Boys DA rumors

LAFC was told earlier last month U12 was going back to the clubs for next season 19-20'. However, planning on continuing the U12 program without ussda and possibly with usclub.

For u16/17 next season 19-20' still proceeding with the plans for that to still be a combined age group since there has been nothing to date to indicate otherwise.

Mahrez, does that mean LAFC will be adding 03s to the roster?
 
Mahrez, does that mean LAFC will be adding 03s to the roster?

LAFC has been scouting 03's and trialling some already so they have something in the works but very limited numbers I would guess. If the u16/17 stay combined I would guess yes they will have some 03's maybe like 6 or so.
 
LAFC has been scouting 03's and trialling some already so they have something in the works but very limited numbers I would guess. If the u16/17 stay combined I would guess yes they will have some 03's maybe like 6 or so.
Seems like pulling in an insignificant number of 03s is a mistake, at least for those players pulled in. Can’t see LAFC committing to U18/19 the following year (2020-2021) in order to keep those few players around. Too much recruiting to do. Just letting their 04s age up over the next few seasons seems more logical. That said, Mahrez would know more. Input?
 
Seems like pulling in an insignificant number of 03s is a mistake, at least for those players pulled in. Can’t see LAFC committing to U18/19 the following year (2020-2021) in order to keep those few players around. Too much recruiting to do. Just letting their 04s age up over the next few seasons seems more logical. That said, Mahrez would know more. Input?
I'm pretty sure LAFC could put together a top team at any age level in a matter of months. They have that much prestige and are right in the middle of the strongest demographic.
 
I'm pretty sure LAFC could put together a top team at any age level in a matter of months. They have that much prestige and are right in the middle of the strongest demographic.

The 04's are top of the league but they know from playing 03' club teams in scrimmages all the time they will need some to stay there If the age groups stays combined u16/17 next season. They have been pretty success vs those 03 teams when they use those 03 trialist w/ their 04's. When they find players that can dominate or stand out on the other teams they will note those on the scouting reports and coaches talk it over.

LAFC is going to have teams in leagues besides DA for 18-19 so this might be the year they start a USL team for 18+ since they didn't renew with OC blues.

Not rumor but new Galaxy GM making some changes.... Want's to get more bang for the buck$$$.

Te Kloese looking to bring academy closer to LA Galaxy first team
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019...ing-bring-academy-closer-la-galaxy-first-team

"As is the case with the first team, the ingredients are in place for the Galaxy academy to be successful. Their region is incredibly talented and their academy has solid facilities and, according to Te Kloese, is run well on an administrative and logistical standpoint. They haven’t, however, had an academy director for two years, something Te Kloese said he wants to correct within the next couple of months. Once he makes that hire, the principles of how the club’s youth players will train, play and learn will become more defined. "
 

"But the thing we are really focused on is that alignment of the pathway As you know, our landscape is quite fragmented. It's really important for us to have that alignment, so when we think about player development we think about, ‘OK, maybe it's good to have pro competition and then the other clubs.’”

Last year, U.S. Soccer responded to complaints from MLS clubs’ about traveling long distances to play against teams that don’t offer meaningful competition. It decreased the number of DA games on the schedule and created “free weekends” for clubs to choose their own competition, such as against foreign teams. The DA has also for years allowed MLS clubs to compete in the Generation adidas Cup.

“One of the things [the MLS clubs] really like to do is play against international opponents,” said Romeijn. “And, of course, that's a really good benchmark when you're talking about player development.
“Then we say, of course, we will look at the schedule and we will give you the opportunities. It's the same when you're looking at the Generation [adidas] Cup they organize.”
For some MLS clubs, the free weekends provided so far aren’t enough to satisfy their quest to take international trips or they fall during inconvenient times of the year.
Romeijn says he can envision MLS continuing in the DA with a different format in which MLS clubs are given more flexibility. But …

An example of adjusting the DA schedule to please MLS clubs would be to allow, within the DA structure, more games between MLS clubs.
“You can imagine Philadelphia and Red Bulls,” Romeijn said, “and they say, OK, not only two but four of these games are really valuable for them when you're looking at player development. And that's what we want to do. Focus on player development.”

