DA and ECNL
- Thread starter Desert Hound
- Start date
Sheriff Joe
DA
Almost like there were no barriers to stop them.
Not getting into any political discussions, but that was pretty funny.
Sheriff Joe
DA
I was trying to keep it light.
casper
BRONZE
My kid played 2 yrs of ECNL, freshman year of HS she played Varsity for a decent HS team, and this will be her 2nd year playing Academy. The point is she has experienced everything that is debated on here and as a parent I have seen the best and worst of ECNL, HS, and Academy. She is an young 02 and it's been a long and tumultuous couple years with the age changes, the formation of the DA, and the split age groups last year in Academy. She joined Academy not in hope's of ever playing for the US as that isn't a realistic option she isn't a .0001% type player. However she does play internationally and for another country so she chose Academy because after looking at a number of clubs she felt the coaching staff would be a great fit for her and the organization/structure of the training environment would make her a better player. Wins, losses, past club success, none of that factored in for her she could care less what a club accomplished 2, 3, 10 yrs ago. She liked coach Ritson, Davis, and this year Gumpert a lot. As a parent my role has been an unpaid Uber driver for her and an ATM machine but I get to spend time with her and be a small part of what she enjoys doing. LA Premier Academy is where she chose to play and she couldn't be happier. In the end regardless what league your daughter plays for the best is to find good coaches and an environment that allows them to grow as players. After all if your daughter wants to play D1, D2, D3, NAIA, or JC college soccer they have to continue to love the game and find an environment that will offer them exposure and a place to grow as a player.
Chris Knight
SILVER
The funny part of this is that some SoCal ECNL teams in those age brackets can't even beat SCDSL teams head to head.
The answer here is that there are good players everywhere. Lots of great players in DA, lots in ECNL, and even some in the lowly "local" leagues.
Agreed. Good post. That was the whole point of my post, which was quoted above. The DA parent was claiming that "most top players" are in GDA based based on his knowledge of the players, and my argument was that the results of these preseason tournaments don't prove that to be the case. I don't get the relevance of "rose colored glasses" comment with regards to that discussion, but whatever.
Desert Hound
DA
U
What worries me a bit about DA is that US Soccer wants everyone to play a 4-3-3. There is some good in having a uniform tactical shape across the US. We definitely need a defined style of play. But a "style" of play (IE - Possession, Direct, Counter Attack, Park the bus, run people over, etc) should be able to be played regardless of your formation/shape.
Part of the "fun" of playing new opponents with varying styles is that is causes the players to have to think about solving problems.
1. The other team is playing 4 in the back with 2 holding mids- We are having trouble playing the ball in central areas. What can we do to try and overcome this?
2. The other team has 3 crazy fast forwards and plays a 4-3-3. Our backline of 4 needs some help on the wing, so we need to get our wingers to drop deeper or they are going to carve us up.
3. We are facing a 4-4-2 with the opposing wide midfielders owning the width at midfield and playing thru balls to their 2 forwards who are making crossing runs.
4. They are playing 3-5-2. We have never seen this before. We should be able to break down their backline, but they are pressing so hard in midfield that we can't get a a pass off quickly enough.
5. We are down 1-0 with 5 minutes left. They have parked the bus. How do we get the ball into a dangerous area?
Etc. etc.
Part of the "fun" of playing new opponents with varying styles is that is causes the players to have to think about solving problems.
1. The other team is playing 4 in the back with 2 holding mids- We are having trouble playing the ball in central areas. What can we do to try and overcome this?
2. The other team has 3 crazy fast forwards and plays a 4-3-3. Our backline of 4 needs some help on the wing, so we need to get our wingers to drop deeper or they are going to carve us up.
3. We are facing a 4-4-2 with the opposing wide midfielders owning the width at midfield and playing thru balls to their 2 forwards who are making crossing runs.
4. They are playing 3-5-2. We have never seen this before. We should be able to break down their backline, but they are pressing so hard in midfield that we can't get a a pass off quickly enough.
5. We are down 1-0 with 5 minutes left. They have parked the bus. How do we get the ball into a dangerous area?
Etc. etc.
Lightning Red
GOLD
Where did you get the info that every DA team plays a 4-3-3?
Maybe I have it confused with US Soccer Coaching Education guidelines. D through A is all about the 4-3-3.
The DA "style" seems to assume that our team is always stronger than the opponents. No need to adjust.
Unbelievable. Just Stop It.
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And you assume you have a clue.....pleas just stop!
What did I get wrong?
