Is this in the future for the GDA?

Justus said:
This all happened to us at the same time US Soccer Federation announced the first age band for the girls 1st year DA League. DOC told all the 04 GOATS no one can play up or tryout for the Surf Combo 03/04 DA team. Some of the expert coaches at the Academy were telling some us at the club that they wanted us to play up or at least battle the other GOATs for the spots to make the cream rise to the top. They said no to us except a small few I found out later that had a previous agreement with some guy not there. We were than sold ECNL 04' because no players were allowed to play up on the 03/04 band. JH reached out from Legends to say he would like my dd to make his 03/04 DA Combo Team and felt she had a great shot but no promises or favors. Just hard work. Don't matter if your 05, 04 or 03. He was looking for YNT players at the time. He put 4 from our age group the first year. I got my kid (she was laughing about all this at the time and really wanted to stay. She was watching dance moms and didn't think it was that big a deal) out and headed North. My dd and I had a meeting with those two coaches that was insane before we left. All about how ECNL will be the league and don't go. HS Soccer rules the country I was told. I told those two good luck staying in business...………..
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The reason I told those two good luck, is because I was drinking so much DA Koolaid I was making the soccer parents around me sick. I thought my kid (sorry, she was killing it) was on her way. I know, the arrogance of me to say something like that. You think I was the only parent who was from that team who was seriously looking at other DA Clubs (the phone was ringing from all those other clubs who don't recruit) who were going to honor the 03/04 band the DA rolled out? The US Soccer Federation on their website was encouraging play ups for top players. The club wanted my kid (01/04/04) and other top players to play 04 ECNL (The League the Federation doesn't support) instead of trying out for the 03/04 DA Surf Combo Team. Gee, I wonder why?
 
Justus said:
The reason I told those two good luck, is because I was drinking so much DA Koolaid I was making the soccer parents around me sick. I thought my kid (sorry, she was killing it) was on her way. I know, the arrogance of me to say something like that. You think I was the only parent who was from that team who was seriously looking at other DA Clubs (the phone was ringing from all those other clubs who don't recruit) who were going to honor the 03/04 band the DA rolled out? The US Soccer Federation on their website was encouraging play ups for top players. The club wanted my kid (01/04/04) and other top players to play 04 ECNL (The League the Federation doesn't support) instead of trying out for the 03/04 DA Surf Combo Team. Gee, I wonder why?
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$$$$
 
watfly said:
Wait...what? It's just a league? that's not what US Soccer told us:
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"The DA is not a league. It’s a nation-wide philosophy. The DA is not a team that practices a few times a week. It’s a program that makes sure players are in the best environment for their development. US Soccer ensures DA players have at least four training sessions every week, with the best coaches available, with the most competitive matches.”

Dear US Soccer Federation and the Girls DA, you have not ensured the best environment for my child in Southern California. The Philosophy you're preaching to me and my kid is from another country. You're absolutely 100% not ensuring DA PLayers have at least four training sessions each week. Some good coaches out there that you never developed by your organization, trust me, I've met them. Lastly, the matches you call competitive are a joke. I've watched for two years. If you think as a customer I am wrong, or anyone on this forum want to call me out, please tell me where I'm wrong. We all got played, not just me like some think. I hate popsicles too. I like ice cream & pizza but not with ketchup hiding underneath pretending to be pizza Sause :)​
 
Justus said:
"The DA is not a league. It’s a nation-wide philosophy. The DA is not a team that practices a few times a week. It’s a program that makes sure players are in the best environment for their development. US Soccer ensures DA players have at least four training sessions every week, with the best coaches available, with the most competitive matches.”

Dear US Soccer Federation and the Girls DA, you have not ensured the best environment for my child in Southern California. The Philosophy you're preaching to me and my kid is from another country. You're absolutely 100% not ensuring DA PLayers have at least four training sessions each week. Some good coaches out there that you never developed by your organization, trust me, I've met them. Lastly, the matches you call competitive are a joke. I've watched for two years. If you think as a customer I am wrong, or anyone on this forum want to call me out, please tell me where I'm wrong. We all got played, not just me like some think. I hate popsicles too. I like ice cream & pizza but not with ketchup hiding underneath pretending to be pizza Sause :)​
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Justus,

Please go to sleep! Wake up and reread your threads. Love your passion but your more a disservice to your daughter by going on and on. Take a leave of absence and reflection how much of a distraction you are for your poor daughter. I can only imagine what she’s going through or what she will be going through come recruiting time. Just saying!! Night Night!!
 
