GA & MLS NEXT Form Strategic Alliance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

I did not just make it up. You can quibble that it is Eurocentric list but I dont have much to argue against its accuracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/dec/03/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2024

The WSL is an Academy structure. They start playing the club style at u12/u13 and they focus on technical as well as team play.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with US style of soccer but it is still trying to “out athlete” or “send Trinity” style, which will work against the 2nd tier of nations. But what is more likely, that the US dominated womens soccer on the world stage for years because A) for some reason the US understood womens soccer better than Europe or B) that nobody in Europe cared about womens soccer?

Now that there is investment in the womens side of things (coaching, facilities, salaries) in Europe my bet is that the US will still be competitive but it wont dominate ever again.

I love the athlete that Rodman is but I could have made a 15 minute lowlight reel of her first touch in the Gold Cup games.

I am being a little facetious but I would take 11 Rose Lavelles over 11 Trinity Rodmans all day every day.

But that is just my opinion having been a coach, referee and dad to high level girls soccer players.

I like Trinity, you have to keep in mind that she's a huge natural talent that's a product of a US youth development process.

She could have been much much more. But what's to complain about she made it to the USWNT and NWSL.

Why shoot for perfection when good enough pays the bills.

She might be the highest salaried US player in the world right now but there are women in Europe making 3X her wages…………..there is a reason Sam Kerr left the Red Stars for England, and it wasnt the food…………

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

This bad take on US women’s soccer comes up every year. Then the US goes and wins the gold medal in the olympics against these countries that are supposedly so far ahead of us. The US women don’t dominate the rest of the world but to say Europe is so far ahead is just not supported by facts. Don’t confuse a particular style of play with being superior. Not all European teams are play technical either.

This was a discussion of NWSL being a superior league, not an indictment on USWNT. But is it just a coincidence that our resurgence after terrible prior Olympics and WC comes with a European coach moving towards players with a European style? Maybe?

Fully one-third of the current USWNT roster (obviously in flux) plays for European clubs. How many top European national team players play in NWSL?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

I did not just make it up. You can quibble that it is Eurocentric list but I dont have much to argue against its accuracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/dec/03/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2024

The WSL is an Academy structure. They start playing the club style at u12/u13 and they focus on technical as well as team play.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with US style of soccer but it is still trying to “out athlete” or “send Trinity” style, which will work against the 2nd tier of nations. But what is more likely, that the US dominated womens soccer on the world stage for years because A) for some reason the US understood womens soccer better than Europe or B) that nobody in Europe cared about womens soccer?

Now that there is investment in the womens side of things (coaching, facilities, salaries) in Europe my bet is that the US will still be competitive but it wont dominate ever again.

I love the athlete that Rodman is but I could have made a 15 minute lowlight reel of her first touch in the Gold Cup games.

I am being a little facetious but I would take 11 Rose Lavelles over 11 Trinity Rodmans all day every day.

But that is just my opinion having been a coach, referee and dad to high level girls soccer players.

I like Trinity, you have to keep in mind that she's a huge natural talent that's a product of a US youth development process.

She could have been much much more. But what's to complain about she made it to the USWNT and NWSL.

Why shoot for perfection when good enough pays the bills.

This tangent started with a comment about GA paired with NWSL on a MLSN model potentially being able to develop players who are better prepared to play the evolving women’s professional game, which clearly is different than college kickball. Is there any reason to think the coaches in GA are suited to this? And don’t you need to start developing these technical skills much younger than U13?

Zero chance either ECNL or GA, regardless of affiliation, could ever standardize a curriculum. Too many egos, profit motives and conflicts of interest. USSF is honestly a joke. Might not be their fault because they dont get funded like other nations but it is the Wild West out there in girls youth soccer. Even the US ID scouts are all over the place. There is simply no standardization anywhere in the pyramid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

I did not just make it up. You can quibble that it is Eurocentric list but I dont have much to argue against its accuracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/dec/03/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2024

The WSL is an Academy structure. They start playing the club style at u12/u13 and they focus on technical as well as team play.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with US style of soccer but it is still trying to “out athlete” or “send Trinity” style, which will work against the 2nd tier of nations. But what is more likely, that the US dominated womens soccer on the world stage for years because A) for some reason the US understood womens soccer better than Europe or B) that nobody in Europe cared about womens soccer?

