Latest U15/16 GNT Roster

Always interesting to look at who is selected and especially with the DA this year. Only one of the forwards on the list is a top goal scorer in the DA. Two of the forwards are playing in ECNL. 1 is in the Northwest (not as competitive) and not a top GS even in the West division. Maybe this is too simplistic of a view on this but I would think that they would want forwards that are the best at scoring goals.

Also, if they continue to select players from ECNL (that are at clubs that also have a DA team option) it seems to be a problem for top players making the investment in DA. Many are watching this and may jump ship from the DA because it just isn't adding a benefit to the player.
 
Always interesting to look at who is selected and especially with the DA this year. Only one of the forwards on the list is a top goal scorer in the DA. Two of the forwards are playing in ECNL. 1 is in the Northwest (not as competitive) and not a top GS even in the West division. Maybe this is too simplistic of a view on this but I would think that they would want forwards that are the best at scoring goals.

Also, if they continue to select players from ECNL (that are at clubs that also have a DA team option) it seems to be a problem for top players making the investment in DA. Many are watching this and may jump ship from the DA because it just isn't adding a benefit to the player.

Soccer is one of those games that it isn't as simple as the statistics until you get up to the highest levels (top D1, pros, top international competition). Even then you can't make many conclusions without having watched the game. The competition is too uneven at the youth level to accurately judge anything without the eye test. Even the national team scouts have their biases. In my opinion youth national teams are a waste of time anyway because on the men's side the pro clubs will decide who the best players are and on the women's side it is the top college that will decide and this is due to those coaches truly having an incentive to win (keeping their job). Personally I would never make a decision based solely upon which players are getting selected for the youth national teams. This is due to the fact that ultimately out of the players from SoCal that are in my daughter's birth year that are still a part of the national team set up, only one was a part of the U14/15 GNT. Most of the rest emerged after US Soccer had identified the "chosen" in her birth year.

Focus on the coach. The rest will sort itself out.
 
Yes, I agree on this. One of the biggest issues is continuing to call up girls that are not playing in the DA when an academy team is available to them. Other players have been pushed to give up everything (ODP, High School, and other sports) and committed to 4 nights a week practices with no break on any of those nights to participate in other high school events, all with the "threat"/"promise" of being called up. While others have the freedom to do what they want on all levels. If US Soccer believes in their Academy curriculum and training approach then why are they not insisting that those players move to a DA team and develope under their direction? Seems players will jump ship from DA because there is no reason for it.
 
Yes, I agree on this. One of the biggest issues is continuing to call up girls that are not playing in the DA when an academy team is available to them. Other players have been pushed to give up everything (ODP, High School, and other sports) and committed to 4 nights a week practices with no break on any of those nights to participate in other high school events, all with the "threat"/"promise" of being called up. While others have the freedom to do what they want on all levels. If US Soccer believes in their Academy curriculum and training approach then why are they not insisting that those players move to a DA team and develope under their direction? Seems players will jump ship from DA because there is no reason for it.

What US Soccer wants with the GDA is more control and a piece of the pie. They will continue to select players the way that they always have got the youth national teams. In the end the players on the full WNT will be the best players from the top colleges and the ones that prove it (for the most part) on the pro level and aren't older than about 25 when they are first selected.

Focus on your player and the coaching that they receive and not the fall gaming circuit that they participate in and everything will work itself out. Good luck to you and your player.
 
What US Soccer wants with the GDA is more control and a piece of the pie. They will continue to select players the way that they always have got the youth national teams. In the end the players on the full WNT will be the best players from the top colleges and the ones that prove it (for the most part) on the pro level and aren't older than about 25 when they are first selected.

Focus on your player and the coaching that they receive and not the fall gaming circuit that they participate in and everything will work itself out. Good luck to you and your player.
I would really like your opinion please, as you seem to be one of the most knowledgeable posters on the forum. What are your thoughts behind coaching and development at the youth club level., ie-U15-and above. 1.Do you seek out the best coach available, even if it means playing in a state league, 2.ecnl, where there is a proven track record, with still great coaches, 3.or da, for perhaps the most exposure, but not a good relationship with the coach. I would add more, but I dont want to put everything out there. thanks!
 
You hit her profile then I think start conversation. I encourage it- no punches pulled and great advice! The olders like NoGoal, MakeAPlay, gk are people who if something seems fishy just message. They are honestly the best and sometimes we all need a reality check they are good at that too :))))
 
Congratulations to all the young ladies who made the list! Its good to see so many from our region, even if we don't live in so cal

I hope that the move to Arizona is working out well. Good luck to your player this season. Except for that one game...
 
Always interesting to look at who is selected and especially with the DA this year. Only one of the forwards on the list is a top goal scorer in the DA. Two of the forwards are playing in ECNL. 1 is in the Northwest (not as competitive) and not a top GS even in the West division. Maybe this is too simplistic of a view on this but I would think that they would want forwards that are the best at scoring goals.

Also, if they continue to select players from ECNL (that are at clubs that also have a DA team option) it seems to be a problem for top players making the investment in DA. Many are watching this and may jump ship from the DA because it just isn't adding a benefit to the player.

Well two scrubs from Washington State. Cold rain and no sun make the girls strong. :)
 
Yes, I agree on this. One of the biggest issues is continuing to call up girls that are not playing in the DA when an academy team is available to them. Other players have been pushed to give up everything (ODP, High School, and other sports) and committed to 4 nights a week practices with no break on any of those nights to participate in other high school events, all with the "threat"/"promise" of being called up. While others have the freedom to do what they want on all levels. If US Soccer believes in their Academy curriculum and training approach then why are they not insisting that those players move to a DA team and develope under their direction? Seems players will jump ship from DA because there is no reason for it.

This is a joke right? Do you really think that because you buy in to the sales pitch that you should get priority status when the YNT players are selected? Six months ago, I would have said that nobody is that dumb but I keep getting proven wrong again and again on this board. Full sized women buy billions in Victoria Secret lingerie but you don't see VS using them in their fashion show. Look, its great that people make all the sacrifices for DA and give up all the fun stuff that young ladies should be doing but let's be honest; when it comes time to choose players, they better take the best players they can find regardless of where they play.
 
Always interesting to look at who is selected and especially with the DA this year. Only one of the forwards on the list is a top goal scorer in the DA. Two of the forwards are playing in ECNL. 1 is in the Northwest (not as competitive) and not a top GS even in the West division. Maybe this is too simplistic of a view on this but I would think that they would want forwards that are the best at scoring goals.

Also, if they continue to select players from ECNL (that are at clubs that also have a DA team option) it seems to be a problem for top players making the investment in DA. Many are watching this and may jump ship from the DA because it just isn't adding a benefit to the player.

Forwards that score lots of goals typically are the product of wings and mids that were able to get them the ball, open the field, pull in defenders, etc. Put an elite forward on a mediocre team and you have stats that are misleading. Likewise, put a mediocre forward on a great team and you have stats that are misleading.
 
This is a joke right? Do you really think that because you buy in to the sales pitch that you should get priority status when the YNT players are selected? Six months ago, I would have said that nobody is that dumb but I keep getting proven wrong again and again on this board. Full sized women buy billions in Victoria Secret lingerie but you don't see VS using them in their fashion show. Look, its great that people make all the sacrifices for DA and give up all the fun stuff that young ladies should be doing but let's be honest; when it comes time to choose players, they better take the best players they can find regardless of where they play.
The top players need to play with and against other top players to really get a real evaluation, bottom line. If you get a good player on an average team they can look great.
 
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