Girls' Academy has also been approved to become a U.S. Soccer member!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jessica Berman (NWSL Commissioner) spoke about Academies again today.

https://theathletic.com/5337948/2024/03/13/jessica-berman-nwsl-calendar-world-cup/

Berman also envisioned teams being willing to invest more in youth talent development because of the opportunity for a financial return even if that player didn’t end up on the first team. While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure.

LOL, she spoke about many things and the word academies wasn't used the way you want to believe. Yeah, read it again, look at the timeline and then ask yourself, this "will my kid ever benefit from whatever hypothetical she even means?"

Everyone here wants a more professional academy system installed but she spoke in very vaguely and in generalities about loose idea of 5 year plan.

If your kid is a 2012, the announcement of such a league may not happen for at least five years. She also never mentioned GA, ECNL or anything.

You are reading into a lot of tea leaves that such an undertaking is happening soon when she also listed many more imminent things on the horizon. Stadiums, network deals, expansion, transfer fees, etc. Your paragraph was pretty much at the end of the article. Your GA academy system is not happening soon. She seemed more interested in teams being able to fill out reserve teams first and work from there on down over time.

Working with Youth Academies, like Racing Louisville, for example might mean little more than the occasional U17 getting to practice with the reserve squad if they are short. Spirit does this occasionally with local clubs. I could see NWSL trying to strengthen those lines of communication for finding players here and there but nothing as formal as league and full on academy as you envision.

"While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure." This sums it up. Teams already do this as they can. Straddling clubs with the required expense of an academy is not something the league is prepared to do just yet.

That's one interpretation. It could mean a lot of things.

However the FACT that the head of the NWSL is talking about engaging with youth says a lot.

Look at how MLS engages with youth and you'll see the most likely way NWSL will engage with youth.

There is no money to do much of anything. At best this is 5 to 10 years out and assumes growth in the Women's professional soccer that is suspect without a dominating national team. You can't look at MLS --- they have the money. It is highly likely that NWSL will not. Look the whole NWSL is not in great shape. They do ok; not great. Some of the owners have deep pockets most do not. MLS is mostly deep pockets.

Don't know what you're talking about women's soccer specifically USWNT and NWSL are booming.

No, it isn't booming. Growing? Yes, but booming? no way.

Yes booming NWSL quadrupled their media contract.

That's what booming looks like.

Average attendance is 15,000 with teams like Chicago only averaging 4800 a game.

Not booming

SD Wave is averaging 20k per game same as many MLS teams.

Booming

And Chicago is under 5000. That's how averages work. High School football games in Texas draw more than SD Wave.

Growing, not booming.

And Houston Dynamo (A MLS Team) averages 15000
https://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2023-mls-attendance/

Booming + proven that several NWSL clubs average higher than MLS attendance.

How many NWSL teams own their own stadiums? Do any own stadiums that even approach MLS stadiums? Owning the building generates revenue, when the wave get a huge number, SDSU benefits as much as the team

MLS implemented a homegrown rule in 2008. How many MLS teams had their own stadium in 2008?

Does that really matter? Unless there is political appetite to subsidize NWSL stadiums, NWSL teams will have an impossible task generating the kind of revenue that MLS teams expect

It matters because NWSL is at the same point in 2024 that MLS was in 2008.

This is why Jessica Berman is talking about "investing in youth" it's also why they'll likely implement some form of Academy soon.

Assuming NWSL's trajectory is correlated and linear that means they 16 years behind MLS right now. Which would put a pay for play Academy system in place in about ten years from now, which for MLS might not have happened if not for DA. DC United was one of the last academies to go fully funded a few years ago.

So NWSL is about 12 years away from a fully funded professional academy system. Which I hope happens, but there is no world in which I am placing my kid in any club next year based on any hoped for acceleration of that process. When it does happen it will still be a slow build.

There will be nothing of use for 5 years and there will likely be discussions and planning 5-10 years from now. And that is assuming everything goes smoothly and steadily.

We are talking domestic league and academy aspects here. Of course they talk with European leagues, NWSL s a league afterall. But what does that even imply for a 15 year old girl?

I know you really want this to happen and you seem to think people are saying that it won't happen but you are not listening.

It will happen in a decade at least. NWSL as a league, with over 20 teams, NWSL specific stadiums and full academies will take 20 years+. Of that I have no doubt. I seriously doubt any fully funded league wide academy system in place in under 5 years. Might a couple of teams figure out a way? Sure, but NWSL needs a B league to play the reserves first. Then you build down. You don't train a bunch of 15 years old's to just lose them to college with no reliable place to play and develop if they don't make the first team.

Literally SD Wave practices on SD Surfs fields. Also, a former SD Surf coach is on the coaching staff for SD Wave.

https://sandiegowavefc.com/san-diego-wave-fc-announces-sporting-staff-ahead-of-2023-nwsl-season/
"Barclay was a local hire from youth sports club, Surf Soccer Club, where he served as the Director of Coaching. With an incredible breadth of knowledge in California club soccer, Barclay will work as a development coach and assist younger players in the integration and growth within the team."