The TC is how my 11 year old dd with a dream got sold. I have original email telling me from DOC the importance of having my dd at TC to make that dream a reality. We hadn't made the decision yet. Was asked to guest play at Surf Thanksgiving to audition to the "National Scouts" who my dd was told would be there to watch my little 11 year old goat. Remember, the club/coach she was not "selling" TC, only prepping his players for the realities of college life and playing soccer at big time college. That make all the sense in the world to me now. 99% of us should be looking for that "philosophy" right now :)

How do Development Academy players get exposure to US National Teams?
US Soccer Training Centers are sessions that are hosted every few months in various locations in Southern California where National Team coaches train & identify players. US Soccer Training Centers will replace ODP (USYS) sessions and zero costs are associated for players who are invited to attend these sessions. US Soccer scouts attend the majority of divisional games to identify players for National team camps & US Training centers. On average, about 10-12 Surf Soccer Development Academy players are invited to attend the US Training Centers.
 
Today I want to dive deeper into the workings of the TCs and how the DA Philosophy is taught to our future 11 year old players who might one day make it all the way to the National Team.
 
gotothebushes said:
Justus,

Please go to sleep! Wake up and reread your threads. Love your passion but your more a disservice to your daughter by going on and on. Take a leave of absence and reflection how much of a distraction you are for your poor daughter. I can only imagine what she’s going through or what she will be going through come recruiting time. Just saying!! Night Night!!
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It's comments like these that keep me going, especially when folks "like" them. "I can only imagine what your poor dd is going through?" Can you? I also get motivated by the many "PMs" I have received encouraging me and sharing similar stories. TY, it means a lot :)
 
gotothebushes said:
Justus,

Please go to sleep! Wake up and reread your threads. Love your passion but your more a disservice to your daughter by going on and on. Take a leave of absence and reflection how much of a distraction you are for your poor daughter. I can only imagine what she’s going through or what she will be going through come recruiting time. Just saying!! Night Night!!
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I'll tell you what. Let's try something because I'm super new at this social forum stuff. I look at views to see if folks are interested in what I have to say and if I get a response from someone at 1:54am. If everyone stops reading this thread I will stop right now. Don't PM anything. I have a few errands to run. I will come back and see what the folks want. If this is helpful for some, let me know.
 
Justus said:
I'll tell you what. Let's try something because I'm super new at this social forum stuff. I look at views to see if folks are interested in what I have to say and if I get a response from someone at 1:54am. If everyone stops reading this thread I will stop right now. Don't PM anything. I have a few errands to run. I will come back and see what the folks want. If this is helpful for some, let me know.
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You "look at views"? People slow down to get a good look at freeway accidents, also.

Perhaps you should try having a conversation with a buddy sitting next to you on the couch.
 
Justus said:
It's comments like these that keep me going, especially when folks "like" them. "I can only imagine what your poor dd is going through?" Can you? I also get motivated by the many "PMs" I have received encouraging me and sharing similar stories. TY, it means a lot :)
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I'll give you a hug at the next DA showcase in Florida. We can work out some issues. It's awesome to be a #1 fan/support for your dd but there's a point when a parent can become a distraction and your reaching that tipping point. There's choices we all have to make in life. We all have choices you know. We choose where we was to live. We choose to pay property taxes. We choose what school are kids go to. We also should to play DA, ECNL and High School. I've been lied to before. It was a valuable lesson learned.
 
gotothebushes said:
I'll give you a hug at the next DA showcase in Florida. We can work out some issues. It's awesome to be a #1 fan/support for your dd but there's a point when a parent can become a distraction and your reaching that tipping point. There's choices we all have to make in life. We all have choices you know. We choose where we was to live. We choose to pay property taxes. We choose what school are kids go to. We also should to play DA, ECNL and High School. I've been lied to before. It was a valuable lesson learned.
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My experiences with youth soccer clubs (or more to the point with youth soccer club coaches) are all over a decade ago, but from the content of the posts here these days not much has changed. The coaches and DOCs and other admins have been at it for a long time and most parents are ignorant of what is happening until it happens to them.
 
espola said:
My experiences with youth soccer clubs (or more to the point with youth soccer club coaches) are all over a decade ago, but from the content of the posts here these days not much has changed. The coaches and DOCs and other admins have been at it for a long time and most parents are ignorant of what is happening until it happens to them.
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Bingo Espola!!
 
espola said:
The coaches and DOCs and other admins have been at it for a long time and most parents are ignorant of what is happening until it happens to them.
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Not Ignorant for the most part. I’ve found it is more that they don’t give a crap because they think it won’t happen to Mia because their kiddo is extra special. You reap what you sow and his behavior on here will only make it worse for his dd.
 
Fact said:
Not Ignorant for the most part. I’ve found it is more that they don’t give a crap because they think it won’t happen to Mia because their kiddo is extra special. You reap what you sow and his behavior on here will only make it worse for his dd.
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Good point.
 
