DA/ non DA pro and cons checklist
- Thread starter galaxydad
- Start date
LadiesMan217
GOLD
Girl or boy? Which program (club)? Age? Long term objective?
Here's a start for a list. Up to you/them to decide if pro or con:
4 mandatory practice days per week
Less tournaments
No days with multiple games on the same day
No high school soccer
Probably the best pathway to National Team play
Probably the best pathway to D1 college play
10 month season
Large rosters
Consistent coaching / highly licensed coaches
Cost - some are fully or partial funded
Travel -likely on par with ECNL or high flight 1
I'm sure there are more.
4 mandatory practice days per week
Less tournaments
No days with multiple games on the same day
No high school soccer
Probably the best pathway to National Team play
Probably the best pathway to D1 college play
10 month season
Large rosters
Consistent coaching / highly licensed coaches
Cost - some are fully or partial funded
Travel -likely on par with ECNL or high flight 1
I'm sure there are more.
You have evidence for this?
I said "Probably". And if you believe the marketing hype, then it's probably-maybe.
My impression is that D clubs/coaches recruit the players most likely to make National college teams, so it is likely a self-satisfying prophecy. The question thus is most important for a borderline player - will the DA program make enpough difference to be worth the extra cost?
GKDad65
SILVER ELITE
I've had more than one kid on two different DA teams/clubs and this is my humble observation:
4 mandatory practice days per week- Some clubs will use physical fitness group sessions or other non-team gatherings to make up the 4 practices.
Less tournaments- Thank goodness. Many of the tournaments offered are simply not worth the time or money.
No days with multiple games on the same day - That's a good thing.
No high school soccer- While it's not a beautiful game the impact of HS participation out weighs the negatives. As painful as that is to say.
Probably the best pathway to National Team play - I haven't seen any evidence to support that.
Probably the best pathway to D1 college play - Possible. If not DA, than play better quality tournaments.
10 month season - It goes on forever!
Large rosters - May result in limited field play time. Field player beware!
Consistent coaching / highly licensed coaches - NO. Don't be fooled. A, B, C, D, E, ...are just letters. You'll know a good coach when you play for one, but beware they're employees of a club business.
Cost - some are fully or partial funded - Don't I wish it were one of mine.
Travel -likely on par with ECNL or high flight 1 - Yes.
I'm just a soccer Dad/Fan but the Southern California DA environment hasn't been all that special, no different than the Flight I experience.
US Soccer needs to reign in these clubs and provide more and stricter guidance.
Go CITY!
4 mandatory practice days per week- Some clubs will use physical fitness group sessions or other non-team gatherings to make up the 4 practices.
Less tournaments- Thank goodness. Many of the tournaments offered are simply not worth the time or money.
No days with multiple games on the same day - That's a good thing.
No high school soccer- While it's not a beautiful game the impact of HS participation out weighs the negatives. As painful as that is to say.
Probably the best pathway to National Team play - I haven't seen any evidence to support that.
Probably the best pathway to D1 college play - Possible. If not DA, than play better quality tournaments.
10 month season - It goes on forever!
Large rosters - May result in limited field play time. Field player beware!
Consistent coaching / highly licensed coaches - NO. Don't be fooled. A, B, C, D, E, ...are just letters. You'll know a good coach when you play for one, but beware they're employees of a club business.
Cost - some are fully or partial funded - Don't I wish it were one of mine.
Travel -likely on par with ECNL or high flight 1 - Yes.
I'm just a soccer Dad/Fan but the Southern California DA environment hasn't been all that special, no different than the Flight I experience.
US Soccer needs to reign in these clubs and provide more and stricter guidance.
Go CITY!
El Clasico
GOLD
Like most posers, ahem, posters here, you clearly have no personal experience with the DA program but have fully bought into the glossy marketing materials.
"Best pathway to National Team play"? - The evidence clearly shows the opposite to be true. Take another look at the MNT roster and tell us all which players came through the DA since it has had a full cycle to develop the next wave of MNT players. And please save us the drivel of telling us that Pulisic is a DA product.
Consistent coaching/highly licensed coaches?? Not a slight on you personally but this is one of the most overrated, full of Sh*t statements in Club Soccer. I have met/seen many, many highly qualified coaches that don't have a driver's license, let alone a USSF A license. All these punks with their A licenses (yes, generalizing here) go out and poach players from smaller clubs and the Mexican leagues who were developed by someone else. Most A coaches remind me of the schmucks that go to college, get their degree, can't find a job so they go back and get a masters, still can't find a job so they go get their doctorate or phd and tell people they are special. Yellow bus special maybe....
Sorry for being so direct, it's just that I can't believe that people can still be so blind when they see for themselves what is happening with soccer development in this country.
SOCCERMINION
SILVER ELITE
I'll take a shot at non-DA:
2-3 practice days per week, allowing for 2 days privates or Fitness based on Parents or Players time schedule.
More Tournaments, ability to play more games and have more diversity of appointments.
Multiple games on the same day, Ability to have 3 day tournament and actually have a playoff and winner.
High school soccer, great way to ensure your child retains there Love of the game.
Pathway to National Team play, Scouts look for players not Teams. If they are skilled they will be found. Especially if they are attending a lot of tournaments and showcases and getting a lot of playtime.
Pathway to D1 college play, Most Clubs primary focus is geared at promoting and assisting Players to getting scholarships to Collage and ensuring players are getting maximum exposure. Unsure if this will be true with DA Teams, whose Goal is making better National Teams.
