Girls Development Academy

[C.A.M.]

OK! Sure

The requirements are made clear. They do not seem easy to meet though. One thing is proximity to other clubs according to the talent pool. SoCal has 9 in a 150 mile radius. No other region in the country has half that many teams close to each other. They are traveling hundreds of miles to play weekly.

San Diego county already has Surf, Galaxy SD and Albion. Where do clubs like Rebels and Carlsbad fit in for what the DA is pushing? I'll elaborate a bit so I don't come off condescending or insulting.

The main difference between DA and any other league is the sub rule. The rule is once subbed there is no re-entry. 5 subs are allowed. This means a max of 16 girls play, but no subs have to be made. On a 18 player roster 2 never play EVERY game. The only requirement is a player must start 25% of the total games the team plays. There is no guideline to minutes so she can get pulled after 1 minute and it counts as a start. So once a player gets her mandatory 25% of starts, she can be set for very long stretches of non activity. That is not appealing to anyone. I have two kids in the DA and it is a constant discussion with the parents.

Without the shuffling in and out of players, it's much harder to hide players who aren't up to par technically, mentally or physically.

What I'm saying is the DA really isn't made for big rosters if the focus is really development. I would say 18 because of injuries and players unable to show for whatever reason. Rosters of 24 are just absurd and in most cases the kids on the fringe aren't ready yet and will have trouble becoming ready with little to no playtime.

Add in the age banding, where the clubs usually go higher age heavy. It seems as if US Soccer isn't concerned with developing the best talent at each age group and the talent pool dwindles further. The 02s paid for it this season and the 03s will pay next season and so on.

Is there enough talent for Rebels and Carlsbad to compete in this environment? Real question because I don't know.

On another note, the Burlingame club is reeling. It's hard to justify the travel costs, time away and overall energy when your teams are 0 and everything. It's hard not to argue that ECNL or a similar setup isn't better for them. Let me be clear, they are well coached, but don't have the athletes to compete. I saw them play a great style of soccer and their kids understood what they are doing. The only teams I have seen hold their shape better are Beach and West Coast. They just can't physically hold their own. Therefore, they pay for nearly every mistake they make.

Now a club like IMG can afford to keep pushing because they are a private school setup and those attending are very well off. They will simply adjust their recruiting tactics and infuse coaching and player talent if their Academy deems it worthy. They started off just as poor in football and have made themselves into a national powerhouse quickly.

 

[Lightning Red]

The requirements are made clear. They do not seem easy to meet though. One thing is proximity to other clubs according to the talent pool. SoCal has 9 in a 150 mile radius. No other region in the country has half that many teams close to each other. They are traveling hundreds of miles to play weekly.

San Diego county already has Surf, Galaxy SD and Albion. Where do clubs like Rebels and Carlsbad fit in for what the DA is pushing? I'll elaborate a bit so I don't come off condescending or insulting.

The main difference between DA and any other league is the sub rule. The rule is once subbed there is no re-entry. 5 subs are allowed. This means a max of 16 girls play, but no subs have to be made. On a 18 player roster 2 never play EVERY game. The only requirement is a player must start 25% of the total games the team plays. There is no guideline to minutes so she can get pulled after 1 minute and it counts as a start. So once a player gets her mandatory 25% of starts, she can be set for very long stretches of non activity. That is not appealing to anyone. I have two kids in the DA and it is a constant discussion with the parents.

Without the shuffling in and out of players, it's much harder to hide players who aren't up to par technically, mentally or physically.

What I'm saying is the DA really isn't made for big rosters if the focus is really development. I would say 18 because of injuries and players unable to show for whatever reason. Rosters of 24 are just absurd and in most cases the kids on the fringe aren't ready yet and will have trouble becoming ready with little to no playtime.

Add in the age banding, where the clubs usually go higher age heavy. It seems as if US Soccer isn't concerned with developing the best talent at each age group and the talent pool dwindles further. The 02s paid for it this season and the 03s will pay next season and so on.

Is there enough talent for Rebels and Carlsbad to compete in this environment? Real question because I don't know.

On another note, the Burlingame club is reeling. It's hard to justify the travel costs, time away and overall energy when your teams are 0 and everything. It's hard not to argue that ECNL or a similar setup isn't better for them. Let me be clear, they are well coached, but don't have the athletes to compete. I saw them play a great style of soccer and their kids understood what they are doing. The only teams I have seen hold their shape better are Beach and West Coast. They just can't physically hold their own. Therefore, they pay for nearly every mistake they make.

