Say bye-bye-bye to Girls and Boys DA

But how is GA’s business model more sustainable than the DA?
In DA, clubs did not have ref, league or showcase expenses. US Soccer picked up that cost.
In GA, I’m sure the business model will look just like it does in ECNL - families will pay directly for everything.
 
I hope GA does well it is better for everybody and I hope there is cross play. I just look forward to the upcoming seasons.
 
There are a handful of good clubs not in full ecnl.
Legends, beach, fc Virginia, tophat, fc Dallas, nationals, Cincy United, Albion, SC del sol, sockers to name some.

the showcases will be good for the top teams. The issue is are individual conferences deep enough for the top teams and how will travel for league games look. No one is flying in the fall so fall could be interesting.

I’m glad ecnl didn’t swallow up everyone so there is competition. It will keep them in their toes.
My favorite part is these new academy doc’s across the country saying how amazing this new league is and how stacked it is. Gotta sell to own families daily I guess.
 
Agree....The current ECRL teams will become stronger as the DA players push some current players to ECRL. Let’s be honest, in may cases the ECNL players will be used when Beach, Legends and Pat’s play. As it should be.
More likely the ECNL Clubs will not let the top ECNL players be used against teams like Beach, Legends, Pats, etc...The ECNL Clubs will not risk losses or competitive games against those teams. If they never play, then the ECNL can continue the myth of now being the best of the best.
 
Haha. There’s a lot of coaches out there. Might be worth the trip to get some college looks.
Keep in mind we had the following on the docket before Corona Virus Lock down. Back to back Las Vegas and Vegas Showcase road trips, then to Arizona showcase, then then back to Arizona for two road league games road trip the following weekend, then New Jersey showcase in May and fly to North Carolina if we make Champions playoffs. So as you can see Baller, that is already three showcases in three short months. We would 100% fly to NC for the Champions League playoffs. I'm not trying to be disrespectful of the Northern one but not flying to the East Coast for that one.
 
Last edited:
In DA, clubs did not have ref, league or showcase expenses. US Soccer picked up that cost.
In GA, I’m sure the business model will look just like it does in ECNL - families will pay directly for everything.

Most clubs will reduce training fee because going from 4 days to 3 BUT the families will then pay for showcases, refs, etc.
All in probably cost same or more expensive?
 
If ECNL has failed DA would not have been welcoming new teams with open arms.

The reality is that while there are some good teams who were left out, they could have jumped ship from DA a year ago. It was a sinking ship but not many jumped off. While I agree Legends, Beach, Albion etc. are excellent clubs, the most important thing is to keep ECNL from becoming watered down. Adding more clubs will do that. If clubs aren’t added, players will exit non ECNL clubs (already happening) and the balance will shift.

The non ECNL clubs made their decisions years ago and would have been welcomed up to two months ago had they exited before DAs likely demise. The clubs who stuck with ECNL are now being rewarded (and rightfully so).
 
Define the strong clubs left out
Clubs with solid track records, reputable coaches, history of attracting colleague coaches to showcase events and helping players into college programs.

if you’re asking me to name strong clubs left out, I don’t know enough about individual clubs to single them out.

By general reputation, I stand by my opinion that there are quite a few strong clubs that were either snubbed over politics, encroaching on an existing ECNL territory (and ECNL Club wanted individual players to bring over) , or, as ECNL has said, they’re saturated in terms of field space and size of tournament pool.
 
If ECNL has failed DA would not have been welcoming new teams with open arms.

The reality is that while there are some good teams who were left out, they could have jumped ship from DA a year ago. It was a sinking ship but not many jumped off. While I agree Legends, Beach, Albion etc. are excellent clubs, the most important thing is to keep ECNL from becoming watered down. Adding more clubs will do that. If clubs aren’t added, players will exit non ECNL clubs (already happening) and the balance will shift.

The non ECNL clubs made their decisions years ago and would have been welcomed up to two months ago had they exited before DAs likely demise. The clubs who stuck with ECNL are now being rewarded (and rightfully so).
Too late to keep ECNL from being watered down. That ship sailed two years ago.

Now the question is whether we have one big league or two smaller ones with more travel.

ECNL gets to pick, and they are giving us two smaller leagues with more travel and higher costs.

Thanks, ECNL. Way to put the kids first.

(And no, I am not at a DA club.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: htk
Too late to keep ECNL from being watered down. That ship sailed two years ago.

Now the question is whether we have one big league or two smaller ones with more travel.

ECNL gets to pick, and they are giving us two smaller leagues with more travel and higher costs.

Thanks, ECNL. Way to put the kids first.

(And no, I am not at a DA club.)
I agree with you on some things but you're so wrong here. This makes no sense dad4. When 2020-2021 ECNL season get's going, all these teams will have been improved by August 1st. I agree the ship sailed away somehow two years ago :) However, it miraculously sailed back by a north easterner wind. Powerful sucker that no man can try and stop. Wind is unpredictable, especially when one is sailing with pirates. ECNL does not promise a spot forever like some clubs do. Too many things can happen in one year to do that as we all have learned.
 
Most clubs will reduce training fee because going from 4 days to 3 BUT the families will then pay for showcases, refs, etc.
All in probably cost same or more expensive?
Yes. Probably a little more expensive in ECNL/GAL for club fees given that families will bear the costs of league and showcases. Depending on where you live, maybe less travel expense in ECNL compared to what DA was. GAL doesn’t have competition structure laid out yet so it’s hard to tell, but it seems to me travel will likely be more expensive than either DA or ECNL.
 
