Girls Development Academy

Its my understanding that clubs who get DA teams will most likely lose ECNL. Its one or the other.

This is what I've heard too - but it's that a player can't play both. ECNL is obviously not going to be the same once you take out the top 700 or so girls from each age group from that league. They'll have to rename it to the "almost elite" club national league. It's too bad, because ECNL seemed like it was really working. It will never be the same (particularly the showcases), but it will be interesting to see in what form it sticks around as a next option. My guess is that it dies, but the clubs that have DA/ECNL will still have the best second-team options whatever you call the league they play in. Although if you are at a club with ECNL but no DA status, that will tough. I'm sure there will be some clubs that figure out a was like Legends/Beach did without ECNL status.
 
Last edited:
This is what I've heard too - but it's that a player can't play both. ECNL is obviously not going to be the same once you take out the top 700 or so girls from each age group from that league. They'll have to rename it to the "almost elite" club national league. It's too bad, because ECNL seemed like it was really working. It will never be the same (particularly the showcases), but it will be interesting to see in what form it sticks around as a next option. My guess is that it dies, but the clubs that have DA/ECNL will still have the best second-team options whatever you call the league they play in. Although if you are club with ECNL but no DA status, that will tough. I'm sure there some clubs that figure out a was like Legends/Beach did without ECNL status.
I actually view it the opposite. SoCal DA clubs will only be able to produce 70-84 of the uber elite players per age group, per HS graduation class in SoCal. To put it in perspective. SoCal has 11 D1 soccer college programs alone. They recruit 7-8 players per HS graduation year on average....so, if every SoCal DA player committed to those schools....which of course wouldn't happen. That still leaves many D1-D3 colleges in SoCal and the Western states scrambling for college level players. This is where ECNL will still fill that market need.

It's the Girls DA clubs without ECNL who will be challenged retaining their very good B team players. As those girls will now head to ECNL teams. The Beach, Legends, Carlsbad, LA Premier clubs top 8-10 players will be playing DA and leaving question marks, if their remaining players can qualify for USYS National League in the coming years.
 
Last edited:
I heard that Blues is dropping ECNL completely. Heard from a u14 parent.
Actually, I was told by a Blues head coach. They will be fielding ECNL and DA teams.

Think of it logically, if Blues dropped ECNL. How would a girls only club be able to fund their DA program or keep their club solvent? Especially since the DA program has to be subsidize (I highly doubt it will be fully subsidized) by the club.
 
Last edited:
It makes more sense from a parents'/players' perspective to keep the club in both leagues. But why was the Girls DA created in the first place, separate from ECNL? Conflicting egos. I would like to see all the future DA clubs keep ECNL status if they have enough kids to field two good teams. However, it'll be interesting to see how US Soccer and ECNL feel about that. It seems like a repeat of the same petty arguments between US Youth Soccer and US Club soccer.
 
In no particular order I think Strikers and Arsenal should be on the next list. They both have very good programs as do the others on the list I am very interested in seeing what it looks like at the end. Disclaimer my daughter plays for Strikers North and my son plays for Strikers South Bay but they have played as guest players on many teams on the list and i am happy my kids get to experience so many quality clubs in Southern California.
 
I actually view it the opposite. SoCal DA clubs will only be able to produce 70-84 of the uber elite players per age group, per HS graduation class in SoCal. To put it in perspective. SoCal has 11 D1 soccer college programs alone. They recruit 7-8 players per HS graduation year on average....so, if every SoCal DA player committed to those schools....which of course wouldn't happen. That still leaves many D1-D3 colleges in SoCal and the Western states scrambling for college level players. This is where ECNL will still fill that market need.

It's the Girls DA clubs without ECNL who will be challenged retaining their very good B team players. As those girls will now head to ECNL teams. The Beach, Legends, Carlsbad, LA Premier clubs top 8-10 players will be playing DA and leaving question marks, if their remaining players can qualify for USYS National League in the coming years.

ECNL without the top players doesn't make sense. It's like trying to sell EGSL all over again.
 
In no particular order I think Strikers and Arsenal should be on the next list. They both have very good programs as do the others on the list I am very interested in seeing what it looks like at the end. Disclaimer my daughter plays for Strikers North and my son plays for Strikers South Bay but they have played as guest players on many teams on the list and i am happy my kids get to experience so many quality clubs in Southern California.

Legends squashed the Arsenal, and Strikers does not check the boxes. Slim to none of the chances. RSC and WCFC are next up, thats IF they go to 10.
 
In no particular order I think Strikers and Arsenal should be on the next list. They both have very good programs as do the others on the list I am very interested in seeing what it looks like at the end. Disclaimer my daughter plays for Strikers North and my son plays for Strikers South Bay but they have played as guest players on many teams on the list and i am happy my kids get to experience so many quality clubs in Southern California.
I don't know where any of these teams stand from a geographic standpoint as my DD is a discovery player, but I would think Real So Cal would be the next team to get in, then Arsenal. I couldn't see Strikers getting in before Real So Cal, and I would think Arsenal would get in before Strikers. Unbiased opinion, Real So Cal is an overall stronger side than both of the clubs.
 
