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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding Bayside FC continues this narrative of this shadow war on the boys side. Bayside FC has MLS Next. None of the clubs that have switched to ECNL from GA have MLSN on the boys side and none of the clubs that have come into GA or DPL have any ECNL affiliation from the boys side, NL or RL.

Yep, and just wait until NWSL Next happens.

It's becoming very clear what's going to happen next.

I think everything could change overnight.

All NWSL has to do is implement a homegrown rule and say that they'll have Acadamies in the next season.

And boom everything in girls you soccer would be flipped on it head.

While I do have my doubts, I'm not ruling that out. It would be a win win for them, they wouldn't have to put much into it at first, just wait and see how it blooms and then start figuring out the rest. People keep talking about the financials but nobody is expecting fully funded NWSL academies from the beginning. We all already pay a large sum to participate and would continue to do so.

That's now really how it works. It needs to be truly differentiated from any other local club. As another poster pointed, Washington Spirit Academy was terrible. If you are charging people money then they would have to beat expectations. Paying to be a part of a start up in a already saturated market does not lead to immediate success.

The only way a NWSL Academy system will get off the ground is to be either fully funded or much much cheaper than other competing youth clubs.

NWSL is still competing with College recruitment for player's goals and objectives. If the academy has no track record or a true ability to showcase competitively it will fail upon launch. The hope of being pro is just not enough with the few limited pro opportunities available. And if the academy can't draw the interest of the best players regionally then it will not serve the purpose to the pro club either.

If it's free then that changes the dynamic of the player is no longer the consumer, but as long as the player is the consumer Spirit would have to offer one hell of bang for the buck in comparison to other clubs who can do the same thing for their player.

I just don't see this changing overnight. It is going to be a long and thoughtful process for NWSL to launch any meaningful academy system. Yes, it will happen but it will take a decade and there is nothing wrong with that. It would be better to to roll it out slowly and get it right than try and rush it, waste time, money and look bad. NWSL would never recover from a a faceplant.

I think everything could change overnight.

All NWSL has to do is implement a homegrown rule and say that they'll have Acadamies in the next season.

And boom everything in girls you soccer would be flipped on it head.

I think you overestimate how delusional kids are about where they stand. In a given region, a homegrown rule may apply to one or two girls at most. The other few thousand playing at any one time understand that they won't go pro regardless

The kids and parents may be delusional but the NWSL Clubs can't feed into that. The homegrown rule is ultimately how the academy will be funded and if it isn't taken seriously by the club and attracts serious talent then its nothing more than pay to play fan experience.

Either way it doesn't matter. The "problem" addresses itself.

If clubs don't take development seriously they won't get transfer money from selling players to other clubs via transfer fees. Also if clubs don't develop players they won't get call ups to academy team and ultimately pro MLS/NWSL teams.

Question: what is the homegrown rule?

Homegrown rule basically means that a player has come up within XYZ professional teams general geography.

To encourage this MLS let's clubs pay homegrown players whatever they want and it doesn't count against their salary cap.

From a spectators perspective its much more interesting if a player came from where you live. In theory this generates interest for teams and puts butts in seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding Bayside FC continues this narrative of this shadow war on the boys side. Bayside FC has MLS Next. None of the clubs that have switched to ECNL from GA have MLSN on the boys side and none of the clubs that have come into GA or DPL have any ECNL affiliation from the boys side, NL or RL.

Yep, and just wait until NWSL Next happens.

It's becoming very clear what's going to happen next.

I think everything could change overnight.

All NWSL has to do is implement a homegrown rule and say that they'll have Acadamies in the next season.

And boom everything in girls you soccer would be flipped on it head.

While I do have my doubts, I'm not ruling that out. It would be a win win for them, they wouldn't have to put much into it at first, just wait and see how it blooms and then start figuring out the rest. People keep talking about the financials but nobody is expecting fully funded NWSL academies from the beginning. We all already pay a large sum to participate and would continue to do so.

That's now really how it works. It needs to be truly differentiated from any other local club. As another poster pointed, Washington Spirit Academy was terrible. If you are charging people money then they would have to beat expectations. Paying to be a part of a start up in a already saturated market does not lead to immediate success.

The only way a NWSL Academy system will get off the ground is to be either fully funded or much much cheaper than other competing youth clubs.

