Say bye-bye-bye to Girls and Boys DA

Watching upper middle class parents grasping at "success" and scrambling not to be left behind.
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Multiple spots have been offered already and, after thanking the coaches, the player stays put. After many great years of soccer (Surf Cup, CRL, Regional Championships, YNT calls, tremendous DA matches ...), beating every team of relevance in SoCal, and also losing a few matches to those great teams, before and during DA, there is no need at this point to stop trusting and quit your coaches and teammates . If down the road the choice turns out to hurt your daughter, one can always reevaluate.

This is true at every age group? Not one offer has been taken? I find that hard to believe. I’m not doubting that legends and beach are excellent clubs with excellent teams. They are, but I find it hard that neither club loses a single player like you just mentioned. Or are you only talking about a specific age group?
 
Thank you pokergod. I do not post what I know on here often because it seems that many on this blog really enjoy attacking and bullying women of color. Very telling and quite disturbing.
I would hope that people are not doing that for those reasons and I did not know. But, it is the internet and everyone is really tough when sitting behind a computer. The very same people that would never have the stones to confront someone in the real world. You are welcome, keep posting, and stay safe.
 
For teams in NorCal, I don't foresee a lot of migration to other teams over this. Players seemed to have made moves before the start of this season based on whatever it was that led to the decision, but I am clueless to such things. Plus it seems like the former DA teams aren't certain where they will land so families are waiting to make a decision. I am not sure why a former DA club in SoCal would necessarily lose players a week or two after an announcement was made unless things inside the club itself weren't satisfying what they were looking for.
 
I wonder how much of the “everyone jumps ship” talk is just wishful thinking by the big clubs. (and a bit of schadenfreude by those who like a good train wreck.)

If you lost a few players to DA (or ECNL), it’s tempting to think that they only left for the badge. That, if the badge is gone, everyone will come running.

Life is more complicated than that, of course.
 
I wonder how much of the “everyone jumps ship” talk is just wishful thinking by the big clubs. (and a bit of schadenfreude by those who like a good train wreck.)

If you lost a few players to DA (or ECNL), it’s tempting to think that they only left for the badge. That, if the badge is gone, everyone will come running.

Life is more complicated than that, of course.
You win the posting games for using "schadenfreude". Congrats. For winning, you get to stay home for another month.
Look, if ECNL shut down and DA "won", then pats, beach and legends people would be on here looking to see who was leaving eagles, blues, slammers ECNL teams. The negativity between those two programs and the clubs is evident in this forum.
 
This is true at every age group? Not one offer has been taken? I find that hard to believe. I’m not doubting that legends and beach are excellent clubs with excellent teams. They are, but I find it hard that neither club loses a single player like you just mentioned. Or are you only talking about a specific age group?
I am talking about one specific player and her 05 team. Kicker has described the situation in the 04 team, which he knows pretty well. I doubt that the core of Joyner's 03 team, which has been in the club for six or more years, will move because most of them committed long ago and this is their last year. I have no idea about the younger groups. Will some players leave in any group? Sure, just like it happens every year. Will the strongest players that have been in the club for a few years stay? That is happening in the 04 and 05 groups, and other great players are joining in. The club (and other clubs in the same situation) will make sure to setup a schedule of competitive matches, work harder than before in developing the players, and probably cup the development of the 03s with WPSL games in Spring. I have no problem with that.
 
You win the posting games for using "schadenfreude". Congrats. For winning, you get to stay home for another month.
Look, if ECNL shut down and DA "won", then pats, beach and legends people would be on here looking to see who was leaving eagles, blues, slammers ECNL teams. The negativity between those two programs and the clubs is evident in this forum.
No doubt about how things would have looked if DA had won. They’d be making phone calls and sales pitches right about now.

Just shows that both groups of clubs are about the same. The clubs will play games trying to undermine each other. The kids will play some games when it opens up. Hope your kid has fun when it does.
 
You win the posting games for using "schadenfreude". Congrats. For winning, you get to stay home for another month.
Look, if ECNL shut down and DA "won", then pats, beach and legends people would be on here looking to see who was leaving eagles, blues, slammers ECNL teams. The negativity between those two programs and the clubs is evident in this forum.
Kind of toxic lately. Who does one believe? For me, I took a step back and look to see who is in business still and who threw up the white towel to us to fight over? That was done horrible and now we have all this.
 
No doubt about how things would have looked if DA had won. They’d be making phone calls and sales pitches right about now.

