Say bye-bye-bye to Girls and Boys DA

MakeAPlay said:
Even with this consolidation everything is still too diluted to really maximize the benefit to the 25-40 per birth year.
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Is that the goal?

Might be your goal. If so, I hope they get going with those multi-age all star teams.

My goal is some good local games for my little one, and maybe buy tickets to watch MAP’s daughter if she ever plays at Avaya.

cheers!
 
MakeAPlay said:
it was an elite program and still is. When I played against Tom Brady's Michigan team he was the 4th string quarterback and their star player was a guy name Charles Woodson....
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So with your football background, would you say Brady was/is more of a "system" product in the NFL or just needed more time to develop? Both?
 
outside! said:
If that is true, how does a country like Iceland with a population of 364,134 build a team that is competitive at the World Cup? Are you saying most of them are just role players? Southern California has a population that dwarfs many countries that produce many more players per capita than we do that are capable of playing on the world stage. The reason we don't is culture. Soccer is just not popular enough. I could care less about who wins a national championship at the youth level and who gets into college beyond the fact that those are filters that show the best of the players that are currently available. The fact that most of those players come from families that can afford the current pay to play system are symptoms of the problem. It comes down to statistics. We have plenty of people, resources and great weather, but the current system leaves many players out and does not do enough to make soccer more popular.

Like it or not, US Soccer is the governing body for youth soccer in the US. The US Soccer Federation Mission Statement is:
"As the governing body of soccer in all its forms in the United States, U.S. Soccer has played an integral part in charting the course for the sport in the USA for more than 100 years. In that time, the Federation’s mission statement has been clear and simple: to make soccer, in all its forms, the preeminent sport in the United States and to continue the development of soccer at all recreational and competitive levels."

I argue that setting up an expensive, closed "Elite" league runs counter to that mission statement and the lack of growth of youth soccer over the past few years seems to support that. Now if ECNL were to set up a system that would allow teams from clubs not in the closed league to compete, it might help fix that. I still believe that the old system of tiered leagues before ECNL and DA was a superior system for the long term growth of soccer in the United States.

I am not arguing that current players in the system are at any way at fault. We all have to navigate the world as it is as our children grow up. ECNL won the battle with DA only because they were only a little smarter than the dumb asses running US Soccer. Remember they almost lost that battle when GDA was formed.
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I’d argue the opposite. More girls play soccer in the US than anywhere in the world, both in sheer numbers and per capita. It is the most popular sport among girls in the US. The US also has the most dominant WNT in the history of the world and, unlike anywhere else, thousands every year use a child’s sport as a means to open college doors that would otherwise be shut. Until USSF created GDA, on the girls side it had absolutely fulfilled its mission of making soccer the preeminent sport in the US at all recreational and competitive levels just by staying out of the way.

All of that soccer greatness happened as a direct result of a system that included ECNL, plus all the other regional and national youth leagues. There are so many different options for girls to play soccer it is ridiculous. Shoot, a kid can even play soccer for free in the US. It is called HS soccer.

ECNL is not a closed system to any player, as anyone with the ability and a family with sufficient desire can participate in ECNL. ECNL is only closed to non-member clubs that haven’t done what it takes to belong there. But those clubs still fulfill an important role in youth soccer in support of ISSF’s mission, which is to allow kids who aren’t really elite or don’t care all that much to continue playing the sport as they get older, and also to provide opportunity for those who might be barred from ECNL due to geographic restrictions.

When people complain that Beach can’t play in ECNL, it’s no different complaining that the Ford dealership doesn’t sell Mercedes. If you want ECNL or a Mercedes, both of those vendors are right across the street.
 
MakeAPlay said:
I think that you are misunderstanding me. I never said that ECNL was anything other than a platform. What makes a league elite is the players playing in it and unfortunately their aren't enough elite players nationally to fill out the 26 "elite" SoCal teams today let alone an entire league. If you ask me the top team in any club should not have age restrictions and should simply have the elite players from U14-U18 train and play together.
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I'm not sure I would have believed this 2-3 years ago but, as my daughter gets closer to college and the desire to play in it, I'm amazed at how many PAC12 players don't look much better than U15 and U16 players I see at the local level. Passing to nobody... difficulty trapping a ball... etc. Not at UCLA or Stanford, but I'm amazed at how unskilled some of these Division 1 players really are. Maybe those are the 4.6 recruits.
 