NWSL is still competing with College recruitment for player's goals and objectives. If the academy has no track record or a true ability to showcase competitively it will fail upon launch. The hope of being pro is just not enough with the few limited pro opportunities available. And if the academy can't draw the interest of the best players regionally then it will not serve the purpose to the pro club either.

If it's free then that changes the dynamic of the player is no longer the consumer, but as long as the player is the consumer Spirit would have to offer one hell of bang for the buck in comparison to other clubs who can do the same thing for their player.

I just don't see this changing overnight. It is going to be a long and thoughtful process for NWSL to launch any meaningful academy system. Yes, it will happen but it will take a decade and there is nothing wrong with that. It would be better to to roll it out slowly and get it right than try and rush it, waste time, money and look bad. NWSL would never recover from a a faceplant.

I think everything could change overnight.

All NWSL has to do is implement a homegrown rule and say that they'll have Acadamies in the next season.

And boom everything in girls you soccer would be flipped on it head.

I think you overestimate how delusional kids are about where they stand. In a given region, a homegrown rule may apply to one or two girls at most. The other few thousand playing at any one time understand that they won't go pro regardless

The kids and parents may be delusional but the NWSL Clubs can't feed into that. The homegrown rule is ultimately how the academy will be funded and if it isn't taken seriously by the club and attracts serious talent then its nothing more than pay to play fan experience.

Either way it doesn't matter. The "problem" addresses itself.

If clubs don't take development seriously they won't get transfer money from selling players to other clubs via transfer fees. Also if clubs don't develop players they won't get call ups to academy team and ultimately pro MLS/NWSL teams.

Question: what is the homegrown rule?

Homegrown rule basically means that a player has come up within XYZ professional teams general geography.

To encourage this MLS let's clubs pay homegrown players whatever they want and it doesn't count against their salary cap.

From a spectators perspective its much more interesting if a player came from where you live. In theory this generates interest for teams and puts butts in seats.

And why would anyone think they would do this on the girls side?

[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:Adding Bayside FC continues this narrative of this shadow war on the boys side. Bayside FC has MLS Next. None of the clubs that have switched to ECNL from GA have MLSN on the boys side and none of the clubs that have come into GA or DPL have any ECNL affiliation from the boys side, NL or RL.

Yep, and just wait until NWSL Next happens.

It's becoming very clear what's going to happen next.

I think everything could change overnight.

All NWSL has to do is implement a homegrown rule and say that they'll have Acadamies in the next season.

And boom everything in girls you soccer would be flipped on it head.

While I do have my doubts, I'm not ruling that out. It would be a win win for them, they wouldn't have to put much into it at first, just wait and see how it blooms and then start figuring out the rest. People keep talking about the financials but nobody is expecting fully funded NWSL academies from the beginning. We all already pay a large sum to participate and would continue to do so.

That's now really how it works. It needs to be truly differentiated from any other local club. As another poster pointed, Washington Spirit Academy was terrible. If you are charging people money then they would have to beat expectations. Paying to be a part of a start up in a already saturated market does not lead to immediate success.

The only way a NWSL Academy system will get off the ground is to be either fully funded or much much cheaper than other competing youth clubs.

NWSL is still competing with College recruitment for player's goals and objectives. If the academy has no track record or a true ability to showcase competitively it will fail upon launch. The hope of being pro is just not enough with the few limited pro opportunities available. And if the academy can't draw the interest of the best players regionally then it will not serve the purpose to the pro club either.

If it's free then that changes the dynamic of the player is no longer the consumer, but as long as the player is the consumer Spirit would have to offer one hell of bang for the buck in comparison to other clubs who can do the same thing for their player.

I just don't see this changing overnight. It is going to be a long and thoughtful process for NWSL to launch any meaningful academy system. Yes, it will happen but it will take a decade and there is nothing wrong with that. It would be better to to roll it out slowly and get it right than try and rush it, waste time, money and look bad. NWSL would never recover from a a faceplant.

I think everything could change overnight.

All NWSL has to do is implement a homegrown rule and say that they'll have Acadamies in the next season.

And boom everything in girls you soccer would be flipped on it head.

I think you overestimate how delusional kids are about where they stand. In a given region, a homegrown rule may apply to one or two girls at most. The other few thousand playing at any one time understand that they won't go pro regardless

The kids and parents may be delusional but the NWSL Clubs can't feed into that. The homegrown rule is ultimately how the academy will be funded and if it isn't taken seriously by the club and attracts serious talent then its nothing more than pay to play fan experience.

