DA vs ECNL vs everything else

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The USWNT is better now then it was 20 years ago? Losing your translation.

It's a #MONEYGRAB dummy. There are only so many players that are truly Elite and now they are spread out all over the region. But please live that dream and have fun, if you got the money, then why not?! Gotta spend it somehow.

Elite soccer is basically a rich girl's sport, and not an elite sport because the girls in it are elite. Some are, many not.

What makes me sad is the parents who are sacrificing a lot and don't have the assets to burn but do so because they are drinking all this Kool-Aid. Posts like yours don't help. You sound like a lot of parents at the clubs. There are parents even willing to spend the money to get on one of these Elite teams knowing their daughter is not even in the starting 11, when they could pay a lot less money and find a developmentally appropriate "lower team" where their Superstar would play the whole game.

Not all kids with potential to be elite start playing soccer at U3. Some play other sports. Some have altogether different interests. Some only later realize they want to push harder. Having more options is better. Honestly some of these elite coaches won't give a kid a chance unless they have already been playing at elite level. I saw the same kids moving from one ECNL team to another. DA and ECNL expansion is opening that up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it sad that many people here have such a myopic view of girls soccer. Comparing the alternatives today to the alternatives 20 years ago, young female soccer players have great opportunities.

For the girls who just wants to play soccer at the top level, they have DA.

For those girls that love soccer but also play another sport or want to play HS soccer, ECNL offers the chance to play at a top level and still pursue other sports

If you don't live near a DA or ECNL, there are many strong independent clubs that play a schedule that is plays EDP DI or the CCL supplemented by ERL, State Cup and Showcases.

Parents, don't let these "league chasers" who have fallen victim to the marketing efforts of the various soccer organizations, pressure you into joining the new "hot" league. You don't have to be a lemming.

Yes the #MONEYGRAB is so big and widespread now in girls soccer compared to 20 years ago, you shouldn't complain because everyone has an option to be "elite" . . . not like 20 years ago where it was much, much harder without all this infrastructure.

I sense sarcasm. Back in the day when the coach of the one elite team in your state had perfect knowledge of who the best 18 players were in his state and all of those kids developed evenly on time nd their parents committed them to the team for 6 years, things were so much better and so more elite. Never had to worry about that 19th best player. He or she was not elite and never would be. How's that for sarcasm?

A wider net is better. Kids develop at different rates and have different interests over time.

Agree. This is the Kool-Aid and as long as you can afford to find out, great for the USSF. Parents pay, infrastructure grows, and maybe the USWNT makes a marginal improvement.

Not much difference in # of Div 1 spots and they were filled back then in the good ol days.

Again, Elite soccer is a rich girl's sport. I and all of my friends are fortunate that we can afford it if we want. Not all can where we live, and the net does not get them.

#MONEYGRAB

I agree with much of what you wrote too. It is a shame it is this way. DA talks a good game about scholarships but at least on the girls teams, I have no idea who is getting them based on the cars in the parking lot. LOL. I hear DC United does a better job at that.

[Anonymous]

It's a money grab...well NO Crap Sherlock Holmes.

It's been a money grab for some time now. This isn't new.

Stop with the fake shock and the lecturing. You know a better way that is viable in today's world then offer it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a money grab...well NO Crap Sherlock Holmes.

It's been a money grab for some time now. This isn't new.

Stop with the fake shock and the lecturing. You know a better way that is viable in today's world then offer it.

Having DA fully funded for fees and travel? How's that? OK...not enough money..Maybe just all of the NWSL and MLS CLubs? MLS helps out NWSL? Getting closer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a money grab...well NO Crap Sherlock Holmes.

It's been a money grab for some time now. This isn't new.

Stop with the fake shock and the lecturing. You know a better way that is viable in today's world then offer it.

Every team playing in lower leagues should pay an annual fee for scholarhships centrally managed by league? Team/Club only gives offers for spots parents pay or apply for financial aid to the league. MSI Classic has this. Does ECNL, CCL, NCSL and EDP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The USWNT is better now then it was 20 years ago? Losing your translation.

It's a #MONEYGRAB dummy. There are only so many players that are truly Elite and now they are spread out all over the region. But please live that dream and have fun, if you got the money, then why not?! Gotta spend it somehow.

Elite soccer is basically a rich girl's sport, and not an elite sport because the girls in it are elite. Some are, many not.