EOTL said:
I’d argue the opposite. More girls play soccer in the US than anywhere in the world, both in sheer numbers and per capita. It is the most popular sport among girls in the US. The US also has the most dominant WNT in the history of the world and, unlike anywhere else, thousands every year use a child’s sport as a means to open college doors that would otherwise be shut. Until USSF created GDA, on the girls side it had absolutely fulfilled its mission of making soccer the preeminent sport in the US at all recreational and competitive levels just by staying out of the way.

All of that soccer greatness happened as a direct result of a system that included ECNL, plus all the other regional and national youth leagues. There are so many different options for girls to play soccer it is ridiculous. Shoot, a kid can even play soccer for free in the US. It is called HS soccer.

ECNL is not a closed system to any player, as anyone with the ability and a family with sufficient desire can participate in ECNL. ECNL is only closed to non-member clubs that haven’t done what it takes to belong there. But those clubs still fulfill an important role in youth soccer in support of ISSF’s mission, which is to allow kids who aren’t really elite or don’t care all that much to continue playing the sport as they get older, and also to provide opportunity for those who might be barred from ECNL due to geographic restrictions.

When people complain that Beach can’t play in ECNL, it’s no different complaining that the Ford dealership doesn’t sell Mercedes. If you want ECNL or a Mercedes, both of those vendors are right across the street.
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You seem to be a parent of a girl that was playing in an ECNL team. If so you carry many lottery tickets to be watching ECNL games from the "non-elite" side of the club whenever play resumes. Or, using your analogy, next year you may be driving an old, dented Mercedes. When that happens and you come back here to rant, please don't change your handle.
 
[QUOTE=Funny. I have managed to acquire access to fields for free in the bay area. Nice fields too with lights. Working on volunteer coaches as we speak.

What is the tax write off or incentive for these fields. Someone is paying the cost.
 
MakeAPlay said:
You are barking up the wrong tree with me. I have stated since my player was a U10 player (she is now a pro and has started and played every minute of two college cups) that there are only about 25-40 players per age group IN ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA that are elite. I have also repeatedly said that there is a college program for any good player who wants to continue playing. This is because THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH REALLY ELITE PLAYERS TO POPULATE OVER 320 D1 WOMEN'S SOCCER PROGRAMS. That does not mean that they are all created equal. Every year the College Blue Bloods (Stanford, North Carolina, UCLA, Penn State, Florida State, Virginia) get most of the cream of the elite players. Some of them scatter to other places (USC, Santa Clara and so on). I have never even seen a WAC team that looked decent to be honest with you and I only saw 4 teams that played a consistent possession game of soccer and they are all blue bloods.

I believe that all of the players that are decent and want to play college soccer can achieve that goal.
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Completely agree with you regarding the Blue Bloods. I think we can agree that the next level of players falls in two categories. The next 8-0% that are truly a cut above but not blue bloods and then the next 8-10% that make it due to very annoying reasons, Coach connections,, parents have a lot of money, and definitely my favorite, Coach’s assessments of a players ability. Which as we all know is very subjective. And that’s my point. You have a sold population of players that aren’t really all that much better, that are playing ECNL, that really are not all that-better from a talented DPL Player or Discovery player, that for some reason wasn’t seen or didn’t try out and or did try out and in that ONE Coaches opinion was not talented enough. It’s truly because for whatever reason the ONE coach made a subjective opinion on who they thought was worthy of the spot. That’s why I was thrilled for all of the NEXT Level Of player when the DA came along and opened more doors and opportunity for those non ECNL clubs and some very good players in the SouthWest. As we all know It was very difficult to get exposure unless you were DA or ECNL Player this past few years. It’s hard to be seen now. Personally I hate closed leagues and I long for the old days of Coast Soccer League where a club like Mission Viejo Soccer Club had a chance to compete and play against the best in the Premier Dividion of CSL Truly because of hard work and determination and a little luck they were able to form a competitive team. It wasn’t dictated by someone’s opinion of who was an Elite Club and who was not an Elite Club. It was truly the best teams in that age bracket playing one another. Most premier players back in the day all had very good offers to play at High Level D1. It was truly the best of the best. Then the politics and money really started to drive the games and clubs. The lines are blurred and it’s Youth Soccer that pays the price. The biggest point I’d like to make is that the number of Next Level Player other than the Unicorns and Blue Bloods will be a matter of debate for years to come. I welcome another opportunity here in the SW for the Non ECNL clubs to compete in and Showcase their players. As it is my opinion that there is many more that the 220 or so players (not the unicorns) in each age group that deserve a look.
 
