Reply to Taking Soccer Back from the insanity of the ECNL, ENPL, DA, etc.

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][b]There has to be a better way for elite players to play against other elite players [/b]without traveling 200+ miles for a game. Between NoVA and MD, there are at least 20 competitive teams in every age category. The major clubs all field strong teams. McLean, Loudoun, Arlington, BRYC, FCV, Bethesda, SAC, MDUnited, Pipeline, Potomac, Frederick, etc. Complement that list with smaller clubs such as Rush, Baltimore Celtic, Baltimore Union, OBGC, ES Soccer Academy, Cerritos, OPSA, Navy Premier, etc.

Why have we allowed egos and various organizations to create separate and competing leagues so that we can spend entire weekends driving our DCs across regions to play amateur soccer?

How do we take the game back?[/quote]

The problem is right in the bolder part. If you only want your “elite” kid to play with/against other “elite” kids, you need to cast a wider net. There are saner ways to participate in soccer, but [b]it requires letting go of the need to establish your child as superior[/b].[/quote]

A bit condescending don't you think?

The truth is that there are very good reasons for seeking a high level of play for one's child.  You know what one of the best reasons is?  Because the child himself asks for it.

The difference in levels of play is even more obvious to the players than it is to us watching.  They can feel it immediately when they step onto the field, even in practice.  The ones who are good enough to hang at a higher level, usually want to play there because they know that's what will make them better.  Believe it or not, most of the kids at that level are extremely self-motivated.

I'm not saying I disagree completely with the OP though.  Below the DA (boys) and ENCL/DA (girls) levels, it makes little sense to travel on a regular basis for competitive games.  Away trips for tournaments once or twice a year can be a fun experience for the kids, but it doesn't have to be crazy.  At that level I think the OP is right - there are more than enough strong teams in and around the DMV to give each other an appropriate level of competition.  It makes no sense to have McLean and BRYC's boys teams travel to North and South Carolina, while Pipeline and SAC teams are driving to NJ & PA, when they could all just play each other along with all of the other clubs mentioned.

If I were to draw it up from scratch, here's how I would do it:

1) Leave the boys DA as is.  There is a need for it.  It consolidates talent in very few clubs:  3-4 in this area instead of 20.  This raises the day-to-day training environment for those players.  When everyone on the team is outstanding, no one can relax or get complacent.  It makes a difference.  The trade-off to that talent consolidation though, is that those teams can no longer get much meaningful competition without traveling out of the area.  DCU, BSC and Armour can't just play each other every weekend for a 10 month season, and there only so many 9-2, 6-0 and 6-1 games that are productive.  There is a benefit to those teams traveling to play against the likes of NY Red Bulls, Philly Union, and PDA.

2) Disband the ECNL and expand the girls DA.  There is no real need for two competing national leagues.  All it does is dilute talent.  The federation screwed this up when they initially launched the DA by making it only for boys.   Leave it up to the clubs if they want to let their players play HS ball or not.  That's not a hill worth dying on.  Most probably won't, but there will be exceptions, and it will be OK (Malory Pugh).

3)  Below that level, each region should have a single league, with divisions based on pro/rel, and no geographic overlap between leagues.  Put an end to leagues competing in the same geographic area for teams at the same level, and you will solve the insane travel problem.   Just for fun, there could be post-season inter-regional competitions between teams of similar levels from the different geographic leagues, culminating in a "national championship" tournament for the best teams.  The proceeds from the inter-regional tournaments should be used to fund travel to the national championship tournaments for those teams who qualify.

Many of you probably read all that and think it's impossible, but it's really not.  The existing youth organizations (AYSO, USYSA and US Club) all fall under the umbrella of the US Soccer Federation.  As we've seen in recent years, the federation can mandate change when it wants to (birth year, game format per age group, field dimensions).  It just lacks the will.

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