Girls DA/ECNL in VA: who will survive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:US world cup champions: Of the 23 players on that roster, 21 played high school soccer. And anyone who thinks that this stat only represents an older generation of players is ignoring the facts.

The U.S.’ current roster is full of young, technical players who played high school soccer—and other sports. The vast majority of those players did not play full-year club soccer and many even played multiple high school sports.

Morgan Brian, who won the Golden Ball at the 2016 CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament, played high school soccer. So did Christen Press, who over the past year has scored some of the most technically impressive goals in U.S. soccer history.

Tobin Heath and Lauren Holiday, widely regarded as the two most technical players in the last World Cup cycle, both played high school soccer. So did Becky Sauerbrunn, who many regard as the best defender in the world.

For good measure, add in American stars Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd (the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year), Ali Krieger, and Kelley O’Hara—all of whom played at the high school level. Mallory Pugh, the 17-year-old phenom who recently broke into the national team, plays high school soccer, as did Emily Sonnett, the No. 1 pick in this year’s NWSL draft.

To produce world-class players, the American system does not need to be a year-round club system. Nor does it need to be a soccer-only system.

And this is why the rest of the world has been steadily catching up, and already begun to pass us by, on the women's side.

I hate this mentality that we should be superior in every sport and win the world cup every time. We had a temporary advantage that is disappearing as women's soccer grows up in other countries. Unless USSF completely buggers up the youth training environment, we will always be competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:US world cup champions: Of the 23 players on that roster, 21 played high school soccer. And anyone who thinks that this stat only represents an older generation of players is ignoring the facts.

The U.S.’ current roster is full of young, technical players who played high school soccer—and other sports. The vast majority of those players did not play full-year club soccer and many even played multiple high school sports.

Morgan Brian, who won the Golden Ball at the 2016 CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament, played high school soccer. So did Christen Press, who over the past year has scored some of the most technically impressive goals in U.S. soccer history.

Tobin Heath and Lauren Holiday, widely regarded as the two most technical players in the last World Cup cycle, both played high school soccer. So did Becky Sauerbrunn, who many regard as the best defender in the world.

For good measure, add in American stars Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd (the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year), Ali Krieger, and Kelley O’Hara—all of whom played at the high school level. Mallory Pugh, the 17-year-old phenom who recently broke into the national team, plays high school soccer, as did Emily Sonnett, the No. 1 pick in this year’s NWSL draft.

To produce world-class players, the American system does not need to be a year-round club system. Nor does it need to be a soccer-only system.

Stop. Just stop. Nearly everyone of the players you listed are from areas where HS soccer means something competition wise. This area I think most would agree is not Texas, Cali, Georgia, Colorado. Yeah Ali is from PWC, its also been nearly 20 years since she played HS soccer. The rest of the world is catching up. A good number of youth players in the country have decided to follow the academy model, deal with it. There’s a reason France, England, Germany and a few others look the way they do. They have decided to take the sport seriously, and now our time of out athlete’ing countries is nearing the end of its cycle.

[Anonymous]

The other countries properly identify the talent and put them in real academies...not a worthless league called an academy.

[Anonymous]

We are not be surpassed because of HS soccer you.........You know what. Nevermind. It's not worth it.

[Anonymous]

The French are not good because of their youth league.

Conversation over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:US world cup champions: Of the 23 players on that roster, 21 played high school soccer. And anyone who thinks that this stat only represents an older generation of players is ignoring the facts.

The U.S.’ current roster is full of young, technical players who played high school soccer—and other sports. The vast majority of those players did not play full-year club soccer and many even played multiple high school sports.

Morgan Brian, who won the Golden Ball at the 2016 CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament, played high school soccer. So did Christen Press, who over the past year has scored some of the most technically impressive goals in U.S. soccer history.

Tobin Heath and Lauren Holiday, widely regarded as the two most technical players in the last World Cup cycle, both played high school soccer. So did Becky Sauerbrunn, who many regard as the best defender in the world.

For good measure, add in American stars Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd (the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year), Ali Krieger, and Kelley O’Hara—all of whom played at the high school level. Mallory Pugh, the 17-year-old phenom who recently broke into the national team, plays high school soccer, as did Emily Sonnett, the No. 1 pick in this year’s NWSL draft.

To produce world-class players, the American system does not need to be a year-round club system. Nor does it need to be a soccer-only system.

And this is why the rest of the world has been steadily catching up, and already begun to pass us by, on the women's side.

I hate this mentality that we should be superior in every sport and win the world cup every time. We had a temporary advantage that is disappearing as women's soccer grows up in other countries. Unless USSF completely buggers up the youth training environment, we will always be competitive.

Agreed --- so tired of hearing the "US women are no longer dominant" because they didn't win a match, World Cup, Olympic gold.
If it were as simple as creating a structured environment where top players were identified, funneled through extensive training, and forced to focus exclusively on soccer,
the Chinese would never lose.

