Girls Development Academy

I agree. The starting median salary at my players school for grads is more than a max contract in the NWSL. She told me that she isn't even considering going pro. It's funny because she will be on Chris Henderson's top 25 draft prospects for 2020 that he is releasing in the next week and I will bet money that she is in the top 10.

Unless your DD plans to go straight to grad school or has another clear career path, your DD should take the contract if she still likes soccer. She and her friends won't be making that much coming out of UCLA without an additional degree. They'll struggle to get jobs at all - that's reality. Nationally, less than 15% of seniors have real jobs lined up. UCLA is around 30% employment, and that's six months after graduation (so query where you got the median salary info?). UCLA is also notoriously unethical about their job statistics, although most are bad. UCLA got really shady during the recession.

Have her play a couple of years while she figures out grad school. Most grad schools now don't want kids right out of school, so a few years playing would be perfect.
 
So again I will ask this again: If you live in a city or state where you cannot even get to a DA practice weekly, does that make you not elite? Lol thats bull and y'all know it. The only reason why So Cal is embracing it is because of population density. The parents of kids on current B teams think this is their ticket to finally be seen. This is laughable, the Miriam chick is a joke. And honestly, most girls on the youth national teams dont even make the full national team. So whats the point?

And yes I'm irritated by the whole thing.
 
Unless your DD plans to go straight to grad school or has another clear career path, your DD should take the contract if she still likes soccer. She and her friends won't be making that much coming out of UCLA without an additional degree. They'll struggle to get jobs at all - that's reality. Nationally, less than 15% of seniors have real jobs lined up. UCLA is around 30% employment, and that's six months after graduation (so query where you got the median salary info?). UCLA is also notoriously unethical about their job statistics, although most are bad. UCLA got really shady during the recession.

Have her play a couple of years while she figures out grad school. Most grad schools now don't want kids right out of school, so a few years playing would be perfect.

They will be making more than NWSL. It's absolutely ridiculous the salaries they pay these women. You could teach part time, or work at Walmart full time and make more money . You could coach youth soccer and

As a UCLA grad, my degrees have served me very well. For that matter, everyone I know did well. No struggles EVER staying employed . UCLA is about career paths not jobs.

If one wants to play NWSL by all means, go for it. The reality is until there is a livable wage for women's soccer, your better off beginning your career or post graduate program.
 
1544 players to received scholarships. Divide that by 70 academies and 4 age groups which works out to 22 scholarships per club and 5.5 scholarships per team or about 1/4 of the roster. So are they just going to scholarship the players that the coach considers "elite" or is it going to be a recruiting tool? Hey soccermom your Mia is going to get a full ride from us if you come over from (insert Surf, Blues or Slammers here). We will include all travel costs too! Are travel costs part of the scholarship? I like that they finally hired someone to lead this project even if it is only 5 months from kickoff. It would be nice if we got some specifics.
Only 4 of 70 clubs are fully funded 2 in Socal, so 1544 divide by 4 across all age groups give you all players in fully funded academies are now playing for free for at least next season.
 
Only 4 of 70 clubs are fully funded 2 in Socal, so 1544 divide by 4 across all age groups give you all players in fully funded academies are now playing for free for at least next season.

Agree it's not equal. There are fully funded girls I know as well in those specific clubs.
More commonly - as I have friends now who have been offered at four clubs they are getting fifty percent scholarships - basically playing for about 1$ k .
I don't know how this is being offered but I assume it's the usual backdoor politics.
Interestingly enough one smaller but prestigious club does not have the funds to do this and is having some difficulties.
 
Only 4 of 70 clubs are fully funded 2 in Socal, so 1544 divide by 4 across all age groups give you all players in fully funded academies are now playing for free for at least next season.

Again dependant. They haven't even set the regional showcase schedule up yet. I assume because there are so many clubs that travel would be limited actually.
From what I have seen with my stud friends they are getting full offers and then some. So far everyone has been very happy with the outcomes honestly I haven't heard a lot of dissent
 
I think that this article is better and it is by Anson Dorrance who actually won a World Cup and has coached 23 national championship teams at the D1 level.

http://www.socceramerica.com/article/72332/anson-dorrance-on-girls-da-vs-ecnl-and-why-the.html

This is a must read.

