DA soccer terminating boys and girls? “Rumors”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the rumor was false, US Soccer could put it to bed with one tweet saying the future of GDA is certain. Hasn't happened.

Similar to ECNL not responding to the rumors that US Soccer may procure and fold it into a USSF DA program. No response from ECNL on that rumor as well.

[Anonymous]

Where there's smoke, there's fire.... From TopDrawer Soccer this morning:

Article Written by J.R. Eskilson & Travis Clark
Published: April 14, 2020

There was plenty of chatter last week about the future of the Development Academy, the league run by the U.S. Soccer Federation. It started with buzz among coaches, and then spiraled into a hive of chitter chatter when a tweet was posted by an ECNL coach about the league folding.

Glen Crooks, a reporter and coach from New Jersey, tweeted that an announcement may come over the weekend about the future of the league. SoccerWire posted an opinion piece about the timing of canceling the league and the season.

Easter Weekend came and went, with no official word or announcement from U.S. Soccer. TopDrawerSoccer reached out to the Federation for comment and had not heard back as of time of publishing (on Tuesday morning). The reliable Buzz Carrick, who covers FC Dallas and its Academy on 3rddegree.net, reported that a decision could be coming down on Tuesday.

TopDrawerSoccer spent the past weekend on the phone with coaches, directors, and others involved with the league. There has been no definitive answer to the question on everyone’s mind, but many seem to believe the fate of the league is sealed. Below is some of the information we’ve gathered from those conversations.

Speculation about the future of MLS academy sides within the Development Academy have played a role. Sources haven’t confirmed rumors that MLS is planning on starting its own youth development league, and withdrawing its teams from the DA. During the 2019/20 season, DA officials tried to appease MLS with the tier approach, but the professional academies always seemed more eager to forge a path alone. Whether or not the wheels are in motion for this remains to be seen, but it is more than likely at least partially related to the DA’s future.

With uncertainty swirling about MLS academies' place in the league during the pandemic outbreak, some original member clubs began to submit paperwork to withdraw from the Boys Development Academy for the 2020/2021 season, according to a source close to the league.

On the girls side, Dallas Texans, Real Colorado, NC Courage, and United Futbol Academy (UFA) all announced their intention to move to (or rejoin) ECNL for the 2020/2021 season. Those four are some of the most respected and successful clubs in U.S. soccer history. Texans and Real Colorado are also two major Nike-sponsored clubs in the youth game.

It has been common for clubs to jump back to ECNL over the last couple of years, as they sort out whether the Development Academy was the right place or not for the club. And the Development Academy usually has plenty of applicants waiting in the wings to fill spots. This year was no different with the Development Academy announcing club membership for the 2020/2021 season in March.

So what changed between March and April?

Sports stopped. With no soccer, there was no money coming in for U.S. Soccer. The new leadership could look at the books and see the Development Academy was a heavy ticket on the annual budget. With lawsuits pending and no revenue in the immediate future, it does not seem outlandish to cut that type of heavy burden from the books for the future.

Sources have told TopDrawerSoccer that Dan Flynn was considering cutting both programs before he left his role as CEO of U.S. Soccer in September. Perhaps his successor was not afraid to pull the trigger on the idea during this period.

“We have a strong feeling the Girls DA will be eliminated not only due to the pandemic but also other factors that have played part over the season,” one club director wrote in an email to parents that TopDrawerSoccer obtained last week. “The Boys DA has also been brought into question due to the financial commitment that the US Soccer Federation has set forth and a decision will be made over the next few days on whether the Boys DA is to continue to operate as usual or a change will be made.”

Even with all of this evidence, nothing seems final. Everyone that TopDrawerSoccer spoke with over the weekend used the term “seem,” which suggests that U.S. Soccer has not decided and is not sure. Or academies are being kept in the dark about what has actually been decided.

With the uncertainty, many club directors have begun reaching out to other leagues (ECNL, Boys ECNL, NPL, etc.) to establish a plan in case U.S. Soccer’s leagues do fold and they need a back-up plan for 2020/2021. ECNL’s President Christian Lavers told TopDrawerSoccer last month that he felt like the ECNL was close to full for the 2020/2021 season, which could leave a number of storied clubs in the cold for the upcoming season.

This article will be updated with more information when available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where there's smoke, there's fire.... From TopDrawer Soccer this morning:

Article Written by J.R. Eskilson & Travis Clark
Published: April 14, 2020

There was plenty of chatter last week about the future of the Development Academy, the league run by the U.S. Soccer Federation. It started with buzz among coaches, and then spiraled into a hive of chitter chatter when a tweet was posted by an ECNL coach about the league folding.