Now that there is investment in the womens side of things (coaching, facilities, salaries) in Europe my bet is that the US will still be competitive but it wont dominate ever again.

I love the athlete that Rodman is but I could have made a 15 minute lowlight reel of her first touch in the Gold Cup games.

I am being a little facetious but I would take 11 Rose Lavelles over 11 Trinity Rodmans all day every day.

But that is just my opinion having been a coach, referee and dad to high level girls soccer players.

I like Trinity, you have to keep in mind that she's a huge natural talent that's a product of a US youth development process.

She could have been much much more. But what's to complain about she made it to the USWNT and NWSL.

Why shoot for perfection when good enough pays the bills.

This tangent started with a comment about GA paired with NWSL on a MLSN model potentially being able to develop players who are better prepared to play the evolving women’s professional game, which clearly is different than college kickball. Is there any reason to think the coaches in GA are suited to this? And don’t you need to start developing these technical skills much younger than U13?

Actually we're going through exactly this right now at my kids club. (GA top 50 team) our current coach plays intelligently and as a team. The new coach they want to put on the team is 100%, find the biggest players and play bootball. Unfortunately the club is allowing this to happen. Eventually bootball coach will get canned because they don't win. It just sucks that we're going to have to go though his losses.

Saying all this because it's no just ECNL playing bootball. Some GA coaches are like this as well. When you see it all you can do is shake your head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

This bad take on US women’s soccer comes up every year. Then the US goes and wins the gold medal in the olympics against these countries that are supposedly so far ahead of us. The US women don’t dominate the rest of the world but to say Europe is so far ahead is just not supported by facts. Don’t confuse a particular style of play with being superior. Not all European teams are play technical either.

This was a discussion of NWSL being a superior league, not an indictment on USWNT. But is it just a coincidence that our resurgence after terrible prior Olympics and WC comes with a European coach moving towards players with a European style? Maybe?

Fully one-third of the current USWNT roster (obviously in flux) plays for European clubs. How many top European national team players play in NWSL?

Not many Europeans, Berger, I guess. But a decent amount of African and South Americans. Marta, Banda, Tarcain, women from San Diego, Tenwa, Berger from Germany.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

I’m curious to know which ” top” clubs have atrocious technical skills. All of the players or just a few? Do any of them have acceptable skills?

All five ECNL clubs.

I’m feeling generous, so I’d ballpark 1/3 atrocious, 1/3 poor, 1/6 good, and 1/6 excellent.

And that’s for the five best teams in the region (U13 and older). Ironically, you might find a higher percentage of technically competent kids in ECNL-R because they focused on that part of their game when younger in an attempt to overcome smaller size / less gifted athleticism.

Incidentally, I blame the clubs, not the players. The kids who are good or excellent technically have parents who could afford private training when they were ulittles, because the clubs do not develop these skills.

Lol. “The clubs do not develop these skills.” Sorry you’ve had such a bad experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

This bad take on US women’s soccer comes up every year. Then the US goes and wins the gold medal in the olympics against these countries that are supposedly so far ahead of us. The US women don’t dominate the rest of the world but to say Europe is so far ahead is just not supported by facts. Don’t confuse a particular style of play with being superior. Not all European teams are play technical either.

This was a discussion of NWSL being a superior league, not an indictment on USWNT. But is it just a coincidence that our resurgence after terrible prior Olympics and WC comes with a European coach moving towards players with a European style? Maybe?

LOL. Vlatko is European.

[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:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

I did not just make it up. You can quibble that it is Eurocentric list but I dont have much to argue against its accuracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/dec/03/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2024

The WSL is an Academy structure. They start playing the club style at u12/u13 and they focus on technical as well as team play.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with US style of soccer but it is still trying to “out athlete” or “send Trinity” style, which will work against the 2nd tier of nations. But what is more likely, that the US dominated womens soccer on the world stage for years because A) for some reason the US understood womens soccer better than Europe or B) that nobody in Europe cared about womens soccer?

Now that there is investment in the womens side of things (coaching, facilities, salaries) in Europe my bet is that the US will still be competitive but it wont dominate ever again.

I love the athlete that Rodman is but I could have made a 15 minute lowlight reel of her first touch in the Gold Cup games.