More Q & As with coach Mirelle. June 2019

SA: I believe if the DA hadn't been so heavy handed about banning high school play, we wouldn't be talking about the ECNL anymore, because that was a major reason cited by clubs staying in the ECNL. Why not just lift that ban -- and leave it up to the clubs and players to decide whether to play high school or not?

MIRELLE VAN RIJBROEK
: "High School is not really a discussion for us if you understand the concept of talent development from an international perspective. Soccer is a global sport. In order to stay internationally relevant as a nation we have to do a better job than the rest of the world.

With the Development Academy, U.S. Soccer offers an international competitive player development program. Therefore the Development Academy is not a league, it’s a program to develop world-class players. The DA has clear standards that clubs need to fulfill and monitor. This means that clubs who do not meet the criteria might have to leave the program. It’s a year-round program and players who play in the DA commit to this year-round program.

Each club can have their own soccer philosophy but the starting point is: a program where players have an intensive soccer program, four training sessions per week, meaningful games, developing over winning."

Folks, clubs made decisions for the kids based on what they thought the market wanted. The biggest one was HS Soccer. One league said, "yes" for HS Soccer and the new league with "The List" and the YNT Staff as employees, said, "No HS Soccer." The lines were drawn and players like my dd in 9th grade made a choice and so did coaches and clubs.
 
More Q & As with coach Mirelle. June 2019

SA: I believe if the DA hadn't been so heavy handed about banning high school play, we wouldn't be talking about the ECNL anymore, because that was a major reason cited by clubs staying in the ECNL. Why not just lift that ban -- and leave it up to the clubs and players to decide whether to play high school or not?

MIRELLE VAN RIJBROEK
: "High School is not really a discussion for us if you understand the concept of talent development from an international perspective. Soccer is a global sport. In order to stay internationally relevant as a nation we have to do a better job than the rest of the world.

With the Development Academy, U.S. Soccer offers an international competitive player development program. Therefore the Development Academy is not a league, it’s a program to develop world-class players. The DA has clear standards that clubs need to fulfill and monitor. This means that clubs who do not meet the criteria might have to leave the program. It’s a year-round program and players who play in the DA commit to this year-round program.

Each club can have their own soccer philosophy but the starting point is: a program where players have an intensive soccer program, four training sessions per week, meaningful games, developing over winning."

Folks, clubs made decisions for the kids based on what they thought the market wanted. The biggest one was HS Soccer. One league said, "yes" for HS Soccer and the new league with "The List" and the YNT Staff as employees, said, "No HS Soccer." The lines were drawn and players like my dd in 9th grade made a choice and so did coaches and clubs.
This reminds me of the saying know your audience when you walk into a room!

I bet if they let kids play HS for 2 years and then eased into no HS, they may still be around. The was their biggest mistake in the girls DA and everyone knew it.

Hey US soccer, keep hiring all these foreigners. Eventually someone has to work out, right?!?
 
This reminds me of the saying know your audience when you walk into a room!

I bet if they let kids play HS for 2 years and then eased into no HS, they may still be around. The was their biggest mistake in the girls DA and everyone knew it.

Hey US soccer, keep hiring all these foreigners. Eventually someone has to work out, right?!?
She talks about getting the best 2% out of the 98%. Does Spain allow the 100% to all play together? She should have found the top 10% who were interested in the pros and then squeezed the 2% from that group. Instead, they squeezed 98% of the parents......
 
An
She talks about getting the best 2% out of the 98%. Does Spain allow the 100% to all play together? She should have found the top 10% who were interested in the pros and then squeezed the 2% from that group. Instead, they squeezed 98% of the parents......
and folks, this is how a business model fails! Parent of 98% we want your 7k a year but sorry, we could care less about your kid. Yep, parents love to hear that!
 
An

and folks, this is how a business model fails! Parent of 98% we want your 7k a year but sorry, we could care less about your kid. Yep, parents love to hear that!
Bingo. Also, another major problem. In Mexico, so many people had such a positive experience playing youth soccer that they continue to play in adult leagues for their entire life. Words can’t express how fun it is for kids to be able to play kick around with mom, dad, sister, brother, uncles and neighbors. They aren’t working hard, they’re having hella fun.
Soccer has to be more fun so we can keep people in the game longer
 
NWSL Louisville Academy is a brand new club. THey haven't even had tryouts. Who knows if they even will have tryouts?
And they got into ENCL? SMH. Unless they draw from KingsHammer and Cinci DA they are going to be weak.
Unless of course it is fully funded (free) then that changes everything.
Cincinnati is about 90 minutes from Louisville KY. That is one way! Long way to go to play for a brand new club with a brand new team.
 
Bingo. Also, another major problem. In Mexico, so many people had such a positive experience playing youth soccer that they continue to play in adult leagues for their entire life. Words can’t express how fun it is for kids to be able to play kick around with mom, dad, sister, brother, uncles and neighbors. They aren’t working hard, they’re having hella fun.
Soccer has to be more fun so we can keep people in the game longer
When I started playing in an adult rec league a few years back- the best part for me was seeing kids on the sidelines. Sometimes watching their dad (and mom- this was a coed league- pretty chill environment) but almost always messing around with a soccer ball on the sidelines. It was the closest I’ve seen to a true pick-up game. No coaches organized it. Nobody needed a field permit. Nobody helped the kids pick team. Nobody blowing a whistle for the rules. Boys and girls shooting on goal. Playing 1v1 until more kids showed up. 3 older kids vs 7 younger kids. Making up their own rules. We need more of this if we want to ever have a “soccer culture”.
 
Back
Top