Girls DA/ECNL in VA: who will survive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a dog in the race but continue to argue that if you are close to an elite soccer team, i.e. a team that plays in the top brackets of the top tournaments, you know that ECNL/DA remains a draw for the most talented players.

You can't judge a team at u15 or younger because the teams are not mature and not complete. McLean's 05 team was a disaster last year but this year is heading to the ECNL Nationals and has defeated some very strong teams in several tournaments. I believe that team lost about a half dozen players to the DA but then replaced those players with others from non-ECNL clubs. Loudoun will get better.

Again, the teams that will suffer are the nonECNL/DA teams as they lose talent to ECNL/DA teams. Even the weakest ECNL/DA team will beat most of the strongest non-ECNL/DA teams. There will always be stong non-ECNL/DA teams like Pipeline, South Shore Select and other clubs who will beat ECNL/DA clubs as South Shore did in at JeffCup.

Scratch Pipeline. They teamed up with SAC & Baltimore Armour.

https://www.baltimorearmour.com/

[Anonymous]

They were already affiliated with the DA. Those playing for Pipeline have already decided that they wanted to play HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a dog in the race but continue to argue that if you are close to an elite soccer team, i.e. a team that plays in the top brackets of the top tournaments, you know that ECNL/DA remains a draw for the most talented players.

You can't judge a team at u15 or younger because the teams are not mature and not complete. McLean's 05 team was a disaster last year but this year is heading to the ECNL Nationals and has defeated some very strong teams in several tournaments. I believe that team lost about a half dozen players to the DA but then replaced those players with others from non-ECNL clubs. Loudoun will get better.

Again, the teams that will suffer are the nonECNL/DA teams as they lose talent to ECNL/DA teams. Even the weakest ECNL/DA team will beat most of the strongest non-ECNL/DA teams. There will always be stong non-ECNL/DA teams like Pipeline, South Shore Select and other clubs who will beat ECNL/DA clubs as South Shore did in at JeffCup.

McLean has a proven track record of developing players on the girls side so McLean 05 results are not surprising, particularly with Clyde Watson coaching them.

[Anonymous]

It's an unfortunate scenario because the players involved in this conversation are not getting the full development they could be receiving if US Soccer and ECNL were to figure out a structure to get the best players competing against one another. $$$$ drives the decisions and $$$$ will likely decide the outcome and it won't be done with the players' interests in mind...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's an unfortunate scenario because the players involved in this conversation are not getting the full development they could be receiving if US Soccer and ECNL were to figure out a structure to get the best players competing against one another. $$$$ drives the decisions and $$$$ will likely decide the outcome and it won't be done with the players' interests in mind...

US Soccer tried to kill ECNL by creating girls DA a couple years ago and trying to poach the best ECNL teams. I don't think we will see US Soccer and ECNL working together any time soon.

[Anonymous]

Which is interesting given that US Club (which runs ECNL) is governed under US Soccer. What would be great would be strong governance and structure from USSF based on a funding and certification (accreditation) process for soccer organizations at the national, regional, and state level. Those that don't play by the rules don't get certification and don't get funding from national shared pool of money. I.e. it provides for a free market, but gives a cooperative advantage to those that cooperate.

Under this model ODP would be eliminated. The Olympic and National Team Development Program, short named to Development Academy or "DA" would exist, but only as series of non-club selection based teams with no more than 16 teams nationally (4 teams per 4 regions). East, North, South, West regions with 4 teams per region based on population and geography. There teams would play a limited season of 6 regional league games (home and away against other 3 teams in your region) followed by national playoff of the 4 regional winners round-robin style (3 games) with final match if necessary. Also - two showcases (summer and winter, i.e. "offseason") where cross-regional games occur with 6 games total (3 per showcase). Players on these DA teams would also play with their normal club teams. Again, no "DA" "club" teams. Make this part-time best of the best, not some club competition, money-grubbing scheme.