Just shows that both groups of clubs are about the same. The clubs will play games trying to undermine each other. The kids will play some games when it opens up. Hope your kid has fun when it does.
Yes, so true. Same club, same coaches, just with a new sign again. Also, their so happy HS Soccer is a choice now and all these dads see the social value of hs soccer and now that their league folded they have to play the public schools kids as well in their league. This is going to be one wacky fall
 
Sorry, let me rephrase the question. How do you feel about how your coach/club are handling the team formation?

I like all the kids on the team and their parents, and I certainly feel for any kid at this age who didn’t get an early offer and is facing the prospect of losing her spot to a stronger player. Especially during this pandemic. At the same time just because a particular player was on the team this year shouldn’t guarantee anything for the next season when you are talking about an ECNL level team. If the new players are substantially better then so be it. If the players are close the tie should go to the existing player. It’s not my club and I don’t pick the teams, but that’s just my view of it.

I’ve tried to reinforce with my daughter that every day is a tryout and that it will ultimately be her work ethic which will determine whether she starts, how many minutes she gets and if she is offered a spot next year.
 
I like all the kids on the team and their parents, and I certainly feel for any kid at this age who didn’t get an early offer and is facing the prospect of losing her spot to a stronger player. Especially during this pandemic. At the same time just because a particular player was on the team this year shouldn’t guarantee anything for the next season when you are talking about an ECNL level team. If the new players are substantially better then so be it. If the players are close the tie should go to the existing player. It’s not my club and I don’t pick the teams, but that’s just my view of it.

I’ve tried to reinforce with my daughter that every day is a tryout and that it will ultimately be her work ethic which will determine whether she starts, how many minutes she gets and if she is offered a spot next year.
Great takes. One thing I liked about TB, he said your spot is open for just one year. Telling a kid it's your spot regardless and you have no worries to worry about tryouts next year is alarming from a competitive stand point. Keeping the customers paying every year, then yes, offer a spot for next 5 years because we all know it's all about the coach and his development tactics.
 
Great takes. One thing I liked about TB, he said your spot is open for just one year. Telling a kid it's your spot regardless and you have no worries to worry about tryouts next year is alarming from a competitive stand point. Keeping the customers paying every year, then yes, offer a spot for next 5 years because we all know it's all about the coach and his development tactics.
Or, on the flip side, you have a similarly skilled group of girls. Of course you might have a few that standout but in general there is no huge differential in skill over the course of a season. More importantly, all the girls are intrinsically motivated, and highly committed to development and don't need outside motivation to train hard and compete to get better, as they shouldn't be on a top team if they don't have that anyway. The coach and club commit to developing this group of girls and don't look for outside talent unless there is voluntary turnover.

Of course if someone's commitment level falters or they don't keep up with development and the skill gap widens, then of course discussing other options for the next year is appropriate.

Talent identification is highly subjective and often wrong, exaggeratedly so under 18 years. And, explain to me this need to create powerhouse teams of all star players at U13?
 
Or, on the flip side, you have a similarly skilled group of girls. Of course you might have a few that standout but in general there is no huge differential in skill over the course of a season. More importantly, all the girls are intrinsically motivated, and highly committed to development and don't need outside motivation to train hard and compete to get better, as they shouldn't be on a top team if they don't have that anyway. The coach and club commit to developing this group of girls and don't look for outside talent unless there is voluntary turnover.

Of course if someone's commitment level falters or they don't keep up with development and the skill gap widens, then of course discussing other options for the next year is appropriate.

Talent identification is highly subjective and often wrong, exaggeratedly so under 18 years. And, explain to me this need to create powerhouse teams of all star players at U13?
Two sides for sure. To each his own and each kid is motivated differently and progresses better in certain environments than others. Not all teams and coaches are the same. We are talking about ECNL and the competitive component. This is super hard on all of us because we all want something from soccer. The freaking ball might just pop on us and we will have no soccer. I hope not but man, people are super controlling and some even get pissed off when your super honest and say, "Hey coach Jack, it's not working out because:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________--_Coach Ass says, "WTF, we did all this for you and all this for that and now you think you can just leave? Ok club hopper now you asked for it"______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________So I I tell him to pound sand and we shall see how good your threat holds up. It's really starting to act like a cult in some places.
 
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There will be losers and if teams from former DA model stay together, that’s really cool. I’m just wondering if the former DA clubs will lower their fees. I mean, paying $4k+ just makes zero sense unless your club can guarantee scholarships or you believe in your kid that much. Remember people, colleges will no longer have the money to offer as many athletic scholarships as in the past. Do it for love and competitive environment. Just don’t get mad when your DD doesn’t get that wonderful scholarship. Don’t blame anyone else but yourselves. This is why we are in this mess and everyone chasing those 3/4 letter leagues. Just when I thought things were going to be simple with ECNL on top, now I hear ECRL, DPL, NPxx, Mls academy, EIEIO.
 
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