Girls Development Academy

[Kicker4Life]

ECNL would wax all of the teams. They could play their bench and beat almost all of them.

Unfortunately your statement has little merit. I would agree that top to bottom ECNL has the the edge by a decent amount but to say "ECNL would wax all of the teams" is simply a stretch. Beach FC's '02 Academy tied Slammers ECNL 1-1 at the Thanksgiving College Showcase. My DD and I watched the game because our neighbors DD plays for the Slammers ECNL team (currently sit in 2nd place in the SW region). Both teams were only missing 1 player.

The youngers landscape has changed a lot since your DD played, I'm sure you can at least agree with that much.

 

[outside!]

Unfortunately your statement has little merit. I would agree that top to bottom ECNL has the the edge by a decent amount but to say "ECNL would wax all of the teams" is simply a stretch. Beach FC's '02 Academy tied Slammers ECNL 1-1 at the Thanksgiving College Showcase. My DD and I watched the game because our neighbors DD plays for the Slammers ECNL team (currently sit in 2nd place in the SW region). Both teams were only missing 1 player.

The youngers landscape has changed a lot since your DD played, I'm sure you can at least agree with that much.

There are more examples in the age group I am familiar with as well. Check out the ECNL record of TopHat 99. They have done well in ECNL. The last time they played in the USYS National Championships however, they didn't make it out of group play The top teams in the two organizations are very competitive with one another. I think it is good that DA and GDA are paying attention to all of San Diego county. The huge growth in North county over the past 3o years produced a lot of kids to make it a soccer powerhouse. But that growth spurt is leveling off and the population is now aging (just as it did earlier for central San Diego). South San Diego county is growing by leaps and bounds and it is a good idea to offer local opportunities to those players. Right now, the top HS teams are usually in North County. I predict in 15 years some of the top HS teams will be from East Lake/Chula Vista.

 

[MakeAPlay]

Unfortunately your statement has little merit. I would agree that top to bottom ECNL has the the edge by a decent amount but to say "ECNL would wax all of the teams" is simply a stretch. Beach FC's '02 Academy tied Slammers ECNL 1-1 at the Thanksgiving College Showcase. My DD and I watched the game because our neighbors DD plays for the Slammers ECNL team (currently sit in 2nd place in the SW region). Both teams were only missing 1 player.

The youngers landscape has changed a lot since your DD played, I'm sure you can at least agree with that much.

I can't honestly remember a game against a non-ECNL team (including Surf Cup) where my player's coach played to win. Usually the subs played as much or more than the starters. during my daughter's next to last Surf Cup (U17) once they had clinched a spot in the quarterfinals the coach started most of the bench and the game ended in a draw to a team that they waxed the last time they played.

When you are on the outside looking in it's hard to tell what is going on. Now I don't know your daughter's friend's team, but I bet I know the coach. If they were playing to win then congrats but I never saw it.

Yes the landscape has changed in the last year. Not that much though.

 

[CaliKlines]

And in late November, Legends FC 99 team played against the older ECNL (U19) teams of Slammers FC (beat them 4-0), West Coast (beat them 1-0), and tied SC Del Sol 1-1. Let the excuses begin...remember you said "they would wax any non-ECNL team."

 

[MakeAPlay]

There are more examples in the age group I am familiar with as well. Check out the ECNL record of TopHat 99. They have done well in ECNL. The last time they played in the USYS National Championships however, they didn't make it out of group play The top teams in the two organizations are very competitive with one another. I think it is good that DA and GDA are paying attention to all of San Diego county. The huge growth in North county over the past 3o years produced a lot of kids with to make it a soccer powerhouse. But that growth spurt is leveling off and the population is now aging (just as it did earlier for central San Diego). South San Diego county is growing by leaps and bounds and it is a good idea to offer local opportunities to those players.

Please see post #1465 above. I can tell you that in my daughter's age group the team that won the U16 ECNL championships won the USYS championship that same year with mostly subs and "B" team players. They didn't compete the next year as it was a strain on the players and coaches and the exposure was significantly lower than at the ECNL showcases and championships.

