Chicago Magic West

Discussion in 'Youth & HS Soccer' started by ChicagoSoccerDad, Apr 22, 2012.

  1. ChicagoSoccerDad

    ChicagoSoccerDad New Member

    Mar 6, 2012
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    With Try-out season just around the corner, does anyone have any insight on the Chicago Magic West organization in the Plainfield area? How are their trainers? Are they as competitive as their other locations? Just an option I'm looking into for my U10 & U11 boys. Thanks!
     
  2. VolklP19

    VolklP19 Member+

    Jun 23, 2010
    Illinois
    I think South coaches participate in coaching at Plainfield.

    How far are you from CFJ - new Sockers outpost?
     
  3. ChicagoSoccerDad

    ChicagoSoccerDad New Member

    Mar 6, 2012
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    I'm not that far at all. I live in the area. I was curious about how the new Sockers West team might be. Was just thinking same ol CFJ but with new jerseys?
     
  4. VolklP19

    VolklP19 Member+

    Jun 23, 2010
    Illinois
    Well based on what is going on with Sockers McHenry I would say that some of the critical coaches at CFJ will stay on board but some may not be brought back for Fall 2012. At the ages we are talking about it really depends on the skill level they are at.

    If they are solid players the real question is how far are you from Highland Park vs Olympic Park/Soccer City because that's where they will be spending the majority of their time anyhow.
     
  5. y.o.n.k.o

    y.o.n.k.o Member

    Jan 12, 2010
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    As far as I know, CFJ coaches who adopt the Sockers coaching method will stay on, while those who do not wont. Simple as that.

    He doesn't need to travel to those locations with boys aged 10 and 11.
     
  6. VolklP19

    VolklP19 Member+

    Jun 23, 2010
    Illinois
    McHenry coaches were cut because they were top heavy - not because any of them refused to follow the Sockers method. I can only assume that will be the same case with CFJ - if in fact they are top heavy.

    My comments about Olympic and HP are in regard to a long term focus in which a player may excel to the DA. HP and Olympic are VERY far apart and down the road that may be something to consider.
     
  7. y.o.n.k.o

    y.o.n.k.o Member

    Jan 12, 2010
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    What do you mean by "top heavy"?
     
  8. VolklP19

    VolklP19 Member+

    Jun 23, 2010
    Illinois
    10+ coaches for 8-9 teams. None of the coaches were specialists either. Some of them carried a basic E license and were simply "friends" or rec coaches that brought teams into the Magic North program.

    They lost many good players over the last 3 years before becoming part of Sockers - but still kept the coaches on.

    They are down to 3 coaches now with 1 additional intermediate coach (E license) coaching 1-2 teams or helping out with coaches.
     
  9. cowboysfan

    cowboysfan New Member

    Dec 28, 2011
    Club:
    Real Zaragoza
    CFJ had a choice to meet the $$ demands of the Fire or go with another interested club. They decided sockers style was the best option for players, should be a style change next year.

    Does anyone know if the Fire taking over Plainfield Legends and rec is true?
     
    Cambia repped this.
  10. VolklP19

    VolklP19 Member+

    Jun 23, 2010
    Illinois
    Frankfort has got to be loving this :eek:
     
  11. y.o.n.k.o

    y.o.n.k.o Member

    Jan 12, 2010
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    It has nothing to do with style. It's all about $$$$.

    Why?
     
  12. whiteoak

    whiteoak New Member

    May 19, 2010
    Club:
    Everton FC
    I have a related question. Does anybody know anything about the Magic program in Glen Ellyn? Is this a brand new location for them? Have they identified specific trainers? Will these teams train full time at CoD? I'm considering options for my U11 (next year) boy, and this would be a convenient geographic option.
     
  13. ChicagoSoccerDad

    ChicagoSoccerDad New Member

    Mar 6, 2012
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    My understanding is that currently they only have 1 U11 team (U12 Fall 2012) and possible a U8 team? They are looking to add more teams depending on the amount of kids that tryout and would like CoD to be their location preference. Not sure it they will continue to train at CoD full-time come fall, but does seem like a interesting option. I would also be interested in finding more information.
     
  14. whiteoak

    whiteoak New Member

    May 19, 2010
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Thanks for the info. I sense a lot of reshuffling at this age group this year. We will probably check out this option, but I'm concerned about the level of resources that may be dedicated to an outpost this size. We're primarily interested in finding great training with a high level group of kids. Geographic proximity is also important.
     