Either way it doesn't matter. The "problem" addresses itself.

If clubs don't take development seriously they won't get transfer money from selling players to other clubs via transfer fees. Also if clubs don't develop players they won't get call ups to academy team and ultimately pro MLS/NWSL teams.

Question: what is the homegrown rule?

Homegrown rule basically means that a player has come up within XYZ professional teams general geography.

To encourage this MLS let's clubs pay homegrown players whatever they want and it doesn't count against their salary cap.

From a spectators perspective its much more interesting if a player came from where you live. In theory this generates interest for teams and puts butts in seats.

And why would anyone think they would do this on the girls side?

Are you kidding me...

If a club had a couple of really hot homegrown players they could load up the team with veterans to feed them and guarantee wins. All within the salary cap.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes I think pay to play and ECNL has turned parents minds into mush.

Go all in on development and players will stop with the stupid age based competition levels.

Players that do not work out will get vetted sooner and their parents won't need to waste thousands on a dream that will never happen. On the other side of the coin top talent won't need to pay to be developed which will encourage high level play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I think pay to play and ECNL has turned parents minds into mush.

Go all in on development and players will stop with the stupid age based competition levels.

Players that do not work out will get vetted sooner and their parents won't need to waste thousands on a dream that will never happen. On the other side of the coin top talent won't need to pay to be developed which will encourage high level play.

Who pays for the development if not the parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I think pay to play and ECNL has turned parents minds into mush.

Go all in on development and players will stop with the stupid age based competition levels.

Players that do not work out will get vetted sooner and their parents won't need to waste thousands on a dream that will never happen. On the other side of the coin top talent won't need to pay to be developed which will encourage high level play.

Who pays for the development if not the parents?

Professional teams. That's how it works internationally. In the US, the MLS academies a very generous for scholarships for players they think have a chance to either make the senior team or be sold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I think pay to play and ECNL has turned parents minds into mush.

Go all in on development and players will stop with the stupid age based competition levels.

Players that do not work out will get vetted sooner and their parents won't need to waste thousands on a dream that will never happen. On the other side of the coin top talent won't need to pay to be developed which will encourage high level play.

Who pays for the development if not the parents?

Professional teams. That's how it works internationally. In the US, the MLS academies a very generous for scholarships for players they think have a chance to either make the senior team or be sold.

Professional teams in the US don’t make enough money to do that. Not even close. Would need NFL type money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I think pay to play and ECNL has turned parents minds into mush.

Go all in on development and players will stop with the stupid age based competition levels.

Players that do not work out will get vetted sooner and their parents won't need to waste thousands on a dream that will never happen. On the other side of the coin top talent won't need to pay to be developed which will encourage high level play.

Who pays for the development if not the parents?

Professional teams. That's how it works internationally. In the US, the MLS academies a very generous for scholarships for players they think have a chance to either make the senior team or be sold.

Professional teams in the US don’t make enough money to do that. Not even close. Would need NFL type money

There he is Soccernomics Dad is back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I think pay to play and ECNL has turned parents minds into mush.

Go all in on development and players will stop with the stupid age based competition levels.

Players that do not work out will get vetted sooner and their parents won't need to waste thousands on a dream that will never happen. On the other side of the coin top talent won't need to pay to be developed which will encourage high level play.

Who pays for the development if not the parents?

Professional teams. That's how it works internationally. In the US, the MLS academies a very generous for scholarships for players they think have a chance to either make the senior team or be sold.

Professional teams in the US don’t make enough money to do that. Not even close. Would need NFL type money

There he is Soccernomics Dad is back!

The irony is that multiple NWSL clubs are pushing for Acadamies. Berman even said that they are in an interview earlier this year. You know the same NWSL clubs that don't make "NFL" money.

I think soccernomics guy is a club owner thats high on the sweet sweet pay to play $$$. They've forgotten why people play sports and why spectators watch sports. For him it's all about creating some kind of barrier to higher level play that anyone can get past as long as they pay him.

If NWSL implements acadamies with an associated league (like MLS Next) it will take a lot $$$ out of the pay to play pot of gold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I think pay to play and ECNL has turned parents minds into mush.

Go all in on development and players will stop with the stupid age based competition levels.

