Please get rid of GDA and ECNL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids playing ECNL or DA are disciplined, competitive, and hard working to begin with and keeping up with HS work is doable for them. Having said that, the Friday and Monday showcasedays are silly. There is no need for this. It is simply convenience for the tournament directors and college coaches at the expense of the kids and their families (miss school, miss work).

Of course there is no need for this. No where else in the world are thousands of kids missing that much school as the finance plane tickets and hotels to learn this sport. It is a deluxe faux mini pro experience.... soccer Disney world. People are just paying for admission to the theme park.

And you are free to not participate.

I love how folks who are not involved get so upset about the things that other people do.

My player participates. It was not clear initially to me when we joined the team what this really is. Sure I could pull my player ( female) but I don't as she adores it. But if I had it to do over, would have stayed in a much less burdensome league.

That is all on you then. How dumb not to look into it more before you signed on the line.

The bigger problem is the ignorance of parents who blindly sign their kids up for such commitments and then bitch about it later.

Know ahead of time what you’re getting into. I have no sympathy for people like you.

I don't need sympathy and am guilty as charged. Just sharing what I have learned through this soccer journey on a chat forum. It a great sport and has served my player well. My complaint with the league is the excessive, wasteful travel. Much of the league play is great. Just cut out the far flung showcases and play off nonsense and it would be a big improvement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids playing ECNL or DA are disciplined, competitive, and hard working to begin with and keeping up with HS work is doable for them. Having said that, the Friday and Monday showcasedays are silly. There is no need for this. It is simply convenience for the tournament directors and college coaches at the expense of the kids and their families (miss school, miss work).

Bollocks. It's a handful of days over an entire year of school. Live a little Karen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids playing ECNL or DA are disciplined, competitive, and hard working to begin with and keeping up with HS work is doable for them. Having said that, the Friday and Monday showcasedays are silly. There is no need for this. It is simply convenience for the tournament directors and college coaches at the expense of the kids and their families (miss school, miss work).

Of course there is no need for this. No where else in the world are thousands of kids missing that much school as the finance plane tickets and hotels to learn this sport. It is a deluxe faux mini pro experience.... soccer Disney world. People are just paying for admission to the theme park.

And if you can afford it, and if your DD can keep up with the schoolwork, why not? Just like Disney is fun, we’ve found DA/ECNL soccer to be fun, not too much of a burden financially or academically, and could give DD a boost in college admissions if she’s recruited. YMMV.

Of course, prerequisite for any of this working is that your kid is choosing it, not you choosing it for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids playing ECNL or DA are disciplined, competitive, and hard working to begin with and keeping up with HS work is doable for them. Having said that, the Friday and Monday showcasedays are silly. There is no need for this. It is simply convenience for the tournament directors and college coaches at the expense of the kids and their families (miss school, miss work).

Of course there is no need for this. No where else in the world are thousands of kids missing that much school as the finance plane tickets and hotels to learn this sport. It is a deluxe faux mini pro experience.... soccer Disney world. People are just paying for admission to the theme park.

And if you can afford it, and if your DD can keep up with the schoolwork, why not? Just like Disney is fun, we’ve found DA/ECNL soccer to be fun, not too much of a burden financially or academically, and could give DD a boost in college admissions if she’s recruited. YMMV.

Of course, prerequisite for any of this working is that your kid is choosing it, not you choosing it for her.

Agree that it expensive fun for well off athletic suburban kids...some who want to play in college and some who do not. It is a fun but, exclusionary sports environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids playing ECNL or DA are disciplined, competitive, and hard working to begin with and keeping up with HS work is doable for them. Having said that, the Friday and Monday showcasedays are silly. There is no need for this. It is simply convenience for the tournament directors and college coaches at the expense of the kids and their families (miss school, miss work).

Of course there is no need for this. No where else in the world are thousands of kids missing that much school as the finance plane tickets and hotels to learn this sport. It is a deluxe faux mini pro experience.... soccer Disney world. People are just paying for admission to the theme park.

And if you can afford it, and if your DD can keep up with the schoolwork, why not? Just like Disney is fun, we’ve found DA/ECNL soccer to be fun, not too much of a burden financially or academically, and could give DD a boost in college admissions if she’s recruited. YMMV.

Of course, prerequisite for any of this working is that your kid is choosing it, not you choosing it for her.