Sure seems to me that SD Surf and SD wave are ready to go with an Academy

Surf is a poor example only because they are the creme of the crop for girls soccer in the US, whatever they are doing it won't be easily replicated. Girls are relocating to SoCal to play for them and now there is talk of a 20 bed residential facility being built to attract more elite girls to relocate for soccer. The SD wave connection is real CB will handpick all the best girls at Surf upon their 15th bday to train with Wave, Barcenas was the first and certainly not the last. This is more of the organic model that exsists in Europe. In the US its going to have to be more centralized with one of the leagues to actually work on this with NWLS becuase as we've all seen made abundantly clear, there isn't money for this yet.

Surf is just waiting (with all the pieces in place) and likely pressuring NWSL to implement Academies.

Once the switch is flipped with a NWSL homegrown rule. The very next task at hand will be to implement a "NWSL Next" style league.

Who do you think US Soccer and NWSL will want to implement a pro youth league with? An individual that runs ECNL (Christian Lavers) or a league that is setup and controlled by US Soccer (GA). Just like with MLS and MLSN, NWSL will choose GA and likely rename it to NWSLN.

Why do you think GA was promoted to a full US Soccer Member?

Why do you think NWSL leadership is "facilitating discussion" with US Soccer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jessica Berman (NWSL Commissioner) spoke about Academies again today.

https://theathletic.com/5337948/2024/03/13/jessica-berman-nwsl-calendar-world-cup/

Berman also envisioned teams being willing to invest more in youth talent development because of the opportunity for a financial return even if that player didn’t end up on the first team. While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure.

LOL, she spoke about many things and the word academies wasn't used the way you want to believe. Yeah, read it again, look at the timeline and then ask yourself, this "will my kid ever benefit from whatever hypothetical she even means?"

Everyone here wants a more professional academy system installed but she spoke in very vaguely and in generalities about loose idea of 5 year plan.

If your kid is a 2012, the announcement of such a league may not happen for at least five years. She also never mentioned GA, ECNL or anything.

You are reading into a lot of tea leaves that such an undertaking is happening soon when she also listed many more imminent things on the horizon. Stadiums, network deals, expansion, transfer fees, etc. Your paragraph was pretty much at the end of the article. Your GA academy system is not happening soon. She seemed more interested in teams being able to fill out reserve teams first and work from there on down over time.

Working with Youth Academies, like Racing Louisville, for example might mean little more than the occasional U17 getting to practice with the reserve squad if they are short. Spirit does this occasionally with local clubs. I could see NWSL trying to strengthen those lines of communication for finding players here and there but nothing as formal as league and full on academy as you envision.

"While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure." This sums it up. Teams already do this as they can. Straddling clubs with the required expense of an academy is not something the league is prepared to do just yet.

That's one interpretation. It could mean a lot of things.

However the FACT that the head of the NWSL is talking about engaging with youth says a lot.

Look at how MLS engages with youth and you'll see the most likely way NWSL will engage with youth.

There is no money to do much of anything. At best this is 5 to 10 years out and assumes growth in the Women's professional soccer that is suspect without a dominating national team. You can't look at MLS --- they have the money. It is highly likely that NWSL will not. Look the whole NWSL is not in great shape. They do ok; not great. Some of the owners have deep pockets most do not. MLS is mostly deep pockets.

Don't know what you're talking about women's soccer specifically USWNT and NWSL are booming.

No, it isn't booming. Growing? Yes, but booming? no way.

Yes booming NWSL quadrupled their media contract.

That's what booming looks like.

Average attendance is 15,000 with teams like Chicago only averaging 4800 a game.

Not booming

SD Wave is averaging 20k per game same as many MLS teams.

Booming

And Chicago is under 5000. That's how averages work. High School football games in Texas draw more than SD Wave.

Growing, not booming.

And Houston Dynamo (A MLS Team) averages 15000
https://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2023-mls-attendance/

Booming + proven that several NWSL clubs average higher than MLS attendance.

How many NWSL teams own their own stadiums? Do any own stadiums that even approach MLS stadiums? Owning the building generates revenue, when the wave get a huge number, SDSU benefits as much as the team

MLS implemented a homegrown rule in 2008. How many MLS teams had their own stadium in 2008?

Toma! Got you with that one. Also NWSL is currently a Top 5 league in the women's game with Spain, England, Germany, and French women's leagues, while MLS may be in the top 10-15 on men's side with absolutely no chance to ever crack top 5. NWSL and women's game is higly popular in the US hence tv deal, and comparing it to MLS is proably not helpful except for youth league developments because they are already vastly different in popularity globally. NWSL will do everything faster, because infrastructure from MLS is already in place and because US women's soccer is respected globally. Making money is secondary for most sport owners, so the money is not concerning me yet. They will need to improve salaries sooner rather than later though to ensure their growth remains exponential

"Making money is secondary for most sport owners"????

If this is true please explain $20 beer and $10 hotdogs.

Abosuletly the dumbest thing said on these forums this month.

