ECNL vs. DA turf war has created a 'toxic environment'

"Slated to start play in September 2019,the DPL Schedule will allow players to continue playing high school soccer
while developing their technical and tactical skills through club soccer."
 
Ellejustus said:
"Slated to start play in September 2019,the DPL Schedule will allow players to continue playing high school soccer
while developing their technical and tactical skills through club soccer."
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Wow, wow, wow and wow!!!!! let me seriously talk to my dd to see if she would like to reconsider her decision to play ECNL this upcoming season. This could be a game changer. Let me see, have dd play DPL first half and then join the DA Team (if she can make it since she's been playing that horrible brand of soccer in HS) after HS Soccer. At DPL she can practice juggling and dribbling while all the other players play in the big leagues. Listen all you fools at DA, yes you. Allow HS Soccer!!!!!!! End of story. This is so stupid. I think I might make this my mission in life. #letthemplayHS.......#letthemplayboth.......I have some advice for everyone: DA can be DA, ECNL can be DPL. DPL can be a local league, CRL and that's that. No need for this BS anymore.
 
Ellejustus said:
Wow, wow, wow and wow!!!!! let me seriously talk to my dd to see if she would like to reconsider her decision to play ECNL this upcoming season. This could be a game changer. Let me see, have dd play DPL first half and then join the DA Team (if she can make it since she's been playing that horrible brand of soccer in HS) after HS Soccer. At DPL she can practice juggling and dribbling while all the other players play in the big leagues. Listen all you fools at DA, yes you. Allow HS Soccer!!!!!!! End of story. This is so stupid. I think I might make this my mission in life. #letthemplayHS.......#letthemplayboth.......I have some advice for everyone: DA can be DA, ECNL can be DPL. DPL can be a local league, CRL and that's that. No need for this BS anymore.
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And why would ECNL become DPL? Why can't ECNL just stay ECNL and everyone else leave it alone? From the age split, the introduction of DA and then continued change of teams and rosters the next two years because of the impact of the age change years prior I for one would have preferred it all be left alone. I think it is fine for the youngers (2004-2005, etc) but this whole process was bad for the older ages going through this. When it was first introduced I was a willing participant but as the years have gone on it has not proven to have provided a benefit overall. US Soccer has no interest in High school soccer nor college soccer for that matter so this is a dead issue.

Also, just to clarify - the press release about DPL is clear it is being sanction by USSSA - nothing to do with US Soccer and the DA.
 
Soccer43 said:
And why would ECNL become DPL? Why can't ECNL just stay ECNL and everyone else leave it alone? From the age split, the introduction of DA and then continued change of teams and rosters the next two years because of the impact of the age change years prior I for one would have preferred it all be left alone. I think it is fine for the youngers (2004-2005, etc) but this whole process was bad for the older ages going through this. When it was first introduced I was a willing participant but as the years have gone on it has not proven to have provided a benefit overall. US Soccer has no interest in High school soccer nor college soccer for that matter so this is a dead issue.

Also, just to clarify - the press release about DPL is clear it is being sanction by USSSA - nothing to do with US Soccer and the DA.
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I mean, ECNL stays ECNL. It was more about Top League 1, 2 and 3 and so on. It sucks for 2022 and order.
 
Ellejustus said:
I mean, ECNL stays ECNL. It was more about Top League 1, 2 and 3 and so on. It sucks for 2022 and order.
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I don't see ECNL as ranked 2nd behind DA. That is a myth that many want to perpetuate. Parents have chosen based on personal preference and opportunities and there are top players in both. Not everyone is a fan of TopDrawer Soccer but if you look at the IMG 150 there seems to be a pretty even grouping of DA and ECNL players
 
Soccer43 said:
I don't see ECNL as ranked 2nd behind DA. That is a myth that many want to perpetuate. Parents have chosen based on personal preference and opportunities and there are top players in both. Not everyone is a fan of TopDrawer Soccer but if you look at the IMG 150 there seems to be a pretty even grouping of DA and ECNL players
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In Socal it is. Both leagues have some good teams and players. Majority of the "Elite" players in SoCal our at DA. 1/3 of the country different story
 