More likely, MLS academies could design a combination of national, local and international competition for their youth teams, and perhaps combine with USL youth programs.
Alternatives to MLS pulling all of its teams out of the DA include keeping its younger teams in the DA and MLS creating its own competition for the older age groups. The DA, for its part, could propose a tiered format based on the quality of its clubs to placate the MLS clubs that believe they’re playing too many games against weaker competition.
“We are now in the process of having these conversations,” said Romeijn. “Nothing has been decided yet.”

Charles Boehm
Worth noting: when asked about longstanding talk of creating a "pro" tier of the Development Academy for MLS and other academies, Lepore and his USSF colleague Nico Romeijn say nothing has yet been decided. Interesting given how much chatter there's been re the idea lately.

Charles Boehm
Asked to comment on the state of the USMNT program, Vermes says "we've done ourselves a disservice" by failing to vertically integrate across age groups to inculcate a style of play and way of working so that players can rise through the system and grow/evolve efficiently

Currently there really is no pathway from the USSDA to anything else, USL is outside and this is no integration. MLS club spend $$millions$$ on there academy to see those player walk away for free for college scholarships, play in Europe, Mexico, other domestic teams. The return on investment is not happening and sooner or later things have to change with the USSDA & MLS academies. Money is not going to be keep flowing without better ROI.

From that Stejskal piece with the new Galaxy boss:
Te Kloese naturally has more on his plate, namely increasing the return the Galaxy get on their academy. Despite operating in what’s likely the most talent-rich region in the country, LA have only ever produced one Homegrown Player of note in Gyasi Zardes. He was traded to Columbus last winter.

Te Kloese, who helped recruit several players from the LA area to Mexico’s youth national teams during his time with the FMF, is well aware that the Galaxy need to get more out of their academy. He knows they have a ton of work to do with their youth system, too.

“I’ve always been a little bit like with the idea that they could be taking so much more out of the local community,” said Te Kloese. “In the end is not so easy for a big club to play young players, but I think there should be some on the roster and there should be something that gives a little bit extra to the Galaxy based on their local talent pool.”
 
The 04's are top of the league but they know from playing 03' club teams in scrimmages all the time they will need some to stay there If the age groups stays combined u16/17 next season. They have been pretty success vs those 03 teams when they use those 03 trialist w/ their 04's. When they find players that can dominate or stand out on the other teams they will note those on the scouting reports and coaches talk it over.

LAFC is going to have teams in leagues besides DA for 18-19 so this might be the year they start a USL team for 18+ since they didn't renew with OC blues.
am sure that LAFC could quickly recruit in as many 03's as they felt were needed for next year, but the current 04 team's DA record over the last 18 months is 33 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses with a +155 goal differential over 37 games. And this is playing against the toughest 04 DA group in the country.

If LAFC don't add 03's for u16/u17 maybe they don't win 90% of their games, but that's probably ok. get that the club wants to build its brand by loading up a super team that demolishes all comers (and from a professional club pov, that's an ok goal), but would argue that it's in the players' best interest developmentally to experience a bit of adversity.

pretty well documented that players drop out/plateau at two key ages.

the first is u12/u13 when some youngers (born in q4 of the year ) and late developers drop out due to size/strength disparity vs olders (born in q1 of the year) and early developers.

the second is at u16/17 when the youngers/late developers still in the system catch up physically and then some olders and early developers plateau to due skill disparity because these players have relied on physical advantages to this point.

Net net, seems like LAFC has been building their brand in the last couple of years at the expense of players' long term interest and could be queuing up a number of players for this 2nd drop-out/plateau period in the next couple of years.
 
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Bump.

Jury still out on continuing with U13 (2007) and splitting U16 (2004) and U17 (2003) for next season.

Who knows what?
I can confirm that the 2008 U-12 club teams that were supposed to be starting DA (until this year when it was sent back to clubs) will be starting a league and continue to play U-12 DA teams. I believe the league is "unofficial" because I know some teams will also be playing SCDSL. There are some details still being worked out but it is happening...
 
I can confirm that the 2008 U-12 club teams that were supposed to be starting DA (until this year when it was sent back to clubs) will be starting a league and continue to play U-12 DA teams. I believe the league is "unofficial" because I know some teams will also be playing SCDSL. There are some details still being worked out but it is happening...
Do you know whether all the DA clubs are doing this or just a subset?
 