Glen Crooks, a reporter and coach from New Jersey, tweeted that an announcement may come over the weekend about the future of the league. SoccerWire posted an opinion piece about the timing of canceling the league and the season.

Easter Weekend came and went, with no official word or announcement from U.S. Soccer. TopDrawerSoccer reached out to the Federation for comment and had not heard back as of time of publishing (on Tuesday morning). The reliable Buzz Carrick, who covers FC Dallas and its Academy on 3rddegree.net, reported that a decision could be coming down on Tuesday.

TopDrawerSoccer spent the past weekend on the phone with coaches, directors, and others involved with the league. There has been no definitive answer to the question on everyone’s mind, but many seem to believe the fate of the league is sealed. Below is some of the information we’ve gathered from those conversations.

Speculation about the future of MLS academy sides within the Development Academy have played a role. Sources haven’t confirmed rumors that MLS is planning on starting its own youth development league, and withdrawing its teams from the DA. During the 2019/20 season, DA officials tried to appease MLS with the tier approach, but the professional academies always seemed more eager to forge a path alone. Whether or not the wheels are in motion for this remains to be seen, but it is more than likely at least partially related to the DA’s future.

With uncertainty swirling about MLS academies' place in the league during the pandemic outbreak, some original member clubs began to submit paperwork to withdraw from the Boys Development Academy for the 2020/2021 season, according to a source close to the league.

On the girls side, Dallas Texans, Real Colorado, NC Courage, and United Futbol Academy (UFA) all announced their intention to move to (or rejoin) ECNL for the 2020/2021 season. Those four are some of the most respected and successful clubs in U.S. soccer history. Texans and Real Colorado are also two major Nike-sponsored clubs in the youth game.

It has been common for clubs to jump back to ECNL over the last couple of years, as they sort out whether the Development Academy was the right place or not for the club. And the Development Academy usually has plenty of applicants waiting in the wings to fill spots. This year was no different with the Development Academy announcing club membership for the 2020/2021 season in March.

So what changed between March and April?

Sports stopped. With no soccer, there was no money coming in for U.S. Soccer. The new leadership could look at the books and see the Development Academy was a heavy ticket on the annual budget. With lawsuits pending and no revenue in the immediate future, it does not seem outlandish to cut that type of heavy burden from the books for the future.

Sources have told TopDrawerSoccer that Dan Flynn was considering cutting both programs before he left his role as CEO of U.S. Soccer in September. Perhaps his successor was not afraid to pull the trigger on the idea during this period.

“We have a strong feeling the Girls DA will be eliminated not only due to the pandemic but also other factors that have played part over the season,” one club director wrote in an email to parents that TopDrawerSoccer obtained last week. “The Boys DA has also been brought into question due to the financial commitment that the US Soccer Federation has set forth and a decision will be made over the next few days on whether the Boys DA is to continue to operate as usual or a change will be made.”

Even with all of this evidence, nothing seems final. Everyone that TopDrawerSoccer spoke with over the weekend used the term “seem,” which suggests that U.S. Soccer has not decided and is not sure. Or academies are being kept in the dark about what has actually been decided.

With the uncertainty, many club directors have begun reaching out to other leagues (ECNL, Boys ECNL, NPL, etc.) to establish a plan in case U.S. Soccer’s leagues do fold and they need a back-up plan for 2020/2021. ECNL’s President Christian Lavers told TopDrawerSoccer last month that he felt like the ECNL was close to full for the 2020/2021 season, which could leave a number of storied clubs in the cold for the upcoming season.

This article will be updated with more information when available.

TDS is reposting the same supposed "letter" from the SoCal troll that never answered when called out on DCUM for what club allegedly sent this. TDS is also not naming any supposed sources. Rumor-mongering gone wild! Does US Soccer have to go around responding to every single rumor to include this one that was started by one tweet? The only source named is from the original tweet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where there's smoke, there's fire.... From TopDrawer Soccer this morning:

Article Written by J.R. Eskilson & Travis Clark
Published: April 14, 2020

There was plenty of chatter last week about the future of the Development Academy, the league run by the U.S. Soccer Federation. It started with buzz among coaches, and then spiraled into a hive of chitter chatter when a tweet was posted by an ECNL coach about the league folding.