Desert Hound said:
This is the link you left out. http://usssasoccer.com/2019/08/02/u...development-player-league-starting-this-fall/
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Can someone explain this to me?
Was DPL not a sanctioned league before? What exactly does that mean?
And what exactly does it mean now that they are sanctioned?
And why not be sanctioned by US Soccer?
Does this give DPL more of less control over who they allow in?
As it stands today, DPL is made up of DA teams, right? Willl US Soccer get made that DPL is sanctioned under a different governing body?
Will DPL now allow non-DA teams in?
 
Ellejustus said:
In Socal it is. Both leagues have some good teams and players. Majority of the "Elite" players in SoCal our at DA. 1/3 of the country different story
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It amazes me how people let themselves be dictated to. If 6-8 years ago someone had told me that they were going to tell me where I was going to have my player play I would have gotten a good belly laugh and told them to kick rocks.

GDA is a shit show that has succeeded in lowering the overall level of play in SoCal from when my kid first started playing. Surf Cup has been cheapened to the point that now you have hundreds of teams that get in instead of an elite few. They are making more money but the level of soccer is much lower. Personally if my daughter was in U10 again in this environment I would have just had her stick to track and field.
 
Ellejustus said:
In Socal it is. Both leagues have some good teams and players. Majority of the "Elite" players in SoCal our at DA. 1/3 of the country different story
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what do you base this statement on? From what data or research are you using to say that the majority of the elite players are in DA? This is a complicated issue and results can vary based on age. I believe you said your player is on the younger side so it may be more true for your players age but certainly is not true of other ages.
 
Soccer43 said:
what do you base this statement on? From what data or research are you using to say that the majority of the elite players are in DA? This is a complicated issue and results can vary based on age. I believe you said your player is on the younger side so it may be more true for your players age but certainly is not true of other ages.
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Have you seen the U16 YNT list? Anyone from ECNL on it from SoCal? How about from other parts of the country?
 
Soccer43 said:
what do you base this statement on? From what data or research are you using to say that the majority of the elite players are in DA? This is a complicated issue and results can vary based on age. I believe you said your player is on the younger side so it may be more true for your players age but certainly is not true of other ages.
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Also, when I say "Elite" I'm referring to players who have already made the list or someday will. I believe if you have the same two players with equal skill 100% of the time the player that has committed to the DA Rules will get the call up. You better be "elite, elite" outside of the DA to get in. Not fair if that is your dd goal. Isn't that why they want us to play in their developmental league in the first place? Very subjective selection process with punishments if you don't confirm to their set of rules. This was not how past groups were picked. ODP was how they picked. In fact, Surf told all of our DDs who were invited not to attend. Many didn't. Cal South was not too happy about it either. Another shit show for my dd. You have to have a little empathy for her? Even ODP was taken away when it once mattered.
 
Ellejustus said:
Also, when I say "Elite" I'm referring to players who have already made the list or someday will. I believe if you have the same two players with equal skill 100% of the time the player that has committed to the DA Rules will get the call up. You better be "elite, elite" outside of the DA to get in. Not fair if that is your dd goal. Isn't that why they want us to play in their developmental league in the first place? Very subjective selection process with punishments if you don't confirm to their set of rules. This was not how past groups were picked. ODP was how they picked. In fact, Surf told all of our DDs who were invited not to attend. Many didn't. Cal South was not too happy about it either. Another shit show for my dd. You have to have a little empathy for her? Even ODP was taken away when it once mattered.
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This is why it is most important to do what is best for your player and to not give a crap what US Soccer says. At the end of the day you are going to be the one who is accountable to your kid. They have to be happy and if they want a well balanced life and lots of opportunities not necessarily related to soccer then great.

I can tell you that my kid doesn’t regret the degree that she just got and the worst case scenario for a smart, elite female soccer player in the US is a college degree. In my opinion that is better than any carrot that US Soccer could ever dangle! And since most of the 12 year olds playing soccer now won’t get a soccer scholarship and 99% of the current YNT players will never play for the full National Team it seems silly to bow down to what any amorphous governing body decides.
 