Another new league/division? Is this really necessary?
The feeling I got is that it is an unofficial league and that maybe 2/3 of the "DA" clubs would be participating. There is some push back because most of these teams will still be little competition for the big 5 in this age group so it seems kinda pointless for the good teams to do this. Especially when a couple of them are already playing up in age with SCDSL.

There were other issues brought up like playing your best kids against the weaker teams when you have reg season games and making sure every game will be on a quality field with quality refs
 
Looks like the U16/17 split dust has settled. From the DA website...

2019-20 Season Age Group Adjustments
Girls' U-16 Age Group: The U-16 program will be adopted as an additional age group across all Clubs in the Academy Program.
Boys' U-12 Age Group: The Development Academy will no longer operate U-12 programming. U-12 programs will be led by Clubs and Members for more direct management of Zone 1 (U-6 to U-12) player needs, while continuing to meet Academy philosophy and standards.

The Boys' Acdemy program currently utilizes five (5) age groups for competition, three (3) single age groups and two (2) mixed age groups: U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16/17, and U-18/19. Clubs competing in the U-16/17 and U-18/19 age groups must field teams at both age levels.
The Girls' Academy program utilizes five (5) age groups for competition, three (3) single age groups and two (2) mixed age groups: U-14, U-15, U-16, U-16/17, and U-18/19.
 
Looks like the U16/17 split dust has settled. From the DA website...

2019-20 Season Age Group Adjustments
Girls' U-16 Age Group: The U-16 program will be adopted as an additional age group across all Clubs in the Academy Program.
Boys' U-12 Age Group: The Development Academy will no longer operate U-12 programming. U-12 programs will be led by Clubs and Members for more direct management of Zone 1 (U-6 to U-12) player needs, while continuing to meet Academy philosophy and standards.

The Boys' Acdemy program currently utilizes five (5) age groups for competition, three (3) single age groups and two (2) mixed age groups: U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16/17, and U-18/19. Clubs competing in the U-16/17 and U-18/19 age groups must field teams at both age levels.
The Girls' Academy program utilizes five (5) age groups for competition, three (3) single age groups and two (2) mixed age groups: U-14, U-15, U-16, U-16/17, and U-18/19.

Well that's interesting I guess you're referring to this link:
http://www.ussoccerda.com/faq

"Clubs competing in the U-16/17 and U-18/19 age groups must field teams at both age level"

If really stated correctly that would be mean LAFC would have to have create a new team U18/19 if they also want to have a U16/17 in 19-20' & I'm pretty certain they want to have that. Interesting development if confirmed or applies to the 19-20 season.
 
Well that's interesting I guess you're referring to this link:
http://www.ussoccerda.com/faq

"Clubs competing in the U-16/17 and U-18/19 age groups must field teams at both age level"

If really stated correctly that would be mean LAFC would have to have create a new team U18/19 if they also want to have a U16/17 in 19-20' & I'm pretty certain they want to have that. Interesting development if confirmed or applies to the 19-20 season.

Yup and LAFC likely knew & been planning for this. The 02s were at the training facility for the Nike event and they have been heavily scouting 03's. Makes you wonder if they have plans for playing mostly 04's in u16/17 & 03/02 in u18/19 for 19-20'.
 
Yup and LAFC likely knew & been planning for this. The 02s were at the training facility for the Nike event and they have been heavily scouting 03's. Makes you wonder if they have plans for playing mostly 04's in u16/17 & 03/02 in u18/19 for 19-20'.
This jibes with rumors I have been hearing that LAFC may look to play many of its players in age groups up one year. So, the 08's would play U-13 next season and not have a non-DA experience for them. Definitely not 100% confirmed but being considered.
 
Looks like the U16/17 split dust has settled. From the DA website...


The Boys' Acdemy program currently utilizes five (5) age groups for competition, three (3) single age groups and two (2) mixed age groups: U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16/17, and U-18/19. Clubs competing in the U-16/17 and U-18/19 age groups must field teams at both age levels.
The Girls' Academy program utilizes five (5) age groups for competition, three (3) single age groups and two (2) mixed age groups: U-14, U-15, U-16, U-16/17, and U-18/19.

What is the update on the split years? Is there a U16 & U17 split?
 
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