Girls DPL?

RU4REAL said:
Is it that your club doesn't offer ECNL? I'm in disbelief that your club has better players on a DA2 team than DA1 unless they are 02s or higher. You have almost no chance of showcasing her in front of colleges in DA2. ECNL allows for high school and is a proven soccer circuit so why play in a league that has nothing to offer at this point? Do you really believe that you have time and things will work out for this league to find a place among all the proven leagues? Your post implies she has the talent to play DA and if the restrictions are not to her liking then ECNL might be a better fit in the long run.
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I completely disagree with your comment that kids have "no chance of showcasing in front of colleges in DA2". None of the fall leagues will have much of a chance of showcase in front of colleges during league. That includes DA/ECNL/DPL/CRL/SCDSL/CSL etc. College soccer is in season and coaches are focused on their own teams right now. After that clearly ECNL has done a tremendous job at attracting coaches to their showcases. I expect the same from DA. Most of their national events are on different dates except for their Spring Showcase. Also remember that ECNL is no longer in LA or Ventura County.

Regarding DPL/CSL/SCDSL all of them are competing for entry into showcases such as Players College Showcase, Surf, Silverlakes, and National Cup etc. Those events are held on dates when the college season is over and also they do not conflict with the DA or ECNL events. So coaches will be at those events like they have been in the past. Whether you agree with it or not all DPL teams have been guaranteed entry into Silverlakes and Players Showcase. While it is not the same opportunity as ECNL, for their girls that want to play high school and live in an area not serviced by ECNL it is still a very good option.
 
My daughter and I recently went to watch a few games for G03 DA and DPL teams at Silverlakes over the past month or two with the intention of seeing if there was anything to learn. Not impressed to say the least. These are the same girls she's played against in the last year or so. Of course there are standout players and faces you recognize as being skilled players. I was expecting to see some very polished players. Saw two girls from our old club. One who played F2 with us last year and couldn't quite cut it on the F1 team (occasional guest) is now on a DA team. Another who was on the F1 team is now on a DPL team with another club. I think one club is being a little more realistic while the other is trying to fill slots. LA Premier, Legends, WCFC, and a few NorCal teams were but a few of the teams we saw. Some obviously belong there. Some would be better off staying F1 in SCDSL or Premier in CSL without shelling out all that money to say you're on a DA or DPL team. My .02
 
Mackerel Sam said:
None of the clubs in the DPL offer ECNL. In fact, if you look at the list of ECNL clubs in Southern California (http://www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com/southwest-conference/) you will see that there are several million people in Los Angeles county and north for whom ECNL is not really a viable option.
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You kind of have that backwards. Understand that DPL is unique to SoCal Girls DA Clubs. Further, the DA Clubs that are in ECNL didn't join DPL because they already have ECNL.

Presumably the non-ECNL DA clubs hope their DPL teams will be considered on the same level as ECNL some day, but for now they are on a bit of an island without the structure to compete with ECNL. The dual DA/ECNL clubs I think recognize that both can have their place.

I agree with bababooey that DPL seems an unnecessary league. It only makes sense as a rival to ECNL and right now it's not even a clear rival to SCDSL Champions or CSL Premier.
 
SocalPapa said:
....but for now they are on a bit of an island without the structure to compete with ECNL....
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Good point. The national footprint of ECNL will be difficult to compete with as well. DPL is a neat idea for the SW DA teams not members of ECNL. In this inaugural DPL season, the small DPL division has a lot to prove.
 
bababooey said:
However, you are missing a crucial point in my eyes. The coaches in GDA versus ECNL. Here in Orange County, the teams that maintained ECNL along with GDA (Blues, Surf, Slammers and West Coast) have moved their best 03 coaches to GDA and now the ECNL teams are coached by lesser coaches. You could say okay, what about Strikers......well, AR is the likely the worst coach I have ever come across face to face. RB at Arsenal is a joke, so that's not an option either. One thing is certain with the GDA.....they hold their coaches to a much higher standard than ECNL.
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How exactly is GDA holding its coaches to this higher standard? GDA says its "future goal is for each Academy coach to hold a minimum of a USSF B license". Each of the Strikers' three ECNL coaches has USSF A licenses and either professional or Division I women's head coaching experience. West Coast FC's 03 ECNL coach has an A license and was the 2015 Cal South Developmental Girls Older's Coach Of The Year. (I'm also pretty sure the Baker brothers are coaching both DA and ECNL at Blues.) I understand that there may be individual coaches people don't like but I'm curious for the basis of the "much higher standard" comment.
 