Let's come at it from a different angle. There were only two players that played for non-ECNL teams in my daughter's graduating class that had a significant impact on a top 25 team this season and about a dozen from ECNL teams. There are several that played and had an impact just not on a top team.

 

[MakeAPlay]

And in late November, Legends FC 99 team played against the older ECNL (U19) teams of Slammers FC (beat them 4-0), West Coast (beat them 1-0), and tied SC Del Sol 1-1. Let the excuses begin...remember you said "they would wax any non-ECNL team."

Cali I don't have to make any excuses. Your Legends team has done a good job of not playing the top players. The only players on that team that will have any impact in college over the next two years are the black holding mid and the black forward. The athletic players that schools would want anyway. Great job of development. The rest of the team is small market.

 

[MakeAPlay]

And in late November, Legends FC 99 team played against the older ECNL (U19) teams of Slammers FC (beat them 4-0), West Coast (beat them 1-0), and tied SC Del Sol 1-1. Let the excuses begin...remember you said "they would wax any non-ECNL team."

Just because your daughter was on a bad ECNL team doesn't mean that is the case with the rest. Have you ever asked yourself why your daughter couldn't get her team into the Champions league? Mine did 3 years in a row. What is your excuse?

 

[CaliKlines]

Cali I don't have to make any excuses. Your Legends team has done a good job of not playing the top players. The only players on that team that will have any impact in college over the next two years are the black holding mid and the black forward. The athletic players that schools would want anyway. Great job of development. The rest of the team is small market.

And they "waxed" the ECNL teams they competed against.

 

[MakeAPlay]

And they "waxed" the ECNL teams they competed against.

If that is how you remember it. Why wasn't your daughter good enough to elevate her team? Elite players can do that....

You get no street cred for joining a team that is already good. And I use that term loosely. I wish my daughter got a chance to play against that 99 Legends team so that she could lay waste to it.

 

[CaliKlines]

If that is how you remember it. Why wasn't your daughter good enough to elevate her team? Elite players can do that....

I'd say it's in pretty poor taste to single out a player in a team sport...but she was good enough to help elevate her non-ECNL team to "wax" the older ECNL teams they just played.

 

[NoGoal]

And in late November, Legends FC 99 team played against the older ECNL (U19) teams of Slammers FC (beat them 4-0), West Coast (beat them 1-0), and tied SC Del Sol 1-1. Let the excuses begin...remember you said "they would wax any non-ECNL team."

Did you really think you were playing the 98/99 ECNL teams?

 

[NoGoal]

I'd say it's in pretty poor taste to single out a player in team sport...but she was good enough to help elevate her non-ECNL team to "wax" the older ECNL teams they just played.

You tied Del Sol 1-1, not sure if you played the true Slammers ECNL team and as for WCFC you beat their ECNL Composite team aka B team 1-0 only.

 

[LBSoccer]

You tied Del Sol 1-1, not sure if you played the true Slammers ECNL team and as for WCFC you beat their ECNL Composite team aka B team 1-0 only.

If the late November games were played at the Silverlakes showcase then the Slammers ECNL team was what was listed on the schedule but the players on the field were from the composite team. We have friends on both teams and it was definitely the composite team that was there that weekend.

 

[NoGoal]

If the late November games were played at the Silverlakes showcase then the Slammers ECNL team was what was listed on the schedule but the players on the field were from the composite team. We have friends on both teams and it was definitely the composite team that was there that weekend.

I believe you LBSoccer, because you know the 98/99 age group unlike CaliKlines does.

 

[Sheriff Joe]

Did you really think you were playing the 98/99 ECNL teams?

Do you not believe MAP can handle herself? You are a pathetic little puppy, looking to petted.

 

[Dos Equis]

Of course, whenever a non-ECNL team plays an ECNL team and wins, it was never the actual ECNL roster that played, the ECNL team was experimenting with different lineups, and was in development mode. Everyone who plays in ECNL accepts that as an axiom.

