kickingandscreaming
PREMIER
I thought one of the few things Girls DA improved compared to ECNL was the rule limiting the number of games/minutes played over a short number of days.
ECNL Broken?
- Thread starter Highlander
- Start date
Yep, and if you have priorities then: pay for the roof, then maybe a car. Piano lessons and youth sports are at the bottom of many family lists. Especially when you can play for free at a pickup game on any given night. Perspective is key. Some of the best foot skills I've seen have been on dirt pitches all over the world. Those kids will never see the light of day on a pitch with a blade of grass.
GDA was more practice, less games, never more than 2 game days in a row. One or two of the practices at the direction of a trainer focused on recovery and strength.
From what i've seen/read so far, the GA is adopting the exact approach.
Could easily extend that rule younger. It’s not that rare for a kid to get 200+ minutes of play time over 2 days. (4 x 50 min games, plus OT.)
futboldad1
PREMIER
it could be risky to follow rule set of a league that failed...... I'd thought adapting ECNL rules was what the DOCs who started GA were doing...... DA 3 games in 4 days not too different to 3 game in 3 days as regarding strain on bodies but very different on strain on a family's wallet (hotels, transport)....... 1 game per day I think is a good thing that all leagues (to my knowledge) follow...... so will GA be outlawing HS soccer as that's the main injury contributor.......serious question
but bud let me tell you AZ is doing this return to soccer thing right..... big jealousy from my DD about you guys right now
Desert Hound
DA
They have already said they are allowing HS soccer.
Wow, I don’t know why Cromwell and Radcliffe aren’t out there trolling the dirt fields instead of wasting their time at ECNL showcases. You should give them a call and let them know where to find all these super secret soccer prodigies.
The Outlaw *BANNED*
PREMIER
The DA teams I'm most familiar with trained 4-days per week. Is that normal for ECNL or are they 3? If trainings are normally 90 minute sessions, that's a lot no matter how much you play on the weekend.
Desert Hound
DA
ECNL in AZ is usually 3 days a week.
The Outlaw *BANNED*
PREMIER
Like Hailie Mace!
Pretty sure GAL is 4. DPL and APL are 3 and most do some conditioning/private on the side.
If you don’t count that she never played on a dirt field in her life, and also ignore that she played ECNL, she is the perfect example of a kid who grew up playing on dirt fields and didn’t play ECNL.
it could be risky to follow rule set of a league that failed...... I'd thought adapting ECNL rules was what the DOCs who started GA were doing...... DA 3 games in 4 days not too different to 3 game in 3 days as regarding strain on bodies but very different on strain on a family's wallet (hotels, transport)....... 1 game per day I think is a good thing that all leagues (to my knowledge) follow...... so will GA be outlawing HS soccer as that's the main injury contributor.......serious question
but bud let me tell you AZ is doing this return to soccer thing right..... big jealousy from my DD about you guys right now
I've seen schedules that show the high school break. If they stick to their end of the bargain, then HS soccer will be allowed. I can say this about AZ, if the DA had been more openly lenient in regards to HS, the DA teams wouldn't have lost as many of the olders. There was a double standard, behind the back deals that were player specific. Allowing HS is beneficial from a recruiting standpoint and allowed teams this year to basically remain intact. It's why the GA teams are generally stronger across the age groups in AZ. That could change next year, but for this year, it's where it stands. Apparently (and I can't confirm), the DA was going to allow HS play for the 2020/21 season but then, you know, the thing happened. Everything else about the way the DA was structured was very popular with parents. The emphasis on system, style of play, etc. Not every club followed it but it was nice to see structure. The GA certainly hasn't leaned in that direction. It's more of a feel good, its about the girls message. Which also makes parents feel good.
The break in between games makes physiological sense but certainly could be a strain on family wallets - no argument there. Short trips weren't that big of a deal (CA showcases) but spring and fall showcases to FL, NC, or CO could get pricey with the extra day. I do recall some complaints, but not too many. Families adjusted, sent their kid with someone else, etc.
And yes, playing soccer right now feels good. 2 games on the docket for the weekend and first true contact practice tonight - I just saw shin guards sticking out of bags.
Nice
They start 4 days a week next week. One day is split between field session and conditioning at a facility.
Less is best for my dd practice wise, but I respect the 4 days a week folks. I got all hissy fit over this stuff last year. It's good to see options for all and now see that as a good step. Free local soccer sounds very appealing to me as a dad. Locals Only FC I commend the top top players still going 4 days a week/10 months a year, all in soccer that teaches world class commitment to the game. Today, I'm grateful my dd got on ECNL team last year and is looking to help the team this year anyway she can. 2 days a week is enough. Plus school, plus hs soccer pre pre season for one hour two days week. That is plenty to do for a teen.