pewpew said:
My daughter and I recently went to watch a few games for G03 DA and DPL teams at Silverlakes over the past month or two with the intention of seeing if there was anything to learn. Not impressed to say the least. These are the same girls she's played against in the last year or so. Of course there are standout players and faces you recognize as being skilled players. I was expecting to see some very polished players. Saw two girls from our old club. One who played F2 with us last year and couldn't quite cut it on the F1 team (occasional guest) is now on a DA team. Another who was on the F1 team is now on a DPL team with another club. I think one club is being a little more realistic while the other is trying to fill slots. LA Premier, Legends, WCFC, and a few NorCal teams were but a few of the teams we saw. Some obviously belong there. Some would be better off staying F1 in SCDSL or Premier in CSL without shelling out all that money to say you're on a DA or DPL team. My .02
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So what team did your DD stay with? How much do you pay and do you know what they charge? For us DPL is $2300. Front what I have seen that is a reasonable price. On many big clubs you pay more and your in SCDSL or CSL. If you club does not pay much to their coaches you likely pay less.
 
SocalPapa said:
You kind of have that backwards. Understand that DPL is unique to SoCal Girls DA Clubs. Further, the DA Clubs that are in ECNL didn't join DPL because they already have ECNL.

Presumably the non-ECNL DA clubs hope their DPL teams will be considered on the same level as ECNL some day, but for now they are on a bit of an island without the structure to compete with ECNL. The dual DA/ECNL clubs I think recognize that both can have their place.

I agree with bababooey that DPL seems an unnecessary league. It only makes sense as a rival to ECNL and right now it's not even a clear rival to SCDSL Champions or CSL Premier.
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Yep feel the same way.

Our daughter is now a junior and wants to continue to play on her HS team. ECNL is able to accommodate her again but she wanted to check out DA and maybe DPL also. But skipped the DPL thing because she thought it didn't make any sense even over regular flight 1 or gold/premier teams.

The DPL premise is almost a illusion:

Does DPL expand the GDA pool?
Nope not related or sanctioned by ussda

Does DPL provide a path for a player to make the Jump to DA?
Possible but no more than any any flight 1, Gold, Premier, or other league team does

Does DPL players have a oppourunity to be call up as a ussda DP?
Possible but same as any other Cal South League such as CSL, DSL, Presido, etc.
Player must be regularly training with the DA team, have to sperately register, pay and meet all the requirements, tests, fees, etc.

Does DPL provide for greater exposure to college scouting?
Nope same as any Cal South teams that enter's the college showcase events

Does DPL mimic DA?
Nope only trains 2-3 days a week, 7-9 game fall season, plays at the dissimilar venues, only local teams, on a closed circuit, etc.

She couldn't find or fiqure out any of the advantages of DPL so my player opted not even to take a future look

DA acutally can work with HS play if you get a wavier before hand and club agrees to letting player go during the 3 months. Have to file for reinstatment after HS season is over.
 
Simisoccerfan said:
It's funny how parents of kids not in DA or DPL are the ones that are always posting negative comments here. This is exactly what happened here back when SCSDL was formed. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but ultimately if the parent's and kids in DA and DPL are happy with their leagues that is all that matters.
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For families based in the LA area DPL is the next best choice after DA as ECNL is not a local option. In the 2003 age group for example there are only a couple of really solid teams in CSL Premier and SCDSL FL 1Champions and neither are in the LA area. Many of these teams failed to qualify for CRL...losing out to DPL teams. If ECNL were a local option in LA the conversation would be different and more similar to the OC narrative.
 
Overtime said:
......If ECNL were a local option in LA the conversation would be different and more similar to the OC narrative.
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Someone had posted a link to the SW list of clubs in an earlier post and I'd looked at it, bit puzzled.

Why is that? Wasn't RSC once an ECNL club and how about the Eagles in Ventura area?

I don't know the history or know all the good clubs in LA/Ventura Cos but its odd that there isn't a club with ECNL program.

