GA Showcase

[Anonymous]

Anyone that plays in these type of leagues has had to travel by plane to some far flung location and rent a car and book a hotel to play a few youth soccer games against other teams full of families that have done the same. And the soccer played is virtually identical as if everyone had just stayed and played other competitive teams in their local area.

If you have not had to do this, you don't know anything about playing in this type of so-called high level league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us, based on your observations, when should the best 36 players per age group be picked and consolidated and by whom. Who is the expert who is going to find, evaluate and pick the best in a population of 2.5 million people in NOVA.

Also, what exactly is the point to consolidate the best 36 while throwing away the other 100. You trust the system to be free of politics and fair. You believe all kids will stay the same?

Are you will to throw away talent song your kid can beat Real SoCal?

I posted the original. Why is narrowing the elite clubs to two “throwing the other kids away?” They would still play on non ECNL teams and have the chance to compete for ECNL positions on those teams. By the way, the next tier would be much better in that scenario and it would be much healthier for all involved. And what’s wrong with fielding local teams that can compete nationally? That’s how I’d define elite, not the watered down s show we have today.

What does compete nationally mean to you?

Again, the OP of this thought. The original response was the the comment that this area is a "hotbed" for youth girls soccer, with the justification of this comment by stating there are 7 "elite" girls teams locally (5 ECNL, 2 GA). While I agree there are many girls who play soccer here,I don't feel this qualifies the region as a "hotbed." If you look at the composition of those 7 "elite" teams, you find many non-elite players within. Distill those so called elite clubs from seven to two, and I believe then you'd have a true elite set of players on teams that could hang with the best in other regions. The fact there are 7 of these clubs has much more to do with the wallets of the parents in this area than the quality of talent in the girls pool vs. other regions.

The fact is that there is nothing special about this area with regard to attributes that would give girls who are raised here head and shoulders advantages over the other regions, and this region certainly doesn't have a population advantage over the other regions that consistently produce better teams than are found here. I understand that there is much privilege in this region. and many here feel themselves elite when compared to the other regions of the country, but this outsized ego needs to be checked with a little reality. Your job titles and salaries don't convey soccer talent to your daughters.

Two elite clubs with a pyramid up to compete for spots is about right. No hotbed, just a hot mess at present.

[Anonymous]

You are completely missing that competitive girls soccer is a business opportunity and has nothing to do with consolidating talent onto a small number if teams. That is not how the money is made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us, based on your observations, when should the best 36 players per age group be picked and consolidated and by whom. Who is the expert who is going to find, evaluate and pick the best in a population of 2.5 million people in NOVA.

Also, what exactly is the point to consolidate the best 36 while throwing away the other 100. You trust the system to be free of politics and fair. You believe all kids will stay the same?

Are you will to throw away talent song your kid can beat Real SoCal?

I posted the original. Why is narrowing the elite clubs to two “throwing the other kids away?” They would still play on non ECNL teams and have the chance to compete for ECNL positions on those teams. By the way, the next tier would be much better in that scenario and it would be much healthier for all involved. And what’s wrong with fielding local teams that can compete nationally? That’s how I’d define elite, not the watered down s show we have today.

What does compete nationally mean to you?

Again, the OP of this thought. The original response was the the comment that this area is a "hotbed" for youth girls soccer, with the justification of this comment by stating there are 7 "elite" girls teams locally (5 ECNL, 2 GA). While I agree there are many girls who play soccer here,I don't feel this qualifies the region as a "hotbed." If you look at the composition of those 7 "elite" teams, you find many non-elite players within. Distill those so called elite clubs from seven to two, and I believe then you'd have a true elite set of players on teams that could hang with the best in other regions. The fact there are 7 of these clubs has much more to do with the wallets of the parents in this area than the quality of talent in the girls pool vs. other regions.

The fact is that there is nothing special about this area with regard to attributes that would give girls who are raised here head and shoulders advantages over the other regions, and this region certainly doesn't have a population advantage over the other regions that consistently produce better teams than are found here. I understand that there is much privilege in this region. and many here feel themselves elite when compared to the other regions of the country, but this outsized ego needs to be checked with a little reality. Your job titles and salaries don't convey soccer talent to your daughters.

Two elite clubs with a pyramid up to compete for spots is about right. No hotbed, just a hot mess at present.

