DA-ish set up

[timbuck]

The DA set up is to have 4 practices per week, a 10 month season and less total games (i.e.- no or minimal tournaments with 3+ games in a weekend).
If your kid didn't make a DA team, would you put him/her on a team that followed these same guidelines?

A: assume the fees are the same as they are today with your current schedule
B. Assume with 2x practice and a 10 month season that the fees are double.

 

[madcow]

The DA set up is to have 4 practices per week, a 10 month season and less total games (i.e.- no or minimal tournaments with 3+ games in a weekend).
If your kid didn't make a DA team, would you put him/her on a team that followed these same guidelines?

A: assume the fees are the same as they are today with your current schedule
B. Assume with 2x practice and a 10 month season that the fees are double.

That's a tough one. The DA is set up for kids who can/ want to play at the next level.
In my opinion, most kids would be more than happy with rec soccer (two practices/ week, one local game/ week). Their parents... different story.
If my kid didn't make a DA team, I would find out what she wanted. If she was happy on her last team, we'd stay. If she really wanted to move up, then we probably would try to find a team as competitive with a similar set up.

FWIW, my daughter's team moved to a 4 day/ week training schedule. The girls hated it. With the pressures of HS and social lives, this was too much. We moved back to a 3 day a week schedule.

 

[younothat]

Yes for A no for B

6 hrs a week; Three days a week at 2hrs each is good enough, the optional 4th day in DA is normally for something else; conditioning or strength.

Would prefer an open system with promotion and regulation and a way for teams to get into the league based on performance rather than politics.

High school and tournament play is open and not closed like current DA.

 

[Chicharito]

Do not make it more complicated than it needs to be yes on A no on B.

 

[TangoCity]

What exactly you are asking is confusing.

 

[younothat]

This is the DA program for reference:

http://www.ussoccerda.com/overview-program-benefits

Most are benefits, don't know if I agree with some of them, seen all of them in being adhered to , or all in this graphic but at least they have some plans:

 

[timbuck]

What exactly you are asking is confusing.

Would you put your kid on a team that had a 10 month season, practiced 4x a week and did less tournaments. Even if that team was not part of the "Development Academy".

And if they cost went up by 2x, would you still do it?

 

[TangoCity]

Would you put your kid on a team that had a 10 month season, practiced 4x a week and did less tournaments. Even if that team was not part of the "Development Academy".

And if they cost went up by 2x, would you still do it?

No, never. School is number one priority.

 

[CaliKlines]

Depends on what the league's level of play is...If it is a high level league that forces the teams to develop by playing faster and better, then yes. If they are going to dominate the competition and stagnate, no.

 

[MakeAPlay]

That's a tough one. The DA is set up for kids who can/ want to play at the next level.
In my opinion, most kids would be more than happy with rec soccer (two practices/ week, one local game/ week). Their parents... different story.
If my kid didn't make a DA team, I would find out what she wanted. If she was happy on her last team, we'd stay. If she really wanted to move up, then we probably would try to find a team as competitive with a similar set up.

FWIW, my daughter's team moved to a 4 day/ week training schedule. The girls hated it. With the pressures of HS and social lives, this was too much. We moved back to a 3 day a week schedule.

Watch come springtime MC. It's going to be hard to get all your players to one game.

 

[RocketFile]

I wouldn't have my kid train 4 times a week DA or not.

I can't really relate to any parent putting all of their eggs in the soccer basket and that is what the DA type schedule amounts to.

So after school on 4 out of 5 nights my kid is going to spend 4 hours playing soccer (when you add up getting ready, driving, warming up, driving home, showering, etc.)???

10 months a year???

How is there any time left for reading? studying? talking?

Madness.

 

[MakeAPlay]

I wouldn't have my kid train 4 times a week DA or not.

I can't really relate to any parent putting all of their eggs in the soccer basket and that is what the DA type schedule amounts to.

So after school on 4 out of 5 nights my kid is going to spend 4 hours playing soccer (when you add up getting ready, driving, warming up, driving home, showering, etc.)???

10 months a year???

How is there any time left for reading? studying? talking?

Madness.

I agree. They don't even train 4 days a week in college during the season.

