DA vs ECNL vs everything else

[Anonymous]

I have mixed feelings about a U16 age group. Obviously no one wants to see his DS or DD cut, but it does mean a narrowing of talent each year.

Like the NTCs: each age group, fewer and fewer get asked. Of course in the DA, they are still watching and a player may not be asked but still on a scouting list. But my point is that the DA is seeking to create a platform for the best of the best. Not everyone with potential develops into that player.

And there are both boys and girls ECNL showcase platforms that still allow players to be on a national platform. I think there will always be some D1 checking them out.

[Anonymous]

No, the boys never had a pilot U16 DA. They did have the U15s combined with the U14s (or the aging equivalent since it used to be a little different). The boys have a U16 EDP type situation. But parents of boys handle this whole process differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, the boys never had a pilot U16 DA. They did have the U15s combined with the U14s (or the aging equivalent since it used to be a little different). The boys have a U16 EDP type situation. But parents of boys handle this whole process differently.

Unlike the boys side the age group split will happen because of 4 letters, ECNL. Clubs do not want to lose players to neighboring clubs simply because of ECNL.

With boys ECNL growing it wouldn't be surprising to see the Boys DA return serve as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, the boys never had a pilot U16 DA. They did have the U15s combined with the U14s (or the aging equivalent since it used to be a little different). The boys have a U16 EDP type situation. But parents of boys handle this whole process differently.

The window for recruiting boys is much later than it is for girls. Girls tend to mature physically sooner than boys so their prime recruiting years are earlier than boys. This would account for the difference in how parents react to their kids teams getting cut in half at the most critical recruitment window.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is also an elephant in the room for the 03 and 04 age groups. They had 4 gks this year. 2 clearly are DA quality and 2 are not there yet. 1 of the 2 will drop down to the ECNL, which is probably a better fit). The other has gotten a lot better, but still isn't ready. She is going to try a year of EDP and continue to get the training.

But WS gave them their starts, gave them plenty of game time, and yes, it hurt score lines...sometimes by 6+ goals a game.

You are referring to WS specifically, right? Interesting to contrast to FCV, who kept only one keeper at each age group. It burned them late in the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, the boys never had a pilot U16 DA. They did have the U15s combined with the U14s (or the aging equivalent since it used to be a little different). The boys have a U16 EDP type situation. But parents of boys handle this whole process differently.

Unlike the boys side the age group split will happen because of 4 letters, ECNL. Clubs do not want to lose players to neighboring clubs simply because of ECNL.

With boys ECNL growing it wouldn't be surprising to see the Boys DA return serve as well.

Very true - on both points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is also an elephant in the room for the 03 and 04 age groups. They had 4 gks this year. 2 clearly are DA quality and 2 are not there yet. 1 of the 2 will drop down to the ECNL, which is probably a better fit). The other has gotten a lot better, but still isn't ready. She is going to try a year of EDP and continue to get the training.

But WS gave them their starts, gave them plenty of game time, and yes, it hurt score lines...sometimes by 6+ goals a game.

You are referring to WS specifically, right? Interesting to contrast to FCV, who kept only one keeper at each age group. It burned them late in the year.

Yes, WS VA side. They will have two 04 keepers, an 03 keeper will be in EDP as a resource (and who knows what another year of keeper training might do for her), and there are two good 02 keepers (one very good, but the other is still a strong DA keeper). It seems they may have picked up an ECNL 03 keeper too, but I'm not 100% sure on that score. Either way, I don't see there being a deficit for the U15s on up, as they have options.

Just 1 keeper can burn you, but carrying more when they aren't there yet hasn't been that great either. And besides, it can devastate the confidence of a goalie who is in the wrong environment. In any case, it was certainly a big factor in scorelines for both teams as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, the boys never had a pilot U16 DA. They did have the U15s combined with the U14s (or the aging equivalent since it used to be a little different). The boys have a U16 EDP type situation. But parents of boys handle this whole process differently.

The window for recruiting boys is much later than it is for girls. Girls tend to mature physically sooner than boys so their prime recruiting years are earlier than boys. This would account for the difference in how parents react to their kids teams getting cut in half at the most critical recruitment window.

Which is a huge problem for girls, because while physically some may have hit puberty, they aren't mentally there by any means. So they are being forced into decisions before they are ready. It's a crime. And let's not forget there are girls who don't hit it early. I certainly know of 15 year olds still waiting to hit puberty.

However, there has been a chance in recruiting rules as of spring of this year, so I expect that to improve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WS has a lot of play ups to help with development. Another year or two and you will see the pay off

All age groups had players playing up, at least some, and when playing up wasn't feasible because the roster was too big, they had regular training up. So yes, WS made developmental decisions, and yes, it "cost" WS wins, but are we going through all this for wins or for development?

More than half of those FCV, Spirit, and Arlington 04s will be cut after the 2019 season due to age combination. Right at the time recruiting gets hot. So to think things stay the same shows ignorance beyond measure.

Well don't forget they can stay and play EDP too.

True, and EDP is not a bad option. The teams playing EDP are from solid clubs. I'm also sure they will have some events and tournaments of their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, the boys never had a pilot U16 DA. They did have the U15s combined with the U14s (or the aging equivalent since it used to be a little different). The boys have a U16 EDP type situation. But parents of boys handle this whole process differently.