Shorter flexible Season, ability to participate in alternative sports and also be part of alternative teams and programs. High School, ODP, ID2, Other Country National Teams, playing up and subbing for clubs other teams, Playing in Futsal leagues, Playing with friends on other teams or tournaments.
Better substitutions and smaller rosters, IMHO There is no substitution for Game playing time . Game time is highest speed of play, pushes players to perform under pressure and builds Soccer IQ better than any drill ever will.
Ability to move and choose Coach that fits your child style of play and who they will develop best with.
Cost - travel is the big equalizer.
Travel -likely on par with DA, if our on a good team your going to travel...
Proven Club programs for developing Players to play in Collage can be researched from past results.
I'm sure things with change as this is only the first year of DA, for my DD , playing DA would have meant giving up too much Soccer in her life.
Now don't get me wrong, I understand that most of the top players will choose to play on DA teams, so the competition level should be higher, steel sharpening steel . But have they created a better system to promote Soccer Development. That remains to be seen....
2-3 practice days per week, allowing for 2 days privates or Fitness based on Parents or Players time schedule.
More Tournaments, ability to play more games and have more diversity of appointments.
Multiple games on the same day, Ability to have 3 day tournament and actually have a playoff and winner.
High school soccer, great way to ensure your child retains there Love of the game.
Pathway to National Team play, Scouts look for players not Teams. If they are skilled they will be found. Especially if they are attending a lot of tournaments and showcases and getting a lot of playtime.
Pathway to D1 college play, Most Clubs primary focus is geared at promoting and assisting Players to getting scholarships to Collage and ensuring players are getting maximum exposure. Unsure if this will be true with DA Teams, whose Goal is making better National Teams.
Shorter flexible Season, ability to participate in alternative sports and also be part of alternative teams and programs. High School, ODP, ID2, Other Country National Teams, playing up and subbing for clubs other teams, Playing in Futsal leagues, Playing with friends on other teams or tournaments.
Better substitutions and smaller rosters, IMHO There is no substitution for Game playing time . Game time is highest speed of play, pushes players to perform under pressure and builds Soccer IQ better than any drill ever will.
Ability to move and choose Coach that fits your child style of play and who they will develop best with.
Cost - travel is the big equalizer.
Travel -likely on par with DA, if our on a good team your going to travel...
Proven Club programs for developing Players to play in Collage can be researched from past results.
I'm sure things with change as this is only the first year of DA, for my DD , playing DA would have meant giving up too much Soccer in her life.
Now don't get me wrong, I understand that most of the top players will choose to play on DA teams, so the competition level should be higher, steel sharpening steel . But have they created a better system to promote Soccer Development. That remains to be seen....
Too hard to answer there is way too much variance between programs and resources for DA. Parents need to do due diligence on clubs by speaking to parents at the clubs. Do not go off what they "tell you". Objectively speaking what matters to one parent may not matter to another so I am not slamming any particular club but make no mistake there are big differences.
Eagle33
PREMIER
DA pros:
1. Playing on great fields
2. Having top referees
3. Playing top competition (most important IMO)
4. Playing and training alongside top players
5. US scouts and college scouts present at games and showcases
DA cons:
1. Coaching is hit and miss
2. No HS soccer
3. No guest playing
1. Playing on great fields
2. Having top referees
3. Playing top competition (most important IMO)
4. Playing and training alongside top players
5. US scouts and college scouts present at games and showcases
DA cons:
1. Coaching is hit and miss
2. No HS soccer
3. No guest playing
Can you play other High School sports if you are in DA? Like Cheer, Dance, Swimming, Track etc?
Sheriff Joe
DA
Go back to bed.
Swimming, track or any other HS sport is not allowed. Not sure about cheer or dance (a private dance studio, probably?).
Some of the clubs are carrying more than 18 players which means a few girls aren't even suiting up for games. Also, for games there are many players that are playing 10 min or not at all. You are pretty much giving up all high school sports to participate in DA. One of the disappointments for my two was the lack of games they get to play. As previous posters have stated, 1 game a day and during season it is usually 1 game a week and there is limited tournament play. On a positive note if your child is one of the elite we have had scouts at almost all of our games this year.
That's incorrect. High school soccer is not allowed.
Other sports parlay with difficulty but they are allowed as we were told
Yes the question is timing and the ability to make your required DA practices and committments as I understand.
We will not be giving up additional sports for the DA. This is something everyone should truly think about before they make the jump.
U
uburoi
Guest
Younger boys DA doesn’t keep score on a scoresheet. There is a focus on improvement and understanding of the game that I never saw before. Parents don’t walk away numb when their DS loses. In that way it’s very different from club.
younothat
PREMIER
If the club goes along with it HS soccer is possible & my son knows a least half a dozen boys who have been playing both for the last 2-3 years
You have to get a wavier, apply, and take a break during the HS season and get reinstated. Normally only miss a game or two in DA. If you student attends a private school or one that gives a scholarship the chances of getting approved are much greater.
Other HS sports; Track, volleyball, swim, golf, and other can be done along with DA. Takes a dedicated person with good time management if you want to be honor student also but possible.
DA is just another derivative of club soccer for the most part so the pro/cons are really club soccer vs other types of competitive soccer activities
90 Unbelievable Reasons to Play Club Soccer (some of them are a stretch and YMMV)
http://www.massclubsoccer.com/club-soccer-reasons/
"The truth of the matter though, is that most soccer clubs don’t offer any more than any other institutions that offer soccer as an activity. There really is nothing that makes “club soccer” better than the YMCA, i9 Sports or National Youth Sports. It just happens to be where the better players and more competitive athletes register; A collective thought process"
https://soccermommanual.com/competitive-recreation-soccer/