DA vs ECNL vs everything else

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Interesting - Michigan Hawks dropping out of DA and indicate that other top clubs are also following suit.
https://www.michiganwolveshawks.com/

Two of the rumored clubs are FC Stars and PDA - those are no small minnows . . .
http://www.talking-soccer.com/TS4/showthread.php?t=152170

I followed the Hawks link and fail to see anything mentioning that the club is leaving DA.???

Interesting . . . it is gone . . . they had a 4/16 article on their page indicating they were not continuing and saying their top two teams would be playing ECNL

Maybe they suddenly realized it's got put out there too early?

Maybe they realized they just lost their player pool

Michigan Hawks is a very high level club so they're not losing their player pool as a result of moving out of the DA.

I do believe an early poster hit on the true reason some clubs are leaving and that's money not the players' best interests. While the DA may expand into more age groups in the future, right now, there are only four teams between U14 and U19 vs 6 in an ECNL club. Even if the club has other lower level teams in the same age group, it's still a hit on their finances, and that equates to less money to pay the club's TD, coaching director, etc. So guess which way they'll vote when the club reevaluates DA vs. ECNL.

ECNL..no doubt. USSF better figure it out.

Until USSF / GDA eliminates the combination age groups for team formation, removes the HS restriction, and reduces their fees (e.g. Spirit at $5K) - they will not achieve the level of adoption desired. In business - any business, it takes time to unseat a firmly entrenched competitor. This is no different. Boys DA took 5-10 years to build up - and they had no real national level competition. Now, that does not mean GDA will not have many good players / clubs - No. they do and will. But, they wont be the dominant force as long as they have perceived negatives from a sizable piece of their potential customer base. Also, as long as major clubs like Michigan Hawks leave and other strong clubs join ECNL like Seattle United just did yesterday, it hurts / slows their efforts
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The Hawks Letter to Parents of Michigan Hawks GDA players:

Michigan Hawks Players and Families

After several months of discussion, we have decided that the Michigan Hawks will not play in the US Development Academy League in 2018-2019. We will commit our first and second team into the ECNL for this next season, joining several other top clubs across the country who are doing the same. We believe that the ECNL platform will allow us to address the game day needs of all of our players by placing us against the most competitive regional competition possible. This decision will only affect the Hawks. The Wolves’ programming for the boys—including the Development Academy—will carry on in the same way that has this year.

Furthermore, next year we will be adding to our training by increasing the amount of film study and GPS usage. That coupled with the Medsport program that will address performance, prevention and return to play of our players, we are confident that our players will continue to move forward.

There are risks involved with making this decision much like when we implemented 10-month programming. But, after weighing out the pros and cons, I believe that this is the right decision for our players and our club. It will be up to us, players, parents, and staff to make this work

Their presentation of their club for those who care to review it:
http://hawks.soccer/wp-content/uploads/Information-meeting-April-2018.pdf

What a waste of paper. Just say we are playing ECNL and here is our division. Bunch of fluff with one page of useful info.

Spoken from a truly knowledgeable commentator who does not run a club or coach or deal with parents. Clearly you have greater knowledge than the entire staff of the Michigan team who has DA for boys and now ECNL girls and clearly is wasteful in you mind. Please, reveal your identity so we can bask in your glorious intelligence and ensure a local club hires you to run club operations or perhaps communications. We beg of you. Reveal yourself thy wise and all knowing soccer god of NOVA.

Who TF are you? Reveal yourself. Are you the Loudoun coach who came from Michigan. Because you sound both like a coach and a Michigan hawks guy. ....and a ECNL guy...hummm

Oh you got me. I am that coach. Phew. Glad I got that off my chest. You are good.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Easy search

FCV DA- 23 games this year
Mclean u16 ECNL - 14 games this year

9 games difference?

What's that? 3 separate tournaments to catch up? What's the added cost that ECNL leaves off to seem more fiscally competitive.

Thank you. My DD in ECNL played 44 competitive games this year (league games plus ECNL Florida showcase and other showcase tournaments). She never played more than 1 game in a day. Please explain how the PP's statement that DA plays twice as many games as ECNL is true.

Cost is a separate debate that I frankly don't care about.

