Ummm, that program doesn't yet exist. You're thinking of Fire Academy or Fire Juniors (lot of Fire youth programs, eh?).
Well if you want we can base it on results and let's see what have the fire pyramid elite program done? Won state cup, no. Won a Dallas cup game, no. How about we base it on players in the pros. Well let's see, ah no. Unless you want to take credit for a Matko men's program How about we base it on ticket sales. Well they are sh*te also. How about we base it on the coaching awards. Nope none were named youth coaches of the year. How about we base it on marketing prowess. Yes that's the ticket we do have an elite program because it is in print. Notice the freudian slip about that's the ticket.
Late news from the front office. Let's start distancing ourselves from the current pyramid. Let's start new pyramids. You know not the other pyramid. I am sure the Hispanic pyramid is coming. Kinda like the shell game. Which one of the three pyramids have the elite player. Let's just keep the hype going.
As I follow these discussions on the Fire Junior, Sockers and Magic, if you are happy where you're at, I've got to wonder why the need to put down the other programs? It's almost as though there is a fear their current program is going to lose players to these other programs, so if you put them down, you'll keep that from happening.
The Step-Children Lightning have won 2 State Cups, so your statement is not exactly accurate. If you are going to put the Lightning in with the Fire Jr's when giving Dallas Cup results, make sure you use the same teams when giving state cup results.
scary, isnt it? Obviously "redsky" is someone who really, really, has an axe to grind with the Fire and gets worked up over it. (disturbed? ) I guess the loyalty to the current club is admirable but the constant slandering of the Fire program and the tiresome ticket drivel is worn out. No one has said that the Fire Juniors are close to Magic/Sockers in history,accomplishments, blah blah blah- but, there will be a new program under the guidence of the top level of soccer in the USA (MLS) and it will be run by Chicago's MLS club- done deal, get used to it. As for the Fire Juniors, my kid's team just went to Mississippi to play in a tournament and we were at the hotel with the 1st team. Several Fire players came out to watch the boys as well as some members of the coaching staff. I know that doesnt mean much to the hardened, grisled, hardcore, soccer icons, on this board but it seemed to mean a lot to the kids. For sure, the soccer landscape in Chicago will be changing and I think its a good thing. People who are involved with the "big two" clubs will bitch, moan, and offer a lot of dissent but there are a lot of people who arent involved with those clubs who just might like the new opportunity.
That's right, Redskyisfallin is a Fire employee. I forgot. I get the sense this could go on for days.
Come now, there haven't been any Sockers people on this board bitching and moaning. You're right, I guess I took the easy route. (its really soccerlad and his alter ego redsky) Funny though, I have seen negative posts without any real substance as to how or why the Fire youth program is bad. Its been mentioned many times that you are free to go where you want if its not for you and there are a lot of great clubs in the area so why the ill will towards the Fire??
Yes it is accurate. The Step-Children Lightning won 2 state cups PRE the merger. The Dallas Cup game losses came AFTER the merger. See how the program is working already.
The merger doesn't take effect until the 2007/2008 season, but don't let the facts get in the way of your argument.
OK, the official merger does not take place until this fall. But the psychological effects have taken their toll already on the team by their performance on the pitch. There hows that?
So besides being a Fire Jr. basher you're a psychologist on the side. Very talented for a person with multiple personalities Soccerlad/Redskyisfalling. At least you didn't mention anything about tickets.
At least you didn't refute the truth about the psychological impact that the future wearing of the red and white has had on the boys. Tell me more about your infatuation with tickets.
Illinois State Cup Recap U12 - No entry U13 - Out in the second round U14 - No entry U15 - Out in the first round U16 - No entry U17 - Won a game vs Grove Utd (release the doves, launch the parade) U18 - Seeded 8 (no game played) U19 - Seeded 5 (no game played)
Youth Soccer Opportunities The Chicago Fire offers the following opportunities at all of their home games. Many of these may also be available at other soccer events at TOYOTA PARK, depending on availability. For more information please contact the ticket sales department at 888.MLS.FIRE. PLAYER ESCORTS An opportunity for your team (limited to 11 players each side) to walk out hand in hand with the Chicago Fire and opposing team players as they take the field for pre-game player introductions. Each team member will receive a Chicago Fire Replica Jersey to be worn on day of game. Minimum of 50 tickets required to participate. BALL KIDS An opportunity for your team (limited to 15 kids) to be ball kids for a Chicago Fire home game. Each team member must be 13 years or older. Each team member will also receive a MLS Ball Kid t-shirt. Minimum of 50 tickets required to participate. FLAG KIDS An opportunity for your team (limited to 10 players) to be on the field during introductions and the national anthem holding the team flags of the Chicago Fire and the opposing team. TUNNEL OF FIRE Teams will welcome the Chicago Fire and opposing team's players and will remain on the field for introductions and the national anthem. Each team member will receive a Chicago Fire T-shirt, courtesy of Chicago Soccer. Teams must commit to a minimum of 25 tickets to participate. HALFTIME MINI-GAME An opportunity for your team(s) to play at halftime of a Chicago Fire home game. These games consist of a half field scrimmage during halftime and are 8-10 minutes in length. Teams will wear their uniforms promoting their team/club and receive PA recognition. Teams must commit to a minimum of 100 tickets to participate. PRE-GAME SCRIMMAGE An opportunity for your team to play on the field at TOYOTA PARK on the day of a Chicago Fire home game. The games are 30 minutes in length and half-field. Teams must commit to a minimum of 100 tickets per game per 30 minutes.
Hats off to clubs/programs that advance kids to a higher level so the US MNT becomes competitive on the world stage. Outside of fun, possible scholarships, and the life lessons taught by soccer, it's really the purpose isn't it, to advance kids to the next level? The economics of the Rest of the World scenario in soccer is junior teams like the Fire Juniors or Liverpool Juniors or Who ever's Juniors is to develop talent, not teams. If a player like Ashley Young comes up through Watford's youth system and then is sold for £1Million, that's a lot of funds to continue that business, and profits for the owners, not to mention the help provided by that player to attain the £60Million that came with Premiership attainment. So if the Fire Juniors play their development card right they may never have teams that are winning state cups, but they may have kids who get protected status to play on the first team or are sold to other teams. And that translates to dollars. Check the organization ten years from now and see how many kids came to the first team and how many were sold, that will be the true determination of how successful the program was for the Business Club known as Chicago Fire. And if there are no state championships in that mix, why should they care? In a decade, if successful, they'll know through player development. The one advantage they have - a playing field that should be leveled by the USSF - is when any club in the USA develops a kid who turns pro is that kid's contract/rights sold to the benefit of that club to encourage them to develop more kids? Currently, no. It needs to change.
So when are you signing up your child for the Fire Juniors? If you have no kids, are you telling the kids that you deal with or their parents that they should be going to the Fire Juniors? Never mind if they are not athletes, as long as they are soccer players, right Celtic or George? And again is it development or attracting the top talent to the program? Is this what will take 10 years? And when did the clock start 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, Fall 2007? And tell me what training is going on right now within their club that is so much better than what the Texans, Sockers, Magic, etc are doing? I am not siding with Red Sky Falling, what I hate is the marketing circle jerk, without EXECUTION.