Do local clubs prepare girls for elite college programs?

[Anonymous]

There are numerous threads that argue that clubs like McLean, FCV, or Bethesda is the best at developing players for elite college programs. It is difficult to deny the track-record of those three and others but if you look outside the area, there are a dozen or so clubs that seem to consistently produce talent for elite colleges and YNTs. This link below lists a few of these clubs. I wonder why these clubs are so much more successful than local clubs.

https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/best-girls-youth-soccer-clubs:-2020-2021_aid48899

For example, Solar has 20 girls heading to major programs and another similar sized groups going to other s=colleges, some which are DI. That represents more than two rosters of college-level players and among that group are several YNT players. You would have to combine the top two or three local clubs to compete wit Solar. It not as if there is only one club in the Dallas area.

https://www.soccerwire.com/recruiting/girls-2021-college-commitments/?filter=eyJzb3J0X2J5IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZS5yYXciLCJzb3J0X2RpcmVjdGlvbiI6ImFzYyIsInF1ZXJ5IjoiIiwic2VsZWN0ZWRGaWx0ZXJzIjp7Im1ldGEuZ2VuZGVyLnJhdyI6ImZlbWFsZSIsIm1ldGEuaXNfY29tbWl0dGVkLnJhdyI6IjEiLCJtZXRhLmdyYWR1YXRpb25feWVhci5yYXciOiIyMDIxIiwibWV0YS5yZWxhdGVkX2NsdWJzX3BsYXllcnMucmF3IjoiMzM5MTQifSwic2VsZWN0ZWRSYW5nZUZpbHRlcnMiOnt9LCJjdXJyZW50UGFnZSI6MX0=

[Anonymous]

Difficult to say, since women’s soccer is not a pathway to become a professional outside of membership to the national teams. NWSL wouldn’t be solvent if not for USSF subsidizing it.

So, do ECNL programs lead Div 1 commitments? Absolutely, but most of those commitments didn’t come up through the program. See how many MYS U18 players were with MYS before U15 even. The women’s game is different, thus, different perspective from its players. Would a talented player rather go to James Madison (Div 1) or John’s Hopkins (Div 3), and does that mean one is more elite than the other?

Bottom line: women’s soccer is different, this, its measure of success is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Difficult to say, since women’s soccer is not a pathway to become a professional outside of membership to the national teams. NWSL wouldn’t be solvent if not for USSF subsidizing it.

So, do ECNL programs lead Div 1 commitments? Absolutely, but most of those commitments didn’t come up through the program. See how many MYS U18 players were with MYS before U15 even. The women’s game is different, thus, different perspective from its players. Would a talented player rather go to James Madison (Div 1) or John’s Hopkins (Div 3), and does that mean one is more elite than the other?

Bottom line: women’s soccer is different, this, its measure of success is different.

Well said +1

[Anonymous]

That is an impressive list

Don't be fooled by kids committing and "signing" most are not receiving money, there isn't enough money on most college teams to give everyone money. Some may get a scholarship split among a few players.

Many players around here understand that their education is a lot more important than sacrificing a top school that they can attend based on their academics than getting money or not to attend a school that is not as strong academically.

Many of these schools in warmer climates are truly year round programs. Look how it impacts college football. Your top plyers come from FL, TX, CA.

I also think the highly educated parents in this area understand that their kids academic path is a lot more important than saying hey my kid is playing at the 300 ranked university. Many get merit money at much better schools without playing.

I can see playing at a top tier program but those programs are a grind. A family member plays another sport at a top ranked school for both academics and athletics and they can't wait until the are done playing. Sure they have fond memories but it gets to a point that you are just ready to be done with it. Injuries, mental health and they are on a full ride with stipend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Difficult to say, since women’s soccer is not a pathway to become a professional outside of membership to the national teams. NWSL wouldn’t be solvent if not for USSF subsidizing it.

So, do ECNL programs lead Div 1 commitments? Absolutely, but most of those commitments didn’t come up through the program. See how many MYS U18 players were with MYS before U15 even. The women’s game is different, thus, different perspective from its players. Would a talented player rather go to James Madison (Div 1) or John’s Hopkins (Div 3), and does that mean one is more elite than the other?

Bottom line: women’s soccer is different, this, its measure of success is different.

Well said +1

This, I'd much rather my daughter go to a rigorous DIII school than play DI soccer for a directional state school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Difficult to say, since women’s soccer is not a pathway to become a professional outside of membership to the national teams. NWSL wouldn’t be solvent if not for USSF subsidizing it.

So, do ECNL programs lead Div 1 commitments? Absolutely, but most of those commitments didn’t come up through the program. See how many MYS U18 players were with MYS before U15 even. The women’s game is different, thus, different perspective from its players. Would a talented player rather go to James Madison (Div 1) or John’s Hopkins (Div 3), and does that mean one is more elite than the other?

Bottom line: women’s soccer is different, this, its measure of success is different.

Well said +1

This, I'd much rather my daughter go to a rigorous DIII school than play DI soccer for a directional state school

+1000 or not even play at all because many of the players stop playing after a year or two. Internships, traveling abroad, etc. start to get in the way of practice.

[Anonymous]

I rather my kid go to a state school for free. Yawn

[Anonymous]

The goals are probably different. Do you think the average Arlington/McLean/Bethesda parent has aspirations for their kid to play at UVA or to attend HYPS? In all likelihood neither will happen, but the path for the former is can easily lead to playing for Radford and the later to attending W&M

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I rather my kid go to a state school for free. Yawn

what women soccer program hands out full scholarships?