  15. Cambia

    Cambia New Member

    Sep 1, 2008
    Looks like Fire Junior - Plainfield Legends deal is done for next next season.
     
  16. VolklP19

    VolklP19 Member+

    Jun 23, 2010
    Illinois
    I wonder if the Magic tried to get on board with this - and if they did what happened. If they did not - why not?

    Lots of good teams between Plainfield and Fire Jr's out of Naperville that got absorbed by other clubs.

    Ought to be interesting.
     
  17. Cambia

    Cambia New Member

    Sep 1, 2008
    Definately will be interesting to watch. I remember some of Steve Morris's teams at FC Milwaukee and this would seem to put him in a position to replicate some of what he did up there. Didn't really think much of Legends until I saw them at an NSR Tournament last Labor Day. Played against some traditionally strong programs...Sockers, Fire Junior, Magic, Eclipse, NSA and came home with 6 titles. Girls side in particular seems to be strong from U13 on down. Seems like this could be a good fit...Fire Junior and Steve Morris.
     
  18. y.o.n.k.o

    y.o.n.k.o Member

    Jan 12, 2010
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    I'm a little confused......Which Fire is merging with Plainfield Legends? The Fire that got taken over by Sockers or the Fire Youth Academy?
     
  19. SheHateMe

    SheHateMe Member

    Feb 14, 2011
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think neither. CFJ South and CFJ North are still running under the branding deal.
     
  20. VolklP19

    VolklP19 Member+

    Jun 23, 2010
    Illinois
    CFJ is still part of Sockers - we had a few fun games with them during Nike Cup (u7u8). I spoke with a few of their coaches and they are pretty excited.

    I believe the Plainfield lot was grabbed by Chi Fire's program out of Toyota Park.
     
  21. SheHateMe

    SheHateMe Member

    Feb 14, 2011
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Chicago Fire Juniors South and North are not part of the Chicago Fire Youth Academy, which practices at Toyota. I think you will find that Plainfield merges with CFJ South, but I could be wrong. They were not part of the Sockers acquisition. Its very confusing for a lot of folks.
     
  22. VolklP19

    VolklP19 Member+

    Jun 23, 2010
    Illinois
    Okay so CFJ South and North have rights to use the name and you're saying that the South took on Legends right. CFJ on the other had is with Sockers now.

    Am I correct?

    If so - where is the Magic in all this? Everyone is expanding in their neighborhood. Didn't Glenview or Spartans come up with some unified presence in the North?
     
  23. SockerFan70

    SockerFan70 Member

    Aug 26, 2010
    Club:
    Chicago
    You guys are making this extremely confusing. Let me try to simplify things. The actual Chicago Fire (as in Toyota Park) has a South (Orland Park), North (Highland Park), and now West (formerly Plainfield Legends), these are the only three fire juniors programs in the area currently. The old cfj group out of Naperville is a part of the Sockers.
     
  24. SheHateMe

    SheHateMe Member

    Feb 14, 2011
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't believe that is completely accurate and also the source of some confusion. CFJN and CFJS are separate entities that pay for the branding affiliation just like West used to do. The Fire has their own youth academy which is their own club that is below the DA and is competing against these other locations. The branded clubs like the parents to think of them as part of the parent organization, but they really are not. With so much consolidation, some kids will find themselves on the C or D teams, but I guess it will at least bubble up the better players.
     
  25. Cambia

    Cambia New Member

    Sep 1, 2008
    I think Magic has over estimated their brand name in the Plainfield / Naperville area. How many options are there already in Naperville alone to suit a player of just about any ability...NSA, Eclipse, CFJ, Sockers, Ajax, Challangers, ASC, Galaxy, little clubs like Stavaru.....

    As pety as it sounds, little things like charging a $25.00 fee for tryouts put alot of new parents off who are new to travel soccer. Sockers came into the area with a different approach by taking over an established successful program in the old CFJ West as opposed to the Magic who absorded 2 or 3 Plainfield Freedom teams and is trying to build based on their name alone. I thought the current Chicago Fire move is even more interesting as not only in Legends are they getting 30+ travel teams but also tap into what is a pretty big rec program in Plainfield....(at least it used to be). Should be fun to sit back and watch our friends down south and see how this all plays out!
     

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