Another 80 sentence post of non-sense. I’m not claiming it’s a hotbed based solely on my belief. It is in fact considered A HOTBED by every single analyst in the country. It has been considered one for over twenty years. You are mistaken if you think you have a clue what you’re talking about in the regard. In fact, you don’t even read the response properly. It was said that it is fertile ground and a war to dominate the area created two many clubs on the girls side. I never said it was justification. I am in fact stating what happened. I also said three clubs need to go and four will do the trick if properly spaced. I further stated that if each county had one club we would be in much better shape...Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William.

[Anonymous]

Prince Williams has one club
Arlington has one club

Time for Fairfax (McLean, Metro, Bryc) and Loudoun (Loudoun and FCV) to consolidate.

But the truth is GA will soon be a non-player and consolidation will happen naturally. It will take a few years for the dust to settle after US Soccer destroyed the landscape.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely love going to SoCal and turning nationals into a vacay.

[Anonymous]

I also love going to Greensboro, Florida or Arizona and drinking, eating and laughing with other families as the kids go on adventures.

It’s life. It’s fun. You’re going to miss it.

I consider it money well spent.

Oh...and when your kid gets a partial or full ride it pays for itself. So there you go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell us, based on your observations, when should the best 36 players per age group be picked and consolidated and by whom. Who is the expert who is going to find, evaluate and pick the best in a population of 2.5 million people in NOVA.

Also, what exactly is the point to consolidate the best 36 while throwing away the other 100. You trust the system to be free of politics and fair. You believe all kids will stay the same?

Are you will to throw away talent song your kid can beat Real SoCal?

Just a mathematical point. If there are 2.5 million in Nova, then there are ~15,000 girls born in any one year. And of those, maybe 5,000 play soccer at all (including rec) with - let's guess - 500 taking it seriously. So maybe finding 36 is not so hard after all...?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us, based on your observations, when should the best 36 players per age group be picked and consolidated and by whom. Who is the expert who is going to find, evaluate and pick the best in a population of 2.5 million people in NOVA.

Also, what exactly is the point to consolidate the best 36 while throwing away the other 100. You trust the system to be free of politics and fair. You believe all kids will stay the same?

Are you will to throw away talent song your kid can beat Real SoCal?

I posted the original. Why is narrowing the elite clubs to two “throwing the other kids away?” They would still play on non ECNL teams and have the chance to compete for ECNL positions on those teams. By the way, the next tier would be much better in that scenario and it would be much healthier for all involved. And what’s wrong with fielding local teams that can compete nationally? That’s how I’d define elite, not the watered down s show we have today.

What does compete nationally mean to you?

Again, the OP of this thought. The original response was the the comment that this area is a "hotbed" for youth girls soccer, with the justification of this comment by stating there are 7 "elite" girls teams locally (5 ECNL, 2 GA). While I agree there are many girls who play soccer here,I don't feel this qualifies the region as a "hotbed." If you look at the composition of those 7 "elite" teams, you find many non-elite players within. Distill those so called elite clubs from seven to two, and I believe then you'd have a true elite set of players on teams that could hang with the best in other regions. The fact there are 7 of these clubs has much more to do with the wallets of the parents in this area than the quality of talent in the girls pool vs. other regions.

The fact is that there is nothing special about this area with regard to attributes that would give girls who are raised here head and shoulders advantages over the other regions, and this region certainly doesn't have a population advantage over the other regions that consistently produce better teams than are found here. I understand that there is much privilege in this region. and many here feel themselves elite when compared to the other regions of the country, but this outsized ego needs to be checked with a little reality. Your job titles and salaries don't convey soccer talent to your daughters.

Two elite clubs with a pyramid up to compete for spots is about right. No hotbed, just a hot mess at present.

I disagree that narrowing the pyramid is the best way to proceed. Not that this is going to happen either - but allowing all teams to compete freely against each other in pro/rel leagues would allow the best teams and coaches to bubble to the top, the best players to find the best teams and coaches and each other and provide strong incentives for clubs, teams, coaches and players to improve.

Simply creating two elite teams and walling them off from others unfortunately creates a semi-monopoly situation which does not provide sufficient incentive for the clubs/teams/coaches and players to improve. Instead they are likely to focus their efforts on jealously guarding their privileged position and prebventing new competitors from gaining access to their walled garden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely love going to SoCal and turning nationals into a vacay.

I do too but it has nothing at all to do with soccer. It does not help any if these players improve or get better or raise the level of the sport. The opposite actually. It is a fancy activity for affluent kids and serves.to limit the pool of available players to those that can afford to do it.

