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**Unregistered** · 01-28-2015, 08:05 PM

Too transparent Perspective. Go to bed.

**Unregistered** · 01-28-2015, 08:13 PM

I'm not sure what you mean. Perhaps you are so informed that my question seems silly but this forum seemed like the place to ask these questions. I'm not planning to leave my club. I do think I owe it to my child and my wallet to understand club structure in MA. I am not sure how that would offend you.

**Unregistered** · 01-28-2015, 08:34 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Our daughter is new to club soccer. We are happy with her club for now because it's nearby and her team has had success. She is also developing her skills and confidence. However she enjoys being challenged and we aren't sure her club is big enough to year after year provide the kind of challenge she wants.

Do any of you have advice for us, the parents of an early middle school aged girl who wants to play in the most challenging environment she can? We don't know the difference between Maple and NPL and aren't sure of the top club teams in the state. However it seems like given the cost of club soccer and our child's interest and ability we should be better informed. TIA.

What age group is your daughter ?

**Unregistered** · 01-28-2015, 08:45 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Our daughter is new to club soccer. We are happy with her club for now because it's nearby and her team has had success. She is also developing her skills and confidence. However she enjoys being challenged and we aren't sure her club is big enough to year after year provide the kind of challenge she wants.

Do any of you have advice for us, the parents of an early middle school aged girl who wants to play in the most challenging environment she can? We don't know the difference between Maple and NPL and aren't sure of the top club teams in the state. However it seems like given the cost of club soccer and our child's interest and ability we should be better informed. TIA.

Read through this thread for a discussion of the various leagues, especially entry #17

http://talking-soccer.com/TS4/showthread.php?t=119590

Be aware that many responses you will get (and posts in that thread) are biased by people's own agenda's. The snarky response you already got here is in response to 2 individuals often take over threads arguing their own views. Hopefully you will get the information that you are looking for before that happens. Good luck.

**Unregistered** · 01-28-2015, 09:00 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Too transparent Perspective. Go to bed.

Nope. Sorry. Probably the other guy unfortunately. The double down on the "wallet" comments and the "costs of club soccer" along with the feigned pure ignorance are your best clues. Not to mention with these "newbies" that TS isn't exactly the first thing you find out about when you join that first no-name club.

Let's not drag this one out. Please, someone tell the OP who the top couple of clubs are in each region of Mass and let's be done with this one.

**Unregistered** · 01-28-2015, 09:08 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Read through this thread for a discussion of the various leagues, especially entry #17

http://talking-soccer.com/TS4/showthread.php?t=119590

Be aware that many responses you will get (and posts in that thread) are biased by people's own agenda's. The snarky response you already got here is in response to 2 individuals often take over threads arguing their own views. Hopefully you will get the information that you are looking for before that happens. Good luck.

And now that we all see where (and how quickly) we got re-directed we have confirmation, with the bonus "Good luck."

**Unregistered** · 01-28-2015, 10:18 PM

Thanks to those who are offering advice. As for finding this site, it comes up quick when you start googling or trying to figure out the club soccer scene. My family has been involved for 6 months now... Long enough to hear many different perspectives and acronyms thrown around at my daughter's games. And long enough to get recruited by people and find it crazy that idle chocolate kids are recruited. I readily admit I am naive and trying to figure this out. I have no agenda. But when you type in certain clubs and things like "best youth soccer club" and your region of MA, talking soccer comes up. I have a full- time career and a few kids and don't live and breathe my daughter's hobby. But her hobby that she began in preschool has become to her more serious than that. I am trying to guide her through something I don't fully understand and was just looking for opinions or, even better, unbiased information.

As for age, it's u11.

**Unregistered** · 01-28-2015, 10:31 PM

Thanks for the above link, btw. It was helpful.

**Unregistered** · 01-28-2015, 10:44 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Thanks for the above link, btw. It was helpful.

I posted the link... and I'm not whoever #7 thinks I am.

The problem is that "best youth soccer club" is totally subjective. You should be concentrating on "best club for my daughter and our situation." Not as easy to google! And you are not going to find totally unbiased information from any source.

Informing yourself about the different leagues is a good first step. If you really are interested in seeing how other clubs work, narrow down options to a few based on whatever criteria you think is important... leagues, travel distance, uniform colors... and call their DOC's. Most will let your daughter attend a practice or 2. Talk to other parents (understanding that we all have our own agenda). See how your daughter likes a new situation. In the end, see what feels right for your family, regardless of everyone else's opinion.

At U11 you have plenty of time to figure it out. And once again, good luck. Club soccer can be a wonderful experience, but it can also be extremely stressful.. both for kids and their parents.

**Unregistered** · 01-28-2015, 11:36 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Thanks to those who are offering advice. As for finding this site, it comes up quick when you start googling or trying to figure out the club soccer scene. My family has been involved for 6 months now... Long enough to hear many different perspectives and acronyms thrown around at my daughter's games. And long enough to get recruited by people and find it crazy that idle chocolate kids are recruited. I readily admit I am naive and trying to figure this out. I have no agenda. But when you type in certain clubs and things like "best youth soccer club" and your region of MA, talking soccer comes up. I have a full- time career and a few kids and don't live and breathe my daughter's hobby. But her hobby that she began in preschool has become to her more serious than that. I am trying to guide her through something I don't fully understand and was just looking for opinions or, even better, unbiased information.

As for age, it's u11.

Idle chocolate kids? Translation?

Began in pre-school and now still clueless in middle school? Apparently you really are a dope.

Oh, and you googled best soccer club and best region? That's pretty bizarre.

So you came upon this site by accident, but now you are going to base important family decisions based upon what you see here?

**Unregistered** · 01-29-2015, 07:07 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Idle chocolate kids? Translation?

Began in pre-school and now still clueless in middle school? Apparently you really are a dope.

Oh, and you googled best soccer club and best region? That's pretty bizarre.

So you came upon this site by accident, but now you are going to base important family decisions based upon what you see here?

Don't pick on the guy. My kid is u12 and it's hard to find that perfect fit so he maybe just looking for the basics to help his daughter make a good decision on the club.

I'm not that good at finding old post but perhaps at this time this poster would benefit from reading the post that lists the girls soccer landscape in MA. It gave the pyramid from ECNL down. Then he can ask his new club if they could offer that league... Someone please find that for him. It maybe that simple for some. Let's not bash everyone looking for help.

**Unregistered** · 01-29-2015, 07:24 AM

Here is a primer about club soccer.

Understanding the New Soccer Landscape http://talking-soccer.com/TS4/showthread.php?t=104051

As was pointed out earlier threads like it tend to get awfully snarky but it you read through it you'll get a pretty good idea of what club soccer is all about these days.

**Unregistered** · 01-29-2015, 07:34 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Don't pick on the guy. My kid is u12 and it's hard to find that perfect fit so he maybe just looking for the basics to help his daughter make a good decision on the club.

I'm not that good at finding old post but perhaps at this time this poster would benefit from reading the post that lists the girls soccer landscape in MA. It gave the pyramid from ECNL down. Then he can ask his new club if they could offer that league... Someone please find that for him. It maybe that simple for some. Let's not bash everyone looking for help.

Oh, the one from May, 2013? Your wish is my command. Poof, and there it is!