So your daughter played 14 league games and 30 tournament/showcase games so far this year. You sure about that?

That's like 10 showcases in a year?

You are close... 8 showcases, plus the ECNL playoffs. Total of 30 tournament games and 14 league games. So is you DA team playing twice as many games (88 games) as my kid's ECNL team (as the PP claimed)?

NP here. Why the heck would your team do 8 showcases? That is insane, and hopefully not the norm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The whole point of the DA is to play fewer games with more quality. Why would the DA schedule more games than ECNL. You pepole are hopeless.

OMG you GDA guys just have to win the argument every time. One GDA poster argues that DA plays twice as many games as ECNL for the same money (like that's a big deal). Then ECNL poster's show the real accounting of ECNL team activity. With that argument spoiled now here comes another GDA poster who falls back on the more training, fewer games mantra. Maybe you guys can get in a room and get your heads together with a coherent argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole point of the DA is to play fewer games with more quality. Why would the DA schedule more games than ECNL. You pepole are hopeless.

OMG you GDA guys just have to win the argument every time. One GDA poster argues that DA plays twice as many games as ECNL for the same money (like that's a big deal). Then ECNL poster's show the real accounting of ECNL team activity. With that argument spoiled now here comes another GDA poster who falls back on the more training, fewer games mantra. Maybe you guys can get in a room and get your heads together with a coherent argument.

Such a tool. You argue for the sake of arguing. DA does play way more league games then ECNL....1 a week. That's 6 days between games. Ecnl plays half the league games and then crams in a bunch of games in a tournament setting...which everyone knows is stupid.

Even at DA showcase they played 3 games..but had a day of rest between each game. Get a clue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Easy search

FCV DA- 23 games this year
Mclean u16 ECNL - 14 games this year

9 games difference?

What's that? 3 separate tournaments to catch up? What's the added cost that ECNL leaves off to seem more fiscally competitive.

Thank you. My DD in ECNL played 44 competitive games this year (league games plus ECNL Florida showcase and other showcase tournaments). She never played more than 1 game in a day. Please explain how the PP's statement that DA plays twice as many games as ECNL is true.

Cost is a separate debate that I frankly don't care about.

So your daughter played 14 league games and 30 tournament/showcase games so far this year. You sure about that?

That's like 10 showcases in a year?

You are close... 8 showcases, plus the ECNL playoffs. Total of 30 tournament games and 14 league games. So is you DA team playing twice as many games (88 games) as my kid's ECNL team (as the PP claimed)?

NP here. Why the heck would your team do 8 showcases? That is insane, and hopefully not the norm.

1 showcases a season equals 6 games a year. National playoffs...say 3. That's a total of 9. So somewhere you guys are playing an additional 21 tournament games.

Complete BS. But of true, it shows you how sorry ECNL has become.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure who ^^^ is but he/she has no clue. Arlington and Loudon don't produce elite teams. If not, then which team is elite?

I question the insanity of the money grab infrastructure but do recognize that DA and ECNL offer a great experience for some girls. Fot those who can't afford it, don't live near a DA/ECNL club or don't have either the time or resources to travel up and down I-95 every weekend, there are other great teams which included Arlington and Loudon. BTW, there are six GU-17 teams from the DMV ranked in the top 25 and only two are ECNL and one of those, Bethesda, is ranked at the bottom. Navy Premier, Mclean, Arlington, FC Frederick, Loudon and Bethesda are all nationally ranked. Even if you assumed that all DA programs are ranked ahead of them which is nonsense, they are still ranked among the top teams in the nation. They are elite and you are a moron.

Have you watched Arlington play? It is high-pressure and kickball. Good for winning games and worthless GotSoccer points and rankings, but they aren't developing soccer players. Maybe that changes with some accountability coming from the DA.

Perfect description of Arlington culture from first-hand experience. DA won't change it with same coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be great to get some feedback on this board from VDA girls parents about how they feel about the change from DA to ECNL. Good? Bad? Don’t care?

NOVA ECNL is CCL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting - Michigan Hawks dropping out of DA and indicate that other top clubs are also following suit.
https://www.michiganwolveshawks.com/

Two of the rumored clubs are FC Stars and PDA - those are no small minnows . . .
http://www.talking-soccer.com/TS4/showthread.php?t=152170

I followed the Hawks link and fail to see anything mentioning that the club is leaving DA.???

