Girls Development Academy

[MakeAPlay]

The what about the ELITE Clubs National League?

In 5 years of my daughter playing in the ECNL I didn't think that all of the players where elite even in a small market like San Diego where Surf had most of the best players in each age group on one team. Some age groups are a little different than other. The 99/98 Surf team has a roster of top players many of which are elite.

Elite players are easy to recognize. They are the players that dominate games between top level teams. In SoCal per age group there are 30 kids or less that qualify. I think the problem is threefold. First, most don't recognize elite talent because their idea of elite is their kid. Second, unless you go see the top teams play each other, it is hard to see who is dominating those games. Finally, elite at 12 isn't elite at 18 and as players age it is easier to recognize who is truly elite and who is just an early bloomer.

 

[DefenseWins]

I keep hearing that there is enough talent but I am talking elite level talent. I just am not convinced that there are 90 elite kids in any birth year in all of SoCal. I have a pretty high bar for what I consider elite.

I think most parents of elite kids who play on elite teams have a very skewed view of what elite is, and as you mentioned, we hold that standard very high.

I've seen players whom I didn't consider 'elite' move on and have success with other 'elite' teams (as have you I'm sure). It's not always because the coach is a better coach, I've seen situations where that player just fits better into a different system, or into a different set of players. Exposing and developing their individual strengths, allowing that player to master them, and eventually rise to 'elite' status. I personally think having too few 'inclusive' teams at the younger age groups leaves out a lot of 'talented' kids with 'elite' potential. It forces the 'talented' kids at that moment to play a certain way (because we are a society that likes to win) that won't necessarily develop them to their fullest 'elite' potential. These types of players are being completely shut out of our current system. A system that US Soccer has no control over. Therefore, I think it's completely reasonable for US Soccer to want to control the pipeline that feeds their system.

You're right, elite players are easy to recognize. What is not so easy to recognize is 'talent' with 'elite' potential, and how to develop that.

 

[bababooey]

Let me play devil's advocate here MAP. Are there 90 elite players in San Diego County or Orange County or LA County at any given age group, not likely. With ECNL, I doubt very few teams at any age level have more than four or five elite level players on their roster.

However at U12, I have no issues with more Academy teams than less Academy teams. With any sport, those that dominate at 12 years old may not be elite level talent at college age. Conversely, the players who dominate at college level age may be average/above average at 12 years old. Let more players in at this age and see how it washes out.

If the parents are willing to pay the price and the player is willing to make the commitment to Academy, then why should we limit the amount of teams?

 

[The Driver]

Let me play devil's advocate here MAP. Are there 90 elite players in San Diego County or Orange County or LA County at any given age group, not likely. With ECNL, I doubt very few teams at any age level have more than four or five elite level players on their roster.

However at U12, I have no issues with more Academy teams than less Academy teams. With any sport, those that dominate at 12 years old may not be elite level talent at college age. Conversely, the players who dominate at college level age may be average/above average at 12 years old. Let more players in at this age and see how it washes out.

If the parents are willing to pay the price and the player is willing to make the commitment to Academy, then why should we limit the amount of teams?

Lets say We invite the semi's of SCDSL and CSL then hold open tryouts to just those league members. How do you think 4 teams out of that group of players would fair again the SW ECNL in a league format? Wait no discovery players though.

 

[MakeAPlay]

Lets say We invite the semi's of SCDSL and CSL then hold open tryouts to just those league members. How do you think 4 teams out of that group of players would fair again the SW ECNL in a league format? Wait no discovery players though.

ECNL would wax all of the teams. They could play their bench and beat almost all of them.

 

[The Driver]

ECNL would wax all of the teams. They could play their bench and beat almost all of them.

In the 03 group?

 

[The Driver]

ECNL would wax all of the teams. They could play their bench and beat almost all of them.

Proof the Academy is needed.

 

[MakeAPlay]

I think most parents of elite kids who play on elite teams have a very skewed view of what elite is, and as you mentioned, we hold that standard very high.

I've seen players whom I didn't consider 'elite' move on and have success with other 'elite' teams (as have you I'm sure). It's not always because the coach is a better coach, I've seen situations where that player just fits better into a different system, or into a different set of players. Exposing and developing their individual strengths, allowing that player to master them, and eventually rise to 'elite' status. I personally think having too few 'inclusive' teams at the younger age groups leaves out a lot of 'talented' kids with 'elite' potential. It forces the 'talented' kids at that moment to play a certain way (because we are a society that likes to win) that won't necessarily develop them to their fullest 'elite' potential. These types of players are being completely shut out of our current system. A system that US Soccer has no control over. Therefore, I think it's completely reasonable for US Soccer to want to control the pipeline that feeds their system.

