FC United got a new GA Director? One of my daughter's friends said that the old one was not very well liked by parent's or player's. Will this one be any different? From what I have heard he has been to a few clubs in the past few years (including going back to Sockers). Will this be a good change at FC United?
You may be right, and I might even agree with you depending on the circumstances. But counting the results of friendlies doesn't make sense at scale. The scores aren't recorded, there are no league/tournament or any other rules, and the entire purpose of them is for training and practice - not for competing. But if you are comparing the value of a friendly against a competitive team, or a low-level tournament against teams that are easily bested by many goals, I can see why the former might certainly be more helpful to the team. I can also see why they decided that it wasn't worth even trying to include in these ratings. It's just math. Strength of schedule is no more, and no less, than the average rating of all teams that a selected team plays over the last 12 months. If their own rating is higher than the schedule, odds are they have a winning record. If their own rating is lower than the schedule, odds are they have a losing record. If the schedule is higher, yet they have a winning record, it is a team that has measurably improved over the last 12 months. The inverse is also true. And finally, if a team is playing a schedule that is 5 goals weaker than themselves, the outcome of pretty much every game is written before the 1st goal is scored that season. Michigan Hawks are the strongest team 2008G in the country, and played a schedule 12th strongest in the country, out of a little over 2,000 competitive teams. In your hypothetical? It's easy - average in Hawks 52.34 as 1 game into the past year's games for Galaxy. They played 20 teams with an average of 46.03. Their schedule would then show 46.33 - moderately improved, but still likely in the 300's. I can't imagine any of this is directly actionable; it's not like anyone thinks about weekly improvements to a meaningless schedule number. But over time, it tells a pretty compelling story about the average strength of teams that a specific team has seen over the past 12 months.
It would certainly be a very good game - and likely challenging for both. The predictions are below, but of course anything could happen on the day.
He's participated on this thread before. I believe in the last three years, he has coached at Sockers, Crystal Lake, 1974, Sockers (again) and now FCU. I have heard rumor that with SP running "all girls programs" with AP above him that the people at FCU do not really view GA Director as a "senior position".
Would love to see this match up. That 08 Eclipse team used to be a powerhouse team and they are no longer. They used to be just like this Galaxy team. A couple of years ago, I think Eclipse would have the upper hand but not anymore.
For one thing, a missing game or 3 or 5 isn't going to affect anything material in terms of their rating/ranking/schedule/etc. It only takes 8 - 10 recorded games for all of it to be pretty solid. But in addition, where are the missing games that you are referring to? Where is the recorded game that isn't linked? Here's everything called "Galaxy" in 2008G IL for the past two years: View attachment 261906 Removing the IL and looking across the whole USA 2008G, everything listed appears to be a "Galaxy" in another state that has nothing to do with this team. Assuming that somewhere there must be records of them playing teams that would raise their rated schedule is a bit of a leap - and IMO it's pretty unlikely.[/QUOTE] Already told you about the missing games but you claim friendlies and showcases don’t count. It’s just a pointless argument. Games are indeed being played but aren’t being counted.
No, it is only pointless if you misunderstand the question. They are not playing any recorded games against any notable teams. A friendly doesn't count (just as it doesn't in any competitive soccer league anywhere). You're misreading, in that showcases absolutely do count. Any recorded competitive game is counted. Where are the results? Did everyone agree not to keep records online? If the showcase happened - point to a link! Point to a social media post describing the game. But as a related point, people way, way overestimate the effect of a few data points in changing the story of all of the existing data points. A good game doesn't move the needle much. A bad game doesn't move the needle much. But it also doesn't require a particularly large amount of games for the results to be statistically significant either. Remember, the goal of the entire system is to be able to fairly assess a team's strength, and come up with a decent prediction whether its strength is higher or lower than the team it is facing. The higher rated team should win. Every little while, run through the most recent results and calculate what percentage of times the higher rated team won; optimize the weightings and the algorithms to maximize that percentage over time. Adjust as needed, and set the threshold for minimum needed games to be rated at whatever threshold still gives good predictivity - that is what turns out to be much lower than people would guess.
You seem super angry about this. I had to scroll a lot to get to this. I’ll need to look more later for the other game but this references one of the games in January between Galaxy and Nationals and mentions showcase in the graphic. I am very excited to attend the showcases today. Go nationals!!!!!! @NationalsGA @CoachDR7 @ImYouthSoccer @PrepSoccer @ImCollegeSoccer @TopDrawerSoccer @TheSoccerWire pic.twitter.com/mhUPNQH7wH— Kayla Butki Soccer (@ButkiKayla) January 20, 2024
I have a good friend who has a player on 08 Galaxy and another pal who has a 08 Eclipse player. I think they would both agree that Galaxy would likely win in a pretty solidly. Not a blow out but they both say Galaxy is the current better team. 08 Eclipse was a better team a couple years ago by a wide margin but they relied on their individual players being bigger and faster, many had early growth spurts, and were a juggernaut. Those years Eclipse 08 would crush the competition. Galaxy has tight band of talent, not one or two all stars who carry the team. They have played together for years so they trust each other, and the coaching that Galaxy provides is heads and tails above what Eclipse offers currently. Both would agree 100% that ECNL is the superior league. GA Midwest is horrible, but the Galaxy girls like each other and they get enough attention from scouts. But if that wasn’t the case Eclipse would be the destination even if coaching wasn’t on par.