Glen Crooks, a reporter and coach from New Jersey, tweeted that an announcement may come over the weekend about the future of the league. SoccerWire posted an opinion piece about the timing of canceling the league and the season.

Easter Weekend came and went, with no official word or announcement from U.S. Soccer. TopDrawerSoccer reached out to the Federation for comment and had not heard back as of time of publishing (on Tuesday morning). The reliable Buzz Carrick, who covers FC Dallas and its Academy on 3rddegree.net, reported that a decision could be coming down on Tuesday.

TopDrawerSoccer spent the past weekend on the phone with coaches, directors, and others involved with the league. There has been no definitive answer to the question on everyone’s mind, but many seem to believe the fate of the league is sealed. Below is some of the information we’ve gathered from those conversations.

Speculation about the future of MLS academy sides within the Development Academy have played a role. Sources haven’t confirmed rumors that MLS is planning on starting its own youth development league, and withdrawing its teams from the DA. During the 2019/20 season, DA officials tried to appease MLS with the tier approach, but the professional academies always seemed more eager to forge a path alone. Whether or not the wheels are in motion for this remains to be seen, but it is more than likely at least partially related to the DA’s future.

With uncertainty swirling about MLS academies' place in the league during the pandemic outbreak, some original member clubs began to submit paperwork to withdraw from the Boys Development Academy for the 2020/2021 season, according to a source close to the league.

On the girls side, Dallas Texans, Real Colorado, NC Courage, and United Futbol Academy (UFA) all announced their intention to move to (or rejoin) ECNL for the 2020/2021 season. Those four are some of the most respected and successful clubs in U.S. soccer history. Texans and Real Colorado are also two major Nike-sponsored clubs in the youth game.

It has been common for clubs to jump back to ECNL over the last couple of years, as they sort out whether the Development Academy was the right place or not for the club. And the Development Academy usually has plenty of applicants waiting in the wings to fill spots. This year was no different with the Development Academy announcing club membership for the 2020/2021 season in March.

So what changed between March and April?

Sports stopped. With no soccer, there was no money coming in for U.S. Soccer. The new leadership could look at the books and see the Development Academy was a heavy ticket on the annual budget. With lawsuits pending and no revenue in the immediate future, it does not seem outlandish to cut that type of heavy burden from the books for the future.

Sources have told TopDrawerSoccer that Dan Flynn was considering cutting both programs before he left his role as CEO of U.S. Soccer in September. Perhaps his successor was not afraid to pull the trigger on the idea during this period.

“We have a strong feeling the Girls DA will be eliminated not only due to the pandemic but also other factors that have played part over the season,” one club director wrote in an email to parents that TopDrawerSoccer obtained last week. “The Boys DA has also been brought into question due to the financial commitment that the US Soccer Federation has set forth and a decision will be made over the next few days on whether the Boys DA is to continue to operate as usual or a change will be made.”

Even with all of this evidence, nothing seems final. Everyone that TopDrawerSoccer spoke with over the weekend used the term “seem,” which suggests that U.S. Soccer has not decided and is not sure. Or academies are being kept in the dark about what has actually been decided.

With the uncertainty, many club directors have begun reaching out to other leagues (ECNL, Boys ECNL, NPL, etc.) to establish a plan in case U.S. Soccer’s leagues do fold and they need a back-up plan for 2020/2021. ECNL’s President Christian Lavers told TopDrawerSoccer last month that he felt like the ECNL was close to full for the 2020/2021 season, which could leave a number of storied clubs in the cold for the upcoming season.

This article will be updated with more information when available.

TDS is reposting the same supposed "letter" from the SoCal troll that never answered when called out on DCUM for what club allegedly sent this. TDS is also not naming any supposed sources. Rumor-mongering gone wild! Does US Soccer have to go around responding to every single rumor to include this one that was started by one tweet? The only source named is from the original tweet.

LOL @ "every single rumor". It's ONE rumor that has spread across the country like wildfire. From a single source or multiple sources, who knows, but it is the same rumor. One statement from US Soccer would stamp it out real quick. They have yet to issue one, and it keeps growing, so either there is some truth to the rumor OR US Soccer is again showing their incompetence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where there's smoke, there's fire.... From TopDrawer Soccer this morning:

Article Written by J.R. Eskilson & Travis Clark
Published: April 14, 2020

There was plenty of chatter last week about the future of the Development Academy, the league run by the U.S. Soccer Federation. It started with buzz among coaches, and then spiraled into a hive of chitter chatter when a tweet was posted by an ECNL coach about the league folding.