What makes me sad is the parents who are sacrificing a lot and don't have the assets to burn but do so because they are drinking all this Kool-Aid. Posts like yours don't help. You sound like a lot of parents at the clubs. There are parents even willing to spend the money to get on one of these Elite teams knowing their daughter is not even in the starting 11, when they could pay a lot less money and find a developmentally appropriate "lower team" where their Superstar would play the whole game.

Not all kids with potential to be elite start playing soccer at U3. Some play other sports. Some have altogether different interests. Some only later realize they want to push harder. Having more options is better. Honestly some of these elite coaches won't give a kid a chance unless they have already been playing at elite level. I saw the same kids moving from one ECNL team to another. DA and ECNL expansion is opening that up.

Agree, and what is good for the goose (soccer infrastructure and the $$ they get from you) is good for the gander (your DC's opportunity to break in at age 12). They have figured out parents will even pay for the DC who played since age 3 and is probably only good enough to be player 12-20 on the bench at an elite club option near you. It's hard to stop if you have the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a money grab...well NO Crap Sherlock Holmes.

It's been a money grab for some time now. This isn't new.

Stop with the fake shock and the lecturing. You know a better way that is viable in today's world then offer it.

Here's a poster who admits it's Kool-Aid plus loves it anyway. At least to his credit he is honest about the moneygrab.

Maybe his DD would have been a Reg 1 ODP player back in the day or is top 5 on his DA team. I hope he is a little more subtle with his DD's 15-20 teammates who don't realize they are probably just feeding the beast and not truly "elite" in the historic, and correct use of the term. No one like to find out that it is all just Kool-Aid. They were just hoping their DD was a late bloomer and UNC would be watching her play soon

[Anonymous]

^^ Nothing wrong with chasing that possibility, as long as you know the infrastructure relies on parents and their $$$ funding that chase to make these whole "elite" platforms work. Again, if you got the $$, then why not!!!

[Anonymous]

I’m sure I missed some, but I’m not going to spend a whole lot of time on this. This is just a quick list:

Clubs that completely left the ECNL:
• FC Virginia
• Penn Fusion
• Colorado Rush
• Real SoCal
• East Meadows
• Charlotte Soccer Academy
• Sockers FC
• Boston Breakers
• Eagles SC

\Clubs that made the ECNL team their B team:
• Crossfire Premier
• SoCal Blues
• San Diego Surf
• Eclipse Select
• FC Dallas
• NTH Tophat
• CASL, which then created NC Courage for the DA and NCFC Youth for the ECNL
• Concorde Fire
• West Coast FC
(I’m excluding clubs that are leaving, for obvious reasons).

By all accounts, there are some clubs that became DA clubs that weren’t ECNL but are clearly top level, and could comfortably handle such a league and have records of NT players include:
• New York City FC.
• Oakwood Soccer Club
• Beach FC

As for VDA, they were collapsing anyways. Their U17s and U19s were terrible, and the 03 team is hemorrhaging players. And the coach turnover has been so bad, they need a revolving door, so that’s no loss to the DA. The ECNL can have them.

Indiana Fire had multiple teams struggling as well, so that doesn’t appear to be a loss either. ECNL can have them too.

But I expected some shifting around in the first couple of years. Who didn’t? Transitions are never smooth, and the ECNL would be stupid not to try to hold onto market share.

Talk about “more to come” is ignorant chest thumping. If you know something, say it. If not, that “ominous” comment reeks from miles away that you need your DD’s choice validated.

[Anonymous]

^^^

FC Dallas should be on there too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a money grab...well NO Crap Sherlock Holmes.

It's been a money grab for some time now. This isn't new.

Stop with the fake shock and the lecturing. You know a better way that is viable in today's world then offer it.

Here's a poster who admits it's Kool-Aid plus loves it anyway. At least to his credit he is honest about the moneygrab.

Maybe his DD would have been a Reg 1 ODP player back in the day or is top 5 on his DA team. I hope he is a little more subtle with his DD's 15-20 teammates who don't realize they are probably just feeding the beast and not truly "elite" in the historic, and correct use of the term. No one like to find out that it is all just Kool-Aid. They were just hoping their DD was a late bloomer and UNC would be watching her play soon

If you must know...my daughter is a DA player who wants to play college without question. I don't care about wins and loses. I care about development. Is she better than before. Is she learning. Is she progressing. Is she getting opportunities to learn new skills and positions. Will she be ready to showcase the talent needed to play college soccer in a few years....when it MATTERS. I want her building for the future. Winning is cool. Don't get me wrong. Winning makes everyone happy in the moment. But the latter is cooler and the happiness last a lot longer.