I may be lost on this but why are we arguing over a stupid app that in reality probably only matters to parents that want to brag? At the end of the day, all the kids care about, all the coaches care about, and all the colleges care about are the actual games being played in their respective leagues. The proof is already there that the ECNL for right now is stronger which shows in the recruiting data. But that doesn’t mean a GA team at whatever age level couldn’t or wouldn’t beat an ECNL team if they played. If the GA schedule was as strong you would see recruiting numbers be more evened out across the two leagues. However, the coaches are going to follow the best teams in each of the leagues, and the 08 Galaxy has shown they are at the top of their conference in the GA. It’s not up to us or an app to decipher if those girls are as competitive as other 08 girls in the ECNL. It’s up to the college coaches watching the games.
No anger here. I'm sure that the app developers would be happy to add essentially any game data that they can find, as more information about how each team is doing is only going to help. Many showcases post up results just like any other tournament, and can be found and loaded just as easily. But in some cases - it looks like showcases decline to post any results, either intentionally or unintentionally. That seems to be the case for the Michigan Jaguars one in January. Here's what's still up: https://michiganjaguarsfc.com/club/girlswintershowcase , and it does nothing but list the number of college coaches in attendance. For what it's worth, for other tournaments that they put on, the Jags load the teams & scores, and they are pulled in ( like this one: https://jagspring.tourneycentral.com/ ). I can't find any results from the showcase, so it's certainly possible that SR can't find any results from it either. Here's what the Nationals put on their social media: If anyone is following a team and is concerned that games they played aren't being loaded, and they have a link to share where the developers can see what they mean - they can send the info to the support email in the app, and they are typically pretty responsive. It sounds like the teams had a fun weekend - and I hope that they were able to meet with the scouts for the colleges they are interested in.
So you are essentially inferring a 5th or 6th place team from the ECNL could run the table in their GA conference? If I’m not mistaken this Eclipse team also lost to 2008 Evolution when they played this past fall.
Hi, I am a soccer dad in Naperville with 2 2014 kids who are just now moving from a small club. I am trying to develop them to the best of their ability and was wondering as a relative newcomer to the soccer world if some of my impressions are correct. I have the sense that Eclipse is on the way down, though the infusion of Windy City rampage talent may stave it off for awhile. Team Chicago with the addition of Tom Nevill and the player-centric reorg has the look of a club on the rise, or so it seems to me. My daughter joined Bolingbrook - it seems a good situation for the year, but I hear that one of the 2013 coaches departed for Evolution and took most of the team with him. I don't know the details, but it looks to me like Evolution got poached, and turned around and poached Bolingbrook. Also, maybe I am missing something, but Inter seems strangely undervalued. I believe that they are one of 3 clubs in Illinois to have teams competing in ENCL national? In any case, my plan is to get the kids all the developmental time at TC and Bolingbrook, and then potentially move to Inter in a few years (or try out for Galaxy or stay with TC) should they be able to compete at that level. Am I at least sort of on the right track?
You’ve described most if not all Eclipse teams. If you’ve had players there you know this. They rely on a few athletes early that are typically a bit bigger & faster. Those athletes’s parents typically run the team, create issues, and club lets them. The coaching is nothing special. They were only dominating nationally when they could corner the talent market and blind person could pick the roster. Due to different factors, some not even the player’s fault, the gap narrows over the years, mostly as they run off players and never really attract players at older age groups. Players & parents blame everyone but themselves for any on field issue. Everyone in their eyes is going to Stanford or Duke, until they find out they are not. This is why most of their older teams are basically 5th to 7th place range in the conference. I’d be surprised if Inter doesn’t finish within +\- 2 spots in conference standings in most if not all age groups next year as I’m hearing they keep taking more and more talented players. I also do not envy the older Eclipse players being forced to play RL games on top of national games. Too many minutes and unnecessary injury risk for older players when you consider league, showcase, and then high school for those that play. Adding extra games due to incompetence of leadership should be a non starter for any family or player worried about proper recovery and injury prevention.