I am being a little facetious but I would take 11 Rose Lavelles over 11 Trinity Rodmans all day every day.

But that is just my opinion having been a coach, referee and dad to high level girls soccer players.

I like Trinity, you have to keep in mind that she's a huge natural talent that's a product of a US youth development process.

She could have been much much more. But what's to complain about she made it to the USWNT and NWSL.

Why shoot for perfection when good enough pays the bills.

This tangent started with a comment about GA paired with NWSL on a MLSN model potentially being able to develop players who are better prepared to play the evolving women’s professional game, which clearly is different than college kickball. Is there any reason to think the coaches in GA are suited to this? And don’t you need to start developing these technical skills much younger than U13?

Actually we're going through exactly this right now at my kids club. (GA top 50 team) our current coach plays intelligently and as a team. The new coach they want to put on the team is 100%, find the biggest players and play bootball. Unfortunately the club is allowing this to happen. Eventually bootball coach will get canned because they don't win. It just sucks that we're going to have to go though his losses.

Saying all this because it's no just ECNL playing bootball. Some GA coaches are like this as well. When you see it all you can do is shake your head.

I think if a Club is really going to try to elevate their playing standard, they will have to have a quality Director of Coaching who is freed up enough to QC the Coaches at practice and during games to enforce a practice and game-play standard. We're in GA and we have a GA coach who is good, but quickly reverts to bootball when the team is behind and runs a similar play-practice-play style of practice that is starting to become dull. It is essentially hard to say you have a club standard, but the Coaches games and practices are not reviewed or evaluated to uphold a standard. In other words, just like any club, it only takes one Coach to unravel a standard, especially when they are not checked up on.

If the DOC is coaching 3-4 teams, they probably won't have the time to check up on the other coaches to elevate the coaching level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

I’m curious to know which ” top” clubs have atrocious technical skills. All of the players or just a few? Do any of them have acceptable skills?

All five ECNL clubs.

I’m feeling generous, so I’d ballpark 1/3 atrocious, 1/3 poor, 1/6 good, and 1/6 excellent.

And that’s for the five best teams in the region (U13 and older). Ironically, you might find a higher percentage of technically competent kids in ECNL-R because they focused on that part of their game when younger in an attempt to overcome smaller size / less gifted athleticism.

Incidentally, I blame the clubs, not the players. The kids who are good or excellent technically have parents who could afford private training when they were ulittles, because the clubs do not develop these skills.

Lol. “The clubs do not develop these skills.” Sorry you’ve had such a bad experience.

Not in DMV. And if you think they do, then that might explain why you don’t see the problem with the technical skills at DMV ECNL clubs.

[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:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

I did not just make it up. You can quibble that it is Eurocentric list but I dont have much to argue against its accuracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/dec/03/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2024

The WSL is an Academy structure. They start playing the club style at u12/u13 and they focus on technical as well as team play.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with US style of soccer but it is still trying to “out athlete” or “send Trinity” style, which will work against the 2nd tier of nations. But what is more likely, that the US dominated womens soccer on the world stage for years because A) for some reason the US understood womens soccer better than Europe or B) that nobody in Europe cared about womens soccer?

Now that there is investment in the womens side of things (coaching, facilities, salaries) in Europe my bet is that the US will still be competitive but it wont dominate ever again.

I love the athlete that Rodman is but I could have made a 15 minute lowlight reel of her first touch in the Gold Cup games.

I am being a little facetious but I would take 11 Rose Lavelles over 11 Trinity Rodmans all day every day.

But that is just my opinion having been a coach, referee and dad to high level girls soccer players.

I like Trinity, you have to keep in mind that she's a huge natural talent that's a product of a US youth development process.

She could have been much much more. But what's to complain about she made it to the USWNT and NWSL.

Why shoot for perfection when good enough pays the bills.

This tangent started with a comment about GA paired with NWSL on a MLSN model potentially being able to develop players who are better prepared to play the evolving women’s professional game, which clearly is different than college kickball. Is there any reason to think the coaches in GA are suited to this? And don’t you need to start developing these technical skills much younger than U13?

