Girls Development Academy

You want proof, I told you what our club called it. DPL 2003 Pilot.

Btw no separate age group for 2002 DAs. Only the combo group.

I'll give you this much...

DA Structure:
  • DA 2000/01
  • DA 2002/03
  • DA 2004
  • DA 2005
In addition to a new program:
  • 2003 DPL Pilot
DPL teams:
  • 2006 - Fall Only
  • 2005 – Spring and Fall
  • 2004 – Spring and Fall
  • 2003 – Spring and Fall
  • 2002 – Spring and Fall
  • 2001/00 – Spring and Fall

Oh so this is not an announcement from US Soccer....thanks for the clarification!
 
Then why have college showcases if they don't care?

They sure the heck don't care about high school soccer or the standards ECNL imposed for subbing and breaks in the season. If they didn't care then why even pretend and have the showcases?

Its just not the top priority.
 
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen so many important sounding names for so many different teams?

Huh? You might want to let US soccer know you are changing their age banding structure

With the pilot age the age banding structure will be different for the Southwest and the Frontier. Same everywhere else.
 
Then why have college showcases if they don't care?

They sure the heck don't care about high school soccer or the standards ECNL imposed for subbing and breaks in the season. If they didn't care then why even pretend and have the showcases?

Its just not the top priority.

Not the top priority is probably a better way to put it.
 
To me the issue with the DA isn't the rules everyone complains about. It's the fact it is brand new and everyone has to make rapid adjustments and break habits that have been ingrained since these girls were 5 and 6 years old. Keepers and defenders are being taught to play out the back now. Mids have to have a better understanding of how the game works and not just send the ball long or carry the ball up when they can't necessarily beat these players anymore. Forwards actually have to make multiple type of runs. Outside backs are now wing backs that travel up and down the field and have to know how far they can go or they will get caught out of position. It's just more sophisticated than what they are used too and it takes time to learn and get good at.

.
This isn't new. The top teams have been playing like this for the past 3 years.... I say that not to be mean or demean anyone, but to illustrate that the elite players were already elite, and understood the game at a different level. DA isn't doing anything new. I'm glad that your DD is having a great experience though and I do think that DA will work to give some girls what they need.
 
So DPL grows. Per their website they are adding the Blues, Surf, and OC Surf (former West Coast). In addition they are doing something different with their 03’s. Yes this is still the same DPL, reserve, backup league as last year that everyone bashed. And though there was no affiliation to the DA it appears their might now be some connection since they plan on playing as “Guests” at the Winter and Summer Showcases (no mention of being at the Fall Showcase). Of course the press release is dated a week before the meetings held at the Winter Showcase and things could be different now.
 
Back
Top