Interesting . . . it is gone . . . they had a 4/16 article on their page indicating they were not continuing and saying their top two teams would be playing ECNL

Maybe they suddenly realized it's got put out there too early?

Maybe they realized they just lost their player pool

Michigan Hawks is a very high level club so they're not losing their player pool as a result of moving out of the DA.

I do believe an early poster hit on the true reason some clubs are leaving and that's money not the players' best interests. While the DA may expand into more age groups in the future, right now, there are only four teams between U14 and U19 vs 6 in an ECNL club. Even if the club has other lower level teams in the same age group, it's still a hit on their finances, and that equates to less money to pay the club's TD, coaching director, etc. So guess which way they'll vote when the club reevaluates DA vs. ECNL.

ECNL..no doubt. USSF better figure it out.

Until USSF / GDA eliminates the combination age groups for team formation, removes the HS restriction, and reduces their fees (e.g. Spirit at $5K) - they will not achieve the level of adoption desired. In business - any business, it takes time to unseat a firmly entrenched competitor. This is no different. Boys DA took 5-10 years to build up - and they had no real national level competition. Now, that does not mean GDA will not have many good players / clubs - No. they do and will. But, they wont be the dominant force as long as they have perceived negatives from a sizable piece of their potential customer base. Also, as long as major clubs like Michigan Hawks leave and other strong clubs join ECNL like Seattle United just did yesterday, it hurts / slows their efforts
.
The Hawks Letter to Parents of Michigan Hawks GDA players:

Michigan Hawks Players and Families

After several months of discussion, we have decided that the Michigan Hawks will not play in the US Development Academy League in 2018-2019. We will commit our first and second team into the ECNL for this next season, joining several other top clubs across the country who are doing the same. We believe that the ECNL platform will allow us to address the game day needs of all of our players by placing us against the most competitive regional competition possible. This decision will only affect the Hawks. The Wolves’ programming for the boys—including the Development Academy—will carry on in the same way that has this year.

Furthermore, next year we will be adding to our training by increasing the amount of film study and GPS usage. That coupled with the Medsport program that will address performance, prevention and return to play of our players, we are confident that our players will continue to move forward.

There are risks involved with making this decision much like when we implemented 10-month programming. But, after weighing out the pros and cons, I believe that this is the right decision for our players and our club. It will be up to us, players, parents, and staff to make this work

Their presentation of their club for those who care to review it:
http://hawks.soccer/wp-content/uploads/Information-meeting-April-2018.pdf

Somewhat oddly, when I go on the website, I cannot find that statement anywhere. I also tried your link. Nothing. I tried searching via the Hawks website, and there's nothing there either. I tried every way I can think of to find this mysterious statement, and it seems to have vanished. Perhaps they changed their minds?

For VDA parents, it varies. For girls who came up through the VSA, most of those are staying. For those who wen to VDA because it was a DA, they are upset and leaving. They say the board is made up of parents, not coaches, and that the decision was not made by people who know soccer. (My DD is not with VDA, so I'm only passing that along. It's all the same to me).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Easy search

FCV DA- 23 games this year
Mclean u16 ECNL - 14 games this year

9 games difference?

What's that? 3 separate tournaments to catch up? What's the added cost that ECNL leaves off to seem more fiscally competitive.

Thank you. My DD in ECNL played 44 competitive games this year (league games plus ECNL Florida showcase and other showcase tournaments). She never played more than 1 game in a day. Please explain how the PP's statement that DA plays twice as many games as ECNL is true.

Cost is a separate debate that I frankly don't care about.

So your daughter played 14 league games and 30 tournament/showcase games so far this year. You sure about that?

That's like 10 showcases in a year?

You are close... 8 showcases, plus the ECNL playoffs. Total of 30 tournament games and 14 league games. So is you DA team playing twice as many games (88 games) as my kid's ECNL team (as the PP claimed)?

NP here. Why the heck would your team do 8 showcases? That is insane, and hopefully not the norm.

Maybe so the girls can be seen by as many college coaches as possible? Just a wild guess.