I bet if some of these clubs got a heads up USSF was closing their doors April 15th when taxes were due, they would have applied to ECNL a lot earlier like that club in North Carolina did. They were prepared unlike any club except Surf. LYou guys need to learn from what a smart club does to manuver through all this crap. Kicker or Tech, do you know if your clubs applied for ECNL last year for this season coming up? I know I heard in order to join the ECNL you needed to give up your top elite goat players to the ECNL. You can't have it both ways is my only point. However, for the sake of good old competition, I would love to see the top clubs play in the same league. Me and Maps both agree we should have one top team for each club. 15-18 years old and let them do all the traveling. I think my dd would do well with that group but I believe her leadership skills would be better suited leading a team of her peers to a local championship under 17. Maybe when she is 18, she could lead the travel team if called upon.
 
The Outlaw said:
Do you guys in SoCal really see that as being the case? Has DA been around long enough to rise to the top? I don't see that at all in NorCal. Sans a couple of players on each DA team, everyone else is very average. Up here... it's whatever kid wa


So if your kid never played club, what was the level of competition and what made you decide she should be sent to Tijuana to develop? And just so I know, what made you pick Tijuana of all places? Known more for Senior Frog's and donkey shows than soccer. Why TJ?
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I enrolled my kid in an International school in TJ for kindergarten. She was classmates with Edgar Carillo’s son and the kids of both Pellerano brothers. Many other Xolo’s players kids also go to her school but were in other classes. My kids kindergarten year the Xolo’s won the championship and she was hooked.
She enrolled in the Xolo’s youth program and played on boys teams until she was placed on the U15 Fuerzas Basicas squad. Xolo’s is a first division professional team so the level of play is excellent. Also, our second division team Dorados is decent too.
When my kid started playing I met Ryan Walker Hartshorn on a plane ride back to TJ and the talk I had with her and her mom greatly influenced what I did with my daughter.

I knew Ryan played for Mustang so, I enrolled my kid in a John Doyle camp to do some recon. While at the camp I saw the SJ earthquakes boys team practicing. I spoke with Fred Wilson and Pat Uriz; both good dudes.

My assessment was the soccer at Mustang was light years behind Xolo’s and if the Xolo’s were to play the quakes at any level from academy to first team I’m pretty sure the quakes will get the brakes beat off of them.

I’ve also let my kid practice with several bay area teams Santa Rosa, Benicia Arsenal, Lamorinda and many more. What I always saw at these so called elite clubs was grossly inadequate. So, she stayed with Xolo’s.

I’ll also say this. Up until recently, I wanted my kid to play college soccer. What changed my mind was when a well respected D1 coach explained how the college game wasn’t gonna be good for my kid and that she should go pro. He went on further to explain how one his star players was only a B/C recruit; she’s now in the NWSL.
 
EOTL said:
I’d argue the opposite. More girls play soccer in the US than anywhere in the world, both in sheer numbers and per capita. It is the most popular sport among girls in the US. The US also has the most dominant WNT in the history of the world and, unlike anywhere else, thousands every year use a child’s sport as a means to open college doors that would otherwise be shut. Until USSF created GDA, on the girls side it had absolutely fulfilled its mission of making soccer the preeminent sport in the US at all recreational and competitive levels just by staying out of the way.

All of that soccer greatness happened as a direct result of a system that included ECNL, plus all the other regional and national youth leagues. There are so many different options for girls to play soccer it is ridiculous. Shoot, a kid can even play soccer for free in the US. It is called HS soccer.

ECNL is not a closed system to any player, as anyone with the ability and a family with sufficient desire can participate in ECNL. ECNL is only closed to non-member clubs that haven’t done what it takes to belong there. But those clubs still fulfill an important role in youth soccer in support of ISSF’s mission, which is to allow kids who aren’t really elite or don’t care all that much to continue playing the sport as they get older, and also to provide opportunity for those who might be barred from ECNL due to geographic restrictions.