Players that do not work out will get vetted sooner and their parents won't need to waste thousands on a dream that will never happen. On the other side of the coin top talent won't need to pay to be developed which will encourage high level play.

Who pays for the development if not the parents?

Professional teams. That's how it works internationally. In the US, the MLS academies a very generous for scholarships for players they think have a chance to either make the senior team or be sold.

Professional teams in the US don’t make enough money to do that. Not even close. Would need NFL type money

There he is Soccernomics Dad is back!

The irony is that multiple NWSL clubs are pushing for Acadamies. Berman even said that they are in an interview earlier this year. You know the same NWSL clubs that don't make "NFL" money.

I think soccernomics guy is a club owner thats high on the sweet sweet pay to play $$$. They've forgotten why people play sports and why spectators watch sports. For him it's all about creating some kind of barrier to higher level play that anyone can get past as long as they pay him.

If NWSL implements acadamies with an associated league (like MLS Next) it will take a lot $$$ out of the pay to play pot of gold.

To discount the economics of the situation is naive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I think pay to play and ECNL has turned parents minds into mush.

Go all in on development and players will stop with the stupid age based competition levels.

Players that do not work out will get vetted sooner and their parents won't need to waste thousands on a dream that will never happen. On the other side of the coin top talent won't need to pay to be developed which will encourage high level play.

Who pays for the development if not the parents?

Professional teams. That's how it works internationally. In the US, the MLS academies a very generous for scholarships for players they think have a chance to either make the senior team or be sold.

Professional teams in the US don’t make enough money to do that. Not even close. Would need NFL type money

There he is Soccernomics Dad is back!

The irony is that multiple NWSL clubs are pushing for Acadamies. Berman even said that they are in an interview earlier this year. You know the same NWSL clubs that don't make "NFL" money.

I think soccernomics guy is a club owner thats high on the sweet sweet pay to play $$$. They've forgotten why people play sports and why spectators watch sports. For him it's all about creating some kind of barrier to higher level play that anyone can get past as long as they pay him.

If NWSL implements acadamies with an associated league (like MLS Next) it will take a lot $$$ out of the pay to play pot of gold.

To discount the economics of the situation is naive.

MLS makes it work. You can be pay to play for most of the kids and free or even offering compensation for the couple who actually matter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I think pay to play and ECNL has turned parents minds into mush.

Go all in on development and players will stop with the stupid age based competition levels.

Players that do not work out will get vetted sooner and their parents won't need to waste thousands on a dream that will never happen. On the other side of the coin top talent won't need to pay to be developed which will encourage high level play.

Who pays for the development if not the parents?

Professional teams. That's how it works internationally. In the US, the MLS academies a very generous for scholarships for players they think have a chance to either make the senior team or be sold.

Professional teams in the US don’t make enough money to do that. Not even close. Would need NFL type money

There he is Soccernomics Dad is back!

The irony is that multiple NWSL clubs are pushing for Acadamies. Berman even said that they are in an interview earlier this year. You know the same NWSL clubs that don't make "NFL" money.

I think soccernomics guy is a club owner thats high on the sweet sweet pay to play $$$. They've forgotten why people play sports and why spectators watch sports. For him it's all about creating some kind of barrier to higher level play that anyone can get past as long as they pay him.

If NWSL implements acadamies with an associated league (like MLS Next) it will take a lot $$$ out of the pay to play pot of gold.

Why would MLS help?

The reality is, the earliest of academy stages will be pay to play for an unproven pathway.

The need for a academy system is important but it really would only cater to the smallest amount of players that having to pay for it would be difficult for players to walk away from a known pathway that, if a top .0001% player, the pro option is still available.

And a pay to play system can easily price out quality players in favor of the leaving just the best of who can afford it to choose from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I think pay to play and ECNL has turned parents minds into mush.

Go all in on development and players will stop with the stupid age based competition levels.

Players that do not work out will get vetted sooner and their parents won't need to waste thousands on a dream that will never happen. On the other side of the coin top talent won't need to pay to be developed which will encourage high level play.

Who pays for the development if not the parents?

Professional teams. That's how it works internationally. In the US, the MLS academies a very generous for scholarships for players they think have a chance to either make the senior team or be sold.

Professional teams in the US don’t make enough money to do that. Not even close. Would need NFL type money

There he is Soccernomics Dad is back!