You are on the right track. Best bet is Inter or Galaxy if you want clubs that are actually trying to identify talent now for consideration on their National GA or ECNL teams. However, it wouldn’t hurt to look sooner so your player gets in the system now. Inter was a somewhat small club in the area until they got full ECNL license last year. They are getting lots of new players now. Most families I know at Inter are very happy. I’d also say the same about galaxy, most things I hear are positive. I would look at both those clubs as soon as possible and make the best choice.
This is exactly what I have heard. There is no leadership at Eclipse that is qualified or really cares about load management or psychophysiological wellbeing. I would imagine ACL injuries are more prevalent and college burnout with their alumni.
I would stay as far away from Eclipse as possible. For all of the reasons that are all over this board, but if you need even more reason just google Rory Dames, who still owns the club and his family is all involved in the club. I don’t know much about Team Chicago, but by the time your kids get to U13 if you want one of the most competitive leagues with a pathway to college you will want ECNL or GA. The two closest options are Inter and Galaxy. We know families at both and have heard good things about both. No club is perfect but I suggest having your girls go to some practices at the clubs you’re considering before tryouts. It’s hard to get a feel for the club during tryouts. Most ECNL and GA clubs will also hold talent identification days mid season.
Whatever is true of the landscape now will change by the time your daughter is in high school. Your best bet is to get your daughter at the best club for development. Many clubs focus on winning over developing and your daughter is too young to be at a club with this mentality. TC is moving in a good direction after falling in the past few years. Bolingbrook has been and will always be a neighborhood club with coaches who may or may not know how to develop. Your daughter should have fun there but probably won't develop to the level you are hoping for. Those who have been around Inter know how toxic the girls' side can be but people choose to look the other way due to the opportunity to play in college. The verbal and emotional abuse can be very bad and you either accept it or find another place to play. Their girls are usually (not always) developed elsewhere in the younger ages and then move to Inter for exposure. They have no issues moving players down to a lower team even if they've been on a top team for years if someone better comes along. If this is the route you choose, your daughter should plan on giving up everything else because the coaches expect full commitment starting around middle school. That being said, if your daughter is a top player and can handle the treatment, she will get a lot of exposure if college soccer is what she wants. Galaxy is known for developing players and giving them a platform without the toxic side of Inter. The two clubs are big rivals but that is more due to parents and kids rather than leadership. The GA platform nationwide isn't as high as ECNL but Galaxy has some strong teams. At the high school ages, their teams are huge so if your daughter isn't a top player, expect to be part of the pool play. With the influx of Evolution players and coaches, it'll be interesting to see how things are next season. Overall, I wouldn't make any plans other than to be sure she has fun and finds a good coach for development while she is younger. If she isn't the one asking for more, and it's fueled by you, she will not enjoy the demands of ECNL or GA as she gets older.
I’ve heard many historical families at Inter do not like the change the National ECNL platform has brought. Too many new players coming and have upset the dynamics that were stable for years. Many of Inter’s teams did not have the talent to compete like you need at the national level so new players were recruited and prior players cast aside. Honestly, that’s every ECNL club. Each year you can lose a roster spot. I think this issue will probably be magnified at Inter over the next two or three years as they figure out the types of players needed to compete nationally. Galaxy’s older teams were mostly set, probably not much roster moves. I’ve heard some players in their 2012 age were moved downward and parents were furious. Pretty soon they will be the next club labeled toxic.
That is a good plan to start your kids in a smaller club that will focus on development. We don't play at TC, but have had outside training sessions with Tom Nevill and Matt Suggitt and they are great trainers. Larger clubs such as Eclipse and FCU will not focus on your child and develop them individually.
I noticed that the majority of the Galaxy 2010 GA girls are playing in the State Cup games and they also played in the USYS National Pro games. Is this because they don't have enough players to field a strong second team or did Galaxy place the GA players there in order to win the championship?
I really appreciate everyone's replies. We are of course locked in for 2024-5 and with our son will get a firsthand look at TC's training. We've been in some camps with them, including Absolute Soccer which effectively is a TC camp now, I think. Sounds like it's Inter or Galaxy (or TC possibly) for our girl after the next 2 years. The 2014 Bolingbrook girls has really impressive coaching and that was the reason we chose it over TC and Eclipse, though of course as a couple of you have pointed out I would have strong reservations for sending her to Eclipse anyway: a lot would depend on how much influence the Windy City people would have, but why take the chance at this stage? It's good to have some more info on Galaxy: I have hears some iffy word of mouth on them, but hard to know how much weight to put on it. Seems that with the top teams there is always some toxicity as the intensity and competition increases, and right now the big thing is for them to develop, but have good experiences.
I think it’s a bit of the parents wanting their daughters to win and play in as many games as possible. FCU puts their 2nd team into state cups, Exclipse I don’t think has a 2nd team, and most other clubs put their top teams. Not sure what Sockers do.