Also, when I say "Elite" I'm referring to players who have already made the list or someday will. I believe if you have the same two players with equal skill 100% of the time the player that has committed to the DA Rules will get the call up. You better be "elite, elite" outside of the DA to get in. Not fair if that is your dd goal. Isn't that why they want us to play in their developmental league in the first place? Very subjective selection process with punishments if you don't confirm to their set of rules. This was not how past groups were picked. ODP was how they picked. In fact, Surf told all of our DDs who were invited not to attend. Many didn't. Cal South was not too happy about it either. Another shit show for my dd. You have to have a little empathy for her? Even ODP was taken away when it once mattered.
ECNL vs. DA turf war has created a 'toxic environment'
- Thread starter VegasParent
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MakeAPlay
DA
This is why it is most important to do what is best for your player and to not give a crap what US Soccer says. At the end of the day you are going to be the one who is accountable to your kid. They have to be happy and if they want a well balanced life and lots of opportunities not necessarily related to soccer then great.
I can tell you that my kid doesn’t regret the degree that she just got and the worst case scenario for a smart, elite female soccer player in the US is a college degree. In my opinion that is better than any carrot that US Soccer could ever dangle! And since most of the 12 year olds playing soccer now won’t get a soccer scholarship and 99% of the current YNT players will never play for the full National Team it seems silly to bow down to what any amorphous governing body decides.
But doesn't that make sense on some level? Take two players of equal skill, one of whom practices with similar players a minimum of 4x/week for 48 weeks every year (so 192 practices a year) and one that maybe does that 3x/week (I know a couple ECNL teams that do this for long stretches) for maybe 35 weeks every year (so 105 practices a year) and they will very quickly not have equal skill. Maybe the ECNL kid practices more than that but US Soccer would have no way of knowing or controlling that so everything else looking about equal they will take the kid they 'control' or have input and oversight. Moreover, as parents, which system will allow our dd to hit their potential (if they are having fun and don't burn out!)...one that practices 192 times or one that practices 105 times?
I think anyone following these forums gets that you are upset and frustrated by the situation (and that is fine). Honestly I just don't think it matters at this point whether a kid plays ECNL or DA (with possible exception of YNT...but that just won't matter for the vast majority)...maybe in another 5-6 years but for now either is good as far as college is concerned! To me (and I've said this before) the biggest losers, by far, are those kids that are playing NPL for teams they've been on since they were young, on good clubs and with good coaches...these type of kids used to get consistent looks by US Soccer and Colleges and now the exposure is almost nonexistent (coaches/scouts just don't have the time to see a 3rd league).
That's what we did. I will go away soon and let my dd work speak for itself this coming season. Talk is cheap.
I have to nitpick this, sorry.
- Do DA teams really only have 4 weeks off per year? ("4x/week for 48 weeks every year")
- Do all DA teams enforce the 4 practices per week, or for some is there an "optional" 4th day or a do-your-own-thing 4th day?
- "But doesn't that make sense on some level? Take two players of equal skill...and they will very quickly not have equal skill.". This doesn't take into account that different players have different max potentials, may work harder/easier in practice, have better/worse coaches, better/worse teammates, play starters minutes vs bench minutes, and so on and so on and so on....
The issue as I see it is that US Soccer isn't even giving the ECNL girls a chance to compete for spots. If they invited ECNL girls to camp and they got beat out, then fine, but if you don't invite them, it looks suspect and political in nature. Regardless of the "development pathway" if Player A is better than Player B, then Player A should get selected if you're picking on merit. But I think we know that they're NOT picking on merit, they're trying to bury ECNL and "persuade" top players to choose a certain path. The same way that US Soccer "encourages" USWNT hopefuls to play in the NWSL and not overseas because it's "easier to be seen" **wink wink**.
This turned into kind of a rant; sorry it wasn't directed at you. I just wanted to get it off my chest.
This last year we moved to South OC and went back to Blues hoping they would choose ECNL. Not this year or next probably. Good for them. As long as they can have both makes sence to collect as much cash as possible before they are forced to choose ECNL or DA allows HS Soccer. DA is no friend of da Blues either. "No respect I'm saying" for a couple crazy ass legends who know a lot more about the female athlete than all of us combine. Might have been wise to listen to them instead of having Surf go up with a pile of cash and start making offers. Capitalism at its finest
I don't disagree but I think if their only intent was to bury ECNL they would just have kept all non-DA players out of all camps. I think if their intent was to bury ECNL they would have gradually phased out high school participation. I don't know their thinking so maybe they just didn't think of those things.
But yeah I think most DA teams take off 1-2 weeks in summer and 3 or so in winter. That's all my DD team had...she is also practicing like 6-7x/week post DA Showcase. My only point is that if you take the same player and make them practice significantly more...they will be better than if they didn't. Practice matters.
Or they wind up with an overuse injury.