You're right, elite players are easy to recognize. What is not so easy to recognize is 'talent' with 'elite' potential, and how to develop that.

I agree with you. My daughter was a relatively late bloomer. She would always make the ODP cut down to 24 or 36 players but was an alternate to regional's until her freshman year of high school. In my opinion, the only reason that she didn't fall through the cracks is that she had good coaches that knew that she had the tools to be successful and simply continued to push her to improve.

I agree that more teams at a younger age would cast a wider net and catch more of the elite players. I just don't think that is what they are doing. As it seems to me, they are diluting the player pool and the odds of putting together a super team (which benefits the truly elite players the most) are much lower. It won't prevent the extremely special players from showing that they are special but it may affect the next level of players that benefit from playing with the best. We will see soon enough.

 

[outside!]

ECNL would wax all of the teams. They could play their bench and beat almost all of them.

The last two times Surf played Carlsbad '99, Carlsbad dominated both games 2-0. Carlsbad out passed them, out dribbled them, was more creative and out shot them. One of those games was the 1/4 finals of Surf Cup (I don't think they were playing their bench). The next season, that Surf team lost impact players to Albion. This age group is one of the reasons I believe the ECNL monopoly in San Diego county was counterproductive. With the talk of late bloomers, I know there have been impact players on the WNT that bloomed in late college. Now GDA is repeating the same close system mistake that ECNL had, but at least it solved some SoCal issues and to be honest I don't really care about the rest of the country. SoCal does have enough elite players to field a team that could compete with the National Team at any age group. The US is so big, I think regional teams make more sense.

 

[MakeAPlay]

Proof the Academy is needed.

How is that proof?

 

[MakeAPlay]

The last two times Surf played Carlsbad '99, Carlsbad dominated both games 2-0. Carlsbad out passed them, out dribbled them, was more creative and out shot them. One of those games was the 1/4 finals of Surf Cup (I don't think they were playing their bench). The next season, that Surf team lost impact players to Albion. This age group is one of the reasons I believe the ECNL monopoly in San Diego county was counterproductive. With the talk of late bloomers, I know there have been impact players on the WNT that bloomed in late college. Now GDA is repeating the same close system mistake that ECNL had, but at least it solved some SoCal issues and to be honest I don't really care about the rest of the country. SoCal does have enough elite players to field a team that could compete with the National Team at any age group. The US is so big, I think regional teams make more sense.

Outside, I admire your passion and it may be true in your daughter's isolated age group but it simply is not true when you look at all of the age groups. Regarding a SoCal team beating a national team it simply isn't true. The younger aged youth national teams routinely scrimmage CalSouth all star and ODP teams that are older aged and lose to them. I have seen them with my own eyes. I would bet that the U16 YNT could beat any U17/18 team in SoCal including the ones with YNT players. I have seen it happen. My daughter was on an all star team along with two other players that were on the YNT and they lost to the U16 YNT last season.

 

[Kicker4Life]

ECNL would wax all of the teams. They could play their bench and beat almost all of them.

Unfortunately your statement has little merit. I would agree that top to bottom ECNL has the the edge by a decent amount but to say "ECNL would wax all of the teams" is simply a stretch. Beach FC's '02 Academy tied Slammers ECNL 1-1 at the Thanksgiving College Showcase. My DD and I watched the game because our neighbors DD plays for the Slammers ECNL team (currently sit in 2nd place in the SW region). Both teams were only missing 1 player.

The youngers landscape has changed a lot since your DD played, I'm sure you can at least agree with that much.

 

[outside!]

Unfortunately your statement has little merit. I would agree that top to bottom ECNL has the the edge by a decent amount but to say "ECNL would wax all of the teams" is simply a stretch. Beach FC's '02 Academy tied Slammers ECNL 1-1 at the Thanksgiving College Showcase. My DD and I watched the game because our neighbors DD plays for the Slammers ECNL team (currently sit in 2nd place in the SW region). Both teams were only missing 1 player.

The youngers landscape has changed a lot since your DD played, I'm sure you can at least agree with that much.

There are more examples in the age group I am familiar with as well. Check out the ECNL record of TopHat 99. They have done well in ECNL. The last time they played in the USYS National Championships however, they didn't make it out of group play The top teams in the two organizations are very competitive with one another. I think it is good that DA and GDA are paying attention to all of San Diego county. The huge growth in North county over the past 3o years produced a lot of kids to make it a soccer powerhouse. But that growth spurt is leveling off and the population is now aging (just as it did earlier for central San Diego). South San Diego county is growing by leaps and bounds and it is a good idea to offer local opportunities to those players. Right now, the top HS teams are usually in North County. I predict in 15 years some of the top HS teams will be from East Lake/Chula Vista.