I commend the top top players still going 4 days a week/10 months a year, all in soccer that teaches world class commitment to the game. Today, I'm grateful my dd got on ECNL team last year and is looking to help the team this year anyway she can. 2 days a week is enough. Plus school, plus hs soccer pre pre season for one hour two days week. That is plenty to do for a teen.kickingandscreaming
PREMIER
Yes, her DA training was 4x a week. Of course, Deza trained 4 times a week when they were ECNL.
I was influenced by reading how Ajax trained their top youth players. One of the concepts they implemented was more training and fewer games with one of the benefits being that it reduced the chance of injury (article below, behind a paywall). It makes sense if you see how the pros schedule their games. Generally, two games a week, at most, in professional soccer. Fatigue not only reduces the skill level, but it also increases the risk of injury. I remember my daughter's last year before DA - 5 games at Surf (Sat-Mon), then 5 more games at Mustang (Thu-Sun). The team that won both those tournaments played 11 games - in 9 days. Even if they weren't full games based on time, that was easily 5 full games in 9 days. Insanity if you ask me. Training intensity can be managed so that body doesn't need days of recovery.
How a Soccer Star Is Made (Published 2010)
In Europe, a cutting-edge talent factory trains elite soccer players — starting at age 7.
Yes, her DA training was 4x a week. Of course, Deza trained 4 times a week when they were ECNL.
I was influenced by reading how Ajax trained their top youth players. One of the concepts they implemented was more training and fewer games with one of the benefits being that it reduced the chance of injury (article below, behind a paywall). It makes sense if you see how the pros schedule their games. Generally, two games a week, at most, in professional soccer. Fatigue not only reduces the skill level, but it also increases the risk of injury. I remember my daughter's last year before DA - 5 games at Surf (Sat-Mon), then 5 more games at Mustang (Thu-Sun). The team that won both those tournaments played 11 games - in 9 days. Even if they weren't full games based on time, that was easily 5 full games in 9 days. Insanity if you ask me. Training intensity can be managed so that body doesn't need days of recovery.
How a Soccer Star Is Made (Published 2010)
In Europe, a cutting-edge talent factory trains elite soccer players — starting at age 7.www.nytimes.com
As the kids get older, smarter trainer certainly needs to take over. We go to 4 practices a week starting next week, with the first day of practice split between recovery focus conditioning and film review. Practice goes to 3 days a week if there are two weekend games with recovery being prioritized.
I'm not a fan of multiple games in a day, completely defeats the idea of quality matches.
I agree with you 100%...nothing is free...somebody always pays. I love how so many want “free”...
I don't think the conversation is centered around the idea that people want free, that's a whole other issue. I'm more referring to the fact that pay to play doesn't necessarily identify the best players. And before flames start flying about our women's national team being the best in the world (which they are), I know that many/most are a product of ECNL and other leagues. That is a completely different conversation centered around opportunity. Traditionally the european countries did not focus on women's equality in sports - many reasons why. In the US we do, college sports are the perfect example. The gap is closing and it's likely that the product that comes out of Europe will be a replication of how they do it on the men's side - not pay to play. The French and Spanish national teams are a good example and the rest of Europe is not far behind. Germany has always been at the top.
Until there is significant backing by someone (NWSL, MLS, USSF, some rich dude), the gap with the rest of the world will continue to close. ECNL/GA and other pay to play leagues will not be able to carry the torch beyond filling roster slots on college teams. The evidence is right in front of us with the failings of the boys DA. MLS is stepping in but are far behind and their priorities are filling their rosters. Our best on the men's side go directly or as quickly as they can to Europe.
SoccerLocker
SILVER ELITE
I agree that the pay to play model is flawed, but until there is serious $ in Women's professional soccer, we are stuck with it.
Until a team can fully fund the cost of training/traveling (not to mention housing/educating) a player in exchange for her professional rights (which can be sold to another club), there is no financial incentive to do so. The fully funded model was a great experiment that Galaxy (and I think Earthquakes) tried. It lasted ~2 years, and was the first thing cut in April.
This is already in place on the Men's side. Pay to play is much weaker (aka why fully funded MLS clubs wanted out of DA) and at least one club is offering a fully funded option with a USL Pro team.
Honestly, I thought the pandemic would have really exposed this issue. The value proposition has changed since there will be less college scholarships for our kids, but we pay the same price.
Until a team can fully fund the cost of training/traveling (not to mention housing/educating) a player in exchange for her professional rights (which can be sold to another club), there is no financial incentive to do so. The fully funded model was a great experiment that Galaxy (and I think Earthquakes) tried. It lasted ~2 years, and was the first thing cut in April.
This is already in place on the Men's side. Pay to play is much weaker (aka why fully funded MLS clubs wanted out of DA) and at least one club is offering a fully funded option with a USL Pro team.
Honestly, I thought the pandemic would have really exposed this issue. The value proposition has changed since there will be less college scholarships for our kids, but we pay the same price.