But that's why they play the games...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are not be surpassed because of HS soccer you.........You know what. Nevermind. It's not worth it.

Actually both HS and college soccer are an issue for national team level players.

Is isn’t realistic to expect to continue to dominate the sport when a high percentage of the top players compete for a good portion of a year in a substandard environment (HS and college) during 8 or 9 crucial development years. The reason it hasn’t affected our national team competitiveness in the past is as obvious as the nose on your face - the girls/women in other countries didn’t participate in sports (soccer) in large numbers until recently.

The DA has plenty of flaws but stats that show current USWNT played HS soccer are irrelevant - since the GDA has been here for less than 2 years - which simple arithmetic will tell is not long enough to cover any player’s high school career in its entirety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not be surpassed because of HS soccer you.........You know what. Nevermind. It's not worth it.

Actually both HS and college soccer are an issue for national team level players.

Is isn’t realistic to expect to continue to dominate the sport when a high percentage of the top players compete for a good portion of a year in a substandard environment (HS and college) during 8 or 9 crucial development years. The reason it hasn’t affected our national team competitiveness in the past is as obvious as the nose on your face - the girls/women in other countries didn’t participate in sports (soccer) in large numbers until recently.

The DA has plenty of flaws but stats that show current USWNT played HS soccer are irrelevant - since the GDA has been here for less than 2 years - which simple arithmetic will tell is not long enough to cover any player’s high school career in its entirety.

It comes down to where the best players play. A league is only as as good as its clubs and players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not be surpassed because of HS soccer you.........You know what. Nevermind. It's not worth it.

Actually both HS and college soccer are an issue for national team level players.

Is isn’t realistic to expect to continue to dominate the sport when a high percentage of the top players compete for a good portion of a year in a substandard environment (HS and college) during 8 or 9 crucial development years. The reason it hasn’t affected our national team competitiveness in the past is as obvious as the nose on your face - the girls/women in other countries didn’t participate in sports (soccer) in large numbers until recently.

The DA has plenty of flaws but stats that show current USWNT played HS soccer are irrelevant - since the GDA has been here for less than 2 years - which simple arithmetic will tell is not long enough to cover any player’s high school career in its entirety.

-----------------------------------------


Is isn’t realistic to expect to continue to dominate the sport when a high percentage of the top players compete for a good portion of a year in a substandard environment (HS and college) during 8 or 9 crucial development years.

Which is why the US struggles so much being competitive in basketball internationally...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not be surpassed because of HS soccer you.........You know what. Nevermind. It's not worth it.

Actually both HS and college soccer are an issue for national team level players.

Is isn’t realistic to expect to continue to dominate the sport when a high percentage of the top players compete for a good portion of a year in a substandard environment (HS and college) during 8 or 9 crucial development years. The reason it hasn’t affected our national team competitiveness in the past is as obvious as the nose on your face - the girls/women in other countries didn’t participate in sports (soccer) in large numbers until recently.

The DA has plenty of flaws but stats that show current USWNT played HS soccer are irrelevant - since the GDA has been here for less than 2 years - which simple arithmetic will tell is not long enough to cover any player’s high school career in its entirety.

-----------------------------------------


Is isn’t realistic to expect to continue to dominate the sport when a high percentage of the top players compete for a good portion of a year in a substandard environment (HS and college) during 8 or 9 crucial development years.

Which is why the US struggles so much being competitive in basketball internationally...

Plenty of reasons for that.

If you think the soccer and basketball landscapes are the same in HS and college especially with the level of coaching you need to educate yourself.

Basketball is also trending toward the same specialization path outside of school.

And you also have a ton of top players leaving college early to go pro. And when they’re pros at 18 or 19 they don’t squander away multiple developmental years playing only 4-5 months of organized ball.

We had a massive head start in men’s basketball too just like women’s soccer. The rest of the world has closed that lead.

Basketball here also provides plenty of opportunity to play affordably. With such a large country, we should be good at every sport, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not be surpassed because of HS soccer you.........You know what. Nevermind. It's not worth it.

Actually both HS and college soccer are an issue for national team level players.

Is isn’t realistic to expect to continue to dominate the sport when a high percentage of the top players compete for a good portion of a year in a substandard environment (HS and college) during 8 or 9 crucial development years. The reason it hasn’t affected our national team competitiveness in the past is as obvious as the nose on your face - the girls/women in other countries didn’t participate in sports (soccer) in large numbers until recently.

The DA has plenty of flaws but stats that show current USWNT played HS soccer are irrelevant - since the GDA has been here for less than 2 years - which simple arithmetic will tell is not long enough to cover any player’s high school career in its entirety.

-----------------------------------------


Is isn’t realistic to expect to continue to dominate the sport when a high percentage of the top players compete for a good portion of a year in a substandard environment (HS and college) during 8 or 9 crucial development years.

Which is why the US struggles so much being competitive in basketball internationally...

Plenty of reasons for that.