That's only relevant if you own your own stadium, because you are right concessions is the life blood of professional sports, as long as you own your own stadium, which most franchises dont. I'm not gonna do the work you can do with a a google search but I can assure you nobody goes into sports ownership to make money. Most are losing money on the sports side and its purely a fun fantasy league situation for most sports owners, who make there money outside of sport.

No, the major sports league teams are not losing money. This is ridiculous. NWSL doesn't make money and that is the point being made. And the money form tickets, concessions is money that is being made by all of these teams in all of these leagues.

Owners can't just lose money and the major NFL owners get tax payers to pay for their stadiums to ensure they don't lose money. If money was no object then every NWSL owner would build their own stadiums, fully fund academies and spend millions upon millions to win a trophy. The truth is they don't write personal checks for these things. The club has to be able to support those ventures on their own two feet. These are still businesses and must be run like a business to ensure it is sustainable over the long haul.

You assigning idealism to billionaires is hilarious and naive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Small minds everywhere, aruging over the legitimacy of a women's league. Boy parents you all are clearly. Going professional at 15 is not what I'm supporting NWSL academies for, its about equity and giving talented girls the same opporutnities their males counterparts enjoy. I don't care if its financialy feasible, smarter people than me can figure that out. if its 2, 5, or10 years its going to happen. Its seems like some boy dads get off on comparing the drastic inequities in the mens and women's game. Congrats men win again, awesome, world has turned out great with men in charge, carry on with your hate and heads in the sand

If it isn't financially feasible, it won't happen. NWSL is for profit

https://images.app.goo.gl/hTq1FiBRdWBZKPHR6

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jessica Berman (NWSL Commissioner) spoke about Academies again today.

https://theathletic.com/5337948/2024/03/13/jessica-berman-nwsl-calendar-world-cup/

Berman also envisioned teams being willing to invest more in youth talent development because of the opportunity for a financial return even if that player didn’t end up on the first team. While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure.

LOL, she spoke about many things and the word academies wasn't used the way you want to believe. Yeah, read it again, look at the timeline and then ask yourself, this "will my kid ever benefit from whatever hypothetical she even means?"

Everyone here wants a more professional academy system installed but she spoke in very vaguely and in generalities about loose idea of 5 year plan.

If your kid is a 2012, the announcement of such a league may not happen for at least five years. She also never mentioned GA, ECNL or anything.

You are reading into a lot of tea leaves that such an undertaking is happening soon when she also listed many more imminent things on the horizon. Stadiums, network deals, expansion, transfer fees, etc. Your paragraph was pretty much at the end of the article. Your GA academy system is not happening soon. She seemed more interested in teams being able to fill out reserve teams first and work from there on down over time.

Working with Youth Academies, like Racing Louisville, for example might mean little more than the occasional U17 getting to practice with the reserve squad if they are short. Spirit does this occasionally with local clubs. I could see NWSL trying to strengthen those lines of communication for finding players here and there but nothing as formal as league and full on academy as you envision.

"While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure." This sums it up. Teams already do this as they can. Straddling clubs with the required expense of an academy is not something the league is prepared to do just yet.

That's one interpretation. It could mean a lot of things.

However the FACT that the head of the NWSL is talking about engaging with youth says a lot.

Look at how MLS engages with youth and you'll see the most likely way NWSL will engage with youth.

There is no money to do much of anything. At best this is 5 to 10 years out and assumes growth in the Women's professional soccer that is suspect without a dominating national team. You can't look at MLS --- they have the money. It is highly likely that NWSL will not. Look the whole NWSL is not in great shape. They do ok; not great. Some of the owners have deep pockets most do not. MLS is mostly deep pockets.

Don't know what you're talking about women's soccer specifically USWNT and NWSL are booming.

No, it isn't booming. Growing? Yes, but booming? no way.

Yes booming NWSL quadrupled their media contract.

That's what booming looks like.

Average attendance is 15,000 with teams like Chicago only averaging 4800 a game.

Not booming

SD Wave is averaging 20k per game same as many MLS teams.

Booming

And Chicago is under 5000. That's how averages work. High School football games in Texas draw more than SD Wave.

Growing, not booming.

And Houston Dynamo (A MLS Team) averages 15000
https://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2023-mls-attendance/

Booming + proven that several NWSL clubs average higher than MLS attendance.

How many NWSL teams own their own stadiums? Do any own stadiums that even approach MLS stadiums? Owning the building generates revenue, when the wave get a huge number, SDSU benefits as much as the team

MLS implemented a homegrown rule in 2008. How many MLS teams had their own stadium in 2008?

Toma! Got you with that one. Also NWSL is currently a Top 5 league in the women's game with Spain, England, Germany, and French women's leagues, while MLS may be in the top 10-15 on men's side with absolutely no chance to ever crack top 5. NWSL and women's game is higly popular in the US hence tv deal, and comparing it to MLS is proably not helpful except for youth league developments because they are already vastly different in popularity globally. NWSL will do everything faster, because infrastructure from MLS is already in place and because US women's soccer is respected globally. Making money is secondary for most sport owners, so the money is not concerning me yet. They will need to improve salaries sooner rather than later though to ensure their growth remains exponential

"Making money is secondary for most sport owners"????