 

[NoGoal]

Do you not believe MAP can handle herself? You are a pathetic little puppy, looking to petted.

I was replying to CaliKlines, because he actual though he was playing the actual ECNL teams at Silverlakes. It is my DD's age group and know that wasn't the case, idiot!

 

[NoGoal]

Of course, whenever a non-ECNL team plays an ECNL team and wins, it was never the actual ECNL roster that played, the ECNL team was experimenting with different lineups, and was in development mode. Everyone who plays in ECNL accepts that as an axiom.

I would believe it if it were the truth, but when a poster posted his DDs team beat ECNL teams when in fact it was the WCFC and Slammers B teams. You have to question the source!

 

[MrXor]

I noticed that there are probably 10-12ish parents who post frequently with dds almost done with club and transitioning into college ball.

1. What are things that you did to help your dd along to become "elite" players? Or what did they accomplish at U-X to be sought as
potential elite players? Like a checklist.

2. How did you know beyond parental loving eyes that your child was going beyond most parent's expectations?
How did you know that your child was an "exceptional player"?

3. If your dd can be U12 again, what would you do differently or the same? What are the most important things to focus on
until U-14? Beyond U-14? Please list mistakes you or your dd made and how your dd recovered from it.

4. Bonus question if it happened to your dd: If your dd dislikes 1-2 players and they equally dislike your dd where they go extra hard
to thump each other during practice and scrimmages, is this pretty normal for hyper-competitive players? Should I tell my dd to
calm down or just let nature take its course? I am afraid my dd will hurt the girl since she is way bigger and stronger than her.

Thanks!

 

[NoGoal]

I noticed that there are probably 10-12ish parents who post frequently with dds almost done with club and transitioning into college ball.

1. What are things that you did to help your dd along to become "elite" players? Or what did they accomplish at U-X to be sought as
potential elite players? Like a checklist.

I don't consider my DD an elite player. IMO, she is a solid player who is quick, aggressive, hard working, solid technical skills and very coachable. She is NOT a freak of nature athlete. What got her on the map was making the ODP Region IV team for 2 years and getting 2 ODP National camp invites. She never got a YNT camp invite though.

2. How did you know beyond parental loving eyes that your child was going beyond most parent's expectations?
How did you know that your child was an "exceptional player"?

.

I knew when my DD would train 2.5-3.5 additional hours a week outside of her club practices and games. I knew there were many girls who didn't put in the extra work. I like to call this the compounding effect. Also when she didn't make the final 18 player roster for ge Cal-South ODP team. She worked her tail off the next 1 1/2 years to finally make the team.

3. If your dd can be U12 again, what would you do differently or the same? What are the most important things to focus on
until U-14? Beyond U-14? Please list mistakes you or your dd made and how your dd recovered from it.

If I had to do it all over again. I would have moved my DD to Blues at U9 instead of at U12. I would focused less on chasing a winning team at ulittles and instead on a team where she was having fun, starting and playing a lot of minutes. I would say at U15 it is important to olay against top teams. The game is faster and more physical. My DD has played for a few coaches, so what she benefited from is learning different styles of play from possession, kick and run (her least favorite, to defending and counter attacking soccer. I would highly suggest making sure your DD is a 2 way player (playe offense and defense) and knows multiple postions.

4. Bonus question if it happened to your dd: If your dd dislikes 1-2 players and they equally dislike your dd where they go extra hard
to thump each other during practice and scrimmages, is this pretty normal for hyper-competitive players? Should I tell my dd to
calm down or just let nature take its course? I am afraid my dd will hurt the girl since she is way bigger and stronger than her.

Thanks!

Yes, that is pretty normal if girls don't like each other on a team. Top players play with an edge that other regular players don't. Now if your DD doesn't like the team and the coach. Then it's best to discuss as a family if it's better to move to another team where it could be a better fit. As for girls getting hurt, usually the coach will address it, because the last thing he wants is for his players to get hurt at practice.