that doesn't sound like the 'player first" "unrivaled family experience" FCU touts on their website. Would like to hear about first hand parent player experiences at FCU, 2004 program and coaches... PM me maybe?
FCU coaches have been breaking high school rules for years. Below is from IHSA website.... Would love to hear the IHSA explain how BF is eligible to coach at Loyola. 3.107 During the school year, a person who is a coach in any sport at a member school, may be involved in any respect with any non-school team, only if the number of squad members from his/her school which are on the non-school team roster does not exceed one-half the number of players needed to field a team in actual IHSA state series competition in that sport. The number of non-school team squad members that are counted only include those that are eligible to play in the next season of that sport. 199) Q. May a high school coach serve as a coach for multiple non-high school teams during the school term as long as the number of students from his/her school on each team does not exceed the limits noted in illustration 198? A. No. (By-law 3.107) 201) Q. May a high school coach serve as a non-school club administrator who doesn’t coach an individual team in the club when the number of participants in the club from his/her school exceeds one half the number of players needed to field a team in actual IHSA state series competition? A. No. During the school term a coach may not be involved “in any respect” with a non-school club program when the number of players from his/her school exceeds one half the number of players needed to field a team in actual IHSA state series competition (By-law 3.107).
So are you and Concerned saying he is violating the rules because there are more than five Loyola kids on FCU teams, or that he is unethical because when he wears his LoyAca hat he dissuades Loyola students from playing for FCU (DA)?
As far as I know, all that and much more. Controlling teams selection in favor of Loyola kids, player budgets incentives on the club side to convince potential players to enroll at Loyola. Also heard a story recently about a certain Loyola boys player that commited to a D1 was told to play HS for Loyola and then in the winter/spring would be allowed to play on the DA U19 team.
Anything come from that Northbrook presentation? Yes, the redesign of the club car magnets was extremely well received, but the parents overwhelmingly voted down periodic PED testing.
I was told they announced the creation of a committee to address the increase in parents complaining about how the club's heavy use of Sharks and Minnows drills is causing self-esteem issues since the same kids keep winning.
Heard they stayed that no longer affiliates with FC United as they are now for profit (not that they ever weren’t, but it’s now going in different pockets). Not sure what else
I don’t think FCU was for profit until SMP took over. That happened after SFC started its affiliation with FCU.
Spartan no longer affilated with FCU because FCU went for-profit or because Spartan is also becoming for-profit? I guess announcing you are breaking up with someone is a good step to take before dating someone else... but seems like a let down relative to the boasting on here a few weeks ago.
Not officially, as all the money used to go in the family members pockets, would love to see them so called expenses for the last 5 years.
Heard last night that Hoffman United had an abrupt takeover in it's recent past. Apparently the new owner got the name licensed and then challenged the owner to sue if they did not hit the road... Anyone else hear about this? Not necessarily madness - last yeat (if I recall correctly), a coach played against FOX VALLEY BAYERN and lost badly. He reached out to Bayern Munich and sent them photos of FVB using there logo. BM sent a cease and desist and FVB had to re-do their jerseys in the middle of the season.
Yes, word has it that ever since gambling and dope have become legal, the Chicago Outfit has been muscling into Chicagoland youth sports. All six of the Hanover Park Youth Baseball beheadings to this day remain unsolved.... (Of course, I am kidding). But the analogy is apt. Shrinking revenue streams result in unseemly acts.
So as March comes in, is the feeling that this is not happening? Any insight on whether it was every anything other than an unsubstantiated rumor?
Egos, reputations, money, and the reality that there is a limited amount of talent out there are always hurdles to making things actually happen.
Egos and reputations are problems common to any merger, especially when one party owns the license (in this case the badge), and that is 90% of the value. Money? Shouldn't be a problem. Eclipse keeps what the ECNL teams generate. Eclipse gets field rental subsidies provided by the affiliate. The affiliate figures out how the partnership can help grow numbers for the club. Talent shortage? Compared to... 6-37-8 with a -88 goal differential. Not buying that excuse either. It's really not complicated. Fc1, Wilmette Wings, Park Ridge Whatevers, Fire NS, ... plenty of targets that would listen... and 6-37-8 will eventually cost Eclipse something, they should be motivated to try something. 425 Elite, holla at me if you want help in negotiating the deal. Action item 1: Let FCU know they are going to lose field time at Fox Meadow, and other public parks when the deal closes.
FC-1: not in its DNA to seriously consider this Wilmette Wings: ditto, plus they don't have the right kind of field space Park Ridge: Will never be more than a feeder community that supplies semi-serious players to FC-1, and more serious players to FCU and Sockers. The only community club in the north (within Cook County) that has the motivation to make this happen is Spartan.
Sockers 2005 DA team obtained most of their top players from Park Ridge at u12/u13. What's the deal over there - coach, program, something in the water???
Park Ridge kids are their parents take sports very seriously, and there are just as many good athletes coming out of that zip code as any other. They just don't have as fancy of houses as up north so many of their sports organizations aren't as "well organized" as what is on offer for customers up north looking for high end sports experiences. PR routinely gets dismissed. Nothing will happen until Eclipse starts to feel embarrassed. Maybe as long as enough of their "A" teams qualify and make some noise nationally they won't fix the problem. They don't seem terribly motivated just yet. This "B" team problem is playing out in other cities too, I'd be surprised if they aren't collectively trying to figure out how to address it. One good thing about ECNL is that clubs, especially the ones that started the league, can be nimble and make up new rules as they see fit. There is no reason for them to panic and take the first offer shown to them from a u-little club up north who currently sounds like the only seller.
Got it... The only thing I feel regarding ECNL is that Chicagoland needs another ECNL club. IMO that should be in the Naperville area where you can cater to Galaxy, Team Chicago and CSA players. I would add *some Campton players as well.
Park Ridge SC has no desire to have elite teams. They are organized just fine, but they only offer 2 practices a week and cater to the multi-sport athlete. Most of their elite players leave by u12. They are content to operate as a community club a notch above rec soccer. It's a shame because they have nice fields and a great talent pool.