Agree that it expensive fun for well off athletic suburban kids...some who want to play in college and some who do not. It is a fun but, exclusionary sports environment.

There are barriers, but it is not exclusionary. Provided the skills are there, any club in ECNL or GDA will happily take on kids who cannot afford the price. Most clubs have at least a couple of kids who cannot afford the cost. This is built into the cost model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids playing ECNL or DA are disciplined, competitive, and hard working to begin with and keeping up with HS work is doable for them. Having said that, the Friday and Monday showcasedays are silly. There is no need for this. It is simply convenience for the tournament directors and college coaches at the expense of the kids and their families (miss school, miss work).

Of course there is no need for this. No where else in the world are thousands of kids missing that much school as the finance plane tickets and hotels to learn this sport. It is a deluxe faux mini pro experience.... soccer Disney world. People are just paying for admission to the theme park.

And if you can afford it, and if your DD can keep up with the schoolwork, why not? Just like Disney is fun, we’ve found DA/ECNL soccer to be fun, not too much of a burden financially or academically, and could give DD a boost in college admissions if she’s recruited. YMMV.

Of course, prerequisite for any of this working is that your kid is choosing it, not you choosing it for her.

Agree that it expensive fun for well off athletic suburban kids...some who want to play in college and some who do not. It is a fun but, exclusionary sports environment.

There are barriers, but it is not exclusionary. Provided the skills are there, any club in ECNL or GDA will happily take on kids who cannot afford the price. Most clubs have at least a couple of kids who cannot afford the cost. This is built into the cost model.

Oh well...a couple of kids per club ..why didn't you say so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids playing ECNL or DA are disciplined, competitive, and hard working to begin with and keeping up with HS work is doable for them. Having said that, the Friday and Monday showcasedays are silly. There is no need for this. It is simply convenience for the tournament directors and college coaches at the expense of the kids and their families (miss school, miss work).

Of course there is no need for this. No where else in the world are thousands of kids missing that much school as the finance plane tickets and hotels to learn this sport. It is a deluxe faux mini pro experience.... soccer Disney world. People are just paying for admission to the theme park.

And if you can afford it, and if your DD can keep up with the schoolwork, why not? Just like Disney is fun, we’ve found DA/ECNL soccer to be fun, not too much of a burden financially or academically, and could give DD a boost in college admissions if she’s recruited. YMMV.

Of course, prerequisite for any of this working is that your kid is choosing it, not you choosing it for her.

Agree that it expensive fun for well off athletic suburban kids...some who want to play in college and some who do not. It is a fun but, exclusionary sports environment.

It is exclusionary but the earth spins on. Is what it is. Fancy youth sports is the reality for soccer and many other youth sports.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes it is not even about cost. Logistics is an issue of you have several kids involved in activities.

The point is that there is no reason for McLean, Bethesda or FCV needs to travel more than a half dozen times to play games in in other regions.

The model needs to change so that 95% of games are local. Regionals and nationals are relevant but only if under one club. There is no need to have three or more different leagues with their own national playoff system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes it is not even about cost. Logistics is an issue of you have several kids involved in activities.

The point is that there is no reason for McLean, Bethesda or FCV needs to travel more than a half dozen times to play games in in other regions.

The model needs to change so that 95% of games are local. Regionals and nationals are relevant but only if under one club. There is no need to have three or more different leagues with their own national playoff system.

Why should they change the model? They have plenty of paying customers. If you want what they offer, pay the price. If not, play NCSL or one of the other local/regional leagues. It sounds like you want the benefits but are unwilling to pay the price.

[Anonymous]

^+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes it is not even about cost. Logistics is an issue of you have several kids involved in activities.

The point is that there is no reason for McLean, Bethesda or FCV needs to travel more than a half dozen times to play games in in other regions.

The model needs to change so that 95% of games are local. Regionals and nationals are relevant but only if under one club. There is no need to have three or more different leagues with their own national playoff system.

Why should they change the model? They have plenty of paying customers. If you want what they offer, pay the price. If not, play NCSL or one of the other local/regional leagues. It sounds like you want the benefits but are unwilling to pay the price.

There is no product available for kids that really want to pursue high level soccer unless you are in striking distance of a funded boys Da. Market for it is too small and too poor. oh well. deluxe faux high level soccer is all that is available for purchase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes it is not even about cost. Logistics is an issue of you have several kids involved in activities.