Possible burn out- but if a player at this level is burnt out, they don’t belong at this level.
Were talking practice, practice practice. Have fun practicing. I bet my dd will not loose a beat and will battle all the DA players in college. College coaches want and need to win and they get paid to win. If they don't, most will get fired. I will take my chances finding someone who wants to win and who treats female athletes with respect.
I'm doing a toxic shit cleans of my soul. It's been very therapeutic for me. I'm sorry if I have offended anyone on the developmental side of things. I know I sound like a big baby. I promise I will be leaving soon and you can go on with the debate. Its been personally liberating for me. TY
Now some Toxic stuff from the coaching side. Buyer beware of the coach who thinks he's the pathway to the DM at college. Very dangerous and not good for 8th graders or soon to be 9th graders. God forbid your dd tells one of them your not so sure you want to go to college. With the new rules your job just got a lot less important in regards to being the "middle man" to set up the phone calls. Focus on teaching them to be better people and better players, students and so on. That takes time and patience and most 14 year old girls need some time IMHO I would love to see the day that an actual college coach calls your dd in 11th grade and invites her for a visit. Maybe take 3 visits like all the guys do. This is a big investment and commitment for both parties. A club coach should help you be the best player you can be, period, end of story. Then the player can decide how best to go after soccer after HS. According to the DA the club coach is training you to be a world cup player or pro, no HS or college. In fact, if your Elite, Elite, Elite, you need not go to school. We will pay YOU and YOU only some $$$$. All the rest can go to college and fight it out at Stanford or UCLA. Your reward is a very nice degree
I would love to see the day that an actual college coach calls your dd in 11th grade and invites her for a visit. Maybe take 3 visits like all the guys do. This is a big investment and commitment for both parties. A club coach should help you be the best player you can be, period, end of story. Then the player can decide how best to go after soccer after HS. According to the DA the club coach is training you to be a world cup player or pro, no HS or college. In fact, if your Elite, Elite, Elite, you need not go to school. We will pay YOU and YOU only some $$$$. All the rest can go to college and fight it out at Stanford or UCLA. Your reward is a very nice degree US Soccer Federation is toxic as well. Everyone who pays taxes and has had kids playing at an elite club level should ALL have EQUAL access to the YNT selection process. My dd has a dream as does thousands of other girls around this find country of ours. America is the land of the free, home of the brave Because she and others decided to play for their HS they are forbidden (punished, kicked out, not allowed entrance, and so on) to participate in a league that is partly funded by this great county of ours, the USA!!!! Please someone, tell me another US Sports Federation Team that forbids their players from playing that sport in HS? Anyone?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Because she and others decided to play for their HS they are forbidden (punished, kicked out, not allowed entrance, and so on) to participate in a league that is partly funded by this great county of ours, the USA!!!! Please someone, tell me another US Sports Federation Team that forbids their players from playing that sport in HS? Anyone?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Your assumption is wrong. A YNT call up does not necessarily mean the "best. They probably get it right many times but there are some they got wrong in those call ups (thus all the players they invite once and never again). There are talented elite players that have not gotten call ups. While I don't think Top Drawer Soccer rankings are the best they do rank the players on more than if they get a call up. They look at other accomplishments and players that have proven themselves in many arenas.
So I looked at the numbers for 2020's and 2023. As I suspected, the 2020 year had more representation of ECNL in the top 50 of the IMG 150. The younger age has more in the DA. That is not necessarily because DA is better but due to the culture and the messaging that DA is best for those families that never had experience with ECNL
2020 grad year: 26 players in ECNL/ 23 players in DA / 1 player from Hawaii so neither one (5 are from So Cal: 4 play in ECNL and 1 in DA)
2023 grad year: 17 players in ECNL/ 33 players in DA (9 are from So Cal: 3 play in ECNL and 6 in DA)
I never said the best. Its a hell of a accomplishment and it puts your kids name in front of every college coach in America. It's also nice to put on your soccer resume. It should be the goal of every kid playing in the DA right? US Soccer is only looking for those types of players.
"Everyone who pays taxes and has had kids playing at an elite club level should ALL have EQUAL access to the YNT" ????? What about the kiddo that does not live within driving distance to an "Elite Club," cannot afford an elite club or just simply decides to play for a local club with a great coach? Over the years, I have seen many talented kiddos that don't even get looked at by ODP because their coach is not connected.US Soccer Federation is toxic as well. Everyone who pays taxes and has had kids playing at an elite club level should ALL have EQUAL access to the YNT selection process. My dd has a dream as does thousands of other girls around this find country of ours. America is the land of the free, home of the brave
You're the classic I want my cake and eat it too. You as much admit that you moved your DD to Surf to create a super team to compete for the National Championship. I believe this is the age group of Jeremy's and Bryan's DD and while one was rightfully on the team, this team was manufactured around a certain player. That meant purposely taking away from the other power teams in Socal including Blues. That's were your DD and her teammates that moved to Surf became important; drain the talent at Blues to get past the Socal competition. And you went there for the dream, not the coach like should be the focus.