Club teams and leagues. Population center based, not state based. The more people, the more divisions and vice-versa. Ex: DC Metro league would include NoVA and SoMD teams. Philly league would include SE PA and SoNJ, and some Del., etc. Relegation and promotion based with top club teams playing in top divisions and qualifying for regional leagues with limited regional league schedules. Regional league teams can play in national tournaments / showcases, but no "national leagues". U.S. is just too big for that. No DA vs. ECNL vs. EDP vs. CCL vs. NCSL vs. NPL crap. Clear structure and hierarchy. No state cups and no "open" cups. Same regions used as for DA. 4 micro-regional leagues per macro region. Win your micro region (season), then play other micro-region winners in playoff. Win macro-region playoff, then play macro-region winners in National Champ. tournament. This structure also allows "DA" coaches/scouts to easily view best teams and players in their respective micro and macro-regional leagues. Relegation and promotion for the micro-regional leagues too.

Other tournaments can work as they've always worked - with a rotation of regional / national showcases amongst best traditional tournaments (vs. same place every time). Player registrations, carding, rules, referee allocations, and player transfer regulations would be goverened by one information system so as to make the transfer of players between clubs and onto "DA" teams as smooth and easy as possible. Also, no over-governance such as HS soccer restrictions. That would be up to players and coaches individually.

Finally, the pro-teams - MLS and NWSL teams (if they care to have junior teams) and any foreign-club, US-based pro youth teams like Barca, GPS/Bayern, etc. - have their teams play in the same leagues as everyone else. Naturally, (at least on the boys side) those teams would usually end up getting many of the better players and rising to the top metro divisions and qualifying for micro-regional leagues, thereby getting the top competition they crave.

National funding comes from accredited member clubs (via player fees and sponsorships), national sponsors, share of USNT revenue, and share of MLS revenue distributed as a coop dividend back to participating clubs in good standing each year.

Again - if someone doesn't want to play within this strucutre no one will say you cannot, but your club / team / league wont be accredited and won't receive this funding and will be left out of most important and competitive leagues and tournaments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which is interesting given that US Club (which runs ECNL) is governed under US Soccer. What would be great would be strong governance and structure from USSF based on a funding and certification (accreditation) process for soccer organizations at the national, regional, and state level. Those that don't play by the rules don't get certification and don't get funding from national shared pool of money. I.e. it provides for a free market, but gives a cooperative advantage to those that cooperate.

Under this model ODP would be eliminated. The Olympic and National Team Development Program, short named to Development Academy or "DA" would exist, but only as series of non-club selection based teams with no more than 16 teams nationally (4 teams per 4 regions). East, North, South, West regions with 4 teams per region based on population and geography. There teams would play a limited season of 6 regional league games (home and away against other 3 teams in your region) followed by national playoff of the 4 regional winners round-robin style (3 games) with final match if necessary. Also - two showcases (summer and winter, i.e. "offseason") where cross-regional games occur with 6 games total (3 per showcase). Players on these DA teams would also play with their normal club teams. Again, no "DA" "club" teams. Make this part-time best of the best, not some club competition, money-grubbing scheme.

Club teams and leagues. Population center based, not state based. The more people, the more divisions and vice-versa. Ex: DC Metro league would include NoVA and SoMD teams. Philly league would include SE PA and SoNJ, and some Del., etc. Relegation and promotion based with top club teams playing in top divisions and qualifying for regional leagues with limited regional league schedules. Regional league teams can play in national tournaments / showcases, but no "national leagues". U.S. is just too big for that. No DA vs. ECNL vs. EDP vs. CCL vs. NCSL vs. NPL crap. Clear structure and hierarchy. No state cups and no "open" cups. Same regions used as for DA. 4 micro-regional leagues per macro region. Win your micro region (season), then play other micro-region winners in playoff. Win macro-region playoff, then play macro-region winners in National Champ. tournament. This structure also allows "DA" coaches/scouts to easily view best teams and players in their respective micro and macro-regional leagues. Relegation and promotion for the micro-regional leagues too.

