegas(and you never win in Vegas), you're paying for airfare, usually around the holiday seasons, so they're not cheap. Factor in hotel costs, dining costs, coach's traveling and tournament expenses...5K is on the low end of the spectrum. Classic is a bit cheaper, since you have more games in town, therefore less spending on hotels, food, etc.
Yes, FCD is practically free, but their training schedule is too rigid. There is no way I'm driving my kid to practice 5 days a week, during rush hour, or otherwise.

Then after that if you go on to DA the FCD DA practices in the AM. Players have to transfer schools to Frisco ISD.

Ibystander wrote:Also heard that 20+ FCD DA players actually flunked school? Just rumors, or is there any truth to it at all? Kind of makes you go hmmmmmmmmm.

Laimport wrote:The implication I'm reading into here is that FCD PA/DA program is "too demanding" on the kids.

Let's cut the bs.

Most parents on here would love to have their kids play college soccer. Especially on scholarship.

Nothing wrong with that.

But, you need to understand the demands on the typical student athlete. Especially D1 athletes.

Early morning, pre class workouts. Two and three day road trips...during the week.

Team meetings, fitness work, etc.

You have to be incredibly focused and self motivated to maintain decent grades and be accountable to your coach.

Frankly, every pa/da team should be training 5 days a week. Their foreign counterparts are doing the same thing.

And, as I mentioned, they will be that busy and even more so when they go off and play in college.

Might as well learn now.

Besides, what else would they be doing? Video games? Facebook? Watching American Idol?

socmom3 wrote:

Ibystander wrote:Also heard that 20+ FCD DA players actually flunked school? Just rumors, or is there any truth to it at all? Kind of makes you go hmmmmmmmmm.

I don't know the exact numbers, but I personally know 2 players who failed, yet are still playing.

Laimport wrote:FCD 97 PA (now u15) has some of the mst talented players I've ever seen at u15/16 level.

That said, there are players out there that are certainly capable of playing PA/DA yet choose not to.

In most cases, it is due to geography and cost.

I know there are several ETX ased players that are "PA caliber" players. (As evidenced by training with and being offered roster spots on PA teams)

And I'm sure there are metroplex based players of the same caliber.

I'm not bashing those players/families that choose PA early.

It's just that PA isn't a "make or break" proposition at 12, 13 or even 14/15 years of age.

A player can be suficiently challenged and otherwise developed in other ways.

For example, playing up in age and/or playing against adults.

When you live "in the sticks" you have to think outside the box.

My guess is that outside of FCD, the majority of pa/da teams are training 3 times a week.

With that in mind, it's what those players do the other 3 or 4 days out of the week that makes the difference.

go99 wrote:

socmom3 wrote:

Ibystander wrote:Also heard that 20+ FCD DA players actually flunked school? Just rumors, or is there any truth to it at all? Kind of makes you go hmmmmmmmmm.

I don't know the exact numbers, but I personally know 2 players who failed, yet are still playing.

I will say this. Those that failed in school had better be very succesful with their soccer because if you cannot handle the rigors of the AL and highschool you will not be able to handle playing soccer in college. FCD is not there to hold thier hands and wipe their noses for them.

Laimport wrote:The majority of FCD academy grads are going to play in college.I understand it's a 'pipeline' but that doesn't mean it's 'pro or nothing' to the players and their parents.

Now, obviously I agree with the fact that they have to maintain grades. But even if their grades are not great (or good enough for some d1 programs) they can still get a second chance playing at a junior college somewhere.

If they can't balance soccer and their studies, it is highly unlikely they would make it as a pro anyway.

The 2 are more linked than most people realize.