Please elaborate on how it is a waste of time? Prior to GDA, would you say the same thing about ECNL? Cause the percentages don’t change. Or are you just saying that playing against some of the best players and teams possible is dumb?
Girls Development Academy
- Thread starter Swoosh
- Start date
Grow The Game
BRONZE
If the percentages don't change why was the girls development academy created in the first place? Seems like every thing was going fine with the system that was in place.
The answer to that question is above my pay grade. ECNL wasn’t an option for my DD based on geography and GDA is in our back yard. I don’t agree with the need for multiple leagues. Would be nice to have a single, geographically diverse, ECNL type league.
Mackerel Sam
BRONZE
Maybe there is a need for multiple leagues. As long as they have different philosophies and different rules (e.g. allowing kids to play high school), then over time the results might speak for themselves and then people will have more actual data on what works and what does not. In the long run, trying different things is usually a good idea. Might not be great for the individual who gets caught up in something new and untried (such as the GDA), but over time there is a useful collective learning from having tried something new.
Sheriff Joe
DA
Money and control is what it's all about.
Switching teams or trying a new league can lead to a lost year, at the wrong time if you are an 01,02 or 03.
Do these games count for overall records?
Why would records count if the purpose is player development?
Why can't you just answer the question without responding with another question? Just don't respond if you don't have an answer.
I can see why JAP use to go at it with him on the old forum. It was better when they did this to each other and left us out of it. But JAP has gone into semi-retirement (only engaging from time to time) and their war has waned. But a new front has begun and now you are involved.
Simisoccerfan
PREMIER
I heard they count.
Thank you.
Here is an answer - if the stated purpose is player development, recording win-loss-tie results is measuring the wrong thing.
outside!
DA
I somewhat agree, for the youngers. For the olders, the competition is needed to push the players.
Nonsense. What is needed is a method of measuring what is allegedly being provided, with real consequences for the players, coaches, and teams/clubs that do not measure up.
The stated purpose is to develop better soccer players so that they win games at higher levels of competition. Development is not a goal in of itself. If you are developing players, they should learn to win the right way at the lower levels and then work their way up to higher levels. Competition also drives kids to become better and develop under a more intense environment. Everyone knows there is a big difference in intensity between playing showcase games and, for instance, tournament games. The only reason not to keep win/loss records is that competition drives some parents/coaches to use tactics that are not in the best interest of a player's long-term development. But the misuse of tactics by some doesn't mean win/losses an irrelevant data point when assessing development. Are wins over emphasized by some? Certainly. Irrelevant? Hardly.
Also, there are a lot of people that would argue that we should put more emphasis on winning and losing through promotion and relegation of clubs.
For those interested, there was a great HBO segment on development of soccer in Japan.
Other countries have soccer balls all over the house, we have the Fisher-Price adjustable basketball hoop. We don't lack creativity in basketball.
Lambchop
GOLD
ECNL was the top program for girls, so they played with and against the best and were able to play HS if they wanted to. They also didn't follow FIFA sub rules. If the National team players can't adjust to FIFA sub rules after playing one game then there is a bigger problem with the players than US soccer is aware of. Only the top 1% will ever, ever play under FIFA sub rules.
We have soccer balls everywhere! Watch your step in our house!
Bananacorner
SILVER ELITE
FIFA substitution rules originated with team owners who did not want to pay for more players.
T1k1Taka24
BRONZE
I'm sure this has been discussed somewhere in this thread and I hate to be redundant but 136 pages is a lot to sift through so...
Even after only half a year of DA, the players that are getting maximum playing time should be improving simply as a result of the caliber of their competition.
I'm particularly curious to hear opinions of those whose players are getting 5 - 20 minutes a game (or not getting any playing time at all). It's one thing to practice against the best competition, but it's hard to improve if those skills developed during practice aren't given time to be applied under game conditions.
Even after only half a year of DA, the players that are getting maximum playing time should be improving simply as a result of the caliber of their competition.
I'm particularly curious to hear opinions of those whose players are getting 5 - 20 minutes a game (or not getting any playing time at all). It's one thing to practice against the best competition, but it's hard to improve if those skills developed during practice aren't given time to be applied under game conditions.