Other tournaments can work as they've always worked - with a rotation of regional / national showcases amongst best traditional tournaments (vs. same place every time). Player registrations, carding, rules, referee allocations, and player transfer regulations would be goverened by one information system so as to make the transfer of players between clubs and onto "DA" teams as smooth and easy as possible. Also, no over-governance such as HS soccer restrictions. That would be up to players and coaches individually.

Finally, the pro-teams - MLS and NWSL teams (if they care to have junior teams) and any foreign-club, US-based pro youth teams like Barca, GPS/Bayern, etc. - have their teams play in the same leagues as everyone else. Naturally, (at least on the boys side) those teams would usually end up getting many of the better players and rising to the top metro divisions and qualifying for micro-regional leagues, thereby getting the top competition they crave.

National funding comes from accredited member clubs (via player fees and sponsorships), national sponsors, share of USNT revenue, and share of MLS revenue distributed as a coop dividend back to participating clubs in good standing each year.

Again - if someone doesn't want to play within this strucutre no one will say you cannot, but your club / team / league wont be accredited and won't receive this funding and will be left out of most important and competitive leagues and tournaments.

You must have been the Dungeon Master 30 years ago

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which is interesting given that US Club (which runs ECNL) is governed under US Soccer. What would be great would be strong governance and structure from USSF based on a funding and certification (accreditation) process for soccer organizations at the national, regional, and state level. Those that don't play by the rules don't get certification and don't get funding from national shared pool of money. I.e. it provides for a free market, but gives a cooperative advantage to those that cooperate.

Under this model ODP would be eliminated. The Olympic and National Team Development Program, short named to Development Academy or "DA" would exist, but only as series of non-club selection based teams with no more than 16 teams nationally (4 teams per 4 regions). East, North, South, West regions with 4 teams per region based on population and geography. There teams would play a limited season of 6 regional league games (home and away against other 3 teams in your region) followed by national playoff of the 4 regional winners round-robin style (3 games) with final match if necessary. Also - two showcases (summer and winter, i.e. "offseason") where cross-regional games occur with 6 games total (3 per showcase). Players on these DA teams would also play with their normal club teams. Again, no "DA" "club" teams. Make this part-time best of the best, not some club competition, money-grubbing scheme.

Club teams and leagues. Population center based, not state based. The more people, the more divisions and vice-versa. Ex: DC Metro league would include NoVA and SoMD teams. Philly league would include SE PA and SoNJ, and some Del., etc. Relegation and promotion based with top club teams playing in top divisions and qualifying for regional leagues with limited regional league schedules. Regional league teams can play in national tournaments / showcases, but no "national leagues". U.S. is just too big for that. No DA vs. ECNL vs. EDP vs. CCL vs. NCSL vs. NPL crap. Clear structure and hierarchy. No state cups and no "open" cups. Same regions used as for DA. 4 micro-regional leagues per macro region. Win your micro region (season), then play other micro-region winners in playoff. Win macro-region playoff, then play macro-region winners in National Champ. tournament. This structure also allows "DA" coaches/scouts to easily view best teams and players in their respective micro and macro-regional leagues. Relegation and promotion for the micro-regional leagues too.

Other tournaments can work as they've always worked - with a rotation of regional / national showcases amongst best traditional tournaments (vs. same place every time). Player registrations, carding, rules, referee allocations, and player transfer regulations would be goverened by one information system so as to make the transfer of players between clubs and onto "DA" teams as smooth and easy as possible. Also, no over-governance such as HS soccer restrictions. That would be up to players and coaches individually.

Finally, the pro-teams - MLS and NWSL teams (if they care to have junior teams) and any foreign-club, US-based pro youth teams like Barca, GPS/Bayern, etc. - have their teams play in the same leagues as everyone else. Naturally, (at least on the boys side) those teams would usually end up getting many of the better players and rising to the top metro divisions and qualifying for micro-regional leagues, thereby getting the top competition they crave.

National funding comes from accredited member clubs (via player fees and sponsorships), national sponsors, share of USNT revenue, and share of MLS revenue distributed as a coop dividend back to participating clubs in good standing each year.