I do not know Hickey, but this quote from her is priceless and sums up the entire issue .. "The ECNL league, I understand, will continue and they will do their thing and we will do our thing …"

US Soccer only cares about "their thing," a focus on building the YNT, and has historically shown mostly disdain for the rest of the youth soccer landscape. So far, the Girls DA roll-out has been consistent with this attitude.

While I have been critical of the ECNL and their exclusion of certain clubs and its geographic distribution here in Socal, I will admit they do an excellent job of listening to and meeting the needs of all of their customers (college coaches, club DOC's and coaches, and players). That is the differentiation ECNL should continue to promote, as it will help them separate themsleves from the DA and provide a real alternative, not just more of the same.
 
The saddest part is that ECNL and US Soccer could not figure out how to cooperate. It reminds me of the whole CSL/Gary Sparks/ECNL/SCDSL fiasco.
 
So again I will ask this again: If you live in a city or state where you cannot even get to a DA practice weekly, does that make you not elite? Lol thats bull and y'all know it. The only reason why So Cal is embracing it is because of population density. The parents of kids on current B teams think this is their ticket to finally be seen. This is laughable, the Miriam chick is a joke. And honestly, most girls on the youth national teams dont even make the full national team. So whats the point?

And yes I'm irritated by the whole thing.

Pooka: you bring up a good question about GDA in an area that is underserved. Think about it from US Soccer's standpoint....is it better to offer multiple organizations the GDA program in So Cal where there are multitudes of players and coaches along with a history of producing star players or try to offer GDA in all locations? In an ideal world, there would be a GDA club within 15 miles of every female soccer player in America, but that is not going to happen. Let's be honest, ECNL was not serving all of the U.S. either. There are many parts of the U.S. where a female soccer player would have to travel great distance to get to an ECNL club.

As for So Cal embracing GDA, did you expect anything different? It is the shiny new toy in the soccer landscape. That alone will spark a lot of interest. But, it will be paramount for the GDA to produce results like ECNL did since its inception to keep the "elite" players and their parents interested in the product. I suspect the marketing tactic of getting girls to the YNT teams easier will work for many players and parents.
 
Pooka: you bring up a good question about GDA in an area that is underserved. Think about it from US Soccer's standpoint....is it better to offer multiple organizations the GDA program in So Cal where there are multitudes of players and coaches along with a history of producing star players or try to offer GDA in all locations? In an ideal world, there would be a GDA club within 15 miles of every female soccer player in America, but that is not going to happen. Let's be honest, ECNL was not serving all of the U.S. either. There are many parts of the U.S. where a female soccer player would have to travel great distance to get to an ECNL club.

There are advantages and disadvantages of living anywhere. Parents that choose to live far from a large metropolitan area have chosen to limit these types of opportunities for their children in exchange for the advantages of living in a small town or rural setting. Soccer players from these rural areas will just have to work harder to get noticed.
 
Unless your DD plans to go straight to grad school or has another clear career path, your DD should take the contract if she still likes soccer. She and her friends won't be making that much coming out of UCLA without an additional degree. They'll struggle to get jobs at all - that's reality. Nationally, less than 15% of seniors have real jobs lined up. UCLA is around 30% employment, and that's six months after graduation (so query where you got the median salary info?). UCLA is also notoriously unethical about their job statistics, although most are bad. UCLA got really shady during the recession.

Have her play a couple of years while she figures out grad school. Most grad schools now don't want kids right out of school, so a few years playing would be perfect.


First, who said that my player goes to UCLA and are you a UCLA alum? Second, payscale.com has pretty good stats (even Forbes quotes them), and they are right there in black and white. Not to mention, I know quite a few alumni from my daughter's school and I have a good grasp of what the job market will be like for her. Third, my player will be graduating from school prior to completing her college eligibility and will likely have her first two post grad years paid for. She is a science major and will either be getting a masters or an MD. She isn't your average player, she came in with over 40 credits and went to summer school (and will be going this summer too).

Some kids see the soccer as a labor of love but are smart enough to see school as the most important thing. Pro soccer isn't something that she cares about and if she isn't in line to compete in a WWC or Olympics by 2020 or 2023 she will hang up her cleats with no regrets. It's just women's soccer.
 
There are advantages and disadvantages of living anywhere. Parents that choose to live far from a large metropolitan area have chosen to limit these types of opportunities for their children in exchange for the advantages of living in a small town or rural setting. Soccer players from these rural areas will just have to work harder to get noticed.

