⚽️⚽️⚽️…Delusional Youth Soccer Parent Thread

Soccerguy7583

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It was a big result for them, our girls took that game way too lightly. We went down 0-1 and then by half were up 3-1. Field was tiny, weather sucked (windy), but I don't want to take anything away from WSA, they 100% deserved the point today. We both played in the same conditions and on the same field, but I promise you they didn't get our best effort.
 

lawpoke87

Heisman
Dec 17, 2002
165,781
19,915
82
WSA didn’t win any of the NL games yesterday (4 losses and 2 ties) but most of the losses were very competitive games. Not the outcome that WSA would have preferred but possibly a step in the right direction.

We beat a really good Sting Austin side (#25 nationally) 3-0 on Saturday and came back Sunday to overwhelm an outmatched Classic 4-1. We’re up to #6 nationally which is the highest ranking the 2010s at FCD have ever obtained. I don’t believe we are worthy of that ranking but certainly a top 15 side. We have this weekend off before a huge showdown with Albion the week after.

It’s a shame ECNL cut the qualifiers to the Champions League from the Texas conference from 6 to 4 this year while conferences like the Midwest kept their original number. There will be a couple of very good teams not qualify for Seattle top tournament
 
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brookhaven

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Aug 27, 2025
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WSA didn’t win any of the NL games yesterday (4 losses and 2 ties) but most of the losses were very competitive games. Not the outcome that WSA would have preferred but possibly a step in the right direction.

We beat a really good Sting Austin side (#25 nationally) 3-0 on Saturday and came back Sunday to overwhelm an outmatched Classic 4-1. We’re up to #6 nationally which is the highest ranking the 2010s at FCD have ever obtained. I don’t believe we are worthy of that ranking but certainly a top 15 side. We have this weekend off before a huge showdown with Albion the week after.

It’s a shame ECNL cut the qualifiers to the Champions League from the Texas conference from 6 to 4 this year while conferences like the Midwest kept their original number. There will be a couple of very good teams not qualify for Seattle top tournament
I just saw that as well...

So i looked at the RL too and they cut that down as well.

RL Frontier gets 4 teams into the south regional whereas RL Texas gets 5. I'm sorry but there is absolutely no way those teams in the Frontier could compete.

Why is ECNL taking a big dump on the TX conference this year and allowing more teams from other conferences in? Only 4 teams out of 30 will be from TX conference in the Champions League. Seems strange.

TX conference should have 6, not 4.

I wonder of the Cup has anything to do with this.
 

lawpoke87

Heisman
Dec 17, 2002
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I

I just saw that as well...

So i looked at the RL too and they cut that down as well.

RL Frontier gets 4 teams into the south regional whereas RL Texas gets 5. I'm sorry but there is absolutely no way those teams in the Frontier could compete.

Why is ECNL taking a big dump on the TX conference this year and allowing more teams from other conferences in? Only 4 teams out of 30 will be from TX conference in the Champions League. Seems strange.

TX conference should have 6, not 4.

I wonder of the Cup has anything to do with this.
Has to do with the World Cup. Champions League playoffs has been cut from 48 to 32 teams. Format will be a single elimination knockout bracket with teams seeded 1-32. Now why the Texas league got cut by two teams while other conferences escaped cuts altogether is beyond me. Looks like ECNL went solely off the number of teams in the conferences and ignored the quality of those teams. Is what it is. The North American Cup (second tier playoff) will have some high quality teams participating. Texas Cup winners received an auto birth to the NA Cup if they failed to make Champions League.

Correct…Midwest gets the same number of spots as Texas this year. Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me but 🤷‍♂️
 
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lawpoke87

Heisman
Dec 17, 2002
165,781
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My point was the other conferences are also getting less bids. From that information.
Yes…not sure why Midwest received the same number as last year. Assume based on number of teams. ECNL will guarantee 3 games. Losers will just play meaningless games in a pseudo losers bracket

Good luck to everyone attending the ECNL Showcase in Phoenix this upcoming weekend. The list of college coaches attending is beyond impressive. Disappointed we aren’t going
 

GWSCDad

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Feb 27, 2025
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I just saw that as well...