If this is true please explain $20 beer and $10 hotdogs.

Abosuletly the dumbest thing said on these forums this month.

That's only relevant if you own your own stadium, because you are right concessions is the life blood of professional sports, as long as you own your own stadium, which most franchises dont. I'm not gonna do the work you can do with a a google search but I can assure you nobody goes into sports ownership to make money. Most are losing money on the sports side and its purely a fun fantasy league situation for most sports owners, who make there money outside of sport.

No, the major sports league teams are not losing money. This is ridiculous. NWSL doesn't make money and that is the point being made. And the money form tickets, concessions is money that is being made by all of these teams in all of these leagues.

Owners can't just lose money and the major NFL owners get tax payers to pay for their stadiums to ensure they don't lose money. If money was no object then every NWSL owner would build their own stadiums, fully fund academies and spend millions upon millions to win a trophy. The truth is they don't write personal checks for these things. The club has to be able to support those ventures on their own two feet. These are still businesses and must be run like a business to ensure it is sustainable over the long haul.

You assigning idealism to billionaires is hilarious and naive.

Assigning fandom only. NFL is a very poor league to compare soccer to for so many obvious reasons. You are clearly not a serious soccer person so I will leave you do it to keep playing denial. Sport is a loss for most sports owners outside of the big 4 leagues here in the US, fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jessica Berman (NWSL Commissioner) spoke about Academies again today.

https://theathletic.com/5337948/2024/03/13/jessica-berman-nwsl-calendar-world-cup/

Berman also envisioned teams being willing to invest more in youth talent development because of the opportunity for a financial return even if that player didn’t end up on the first team. While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure.

LOL, she spoke about many things and the word academies wasn't used the way you want to believe. Yeah, read it again, look at the timeline and then ask yourself, this "will my kid ever benefit from whatever hypothetical she even means?"

Everyone here wants a more professional academy system installed but she spoke in very vaguely and in generalities about loose idea of 5 year plan.

If your kid is a 2012, the announcement of such a league may not happen for at least five years. She also never mentioned GA, ECNL or anything.

You are reading into a lot of tea leaves that such an undertaking is happening soon when she also listed many more imminent things on the horizon. Stadiums, network deals, expansion, transfer fees, etc. Your paragraph was pretty much at the end of the article. Your GA academy system is not happening soon. She seemed more interested in teams being able to fill out reserve teams first and work from there on down over time.

Working with Youth Academies, like Racing Louisville, for example might mean little more than the occasional U17 getting to practice with the reserve squad if they are short. Spirit does this occasionally with local clubs. I could see NWSL trying to strengthen those lines of communication for finding players here and there but nothing as formal as league and full on academy as you envision.

"While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure." This sums it up. Teams already do this as they can. Straddling clubs with the required expense of an academy is not something the league is prepared to do just yet.

That's one interpretation. It could mean a lot of things.

However the FACT that the head of the NWSL is talking about engaging with youth says a lot.

Look at how MLS engages with youth and you'll see the most likely way NWSL will engage with youth.

There is no money to do much of anything. At best this is 5 to 10 years out and assumes growth in the Women's professional soccer that is suspect without a dominating national team. You can't look at MLS --- they have the money. It is highly likely that NWSL will not. Look the whole NWSL is not in great shape. They do ok; not great. Some of the owners have deep pockets most do not. MLS is mostly deep pockets.

Don't know what you're talking about women's soccer specifically USWNT and NWSL are booming.

No, it isn't booming. Growing? Yes, but booming? no way.

Yes booming NWSL quadrupled their media contract.

That's what booming looks like.

Average attendance is 15,000 with teams like Chicago only averaging 4800 a game.

Not booming

SD Wave is averaging 20k per game same as many MLS teams.

Booming

And Chicago is under 5000. That's how averages work. High School football games in Texas draw more than SD Wave.

Growing, not booming.

And Houston Dynamo (A MLS Team) averages 15000
https://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2023-mls-attendance/

Booming + proven that several NWSL clubs average higher than MLS attendance.

How many NWSL teams own their own stadiums? Do any own stadiums that even approach MLS stadiums? Owning the building generates revenue, when the wave get a huge number, SDSU benefits as much as the team

MLS implemented a homegrown rule in 2008. How many MLS teams had their own stadium in 2008?

Toma! Got you with that one. Also NWSL is currently a Top 5 league in the women's game with Spain, England, Germany, and French women's leagues, while MLS may be in the top 10-15 on men's side with absolutely no chance to ever crack top 5. NWSL and women's game is higly popular in the US hence tv deal, and comparing it to MLS is proably not helpful except for youth league developments because they are already vastly different in popularity globally. NWSL will do everything faster, because infrastructure from MLS is already in place and because US women's soccer is respected globally. Making money is secondary for most sport owners, so the money is not concerning me yet. They will need to improve salaries sooner rather than later though to ensure their growth remains exponential

"Making money is secondary for most sport owners"????

