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DA vs ECNL vs everything else
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Anonymous
Yes--I know. My point was that, contrary to what a PP said, DC United is not actually close enough to Bethesda's fields now to be a draw for a lot of families based near Bethesda. Sounds like the case will be different for Loudoun families once the move happens, especially since DC United's Academy seems to be on an upswing. |
Anonymous
Yes, I am intimately aware of the distance between LSP and Bolen, that is not my point. My point is that geography is not what makes loosing talent to DCU, talent is what makes loosing talent to DCU. As for when DCU moves to Bolen, that remains to be seen. I have heard they have pushed it out to the 2019/20 season, and no construction has started at bolen so not sure how long it will take to build the 5k seated stadium along with the practice fields, unless they plan on practicing on bolen grass. Good luck with that, with even a hint of rain the park closes so guess they will not get many practices in. |
Anonymous
So over time, being an Academy affiliated with a pro club matters? |
Anonymous
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ECNL may become second tier 05 and younger; that will depend on what the upcoming years look like. In the end, the GDA will take over the top talent, but for existing teams - 04 and up - there hasn't been consistent player movement demonstrating that ECNL is now de facto second tier.
There have been ECNL girls 04 and up offered DA and declined, as well as DA girls who could have stayed DA and left for the ECNL. |
Anonymous
It might affect younger age groups more than older age groups. |
Anonymous
I cannot agree on the 04 age group at all. ECNL is VDA, MCLEAN, BRYC and Loudoun. GDA is WS, FCV and Arlington. In the 04 age group, FCV and Arlington are clearly stronger than all the ECNL teams right now and they are both adding strong players. WS is adding A LOT of players and we will have to see what happens there. But all 4 ECNL teams have net losses at the top of the starting lineups. I just don't see how in the 04 age group the ECNL is at par with GDA in this area. 03 and older is a different story but I suspect GDA will continue to strengthen while ECNL weakens. And don't forget we now have a third national footprint option - EDP's move to USYS. This affects ECNL more than GDA. |
Anonymous
This is interesting to hear as we are in similar circumstance. We have heard about many and varied negative experiences from DCU Academy parents over the years, but come to think of it, the negativity has quieted in the last couple of years and apparently they have improved on the problems presented by over-sized rosters, chaotic practice schedules, etc. I would love to hear from anyone with recent or current experience at DCU Academy in the upper ages. Also, will DCU Academy practice in Loudoun next year (Fall 2018-Spring 19)? |
Anonymous
why do you continually compare Arlington 04 to FCV 04 DA. They would destroy them. Get a grip. |
Anonymous
I agree. GDA will take over the top talent because any USGNT player will be told to move to GDA by US Soccer, that is known. That's why the two best players in the area Canniff and Robinson moved to WS - they were told too. US Soccer wants them in their programming. What is unclear is what happens with the families that choose ECNL vs DA in contested areas like right here. That is unknown until ECNL and DA are fully online this fall and will show most in the 06 and 07 age groups over the next year. |
Anonymous
FCV is by far the strongest at the 04 age group in VA, and adding two of the stronger McLean 04 ECNL players is only going to make them stronger. Aside from that, I think the jury is out on the rest of the GDA/ECNL teams in VA. ARL 04 Red is strong, and presumably that will make up the lion share of their U15 GDA team in the fall, although rumor has it that several of the players on the current 04 team were not offered spots on GDA and as a result several that were are opting to stay with their Red team mates. They are loosing a GK to Loudoun, so not sure where their strong additions are coming from? WS has lost 4 players that had DA offers but opted for various ECNL clubs in VA, so they will need to more than make up for those loses, not sure adding an 07, various 05s and NPL players from FCV are going to make them that much stronger, but again time will tell. As for the ECNL clubs, McLean will definitely suffer from their two loses, BRYC lost one that I know of to WS and Loudoun has picked up 3 WS players along with 4 FCV (I know what everyone will say - they were cut from FCV, but if we all agree that FCV is by far the strongest then even their cast offs are better than some at WS, BRYC and McLean). |
Anonymous
The one thing I can agree with with you on is I’m sure Arlington will be interesting to see as it comes to the DA seen (because they were already strong with no ECNL or DA status, not because they are now a DA), but there has been player movement back and forth and the numbers don’t equal “net losses”. Sorry 04 parent. But if you are just talking about player gains, there have been player gains from U17 down. FCV and WS have both picked up some ECNL players from U17 down. Arlington is out of the picture for that group for now, though they are fielding an EDP 03 team. So yeah, all the teams U17 and down are changing, and for WS and FCV, some upgrades. FCV got the DD dump for the 04s because her daughter is an 04, so that’s as much luck for FCV as anything. She knew WS’s 04 group isn’t there yet. However, it hasn’t only been 05 and down that tryouts have blossomed DA side, without reticence, movements both ways and the conversations in that younger crowd of parents are different. |
Anonymous
| ^it has only been the 05 and down |
Anonymous
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The stars were aligned. FCV 04 was lucky to be the only real option in 2017-18. This time last year had the former head coach for Princeton Soccer as their TD! Everyone went there. WS was just getting started and no ECNL at Loudoun on the FCV backdoor.
Wow what changes in one year. Shackford now gone with her DD to W&M. FCV keeps up the arrogance and alienation. Interest in the FCV program plummets. The 04 girls are the last strong year for the program. Each year after gets weaker. Downhill from here. Watch. |
Anonymous
who would destroy who? |
Anonymous
That’s spot on. I left room for the 05s only as an unknown and as a second year in of the DA, so as far as traction and momentum are concerned. 06s will be the first age group where none of the players will have come from ECNL backdrop. Even for the 05s, some may have been U13 ECNL last year. |