"Buyer beware" should always be your motto when it comes to anything involved with youth soccer. I'm a born skeptic, but against my better judgement I fell victim (actually my son was the victim) to trusting a coach's representation that I knew had a propensity for dishonesty. He did us a favor because now my kid is with an amazing coach and some great kids.

Keep in mind that clubs and most coaches don't have your kids' best interests in mind. They have no incentive to do so when the primary focus is on $$$ and winning. They're great coaches out there, they're just hard to find. Clubs don't invest in kids, they will always take the "shiny new object" over the longer term committed player because the "grass is always greener" (not that parents don't chase this same concept). At the top levels this is highly competitive soccer, so it comes with the territory. It's not wrong per se, you just have to be aware of it despite what club or coach may tell you.

You have to be your child's best advocate, because club or coach likely will not be, but don't be over the top about it. Rely only on what a club or coach shows you, put zero reliance on what they tell you. Despite what you're told, don't expect your kid to be treated any differently than the other kids on the team. We're just pups in club soccer going into our sixth year (not counting the years I played club which is unrecognizable from today's club soccer), but I think its best to take one season at a time and not look past the current year (maybe its different for older kids that are hoping to play college soccer in the next few years).
 
espola said:
My experiences with youth soccer clubs (or more to the point with youth soccer club coaches) are all over a decade ago, but from the content of the posts here these days not much has changed. The coaches and DOCs and other admins have been at it for a long time and most parents are ignorant of what is happening until it happens to them.
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Most of the coaches we had were excellent and some of them we still in contact with as friends. Others were not so good, and some attempted coaches were just plain offensive unless you bought their story 100% from the start.
 
From SoccerAmerica to Landon: "No man of Latin American origin or descent is serving on any of the Working Groups."

“I'm not Latino,” said Donovan, “but I consider myself as Latino as one can be without actually being Latino -- because that's what I grew up around. I have a very good understanding of the Latin American player, mentality and lifestyle as it pertains to soccer. But I agree with you we should absolutely have representation from every piece of our country.”

There you go, we have a Latino as one could be in the 59 committee Youth Task Force to help rep that segment of the USA. All is good folks :)
 
“I'm not Latino,” said Donovan, “but I consider myself as Latino as one can be without actually being Latino -- because that's what I grew up around.

He didn't really say that did he? Oh Landon.... I can't imagine that will go over well in the community.
 
Justus said:
From SoccerAmerica to Landon: "No man of Latin American origin or descent is serving on any of the Working Groups."

“I'm not Latino,” said Donovan, “but I consider myself as Latino as one can be without actually being Latino -- because that's what I grew up around. I have a very good understanding of the Latin American player, mentality and lifestyle as it pertains to soccer. But I agree with you we should absolutely have representation from every piece of our country.”

There you go, we have a Latino as one could be in the 59 committee Youth Task Force to help rep that segment of the USA. All is good folks :)
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That committee is as Latino as it coud be.
 
It's amazing that a 59 member task force doesn't have any Latino representation.
https://www.socceramerica.com/publi...sses-latino-exclusion-from-us.html?verified=1
There are a few more quotes that stood out to me from the above article:

"Last week we reported on the exclusion of Latinos from the U.S. Soccer Youth Task Force, which the federation launched nearly a year ago. It includes six Working Groups, which brings to 59 the number of people working on the Task Force. Each of the Working Groups includes one member of U.S. Soccer’s Athlete Council, which consists of 20 athletes who control 20 percent of the Federation vote and have three spots on U.S. Soccer’s Board of Directors. The Athlete Council members, whose eligibility is based on national team participation, are nominated and elected by their peers. Landon Donovan was elected to the Athlete’s Council in November of 2018."

6 working groups? Which include 20 athletes that control 20 of the Federation vote?

Landon's Group:
For the Youth Task Force, Donovan was assigned to the Standards & Certification Working Group. The others are: Lindsay Tarpley (Diversity & Inclusion), Nick Perera (Coaching), Lori Lindsey (Referee), Heather O’Reilly (Risk Management) and Stuart Holden (Member Growth).

Sounds like this Task Force isn't doing much:
"Donovan said he never saw a list of the members on the other five Working Groups. Two other Working Group members also said they weren’t aware of who was on the Working Groups beyond their own. And one said they wouldn’t be surprised if most members didn’t know who comprised the other groups.

“I'm not in any of these conversations,” Donovan said. “I haven't been part of any of the interviews. I'm not privy to all of it. But, yes, I do think it’s vital to have [Latino representation].” "

This task force was announced in October 2018. How often have they met? What have they talked about? What are their top initiatives? How many youth clubs/coaches have the spoken with? Are they only focused on the Youth National team type of players?
 
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