[Anonymous]

It really is moronic folks can't compare the facts! ECNL should have fewer league games since teams are taking off most of the HS soccer season. That means in the North, teams are not playing from Sept thru November. Most ECNL teams in the area play the Bethesda tournament and CASL in November and December. Clubs also do ECNL showcases in Phoenix in the Fall. There is a similar number in the Spring. ECNL is playing 12-18 games per season.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:^^^ Please give it a rest. I don't know that many girls going for DA, especially in MD. Bethesda is not losing players to DA and even if they lose one or two, that does not impact the rest of the team. DA is a great option but don't try to oversell the experience. I doubt any of the DA teams could beat a strong Bethesda, McLean or Loudon ECNL.

Give what a rest. You're worried about your daughters team collapsing as kids flee for DA?

VA clubs were mentioned but reading comprehension is overrated. ECNL teams in VA for 04 and below are weakening. They were already weak anyways.

LOUDOUN ECNL doesn't even exist...they all went DA. Such a clown with no knowledge base. Stay north of the Potomac.

What do you mean Loudoun ECNL doesn't exist. It does. What do you mean they all went to DA? Which age group?

LOUDOUN ECNL has a team? Who they play?

Best player went FCV DA...execpt those who couldn't break in...such as older kids

Yes and she is looking to leave FCV. Lots of FCV girls at other tryouts to like WS.

FCV is a disaster.

[Anonymous]

I was a ECNL family. Now a DA family. Hated DA when they made the announcement. Liked ECNL. Now all in all DA.

But if major mega clubs throughout the country leave DA its a HUGE fricking problem. USSF is showing true lack of leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Easy search

FCV DA- 23 games this year
Mclean u16 ECNL - 14 games this year

9 games difference?

What's that? 3 separate tournaments to catch up? What's the added cost that ECNL leaves off to seem more fiscally competitive.

Thank you. My DD in ECNL played 44 competitive games this year (league games plus ECNL Florida showcase and other showcase tournaments). She never played more than 1 game in a day. Please explain how the PP's statement that DA plays twice as many games as ECNL is true.

Cost is a separate debate that I frankly don't care about.

So your daughter played 14 league games and 30 tournament/showcase games so far this year. You sure about that?

That's like 10 showcases in a year?

You are close... 8 showcases, plus the ECNL playoffs. Total of 30 tournament games and 14 league games. So is you DA team playing twice as many games (88 games) as my kid's ECNL team (as the PP claimed)?

NP here. Why the heck would your team do 8 showcases? That is insane, and hopefully not the norm.

Maybe so the girls can be seen by as many college coaches as possible? Just a wild guess.

If you need to go to 8 showcases to find a reasonable number of college coaches who may be interested, there is a serious problem with the league. That's way more than your average top travel team needs to do to place their players in college. For boys DA, there are exactly 2 showcases a year that all the teams go to, and virtually all the college coaches, plus scouts from pro teams, go to them as well. It's very efficient and cuts down on travel costs. I had assumed girls DA and ECNL followed a similar format.

Can someone with ECNL experience confirm whether it's normal/possible for a team to go to 8 ECNL showcases, plus playoffs?

[Anonymous]

From what I hear some of the major clubs take issue with the strict DA rules as being the best for player development. DA limited substitution rules prevent re-entry of girls during a half. Even college soccer in the U.S. allows re-entry in second half. US Soccer is so concerned about developing for the international game when what we parents want is to get our girls into college soccer. We realize USWNT is a pipe dream. It's the top clubs that really matter. If they leave, it's over.

US Soccer may figure it out eventually but it took them 5-10 years to work out boys soccer. Do they have that long of a window on the girls side?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From what I hear some of the major clubs take issue with the strict DA rules as being the best for player development. DA limited substitution rules prevent re-entry of girls during a half. Even college soccer in the U.S. allows re-entry in second half. US Soccer is so concerned about developing for the international game when what we parents want is to get our girls into college soccer. We realize USWNT is a pipe dream. It's the top clubs that really matter. If they leave, it's over.

US Soccer may figure it out eventually but it took them 5-10 years to work out boys soccer. Do they have that long of a window on the girls side?

ECNL has same re-entry constraint.