I wouldn't call Vegas a small metropolitan area. It is top 30 in the US.
 
Wasn't there a turf war issue though? It was about five years ago and resulted in a permenant fissure. That's when the Vegas girls started to be DP players as well

I don't think that grown up turf wars should govern development for our young ladies. Vegas is an area that is fertile with athletic talent.
 
I don't think that grown up turf wars should govern development for our young ladies. Vegas is an area that is fertile with athletic talent.

Obviously agree! My point was that was what started the migration to Surf. Those players should have never had to commute for that.
There are TEN YEAR OLDS WHO COMMUTE NOW LORD HELP US ALL.
Not even joking
 
Obviously agree! My point was that was what started the migration to Surf. Those players should have never had to commute for that.
There are TEN YEAR OLDS WHO COMMUTE NOW LORD HELP US ALL.
Not even joking

I hear you. My player didn't commute far (15-20 minutes) until her last year (1 hour). At 10 the focus should just be on fundamental skills. There are too many salepeople in club soccer and not enough teachers.
 
I hear you. My player didn't commute far (15-20 minutes) until her last year (1 hour). At 10 the focus should just be on fundamental skills. There are too many salepeople in club soccer and not enough teachers.
I've always found it kinda arrogant for parents who live in an area and don't have to commute to say that we didn't have to so therefore it's ridiculous for anybody to. Not saying Map is going that far with this comment, but if we stayed where we live there is no way in hell my DD would be where she is today. I understand the argument that my player didn't commute and they are only (insert age) but if a player wants more training more opportunity and better coaching, facility's etc than what is offered where they live,than why not commute. The current landscape does not allow for players to be seen enough from outlining areas for things like NTC, ODP, or ID2. Do we need to do these things? NO but what kid doesn't at least wan the chance for it. hard to get better playing against rec players. Could do all the foot skills we wanted still need to play against the best week in and week out in Socal. Other wise I doubt we get to where you guys are. So NO, we shouldn't HAVE to commute but guess what WE HAVE to commute.
 
I've always found it kinda arrogant for parents who live in an area and don't have to commute to say that we didn't have to so therefore it's ridiculous for anybody to. Not saying Map is going that far with this comment, but if we stayed where we live there is no way in hell my DD would be where she is today. I understand the argument that my player didn't commute and they are only (insert age) but if a player wants more training more opportunity and better coaching, facility's etc than what is offered where they live,than why not commute. The current landscape does not allow for players to be seen enough from outlining areas for things like NTC, ODP, or ID2. Do we need to do these things? NO but what kid doesn't at least wan the chance for it. hard to get better playing against rec players. Could do all the foot skills we wanted still need to play against the best week in and week out in Socal. Other wise I doubt we get to where you guys are. So NO, we shouldn't HAVE to commute but guess what WE HAVE to commute.

i think that you misunderstood my comment. My player had a club that was a 5 minute walk from the house and was where she initially started but we chose to change clubs. The best club for her was a couple of cities over so were fortunate to have a short commute. Her last year the best fit for her was in the next county so she commuted an hour. If I lived in Vegas like some posters do the best fit might have been in SoCal still.

I believe that you should always do what is best for your player. It is how we managed our player and if that includes driving for the right fit or a higher level and that is what is best for your player then I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

Good luck to you and yours.
 
i think that you misunderstood my comment. My player had a club that was a 5 minute walk from the house and was where she initially started but we chose to change clubs. The best club for her was a couple of cities over so were fortunate to have a short commute. Her last year the best fit for her was in the next county so she commuted an hour. If I lived in Vegas like some posters do the best fit might have been in SoCal still.

I believe that you should always do what is best for your player. It is how we managed our player and if that includes driving for the right fit or a higher level and that is what is best for your player then I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

Good luck to you and yours.
MAP, thanks for that. I didn't mean to single you out. I'm having a bad soccer month! I just wanted to speak to the bigger topic. Keep up the good work
 
Not trying to beat a dead horse, but that 99 SC Del Sol ECNL team that went to Silverlakes in 2016 consisted of maybe 2/3 of the original roster. Several key starters did not travel because they wanted to stay home for Thanksgiving. Didn't see any point in going to a showcase when they have already committed (not condoning their decisions, just pointing it out). So for example, the GK was a borrowed 00 player. A handful were NPL players. So no, the 1-1 was not against the full, original starters for that team. Not even close.
 
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