The irony is that multiple NWSL clubs are pushing for Acadamies. Berman even said that they are in an interview earlier this year. You know the same NWSL clubs that don't make "NFL" money.

I think soccernomics guy is a club owner thats high on the sweet sweet pay to play $$$. They've forgotten why people play sports and why spectators watch sports. For him it's all about creating some kind of barrier to higher level play that anyone can get past as long as they pay him.

If NWSL implements acadamies with an associated league (like MLS Next) it will take a lot $$$ out of the pay to play pot of gold.

To discount the economics of the situation is naive.

MLS makes it work. You can be pay to play for most of the kids and free or even offering compensation for the couple who actually matter

MLS makes it work because they have the money to make it work. They built the league slowly and expanded deliberately over 20+ years.

And simply put, women’s sports will just never make as much or eclipse men’s sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I think pay to play and ECNL has turned parents minds into mush.

Go all in on development and players will stop with the stupid age based competition levels.

Players that do not work out will get vetted sooner and their parents won't need to waste thousands on a dream that will never happen. On the other side of the coin top talent won't need to pay to be developed which will encourage high level play.

Who pays for the development if not the parents?

Professional teams. That's how it works internationally. In the US, the MLS academies a very generous for scholarships for players they think have a chance to either make the senior team or be sold.

Professional teams in the US don’t make enough money to do that. Not even close. Would need NFL type money

There he is Soccernomics Dad is back!

The irony is that multiple NWSL clubs are pushing for Acadamies. Berman even said that they are in an interview earlier this year. You know the same NWSL clubs that don't make "NFL" money.

I think soccernomics guy is a club owner thats high on the sweet sweet pay to play $$$. They've forgotten why people play sports and why spectators watch sports. For him it's all about creating some kind of barrier to higher level play that anyone can get past as long as they pay him.

If NWSL implements acadamies with an associated league (like MLS Next) it will take a lot $$$ out of the pay to play pot of gold.

To discount the economics of the situation is naive.

MLS makes it work. You can be pay to play for most of the kids and free or even offering compensation for the couple who actually matter

MLS makes it work because they have the money to make it work. They built the league slowly and expanded deliberately over 20+ years.

And simply put, women’s sports will just never make as much or eclipse men’s sports.

Haha you dont know what youre talking about.

MLS implemented a homegrown rule in 2008.

In 2008 there were 14 MLS Clubs

Currently NWSL has 14 Clubs

Sure seems like the economics of when MLS enabled Acadamies is exactly where NWSL is right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I think pay to play and ECNL has turned parents minds into mush.

Go all in on development and players will stop with the stupid age based competition levels.

Players that do not work out will get vetted sooner and their parents won't need to waste thousands on a dream that will never happen. On the other side of the coin top talent won't need to pay to be developed which will encourage high level play.

Who pays for the development if not the parents?

Professional teams. That's how it works internationally. In the US, the MLS academies a very generous for scholarships for players they think have a chance to either make the senior team or be sold.

Professional teams in the US don’t make enough money to do that. Not even close. Would need NFL type money

There he is Soccernomics Dad is back!

The irony is that multiple NWSL clubs are pushing for Acadamies. Berman even said that they are in an interview earlier this year. You know the same NWSL clubs that don't make "NFL" money.

I think soccernomics guy is a club owner thats high on the sweet sweet pay to play $$$. They've forgotten why people play sports and why spectators watch sports. For him it's all about creating some kind of barrier to higher level play that anyone can get past as long as they pay him.

If NWSL implements acadamies with an associated league (like MLS Next) it will take a lot $$$ out of the pay to play pot of gold.

To discount the economics of the situation is naive.

MLS makes it work. You can be pay to play for most of the kids and free or even offering compensation for the couple who actually matter

MLS makes it work because they have the money to make it work. They built the league slowly and expanded deliberately over 20+ years.

And simply put, women’s sports will just never make as much or eclipse men’s sports.

Haha you dont know what youre talking about.

MLS implemented a homegrown rule in 2008.

In 2008 there were 14 MLS Clubs

Currently NWSL has 14 Clubs

Sure seems like the economics of when MLS enabled Acadamies is exactly where NWSL is right now.

Even MLS attendance in 2008 roughly parallels NWSL 2024 attendance.

https://www.worldfootball.net/attendance/usa-major-league-soccer-2008/1/

https://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2023-nwsl-attendance/