Girls Development Academy

[Striker17]

I don't have an 03.
They don't have to play ECNL or second team- they can transfer to another DA. Honestly in a recruiting year that's what I would do- take my on the bubble 03 and go to a DA that would take her.
If you are a Surf DA 03 and going to be moved down try Carlsbad or Albion!

 

[Ghostwriter]

I don't have an 03.
They don't have to play ECNL or second team- they can transfer to another DA. Honestly in a recruiting year that's what I would do- take my on the bubble 03 and go to a DA that would take her.
If you are a Surf DA 03 and going to be moved down try Carlsbad or Albion!

I am just giving you the breakdown and average of the current 01/02 age group that is made up of 75% 01s. Every kid can look at her options but if the numbers next year for the 02/03 age group are anywhere close to this years 01/02 age group 75% to 60% of the current 03s playing DA will be looking for a new gig. We haven't even got to playing time yet. This isn t a knock on the DA or the 03 age group it's just the reality of being the younger age in a combined age group similar to what the 02s had to do this year.

 

[Striker17]

Didn't take it that way. Agree with your assessment. My point is if you are a 10-20 on a current 03 DA rather than take your seat on the second team why not shop?
This is a business A next year is a recruiting year for an 03. I wouldn't be on a team that couldn't maximize the exposure.

 

[Ghostwriter]

Didn't take it that way. Agree with your assessment. My point is if you are a 10-20 on a current 03 DA rather than take your seat on the second team why not shop?
This is a business A next year is a recruiting year for an 03. I wouldn't be on a team that couldn't maximize the exposure.

Absolutely everyone should always look out for their dd. Just remember every club currently has an ECNL 02 team or a DA II 02 team and those players will be battling for 02/03 DA spots next year. Plus 02s from non DA and ECNL clubs will battle for those spots as well. Its a highly competitive and a combine age player pool makes it twice as competitive.

 

[Striker17]

The 03 age group is so talented. I cannot imagine the job of assembling teams and cutting any of these girls! I don't know much about 02 at all.
I can't imagine though any girls on a third team or ECNL team taking priority over a current Surf Da 03. That team is loaded. You can take the bottom 10 on that team and they are better than someone else's starting 10. Those girls should shop.
Wonder if the clubs have spread the news yet? Doubtful!

 

[Striker17]

Anyone hearing that ECNL will make the dual ECNL/DA clubs choose between the two?

I really hope they figure this out quick. This should impact movement massively!
If you have a bubble player 03 and assume you will "just play on ECNL" you will get stripped.
Better to go to a different Da is you can get in that if this is fact accurate.
What a tough pill to swallow in a solid recruiting year geesh

 

[Ghostwriter]

The 03 age group is so talented. I cannot imagine the job of assembling teams and cutting any of these girls! I don't know much about 02 at all.
I can't imagine though any girls on a third team or ECNL team taking priority over a current Surf Da 03. That team is loaded. You can take the bottom 10 on that team and they are better than someone else's starting 10. Those girls should shop.
Wonder if the clubs have spread the news yet? Doubtful!

The 03 age group is talented so is the 02 age group. The 02 players on Surfs ECNL team aren't on the 2nd team they are on the 1st team for that age group as the 01/2 DA team is made up of all 01s. So all the 02 ECNL surf girls will compete for DA spots against the 03 DA Surf girls next year. My point is many of the 02s not playing DA this year is because clubs went with a majority of 01s. Next year if that trend holds the 02/03 combined age group will be made up with a majority of 02s.

 

[Striker17]

I am saying outside 03 ECNL or non Da having a shot at penetrating this DA not likely...
Think about the current ECNL girls too- down to the c team!

 

[Sunil Illuminati]

What did everyone expect? US Soccer has a proven track record in not understanding what they are doing or necessarily caring about the impact. A waste of resources, energy and unfortunately kids futures and lets face how boring and sterile are 90% of the games?

 

[MakeAPlay]

Pressured how? With money?

Shameful --- NOT!!

