My friend, the literacy issues is yours, not mine. I was referring to the kids you mentioned who are no longer playing club or team soccer, not OM, and clearly said all of them are sure to get selected and end up on our YNT, not passed up.
OM and the rest may be the next great thing, not sad nor sorry about that, but right they now have a higher probability of having a career ending injury before 18 than making professional soccer a career. That is just a matter of statistics.
I do not see focusing on skills development and being on a team as mutually exclusive activities, in my fresh eyes you can do both and experience a more well-rounded development. Objectively, avoiding team soccer until 13-14 carries at least as many risks as potential benefits, and the coaches and systems available to you at U11-U13 are not so very different than those at U15-U16, whether you call the, ECNL, DA, or whatever the next great thing will be.
I think I saw a couple of former child prodigy athletes running cirles around everyone and the craps tables in Vegas this weekend, before passing out on the floor. They said they were doing just fine.
Although I enjoy the experienced parents perspectives there are many ways to navigate this new landscape. I presented additional ideas, and did not endorse one way or the other. I also think it's clear I was talking about one percenters here!
I for one think it takes a tremendous amount of courage to recognize that your daughter would be better served in a non traditional route and working towards that goal. It doesn't make it "wrong". Not participating in club for two years 11-13 will in fact not "hurt" anyone at all, especially if you have a gifted athlete. If you look at the very premise of DA it serves what they are doing- more specialized and focused training, limited games, film study. If they are getting touches with boys in futsal, as I wrote, they are enjoying a team aspect. If you have a private coach who is mentoring and teaming your daughter at the same cost of a club coach exactly how is that bad?
Some people are focused on goals that I would never personally be focused on. I would not endorse limiting my daughters social life by homeschooling but I also don't have a very special player who is featured on Instagram and Facebook , is meeting with YNT reps at 10-13 and takes pictures with soccer legends.
As for your last paragraph, I think it's obvious to anyone that child prodigy stars have a long road ahead. Unlike you though I support my friends choices, cheer on their daughters and would never hope they end up face down on a floor. Statistically I concur with you but I am not their parent. For me I would funnel money into a robotics coach or SAT prep over anything to do with soccer.
We didn't choose this system. 04 got our teams ripped to shreds then had DA dual band put upon us, then single band. Our age group has spent the last seven months not knowing what was happening and families are pretty much exasperated.
The older parents have all said the same thing- to be cautious about DA and what it means. Our ECNL teams are B teams at 04. So what exactly is wrong with a family deciding not only is DA not a golden ticket but their daughters are not B team ECNL players? Nothing.
What is wrong with families choosing an even more "off the radar choice" by choosing a local club with a great coach? Not a star team or club that they could have easily made?
Rate it dumb all you want ladies and gentleman my focus is my kid and doing the right thing for her and I will support any family who feels the same way.