The window for recruiting boys is much later than it is for girls. Girls tend to mature physically sooner than boys so their prime recruiting years are earlier than boys. This would account for the difference in how parents react to their kids teams getting cut in half at the most critical recruitment window.

OP here: I meant the parents of boys handle this WHOLE process - all of it - differently. Girls' parents are in the faces of coaches, often dictating terms in ways I just don't see it happen on the boys' side. I'm sure there are a few who do (and they have their own nasty little issues to be sure), but parents of boys just seem to move through the process differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, the boys never had a pilot U16 DA. They did have the U15s combined with the U14s (or the aging equivalent since it used to be a little different). The boys have a U16 EDP type situation. But parents of boys handle this whole process differently.

The window for recruiting boys is much later than it is for girls. Girls tend to mature physically sooner than boys so their prime recruiting years are earlier than boys. This would account for the difference in how parents react to their kids teams getting cut in half at the most critical recruitment window.

This is probably some of it, but there are a couple other factors too I think. First, there are fewer boys' college spots. Also, a lot more boys seriously consider going pro than girls do. Boys in this situation want/expect the concentration of talent so they are playing with and against better competition and can see if they stand out at higher levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, the boys never had a pilot U16 DA. They did have the U15s combined with the U14s (or the aging equivalent since it used to be a little different). The boys have a U16 EDP type situation. But parents of boys handle this whole process differently.

The window for recruiting boys is much later than it is for girls. Girls tend to mature physically sooner than boys so their prime recruiting years are earlier than boys. This would account for the difference in how parents react to their kids teams getting cut in half at the most critical recruitment window.

OP here: I meant the parents of boys handle this WHOLE process - all of it - differently. Girls' parents are in the faces of coaches, often dictating terms in ways I just don't see it happen on the boys' side. I'm sure there are a few who do (and they have their own nasty little issues to be sure), but parents of boys just seem to move through the process differently.

And the younger age of the players being recruited on the girls side amps up the anxiety. Parents tend to chill as the kids get older and they have seen more things play out. Remove those extra two years of growth, development, experience as well as measured expectations, yes, I can see girl parents being more intense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is also an elephant in the room for the 03 and 04 age groups. They had 4 gks this year. 2 clearly are DA quality and 2 are not there yet. 1 of the 2 will drop down to the ECNL, which is probably a better fit). The other has gotten a lot better, but still isn't ready. She is going to try a year of EDP and continue to get the training.

But WS gave them their starts, gave them plenty of game time, and yes, it hurt score lines...sometimes by 6+ goals a game.

You are referring to WS specifically, right? Interesting to contrast to FCV, who kept only one keeper at each age group. It burned them late in the year.

Yes, WS VA side. They will have two 04 keepers, an 03 keeper will be in EDP as a resource (and who knows what another year of keeper training might do for her), and there are two good 02 keepers (one very good, but the other is still a strong DA keeper). It seems they may have picked up an ECNL 03 keeper too, but I'm not 100% sure on that score. Either way, I don't see there being a deficit for the U15s on up, as they have options.

Just 1 keeper can burn you, but carrying more when they aren't there yet hasn't been that great either. And besides, it can devastate the confidence of a goalie who is in the wrong environment. In any case, it was certainly a big factor in scorelines for both teams as well.

Goalkeeper situations on the girls side seem strange across the board. It doesnt seem to be a popular position the way it is on the boys teams, and girls team keepers seem to be either great or kinda placeholders. I find it hard to gauge whether a goalkeeper is any good when they’re touching the ball once or twice in a game. Is the goalkeeper recruiting timeline and showcasing the same as for field players, or is there a difference because of the lack of in-game information at showcases? I’ve heard a lot of positives about the FCV and Arlington GKs, but their score lines are often so skewed in those teams’ favor that I have no idea if their keepers are really good or just backing up good teams that don’t let the ball stay in the defensive third.

[Anonymous]

WS VA also picked up a GK from 05 ECNL. ECNL may have trouble attracting/recruiting/retaining GKs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, the boys never had a pilot U16 DA. They did have the U15s combined with the U14s (or the aging equivalent since it used to be a little different). The boys have a U16 EDP type situation. But parents of boys handle this whole process differently.

The window for recruiting boys is much later than it is for girls. Girls tend to mature physically sooner than boys so their prime recruiting years are earlier than boys. This would account for the difference in how parents react to their kids teams getting cut in half at the most critical recruitment window.

OP here: I meant the parents of boys handle this WHOLE process - all of it - differently. Girls' parents are in the faces of coaches, often dictating terms in ways I just don't see it happen on the boys' side. I'm sure there are a few who do (and they have their own nasty little issues to be sure), but parents of boys just seem to move through the process differently.

And the younger age of the players being recruited on the girls side amps up the anxiety. Parents tend to chill as the kids get older and they have seen more things play out. Remove those extra two years of growth, development, experience as well as measured expectations, yes, I can see girl parents being more intense.

That's fair. I don't have any children in these younger age groups.

Which is also why I have to shake my head when people say nothing matters but the ulittles, none of the DA teams matter until the ulittles, etc. My DD made a leap of faith to the new platform out of belief in a full year of club soccer, and some people on this board want to act like neither she nor her teammates matter. In addition to grossly arrogant, it's ignorant. My DD has grown and developed this year beyond anything that could have happened if she had stayed with her ECNL team.