As far as soccer goes, the players would be better served by having to compete against the best competition, not just the best affluent competition. But that ship has sailed far out to sea and will never return. Enjoy the vacay!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us, based on your observations, when should the best 36 players per age group be picked and consolidated and by whom. Who is the expert who is going to find, evaluate and pick the best in a population of 2.5 million people in NOVA.

Also, what exactly is the point to consolidate the best 36 while throwing away the other 100. You trust the system to be free of politics and fair. You believe all kids will stay the same?

Are you will to throw away talent song your kid can beat Real SoCal?

Just a mathematical point. If there are 2.5 million in Nova, then there are ~15,000 girls born in any one year. And of those, maybe 5,000 play soccer at all (including rec) with - let's guess - 500 taking it seriously. So maybe finding 36 is not so hard after all...?

Then you have not had a kid go through the entire rec to graduation cycle. Once you do, you will understand.
We can not and must not pretend to be the gate keepers by choosing winners and losers without allowing kids to naturally progress through physical and mental maturity.

Two years after puberty..maybe. Anything before that is a complete waste of time. That is 100 percent non-debatable fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely love going to SoCal and turning nationals into a vacay.

I do too but it has nothing at all to do with soccer. It does not help any if these players improve or get better or raise the level of the sport. The opposite actually. It is a fancy activity for affluent kids and serves.to limit the pool of available players to those that can afford to do it.

As far as soccer goes, the players would be better served by having to compete against the best competition, not just the best affluent competition. But that ship has sailed far out to sea and will never return. Enjoy the vacay!

Nationals has nothing to do with soccer? Wrong

Because you go to SoCal your affluent? Wrong

Stop pretending to know anything about the families that participate. Lots of sacrifices are made. Lots of extra hours are worked. Some with extra jobs. Some make nationals there family vacations.

Your spending time on a board because you care. If you know or have a better way, then do it. Many roads lead to the same place.

[Anonymous]

You are wrong. I have been at this for a long time with multiple players and I see very clearly the market being served. There are a few....a few.....exceptions.

[Anonymous]

Are you saying time for a combine and draft?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us, based on your observations, when should the best 36 players per age group be picked and consolidated and by whom. Who is the expert who is going to find, evaluate and pick the best in a population of 2.5 million people in NOVA.

Also, what exactly is the point to consolidate the best 36 while throwing away the other 100. You trust the system to be free of politics and fair. You believe all kids will stay the same?

Are you will to throw away talent song your kid can beat Real SoCal?

I posted the original. Why is narrowing the elite clubs to two “throwing the other kids away?” They would still play on non ECNL teams and have the chance to compete for ECNL positions on those teams. By the way, the next tier would be much better in that scenario and it would be much healthier for all involved. And what’s wrong with fielding local teams that can compete nationally? That’s how I’d define elite, not the watered down s show we have today.

What does compete nationally mean to you?

Again, the OP of this thought. The original response was the the comment that this area is a "hotbed" for youth girls soccer, with the justification of this comment by stating there are 7 "elite" girls teams locally (5 ECNL, 2 GA). While I agree there are many girls who play soccer here,I don't feel this qualifies the region as a "hotbed." If you look at the composition of those 7 "elite" teams, you find many non-elite players within. Distill those so called elite clubs from seven to two, and I believe then you'd have a true elite set of players on teams that could hang with the best in other regions. The fact there are 7 of these clubs has much more to do with the wallets of the parents in this area than the quality of talent in the girls pool vs. other regions.

The fact is that there is nothing special about this area with regard to attributes that would give girls who are raised here head and shoulders advantages over the other regions, and this region certainly doesn't have a population advantage over the other regions that consistently produce better teams than are found here. I understand that there is much privilege in this region. and many here feel themselves elite when compared to the other regions of the country, but this outsized ego needs to be checked with a little reality. Your job titles and salaries don't convey soccer talent to your daughters.

Two elite clubs with a pyramid up to compete for spots is about right. No hotbed, just a hot mess at present.

Another 80 sentence post of non-sense. I’m not claiming it’s a hotbed based solely on my belief. It is in fact considered A HOTBED by every single analyst in the country. It has been considered one for over twenty years. You are mistaken if you think you have a clue what you’re talking about in the regard. In fact, you don’t even read the response properly. It was said that it is fertile ground and a war to dominate the area created two many clubs on the girls side. I never said it was justification. I am in fact stating what happened. I also said three clubs need to go and four will do the trick if properly spaced. I further stated that if each county had one club we would be in much better shape...Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William.

Nah. It started being called a hot bed back in the 80s when many of the initial USWNT trained and played in this area, including the former Coach.