I get that USClub Soccer wants to limit the number of clubs and spread them across the country but OC appear to have heavy concentration in a very small radius, compared to the rest of the southland.

Just curious....
 
bababooey said:
equipo, my dd is on an 03 DA II (or DPL) team. We are with Pateadores and they told us that the players on the DA II team would be able to play HS soccer. This was a big factor in our decision. I am curious what DA II organization your dd is in contact with saying that she cannot play HS sports. There are multiple DA teams that say no HS sports, but the DA II teams are not supposed to be subject to the same restriction on HS sports (from what I understand). I think that is why you see the DA II schedule ending before Thanksgiving, so the players can go off to the HS soccer team when it is time.

9 league games seems low, but it doesn't really matter to me. As for my overall thoughts of DA II, I have no complaints. My dd does not want to train 4x per week and make soccer her full time non-school activity. For certain players and parents, this commitment is just fine. Not for my family. Will that change in time for my dd, maybe, but it will be her decision and not mine.

As for higher fees, I am paying the same total I paid the last two years when my dd played for an OC team that played in SCDSL flight 1.

At the end of the day, your dd should play for a team that she wants to play for, with players she likes, with a coach she likes and she should be one of the players who gets the bulk of the minutes in games. It doesn't matter what league she plays for.
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Bababooey, good stuff, thanks for sharing and I appreciate the advice, it is well taken! The DA2 club that gave my DD an open invitation allows HS sports for their players. I may have not explained that correctly in my post. My DD is in HS sports right now and practicing 5x week. Joining DA2 that trains 3-4x week on top of HS sports 5x week was just too step. So she chose to pass joining DA2 in favor of HS sports and F1 soccer. It’s still a steep schedule, but manageable. Without her knowing, I felt she made the wrong choice and was going to miss out by playing in SCDSL vs DPL. To be honest I still kind of feel that way because what I see is most, if not all, DA clubs without ECNL are fielding their 2nd teams in DPL not SCDSL. So that tells me DPL is geared to be more of a competitive league. But the choice is hers and I’ll always support her choices. The good news is my DD was asked to guest play with her clubs DA2 in DPL this opening weekend. So maybe I just need to keep my mouth shut and appreciate that she’s getting to experience a little bit of everything for the moment. Best of luck to your DD and Pats DA2 this season!
 
Simisoccerfan said:
It's funny how parents of kids not in DA or DPL are the ones that are always posting negative comments here. This is exactly what happened here back when SCSDL was formed. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but ultimately if the parent's and kids in DA and DPL are happy with their leagues that is all that matters.
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I hope you aren't taking criticism of the decision of certain clubs to form DPL as criticism of the families who chose to participate in it. From what you've described, I'm sure my family would have made the same decision yours did.

I hope you also understand that non-DA/DPL parents have a legitimate interest in what's going on here. I think the common goal for most of us is that our girls get quality training with similarly-talented girls and the opportunity to regularly play similarly-talented teams. The more diluted the talent pool gets, the more closed leagues that are formed, the less likely that will happen. As a casual observer here, it seems the formation of the DPL is more about a battle between ECNL and non-ECNL clubs in SoCal than about truly improving the soccer landscape for girls here.
 
Mackerel Sam said:
Same experience on a different club. My DD is on a DPL team and a number of her teammates are not on the DA team primarily because they want to play HS soccer. I am curious how prevalent that is. Playing HS is a big deal for a lot of girls including my DD. It will be interesting to see what that means for the DPL pool; I don't think it will be as clear cut as "those players who didn't make the DA team".
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My understanding, and I may be wrong, but isn't there a DA requirement that a club's top players must play on the DA team? I wonder how they would enforce that one.
 
Simisoccerfan said:
I completely disagree with your comment that kids have "no chance of showcasing in front of colleges in DA2". None of the fall leagues will have much of a chance of showcase in front of colleges during league. That includes DA/ECNL/DPL/CRL/SCDSL/CSL etc. College soccer is in season and coaches are focused on their own teams right now. After that clearly ECNL has done a tremendous job at attracting coaches to their showcases. I expect the same from DA. Most of their national events are on different dates except for their Spring Showcase. Also remember that ECNL is no longer in LA or Ventura County.