Glen Crooks, a reporter and coach from New Jersey, tweeted that an announcement may come over the weekend about the future of the league. SoccerWire posted an opinion piece about the timing of canceling the league and the season.

Easter Weekend came and went, with no official word or announcement from U.S. Soccer. TopDrawerSoccer reached out to the Federation for comment and had not heard back as of time of publishing (on Tuesday morning). The reliable Buzz Carrick, who covers FC Dallas and its Academy on 3rddegree.net, reported that a decision could be coming down on Tuesday.

TopDrawerSoccer spent the past weekend on the phone with coaches, directors, and others involved with the league. There has been no definitive answer to the question on everyone’s mind, but many seem to believe the fate of the league is sealed. Below is some of the information we’ve gathered from those conversations.

Speculation about the future of MLS academy sides within the Development Academy have played a role. Sources haven’t confirmed rumors that MLS is planning on starting its own youth development league, and withdrawing its teams from the DA. During the 2019/20 season, DA officials tried to appease MLS with the tier approach, but the professional academies always seemed more eager to forge a path alone. Whether or not the wheels are in motion for this remains to be seen, but it is more than likely at least partially related to the DA’s future.

With uncertainty swirling about MLS academies' place in the league during the pandemic outbreak, some original member clubs began to submit paperwork to withdraw from the Boys Development Academy for the 2020/2021 season, according to a source close to the league.

On the girls side, Dallas Texans, Real Colorado, NC Courage, and United Futbol Academy (UFA) all announced their intention to move to (or rejoin) ECNL for the 2020/2021 season. Those four are some of the most respected and successful clubs in U.S. soccer history. Texans and Real Colorado are also two major Nike-sponsored clubs in the youth game.

It has been common for clubs to jump back to ECNL over the last couple of years, as they sort out whether the Development Academy was the right place or not for the club. And the Development Academy usually has plenty of applicants waiting in the wings to fill spots. This year was no different with the Development Academy announcing club membership for the 2020/2021 season in March.

So what changed between March and April?

Sports stopped. With no soccer, there was no money coming in for U.S. Soccer. The new leadership could look at the books and see the Development Academy was a heavy ticket on the annual budget. With lawsuits pending and no revenue in the immediate future, it does not seem outlandish to cut that type of heavy burden from the books for the future.

Sources have told TopDrawerSoccer that Dan Flynn was considering cutting both programs before he left his role as CEO of U.S. Soccer in September. Perhaps his successor was not afraid to pull the trigger on the idea during this period.

“We have a strong feeling the Girls DA will be eliminated not only due to the pandemic but also other factors that have played part over the season,” one club director wrote in an email to parents that TopDrawerSoccer obtained last week. “The Boys DA has also been brought into question due to the financial commitment that the US Soccer Federation has set forth and a decision will be made over the next few days on whether the Boys DA is to continue to operate as usual or a change will be made.”

Even with all of this evidence, nothing seems final. Everyone that TopDrawerSoccer spoke with over the weekend used the term “seem,” which suggests that U.S. Soccer has not decided and is not sure. Or academies are being kept in the dark about what has actually been decided.

With the uncertainty, many club directors have begun reaching out to other leagues (ECNL, Boys ECNL, NPL, etc.) to establish a plan in case U.S. Soccer’s leagues do fold and they need a back-up plan for 2020/2021. ECNL’s President Christian Lavers told TopDrawerSoccer last month that he felt like the ECNL was close to full for the 2020/2021 season, which could leave a number of storied clubs in the cold for the upcoming season.

This article will be updated with more information when available.

TDS is reposting the same supposed "letter" from the SoCal troll that never answered when called out on DCUM for what club allegedly sent this. TDS is also not naming any supposed sources. Rumor-mongering gone wild! Does US Soccer have to go around responding to every single rumor to include this one that was started by one tweet? The only source named is from the original tweet.

So if you were advising US Soccer, then your advice would be to ignore the SoccerWire and TDS articles and various tweets? Or would you advise US soccer to send a simple press release and/or tweet that these rumors are false?

[Anonymous]

Another one from the LA Times sportswriter who covers soccer.

https://twitter.com/kbaxter11/status/1250088181866696704

[Anonymous]

Sample tweet:

@USSDA

The USSDA is excited to get back on the pitch and kick off the 20/21 season. Great things in store! Stay safe #worldclass


We will wait...……………………………………………………….

PS: That took me 5 seconds

[Anonymous]

It’s done. Announcement will come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s done. Announcement will come.

