Girls Development Academy

NoGoal said:
You love Legends so much! Josh must bend you over and you must take it like a champ. Do you also say, "Josh may I have another please"

I believe I posted my unbaised opinion about Arsenal and Legends already. As for their playing resume and if I had to start a team...I would draft Cle Kooiman over Josh Hodges as a player every day of the year. Cle Kooiman played in a World Cup with the US Mens National Team. Enough said!
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Huh? I googled them because I am trying to learn more regarding possibly taking my daughter to one of the clubs. Did you not understand my post?
 
dfbmike said:
Cali, I've been reading No Goals posts for some time and it appears that he is floating on his college soccer cloud and no one better disagree because he thinks he knows it all, proud little papa for sure. No Goals only endgame is college and money, nothing else, but little does he actually know and it is starting to get a little annoying. It is one thing to have an opinion, its another to belittle everyone that doesn't agree. What he fails to realize is that college soccer is not everyone's dream or end goal and I am talking strictly from an athletic standpoint, some kids actually really do want to make the USN SR squad, or SR squad of their country of heritage and represent their country and/or play real soccer, professionally and some just play for fun and then quit, nothing wrong with that either. National team/Pro soccer should be on a different path than college/amateur soccer (and yes no goal your kids will be playing amateur soccer, so calm down), we need players committed to the cause no half in/half out and suddenly jumping ship and go for that schollie once things get a little rough. Wanting to get an education and wanting to be a professional athlete, should have nothing to do with each other, but that is a discussion for another day.
Is pursuing a professional soccer career the most financially wise decision right now? probably not, but neither is becoming an actor, musician, boxer, mma fighter, you name it and US soccer is trying to change ALL that on the soccer front and hopefully one day there will be an established women's league where these players can keep developing and continue to play the sport they love, it will happen, no doubt.
Making the Olympic team for any other sport is probably not the financially wisest decision either, yet we have plenty of people who do and we clean up the medal count every 2 years. Not everyone comes from the same economic background, so different strokes for different folks, some amazing stories out there every Olympic cycle.
We are in a unique situation here on many fronts, we have the best athletes in the world, we have a huge country with many different cultures, many different states and not many countries take school sports as serious as we do, so it presents unique challenges in trying to evolve and align at the same time. One has to wonder how many stars the USMNT has lost in the shuffle because those players went to college, played some garbage college soccer and got a job instead of taking on some risk and pursuing what i'm sure was their original dream, to play professionally or for a SR Squad. The other issue probably was that back in the day US soccer scouted mostly college playing athletes, well that creates a bit of a void as we all know our best soccer players don't always end up in college and it was evident by the way US soccer played, like a college team.
US soccer's job is to be able to compete on the International stage both men and women and that is what they are trying to accomplish, but you won't if you show up to the world cup with 24 college players. Right now it is working on the womens side because to be quite honest no one else in the world gave 2 "cents" about the womens game until recently. There were what 12 countries in the womens "world cup" in the 90's? Some countries don't even have the finances to support the mens national teams let alone the womens. So the US womens game is working for now but needs to keep evolving to stay ahead of the curve. What US soccer is doing is a huge step in the right direction from an athletic standpoint and if we can be the first country to have a nice professional league for women I'd be all for it. The DA system is a proven feeder system in SOCCER.
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I'm sorry but there will likely never be a viable non-subsidized professional women's soccer league in America. The country only gets excited every few years about girl's soccer. Also, the US doesn't have a monopoly on the best athletes in the world. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Club soccer in general is a middle to upper middle class sport in America and doesn't even have the best American athletes. The USWNT as a goal is great for a kid to have but a parents job is to mitigate that dream with some preparation for the point that all athletes get to whether they are professionals or not and that is real life. There is a reason that Mallory Pugh chose to turn down being the top amateur player in this year's NWSL draft and chose to enroll at UCLA. Her and her family understand that even the top of the women's soccer pyramid is lower than where a world class education can lead her once her playing days are over.

Also let's be clear that US soccer's true goal isn't to develop better players for the national team. It is to control the process. If it was truly to develop world class players (which we are doing already) then they would have a residential academy like they do on the boys side. The truth is that each DA club sill have the equivalent of 5 full scholarships worth of money and they will still have the pay to play model that currently exists. Until that changes and we field a team from South Central LA or the 5th Ward in Houston with athletes that boggle the mind and no charge, we aren't serious at all about development. It's just more window dressing.
 
CaliKlines said:
Yes, I am a Legends FC supporter. But you are wrong about the inaugural DA season. I am not sure my daughter will be good enough to make it.
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You are fooling yourself if you think that the best players who are already in the YNT system AND committed to colleges are going to bolt for DA their last year or two. Why would they? They get called into camps pretty often and miss enough club games anyway. Not to mention that they want to do senior stuff!! My player missed her prom due to soccer but it wasn't because of a game with her club team!

DA will only be the top league when the top players and their families decide to put them there. It is not going to be an easy sell to the families of top players. Top players don't need the DA or any league for that matter. The league needs the top players...
 