When people complain that Beach can’t play in ECNL, it’s no different complaining that the Ford dealership doesn’t sell Mercedes. If you want ECNL or a Mercedes, both of those vendors are right across the street.
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"...ECNL is only closed to non-member clubs that haven’t done what it takes to belong there..."

So we are shifting back to "haven't done what it takes" now? What happened to Bylaws and such as the reason clubs are not in?

Just to clarify the Mercedes is Beach, Legends and LAG with the Ford being DMCV, LA Breakers and Rebels right?

Your statement is utter nonsense and at this point I think it is by design as the issue seems personal to you....
 
SouthBayFutbol said:
"...ECNL is only closed to non-member clubs that haven’t done what it takes to belong there..."

So we are shifting back to "haven't done what it takes" now? What happened to Bylaws and such as the reason clubs are not in?

Just to clarify the Mercedes is Beach, Legends and LAG with the Ford being DMCV, LA Breakers and Rebels right?

Your statement is utter nonsense and at this point I think it is by design as the issue seems personal to you....
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Rebels deserves a chance to fulfill the South County Elite Club spot for San Diego. At the younger ages they have always had top quality teams, due to geography they can not be replaced. If they don't make the most of their opportunity then maybe others will be given a shot.
 
Ellejustus said:
I bet if some of these clubs got a heads up USSF was closing their doors April 15th when taxes were due, they would have applied to ECNL a lot earlier like that club in North Carolina did. They were prepared unlike any club except Surf. LYou guys need to learn from what a smart club does to manuver through all this crap. Kicker or Tech, do you know if your clubs applied for ECNL last year for this season coming up? I know I heard in order to join the ECNL you needed to give up your top elite goat players to the ECNL. You can't have it both ways is my only point. However, for the sake of good old competition, I would love to see the top clubs play in the same league. Me and Maps both agree we should have one top team for each club. 15-18 years old and let them do all the traveling. I think my dd would do well with that group but I believe her leadership skills would be better suited leading a team of her peers to a local championship under 17. Maybe when she is 18, she could lead the travel team if called upon.
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You mean that club in North Carolina that was affiliated with Cindy Parlow Cone and Will Wilson?
 
MacDre said:
You make compelling arguments. But, I have a feeling that your analysis is superficial. I also think the mindset that you are advocating is part of the reason many get manipulated by slick talking coaches in track suits.

I think the “late bloomer” and “development” mindset is all part of the hussle. Unfortunately, parents have let dude in the track suit frame the issues and I’m not sure that we’ve thought critically on the issue.

On Netflix, look at the I am Bolt documentary. Beginning at aprox. minute 57.35 and ending at aprox. minute 56.10 Bolt gives his opinion on hard work and late bloomers. I agree with Bolt and challenge anyone to name a world class late bloomer!

So, if we can agree the late bloomer theory is bogus, what’s wrong with the Blues approach? If my kid played club and wasn’t being approached by a club like the Blues I’d be having a talk with my kid letting them know that they don’t have what it takes to play at a higher level. So is the problem the shady coach in the track suit or the gullible parent that thinks they have a late bloomer that just needs development in the right environment with the right coach?
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Michael Jordan
 
SouthBayFutbol said:
"...ECNL is only closed to non-member clubs that haven’t done what it takes to belong there..."

So we are shifting back to "haven't done what it takes" now? What happened to Bylaws and such as the reason clubs are not in?

Just to clarify the Mercedes is Beach, Legends and LAG with the Ford being DMCV, LA Breakers and Rebels right?

Your statement is utter nonsense and at this point I think it is by design as the issue seems personal to you....
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I agree the Beach, Legends and LAG are Mercedes dealerships. The question I have for you is how did they get the Mercedes cars in the first place? They weren;t always Mercedes. LAG offered fully funded free cars, plus access to The List. Nice free cars btw. Beach offered access to YNT, but no free cars. Legends offered free Mercedes as well plus access to The List. Mercedes is a big sponsor (or was) of Silverlakes too. That place is awesome and set up for Pro soccer btw. I think your question has already been answered. They ((The by laws)) don't want to do business with those dealerships for many reasons. I think their is a very good reason why and only the big boys truly know why. I know why but I won;t share that on here. I used to sell advertising to car dealerships and no one gave me a free car btw.
 
IDK. I like to focus on solutions. But I can admit there’s a little “horse trading involved.” My overall point was and still is that we have to find creative solutions. Think globally and act locally.
 
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