DA vs ECNL vs everything else

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re at FPYC and it’s pretty good bang for your buck. Throw all the shade you want but looking at rants by the FCV parent I’m not the one that needs to take the Midol.

If FPYC works for you, then more power to you. I am not here to throw shade at anyone. Just calling the crap talkers out on their crap talking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the real story behind what happened with FCV GDA and Loudoun Girls Soccer? They formed a partnership and dissolved rather quickly. Was it because of FCV's arrogant leadership? Or was Loudoun just waiting to hear from ECNL and in the meantime just joined with FCV so they were not left out in the cold? On another note, did Loudoun get a GDA offer on their own but declined it and went with ECNL?

Loudoun applied for and accepted ECNL. It really isn't more complicated than that.

The merger was for Loudoun to demonstrate a pathway and for FCV it was about players.

Once Loudoun was granted ECNL they could demonstrate their own player pathway and didn't need FCV anymore.

FCV still needs Loudoun players but with Loudoun having ECNL it will be harder than ever for FCV to attract Loudoun's top talent.

Or nah!

Loudoun was losing all their top players to DA. They approached Spirit to partner so they could maintain some control. Spirit wouldn't give them control. Loudoun went to FCV.

FCV said sure. You can have some input. A partnership was born. Then they kicked Loudoun staff to the curb.

Loudoun got ECNL because ECNL was desperate.

And there you have it.

I added your timeline to mine and I think this is about right:

Loudoun was losing all their top players to DA. They approached Spirit to partner so they could maintain some control. Spirit wouldn't give them control.

Loudoun went to FCV. FCV said sure. You can have some input. A partnership was born.

Then they kicked Loudoun staff to the curb.

Loudoun applied for and accepted ECNL. It really isn't more complicated than that.

Loudoun got ECNL because ECNL was desperate.

The merger was for Loudoun to demonstrate a pathway and for FCV it was about players.

Once Loudoun was granted ECNL they could demonstrate their own player pathway and didn't need FCV anymore.

FCV still needs Loudoun players but with Loudoun having ECNL it will be harder than ever for FCV to attract Loudoun's top talent.

[Anonymous]

I'm not affiliated with either club so maybe you could explain how Loudoun was losing players to the DA before any girls DA even had their first tryout. Because Loudoun's partnership with Spirit imploded well before there were even DA tryouts. In fact, according to this article, the Loudoun / FCV partnership was announced before the schedule for FCV DA tryouts were scheduled. So which DA was Loudoun losing players to?

Now, maybe Loudoun wanted a little prestige from be associated with a DA program, but based on FCV's history, they wanted to partner with Loudoun because FCV is always looking for field space.

[Anonymous]

Article link:
https://www.soccerwire.com/news/clubs/youth-boys/loudoun-soccer-fc-virginia-announce-development-academy-partnership/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not affiliated with either club so maybe you could explain how Loudoun was losing players to the DA before any girls DA even had their first tryout. Because Loudoun's partnership with Spirit imploded well before there were even DA tryouts. In fact, according to this article, the Loudoun / FCV partnership was announced before the schedule for FCV DA tryouts were scheduled. So which DA was Loudoun losing players to?

Now, maybe Loudoun wanted a little prestige from be associated with a DA program, but based on FCV's history, they wanted to partner with Loudoun because FCV is always looking for field space.

I'll take the "losing players to DA" to meaning Loudoun was losing players to FCV regardless of DA or not. Loudoun always lost top talent to ECNL whether it was McLean or FCV. Loudoun wanted to get in on the ground floor with DA and control the bleeding and increase youth membership by demonstrating a pathway for their girl players.

FCV obliged because they needed fields and getting an early look at Loudoun players was very helpful. The deal was weighted heavily in FCV's favor so Loudoun applied for and got ECNL thus ending the merger. ECNL will provide players a reason to stay at Loudoun, it doesn't mean they keep all of their top talent but it does give Loudoun a fighting chance to retain kids who would have been locks to leave otherwise.

[Anonymous]

So you think because Loudoun was losing players to FCV, they agreed to partner with FCV so it would be easier for their players to move to FCV?



Something seems a bit off with that logic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you think because Loudoun was losing players to FCV, they agreed to partner with FCV so it would be easier for their players to move to FCV?