Are you in a US Soccer boardroom? Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s done. Announcement will come.

Are you in a US Soccer boardroom? Lol

Nobody knows whats going on. What is certain, youth soccer landscape could become messier depending on the outcome of all this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another one from the LA Times sportswriter who covers soccer.

https://twitter.com/kbaxter11/status/1250088181866696704

SoCal Troll must be the "source." Parroting same language.

[Anonymous]

Who cares. More than likely, he/she needed an outlet because the place he/she usually gets their information is not allowing the discussion. It’s worth discussing and getting the feel from everyone on the “what if”. Nothing else to do and gets the soccer juices flowing a little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where there's smoke, there's fire.... From TopDrawer Soccer this morning:

Article Written by J.R. Eskilson & Travis Clark
Published: April 14, 2020

There was plenty of chatter last week about the future of the Development Academy, the league run by the U.S. Soccer Federation. It started with buzz among coaches, and then spiraled into a hive of chitter chatter when a tweet was posted by an ECNL coach about the league folding.

Glen Crooks, a reporter and coach from New Jersey, tweeted that an announcement may come over the weekend about the future of the league. SoccerWire posted an opinion piece about the timing of canceling the league and the season.

Easter Weekend came and went, with no official word or announcement from U.S. Soccer. TopDrawerSoccer reached out to the Federation for comment and had not heard back as of time of publishing (on Tuesday morning). The reliable Buzz Carrick, who covers FC Dallas and its Academy on 3rddegree.net, reported that a decision could be coming down on Tuesday.

TopDrawerSoccer spent the past weekend on the phone with coaches, directors, and others involved with the league. There has been no definitive answer to the question on everyone’s mind, but many seem to believe the fate of the league is sealed. Below is some of the information we’ve gathered from those conversations.

Speculation about the future of MLS academy sides within the Development Academy have played a role. Sources haven’t confirmed rumors that MLS is planning on starting its own youth development league, and withdrawing its teams from the DA. During the 2019/20 season, DA officials tried to appease MLS with the tier approach, but the professional academies always seemed more eager to forge a path alone. Whether or not the wheels are in motion for this remains to be seen, but it is more than likely at least partially related to the DA’s future.

With uncertainty swirling about MLS academies' place in the league during the pandemic outbreak, some original member clubs began to submit paperwork to withdraw from the Boys Development Academy for the 2020/2021 season, according to a source close to the league.

On the girls side, Dallas Texans, Real Colorado, NC Courage, and United Futbol Academy (UFA) all announced their intention to move to (or rejoin) ECNL for the 2020/2021 season. Those four are some of the most respected and successful clubs in U.S. soccer history. Texans and Real Colorado are also two major Nike-sponsored clubs in the youth game.

It has been common for clubs to jump back to ECNL over the last couple of years, as they sort out whether the Development Academy was the right place or not for the club. And the Development Academy usually has plenty of applicants waiting in the wings to fill spots. This year was no different with the Development Academy announcing club membership for the 2020/2021 season in March.

So what changed between March and April?

Sports stopped. With no soccer, there was no money coming in for U.S. Soccer. The new leadership could look at the books and see the Development Academy was a heavy ticket on the annual budget. With lawsuits pending and no revenue in the immediate future, it does not seem outlandish to cut that type of heavy burden from the books for the future.

Sources have told TopDrawerSoccer that Dan Flynn was considering cutting both programs before he left his role as CEO of U.S. Soccer in September. Perhaps his successor was not afraid to pull the trigger on the idea during this period.

“We have a strong feeling the Girls DA will be eliminated not only due to the pandemic but also other factors that have played part over the season,” one club director wrote in an email to parents that TopDrawerSoccer obtained last week. “The Boys DA has also been brought into question due to the financial commitment that the US Soccer Federation has set forth and a decision will be made over the next few days on whether the Boys DA is to continue to operate as usual or a change will be made.”

Even with all of this evidence, nothing seems final. Everyone that TopDrawerSoccer spoke with over the weekend used the term “seem,” which suggests that U.S. Soccer has not decided and is not sure. Or academies are being kept in the dark about what has actually been decided.

With the uncertainty, many club directors have begun reaching out to other leagues (ECNL, Boys ECNL, NPL, etc.) to establish a plan in case U.S. Soccer’s leagues do fold and they need a back-up plan for 2020/2021. ECNL’s President Christian Lavers told TopDrawerSoccer last month that he felt like the ECNL was close to full for the 2020/2021 season, which could leave a number of storied clubs in the cold for the upcoming season.