Chris Knight
SILVER
Evenin' davin --
"rose colored glasses" came a couple pages back from shales regarding your misunderstanding of the of the origin of this poster's "most top players" inference that you've mentioned here ^. Thought I'd help clear it up for ya since you may have missed out earlier ...
It is 100% legitimate and objective to state that the majority of the traditionally top performing ECNL clubs went GDA prior to last year ... Hawks, Solar, SoCal Blues, Slammers, PDA, Real CO, FC Dallas, Eclipse, FC Stars, Crossfire, Tophat and Surf (clearly the most successful girls clubs both recently and over the course of ECNL history). Given that those dozen clubs have had the most national success over the past 8 years + have had the lion's share of YNT call ups, wouldn't it be fair to say that the majority of the 'best of the best' were participating in GDA last year ... I mean, any attempt to argue against that seems a bit silly wouldn't ya say? Unless you are saying that in your mind (any many others posting here that are obviously a touch biased given this thread is within the confines of the "ECNL" category) that those premier clubs/teams/players (that just over a year ago were in the ECNL) are somehow lesser now since that they are participating in the GDA ... which, if is the case, would call into question simple logical reasoning wouldn't it?
And speaking of the "best of the best" (to address my earlier "California" comment) ...
You referenced some results from Surf Cup -- First off, Surf Cup isn't a relevant measuring stick of ECNL vs GDA ... it represented a teeny sample (close to what ... 2%?) of the national landscape -- Granted that anyone outside of CA looking in like myself would find this easier to realize, so there's that. Additionally, you mentioned some success that some of the top performing ECNL teams had against some of the GDA bottom halvers -- Turned out you're not only referring to one lil' group (the itty bitty '05s which are brand spanking new out there if I'm not mistaken), but just one team (one player really) as well ... c'mon now son. And as fan2 quite rightly mentioned, sure ... there are some ECNL teams that are stronger than some GDA teams -- Not a rational soul would argue against that.
I understand it may be difficult to take this ^ all in, but whatever ... it is what it is, isn't it?
You know what's silly? Half the clubs you mentioned to make the case that GDA has the top players will no longer be playing in GDA this year and will be competing only in ECNL, and another one on your list(SoCal Blues) placed its 2 best teams(2001 and 2002) in ECNL last year and will continue to do so this year.Evenin' davin --
"rose colored glasses" came a couple pages back from shales regarding your misunderstanding of the of the origin of this poster's "most top players" inference that you've mentioned here ^. Thought I'd help clear it up for ya since you may have missed out earlier ...
It is 100% legitimate and objective to state that the majority of the traditionally top performing ECNL clubs went GDA prior to last year ... Hawks, Solar, SoCal Blues, Slammers, PDA, Real CO, FC Dallas, Eclipse, FC Stars, Crossfire, Tophat and Surf (clearly the most successful girls clubs both recently and over the course of ECNL history). Given that those dozen clubs have had the most national success over the past 8 years + have had the lion's share of YNT call ups, wouldn't it be fair to say that the majority of the 'best of the best' were participating in GDA last year ... I mean, any attempt to argue against that seems a bit silly wouldn't ya say? Unless you are saying that in your mind (any many others posting here that are obviously a touch biased given this thread is within the confines of the "ECNL" category) that those premier clubs/teams/players (that just over a year ago were in the ECNL) are somehow lesser now since that they are participating in the GDA ... which, if is the case, would call into question simple logical reasoning wouldn't it?
And speaking of the "best of the best" (to address my earlier "California" comment) ...
You referenced some results from Surf Cup -- First off, Surf Cup isn't a relevant measuring stick of ECNL vs GDA ... it represented a teeny sample (close to what ... 2%?) of the national landscape -- Granted that anyone outside of CA looking in like myself would find this easier to realize, so there's that. Additionally, you mentioned some success that some of the top performing ECNL teams had against some of the GDA bottom halvers -- Turned out you're not only referring to one lil' group (the itty bitty '05s which are brand spanking new out there if I'm not mistaken), but just one team (one player really) as well ... c'mon now son. And as fan2 quite rightly mentioned, sure ... there are some ECNL teams that are stronger than some GDA teams -- Not a rational soul would argue against that.
I understand it may be difficult to take this ^ all in, but whatever ... it is what it is, isn't it?
You know what else is silly? Your understanding that the dialogue for the last few pages on this thread was "only referring to one lil' group". LOL. I'm not going to rehash it here, but it was across multiple age groups in Silverlakes. Start a few pages back and check it out. Reading is fundamental, my friend.
And speaking of "rose colored glasses". I think you might be able to find them. Some dude in Texas has been wearing them. Might help to look in the mirror.