DA vs ECNL vs everything else

[Anonymous]

If that’s the case then add FCV to that list, I’m not with them but I haven’t seen enough of their teams to figure out their style of play across the board. The other 3 I’ve seen most of their teams play at all age groups U15-U18, and that’s why I can clearly say that they’re nothing but long ball merchants. Sorry if it offends you but don’t be so butthurt, I’m not nearly the first person to say the same about them. They will get you results, you will win a lot of games. But that does not mean they play possession soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If that’s the case then add FCV to that list, I’m not with them but I haven’t seen enough of their teams to figure out their style of play across the board. The other 3 I’ve seen most of their teams play at all age groups U15-U18, and that’s why I can clearly say that they’re nothing but long ball merchants. Sorry if it offends you but don’t be so butthurt, I’m not nearly the first person to say the same about them. They will get you results, you will win a lot of games. But that does not mean they play possession soccer.

Who plays possession soccer around here? Nobody.

[Anonymous]

SMS plays possession soccer. FCB Escola does too.

[Anonymous]

So let's say there is a really good player for his/her age and the family cannot afford the costs of travel soccer (ok so they can get a scholarship, we can take care of that).

Factor in that the family has 4 kids at home, and are not able to drive said kid to practice 3x per week. So that talented player may stay in the rec system and get 1 practice per week with a less qualified coach and more local games. So they are not shut out of the system, they just miss out on a lot of development. They may still be able to play in HS based on talent alone.

[Anonymous]

"Possession soccer"

Another useless term spouted by pretentious parents. Just because the GK punts the ball does not mean they do not play the possession style.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So let's say there is a really good player for his/her age and the family cannot afford the costs of travel soccer (ok so they can get a scholarship, we can take care of that).

Factor in that the family has 4 kids at home, and are not able to drive said kid to practice 3x per week. So that talented player may stay in the rec system and get 1 practice per week with a less qualified coach and more local games. So they are not shut out of the system, they just miss out on a lot of development. They may still be able to play in HS based on talent alone.

That is pretty much how we do it. Its fine but we probably won't be winning any word cups.

[Anonymous]

World cups.

[Anonymous]

This is a problem with youth travel soccer. The players are not taught to be patient with the ball. They don't learn to play to space. Watch at your next game. The players, as soon as pressured, will often force passes to any teammate they see downfield even if covered. Or they will boot it downfield. Almost always towards the goal. This is direct soccer, not possession. All youth teams are taught to work the ball outside and get it down the field. They do this almost blindly, even into coverage and they then try to force their way through. There is a general sense of panic which is not necessary. The goalies will first look to punt at least half the time, not keep possession and work from the back. Again, panic. My DD's team is the same way. I would gladly send my DD and thousands of dollars a year to the program that teaches possession soccer but I have not seen one in the many years I have watched youth travel soccer. DA and ECNL are the same way. Why is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Possession soccer"

Another useless term spouted by pretentious parents. Just because the GK punts the ball does not mean they do not play the possession style.

Wrong. It's an indicator of direct soccer. A punt is a 50/50 ball. Actually worse because the opposing team is facing the ball. Punts have a place when your team is pressured. Otherwise play it from the back. Soccer is a possession game. When you see the pros punting it is typically to someone. Or the better keepers javelin to someone on a quick counter. Watch Manuel Neuer or Hugo Lloris play, goalkeeper distribution is about keeping possession.

[Anonymous]

If that is your definition then most of the professional world does not play possession soccer. Nobody in the world can punt a ball 50 yards with hang times of 3-4 seconds and claim they are accurately targeting one player.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Possession soccer"

Another useless term spouted by pretentious parents. Just because the GK punts the ball does not mean they do not play the possession style.

Wrong. It's an indicator of direct soccer. A punt is a 50/50 ball. Actually worse because the opposing team is facing the ball. Punts have a place when your team is pressured. Otherwise play it from the back. Soccer is a possession game. When you see the pros punting it is typically to someone. Or the better keepers javelin to someone on a quick counter. Watch Manuel Neuer or Hugo Lloris play, goalkeeper distribution is about keeping possession.

The objectives of the DA program are to get teams building from the back.

If clubs are letting their players play long balls or punt it out of the back, USSF technical advisors make note and work with the clubs to change this.

Give it a couple of years on the girls side and you should start seeing less and less direct soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I would gladly send my DD and thousands of dollars a year to the program that teaches possession soccer but I have not seen one in the many years I have watched youth travel soccer

FCB escola practices possession soccer as a religion. Go watch one of the training sessions you will see it in every age group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a problem with youth travel soccer. The players are not taught to be patient with the ball. They don't learn to play to space. Watch at your next game. The players, as soon as pressured, will often force passes to any teammate they see downfield even if covered. Or they will boot it downfield. Almost always towards the goal. This is direct soccer, not possession. All youth teams are taught to work the ball outside and get it down the field. They do this almost blindly, even into coverage and they then try to force their way through. There is a general sense of panic which is not necessary. The goalies will first look to punt at least half the time, not keep possession and work from the back. Again, panic. My DD's team is the same way. I would gladly send my DD and thousands of dollars a year to the program that teaches possession soccer but I have not seen one in the many years I have watched youth travel soccer. DA and ECNL are the same way. Why is this?