Zero chance either ECNL or GA, regardless of affiliation, could ever standardize a curriculum. Too many egos, profit motives and conflicts of interest. USSF is honestly a joke. Might not be their fault because they dont get funded like other nations but it is the Wild West out there in girls youth soccer. Even the US ID scouts are all over the place. There is simply no standardization anywhere in the pyramid.

Do you think academies in England and Spain are following curriculums from their national governing body? It’s club by club.

DCUM. Full of “knowledgeable” parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

I did not just make it up. You can quibble that it is Eurocentric list but I dont have much to argue against its accuracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/dec/03/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2024

The WSL is an Academy structure. They start playing the club style at u12/u13 and they focus on technical as well as team play.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with US style of soccer but it is still trying to “out athlete” or “send Trinity” style, which will work against the 2nd tier of nations. But what is more likely, that the US dominated womens soccer on the world stage for years because A) for some reason the US understood womens soccer better than Europe or B) that nobody in Europe cared about womens soccer?

Now that there is investment in the womens side of things (coaching, facilities, salaries) in Europe my bet is that the US will still be competitive but it wont dominate ever again.

I love the athlete that Rodman is but I could have made a 15 minute lowlight reel of her first touch in the Gold Cup games.

I am being a little facetious but I would take 11 Rose Lavelles over 11 Trinity Rodmans all day every day.

But that is just my opinion having been a coach, referee and dad to high level girls soccer players.

I like Trinity, you have to keep in mind that she's a huge natural talent that's a product of a US youth development process.

She could have been much much more. But what's to complain about she made it to the USWNT and NWSL.

Why shoot for perfection when good enough pays the bills.

She might be the highest salaried US player in the world right now but there are women in Europe making 3X her wages…………..there is a reason Sam Kerr left the Red Stars for England, and it wasnt the food…………

Please name one national team in the world that would not start Trinity Rodman.

[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:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

I did not just make it up. You can quibble that it is Eurocentric list but I dont have much to argue against its accuracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/dec/03/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2024

The WSL is an Academy structure. They start playing the club style at u12/u13 and they focus on technical as well as team play.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with US style of soccer but it is still trying to “out athlete” or “send Trinity” style, which will work against the 2nd tier of nations. But what is more likely, that the US dominated womens soccer on the world stage for years because A) for some reason the US understood womens soccer better than Europe or B) that nobody in Europe cared about womens soccer?

Now that there is investment in the womens side of things (coaching, facilities, salaries) in Europe my bet is that the US will still be competitive but it wont dominate ever again.

I love the athlete that Rodman is but I could have made a 15 minute lowlight reel of her first touch in the Gold Cup games.

I am being a little facetious but I would take 11 Rose Lavelles over 11 Trinity Rodmans all day every day.

But that is just my opinion having been a coach, referee and dad to high level girls soccer players.

I like Trinity, you have to keep in mind that she's a huge natural talent that's a product of a US youth development process.

She could have been much much more. But what's to complain about she made it to the USWNT and NWSL.

Why shoot for perfection when good enough pays the bills.

She might be the highest salaried US player in the world right now but there are women in Europe making 3X her wages…………..there is a reason Sam Kerr left the Red Stars for England, and it wasnt the food…………

Please name one national team in the world that would not start Trinity Rodman.

Are you serious? Spain, Germany, Brazil, maybe England depending. She doesnt fit the style of play for those nations. She fits the US style of play to a T. If she is a world beater, why doesnt she go to England or Spain and make more than $250k a year?

It is why Cole Palmer never saw the field for Man City but is player of the year for Chelsea.

[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:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

I did not just make it up. You can quibble that it is Eurocentric list but I dont have much to argue against its accuracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/dec/03/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2024

The WSL is an Academy structure. They start playing the club style at u12/u13 and they focus on technical as well as team play.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with US style of soccer but it is still trying to “out athlete” or “send Trinity” style, which will work against the 2nd tier of nations. But what is more likely, that the US dominated womens soccer on the world stage for years because A) for some reason the US understood womens soccer better than Europe or B) that nobody in Europe cared about womens soccer?

Now that there is investment in the womens side of things (coaching, facilities, salaries) in Europe my bet is that the US will still be competitive but it wont dominate ever again.

I love the athlete that Rodman is but I could have made a 15 minute lowlight reel of her first touch in the Gold Cup games.

I am being a little facetious but I would take 11 Rose Lavelles over 11 Trinity Rodmans all day every day.