If this is true please explain $20 beer and $10 hotdogs.

Abosuletly the dumbest thing said on these forums this month.

That's only relevant if you own your own stadium, because you are right concessions is the life blood of professional sports, as long as you own your own stadium, which most franchises dont. I'm not gonna do the work you can do with a a google search but I can assure you nobody goes into sports ownership to make money. Most are losing money on the sports side and its purely a fun fantasy league situation for most sports owners, who make there money outside of sport.

No, the major sports league teams are not losing money. This is ridiculous. NWSL doesn't make money and that is the point being made. And the money form tickets, concessions is money that is being made by all of these teams in all of these leagues.

Owners can't just lose money and the major NFL owners get tax payers to pay for their stadiums to ensure they don't lose money. If money was no object then every NWSL owner would build their own stadiums, fully fund academies and spend millions upon millions to win a trophy. The truth is they don't write personal checks for these things. The club has to be able to support those ventures on their own two feet. These are still businesses and must be run like a business to ensure it is sustainable over the long haul.

You assigning idealism to billionaires is hilarious and naive.

Assigning fandom only. NFL is a very poor league to compare soccer to for so many obvious reasons. You are clearly not a serious soccer person so I will leave you do it to keep playing denial. Sport is a loss for most sports owners outside of the big 4 leagues here in the US, fact.

If it wasn't at matter of money that these owners don't mind spending then NWSL players wouldn't need to live in strangers homes.

If, it was about the product and winning then owners would pay more than $36,000 as league minimum. Just stop with this nonsense. There are billionaires who own NWSL clubs but they aren't just writing blank checks. Every club would have a stadium. They wouldn't worry or care about TV contracts because money isn't important.

Your naivete is borderline delusional at this point. It is about the money and it always will be about the money. Without money the league can't and will not grow. If the league does not make money to grow, your grandkids will not have a youth academy system affiliated with NWSL. Your passion project is not their focus right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jessica Berman (NWSL Commissioner) spoke about Academies again today.

https://theathletic.com/5337948/2024/03/13/jessica-berman-nwsl-calendar-world-cup/

Berman also envisioned teams being willing to invest more in youth talent development because of the opportunity for a financial return even if that player didn’t end up on the first team. While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure.

LOL, she spoke about many things and the word academies wasn't used the way you want to believe. Yeah, read it again, look at the timeline and then ask yourself, this "will my kid ever benefit from whatever hypothetical she even means?"

Everyone here wants a more professional academy system installed but she spoke in very vaguely and in generalities about loose idea of 5 year plan.

If your kid is a 2012, the announcement of such a league may not happen for at least five years. She also never mentioned GA, ECNL or anything.

You are reading into a lot of tea leaves that such an undertaking is happening soon when she also listed many more imminent things on the horizon. Stadiums, network deals, expansion, transfer fees, etc. Your paragraph was pretty much at the end of the article. Your GA academy system is not happening soon. She seemed more interested in teams being able to fill out reserve teams first and work from there on down over time.

Working with Youth Academies, like Racing Louisville, for example might mean little more than the occasional U17 getting to practice with the reserve squad if they are short. Spirit does this occasionally with local clubs. I could see NWSL trying to strengthen those lines of communication for finding players here and there but nothing as formal as league and full on academy as you envision.

"While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure." This sums it up. Teams already do this as they can. Straddling clubs with the required expense of an academy is not something the league is prepared to do just yet.

That's one interpretation. It could mean a lot of things.

However the FACT that the head of the NWSL is talking about engaging with youth says a lot.

Look at how MLS engages with youth and you'll see the most likely way NWSL will engage with youth.

There is no money to do much of anything. At best this is 5 to 10 years out and assumes growth in the Women's professional soccer that is suspect without a dominating national team. You can't look at MLS --- they have the money. It is highly likely that NWSL will not. Look the whole NWSL is not in great shape. They do ok; not great. Some of the owners have deep pockets most do not. MLS is mostly deep pockets.

Don't know what you're talking about women's soccer specifically USWNT and NWSL are booming.

No, it isn't booming. Growing? Yes, but booming? no way.

Yes booming NWSL quadrupled their media contract.

That's what booming looks like.

Average attendance is 15,000 with teams like Chicago only averaging 4800 a game.

Not booming

SD Wave is averaging 20k per game same as many MLS teams.

Booming

And Chicago is under 5000. That's how averages work. High School football games in Texas draw more than SD Wave.

Growing, not booming.

And Houston Dynamo (A MLS Team) averages 15000
https://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2023-mls-attendance/

Booming + proven that several NWSL clubs average higher than MLS attendance.

How many NWSL teams own their own stadiums? Do any own stadiums that even approach MLS stadiums? Owning the building generates revenue, when the wave get a huge number, SDSU benefits as much as the team

MLS implemented a homegrown rule in 2008. How many MLS teams had their own stadium in 2008?