You must have wondered why certain players make the A team at Surf or why some kiddos get more playing time when skill level does not seem to mesh. Were you ever offered privates in exchange for making sure your player never came off the field? I am not sure what age group won the National Championship but that behavior was quiet prevalent at the younger age groups of Surf.
Unfortunately life is not fair and everyone has to decide what is best for them. Yes it sucks that Surf DA players that go to private schools like Francis Parker and Bishops play on the high school team. If I were friends with any such families, I would start to question my friendship with these less than scrupulous people. Maybe spend your time exposing these injustices or maybe in the grand scheme of things you can at least be proud of your DD for standing up for what she believes in and enjoy watching her play. The time goes by fast.
Thank you for chiming in Facts. As we all know, the age changed. Her coach Tad decided to take the 03s. Simone Jackson ring a bell? My dd choice was Dido as were the other 04s. That there my friend lies the first problem. Wrong coach. My dd loved how Surf played and wanted to try a different approach. We lived in Temecula and the drive was shorter. She went first with no looking back. I never once called a Blues parent to beg them to please come too. That's a fact, Fact. They followed one at time because just maybe, they didn't want to play for the coach at Blues. The old Blues team always scrimmaged Dido and he would make more little girls cry then I could count. I think he's more suited for older girls, just saying. My kid said, no thanks then and she's saying no thanks now. Super team my ass!!!!
Plus she went for the coach too. I promise, I'm not lying. Also because she had a dream Fact and Surf was in charge of a new TC program that Blues had not promoted. That too is a fact, Fact. I have more facts, Fact, but I'm not hear to name names. Let's be respectful toward naming people if you can.
Your words from the other thread “She was the first one to bolt to Surf from Blues. A few teammates followed and low and behold, 11th National Championship.” You cannot tell me that at the time Surf set their roster, you knew exactly what was going to happen at Blues with coaching assignments? Surf sets their roster many months ahead of tryouts and I am sure that they were actively recruiting to Bkues top players. They use to do the same to West Coast.
So I looked up the coaching at Surf for that team. Do you really think that he was a much more respectable coach than Dido? Same type of abusive language and yelling plus a recovering addict.
What names did I mention where I am not being respectful? They are Board members out in the public while you name coaches. What’s the difference? Nothing other than maybe you don’t want to name them because your kiddo is still friends and want to not entirely close the door at Surf knowing that they are in charge of that team roster? Too late, they are the 2 people in charge of Surf and all the policies you are complaining about.
Your perceptions are wrong Fact. I think its safe to name coaches but I will go back to initials. I used the wrong word, "Bolt." I actually spent months deciding. Players don't normally leave Blues and or TB. I took my time on this one, trust me. My dd went to Blues for one reason, TB the coach. If I could go back in time, I would have had her fight it out and try and make his new 03 team. I was talking to TB all the time. The fact is Fact, I'm a very open person and I always talk to the DM. TB had a long standing policy that you had to wait until the season was over before he informed your dd if she made his team for next year. I didn't like, especially with the age change coming. I complained to the DM. It was a hard time for the older 04s. Tough decisions had to be made unlike any other time regarding birth year. Should she play up? Should she play in her age group? Let's keep that in perspective. I also had long talks on the phone with him about this new US Soccer Training Center stuff all the other kids parents from other clubs were raving about. He didn't promote that and I didn't like that either. I got a call from Surf and you know what I was sold Fact from MS? TC, TC, TC and a chance at the golden ticket. The others came at different times and I'm sure for similar reasons. That's a fact, Fact! My dd wanted an opportunity to make a future YNT brah. It was never about a National Championship. I'm sure Surf wanted #11 and the club did what they did to get it. Dido was the 04/05 coach and it was said directly to me that he was going to be the 04' coach. OM the Pro was on that team too. Regarding the coach at Surf, he came with name recognition. No way she plays for him knowing what I know now. Life isn't like that though. However, he did put her at the 11 on a 4 4 2. It kept her further from the net but she learned how to use her left
He taught her some cool possession soccer that is not played except with De Anza/Earthquakes. We beat them which is still one of my dd favorite games and the best she has played in one game Great Q to the Great Pep,
What about younger players, can they play too much competitive football at an early age?
“At that age they have to play and play as much as possible. Play in the street – in my day we could and now maybe it’s not possible – but play and play and play and that’s all and let them play day and night and let them make mistakes,” added Guardiola.
He's not saying, Practice practice practice practice is he? The true competitor wants to battle and play games to win, like warriors. Some kids who want to win are going to look elsewhere. Sorry but winning is fun for some kids. They want to PLAY TO WIN!!!!!!!