Ohio Elite U17s

[eplfan87]

I have just been notified that there will be open tryouts for the Ohio Elite U18 Developmental Academy for next year. This will be the first time in a very long time that this team has actually had tryouts. For example, the three new players this year, Peter Paras, Danny Haberer, and Michael Rakoczy never had an official try out.

My question is, do you think there will be a strong turn out for this try out? Are there players out there willing to leave the club they are with to participate at this higher level? I am curious to see your responses.

[MajorFan]

Aahhh...there is an assumption in your post. Namely, that playing for an Academy team is a higher level. That's what they'd like you to believe, but the DA experiment is still in its first year and the jury is still out.

[eplfan87]

I have watched many of the Academy games with all sorts of different teams playing. It is a higher level. You should get out and see one. And if playing the US '90 National Team is not at a higher level, as you say, then I might need a refresher as to what is.

[HSsoccerfan63]

the DA is no doubt a higher level. The probelm is the perception by everyone else (whether justified or not) is that Ohio Elite doesn't belong. And nobody wants to be on a team that plays all these great teams and doesn't really compete. And I think just like Majorfan stated, most people are unimpressed and skeptical about the DA which I credit to the lack of information that is easily accessible to the common suburban parent.

[eplfan87]

Very well stated. However, the main reason that the OE 17s are having trouble is that they are playing an age group up. Next year, they will be competing in their own age group, I believe, and with the experience they have gained this year, should do very well.

[MajorFan]

Very well stated. However, the main reason that the OE 17s are having trouble is that they are playing an age group up. Next year, they will be competing in their own age group, I believe, and with the experience they have gained this year, should do very well.

This is not a valid excuse. OE has to follow the same rules as everyone else. The Academies only field U-16 and U-18 teams so everyone has players younger than "normal" on their team. The record stands for itself.

If you read carefully, I pointed out the assumption and did not state whether I agreed with it or not. But the fact is that not all the best club teams went the Academy route so it is not possible to say that it is a "higher" level of soccer in all cases. When your team plays the US National Team, yep, that's a higher level for your team, but not the National Team. It's a matter of perspective.

Right now, both traditional club soccer and the Academy system are weaker than they could be because the best teams are split between the two systems.

The question will continue to be "Is the Academy system the best thing for soccer in this country?" Before you answer, look at what's happening in St. Louis. Three clubs are merging in an attempt to get the MLS to award another team to the St Louis area (they would play in Collinsville, IL). The teams are Scott Gallagher SC, St. Louis SC and Southern Illinois club Metro United. I heard from a Metro United parent this week that there are currently 5 U-17 boys teams represented by those 3 clubs. Does anyone really believe that there will be 5 teams after the merger goes through? How is less opportunity better?

[patriot_soccer]

No other clubs redid tryouts after they were accepted into the USSDA so everyone does not have kids playing up.

Incorrect!
I know for a fact that Crew Academy had tryouts after they had been accepted.

[patriot_soccer]

Very well stated. However, the main reason that the OE 17s are having trouble is that they are playing an age group up. Next year, they will be competing in their own age group, I believe, and with the experience they have gained this year, should do very well.

Not a valid point.
Ohio Elite has access to their U-18 team, if they wish to have players at the actual age group. Also remember that it is done by birth year like the ODP System.

For example, the U-17 age group is comprised of 90's and 91's. The 90's have to play in the U-18 group, but the 91's are permitted to play in the U-16 group.

The different age requirements change the scenario, and with the quality players every DA club has access to at any age, they should have a competitive team at all times.

[winner4life]

I just heard - friend of a friend kind of thing - but my buddy's friend is wired straight into OE and he tells me that they are probably going to make their US Development Academy teams free of charge for next year. All the players will have to pay is travel - no fees, no uniforms, just travel...anyone else heard that?:shrug:

[msnsoccer05]

well seems how much they travel it would still be a good deal of money to play there

[eplfan87]

True. In fact, this year the team did not have to pay very much at all to be in the league. I believe that there was a "performance bond" (issued to all players, a fee of $300 that gets refunded at the end of the season if the player has not left the team, just insures that the players are serious) and another very small fee for the league any fee at all. The travel, I've heard, is a pain. Especially for the parents...

[soccerwatcher]

Right but OEs U18s are 90s and 91s and this year all the kids on the U17s OE team are playing up. The U16s are comprised of 91s and 92s so 1/2 of their team is playing up and alot of their competition are not doings this they are playing in the correct age group.

Ohio elite's U16 boys prior to joining the Academy were not competitive within the State of Ohio - it doesn't matter where they play- they aren't as competitive. NO EXCUSES