So i looked at the RL too and they cut that down as well.

RL Frontier gets 4 teams into the south regional whereas RL Texas gets 5. I'm sorry but there is absolutely no way those teams in the Frontier could compete.

Why is ECNL taking a big dump on the TX conference this year and allowing more teams from other conferences in? Only 4 teams out of 30 will be from TX conference in the Champions League. Seems strange.

TX conference should have 6, not 4.

I wonder of the Cup has anything to do with this.
Because the parity is closer than you think with the top 3 from Frontier girls. Adding a 4th team allows for the expansion that is going to happen in the near future. u19 only allows two boys and girls. Im guessing ECNL has to be equal..
 

Bringbackwoj

Freshman
Aug 8, 2025
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I

I just saw that as well...

So i looked at the RL too and they cut that down as well.

RL Frontier gets 4 teams into the south regional whereas RL Texas gets 5. I'm sorry but there is absolutely no way those teams in the Frontier could compete.

Why is ECNL taking a big dump on the TX conference this year and allowing more teams from other conferences in? Only 4 teams out of 30 will be from TX conference in the Champions League. Seems strange.

TX conference should have 6, not 4.

I wonder of the Cup has anything to do with this.
I am not sure about RL, given the population size of Oklahoma. I don't know about having the depth to do amazing at both the RL and NL levels.

As I have cited many times on this board, we can absolutely compete. It is so dumb to listen to. There will be some years that don't go well and others that do. That is common. There are numerous clubs that consistently achieve terrible results despite being based in Texas. There are 14 clubs (16 teams) in Texas girls. Only 6 can win a year. Sting, Solar and Real are the most consistent at the Top. Should all the others fold?


Go look at Wichita in the RL girls standings; they are obliterating the Frontier Division in most of the levels. You can see Tulsa teams at the top of the RL division in both boys' and girls' categories. OEFC is at the top of the NL divisions in both boys' and girls' categories, and near the top of the table in the NL as well.


I have a feeling they would do quite all right in Texas.

It is just whining from you all. Unfortunately, the talent has been spread among three clubs due to greed, egos, and parents withdrawing their children from the Tulsa market.

I don't know how to fix the money and ego issue. It will always be there. It is everywhere OEFC solved it somewhat in OKC, but at some point, someone will come along and screw it up. Guaranteed. Clubs come and go over time because leadership is always hard to maintain. People move, get old, lose focus or die.
 

lawpoke87

Heisman
Dec 17, 2002
165,781
19,915
82
I am not sure about RL, given the population size of Oklahoma. I don't know about having the depth to do amazing at both the RL and NL levels.

As I have cited many times on this board, we can absolutely compete. It is so dumb to listen to. There will be some years that don't go well and others that do. That is common. There are numerous clubs that consistently achieve terrible results despite being based in Texas. There are 14 clubs (16 teams) in Texas girls. Only 6 can win a year. Sting, Solar and Real are the most consistent at the Top. Should all the others fold?


Go look at Wichita in the RL girls standings; they are obliterating the Frontier Division in most of the levels. You can see Tulsa teams at the top of the RL division in both boys' and girls' categories. OEFC is at the top of the NL divisions in both boys' and girls' categories, and near the top of the table in the NL as well.


I have a feeling they would do quite all right in Texas.

It is just whining from you all. Unfortunately, the talent has been spread among three clubs due to greed, egos, and parents withdrawing their children from the Tulsa market.

I don't know how to fix the money and ego issue. It will always be there. It is everywhere OEFC solved it somewhat in OKC, but at some point, someone will come along and screw it up. Guaranteed. Clubs come and go over time because leadership is always hard to maintain. People move, get old, lose focus or die.
On the girls side is OEFC a better club than WSA or TSC…yes. However, I believe you are giving them far too much credit. There is only one OEFC girls team as of today who would qualify for Champions League and that team has 4 of its top 10 field players from Tulsa. The 2011s would not be sitting second in the Texas league without those Tulsa girls. They need them. You bring those four girls back to the WSA 11s AND bring the top 4 in from OEFC and I believe you would see similar results. At the end of the day winning comes down to talent.