MakeAPlay said:
I'm sorry but there will likely never be a viable non-subsidized professional women's soccer league in America. The country only gets excited every few years about girl's soccer. Also, the US doesn't have a monopoly on the best athletes in the world. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Club soccer in general is a middle to upper middle class sport in America and doesn't even have the best American athletes. The USWNT as a goal is great for a kid to have but a parents job is to mitigate that dream with some preparation for the point that all athletes get to whether they are professionals or not and that is real life. There is a reason that Mallory Pugh chose to turn down being the top amateur player in this year's NWSL draft and chose to enroll at UCLA. Her and her family understand that even the top of the women's soccer pyramid is lower than where a world class education can lead her once her playing days are over.

Also let's be clear that US soccer's true goal isn't to develop better players for the national team. It is to control the process. If it was truly to develop world class players (which we are doing already) then they would have a residential academy like they do on the boys side. The truth is that each DA club sill have the equivalent of 5 full scholarships worth of money and they will still have the pay to play model that currently exists. Until that changes and we field a team from South Central LA or the 5th Ward in Houston with athletes that boggle the mind and no charge, we aren't serious at all about development. It's just more window dressing.
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And most likely those 5 DA scholarships will be allotted for YNT players, even if they can afford to pay. IMO, it should be used for players good enough to play on a DA team who really need the subsidy. Not to mention the YNT players will also get the most athletic scholarship money when they commit to play college ball anyways. US Soccer needs to make it affordable for the lower class income population.
 
NoGoal said:
US Soccer needs to make it affordable for the lower class income population.
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They will. USSF is kicking in 5 million dollars. After they hire all of the "soccer people" there should be plenty left over to subsidize the people who need it most....
 
A lot of assumptions are being made here. In theory it sounds good, but what will happen is another story.

US Soccer will in the end not contribute enough money to to make it FREE for all. The day it is free for 18 rostered players per group is the day I will stand on my feet and clap.

My kid can play DA but she won't be. In her place will be a girl who is not as good but willing to pay. So what do you have now? A watered down GDA and ECNL. New league same issues.
 
eastbaysoccer said:
A lot of assumptions are being made here.

My kid can play DA but she won't be. In her place will be a girl who is not as good but willing to pay.
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Boy, talk about assumptions and an ego! There is always someone better around the corner and down the street.

eastbaysoccer said:
So what do you have now? A watered down GDA and ECNL. New league same issues.
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Guess what, it won't be up to you. It won't even be up to the clubs in Southern CA. If the rest of the country (62 clubs) treat the DA as the top league, then it will be the top league with the best players and there is not anything "the ECNL" or the dual DA/ECNL clubs in southern California can do about it. And after reading thru some of the forums in TX, Illinois, and the east coast, the DA is going to be a huge collector of talent.
 
eastbaysoccer said:
A lot of assumptions are being made here. In theory it sounds good, but what will happen is another story.

US Soccer will in the end not contribute enough money to to make it FREE for all. The day it is free for 18 rostered players per group is the day I will stand on my feet and clap.

My kid can play DA but she won't be. In her place will be a girl who is not as good but willing to pay. So what do you have now? A watered down GDA and ECNL. New league same issues.
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I highly doubt it will be free for everyone on a GDA team. It isn't 100% subsidized on the BDA and their program has been around for a decade.
 
MakeAPlay said:
I'm sorry but there will likely never be a viable non-subsidized professional women's soccer league in America. The country only gets excited every few years about girl's soccer.
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Not sure I should even answer this, but it is ok to come out from under your rock. Dont be so naive, things are always evolving.
Womens soccer is still in its infancy and hasn't even exploded yet. Not sure if you read my post but the first womens world cup was in the 90s, not the 60s, 70s or 80s, the 90s, that is 25 years ago, with 12 teams. Do some research on when the mens wc started.
In the future there will be many more soccer opportunities for those females that believe and those that want them, but someone has to get us there and someone has to be first. The senior women and current up and coming players are working to create those opportunities for future players.
I trust US soccer more than you arm chair gms or parents that became "soccer/soccer system experts" through your kids.
Im glad your kids get to play amateur soccer and get either a partially free or fully funded edumication because of soccer, doesnt mean you have to be arrogant about it. In the end they are stiil playing amateur soccer just like everyone else here.
Out.
 
CaliKlines said:
Boy, talk about assumptions and an ego! There is always someone better around the corner and down the street.



Guess what, it won't be up to you. It won't even be up to the clubs in Southern CA. If the rest of the country (62 clubs) treat the DA as the top league, then it will be the top league with the best players and there is not anything "the ECNL" or the dual DA/ECNL clubs in southern California can do about it. And after reading thru some of the forums in TX, Illinois, and the east coast, the DA is going to be a huge collector of talent.
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A lot of the announced DA clubs are current ECNL clubs. The ECNL clubs already have 85-90% of the top talent nationally. So, if the top players wanted to play DA at their club they will only shift leagues.