Toma! Got you with that one. Also NWSL is currently a Top 5 league in the women's game with Spain, England, Germany, and French women's leagues, while MLS may be in the top 10-15 on men's side with absolutely no chance to ever crack top 5. NWSL and women's game is higly popular in the US hence tv deal, and comparing it to MLS is proably not helpful except for youth league developments because they are already vastly different in popularity globally. NWSL will do everything faster, because infrastructure from MLS is already in place and because US women's soccer is respected globally. Making money is secondary for most sport owners, so the money is not concerning me yet. They will need to improve salaries sooner rather than later though to ensure their growth remains exponential

"Making money is secondary for most sport owners"????

If this is true please explain $20 beer and $10 hotdogs.

Abosuletly the dumbest thing said on these forums this month.

That's only relevant if you own your own stadium, because you are right concessions is the life blood of professional sports, as long as you own your own stadium, which most franchises dont. I'm not gonna do the work you can do with a a google search but I can assure you nobody goes into sports ownership to make money. Most are losing money on the sports side and its purely a fun fantasy league situation for most sports owners, who make there money outside of sport.

No, the major sports league teams are not losing money. This is ridiculous. NWSL doesn't make money and that is the point being made. And the money form tickets, concessions is money that is being made by all of these teams in all of these leagues.

Owners can't just lose money and the major NFL owners get tax payers to pay for their stadiums to ensure they don't lose money. If money was no object then every NWSL owner would build their own stadiums, fully fund academies and spend millions upon millions to win a trophy. The truth is they don't write personal checks for these things. The club has to be able to support those ventures on their own two feet. These are still businesses and must be run like a business to ensure it is sustainable over the long haul.

You assigning idealism to billionaires is hilarious and naive.

Assigning fandom only. NFL is a very poor league to compare soccer to for so many obvious reasons. You are clearly not a serious soccer person so I will leave you do it to keep playing denial. Sport is a loss for most sports owners outside of the big 4 leagues here in the US, fact.

Not PP but sure -- ok. NWSL does not have for the most part the kind of owners that can take big losses year after year. That is one of the many reasons the NWSL is shakey from a financial perspective. They can't take serious losses for very long. They do not have billionaire owners for the most part. That is why they cannot do anything with youth soccer unless they think they can make money from it. They have no extra cash to spend.

[Anonymous]

NWSL is growing, probably faster than any other professional league in the US. Revenue, attendance, sponsorships all are growing at healthy double digits. The new media contract is 4x the old one. This is all great stuff. But it will take time with continued growth to get where we all want them to be. Years if not decades. Look at other professional sports leagues and how long they took to get off the ground. We are still in the very early days

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NWSL is growing, probably faster than any other professional league in the US. Revenue, attendance, sponsorships all are growing at healthy double digits. The new media contract is 4x the old one. This is all great stuff. But it will take time with continued growth to get where we all want them to be. Years if not decades. Look at other professional sports leagues and how long they took to get off the ground. We are still in the very early days

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Jessica Berman (NWSL Commissioner) spoke about Academies again today.

https://theathletic.com/5337948/2024/03/13/jessica-berman-nwsl-calendar-world-cup/

Berman also envisioned teams being willing to invest more in youth talent development because of the opportunity for a financial return even if that player didn’t end up on the first team. While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure.

LOL, she spoke about many things and the word academies wasn't used the way you want to believe. Yeah, read it again, look at the timeline and then ask yourself, this "will my kid ever benefit from whatever hypothetical she even means?"

Everyone here wants a more professional academy system installed but she spoke in very vaguely and in generalities about loose idea of 5 year plan.

If your kid is a 2012, the announcement of such a league may not happen for at least five years. She also never mentioned GA, ECNL or anything.

You are reading into a lot of tea leaves that such an undertaking is happening soon when she also listed many more imminent things on the horizon. Stadiums, network deals, expansion, transfer fees, etc. Your paragraph was pretty much at the end of the article. Your GA academy system is not happening soon. She seemed more interested in teams being able to fill out reserve teams first and work from there on down over time.

Working with Youth Academies, like Racing Louisville, for example might mean little more than the occasional U17 getting to practice with the reserve squad if they are short. Spirit does this occasionally with local clubs. I could see NWSL trying to strengthen those lines of communication for finding players here and there but nothing as formal as league and full on academy as you envision.

"While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure." This sums it up. Teams already do this as they can. Straddling clubs with the required expense of an academy is not something the league is prepared to do just yet.

That's one interpretation. It could mean a lot of things.

However the FACT that the head of the NWSL is talking about engaging with youth says a lot.

Look at how MLS engages with youth and you'll see the most likely way NWSL will engage with youth.

There is no money to do much of anything. At best this is 5 to 10 years out and assumes growth in the Women's professional soccer that is suspect without a dominating national team. You can't look at MLS --- they have the money. It is highly likely that NWSL will not. Look the whole NWSL is not in great shape. They do ok; not great. Some of the owners have deep pockets most do not. MLS is mostly deep pockets.

Don't know what you're talking about women's soccer specifically USWNT and NWSL are booming.