Ellejustus said:
...I believe if you have the same two players with equal skill 100% of the time the player that has committed to the DA Rules will get the call up. You better be "elite, elite" outside of the DA to get in...
Click to expand...

But doesn't that make sense on some level? Take two players of equal skill, one of whom practices with similar players a minimum of 4x/week for 48 weeks every year (so 192 practices a year) and one that maybe does that 3x/week (I know a couple ECNL teams that do this for long stretches) for maybe 35 weeks every year (so 105 practices a year) and they will very quickly not have equal skill. Maybe the ECNL kid practices more than that but US Soccer would have no way of knowing or controlling that so everything else looking about equal they will take the kid they 'control' or have input and oversight. Moreover, as parents, which system will allow our dd to hit their potential (if they are having fun and don't burn out!)...one that practices 192 times or one that practices 105 times?

I think anyone following these forums gets that you are upset and frustrated by the situation (and that is fine). Honestly I just don't think it matters at this point whether a kid plays ECNL or DA (with possible exception of YNT...but that just won't matter for the vast majority)...maybe in another 5-6 years but for now either is good as far as college is concerned! To me (and I've said this before) the biggest losers, by far, are those kids that are playing NPL for teams they've been on since they were young, on good clubs and with good coaches...these type of kids used to get consistent looks by US Soccer and Colleges and now the exposure is almost nonexistent (coaches/scouts just don't have the time to see a 3rd league).
 
MakeAPlay said:
This is why it is most important to do what is best for your player and to not give a crap what US Soccer says. At the end of the day you are going to be the one who is accountable to your kid. They have to be happy and if they want a well balanced life and lots of opportunities not necessarily related to soccer then great.

I can tell you that my kid doesn’t regret the degree that she just got and the worst case scenario for a smart, elite female soccer player in the US is a college degree. In my opinion that is better than any carrot that US Soccer could ever dangle! And since most of the 12 year olds playing soccer now won’t get a soccer scholarship and 99% of the current YNT players will never play for the full National Team it seems silly to bow down to what any amorphous governing body decides.
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That's what we did. I will go away soon and let my dd work speak for itself this coming season. Talk is cheap.
 
offtopic said:
But doesn't that make sense on some level? Take two players of equal skill, one of whom practices with similar players a minimum of 4x/week for 48 weeks every year (so 192 practices a year) and one that maybe does that 3x/week (I know a couple ECNL teams that do this for long stretches) for maybe 35 weeks every year (so 105 practices a year) and they will very quickly not have equal skill. Maybe the ECNL kid practices more than that but US Soccer would have no way of knowing or controlling that so everything else looking about equal they will take the kid they 'control' or have input and oversight. Moreover, as parents, which system will allow our dd to hit their potential (if they are having fun and don't burn out!)...one that practices 192 times or one that practices 105 times?
Click to expand...

I have to nitpick this, sorry.

- Do DA teams really only have 4 weeks off per year? ("4x/week for 48 weeks every year")
- Do all DA teams enforce the 4 practices per week, or for some is there an "optional" 4th day or a do-your-own-thing 4th day?
- "But doesn't that make sense on some level? Take two players of equal skill...and they will very quickly not have equal skill.". This doesn't take into account that different players have different max potentials, may work harder/easier in practice, have better/worse coaches, better/worse teammates, play starters minutes vs bench minutes, and so on and so on and so on....

The issue as I see it is that US Soccer isn't even giving the ECNL girls a chance to compete for spots. If they invited ECNL girls to camp and they got beat out, then fine, but if you don't invite them, it looks suspect and political in nature. Regardless of the "development pathway" if Player A is better than Player B, then Player A should get selected if you're picking on merit. But I think we know that they're NOT picking on merit, they're trying to bury ECNL and "persuade" top players to choose a certain path. The same way that US Soccer "encourages" USWNT hopefuls to play in the NWSL and not overseas because it's "easier to be seen" **wink wink**.

