Say bye-bye-bye to Girls and Boys DA

MacDre said:
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.
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So is your daughter's goal to remain in Mexico and/or play in South America? What is the pay scale in those leagues? I can't imagine they're that much better, if at all, than the U.S. league. No?
 
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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Just sounds like Blues are afraid to compete straight up.

Weird. They win enough they should be just fine with proving it on the field.

But that isn't how they act. I will believe Blues are top when they can let the top teams into ECNL and still beat them. Right now, it looks like they can only win if they can veto certain opponents.
 
Avanti said:
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.
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I have been accused of being the parent of a kid who plays in every league from ECNL and GDA to AYSO. I have been accused of being a homeless guy who hangs out in public libraries in WA. But I have also been accused of knowing exactly what I’m talking about by the few intelligent and thoughtful people who participate in this forum.

I can understand why simpletons might think I have an agenda as it relates to ECNL and GDA; I have obviously been very critical of GDA over the years. In reality, I have no agenda. I have only explained to those who actually did have one what they did not want to hear and refused to see despite being in plain sight all along. Recent events have proven that.
 
dad4 said:
Just sounds like Blues are afraid to compete straight up.

Weird. They win enough they should be just fine with proving it on the field.

But that isn't how they act. I will believe Blues are top when they can let the top teams into ECNL and still beat them. Right now, it looks like they can only win if they can veto certain opponents.
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Not a Blues fan, but what you believe is irrelevant. Their track record speaks for itself.
 
DPLLove said:
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.
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Based on my limited interactions with D1 coaches, I think it would be more beneficial for a “NEXT” level athlete to play multiple sports and develop athleticism in preparation for the college game. College soccer is not very technical and is very physical. Save the ECNL money and take a family trip. Your kid will be better off for it.
 
It's all starting to make more sense why my dear friends started to hate me when we left Legends for da Blues. I'm shocked but I'm not. Wow, some serious Blues envy going on here today. It seems to always go back to Blues and their recruiting tactics on this forum. I recruit tradesman all the time and try and steal the top producers (( sales goats)) from the competitor. That is America. I got no free car from Tad. He drove a used Honda btw. That guy was not about the money, let me tell you :) Lester, i felt compelled to share again my story of Tad and me, sorry :)
 
myself said:
Michael Jordan was cut from the Varsity as a freshman so that a senior could get the roster spot and played JV. Let's not act like he was Hailey Mace who played in the middle of nowhere and was discovered late in the process.
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myself said:
Michael Jordan was cut from the Varsity as a freshman so that a senior could get the roster spot and played JV. Let's not act like he was Hailey Mace who played in the middle of nowhere and was discovered late in the process.
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Ventura is hardly the middle of nowhere as is playing for the Eagles, ECNL and UCLA.
 
Ellejustus said:
It's all starting to make more sense why my dear friends started to hate me when we left Legends for da Blues. I'm shocked but I'm not. Wow, some serious Blues envy going on here today. It seems to always go back to Blues and their recruiting tactics on this forum. I recruit tradesman all the time and try and steal the top producers (( sales goats)) from the competitor. That is America. I got no free car from Tad. He drove a used Honda btw. That guy was not about the money, let me tell you :) Lester, i felt compelled to share again my story of Tad and me, sorry :)
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Just a matter of time, Spicoli.
 
MakeAPlay said:
First, are you saying that Iceland is successful because I don't see it? They have only ever qualified for one Men's World Cup and they went out in the group stage. That would be bad even by USMNT standards. Regarding culture, that is true we are a country that loves football, basketball and baseball first and foremost. Soccer falls somewhere below hockey, MMA and WWE unfortunately. Until you change that the participation numbers aren't going to matter because the best athletes on the boys side won't be playing soccer past the age of 13.
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I would say that qualifying for the World Cup out of the UEFA conference is successful. How do you propose to make soccer more popular in this country? My idea is to make more youth soccer players love the game. They are the future fans. Speaking of the future, there are now many high schools where more boys tryout for soccer than for football. There is a reason soccer is the most popular sport in the world.
 
myself said:
Not a Blues fan, but what you believe is irrelevant. Their track record speaks for itself.
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I'm not saying they don't win. I'm saying there is no way to give credit for coaching without also giving credit for recruiting players using ECNL as bait. The first deserves respect. The second doesn't. And both are at the core of Blues.
 
