Anonymous wrote:DCU got rid of DA for boys U12 and U13. MLS plans to abolish DA.

There will be no boys DA soon. Arlington does not have DA past U14.

The pre- Academy teams are just red teams again. Kids promoted to red from white really did not get a promotion since it is basically the white team...and so on down the line.

Are you saying there will be no boys DA soon at a specific club ? or they are completely going to drop boys DA nationwide ?

^ found that to be true. Our kid got a lot less attention in the younger years at one of these huge clubs. They tend to really focus their resources on the older age groups and recruiting. They often had the same few coaches in charge of two teams - 3 coaches for the 6 age group teams. One of his friends that decided against it and went with a small independent and was developed carefully/amazing skill/touch/IQ and is now playing in Europe. No way in hell he would be there if he went with the big club from u9 on.

I know some parents with young boys that drive a ridiculous commute since U9 (2008/2009) solely because they wanted their kids in the pipeline for DA, all the whole knowing nothing about the actual training or developmental path for ages U9-U12.

I now find the seismic shift in soccer away from these big clubs, DA and CCL amusing. It was time. Soccer in the DMV has always been cyclical. It’s the reason VISTA was formed in the 70s/80s, people fed up with the controlling manner of those few and realizing big names aren’t coming out of this environment and really knowledgeable (better) coaches we’re shut out.

The Clubs dominating then are not the same Clubs that are the big mammoth ones now. The Loudoun, Arlingtons did not exist. Look at the boy commits from some of these places- not impressive at all and many only came over at the very end of their travel time.

Lesson: it’s always about the individual training and Coach until HS. The “status” all these seekers look to find for their prepubescent kids is ridiculous when it’s coupled with the fact they know nothing about the sport and what little their kids are actually learning/developing. Name bumper sticker chasers that are now in a flux to learn there will be no DA and the pre-DA is worse than where they would have been.

Anonymous wrote:Yes. U-12 at ECNL clubs is Pre- ECNL.

Not sure it changes what league you play in.

DA is dead for 2008 age group. Sure some clubs are marketing it but with no more formally sanctioned infrastructure its all a farce.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:U13 club DA will be phased out the following year, just like U12 DA was phased out for the coming year.

“Pre-DA” is nothing but a marketing scheme.

U13 club DA for what club specifically?


And agreed Pre-DA is just a gimmick.

+100

DA is dead for 2008 and below.

Yes. U-12 at ECNL clubs is Pre- ECNL.

Not sure it changes what league you play in.

DA is dead for 2008 age group. Sure some clubs are marketing it but with no more formally sanctioned infrastructure its all a farce.

Is there boys pre-ecnl?

Anonymous wrote:U13 club DA will be phased out the following year, just like U12 DA was phased out for the coming year.

“Pre-DA” is nothing but a marketing scheme.

U13 club DA for what club specifically?


And agreed Pre-DA is just a gimmick.

Anonymous wrote:So they will just play the same 5 teams over and over? You are better off in the non- pre Academy division of EDP which has much more variety and tougher teams from Baltimore area primarily. It’s definitely above CCL1.

Agreed. EDP has expanded a lot in last few years, adding divisions at lower end. Also more MoCo teams are gradually joining. I’d say find a team Div III or above.

So they will just play the same 5 teams over and over? You are better off in the non- pre Academy division of EDP which has much more variety and tougher teams from Baltimore area primarily. It’s definitely above CCL1.

U13 club DA will be phased out the following year, just like U12 DA was phased out for the coming year.

“Pre-DA” is nothing but a marketing scheme.

DCU got rid of DA for boys U12 and U13. MLS plans to abolish DA.

There will be no boys DA soon. Arlington does not have DA past U14.

The pre- Academy teams are just red teams again. Kids promoted to red from white really did not get a promotion since it is basically the white team...and so on down the line.

EDP above CCL. Much tougher competition.

For rising U12 (2008), I think your ranking below is more or less accurate, but you forgot VPL and ODSL, so I would change it as follows:

Pre-DA (EDP Mid-Atlantic division newly formed from six U12 DA clubs in MD & VA)
CCL-1
VPL (includes two Virginia Development Academy pre-DA feeder clubs, PWSI/VDA East & VSA/VDA West)
NCSL-1
CCL-2
NCSL-2, etc.
ODSL

Novice soccer dad here, hoping to get some informed views here from U12+ boys parents. Arlington and a few other big clubs are creating "pre-DA" academies for their top players at U12 (to replace the U12 DAs). Assume this would be the top option, as it would align for actual DA academies at U13? Then what? My son is still a year away, but thinking about possibilities for next year.

My sense is:
Pre-DA academy (Arlington/Bethesda/etc)
CCL-1
NCSL-1
CCL-2
NCSL-2

http://www.ncsl-soccer.com/division-structure

Thanks!