Now a club like IMG can afford to keep pushing because they are a private school setup and those attending are very well off. They will simply adjust their recruiting tactics and infuse coaching and player talent if their Academy deems it worthy. They started off just as poor in football and have made themselves into a national powerhouse quickly.

Carlsbad is LA Galaxy San Diego by the way.

 

[Nutmeg]

The requirements are made clear. They do not seem easy to meet though. One thing is proximity to other clubs according to the talent pool. SoCal has 9 in a 150 mile radius. No other region in the country has half that many teams close to each other. They are traveling hundreds of miles to play weekly.

San Diego county already has Surf, Galaxy SD and Albion. Where do clubs like Rebels and Carlsbad fit in for what the DA is pushing? I'll elaborate a bit so I don't come off condescending or insulting.

The main difference between DA and any other league is the sub rule. The rule is once subbed there is no re-entry. 5 subs are allowed. This means a max of 16 girls play, but no subs have to be made. On a 18 player roster 2 never play EVERY game. The only requirement is a player must start 25% of the total games the team plays. There is no guideline to minutes so she can get pulled after 1 minute and it counts as a start. So once a player gets her mandatory 25% of starts, she can be set for very long stretches of non activity. That is not appealing to anyone. I have two kids in the DA and it is a constant discussion with the parents.

Without the shuffling in and out of players, it's much harder to hide players who aren't up to par technically, mentally or physically.

What I'm saying is the DA really isn't made for big rosters if the focus is really development. I would say 18 because of injuries and players unable to show for whatever reason. Rosters of 24 are just absurd and in most cases the kids on the fringe aren't ready yet and will have trouble becoming ready with little to no playtime.

Add in the age banding, where the clubs usually go higher age heavy. It seems as if US Soccer isn't concerned with developing the best talent at each age group and the talent pool dwindles further. The 02s paid for it this season and the 03s will pay next season and so on.

Is there enough talent for Rebels and Carlsbad to compete in this environment? Real question because I don't know.

On another note, the Burlingame club is reeling. It's hard to justify the travel costs, time away and overall energy when your teams are 0 and everything. It's hard not to argue that ECNL or a similar setup isn't better for them. Let me be clear, they are well coached, but don't have the athletes to compete. I saw them play a great style of soccer and their kids understood what they are doing. The only teams I have seen hold their shape better are Beach and West Coast. They just can't physically hold their own. Therefore, they pay for nearly every mistake they make.

Now a club like IMG can afford to keep pushing because they are a private school setup and those attending are very well off. They will simply adjust their recruiting tactics and infuse coaching and player talent if their Academy deems it worthy. They started off just as poor in football and have made themselves into a national powerhouse quickly.

Not sure your point. Sure your observations are ones that many have but... the guidelines as you read them online might appear to be straightforward but they are not. USSoccer is the gate keeper they alone decide who and how a club can enter THEIR CLOSED LEAGUE or REMAIN in it. That is the issue at hand. Their is no merit based system in which a team or a club can earn their way in. That reason alone is a huge part of why DA is Socal is so watered down. Legends, Surf, Beach, Blues, all have second teams that can and would compete with the bottom teams in DA. Yet those players and those teams are left out of DAs closed league system because of the rules rather than the play.
As far as playing time, if you decide to play DA and you can’t get QUALITY minutes than you need to re-evaluate your situation. Stagnation kills far to many players. Leave, get better, change positions, etc. DA is designed as a funnel for national team scouting, and for controlling profits from other closed leagues.

 

[C.A.M.]

Carlsbad is LA Galaxy San Diego by the way.

Thank you. They are doing alright then.

 

[C.A.M.]

Not sure your point. Sure your observations are ones that many have but... the guidelines as you read them online might appear to be straightforward but they are not. USSoccer is the gate keeper they alone decide who and how a club can enter THEIR CLOSED LEAGUE or REMAIN in it. That is the issue at hand. Their is no merit based system in which a team or a club can earn their way in. That reason alone is a huge part of why DA is Socal is so watered down. Legends, Surf, Beach, Blues, all have second teams that can and would compete with the bottom teams in DA. Yet those players and those teams are left out of DAs closed league system because of the rules rather than the play.
As far as playing time, if you decide to play DA and you can’t get QUALITY minutes than you need to re-evaluate your situation. Stagnation kills far to many players. Leave, get better, change positions, etc. DA is designed as a funnel for national team scouting, and for controlling profits from other closed leagues.

The national team scouting part is the selling point, but really isn't a factor for the majority of there. Some kids want to play at the highest level of competition. No different than when ECNL came along.

I agree 100% with the stagnation part and if a kid isn't good enough to play than reevaluate.