Yeah dumba$$. Just watch her developmental arc over the next 3 years. Tell me outside of the money that it was the best decision for her. She sure spent a lot of time with the team during the run to the College Cup. In your silly little myopic world you probably think that money is everything. I'm sure that your wife would disagree.... You should focus on her needs. You don't even have a female soccer player so again you are just being a prick of a dilettante.

Pathetic little man.

 

[Striker17]

I also think it's cute i got under someone's skin so bad a month ago that he follows me and clicks dumb on all my posts. Love it! Keep on clicking darlin

 

[MakeAPlay]

I am totally confused you mean MP wasn't excited about the chance of a lifetime to play for the world class Spirit rather than attend A top rated institution and have a social life with her fun peers? Shocking!

She did not end up in the city that she thought that she would end up end that is for sure. She has scored one international goal in the last year. She could have won a national title on a full ride while only building her brand. She literally would have hundreds of kids lined up to get an autograph and often had to cut out early after signing a few dozen. Even one or two years of building her brand while STILL getting called up for caps with the WNT. Playing 4 years in college didn't hurt Mia Hamm, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, etc so I doubt that playing 2 would have done anything but help her.

It's water under the bridge though. I wish her much success. She is a sweet kid.

 

[espola]

Yeah dumba$$. Just watch her developmental arc over the next 3 years. Tell me outside of the money that it was the best decision for her. She sure spent a lot of time with the team during the run to the College Cup. In your silly little myopic world you probably think that money is everything. I'm sure that your wife would disagree.... You should focus on her needs. You don't even have a female soccer player so again you are just being a prick of a dilettante.

Pathetic little man.

Calm down big guy - you'll split your helmet. I was just amused at your use of the word "pressured".

My son turned down a couple of offers so he could finish school and keep his current job, but I wouldn't say he was "pressured".

 

[Dos Equis]

The 03 age group is talented so is the 02 age group. The 02 players on Surfs ECNL team aren't on the 2nd team they are on the 1st team for that age group as the 01/2 DA team is made up of all 01s. So all the 02 ECNL surf girls will compete for DA spots against the 03 DA Surf girls next year. My point is many of the 02s not playing DA this year is because clubs went with a majority of 01s. Next year if that trend holds the 02/03 combined age group will be made up with a majority of 02s.

A possible flaw in your assumption is that '02 girls stayed ECNL because they could not make DA (or that clubs made the decision for them). In the case of Surf and Blues, might it be that they stayed in ECNL because they saw no need to play DA in their age group (for college recruiting or competition), or preferred flexibility that ECNL provided? In the case of Arsenal and Strikers, perhaps they understood who they would be playing against in ECNL, and also did not see the need to switch to a DA club?

I do not want to turn this into an ECNL vs. DA thread, but the '02 and above players faced a far different landscape and decision than the '03 and below, and I am not sure what facts have changed that will cause them to change their decision next year.

As for DA2/Reserve '02 players who will now get the chance, all marketing aside, I really do not see that much DA level talent waiting on those teams, taking spots away from DA worthy '03 players.

The Socal '03 age group may get a far more even representation in DA than you expect.

 

[Mullet]

She did not end up in the city that she thought that she would end up end that is for sure. She has scored one international goal in the last year. She could have won a national title on a full ride while only building her brand. She literally would have hundreds of kids lined up to get an autograph and often had to cut out early after signing a few dozen. Even one or two years of building her brand while STILL getting called up for caps with the WNT. Playing 4 years in college didn't hurt Mia Hamm, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, etc so I doubt that playing 2 would have done anything but help her.

It's water under the bridge though. I wish her much success. She is a sweet kid.

The college game would not have helped her in the way that a professional environment would. "Build her brand"? You know that she could never cash in on "her brand" during those four years at college right? And she currently still gets kids lined up to get her autograph after games. I wasn't aware that 9 year olds girls follow the college game to line up for player autographs but ok.

 

[Nutmeg]

The college game would not have helped her in the way that a professional environment would. "Build her brand"? You know that she could never cash in on "her brand" during those four years at college right? And she currently still gets kids lined up to get her autograph after games. I wasn't aware that 9 year olds girls follow the college game to line up for player autographs but ok.