Something seems a bit off with that logic.

They wanted control of the process and if their "name" was on it then GDA was something they could sell parents to start off at Loudoun in the first place. It allowed Loudoun to keep players LONGER than they might have otherwise. Loudoun also likely believed they would have coaching staff more involved at FCV than actually happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you think because Loudoun was losing players to FCV, they agreed to partner with FCV so it would be easier for their players to move to FCV?



Something seems a bit off with that logic.

That is exactly what happened. Don't know why it's goes against your logic. FCV and Mclean have been getting Loudoun kids for years because of ecnl. Loudoun is well aware of this. So when the DA came next door, they already knew what was going to happen. So they tried to partner with a DA. They wanted Spirit...but Spirit wasn't giving up any control. The deal fell throught. A week later they partnered with FCV.

Soon thereafter, FCV kicked Loudoun staff to the curb and gave them no control. Loudoun took the ECNL spot that FCV vacated. That's it. Whether you want to believe it or not.

Loudoun will continue to lose their talent to DA anyways. That's the trend for now. Just ask Mclean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you think because Loudoun was losing players to FCV, they agreed to partner with FCV so it would be easier for their players to move to FCV?



Something seems a bit off with that logic.

They wanted control of the process and if their "name" was on it then GDA was something they could sell parents to start off at Loudoun in the first place. It allowed Loudoun to keep players LONGER than they might have otherwise. Loudoun also likely believed they would have coaching staff more involved at FCV than actually happened.

It's not about losing a few players to a DA or ECNL for a club, it's about having the top level as an optional pathway..... meaning players will stay with the club while they're younger under the marketing message of "we have a pathway for you to reach the top". It's not about the 5 players a year that leave from U13-U17 "A" teams, it's about keeping 50+ from leaving U9-U12 to get in at a club that has the pathway.

Problem is it's all marketing with these partnerships. Everyone wants to be seen as the one who can deliver on everything the players on their teams need. That's impossible, and that's why you need a real club with integrity at the management level and competent coaching focused on the long term success of players that come through their system not on their U17 standing and college commitments. It probably doesn't exist, but one can dream if they have kids young enough to benefit from this mess shaking out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you think because Loudoun was losing players to FCV, they agreed to partner with FCV so it would be easier for their players to move to FCV?



Something seems a bit off with that logic.

They wanted control of the process and if their "name" was on it then GDA was something they could sell parents to start off at Loudoun in the first place. It allowed Loudoun to keep players LONGER than they might have otherwise. Loudoun also likely believed they would have coaching staff more involved at FCV than actually happened.

It's not about losing a few players to a DA or ECNL for a club, it's about having the top level as an optional pathway..... meaning players will stay with the club while they're younger under the marketing message of "we have a pathway for you to reach the top". It's not about the 5 players a year that leave from U13-U17 "A" teams, it's about keeping 50+ from leaving U9-U12 to get in at a club that has the pathway.

Problem is it's all marketing with these partnerships. Everyone wants to be seen as the one who can deliver on everything the players on their teams need. That's impossible, and that's why you need a real club with integrity at the management level and competent coaching focused on the long term success of players that come through their system not on their U17 standing and college commitments. It probably doesn't exist, but one can dream if they have kids young enough to benefit from this mess shaking out.

It's not about a pathway. Loudoun hasn't had a pathway for their girls since 2008. That's why everybody calls Loudoun a good club for little kids. At U13, it's over for Loudoun.

Maybe ECNL helps this a little

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you think because Loudoun was losing players to FCV, they agreed to partner with FCV so it would be easier for their players to move to FCV?



Something seems a bit off with that logic.

Loudoun was consistently losing talent to FCV mostly (location) and McLean secondly because of ECNL. Loudoun has a boys DA and FCV doesn't, so they may have mistakenly thought that FCV would see the value in partnering because it would also provide a pathway to FCV's boys, who leave FCV for Loudoun's boys DA.

I'm not from Loudoun. However, FCV has pretty consistently looked down its nose at Loudoun and yes, it ended more as an FCV takeover of the talent Loudoun had without FCV treating Loudoun as at true partner.

That said, I think getting an ECNL leaves Loudoun still behind the eight ball on girl talent in the long run (though ECNL is certainly much more appealing than CCL and there are girls who will now stay or return since it is now an option).