But that is just my opinion having been a coach, referee and dad to high level girls soccer players.

I like Trinity, you have to keep in mind that she's a huge natural talent that's a product of a US youth development process.

She could have been much much more. But what's to complain about she made it to the USWNT and NWSL.

Why shoot for perfection when good enough pays the bills.

This tangent started with a comment about GA paired with NWSL on a MLSN model potentially being able to develop players who are better prepared to play the evolving women’s professional game, which clearly is different than college kickball. Is there any reason to think the coaches in GA are suited to this? And don’t you need to start developing these technical skills much younger than U13?

Zero chance either ECNL or GA, regardless of affiliation, could ever standardize a curriculum. Too many egos, profit motives and conflicts of interest. USSF is honestly a joke. Might not be their fault because they dont get funded like other nations but it is the Wild West out there in girls youth soccer. Even the US ID scouts are all over the place. There is simply no standardization anywhere in the pyramid.

I don’t buy this top down standardization argument. I don’t see standardization in other sports where the US does well. There are all kinds of playing styles in basketball across leagues, teams, and coaches. Same goes for hockey, football, baseball. Why on earth would soccer in the US need a top down standard way to coach and develop players when other sports don’t? I say stop trying to force the European structure into US soccer and instead work with what we do well and makes us unique and make it better. The US is not Europe. The geography, culture, economy, values are different.

[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:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

I did not just make it up. You can quibble that it is Eurocentric list but I dont have much to argue against its accuracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/dec/03/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2024

The WSL is an Academy structure. They start playing the club style at u12/u13 and they focus on technical as well as team play.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with US style of soccer but it is still trying to “out athlete” or “send Trinity” style, which will work against the 2nd tier of nations. But what is more likely, that the US dominated womens soccer on the world stage for years because A) for some reason the US understood womens soccer better than Europe or B) that nobody in Europe cared about womens soccer?

Now that there is investment in the womens side of things (coaching, facilities, salaries) in Europe my bet is that the US will still be competitive but it wont dominate ever again.

I love the athlete that Rodman is but I could have made a 15 minute lowlight reel of her first touch in the Gold Cup games.

I am being a little facetious but I would take 11 Rose Lavelles over 11 Trinity Rodmans all day every day.

But that is just my opinion having been a coach, referee and dad to high level girls soccer players.

I like Trinity, you have to keep in mind that she's a huge natural talent that's a product of a US youth development process.

She could have been much much more. But what's to complain about she made it to the USWNT and NWSL.

Why shoot for perfection when good enough pays the bills.

She might be the highest salaried US player in the world right now but there are women in Europe making 3X her wages…………..there is a reason Sam Kerr left the Red Stars for England, and it wasnt the food…………

Please name one national team in the world that would not start Trinity Rodman.

Are you serious? Spain, Germany, Brazil, maybe England depending. She doesnt fit the style of play for those nations. She fits the US style of play to a T. If she is a world beater, why doesnt she go to England or Spain and make more than $250k a year?

It is why Cole Palmer never saw the field for Man City but is player of the year for Chelsea.

They would all take her and start her. She’s the #5 player in your Guardian rankings lol.

Maybe she’s happy playing in the country she’s grown up in and where her family is? Why doesn’t Cole Palmer go to Saudi Arabia and make more money? Everything isn’t about money. You’re definitely one of the ROI youth soccer parents.

Also Cole Palmer went to Chelsea because he wasn’t going to beat out Mahrez and Silva. At least that’s what Pep Guardiola said in an interview.

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Anonymous wrote:This is strategic, not something that will happen overnight.

When DA folded, ECNL was there, established, and had positioned themselves to take over the girls game.

That is the position GA is in right now. No one knows where college will be in the next 3+ years. Last I heard they were wanting to be governed by US Soccer as well…

1000% true.

Eventually NWSL is going to need to focus on the quality of the product they put on the field. Once this happens GA MLSN and US Soccer will be where they turn.

Lol. Why the GA?

Firstly because they are self sanctioned now, less red tape compared to ECNL.

Second, NWSL will get more of what it wants. ECNL doesn’t need a pro pathway, and they’re not setup for it, easier to set the pathway up from GA than a platform that is largely a scholarship program.

