The Legalities or Ethics of Using "DA" or "Pre" in Team Name

Woodwork

SILVER ELITE
So, as I was duly fooled by the use of "PDA" as shown in this thread, I would like to hear from folks who know about when clubs can legally and, if legal, ethically, used these and similar designations in team names. For example, I saw a couple of clubs use the name "Pre-SYL" in the team name, but the next year went a different route. Same with "Pre-EGSL". Are there trademark rules that apply for something like "PDA"? What about something like "Pre-NPL" where participation the next year would be on a case-by-case basis for the applicant team rather than club-level?

I note that I am not totally opposed to a "pre" designation to communicate aspirations, as long as there is basis for it.
 
I'm not sure I understand what your issue is? My son plays on a PDA because the team is a PDA. I know some clubs might use the term loosely but the majority I have seen do have an academy status at the higher levels. Whether or not all the kids on the PDA will make it is another issue.

Most teams don't use the term unless the age group is close to U-12 because up until this year, that's when the academy started
 
"I know some clubs might use the term loosely" is the issue. How loose is too loose? I mean, even using "pre" is kind of pure marketing. They aren't participating in anything that year, and next year could be a complete reset for the actual team competing in the league, including players and coaches.

Just in case there's confusion, by PDA I'm referring to "Player Development Academy" not Pre USSDA, which I thought it meant before. So tell me, what does it mean for a team to be "PDA" as compared to another club team. Are they competing in a different league? Do they have access to different resources? I am not criticizing, I really want to learn.
 
I think this is a valid question as a parent trying to navigate the system. There is one OC club listing teams within the same girls bracket, 1 DA, 1 DPL and 1 Academy. So what is academy? Its not DA....so what is it? A lure to get parents wanting that academy designation?? regardless if it truly is??
 
Every club has an “Academy” team. So lame. So confusing for parents. Just a tool to bait parents. Pre-Academy is even more lame when it’s 3-4 seasons before they could go... seeing u8 Pre-Academy teams is nonsense.
Ethics? Bah... if a non-USSDA club uses Academy, it shows that the club will say whatever it takes to get paid. Else, why try and mirror. Be DA or don’t be DA, who cares? But, at least be honest. Lol.
 
About 4 or 5 years ago the word "Academy" was used for the youngest ages. It was used to denote teams that were training a lot and maybe not playing as much.
Then you had some teams that used "Academy" in their name - TFA, CFA, etc.
On the boys side, you have had US Soccer Development Academy for about 10 years now. Seems that most clubs on the boys side stopped using the "Academy" name over the past few years.
Girls Development Academy came up in the past few years. Now you have lots of "Pre-Academy" names popping up. Sometimes for clubs that don't even have "US Soccer Development Academy" status. This is where it gets a bit "grey".
The whole use of "pre"-anything is shady. The whole us of anything with "Academy" in the name that is not directly tied to a US Soccer Development Academy team is shady.
MAYBE for a clubs top team in an age groups that will be academy the following year, you can call them "Pre-Academy". But anything else is complete bullshit and meant to confuse parents into opening their checkbooks.
 
Marketing and the latest catch phases, "Elite" is one that seems to be catching on now. Pre-Elite ok just stop it now

Idiom for “just because you give something a different name, it doesn't change what it is”

The "A,B,C" teams also known as black, blue,white of Club Xyz seem so much cleaner back in the day but Guess those are not sexy enough so have to spouse those up nowadays so perceived reality names makes some things "sound" better
 
Don’t forget “development.”

Elite Development Academy FC of International America.

great name. Granted they’ll probably just merge as a Galaxy or Surf affiliate anyway.
Bwahaha.
 
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