Tulsa soccer is currently a mess. WSA teams are struggling across the board. Other than the 2013s, TSC teams are performing poorly. Talent is too spread out in this area. I don’t have a solution but I don’t see area soccer improving until there’s a consolidation of talent along with keeping the elite players here and better development at the academy level. There simply aren’t many girls at TSC, Blitz, etc who can make a difference at the ECNL level (absent TSC’s 13s). They aren’t ECNL quality.
 

ScheelSC

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Apr 21, 2025
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I don't know the solution but my guess it has to involve FC Tulsa. They have the money, facilities, etc.

ECNL would also have to come up with a way to help keep players at "home".

ECNL would need to not allow RL at other local clubs.

GA would still be issue (I like a lot about it)

Can ego's allow for Tulsa soccer to flourish?
 

Smokey2012

Redshirt
Jul 12, 2025
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Is Tulsa SC boy side still slated to lose ECNL? And if so, who “gets it”? The obvious answer seems WSA but their facilities can’t handle another ECNL program IMO. I still can hardly believe the girl side got it with the state those fields are in.
 

TU_BLA

Heisman
Mar 8, 2012
29,229
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Is Tulsa SC boy side still slated to lose ECNL? And if so, who “gets it”? The obvious answer seems WSA but their facilities can’t handle another ECNL program IMO. I still can hardly believe the girl side got it with the state those fields are in.
FC Tulsa Academy probably. Their RL teams have been killing it and with the partnership with FC Tulsa along with the fields at Ascension St. John's (formerly Titan) plus a loose partnership with BASC where they could likely rent the turf fields (4 plus they're hoping to turf fields 28-30 very soon), plus a club structure that seems very stable from the top down...this would be my bet. WSA, as mentioned, is probably going to get absolutely hammered by their Texas Conference mates for the field conditions they play in. Unfortunately, having 2 really nice fields isn't going to cut it (field 10 at River Parks is nice, and they're redoing field 9 (?),( I think it's already been leveled and resodded).
 

Smokey2012

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Jul 12, 2025
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FC Tulsa Academy probably. Their RL teams have been killing it and with the partnership with FC Tulsa along with the fields at Ascension St. John's (formerly Titan) plus a loose partnership with BASC where they could likely rent the turf fields (4 plus they're hoping to turf fields 28-30 very soon), plus a club structure that seems very stable from the top down...this would be my bet. WSA, as mentioned, is probably going to get absolutely hammered by their Texas Conference mates for the field conditions they play in. Unfortunately, having 2 really nice fields isn't going to cut it (field 10 at River Parks is nice, and they're redoing field 9 (?),( I think it's already been leveled and resodded).
Oh, that’s good to hear. Honestly, I think over the next couple of years Blitz (FC Tulsa) is the one club that I see getting better overall. It has a more homegrown feel than any of the other clubs and it also seems to have lots of local support. And for sure helps having the local professional team tied to it .
 

Smokey2012

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Jul 12, 2025
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Also, back to the WSA fields…they really are appalling. So bad, they start effecting the game. At one point do they get in you’re or a timeline to fix them or find other options?
 

Honkv

Sophomore
Dec 22, 2024
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So my youngest is asking to play soccer. She’s 7.

She’s never really played before.

time to launch “Project Messi”, in which I put her in a futsal program / in private training and let her just drill all the technical stuff before unleashing her on the field 😂
 

lawpoke87

Heisman
Dec 17, 2002
165,781
19,915
82
So my youngest is asking to play soccer. She’s 7.

She’s never really played before.

time to launch “Project Messi”, in which I put her in a futsal program / in private training and let her just drill all the technical stuff before unleashing her on the field 😂
If I had to do it over again, I would keep my kid on small sides as long as possible
 
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Honkv

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Dec 22, 2024
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If I had to do it over again, I would keep my kid on small sides as long as possible

im not a soccer coach. I don’t understand the game, the nuance, etc.

That being said: I believe jumping to tournaments and leagues and competitions like that happens too soon. I don’t think we spend enough time developing players technically.
 