Gotta disagree. UCLA and being in L.A. while also being one of if not the most high profile young American soccer stars, while utilizing the resources and connections of UCLA would of done more to build and develop a brand. Cashing in on a brand is only part of the equation, and being in a small east Coast market playing mediocre “pro” Soccer will accomplish very little brand wise, not to mention having the resources to utilize for training, medical, conditioning, in off season etc. 9 year old girls are only a small fraction of brand designation, but yes they do line up for autographs and yes girls do follow Soccer, and yes girls know who Fleming, and Sanchez are, they matter, and they have a brand already. And in my opinion mater sometimes more than the senior national team players. More visible, accessible. That’s how you grow your market.

 

[Lambchop]

Currently the 01/02 split age group has 74% 01s, 25% 02s, and 1% 03s. This would give some insight on the breakdown of what the 02/03 combine age group would look like next year. The only factors that could swing this to 60/40 split instead of a 75/25 split in favor of the 02s would be if a large portion of the 02s currently playing with the 01s go up to the 00/01 age group next year. Either way a good portion of the 03s playing DA this year will move to ECNL or DA II squads depending on their club next year.

Exactly, US soccer doubled the number of 03 girls in DA this year by going to single age band, now after the girls have worked hard practicing four days a week, plus extra training, big expenses, US soccer decides to cut over half of them.

 

[Ghostwriter]

A possible flaw in your assumption is that '02 girls stayed ECNL because they could not make DA (or that clubs made the decision for them). In the case of Surf and Blues, might it be that they stayed in ECNL because they saw no need to play DA in their age group (for college recruiting or competition), or preferred flexibility that ECNL provided? In the case of Arsenal and Strikers, perhaps they understood who they would be playing against in ECNL, and also did not see the need to switch to a DA club?

I do not want to turn this into an ECNL vs. DA thread, but the '02 and above players faced a far different landscape and decision than the '03 and below, and I am not sure what facts have changed that will cause them to change their decision next year.

As for DA2/Reserve '02 players who will now get the chance, all marketing aside, I really do not see that much DA level talent waiting on those teams, taking spots away from DA worthy '03 players.

The Socal '03 age group may get a far more even representation in DA than you expect.

Blues 01 and 02 players stayed in ECNL because many wanted to play for JSerra and other HS team's and wanted to keep both those powerhouse team's together. They don't factor in the current 01/02 age group so even if none play DA next year they won't factor in the 02/03 ratio either. As far as Strikers and Arsenal both clubs loss players to DA this year from the 01, 02, and 03 age groups. Not sure if they will lose any next year but that won't factor in the ratio either. As far as DA ECNL team's besides Blues the 02s will make a big push onto those rosters next year, also even if only half or a 3rd of the DA II 02s make an Academy roster next year and combine those with 25% 02s already playing DA it will create a 60/40 ratio at the minimum.

The point isn t that the 03s aren't a tremendous age group the point is when you combine the 02/03 age groups next year you will have at the very least a 60/40 split in favor of the 02s and that is being generous from the current 01/02 age group with a current 75/25 split in favor of the 01s. Its just simple math the big factor that could change that is if the majority of 02s playing in the DA 01/02 age group play up next year or play with their own age group. If some play up you could have a 55/45 split in favor of the 02s.

 

[Nutmeg]

Exactly, US soccer doubled the number of 03 girls in DA this year by going to single age band, now after the girls have worked hard practicing four days a week, plus extra training, big expenses, US soccer decides to cut over half of them.

I only have a theory here. But I believe USSOCCER, did this at member clubs request in order to increase $ across multiple platforms and age groups at both olders and youngers.

 

[Dos Equis]

Exactly, US soccer doubled the number of 03 girls in DA this year by going to single age band, now after the girls have worked hard practicing four days a week, plus extra training, big expenses, US soccer decides to cut over half of them.

And they would cut 90% of them if the could viably create a competitive league with the rest. It is a funnel, and US Soccer ultimatley cares about roughly .05% of any age group -- the girls who may one day make the training pool or a national team.