I wasn't arguing that the DA isn't a closed league. SoCal is full of closed leagues; DA, ECNL, CRL, SCSDL, Coast Soccer League, etc..... Are you proposing we all play in the same league and just have different levels of the single competition?

On your comment of the 2nd teams of some clubs beating the lower ranked clubs, I disagree.

Legends, Blues and Del Sol are better athletic teams than the rest of us. Del Sol still is mid pack and Legends has went from 1st to 3rd since the winter break. Beach is the best technical team in the SoCal DA and has went from 3rd to 1st since the break. For the rest of us, the games are usually dog fights won and lost by a mental error or two. Yes, I'm including Surf. My daughter is on a lower producing team and the only teams to blow us out are Legends, Blues and Beach. We beat the current group of Legends players in the 2nd match, got demolished by Beach and just played a close game vs Blues without 3 of their top players while blown out when they had them. Most of our other losses are by 1 or 2 goals and we have a bunch of ties. I watch a lot of games and the second tier kids would struggle in this league with these rules.

 

[espola]

The national team scouting part is the selling point, but really isn't a factor for the majority of there. Some kids want to play at the highest level of competition. No different than when ECNL came along.

I agree 100% with the stagnation part and if a kid isn't good enough to play than reevaluate.

I wasn't arguing that the DA isn't a closed league. SoCal is full of closed leagues; DA, ECNL, CRL, SCSDL, Coast Soccer League, etc..... Are you proposing we all play in the same league and just have different levels of the single competition?

On your comment of the 2nd teams of some clubs beating the lower ranked clubs, I disagree.

Legends, Blues and Del Sol are better athletic teams than the rest of us. Del Sol still is mid pack and Legends has went from 1st to 3rd since the winter break. Beach is the best technical team in the SoCal DA and has went from 3rd to 1st since the break. For the rest of us, the games are usually dog fights won and lost by a mental error or two. Yes, I'm including Surf. My daughter is on a lower producing team and the only teams to blow us out are Legends, Blues and Beach. We beat the current group of Legends players in the 2nd match, got demolished by Beach and just played a close game vs Blues without 3 of their top players while blown out when they had them. Most of our other losses are by 1 or 2 goals and we have a bunch of ties. I watch a lot of games and the second tier kids would struggle in this league with these rules.

SCDSL and CSL are "closed leagues"?

 

[C.A.M.]

SCDSL and CSL are "closed leagues"?

You have to be a member or invited to compete correct? Has that changed?

 

[espola]

You have to be a member or invited to compete correct? Has that changed?

But any club can become a member by paying the fees, not like the real closed leagues.

 

[C.A.M.]

But any club can become a member by paying the fees, not like the real closed leagues.

Is that the case with SCDSL and Coast? I though you had to apply for them also?

 

[espola]

Is that the case with SCDSL and Coast? I though you had to apply for them also?

Is any club ever rejected?

 

[C.A.M.]

Is any club ever rejected?

Not sure about Coast but there were teams rejected from SCDSL when it originally started.

 

[espola]

Not sure about Coast but there were teams rejected from SCDSL when it originally started.

Who and why?

 

[C.A.M.]

Who and why?

That was like 5 years ago and I don't remember who. I remember clubs not being admitted. It was a big deal at the time.

 

[espola]

That was like 5 years ago and I don't remember who. I remember clubs not being admitted. It was a big deal at the time.

I remember that Surf had some issues with CSL so they left on their own, then helped form SCDSL, then left Presidio due to what they called lack of adequate competition, which the Presidio members remembered when Surf tried to get back in - and was rejected by member vote.

 

[C.A.M.]

I remember that Surf had some issues with CSL so they left on their own, then helped form SCDSL, then left Presidio due to what they called lack of adequate competition, which the Presidio members remembered when Surf tried to get back in - and was rejected by member vote.

Yeah they are all closed to me. They will expand and contract when it suits them financially.

 

[Nutmeg]

The national team scouting part is the selling point, but really isn't a factor for the majority of there. Some kids want to play at the highest level of competition. No different than when ECNL came along.

I agree 100% with the stagnation part and if a kid isn't good enough to play than reevaluate.

I wasn't arguing that the DA isn't a closed league. SoCal is full of closed leagues; DA, ECNL, CRL, SCSDL, Coast Soccer League, etc..... Are you proposing we all play in the same league and just have different levels of the single competition?

On your comment of the 2nd teams of some clubs beating the lower ranked clubs, I disagree.