I never thought RSC girls side ever fully recovered after Scott Murray left. Always thought as a human being he was kinda a jerk, but when he left the club has been in slow decline.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ECNL without the top players doesn't make sense. It's like trying to sell EGSL all over again.
How is that? I would agree, if DA fielded teams in every age group, but they DO NOT! The clubs will take the top 9-10 players from a U15 and top 9-10 players from a U16 team for example.

Are you saying the depth chart from #11-20 on each age group aren't very good? Well here are some facts for you. The U17 Blues-Dodge team has 17 players committed, Surf U17 and Slammers U17 has just as many. I will bet their U16 teams have similar number of players committed too. Not all of their committed players on their U16 and U17 teams would make their DA teams. In simple math terms: 2 age groups at these big clubs have on average 36-38 committed players. DA will only be able to roster what 18-20 players (only 14 see the pitch). It displaces 16-18 players who were previously on the A teams and where ECNL fills that void.
 
Last edited:
I don't know much about RSC but WCFC is legitimate in my humble opinion. Strikers north is
North Oc/South East Los Angeles area and strikers South Bay is based out of El Segundo Manhattan beach Hermosa beach Torrance to give you an ideal. My kids are 2006 and 2007 I am only basing my opinion off of training I see with the u little and we have trained with many teams on the csl and scdsl side. I have not checked the u14-u18 table because Im just not their yet but I will out of curiosity nowBut I tend to judge a club by how they train their young players because to me that gives me insight to what they will be in the future as a club. I'm not looking to move them just yet as we are happy with the training.I really do appreciate the information as I will check some of these teams out I'm trying to learn as much as possible thanks! Check us out on Instagram @ soccerkeeper1310
 
How is that? I would agree, if DA fielded teams in every age group, but they DO NOT! The clubs will take the top 9-10 players from a U15 and top 9-10 players from a U16 team for example.

Are you saying the depth chart from #11-20 on each age group aren't very good? Well here are some facts for you. The U17 Blues-Dodge team has 17 players committed, Surf U17 and Slammers U17 has just as many. I will bet their U16 teams have similar number of players committed too. Not all of their committed players on their U16 and U17 teams would make their DA teams. In simple math terms: 2 age groups at these big clubs have on average 36-38 committed players. DA will only be able to roster what 18-20 players (only 14 see the pitch). It displaces 16-18 players who were previously on the A teams and where ECNL fills that void.

Are you saying the DA will be s better avenue for the already committed player ECNL for the uncommitted? If so, makes sense.
 
Are you saying the DA will be s better avenue for the already committed player ECNL for the uncommitted? If so, makes sense.
Not at all. Maybe showing it visually will help more.

Current U15 ECNL team:
U15= 20 rostered players all are A team players
1-10 will move to the Girls DA U15/U16 combined team.
11-20 will remain on the U15 ECNL team, but get 10 new teammates

Current U16 ECNL:
U16= 20 rostered players all are A team players
1-10 will move to the Girls DA U15/16 combined team
11-20 will remain on the U16 ECNL team, but get 10 new teammates.

Final resulting reshuffle:
U15/16 DA team will comprise of 1-10 from U15 and 1-10 from U16
U15 ECNL will comprise 11-20, plus 10 new teammates
U16 ECNL will comprise 11-20, plus 10 new teammates.
 
Last edited:
Actually, I was told by a Blues head coach. They will be fielding ECNL and DA teams.

Think of it logically, if Blues dropped ECNL. How would a girls only club be able to fund their DA program or keep their club solvent? Especially since the DA program has to be subsidize (I highly doubt it will be fully subsidized) by the club.
Can someone please explain how much the DA program will be subsidized? And how that translates to club, player, etc? Thanks. I've been asking my club and feel like I'm getting a run around answer.
 
Can someone please explain how much the DA program will be subsidized? And how that translates to club, player, etc? Thanks. I've been asking my club and feel like I'm getting a run around answer.
I don't think they have figured out how the subsidy is going to work out yet. I've read US Soccer will give each club a certain amount, but still not enough to fully fund all the age groups. So the rest will have to come from somewhere provided within the club. My guess, higher club fees are going to be paid by the non-DA teams at the club to fund the DA teams or families will still pay, just like the boys DA clubs.
 
Last edited:
Can someone please explain how much the DA program will be subsidized? And how that translates to club, player, etc? Thanks. I've been asking my club and feel like I'm getting a run around answer.

What do you mean how are they going to pay for this? Lol just let me say no one whose kid plays on the B, C, D or E teams should act surprised when they see their club and league fees go up.

Let's be truthful with ourselves, none of these clubs are signing up for this because they think they will make less money. So do the math. 24 players per team getting something like $2000 fees waived comes out to just about $50k per DA team (2 DA teams per club) each year in additional revenue that each of these clubs will need to raised just to break even.

Hopefully nobody is so naive to think US soccer is going to plop down $50k+ per year to each of the 100 or so DA teams to balance the books do you? Where's the money going to come from haha!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Where's the money going to come from haha!

It is a pyramid scheme. Pyramid schemes are doomed to fail because their success depends on the ability to recruit more and more naive parents. Since there are only a limited number of naive parents in a given community, all pyramid schemes will ultimately collapse. The only people who make money are those few successful DOC's who are on the top of the DA pyramid and US Soccer.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top