Soccerguy7583

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Dec 23, 2024
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With everything happening with the USL I wouldn't be surprised if they have academy programs starting this upcoming season. First division, relegation, attaching themselves to College soccer they are are trying to consolidate everything.
 

Bringbackwoj

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Aug 8, 2025
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im not a soccer coach. I don’t understand the game, the nuance, etc.

That being said: I believe jumping to tournaments and leagues and competitions like that happens too soon. I don’t think we spend enough time developing players technically.

How does one "develop" whilst sitting there doing drills and playing no and very low-level competition?
 

lawpoke87

Heisman
Dec 17, 2002
165,781
19,915
82
With everything happening with the USL I wouldn't be surprised if they have academy programs starting this upcoming season. First division, relegation, attaching themselves to College soccer they are are trying to consolidate everything.
I believe it’s not a matter of “if” but “when” there’s a significant realignment in the structure of our youth system. The same is coming on the girls side but I would expect those changes to be less significant. I’ve already discussed the fact that the WPSL along with the KC Current are hosting an 8 club tournament the same weekend as the ECNL showcase in KC. I can’t imagine an WPSL club event and an ECNL showcase being held in the same city over the same weekend a few years ago. For that matter, I can’t imagine ECNL being OK with such an event in the same city and weekend as their showcase. Times are a changing
 
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lawpoke87

Heisman
Dec 17, 2002
165,781
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How does one "develop" whilst sitting there doing drills and playing no and very low-level competition?
I assume he wants to follow a more European development model. U10 and under they empathize technical skills and small sided games (3v3). At U11 the typical move on to larger fields and competitive games. Seems to be working for those guys.

The trick is to find kids to train with who are skilled enough to develop your kid at the level necessary to be prepared for U11 soccer. Most of those kids belong to a larger club and aren’t available on a daily basis to train.
 

Smokey2012

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Jul 12, 2025
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I believe it’s not a matter of “if” but “when” there’s a significant realignment in the structure of our youth system. The same is coming on the girls side but I would expect those changes to be less significant. I’ve already discussed the fact that the WPSL along with the KC Current are hosting an 8 club tournament the same weekend as the ECNL showcase in KC. I can’t imagine an WPSL club event and an ECNL showcase being held in the same city over the same weekend a few years ago. For that matter, I can’t imagine ECNL being OK with such an event in the same city and weekend as their showcase. Times are a changing
KC Current just announced a partnership with KCA and other local KC clubs. Pipeline from play development/club to NWSL. We will definitely see more of those type of prof partnerships.
 

Gmoney4WW

Heisman
Jul 4, 2007
40,806
14,283
113
How does one "develop" whilst sitting there doing drills and playing no and very low-level competition?
According to HuffyCane you shouldn't even play on a team until you are 14 or 15, and just do boring training until that point. I don't buy that dull way of going about things. All the while, you get none of the competitive drive into your soul until you are half way through your teens.
 

Gmoney4WW

Heisman
Jul 4, 2007
40,806
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I assume he wants to follow a more European development model. U10 and under they empathize technical skills and small sided games (3v3). At U11 the typical move on to larger fields and competitive games. Seems to be working for those guys.

The trick is to find kids to train with who are skilled enough to develop your kid at the level necessary to be prepared for U11 soccer. Most of those kids belong to a larger club and aren’t available on a daily basis to train.
Yep, the extreme version of the European model is Huffycanes outlook on things. They expect children to play the long game on their training and competitive play. Obviously it works much better than our way, but it just seems like a boring first 7 or 9 years for a child to do nothing but train. For a kid that is an eternity.
 
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Honkv

Sophomore
Dec 22, 2024
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How does one "develop" whilst sitting there doing drills and playing no and very low-level competition?

I assume he wants to follow a more European development model. U10 and under they empathize technical skills and small sided games (3v3). At U11 the typical move on to larger fields and competitive games. Seems to be working for those guys.

The trick is to find kids to train with who are skilled enough to develop your kid at the level necessary to be prepared for U11 soccer. Most of those kids belong to a larger club and aren’t available on a daily basis to train.

Yeah, basically this.
 

Bringbackwoj

Freshman
Aug 8, 2025
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I assume he wants to follow a more European development model. U10 and under they empathize technical skills and small sided games (3v3). At U11 the typical move on to larger fields and competitive games. Seems to be working for those guys.