The Outlaw said:
So is your daughter's goal to remain in Mexico and/or play in South America? What is the pay scale in those leagues? I can't imagine they're that much better, if at all, than the U.S. league. No?
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IDK. I think the development environment in Mexico is the best in the world now because of Liga MX Femenil and the FIFA pilot going on. She just turned 12 and the coaches are preparing her for her professional debut at 15. More than likely, she’ll continue to play in TJ until she finishes up a Cal or maybe UCSD.
She has a British Passport so she can play in Europe too-not sure how BREXIT impacts this. Also, she won’t have to do a NWSL draft and get stuck in a place like Utah and it seems she would have more leverage to negotiate a NWSL salary coming from Liga MX if necessary.

BUT do you think the billionaire owner is gonna just let the first girl that came through his system go. The Xolo’s coaches help raise my kid...I guess we’ll see soon, if she can stay healthy. Plus, the Xolo’s market themselves as the team without borders. So, currently Xolo’s are the only professional women’s team in California. Location. Location. Location.
 
dad4 said:
I'm not saying they don't win. I'm saying there is no way to give credit for coaching without also giving credit for recruiting players using ECNL as bait. The first deserves respect. The second doesn't. And both are at the core of Blues.
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okay but dont forget Legends got so big and Galaxy too because they could attract and retain top players due to DA. even with beach lots of kids left smaller clubs to join them to have a shot at DA. Kids drove from Vegas to play on that legends 2006 team. it's not just Blues that have been doing this
 
espola said:
I thought he was already limiting the argument to soccer.
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EOTL said:
You agreed that Blues emphasizes recruiting over development, and that is an inaccurate trope.

Of course they sell their services to those in the market. They are a business. They are “recruiting” just like Mercedes is recruiting when it advertises in tv. They’re doing exactly what they should be doing when they aren’t spending most of their time developing players.
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What is disturbing is that when a player has spent 7-8 years with one club and 4-5 or 6 years with one coach who helped her get recruited to a top D1 school then jumps ship to the Blues so she can be a "National Champion". So interesting what people see as their priority. Oh well, some people talk the talk but don't walk the walk, character counts. Blues are who they are, they get their national ranking off some very talented players, yahoo, doesn't matter in the long run. Soccer ends for everyone. What the player learns on their journey is what counts. Best of luck to everyone in this crazy time, wash your hands and stay healthy and let's hope all our players are back on the pitch in the fall.
 
dad4 said:
Just sounds like Blues are afraid to compete straight up.

Weird. They win enough they should be just fine with proving it on the field.

But that isn't how they act. I will believe Blues are top when they can let the top teams into ECNL and still beat them. Right now, it looks like they can only win if they can veto certain opponents.
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Ha ha. You incorrectly think competition is who wins a soccer game played by 11 year olds. Blues actually knows what competition is, which is being a better club overall that provides better value. They aren’t afraid of anyone. They know they put out a better product even if they might lose an occasional business opportunity here and there. Neither Blues nor any ECNl member is going to gift their riff raff “competitors” the benefit of their hard work and years of investment.

If the riff raff wants a seat at the ECNL table, they need to do a lot more than bring an 11 year old superstar who is carrying her team and whose parents haven’t figured out yet that their current club is a dead end, because Blues knows she’ll be their customer in a year or two anyway. If you expect any particular club to be in ECNL, the first question you need to be able to answer is how that club provides value to the likes of Blues and Slammers. If customers are attracted to Blues and Slammers in part by virtue of the strength of schedule that Beach provides, then Beach has value to ECNL. But if Blues or Slammers will lose potential customers by virtue of adding Beach, then Beach has no value to ECNL. It’s really a pretty simple concept.

Why do you keep pissing into the wind?
 
soccerfan123 said:
okay but dont forget Legends got so big and Galaxy too because they could attract and retain top players due to DA. even with beach lots of kids left smaller clubs to join them to have a shot at DA. Kids drove from Vegas to play on that legends 2006 team. it's not just Blues that have been doing this
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Exactly.

And EOTL has a point that the top kids will want to be on the same team. That's true, and on a level playing field that team might still be Blues.

My objection is to the closed league, not the team hopping.
 
dad4 said:
Exactly.

And EOTL has a point that the top kids will want to be on the same team. That's true, and on a level playing field that team might still be Blues.

My objection is to the closed league, not the team hopping.
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GDA was 100% closed to public schools kids unless you gave up your peers, don;t play for your hs and so on. That is why this USSF company failed. 100%. If they allow HS we would be hearing why GDA won;t let so and so club in. Jay was making $700,000+ a year and that was an issue. He takes off and Mr Wilson steps in. He gets hit with all this stuff he had no idea about two weeks ago. Cindy and Ernie had no clue too. Classic blame everyone. I blamed everything on the USSF and I still do. ECNL is a private company, that's their right.
 
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