No, it isn't booming. Growing? Yes, but booming? no way.

Yes booming NWSL quadrupled their media contract.

That's what booming looks like.

Average attendance is 15,000 with teams like Chicago only averaging 4800 a game.

Not booming

SD Wave is averaging 20k per game same as many MLS teams.

Booming

And Chicago is under 5000. That's how averages work. High School football games in Texas draw more than SD Wave.

Growing, not booming.

And Houston Dynamo (A MLS Team) averages 15000
https://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2023-mls-attendance/

Booming + proven that several NWSL clubs average higher than MLS attendance.

How many NWSL teams own their own stadiums? Do any own stadiums that even approach MLS stadiums? Owning the building generates revenue, when the wave get a huge number, SDSU benefits as much as the team

MLS implemented a homegrown rule in 2008. How many MLS teams had their own stadium in 2008?

Does that really matter? Unless there is political appetite to subsidize NWSL stadiums, NWSL teams will have an impossible task generating the kind of revenue that MLS teams expect

It matters because NWSL is at the same point in 2024 that MLS was in 2008.

This is why Jessica Berman is talking about "investing in youth" it's also why they'll likely implement some form of Academy soon.

Assuming NWSL's trajectory is correlated and linear that means they 16 years behind MLS right now. Which would put a pay for play Academy system in place in about ten years from now, which for MLS might not have happened if not for DA. DC United was one of the last academies to go fully funded a few years ago.

So NWSL is about 12 years away from a fully funded professional academy system. Which I hope happens, but there is no world in which I am placing my kid in any club next year based on any hoped for acceleration of that process. When it does happen it will still be a slow build.

There will be nothing of use for 5 years and there will likely be discussions and planning 5-10 years from now. And that is assuming everything goes smoothly and steadily.

We are talking domestic league and academy aspects here. Of course they talk with European leagues, NWSL s a league afterall. But what does that even imply for a 15 year old girl?

I know you really want this to happen and you seem to think people are saying that it won't happen but you are not listening.

It will happen in a decade at least. NWSL as a league, with over 20 teams, NWSL specific stadiums and full academies will take 20 years+. Of that I have no doubt. I seriously doubt any fully funded league wide academy system in place in under 5 years. Might a couple of teams figure out a way? Sure, but NWSL needs a B league to play the reserves first. Then you build down. You don't train a bunch of 15 years old's to just lose them to college with no reliable place to play and develop if they don't make the first team.

Literally SD Wave practices on SD Surfs fields. Also, a former SD Surf coach is on the coaching staff for SD Wave.

https://sandiegowavefc.com/san-diego-wave-fc-announces-sporting-staff-ahead-of-2023-nwsl-season/
"Barclay was a local hire from youth sports club, Surf Soccer Club, where he served as the Director of Coaching. With an incredible breadth of knowledge in California club soccer, Barclay will work as a development coach and assist younger players in the integration and growth within the team."

Sure seems to me that SD Surf and SD wave are ready to go with an Academy

Surf is a poor example only because they are the creme of the crop for girls soccer in the US, whatever they are doing it won't be easily replicated. Girls are relocating to SoCal to play for them and now there is talk of a 20 bed residential facility being built to attract more elite girls to relocate for soccer. The SD wave connection is real CB will handpick all the best girls at Surf upon their 15th bday to train with Wave, Barcenas was the first and certainly not the last. This is more of the organic model that exsists in Europe. In the US its going to have to be more centralized with one of the leagues to actually work on this with NWLS becuase as we've all seen made abundantly clear, there isn't money for this yet.

Surf is just waiting (with all the pieces in place) and likely pressuring NWSL to implement Academies.

Once the switch is flipped with a NWSL homegrown rule. The very next task at hand will be to implement a "NWSL Next" style league.

Who do you think US Soccer and NWSL will want to implement a pro youth league with? An individual that runs ECNL (Christian Lavers) or a league that is setup and controlled by US Soccer (GA). Just like with MLS and MLSN, NWSL will choose GA and likely rename it to NWSLN.

Why do you think GA was promoted to a full US Soccer Member?

Why do you think NWSL leadership is "facilitating discussion" with US Soccer?

Delusional SYC parents…

[Anonymous]

GA was granted the membership because they applied and met the criteria (same as US Club Soccer, US Youth, USSSA, SAY, etc).

They were not sought out to become US Soccer, it is simple as they applied, met the boxes, and are now able to make their own player cards, cut out the middle man and make more $ of the registration process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GA was granted the membership because they applied and met the criteria (same as US Club Soccer, US Youth, USSSA, SAY, etc).

They were not sought out to become US Soccer, it is simple as they applied, met the boxes, and are now able to make their own player cards, cut out the middle man and make more $ of the registration process.

If it was that easy ECNL would be included.

But it's not...

[Anonymous]

The problem with ECNL is if NWSL partners with them the way MLS did with what became MLSN they have no control over how a league is setup implemented and run. More specifically if ECNL is involved they'll want to do showcases and get college recruiters etc involved. Also ECNL has shown that if they don't get what they want they'll work as a group and "take their ball and go home".