Legends, Blues and Del Sol are better athletic teams than the rest of us. Del Sol still is mid pack and Legends has went from 1st to 3rd since the winter break. Beach is the best technical team in the SoCal DA and has went from 3rd to 1st since the break. For the rest of us, the games are usually dog fights won and lost by a mental error or two. Yes, I'm including Surf. My daughter is on a lower producing team and the only teams to blow us out are Legends, Blues and Beach. We beat the current group of Legends players in the 2nd match, got demolished by Beach and just played a close game vs Blues without 3 of their top players while blown out when they had them. Most of our other losses are by 1 or 2 goals and we have a bunch of ties. I watch a lot of games and the second tier kids would struggle in this league with these rules.

Here’s where I would challenge you. It does not matter whether or not most players do not care about national team and just want to play against the best. The national team does care. They set the parameters of completion so the players end up having to navigate based on that system. This does have an effect on their development. That is the point. Also the Bottom DA clubs in terms of record often times do not play players up because they do. It have enough quality to do so and still compete. Most have set rosters that have remained unchanged. The teams in the upper third constantly move the top 2-3 players up for games. This is a good thing, but might scew a game result or two. So it’s not an apples to apples comparison of DA teams at any age group for a result based argument. Also with recent YNT call ups effecting some teams more than others some games since January have been impacted. Your use of code words like “athletic” and “technical “ applied to Legends and Beach is IMO is based on old conceptions of what used to be. Both those DA clubs players are athletic and technical. Your also wrong by calling them second tier kids. They might be viewed as that but that again is the point. Just because a crap team plays in DA does not mean they deserve to be there, or that a group not in DA wouldn’t kick their butt.

 

[espola]

Yeah they are all closed to me. They will expand and contract when it suits them financially.

Coocoo.

 

[avh]

But any club can become a member by paying the fees, not like the real closed leagues.

Any club willing to bring 10 teams can apply for membership.

a. Club Application
New Clubs can apply to the SCDSL by completing the Club Application located on the SCDSL website
(www.scdslsoccer.com). Criteria for consideration in to the SCDSL includes:
 Club must identify a minimum of 10 teams to participate in the SCDSL.
...
 Geographical location of the club applying will be considered.

Smaller clubs may have a hard time coming up with 10 quality teams. But they could have a few that would thus be excluded.

 

[C.A.M.]

Here’s where I would challenge you. It does not matter whether or not most players do not care about national team and just want to play against the best. The national team does care. They set the parameters of completion so the players end up having to navigate based on that system. This does have an effect on their development. That is the point. Also the Bottom DA clubs in terms of record often times do not play players up because they do. It have enough quality to do so and still compete. Most have set rosters that have remained unchanged. The teams in the upper third constantly move the top 2-3 players up for games. This is a good thing, but might scew a game result or two. So it’s not an apples to apples comparison of DA teams at any age group for a result based argument. Also with recent YNT call ups effecting some teams more than others some games since January have been impacted. Your use of code words like “athletic” and “technical “ applied to Legends and Beach is IMO is based on old conceptions of what used to be. Both those DA clubs players are athletic and technical. Your also wrong by calling them second tier kids. They might be viewed as that but that again is the point. Just because a crap team plays in DA does not mean they deserve to be there, or that a group not in DA wouldn’t kick their butt.

You have some valid points, but some misses also. Beach is more technical than everyone else. They don't place a player on the field with a bad first touch or inability to run off the ball into space properly. They hold their shape extremely well and are extremely disciplined. They deserve to be applauded and recognized for it. It was a beautiful demolition of our team. They have athletes, but not on the scale of Blues, Del Sol and Legends. #5 on the 03s is beyond a fabulous athlete. She ran by us, but I watched them play Legends and all that was negated.

We just played Blues and 3 of their players totaling 50 of their 70 plus goals didn't play. It didn't negate the fact they were much, much better athletes than us. Are they good technically, yes. Not on the level Beach is though. Still their ability to dominate us how they did with those players was considerably lessened.

We were blown out by Legends the first match due to three reasons: the heat the forward and the CB. We missed our one chance to take the lead early on and the CB shut down everything the rest of the game. Then when everyone else melted in the 105 degree plus heat, The Forward destroyed our defense in the second half. The second match they don't have the CB as she moved up to 01-02, we have a better offensive presence in the midfield and we got a bit lucky. Also one of their best mids is playing high school. Those two players not there make a big difference. We were able to sustain attacks and their offense had less rhythm and bite. Still, they hit the post 2 or 3 times.