 

[timbuck]

Here's part 2 of my question -
If clubs start putting out teams (non-DA) that practice more and play less, can they find a new revenue stream?
If you are paying $2,500 for 3 hours of practice a week and 65 games year (3 month league, friendlies and tournaments)today, can they charge $3,500 for 6 hours of practice and 40 games a year (10 month league and playoffs).

 

[mirage]

You're assuming price elasticity to hold the same demands at the increased cost.

The truth is many teams train already 3 days/wk, some 4 days/wk, and they already are on a essentially a year-long schedule in olders.

Say you start in July, just after the 4th and play through summer tournaments and right into fall season through TG tournament. The HS soccer break comes in, but so does HS season that takes players into March. Do LV or Nomads tournament (or finishing CRL) in March and right into National/State Cup games that goes into May. Finish the season doing Memorial Day tournament. Take June off, if you didn't advance into regionals.

So there you go. There's already 11 months season using Fall+HS+Nationals with tournaments sprinkled in. All this at the current price....

 

[madcow]

You're assuming price elasticity to hold the same demands at the increased cost.

The truth is many teams train already 3 days/wk, some 4 days/wk, and they already are on a essentially a year-long schedule in olders.

Say you start in July, just after the 4th and play through summer tournaments and right into fall season through TG tournament. The HS soccer break comes in, but so does HS season that takes players into March. Do LV or Nomads tournament (or finishing CRL) in March and right into National/State Cup games that goes into May. Finish the season doing Memorial Day tournament. Take June off, if you didn't advance into regionals.

So there you go. There's already 11 months season using Fall+HS+Nationals with tournaments sprinkled in. All this at the current price....

You just described ECNL. Season starts in September. The first half of the season goes until Thanksgiving. ECNL event in December, high school break, then the second half of the season starts at the end of March and goes until the end of May. Playoffs in June, finals in July. Surf Cup in July/ August and you have 3 weeks off before the next season starts.

 

[madcow]

Watch come springtime MC. It's going to be hard to get all your players to one game.

Yeah, I saw that last year. I was against the large roster at first, but now I can appreciate it
We played a game earlier this year where we were missing 12 girls.

The first thing the girls looked at when the schedule came out was when and where are the games in May. We should have a morning game at home on Prom for most of the team. That was all any of them cared about.

 

[Eagle33]

I wouldn't have my kid train 4 times a week DA or not.

I can't really relate to any parent putting all of their eggs in the soccer basket and that is what the DA type schedule amounts to.

So after school on 4 out of 5 nights my kid is going to spend 4 hours playing soccer (when you add up getting ready, driving, warming up, driving home, showering, etc.)???

10 months a year???

How is there any time left for reading? studying? talking?

Madness.

You are absolutely right. DA is only for kids that breath, eat and live soccer - it's not for everyone.

 

[MakeAPlay]

You are absolutely right. DA is only for kids that breath, eat and live soccer - it's not for everyone.

A lot of the best players don't focus solely on soccer. I'm of the belief that school comes first and everything else is bonus. At the end of the day talent gets your player recruited but grades get them into the school and the ability to balance both leads to success in college when the folks are no longer present. I guess it really depends upon what your player's goals are and what you as a parent are guiding them towards. If college is part of those goals you will probably be surprised to know that they don't practice 4 days a week in college during the season. Unless the goal is to be a pro soccer player with the massive $40k a year salary then I would think that academics would fit in their somewhere.

 

[Lambchop]

A lot of the best players don't focus solely on soccer. I'm of the belief that school comes first and everything else is bonus. At the end of the day talent gets your player recruited but grades get them into the school and the ability to balance both leads to success in college when the folks are no longer present. I guess it really depends upon what your player's goals are and what you as a parent are guiding them towards. If college is part of those goals you will probably be surprised to know that they don't practice 4 days a week in college during the season. Unless the goal is to be a pro soccer player with the massive $40k a year salary then I would think that academics would fit in their somewhere.

Actually, Division 1 schools practice 5-7 days a week during the season and 3-4 days in off season. At least that is what my son is doing now in a D1 school

 

[Sped]

Actually, Division 1 schools practice 5-7 days a week during the season and 3-4 days in off season. At least that is what my son is doing now in a D1 school

And soccer's an easy sport relative to running and swimming. 2x a day, 6 days a week, 48 weeks a year. And swimmers tend to be the best-performing athletes in the classroom, so it can easily be done.