From a business perspective all NWSL (just like MLS) wants from a youth league is access to young talent. They don't care about college. They just need a "minor league" where their 2nd teams (aka academy teams) can play against reasonable competition.

This is why GA is a much more appealing way for NWSL to partner with youth.

Maybe NWSL could do something with ECNL but they'd have to implement a league within a league that only focused on playing professionally. But again why would you want to do this when you don't need to and you'd get all the control vs working with ECNL leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GA was granted the membership because they applied and met the criteria (same as US Club Soccer, US Youth, USSSA, SAY, etc).

They were not sought out to become US Soccer, it is simple as they applied, met the boxes, and are now able to make their own player cards, cut out the middle man and make more $ of the registration process.

If it was that easy ECNL would be included.

But it's not...

Or, and hear me out on this, ECNL doesn't care?

It is easy to do but the league must apply. ECNL is operated by US Club Soccer. They have their insurance and their own registration system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem with ECNL is if NWSL partners with them the way MLS did with what became MLSN they have no control over how a league is setup implemented and run. More specifically if ECNL is involved they'll want to do showcases and get college recruiters etc involved. Also ECNL has shown that if they don't get what they want they'll work as a group and "take their ball and go home".

From a business perspective all NWSL (just like MLS) wants from a youth league is access to young talent. They don't care about college. They just need a "minor league" where their 2nd teams (aka academy teams) can play against reasonable competition.

This is why GA is a much more appealing way for NWSL to partner with youth.

Maybe NWSL could do something with ECNL but they'd have to implement a league within a league that only focused on playing professionally. But again why would you want to do this when you don't need to and you'd get all the control vs working with ECNL leadership.

You notice how MLSNext has the letters MLS in the name? What league does MLS work with in order to run MLSNext?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Jessica Berman (NWSL Commissioner) spoke about Academies again today.

https://theathletic.com/5337948/2024/03/13/jessica-berman-nwsl-calendar-world-cup/

Berman also envisioned teams being willing to invest more in youth talent development because of the opportunity for a financial return even if that player didn’t end up on the first team. While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure.

LOL, she spoke about many things and the word academies wasn't used the way you want to believe. Yeah, read it again, look at the timeline and then ask yourself, this "will my kid ever benefit from whatever hypothetical she even means?"

Everyone here wants a more professional academy system installed but she spoke in very vaguely and in generalities about loose idea of 5 year plan.

If your kid is a 2012, the announcement of such a league may not happen for at least five years. She also never mentioned GA, ECNL or anything.

You are reading into a lot of tea leaves that such an undertaking is happening soon when she also listed many more imminent things on the horizon. Stadiums, network deals, expansion, transfer fees, etc. Your paragraph was pretty much at the end of the article. Your GA academy system is not happening soon. She seemed more interested in teams being able to fill out reserve teams first and work from there on down over time.

Working with Youth Academies, like Racing Louisville, for example might mean little more than the occasional U17 getting to practice with the reserve squad if they are short. Spirit does this occasionally with local clubs. I could see NWSL trying to strengthen those lines of communication for finding players here and there but nothing as formal as league and full on academy as you envision.

"While some NWSL clubs have either reserve teams, such as Racing Louisville’s W League team, or relationships with youth academies, these elements aren’t yet baked into each club’s infrastructure." This sums it up. Teams already do this as they can. Straddling clubs with the required expense of an academy is not something the league is prepared to do just yet.

That's one interpretation. It could mean a lot of things.

However the FACT that the head of the NWSL is talking about engaging with youth says a lot.

Look at how MLS engages with youth and you'll see the most likely way NWSL will engage with youth.

There is no money to do much of anything. At best this is 5 to 10 years out and assumes growth in the Women's professional soccer that is suspect without a dominating national team. You can't look at MLS --- they have the money. It is highly likely that NWSL will not. Look the whole NWSL is not in great shape. They do ok; not great. Some of the owners have deep pockets most do not. MLS is mostly deep pockets.

Don't know what you're talking about women's soccer specifically USWNT and NWSL are booming.

No, it isn't booming. Growing? Yes, but booming? no way.

Yes booming NWSL quadrupled their media contract.

That's what booming looks like.

Average attendance is 15,000 with teams like Chicago only averaging 4800 a game.

Not booming

SD Wave is averaging 20k per game same as many MLS teams.

Booming

And Chicago is under 5000. That's how averages work. High School football games in Texas draw more than SD Wave.

Growing, not booming.

And Houston Dynamo (A MLS Team) averages 15000
https://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2023-mls-attendance/

Booming + proven that several NWSL clubs average higher than MLS attendance.

How many NWSL teams own their own stadiums? Do any own stadiums that even approach MLS stadiums? Owning the building generates revenue, when the wave get a huge number, SDSU benefits as much as the team

Hey dipshlt SD Wave just sold for $120 million.
https://theathletic.com/5343025/2024/03/14/san-diego-wave-sale-nwsl/