What does dual DA/ECNL clubs have anything to do with your post?
 
CaliKlines said:
Boy, talk about assumptions and an ego! There is always someone better around the corner and down the street.

Guess what, it won't be up to you. It won't even be up to the clubs in Southern CA. If the rest of the country (62 clubs) treat the DA as the top league, then it will be the top league with the best players and there is not anything "the ECNL" or the dual DA/ECNL clubs in southern California can do about it. And after reading thru some of the forums in TX, Illinois, and the east coast, the DA is going to be a huge collector of talent.
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A collector of talent sitting on the bench. What parent wouldn't want that? (Insert sarcasm as usual) o_O. Before you insert anything about my DD she's a gk, so time has NEVER been an issue.
 
dfbmike said:
Not sure I should even answer this, but it is ok to come out from under your rock. Dont be so naive, things are always evolving.
Womens soccer is still in its infancy and hasn't even exploded yet. Not sure if you read my post but the first womens world cup was in the 90s, not the 60s, 70s or 80s, the 90s, that is 25 years ago, with 12 teams. Do some research on when the mens wc started.
In the future there will be many more soccer opportunities for those females that believe and those that want them, but someone has to get us there and someone has to be first. The senior women and current up and coming players are working to create those opportunities for future players.
I trust US soccer more than you arm chair gms or parents that became "soccer/soccer system experts" through your kids.
Im glad your kids get to play amateur soccer and get either a partially free or fully funded edumication because of soccer, doesnt mean you have to be arrogant about it. In the end they are stiil playing amateur soccer just like everyone else here.
Out.
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You must also believe in a utopian society. If anybody wanted their DDs to play a pro sport and make millions....well girls soccer is NOT it. We all missed the boat and should have had them play TENNIS or GOLF. Both sports offer athletic college scholarhips too.
 
madcow said:
They will. USSF is kicking in 5 million dollars. After they hire all of the "soccer people" there should be plenty left over to subsidize the people who need it most....
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Yes, after they hire "soccer people" there will be lots left for them to make it rain on the soccer players. Think the bs detector just started ringing in my head.
 
shales1002 said:
A collector of talent sitting on the bench. What parent wouldn't want that? (Insert sarcasm as usual) o_O. Before you insert anything about my DD she's a gk, so time has NEVER been an issue.
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To me the biggest issue will be merging of two age groups. Are folks ready to watch their team get split apart every year as the older half of the team ages out, and a group of younger's gets added to the team? Even for goalkeepers, when they move up in age and your kid is now the younger keeper on the team, will she be okay with the real implications that this will have on play time?
 
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Assumptions. Less games, more practice and restrictions, with a small chance to make a YNT and really no chance to make a lot of money.

We the people will decide if it is worth it. The economics tell me it's not. Good luck to those that go. It will be a 50/50 split.
 
TD1 said:
To me the biggest issue will be merging of two age groups. Are folks ready to watch their team get split apart every year as the older half of the team ages out, and a group of younger's gets added to the team? Even for goalkeepers, when they move up and are the younger keeper on the team, will they be okay with the real implications that this will have on play time?
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We just did the spilt the team apart and it was exhausting to say the least. Who would be okay with not playing ?
 
The professional circuit in Europe and US recruit mostly from college player pool. Best option is Europe for those who won't be part of the starting 11 in NWSL. Pays better and you get some pretty great experience. Some players don't even get NT call ups until they've played pro! I agree with those who aren't sold on the idea that DA is the only route to Pro or NT. Anyone here who has a kid in the NT pool knows that there is a heavy political component to the whole process, too.
 
I am not for the DA. my dd is part of the ECNL and her club joined. Same coaches mean same ol stuff. So they are practicing 4 times a week. Between her 3 practices a week and work with a speed and agility coach she already practices 4 times a week. So if she makes a DA team, will she even want it? given the choice I think she would choose the ECNL team. She is a starter on her current ecnl team and plays pretty much every minute. And her team is good. Makes the Champions League every year. But please tell me what the DA is gonna do different. I have heard nothing yet. Just a power struggle. And it showed last weekend with the U17s calling a camp during the Finals. I know the Colorado coach was pissed.

The DA has obviously done nothing for the boys. ECNL should have been quicker to take away the patch from consistently under performing clubs giving it to more deserving clubs. I think the model was there but just wasn't handled right in the first place. But as long as the coaches are the same, the teams will be the same. The only ones that are thrilled about this are the non ecnl clubs that got accepted and the delusional idiots that think it will be free for their little sally. Keep dreaming you morons. For the ECNL clubs, that got accepted it changes nothing. Except with an already established league and plenty of good players left over because of the 2 year age grouping, the DA/ECNL clubs will become even richer with 2 elite leagues to play in. ECNL will become what many hoped the EGSL would become. A viable 2nd league. Many girls who are already committed to play in college will be fine with playing in the ECNL. I know mine would. By the way Caliklines, you're a kook. Remember when the 99s last played the blues the gap had widened considerably. Legends top teams couldn't compete with the top ECNL teams.
 
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