This article will be updated with more information when available.

9 million is a heavy burden? What a joke US Soccer is.

[Anonymous]

So I would much rather see US soccer spend resources in the u9-u12 age group. Cast a wide net, standardize best development practices, improve development coaching, break the age group into 4, 3 month grouping, etc. See if you can develop as many kids as you can with the proper training. After u13 let the system we have now sort the it’s out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where there's smoke, there's fire.... From TopDrawer Soccer this morning:

Article Written by J.R. Eskilson & Travis Clark
Published: April 14, 2020

There was plenty of chatter last week about the future of the Development Academy, the league run by the U.S. Soccer Federation. It started with buzz among coaches, and then spiraled into a hive of chitter chatter when a tweet was posted by an ECNL coach about the league folding.

Glen Crooks, a reporter and coach from New Jersey, tweeted that an announcement may come over the weekend about the future of the league. SoccerWire posted an opinion piece about the timing of canceling the league and the season.

Easter Weekend came and went, with no official word or announcement from U.S. Soccer. TopDrawerSoccer reached out to the Federation for comment and had not heard back as of time of publishing (on Tuesday morning). The reliable Buzz Carrick, who covers FC Dallas and its Academy on 3rddegree.net, reported that a decision could be coming down on Tuesday.

TopDrawerSoccer spent the past weekend on the phone with coaches, directors, and others involved with the league. There has been no definitive answer to the question on everyone’s mind, but many seem to believe the fate of the league is sealed. Below is some of the information we’ve gathered from those conversations.

Speculation about the future of MLS academy sides within the Development Academy have played a role. Sources haven’t confirmed rumors that MLS is planning on starting its own youth development league, and withdrawing its teams from the DA. During the 2019/20 season, DA officials tried to appease MLS with the tier approach, but the professional academies always seemed more eager to forge a path alone. Whether or not the wheels are in motion for this remains to be seen, but it is more than likely at least partially related to the DA’s future.

With uncertainty swirling about MLS academies' place in the league during the pandemic outbreak, some original member clubs began to submit paperwork to withdraw from the Boys Development Academy for the 2020/2021 season, according to a source close to the league.

On the girls side, Dallas Texans, Real Colorado, NC Courage, and United Futbol Academy (UFA) all announced their intention to move to (or rejoin) ECNL for the 2020/2021 season. Those four are some of the most respected and successful clubs in U.S. soccer history. Texans and Real Colorado are also two major Nike-sponsored clubs in the youth game.

It has been common for clubs to jump back to ECNL over the last couple of years, as they sort out whether the Development Academy was the right place or not for the club. And the Development Academy usually has plenty of applicants waiting in the wings to fill spots. This year was no different with the Development Academy announcing club membership for the 2020/2021 season in March.

So what changed between March and April?

Sports stopped. With no soccer, there was no money coming in for U.S. Soccer. The new leadership could look at the books and see the Development Academy was a heavy ticket on the annual budget. With lawsuits pending and no revenue in the immediate future, it does not seem outlandish to cut that type of heavy burden from the books for the future.

Sources have told TopDrawerSoccer that Dan Flynn was considering cutting both programs before he left his role as CEO of U.S. Soccer in September. Perhaps his successor was not afraid to pull the trigger on the idea during this period.

“We have a strong feeling the Girls DA will be eliminated not only due to the pandemic but also other factors that have played part over the season,” one club director wrote in an email to parents that TopDrawerSoccer obtained last week. “The Boys DA has also been brought into question due to the financial commitment that the US Soccer Federation has set forth and a decision will be made over the next few days on whether the Boys DA is to continue to operate as usual or a change will be made.”

Even with all of this evidence, nothing seems final. Everyone that TopDrawerSoccer spoke with over the weekend used the term “seem,” which suggests that U.S. Soccer has not decided and is not sure. Or academies are being kept in the dark about what has actually been decided.

With the uncertainty, many club directors have begun reaching out to other leagues (ECNL, Boys ECNL, NPL, etc.) to establish a plan in case U.S. Soccer’s leagues do fold and they need a back-up plan for 2020/2021. ECNL’s President Christian Lavers told TopDrawerSoccer last month that he felt like the ECNL was close to full for the 2020/2021 season, which could leave a number of storied clubs in the cold for the upcoming season.

This article will be updated with more information when available.

9 million is a heavy burden? What a joke US Soccer is.

I must agree. That is a shockingly small sum.