Regarding DPL/CSL/SCDSL all of them are competing for entry into showcases such as Players College Showcase, Surf, Silverlakes, and National Cup etc. Those events are held on dates when the college season is over and also they do not conflict with the DA or ECNL events. So coaches will be at those events like they have been in the past. Whether you agree with it or not all DPL teams have been guaranteed entry into Silverlakes and Players Showcase. While it is not the same opportunity as ECNL, for their girls that want to play high school and live in an area not serviced by ECNL it is still a very good option.
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They may be guaranteed entry into the tournaments but not that coaches will show up to watch your games. Don't count on any coaches if you are not in a top flight.
 
Simisoccerfan said:
It's funny how parents of kids not in DA or DPL are the ones that are always posting negative comments here. This is exactly what happened here back when SCSDL was formed. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but ultimately if the parent's and kids in DA and DPL are happy with their leagues that is all that matters.
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I guess Soccerreccos does not count as a DPL parent that has a negative comment about it?
 
gkrent said:
No, there is not.
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I'm not claiming that clubs are following the rule, but it does appear to be a requirement.

From the DA application: "Development Academy clubs will be required to field teams that consist of the top players
from the club's entire player pool. Clubs have the flexibility to register any age combination of players across all 3 age groups, provided they do not exceed 69 full-time players"

https://ussoccer.app.box.com/v/girlsacademyapplication
 
Fact said:
They may be guctaranteed entry into the tournaments but not that coaches will show up to watch your games. Don't count on any coaches if you are not in a top flight.
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Hello Fact, your statement is simply not true. There are many many many ways to be seen by college coaches. My family has been through this and I have seen how it works with my own eyes. When my kids started started this process I was intimidated by blowhard statements like yours which are misleading to the point of being flagrantly irresponsible.

My DD has played in the top brackets in Surf Cup and Davis Cup and Jefferson Cup and she has played in lower brackets in Vegas and even at Nomads. Colleges come to all of these tournaments if the kids write to the coaches and can demonstrate that they are worth seeing. Also, some D1 schools skip the best brackets to find players who are not yet committed. These are not the Top D1 schools but they offer the kids D1 experience nonetheless. Then there are the D3 schools which have some of the best students in the country. They go to where the student athletes are and they don't care about the bracket.
 
soccerobserver said:
Hello Fact, your statement is simply not true. There are many many many ways to be seen by college coaches. My family has been through this and I have seen how it works with my own eyes. When my kids started started this process I was intimidated by blowhard statements like yours which are misleading to the point of being flagrantly irresponsible.

My DD has played in the top brackets in Surf Cup and Davis Cup and Jefferson Cup and she has played in lower brackets in Vegas and even at Nomads. Colleges come to all of these tournaments if the kids write to the coaches and can demonstrate that they are worth seeing. Also, some D1 schools skip the best brackets to find players who are not yet committed. These are not the Top D1 schools but they offer the kids D1 experience nonetheless. Then there are the D3 schools which have some of the best students in the country. They go to where the student athletes are and they don't care about the bracket.
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My point is that just because they are in a tournament does not guarantee that the coaches will watch their team. They have to have quality players that initiate contact. If their team sucks no coaches are going to watch unless they have heard about a player. If you read earlier responses from this poster they think that just because they are on DPL, that they will get looks. Simply not true.
 
Fact said:
They may be guaranteed entry into the tournaments but not that coaches will show up to watch your games. Don't count on any coaches if you are not in a top flight.
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The previous team we were on (different club and that team fell apart this year) was not in the top flight of several showcases we attended and though we did not have the same number of coaches on the sidelines we still had an impressive turnout. Though being in the top flight is great, you wrong if you think coaches don't attend other games too.
 
Fact said:
My point is that just because they are in a tournament does not guarantee that the coaches will watch their team. They have to have quality players that initiate contact. If their team sucks no coaches are going to watch unless they have heard about a player. If you read earlier responses from this poster they think that just because they are on DPL, that they will get looks. Simply not true.
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And if you are referring to me, get your "Facts" straight. No where have I said just because a team is DPL they will get looks. I said DPL teams are guaranteed entry to several showcases. The teams still need to have girls worth being seen and they need to do all of the contact work.
 
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