LadiesMan217
GOLD
Minus travel? Travel was the most expensive part of my player coming up through the elite soccer ranks!!
Of course; but, saving $4K+ is still a good thing
Minus travel? Travel was the most expensive part of my player coming up through the elite soccer ranks!!
I guess if you can afford to fully fund an Academy you might consider it? The end goal is confusing. There's no tangible benefit that I can see for the LA Galaxy in hosting a girls Academy. Even if they were to add a Pro-team to the mix I would expect that girls would still leave for college when they reach that age. On the boys side, I can see the increasing appeal to turn professional at a younger age given the improving opportunities and financial model. I get that fully funded appeals to parents, but clubs run the risk of alienating their families by bumping up the costs to attract and accommodate a tiny amount of their players. I think the Academy will push a number of clubs towards economic ruin. It was a really smart move by US Soccer to get the clubs to pay for a program which in the long run will probably only really benefit them. I can't believe clubs haven't pushed back on US Soccer to commit more to the program much beyond giving the kids a "DA Patch." They can't do it without the clubs. You have to coach their way, play their way, under their parameters and oh btw pay for the privilege.
Of course; but, saving $4K+ is still a good thing
$4k in club and team fees not including travel? Damn you parents of Ulittles are getting put through the ringer. That is about what I paid including travel every year but U16/17 which was maybe a $1k-$1500 more.
Pump the breaks.
I thought travel was part of a fully funded DA.
Or is just fees?
I guess in a SoCal conference it's not that big of a deal with this many teams ..
$4k in club and team fees not including travel? Damn you parents of Ulittles are getting put through the ringer. That is about what I paid including travel every year but U16/17 which was maybe a $1k-$1500 more.
But @MakeAPlay We are going to get world-class coaching with development
There was mention "somewhere" of LAFC building a training site in Tustin.
The main reason for MLS clubs to fully fund youth clubs is MLS' homegrown player rule.Maybe I'm way off, but I was thinking that the biggest reason a pro club like LA Galaxy or LAFC or Seattle Sounders or Portland Timbers, etc. would be interested in fully funding Academy teams is that it will increase the profile of the youth clubs which spreads their brand. When LA Galaxy started taking on or taking over existing youth clubs a few years ago, I was skeptical because many of the teams were kind of crappy. But now when you look at the club standings, there always seems to be a Galaxy team in the top flights doing pretty well and the number of teams is constantly growing. When thousands of kids grow up playing for a team with the Galaxy logo, you're farming the next generation of fans to buy merchandise and watch games. If they end up with the best Academy team because it is free for the best players, it is probably a small price to pay in the overall marketing strategy. In other words, if LAG decided it was worth it to put their name on a youth club, they probably would prefer that they can claim to be the best. If Galaxy were synonymous with mediocre youth soccer, that's not good branding. At least that's the only way it makes sense to me that a pro club would fund a girls' Academy team.
The main reason for MLS clubs to fully fund youth clubs is MLS' homegrown player rule.
She was referring to boys DA teams, I think, as she mentioned a few years ago when MLS clubs like LAG fully funded youth teams.Doesn't really apply for the girls
http://www.brotherlygame.com/2015/9/3/9242267/homegrown-player-rule-major-league-soccer-visual-guide
"A club may sign a player to his first professional contract without subjecting him to the MLS SuperDraft if the player has been a member of a club’s youth academy for at least one year and has met the necessary training and retention requirements. Players joining MLS through this mechanism are known as Homegrown Players"
A way to hang on to, get them a reduced rates, or offer young players a place to continue on or play locally.... Galaxy II was created in part to give these players more options to develop into first team players.
What about the showcases which if history serves as a guide will include 2-3 out of state trips not to mention nationals and or national finals. That is easily another $4k+.
No, I was referring to why Galaxy would fund a girls DA team...sorry for the confusion. And...She was referring to boys DA teams, I think, as she mentioned a few years ago when MLS clubs like LAG fully funded youth teams.
It's great that galaxy are funding GDA. Will every top player migrate this club? And is the club prepared to cut the majority of existing girls?
While there may not be "existing teams" for GDA, the players on the current top teams at these clubs will probably make up the bulk of the new GDA teams in SoCal. If there were fewer GDA clubs, you might see a lot of player migration, but with multiple GDA clubs covering the region that already have high performing teams, the majority of the high level players are already at these clubs.