If you think the soccer and basketball landscapes are the same in HS and college especially with the level of coaching you need to educate yourself.

Basketball is also trending toward the same specialization path outside of school.

And you also have a ton of top players leaving college early to go pro. And when they’re pros at 18 or 19 they don’t squander away multiple developmental years playing only 4-5 months of organized ball.

We had a massive head start in men’s basketball too just like women’s soccer. The rest of the world has closed that lead.

Basketball here also provides plenty of opportunity to play affordably. With such a large country, we should be good at every sport, no?

Nike, adidas, under armour sponsor AAU teams for their summer tours. That does not happen in soccer. There’s little incentive for those brands in our game right now to do that.

[Anonymous]

Awesome..let's promote more specialization to save the sports world. Nothing like seeing 12 year olds with ACL tears.

If there are 10 things that make a human being an elite athlete, playing year around wouldn't make the list.

However, individual development would.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not be surpassed because of HS soccer you.........You know what. Nevermind. It's not worth it.

Actually both HS and college soccer are an issue for national team level players.

Is isn’t realistic to expect to continue to dominate the sport when a high percentage of the top players compete for a good portion of a year in a substandard environment (HS and college) during 8 or 9 crucial development years. The reason it hasn’t affected our national team competitiveness in the past is as obvious as the nose on your face - the girls/women in other countries didn’t participate in sports (soccer) in large numbers until recently.

The DA has plenty of flaws but stats that show current USWNT played HS soccer are irrelevant - since the GDA has been here for less than 2 years - which simple arithmetic will tell is not long enough to cover any player’s high school career in its entirety.

-----------------------------------------


Is isn’t realistic to expect to continue to dominate the sport when a high percentage of the top players compete for a good portion of a year in a substandard environment (HS and college) during 8 or 9 crucial development years.

Which is why the US struggles so much being competitive in basketball internationally...

Good satire! I hope other posters are smart enough to get your point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not be surpassed because of HS soccer you.........You know what. Nevermind. It's not worth it.

Actually both HS and college soccer are an issue for national team level players.

Is isn’t realistic to expect to continue to dominate the sport when a high percentage of the top players compete for a good portion of a year in a substandard environment (HS and college) during 8 or 9 crucial development years. The reason it hasn’t affected our national team competitiveness in the past is as obvious as the nose on your face - the girls/women in other countries didn’t participate in sports (soccer) in large numbers until recently.

The DA has plenty of flaws but stats that show current USWNT played HS soccer are irrelevant - since the GDA has been here for less than 2 years - which simple arithmetic will tell is not long enough to cover any player’s high school career in its entirety.

-----------------------------------------


Is isn’t realistic to expect to continue to dominate the sport when a high percentage of the top players compete for a good portion of a year in a substandard environment (HS and college) during 8 or 9 crucial development years.

Which is why the US struggles so much being competitive in basketball internationally...

Good satire! I hope other posters are smart enough to get your point.

Sometimes we let other teams lose by less than 20. We need to reform the youth basketball system. Let’s get a bunch of fired coaches to tell the clubs how to develop players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not be surpassed because of HS soccer you.........You know what. Nevermind. It's not worth it.

Actually both HS and college soccer are an issue for national team level players.

Is isn’t realistic to expect to continue to dominate the sport when a high percentage of the top players compete for a good portion of a year in a substandard environment (HS and college) during 8 or 9 crucial development years. The reason it hasn’t affected our national team competitiveness in the past is as obvious as the nose on your face - the girls/women in other countries didn’t participate in sports (soccer) in large numbers until recently.

The DA has plenty of flaws but stats that show current USWNT played HS soccer are irrelevant - since the GDA has been here for less than 2 years - which simple arithmetic will tell is not long enough to cover any player’s high school career in its entirety.

-----------------------------------------


Is isn’t realistic to expect to continue to dominate the sport when a high percentage of the top players compete for a good portion of a year in a substandard environment (HS and college) during 8 or 9 crucial development years.

Which is why the US struggles so much being competitive in basketball internationally...

Plenty of reasons for that.

If you think the soccer and basketball landscapes are the same in HS and college especially with the level of coaching you need to educate yourself.

Basketball is also trending toward the same specialization path outside of school.

And you also have a ton of top players leaving college early to go pro. And when they’re pros at 18 or 19 they don’t squander away multiple developmental years playing only 4-5 months of organized ball.

We had a massive head start in men’s basketball too just like women’s soccer. The rest of the world has closed that lead.

Basketball here also provides plenty of opportunity to play affordably. With such a large country, we should be good at every sport, no?

Nike, adidas, under armour sponsor AAU teams for their summer tours. That does not happen in soccer. There’s little incentive for those brands in our game right now to do that.

Right, but that's got nothing to do with whether kids play high school, ECNL, and DA --- that's got to do with there not being any incentive for that in general.
And just because we have a large country doesn't mean we are good at every sport --- look at the winter olympics for sports we get dominated in by much smaller countries.