[Anonymous]

So I guess all the soccer players in the Dallas area are the children of Neanderthals. Give me a break. Successful people will teach their kids balance. As someone who has hired kids from elite undergrad and grad programs, kids who played DI and maintained a competitive academic profile always fared well in interviews compared to those who did not.

Obviously there are elite DI programs that encourage a balance and those that don't. If your DD has the potential to play at that level by working hard to get there, they are not going to be happy at a D3 program. The great thing about DI are the options. Lehigh and Bucknell differ from Harvard and Princeton which differ from Duke and Stanford but all three will offer you a great academic experience while offering a soccer experience that is ranges from competitive to supper competitive to elite competitiveness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I guess all the soccer players in the Dallas area are the children of Neanderthals. Give me a break. Successful people will teach their kids balance. As someone who has hired kids from elite undergrad and grad programs, kids who played DI and maintained a competitive academic profile always fared well in interviews compared to those who did not.

Obviously there are elite DI programs that encourage a balance and those that don't. If your DD has the potential to play at that level by working hard to get there, they are not going to be happy at a D3 program. The great thing about DI are the options. Lehigh and Bucknell differ from Harvard and Princeton which differ from Duke and Stanford but all three will offer you a great academic experience while offering a soccer experience that is ranges from competitive to supper competitive to elite competitiveness.

The kid who is choosing between playing at JMU or JHU isn't getting recruited by Duke or Stanford and may not be able to get into Princeton or Harvard. Between Dallas and DC, which city seems to care more about college prestige?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I rather my kid go to a state school for free. Yawn

what women soccer program hands out full scholarships?

Look at the rosters that list internationals. Those players are typically full scholarship. JMU has 7 international players on their women’s roster. Fully funded women’s programs get 14 scholarships. Yes, most are divided among players but most internationals get a full ride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I rather my kid go to a state school for free. Yawn

what women soccer program hands out full scholarships?

Look at the rosters that list internationals. Those players are typically full scholarship. JMU has 7 international players on their women’s roster. Fully funded women’s programs get 14 scholarships. Yes, most are divided among players but most internationals get a full ride.

so, for the purposes of comparing area clubs the answer is none

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I guess all the soccer players in the Dallas area are the children of Neanderthals. Give me a break. Successful people will teach their kids balance. As someone who has hired kids from elite undergrad and grad programs, kids who played DI and maintained a competitive academic profile always fared well in interviews compared to those who did not.

Obviously there are elite DI programs that encourage a balance and those that don't. If your DD has the potential to play at that level by working hard to get there, they are not going to be happy at a D3 program. The great thing about DI are the options. Lehigh and Bucknell differ from Harvard and Princeton which differ from Duke and Stanford but all three will offer you a great academic experience while offering a soccer experience that is ranges from competitive to supper competitive to elite competitiveness.

The kid who is choosing between playing at JMU or JHU isn't getting recruited by Duke or Stanford and may not be able to get into Princeton or Harvard. Between Dallas and DC, which city seems to care more about college prestige?

The OP nor the article is discussing DI programs outside the Power 5 or DIII programs. The discussion is about elite DI programs and the ability to balance high level soccer and elite academics. Solar has 20 girls going to high level soccer programs, including half going to Vandy, Michigan or UT. I am sorry but all three of those schools offer more academically for an elite athlete than DIII schools in New England that no one outside of the Northeast will have much familiarity. We aren't talking about borderline kids. We are talking about elite players who will get the attention of Power 5 coaches. If your kid wants to balance elite soccer with elite academics, there are plenty of options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I guess all the soccer players in the Dallas area are the children of Neanderthals. Give me a break. Successful people will teach their kids balance. As someone who has hired kids from elite undergrad and grad programs, kids who played DI and maintained a competitive academic profile always fared well in interviews compared to those who did not.

Obviously there are elite DI programs that encourage a balance and those that don't. If your DD has the potential to play at that level by working hard to get there, they are not going to be happy at a D3 program. The great thing about DI are the options. Lehigh and Bucknell differ from Harvard and Princeton which differ from Duke and Stanford but all three will offer you a great academic experience while offering a soccer experience that is ranges from competitive to supper competitive to elite competitiveness.

The kid who is choosing between playing at JMU or JHU isn't getting recruited by Duke or Stanford and may not be able to get into Princeton or Harvard. Between Dallas and DC, which city seems to care more about college prestige?

The OP nor the article is discussing DI programs outside the Power 5 or DIII programs. The discussion is about elite DI programs and the ability to balance high level soccer and elite academics. Solar has 20 girls going to high level soccer programs, including half going to Vandy, Michigan or UT. I am sorry but all three of those schools offer more academically for an elite athlete than DIII schools in New England that no one outside of the Northeast will have much familiarity. We aren't talking about borderline kids. We are talking about elite players who will get the attention of Power 5 coaches. If your kid wants to balance elite soccer with elite academics, there are plenty of options.

did you read the list from OP's link - Rogers State, Lubbock Christian, Northwestern State... There are some impressive schools and a lot that aren't. Solar is a huge club, they are going to place more kids than a smaller club.

Mclean, has a of Davidson, a Dartmouth, a couple of Georgetowns, and Wake Forest. St. James has a bunch of DIs. Bethesda and Arlington have basically nothing which makes me wonder if they didn't bother entering the info