Agree with you in theory. The issue is youth soccer players in this country aren't skillful enough by the time punting is allowed to maintain possession in their own half without making mistakes. The pressure from most coaches and DEFINITELY from the loudest parents watching games to get the ball into the attacking half is enormous. The games you describe, every time a player plays the ball toward their own goal to a teammate, half the parents are yelling "forward" or "nooooo" or "kick it". The only way to truly learn to play possession soccer as you describe (and is right) is to have kids in an environment where they are encouraged to take risks by top quality coaches. This is what it means when all these people say to all these parents "it's not about winning". It is all the people who know the game like you obviously do begging the yellers and screamers and bad coaches to please just stop talking.

The promise of the DA is that if there could one day be a clear number of truly elite clubs in their areas that nobody disputed. If you get to this, then you get a place for the most talented players to play for from very early ages, were the club can do the things that matter without the pressure from people who honestly have no idea what they're looking at. For that to happen the DA has to be basically free too, which is coming into focus on the boys side, but a very very long way out for the girls. That's why this is all so messed up. Everyone including USA Soccer solves problems by staring their own league and making their own rules but without the ability to go all the way through with the idea.

[Anonymous]

Those are good points from the last few posters. I have been evaluating the options for a while and I am coming to the conclusion that DA will be the best path for my DD. Why? Because I want her to learn to play soccer the right way. Having the TDs work with these DA programs to improve the game is the right thing to do. It’s what USSF should be doing. Having that structure is important. At the end of the day, the curriculum matters more to me than winning or losing, more than where the talent goes or anything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a problem with youth travel soccer. The players are not taught to be patient with the ball. They don't learn to play to space. Watch at your next game. The players, as soon as pressured, will often force passes to any teammate they see downfield even if covered. Or they will boot it downfield. Almost always towards the goal. This is direct soccer, not possession. All youth teams are taught to work the ball outside and get it down the field. They do this almost blindly, even into coverage and they then try to force their way through. There is a general sense of panic which is not necessary. The goalies will first look to punt at least half the time, not keep possession and work from the back. Again, panic. My DD's team is the same way. I would gladly send my DD and thousands of dollars a year to the program that teaches possession soccer but I have not seen one in the many years I have watched youth travel soccer. DA and ECNL are the same way. Why is this?

Agree with you in theory. The issue is youth soccer players in this country aren't skillful enough by the time punting is allowed to maintain possession in their own half without making mistakes. The pressure from most coaches and DEFINITELY from the loudest parents watching games to get the ball into the attacking half is enormous. The games you describe, every time a player plays the ball toward their own goal to a teammate, half the parents are yelling "forward" or "nooooo" or "kick it". The only way to truly learn to play possession soccer as you describe (and is right) is to have kids in an environment where they are encouraged to take risks by top quality coaches. This is what it means when all these people say to all these parents "it's not about winning". It is all the people who know the game like you obviously do begging the yellers and screamers and bad coaches to please just stop talking.

The promise of the DA is that if there could one day be a clear number of truly elite clubs in their areas that nobody disputed. If you get to this, then you get a place for the most talented players to play for from very early ages, were the club can do the things that matter without the pressure from people who honestly have no idea what they're looking at. For that to happen the DA has to be basically free too, which is coming into focus on the boys side, but a very very long way out for the girls. That's why this is all so messed up. Everyone including USA Soccer solves problems by staring their own league and making their own rules but without the ability to go all the way through with the idea.

Problem in America is most coaches prefer athletic kids who they think they can mold into a good soccer player rather than seeing kids with high soccer IQ who might be physically smaller. This needs to stop. Athleticism is one thing and being soccer player is another. Additionally, lots of these coaches are result oriented and are not doing a good job developing players. Most are bad coaches to begin with. Some just don't even care. So, it is important to find a club that teach fundamental soccer. Being able to build up from the back, with movement and passing the ball. Goal here is to make the other team constantly move and guess what you are going to do. You don't have to always go forward, but maintain possession as much as you can. My daughter's team is a good possession team and make lots of give and goes, overlapping runs and through balls which allows them to dictate the game. On the other side of the coin is, they are well coached to press and not let the other team pass and move past midfield. One of the things i do with my daughter who is 11, is watch champions league or matches from Europe. It helps her see what they learn and do, is actually done at highest level of soccer.