Proud Spirit paying customer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure I missed some, but I’m not going to spend a whole lot of time on this. This is just a quick list:

Clubs that completely left the ECNL:
• FC Virginia
• Penn Fusion
• Colorado Rush
• Real SoCal
• East Meadows
• Charlotte Soccer Academy
• Sockers FC
• Boston Breakers
• Eagles SC

\Clubs that made the ECNL team their B team:
• Crossfire Premier
• SoCal Blues
• San Diego Surf
• Eclipse Select
• FC Dallas
• NTH Tophat
• CASL, which then created NC Courage for the DA and NCFC Youth for the ECNL
• Concorde Fire
• West Coast FC
(I’m excluding clubs that are leaving, for obvious reasons).

By all accounts, there are some clubs that became DA clubs that weren’t ECNL but are clearly top level, and could comfortably handle such a league and have records of NT players include:
• New York City FC.
• Oakwood Soccer Club
• Beach FC

As for VDA, they were collapsing anyways. Their U17s and U19s were terrible, and the 03 team is hemorrhaging players. And the coach turnover has been so bad, they need a revolving door, so that’s no loss to the DA. The ECNL can have them.

Indiana Fire had multiple teams struggling as well, so that doesn’t appear to be a loss either. ECNL can have them too.

But I expected some shifting around in the first couple of years. Who didn’t? Transitions are never smooth, and the ECNL would be stupid not to try to hold onto market share.

Talk about “more to come” is ignorant chest thumping. If you know something, say it. If not, that “ominous” comment reeks from miles away that you need your DD’s choice validated.

You forgot Arlington Soccer on your list.

[Anonymous]

^^^

It was a list of current teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a money grab...well NO Crap Sherlock Holmes.

It's been a money grab for some time now. This isn't new.

Stop with the fake shock and the lecturing. You know a better way that is viable in today's world then offer it.

Here's a poster who admits it's Kool-Aid plus loves it anyway. At least to his credit he is honest about the moneygrab.

Maybe his DD would have been a Reg 1 ODP player back in the day or is top 5 on his DA team. I hope he is a little more subtle with his DD's 15-20 teammates who don't realize they are probably just feeding the beast and not truly "elite" in the historic, and correct use of the term. No one like to find out that it is all just Kool-Aid. They were just hoping their DD was a late bloomer and UNC would be watching her play soon

If you must know...my daughter is a DA player who wants to play college without question. I don't care about wins and loses. I care about development. Is she better than before. Is she learning. Is she progressing. Is she getting opportunities to learn new skills and positions. Will she be ready to showcase the talent needed to play college soccer in a few years....when it MATTERS. I want her building for the future. Winning is cool. Don't get me wrong. Winning makes everyone happy in the moment. But the latter is cooler and the happiness last a lot longer.

Proud Spirit paying customer

^^This is what makes DA different...it is Developmental...not just Elite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure I missed some, but I’m not going to spend a whole lot of time on this. This is just a quick list:

Clubs that completely left the ECNL:
• FC Virginia
• Penn Fusion
• Colorado Rush
• Real SoCal
• East Meadows
• Charlotte Soccer Academy
• Sockers FC
• Boston Breakers
• Eagles SC

Clubs that made the ECNL team their B team:
• Crossfire Premier
• SoCal Blues
• San Diego Surf
• Eclipse Select
• FC Dallas
• NTH Tophat
• CASL, which then created NC Courage for the DA and NCFC Youth for the ECNL
• Concorde Fire
• West Coast FC
(I’m excluding clubs that are leaving, for obvious reasons).

By all accounts, there are some clubs that became DA clubs that weren’t ECNL but are clearly top level, and could comfortably handle such a league and have records of NT players include:
• New York City FC.
• Oakwood Soccer Club
• Beach FC

As for VDA, they were collapsing anyways. Their U17s and U19s were terrible, and the 03 team is hemorrhaging players. And the coach turnover has been so bad, they need a revolving door, so that’s no loss to the DA. The ECNL can have them.

Indiana Fire had multiple teams struggling as well, so that doesn’t appear to be a loss either. ECNL can have them too.

But I expected some shifting around in the first couple of years. Who didn’t? Transitions are never smooth, and the ECNL would be stupid not to try to hold onto market share.

Talk about “more to come” is ignorant chest thumping. If you know something, say it. If not, that “ominous” comment reeks from miles away that you need your DD’s choice validated.

Other clubs that left the ECNL:
* Eagles SC
* Lonestar SC
* Boca United
* Weston FC

Other clubs that made the ECNL their B team:
* FC Dallas
* Dallas Texans