This turned into kind of a rant; sorry it wasn't directed at you. I just wanted to get it off my chest.
 
Ellejustus said:
That's what we did. I will go away soon and let my dd work speak for itself this coming season. Talk is cheap.
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This last year we moved to South OC and went back to Blues hoping they would choose ECNL. Not this year or next probably. Good for them. As long as they can have both makes sence to collect as much cash as possible before they are forced to choose ECNL or DA allows HS Soccer. DA is no friend of da Blues either. "No respect I'm saying" for a couple crazy ass legends who know a lot more about the female athlete than all of us combine. Might have been wise to listen to them instead of having Surf go up with a pile of cash and start making offers. Capitalism at its finest :)
 
myself said:
I have to nitpick this, sorry.

- Do DA teams really only have 4 weeks off per year? ("4x/week for 48 weeks every year")
- Do all DA teams enforce the 4 practices per week, or for some is there an "optional" 4th day or a do-your-own-thing 4th day?
- "But doesn't that make sense on some level? Take two players of equal skill...and they will very quickly not have equal skill.". This doesn't take into account that different players have different max potentials, may work harder/easier in practice, have better/worse coaches, better/worse teammates, play starters minutes vs bench minutes, and so on and so on and so on....

The issue as I see it is that US Soccer isn't even giving the ECNL girls a chance to compete for spots. If they invited ECNL girls to camp and they got beat out, then fine, but if you don't invite them, it looks suspect and political in nature. Regardless of the "development pathway" if Player A is better than Player B, then Player A should get selected if you're picking on merit. But I think we know that they're NOT picking on merit, they're trying to bury ECNL and "persuade" top players to choose a certain path. The same way that US Soccer "encourages" USWNT hopefuls to play in the NWSL and not overseas because it's "easier to be seen" **wink wink**.

This turned into kind of a rant; sorry it wasn't directed at you. I just wanted to get it off my chest.
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I don't disagree but I think if their only intent was to bury ECNL they would just have kept all non-DA players out of all camps. I think if their intent was to bury ECNL they would have gradually phased out high school participation. I don't know their thinking so maybe they just didn't think of those things.

But yeah I think most DA teams take off 1-2 weeks in summer and 3 or so in winter. That's all my DD team had...she is also practicing like 6-7x/week post DA Showcase. My only point is that if you take the same player and make them practice significantly more...they will be better than if they didn't. Practice matters.
 
offtopic said:
I don't disagree but I think if their only intent was to bury ECNL they would just have kept all non-DA players out of all camps. I think if their intent was to bury ECNL they would have gradually phased out high school participation. I don't know their thinking so maybe they just didn't think of those things.

But yeah I think most DA teams take off 1-2 weeks in summer and 3 or so in winter. That's all my DD team had...she is also practicing like 6-7x/week post DA Showcase. My only point is that if you take the same player and make them practice significantly more...they will be better than if they didn't. Practice matters.
Click to expand...

Or they wind up with an overuse injury.
Possible burn out- but if a player at this level is burnt out, they don’t belong at this level.
 
offtopic said:
I don't disagree but I think if their only intent was to bury ECNL they would just have kept all non-DA players out of all camps. I think if their intent was to bury ECNL they would have gradually phased out high school participation. I don't know their thinking so maybe they just didn't think of those things.

But yeah I think most DA teams take off 1-2 weeks in summer and 3 or so in winter. That's all my DD team had...she is also practicing like 6-7x/week post DA Showcase. My only point is that if you take the same player and make them practice significantly more...they will be better than if they didn't. Practice matters.
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Were talking practice, practice practice. Have fun practicing. I bet my dd will not loose a beat and will battle all the DA players in college. College coaches want and need to win and they get paid to win. If they don't, most will get fired. I will take my chances finding someone who wants to win and who treats female athletes with respect.
 
I'm doing a toxic shit cleans of my soul. It's been very therapeutic for me. I'm sorry if I have offended anyone on the developmental side of things. I know I sound like a big baby. I promise I will be leaving soon and you can go on with the debate. Its been personally liberating for me. TY
 
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