The trick is to find kids to train with who are skilled enough to develop your kid at the level necessary to be prepared for U11 soccer. Most of those kids belong to a larger club and aren’t available on a daily basis to train.
I am for more bridges between 4v4 to 7 v 7.

I think there needs to be a futsal-sized goal with a goalie and five on the field as a hybrid, then seven and then 9, etc.... I think England and Spain do something like that.

This development vs winning thing just seems silly. There will always be debate, but at some point, your development must occur in competitive environments.

Your skills must be executed at speed against defenders, capitalising on space, learning to mark, how to foul, taking fouls, gamesmanship, learning to see the field, etc.

There will be kids who need to be moved around with more emphasis on one or the other because they are behind in some places. They aren't capable of being at the higher levels and need to develop.
 

Bringbackwoj

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Aug 8, 2025
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FC Tulsa Academy probably. Their RL teams have been killing it and with the partnership with FC Tulsa along with the fields at Ascension St. John's (formerly Titan) plus a loose partnership with BASC where they could likely rent the turf fields (4 plus they're hoping to turf fields 28-30 very soon), plus a club structure that seems very stable from the top down...this would be my bet. WSA, as mentioned, is probably going to get absolutely hammered by their Texas Conference mates for the field conditions they play in. Unfortunately, having 2 really nice fields isn't going to cut it (field 10 at River Parks is nice, and they're redoing field 9 (?),( I think it's already been leveled and resodded).
I don't care where it is. I just want Tulsa to be successful.

That won't be at the West Bank. I can friggin assure you of that. The Hard on WSA hard on for that no es bueno.
 
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Bringbackwoj

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With everything happening with the USL I wouldn't be surprised if they have academy programs starting this upcoming season. First division, relegation, attaching themselves to College soccer they are are trying to consolidate everything.
FC Tulsa already has academy divisions. Some of them are very good. Some of them no es bueno.

Some of their coaches are total, utter and complete morons. Some are of very high quality. I will leave it at that.

Ex: if you are coaching an academy boys soccer team and bitching that slide tackles are fouls the entire game, you should be relieved of your duties.
 

lawpoke87

Heisman
Dec 17, 2002
165,781
19,915
82
I am for more bridges between 4v4 to 7 v 7.

I think there needs to be a futsal-sized goal with a goalie and five on the field as a hybrid, then seven and then 9, etc.... I think England and Spain do something like that.

This development vs winning thing just seems silly. There will always be debate, but at some point, your development must occur in competitive environments.

Your skills must be executed at speed against defenders, capitalising on space, learning to mark, how to foul, taking fouls, gamesmanship, learning to see the field, etc.

There will be kids who need to be moved around with more emphasis on one or the other because they are behind in some places. They aren't capable of being at the higher levels and need to develop.
My preference would be to delay moving to bigger fields for an additional year or two. Smaller rosters and smaller fields equate to more touches. Parents think moving to 9v9 of 11v11 early is a sign their kid is more advanced than those still playing smaller sides…it’s not. I would also have two team trainings a week and one small group training of 4 or so kids where technical skills are empathized (lots of touches). Academy age kids should also be encouraged to play futsal and 3v3.
 
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Bringbackwoj

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I am glad I get to sit back and watch the drama a bit and see where it goes with the leagues, etc..

I feel bad for those who have to deal with the constant overhang that something might change dramatically in the Tulsa market. Nothing seems set. Even on this board, there is speculation that WSA might not even keep ECNL-NL. Look at the results; they are god-awful. There is no way to rub lipstick on that pig. You can say Barry this or Eric that. Well, you got no Barry, worse results and TERRRIBLE facilities. Sorry, dudes and dudettes. That is the story.

Greenwood seems to be uncertain about its viability, too. (I personally wonder about the money) Their MLS NEXT results are probably better than those of the WSA NL girls, just saying... That is surprising given that they are brand new to that, and I thought they wouldn't be ready.