 

[MakeAPlay]

Unfortunately your statement has little merit. I would agree that top to bottom ECNL has the the edge by a decent amount but to say "ECNL would wax all of the teams" is simply a stretch. Beach FC's '02 Academy tied Slammers ECNL 1-1 at the Thanksgiving College Showcase. My DD and I watched the game because our neighbors DD plays for the Slammers ECNL team (currently sit in 2nd place in the SW region). Both teams were only missing 1 player.

The youngers landscape has changed a lot since your DD played, I'm sure you can at least agree with that much.

I can't honestly remember a game against a non-ECNL team (including Surf Cup) where my player's coach played to win. Usually the subs played as much or more than the starters. during my daughter's next to last Surf Cup (U17) once they had clinched a spot in the quarterfinals the coach started most of the bench and the game ended in a draw to a team that they waxed the last time they played.

When you are on the outside looking in it's hard to tell what is going on. Now I don't know your daughter's friend's team, but I bet I know the coach. If they were playing to win then congrats but I never saw it.

Yes the landscape has changed in the last year. Not that much though.

 

[CaliKlines]

And in late November, Legends FC 99 team played against the older ECNL (U19) teams of Slammers FC (beat them 4-0), West Coast (beat them 1-0), and tied SC Del Sol 1-1. Let the excuses begin...remember you said "they would wax any non-ECNL team."

 

[MakeAPlay]

There are more examples in the age group I am familiar with as well. Check out the ECNL record of TopHat 99. They have done well in ECNL. The last time they played in the USYS National Championships however, they didn't make it out of group play The top teams in the two organizations are very competitive with one another. I think it is good that DA and GDA are paying attention to all of San Diego county. The huge growth in North county over the past 3o years produced a lot of kids with to make it a soccer powerhouse. But that growth spurt is leveling off and the population is now aging (just as it did earlier for central San Diego). South San Diego county is growing by leaps and bounds and it is a good idea to offer local opportunities to those players.

Please see post #1465 above. I can tell you that in my daughter's age group the team that won the U16 ECNL championships won the USYS championship that same year with mostly subs and "B" team players. They didn't compete the next year as it was a strain on the players and coaches and the exposure was significantly lower than at the ECNL showcases and championships.

Let's come at it from a different angle. There were only two players that played for non-ECNL teams in my daughter's graduating class that had a significant impact on a top 25 team this season and about a dozen from ECNL teams. There are several that played and had an impact just not on a top team.

 

[MakeAPlay]

And in late November, Legends FC 99 team played against the older ECNL (U19) teams of Slammers FC (beat them 4-0), West Coast (beat them 1-0), and tied SC Del Sol 1-1. Let the excuses begin...remember you said "they would wax any non-ECNL team."

Cali I don't have to make any excuses. Your Legends team has done a good job of not playing the top players. The only players on that team that will have any impact in college over the next two years are the black holding mid and the black forward. The athletic players that schools would want anyway. Great job of development. The rest of the team is small market.

 

[MakeAPlay]

And in late November, Legends FC 99 team played against the older ECNL (U19) teams of Slammers FC (beat them 4-0), West Coast (beat them 1-0), and tied SC Del Sol 1-1. Let the excuses begin...remember you said "they would wax any non-ECNL team."

Just because your daughter was on a bad ECNL team doesn't mean that is the case with the rest. Have you ever asked yourself why your daughter couldn't get her team into the Champions league? Mine did 3 years in a row. What is your excuse?

 

[CaliKlines]

Cali I don't have to make any excuses. Your Legends team has done a good job of not playing the top players. The only players on that team that will have any impact in college over the next two years are the black holding mid and the black forward. The athletic players that schools would want anyway. Great job of development. The rest of the team is small market.

And they "waxed" the ECNL teams they competed against.

 

[MakeAPlay]

And they "waxed" the ECNL teams they competed against.

If that is how you remember it. Why wasn't your daughter good enough to elevate her team? Elite players can do that....

You get no street cred for joining a team that is already good. And I use that term loosely. I wish my daughter got a chance to play against that 99 Legends team so that she could lay waste to it.

 

[CaliKlines]

If that is how you remember it. Why wasn't your daughter good enough to elevate her team? Elite players can do that....

I'd say it's in pretty poor taste to single out a player in a team sport...but she was good enough to help elevate her non-ECNL team to "wax" the older ECNL teams they just played.