[Anonymous]

I am a Loudoun 07 parent. We had 104 girls at tryouts yesterday. Some girls are leaving to pursue basketball or other sports but the club seems to be retaining their top talent. The ones leaving were not at tryouts. FCV has had their rolling tryouts underway for a while and offers have been out. I am not seeing any girls from our top three teams Red, Black or White going to FCV.

If DA is the choice for our girls it’s not happening at U12. Maybe next year will be when it happens but I am not seeing it so far. I do know some parents that attended FCV rolling tryouts but do not know of one that accepted. We did a few girls from the 4th and 5th team last year that went to FCV but not top players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a Loudoun 07 parent. We had 104 girls at tryouts yesterday. Some girls are leaving to pursue basketball or other sports but the club seems to be retaining their top talent. The ones leaving were not at tryouts. FCV has had their rolling tryouts underway for a while and offers have been out. I am not seeing any girls from our top three teams Red, Black or White going to FCV.

If DA is the choice for our girls it’s not happening at U12. Maybe next year will be when it happens but I am not seeing it so far. I do know some parents that attended FCV rolling tryouts but do not know of one that accepted. We did a few girls from the 4th and 5th team last year that went to FCV but not top players.

Just FYI: there is no DA (or ECNL for that matter) at the U12 level. Even U13, some girls through middle school may opt to stay in their current club, but as they approach high school and start shifting thinking, they will seek out a higher level league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a Loudoun 07 parent. We had 104 girls at tryouts yesterday. Some girls are leaving to pursue basketball or other sports but the club seems to be retaining their top talent. The ones leaving were not at tryouts. FCV has had their rolling tryouts underway for a while and offers have been out. I am not seeing any girls from our top three teams Red, Black or White going to FCV.

If DA is the choice for our girls it’s not happening at U12. Maybe next year will be when it happens but I am not seeing it so far. I do know some parents that attended FCV rolling tryouts but do not know of one that accepted. We did a few girls from the 4th and 5th team last year that went to FCV but not top players.

Just FYI: there is no DA (or ECNL for that matter) at the U12 level. Even U13, some girls through middle school may opt to stay in their current club, but as they approach high school and start shifting thinking, they will seek out a higher level league.

Yes I meant if FCV is the choice it's not happening at U12. Girls are not rushing to FCV to get in now in preparation for U13 DA. Who knows what will happen in the next few years.

You say higher level league but I am not sure. At U12 it is easier to get a spot on FCV Elite than to make Loudoun Red. I guess you are making the leap of faith that the top level talent at U13+ will be on your club team. If Loudoun ECNL demonstrates that it is a viable development path you may be surprised.

Just FYI - there is no ECNL for Loudoun until Fall 2018.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a Loudoun 07 parent. We had 104 girls at tryouts yesterday. Some girls are leaving to pursue basketball or other sports but the club seems to be retaining their top talent. The ones leaving were not at tryouts. FCV has had their rolling tryouts underway for a while and offers have been out. I am not seeing any girls from our top three teams Red, Black or White going to FCV.

If DA is the choice for our girls it’s not happening at U12. Maybe next year will be when it happens but I am not seeing it so far. I do know some parents that attended FCV rolling tryouts but do not know of one that accepted. We did a few girls from the 4th and 5th team last year that went to FCV but not top players.

Just FYI: there is no DA (or ECNL for that matter) at the U12 level. Even U13, some girls through middle school may opt to stay in their current club, but as they approach high school and start shifting thinking, they will seek out a higher level league.

Yes I meant if FCV is the choice it's not happening at U12. Girls are not rushing to FCV to get in now in preparation for U13 DA. Who knows what will happen in the next few years.

You say higher level league but I am not sure. At U12 it is easier to get a spot on FCV Elite than to make Loudoun Red. I guess you are making the leap of faith that the top level talent at U13+ will be on your club team. If Loudoun ECNL demonstrates that it is a viable development path you may be surprised.

Just FYI - there is no ECNL for Loudoun until Fall 2018.

The top 5 from Loudoun Red are the only kids that have a chance at FCV. That is the top talent I'm talking about. If you lose those players, a team competitiveness goes down fast. Just need to look at what Loudoun Red 04 and 05 was and is.