Again - if someone doesn't want to play within this strucutre no one will say you cannot, but your club / team / league wont be accredited and won't receive this funding and will be left out of most important and competitive leagues and tournaments.

I stopped reading when you said US Club is governed by US Soccer.

[Anonymous]

way too many vested interests for any of that to happen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is interesting given that US Club (which runs ECNL) is governed under US Soccer. What would be great would be strong governance and structure from USSF based on a funding and certification (accreditation) process for soccer organizations at the national, regional, and state level. Those that don't play by the rules don't get certification and don't get funding from national shared pool of money. I.e. it provides for a free market, but gives a cooperative advantage to those that cooperate.

Under this model ODP would be eliminated. The Olympic and National Team Development Program, short named to Development Academy or "DA" would exist, but only as series of non-club selection based teams with no more than 16 teams nationally (4 teams per 4 regions). East, North, South, West regions with 4 teams per region based on population and geography. There teams would play a limited season of 6 regional league games (home and away against other 3 teams in your region) followed by national playoff of the 4 regional winners round-robin style (3 games) with final match if necessary. Also - two showcases (summer and winter, i.e. "offseason") where cross-regional games occur with 6 games total (3 per showcase). Players on these DA teams would also play with their normal club teams. Again, no "DA" "club" teams. Make this part-time best of the best, not some club competition, money-grubbing scheme.

Club teams and leagues. Population center based, not state based. The more people, the more divisions and vice-versa. Ex: DC Metro league would include NoVA and SoMD teams. Philly league would include SE PA and SoNJ, and some Del., etc. Relegation and promotion based with top club teams playing in top divisions and qualifying for regional leagues with limited regional league schedules. Regional league teams can play in national tournaments / showcases, but no "national leagues". U.S. is just too big for that. No DA vs. ECNL vs. EDP vs. CCL vs. NCSL vs. NPL crap. Clear structure and hierarchy. No state cups and no "open" cups. Same regions used as for DA. 4 micro-regional leagues per macro region. Win your micro region (season), then play other micro-region winners in playoff. Win macro-region playoff, then play macro-region winners in National Champ. tournament. This structure also allows "DA" coaches/scouts to easily view best teams and players in their respective micro and macro-regional leagues. Relegation and promotion for the micro-regional leagues too.

Other tournaments can work as they've always worked - with a rotation of regional / national showcases amongst best traditional tournaments (vs. same place every time). Player registrations, carding, rules, referee allocations, and player transfer regulations would be goverened by one information system so as to make the transfer of players between clubs and onto "DA" teams as smooth and easy as possible. Also, no over-governance such as HS soccer restrictions. That would be up to players and coaches individually.

Finally, the pro-teams - MLS and NWSL teams (if they care to have junior teams) and any foreign-club, US-based pro youth teams like Barca, GPS/Bayern, etc. - have their teams play in the same leagues as everyone else. Naturally, (at least on the boys side) those teams would usually end up getting many of the better players and rising to the top metro divisions and qualifying for micro-regional leagues, thereby getting the top competition they crave.

National funding comes from accredited member clubs (via player fees and sponsorships), national sponsors, share of USNT revenue, and share of MLS revenue distributed as a coop dividend back to participating clubs in good standing each year.

Again - if someone doesn't want to play within this strucutre no one will say you cannot, but your club / team / league wont be accredited and won't receive this funding and will be left out of most important and competitive leagues and tournaments.

You must have been the Dungeon Master 30 years ago

No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Yeah, I was procrastinating this afternoon. And yes ... this will never happen as there are too many vested interests.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Is it just me, or are girls’ soccer parents way crazier that boys’ soccer parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Wow. Is it just me, or are girls’ soccer parents way crazier that boys’ soccer parents?

It’s just you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Wow. Is it just me, or are girls’ soccer parents way crazier that boys’ soccer parents?

It's a different kind of crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Wow. Is it just me, or are girls’ soccer parents way crazier that boys’ soccer parents?

100% YES. Not to mention, 95% of the posts on here are poo throwing about girls soccer.

[Anonymous]

McLean merges with GFR after getting sued by a Ulittle girl's parents.