Third, have you seen women’s college soccer? It’s awful. Watch the national championship, first touches bouncing 8 yards like a u-little match. That is what academy soccer produces for NCAA. If you were NWSL wouldn’t you want a platform that you can shape almost ground up vs current brick-touch Academy soccer?

I assumed the atrocious technical skills at the “top” local clubs was a reflection of the DMV ECNL-G programs and things were different in the bigger US soccer markets, but, after watching several women’s games in the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago, it seems to me we have a universal and systemic problem in the US. I don’t watch much NWSL, but it’s not like this in the pro women’s leagues in England and Spain. I’m not commenting on overall quality as it goes without saying that a pro in one of those leagues should be a better player than someone playing even in a top college program. I’m commenting on basic skills, like receiving the ball, that young adults should have developed years ago. But I don’t see how GA is any better positioned to fix things—there just aren’t enough good coaches in the US.

Outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona, NWSL teams are better than teams in the Spanish league. NWSL is also a better league than the English League based on quality of players and teams.

Nobody on UNC or Wake Forest could “receive the ball”? Please stop.

Tell me you know nothing about women’s sports without telling me you know nothing about women’s sports.

Oh the irony in your last sentence.

It is pretty clear that there are 8-10 teams in Europe that would win the NWSL year in and year out. The NWSL has parity, which is great, but no team in NWSL would win England, France, Spain league at this point.

Of the top 50 best womens footballers in the world. 10 play in the NWSL. 40 play in Europe…………

I think that's pretty wrong, but let's say you are right, what does that say about the current state of girls youth soccer in the U.S.? ECNL getting it done? Switching to SY going to change things? Title IX and the college system gave us a head start but is it good enough now?

I did not just make it up. You can quibble that it is Eurocentric list but I dont have much to argue against its accuracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/dec/03/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2024

The WSL is an Academy structure. They start playing the club style at u12/u13 and they focus on technical as well as team play.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with US style of soccer but it is still trying to “out athlete” or “send Trinity” style, which will work against the 2nd tier of nations. But what is more likely, that the US dominated womens soccer on the world stage for years because A) for some reason the US understood womens soccer better than Europe or B) that nobody in Europe cared about womens soccer?

Now that there is investment in the womens side of things (coaching, facilities, salaries) in Europe my bet is that the US will still be competitive but it wont dominate ever again.

I love the athlete that Rodman is but I could have made a 15 minute lowlight reel of her first touch in the Gold Cup games.

I am being a little facetious but I would take 11 Rose Lavelles over 11 Trinity Rodmans all day every day.

But that is just my opinion having been a coach, referee and dad to high level girls soccer players.

I like Trinity, you have to keep in mind that she's a huge natural talent that's a product of a US youth development process.

She could have been much much more. But what's to complain about she made it to the USWNT and NWSL.

Why shoot for perfection when good enough pays the bills.

This tangent started with a comment about GA paired with NWSL on a MLSN model potentially being able to develop players who are better prepared to play the evolving women’s professional game, which clearly is different than college kickball. Is there any reason to think the coaches in GA are suited to this? And don’t you need to start developing these technical skills much younger than U13?

Zero chance either ECNL or GA, regardless of affiliation, could ever standardize a curriculum. Too many egos, profit motives and conflicts of interest. USSF is honestly a joke. Might not be their fault because they dont get funded like other nations but it is the Wild West out there in girls youth soccer. Even the US ID scouts are all over the place. There is simply no standardization anywhere in the pyramid.

Do you think academies in England and Spain are following curriculums from their national governing body? It’s club by club.

DCUM. Full of “knowledgeable” parents.

So confidently incorrect……….

Yes, clubs have a club curriculum, but if you dont think the FA has MUCH more influence over the strategy for womens soccer development in the UK than USSF does in the US, you are 100% wrong.

I just laugh that you think USSF actually holds sway over Lavers/ECNL? He is openly contemptuous of USSF as is evidenced by almost everything he says on his podcast.

Just as one example of FA. They actually have a multi year strategy for development of women’s soccer. Rather than take shots at DCUM parents knowledge, try doing just the bare minimum of research before you clown yourself.

https://www.thefa.com/news/2024/sep/27/women-and-girls-stratgy-progress-inspiring-positive-change-20242709