You said the 2nd teams could beat the lower teams. Most second team players will contain one of these flaws: unable to keep up physically, below par technically, lower soccer IQ, inconsistent focus or lack of desire to compete at this level (dedication). All it takes is one player like that on the field in this league and you will get beat. Against the top teams, demolished. I know who we have and haven't played against and I know the difference in the teams and result. I'm not assuming.

 

[Nutmeg]

You have some valid points, but some misses also. Beach is more technical than everyone else. They don't place a player on the field with a bad first touch or inability to run off the ball into space properly. They hold their shape extremely well and are extremely disciplined. They deserve to be applauded and recognized for it. It was a beautiful demolition of our team. They have athletes, but not on the scale of Blues, Del Sol and Legends. #5 on the 03s is beyond a fabulous athlete. She ran by us, but I watched them play Legends and all that was negated.

We just played Blues and 3 of their players totaling 50 of their 70 plus goals didn't play. It didn't negate the fact they were much, much better athletes than us. Are they good technically, yes. Not on the level Beach is though. Still their ability to dominate us how they did with those players was considerably lessened.

We were blown out by Legends the first match due to three reasons: the heat the forward and the CB. We missed our one chance to take the lead early on and the CB shut down everything the rest of the game. Then when everyone else melted in the 105 degree plus heat, The Forward destroyed our defense in the second half. The second match they don't have the CB as she moved up to 01-02, we have a better offensive presence in the midfield and we got a bit lucky. Also one of their best mids is playing high school. Those two players not there make a big difference. We were able to sustain attacks and their offense had less rhythm and bite. Still, they hit the post 2 or 3 times.

You said the 2nd teams could beat the lower teams. Most second team players will contain one of these flaws: unable to keep up physically, below par technically, lower soccer IQ, inconsistent focus or lack of desire to compete at this level (dedication). All it takes is one player like that on the field in this league and you will get beat. Against the top teams, demolished. I know who we have and haven't played against and I know the difference in the teams and result. I'm not assuming.

Just because BeastMode comes to Beach training sessions don’t mean their more technical than anyone else. USSOCCER plays a pretty non technical style of soccer. And yes maybe some girls don’t want to train 4x a week with a team but that don’t mean a damn thing. If you think that the DA patch means anything other than a patch than we can agree to disagree. Their simply is not enough elite players. I mean really elite. There are maybe maybe 20 elite girls across all age bands in all so cal. All the rest are varied degrees of good. And on anyday will and can lose. Lose the game and lose individually on the field. The problem with DA is when it is viewed exclusively as elite just because you paid to be there. The only thing elite about it is that the people in it and running it say it is. In the end just do what’s best for yours and enjoy it.

 

[C.A.M.]

Just because BeastMode comes to Beach training sessions don’t mean their more technical than anyone else. USSOCCER plays a pretty non technical style of soccer. And yes maybe some girls don’t want to train 4x a week with a team but that don’t mean a damn thing. If you think that the DA patch means anything other than a patch than we can agree to disagree. Their simply is not enough elite players. I mean really elite. There are maybe maybe 20 elite girls across all age bands in all so cal. All the rest are varied degrees of good. And on anyday will and can lose. Lose the game and lose individually on the field. The problem with DA is when it is viewed exclusively as elite just because you paid to be there. The only thing elite about it is that the people in it and running it say it is. In the end just do what’s best for yours and enjoy it.

Last year most of the best players played ECNL. Not all. Most. This year most of the best players play DA. Not all. Most. At no time will a patch or a team you pay to be on determine who is the best team. That is determined in practice and on the field by the coaches and players. These previous comments are high majority geralizations and not all inclusive statements. Another team from another league is always capable of mopping the floor with any so called giant. Heck we beat Legends and I was expecting a 6-0 blowout for them. Stuff happens and every team matches up different.

The rules of the game dictate style. The rules of the DA make it hard for some players who were good to remain good and makes it easier to be better for others. For my daughter, the rules compliment her mentality and game play style so she is thriving, even when the team isn't. These rules make it hard for many of the players due to what they have been trained to do for years, which is play extremely direct. Old habits are hard to break. Players that have adjusted are doing well. Players that haven't are not progressing. The same will happen when they go to the college game and for those that make it, the pro game.

My kid isn't at Beach. My kids do have the BeastMode videos. They work if you work on them. I see how Beach plays and the technical ability of their teams and I am impressed. Is that because of the one day a week with David? Not completely. He will tell you it's the dedication they put into it off the field, AT HOME. That has always been his philosophy and teaching. Still, whatever they are teaching is sticking because they are way beyond everyone else in game play. They are mastering what the DA has created as curriculum. They have been on fire since late November and deserve the praise in my opinion. It is up to the rest of us to raise our levels and compete.