The point is that there is no reason for McLean, Bethesda or FCV needs to travel more than a half dozen times to play games in in other regions.

The model needs to change so that 95% of games are local. Regionals and nationals are relevant but only if under one club. There is no need to have three or more different leagues with their own national playoff system.

Why should they change the model? They have plenty of paying customers. If you want what they offer, pay the price. If not, play NCSL or one of the other local/regional leagues. It sounds like you want the benefits but are unwilling to pay the price.

There is no product available for kids that really want to pursue high level soccer unless you are in striking distance of a funded boys Da. Market for it is too small and too poor. oh well. deluxe faux high level soccer is all that is available for purchase.

Some of the boys DAs will board your kid if he is good. Some of the truly dedicated high level soccer players move to be near the DAs. Many kids think they are high-level soccer players and believe there should be an Uber entity that finds them and whisks them away to soccer stardom. Most DAs aren’t going to waste time with someone who isn’t going to put in the effort to be seen - it’s indicative of a tragic flaw. Keep telling your self your kid would be the next Messi if you only had the money...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes it is not even about cost. Logistics is an issue of you have several kids involved in activities.

The point is that there is no reason for McLean, Bethesda or FCV needs to travel more than a half dozen times to play games in in other regions.

The model needs to change so that 95% of games are local. Regionals and nationals are relevant but only if under one club. There is no need to have three or more different leagues with their own national playoff system.

Why should they change the model? They have plenty of paying customers. If you want what they offer, pay the price. If not, play NCSL or one of the other local/regional leagues. It sounds like you want the benefits but are unwilling to pay the price.

There is no product available for kids that really want to pursue high level soccer unless you are in striking distance of a funded boys Da. Market for it is too small and too poor. oh well. deluxe faux high level soccer is all that is available for purchase.

Ah I see. You want someone to train your star child for free. Doesn't really work like that here, wish as we all might. Probably never will either.
Meanwhile deluxe faux high level soccer will continue to feed a two time World Cup champion USWNT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes it is not even about cost. Logistics is an issue of you have several kids involved in activities.

The point is that there is no reason for McLean, Bethesda or FCV needs to travel more than a half dozen times to play games in in other regions.

The model needs to change so that 95% of games are local. Regionals and nationals are relevant but only if under one club. There is no need to have three or more different leagues with their own national playoff system.

Why should they change the model? They have plenty of paying customers. If you want what they offer, pay the price. If not, play NCSL or one of the other local/regional leagues. It sounds like you want the benefits but are unwilling to pay the price.

There is no product available for kids that really want to pursue high level soccer unless you are in striking distance of a funded boys Da. Market for it is too small and too poor. oh well. deluxe faux high level soccer is all that is available for purchase.

Some of the boys DAs will board your kid if he is good. Some of the truly dedicated high level soccer players move to be near the DAs. Many kids think they are high-level soccer players and believe there should be an Uber entity that finds them and whisks them away to soccer stardom. Most DAs aren’t going to waste time with someone who isn’t going to put in the effort to be seen - it’s indicative of a tragic flaw. Keep telling your self your kid would be the next Messi if you only had the money...

ummmm....no funded boys da will take on my or any other female player as far as I know. I only know of one female with a pay to play boys da.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes it is not even about cost. Logistics is an issue of you have several kids involved in activities.

The point is that there is no reason for McLean, Bethesda or FCV needs to travel more than a half dozen times to play games in in other regions.

The model needs to change so that 95% of games are local. Regionals and nationals are relevant but only if under one club. There is no need to have three or more different leagues with their own national playoff system.

Why should they change the model? They have plenty of paying customers. If you want what they offer, pay the price. If not, play NCSL or one of the other local/regional leagues. It sounds like you want the benefits but are unwilling to pay the price.

There is no product available for kids that really want to pursue high level soccer unless you are in striking distance of a funded boys Da. Market for it is too small and too poor. oh well. deluxe faux high level soccer is all that is available for purchase.

Ah I see. You want someone to train your star child for free. Doesn't really work like that here, wish as we all might. Probably never will either.
Meanwhile deluxe faux high level soccer will continue to feed a two time World Cup champion USWNT.

How so - every single player called up this month is a pro with one college player. Does not appear faux igh level youth leagues have anything to do with it.