Let's face it, though. Next year, there will be a dramatic change. That is the AGE change. It will take AT LEAST two years to shake out how that affects everything. The coaches and admins will make some decisions. They probably won't be 100% right. Then the second or third teams won't look perfect, or the first teams will get worse. People will change clubs because they are mad or because they think their team won't be as good.

They will dislike their parents, the new coaches or the club and then make another change before it settles down for a bit.
 

Bringbackwoj

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Aug 8, 2025
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My preference would be to delay moving to bigger fields for an additional year or two. Smaller rosters and smaller fields equate to more touches. Parents think moving to 9v9 of 11v11 early is a sign their kid is more advanced than those still playing smaller sides…it’s not. I would also have two team trainings a week and one small group training of 4 or so kids where technical skills are empathized (lots of touches). Academy age kids should also be encouraged to play futsal and 3v3.
100,000 % Agree.

I believe soccer is a series of smaller games inside a larger one. Being able to get out of and possessing it in smaller spaces is vitally important. Those things really help with that.
 

ScheelSC

Freshman
Apr 21, 2025
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I am glad I get to sit back and watch the drama a bit and see where it goes with the leagues, etc..

I feel bad for those who have to deal with the constant overhang that something might change dramatically in the Tulsa market. Nothing seems set. Even on this board, there is speculation that WSA might not even keep ECNL-NL. Look at the results; they are god-awful. There is no way to rub lipstick on that pig. You can say Barry this or Eric that. Well, you got no Barry, worse results and TERRRIBLE facilities. Sorry, dudes and dudettes. That is the story.

Greenwood seems to be uncertain about its viability, too. (I personally wonder about the money) Their MLS NEXT results are probably better than those of the WSA NL girls, just saying... That is surprising given that they are brand new to that, and I thought they wouldn't be ready.

Let's face it, though. Next year, there will be a dramatic change. That is the AGE change. It will take AT LEAST two years to shake out how that affects everything. The coaches and admins will make some decisions. They probably won't be 100% right. Then the second or third teams won't look perfect, or the first teams will get worse. People will change clubs because they are mad or because they think their team won't be as good.

They will dislike their parents, the new coaches or the club and then make another change before it settles down for a bit.
I've been saying for months there will be drastic changes coming. I've said "get your popcorn ready". Might need one of those big cans from the popcorn popper. I don't think at the end of the day anything that happens will fix things on the field. If you look at the schedules I think things will start moving as early as Christmas break maybe New Years.

On a side note you have the Top Oklahoma 2013's girls team (TSC) playing the top Missouri girls team (Lou Fusz) this weekend at the Scheels Sports Complex. Dallas Surf and St. Louis Development Academy are also in town.
 
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Bringbackwoj

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I've been saying for months there will be drastic changes coming. I've said "get your popcorn ready". Might need one of those big cans from the popcorn popper. I don't think at the end of the day anything that happens will fix things on the field. If you look at the schedules I think things will start moving as early as Christmas break maybe New Years.

On a side note you have the Top Oklahoma 2013's girls team (TSC) playing the top Missouri girls team (Lou Fusz) this weekend at the Scheels Sports Complex. Dallas Surf and St. Louis Development Academy are also in town.
I already know some people who are in older groups that will be "moving down" in age, who have standing offers from other club coaches to move teams. These are both pretty good teams. Whether they do or not will be interesting....

This is just one example of what I am sure are hundreds.
 

lawpoke87

Heisman
Dec 17, 2002
165,781
19,915
82
Clubs are going to push kids to play with their grad class. Which is the right move for U15 and above imo.
 

lawpoke87

Heisman
Dec 17, 2002
165,781
19,915
82
I've been saying for months there will be drastic changes coming. I've said "get your popcorn ready". Might need one of those big cans from the popcorn popper. I don't think at the end of the day anything that happens will fix things on the field. If you look at the schedules I think things will start moving as early as Christmas break maybe New Years.

On a side note you have the Top Oklahoma 2013's girls team (TSC) playing the top Missouri girls team (Lou Fusz) this weekend at the Scheels Sports Complex. Dallas Surf and St. Louis Development Academy are also in town.
Rumors flying that FC Tulsa is looking to acquire another local club here in the next few months. Anything behind this ?