Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clubs do not get money back from the ECNL for using their hotel platform

I did administration part time for one that was getting kickbacks. It is a megaclub, so it may be privileges others don't. That isn't really what's important though. Clubs conform to protect their entry into the big showcases and know that families will fall in line in order to get their kids rostered.

The fat cats are the ECNL league administration (housed in Richmond) and the travel agencies. Mostly that's Anthony Travel but lately it hasn't been them exclusively.

Initially it seemed like the corruption was a big reason why the gda was targeting the ecnl. But it quickly became clear it is just a contest to see which cat can get fatter.

Maybe. There's no question that youth soccer (and probably a lot of travel sports) are easy ways to get people to throw away their money. Parents throw a lot of money at it.

But one thing I learned is that the DA came out right when a lot of other countries were opening up girls' academies to mirror their boys' programs. Teams that win are better income sources, and the WNT wins - right now. There's a lot of research out there that shows we are falling behind on the girls' side. I think it was a stab at keeping the WNT on top.

That is bizarre logic. The women's team wins so to help preserve that they institute a poor quality version of the failing da from the male side which wins nothing.

It's called looking ahead. Most institutions, businesses, and anything that wants to be successful really tries to do that. It's easier to win when no one else is trying as hard.

Fine idea but poorly executed. Call me crazy but how about you copy successful soccer programs not failing programs if you want to have success. And they did not even institute the one part of the bda that was the most successful which is the mls academies.

Bizarre logic to the point that there clearly is another agenda at work.

They do have NWSL academies. Except for Spirit, they are generally competitive. But the NWSL isn't as strong as the MLS. It's barely surviving, so the NWSL academies aren't going to be a masterpiece either.

And yes, the DA, all of it, is weaker than what is overseas. That's no shock. We've seen that time and again when the MNT tries to compete in the world cup. The DA has many failings, but it is the closet version of what we have to what they do overseas. It is an effort to change things and to address systemic problems.

Of course, the MLS is itself pathetic. And it is the MLS clubs that run those MLS academies. So how do we expect it to be any better?

The same goes for the NWSL. That is an unimpressive league, a shadow of what is being done elsewhere. And what's worse is WNT players, if they want to stay on the roster, have to stay in the NWSL. They can take a year or two off, but that's it.

We don't soccer well, at all levels. Why should the DA be any different? It may have been established by US Soccer, but it depends on clubs that know what the hell they are doing, which they don't.

Instead of just criticizing, what do you suggest?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clubs do not get money back from the ECNL for using their hotel platform

I did administration part time for one that was getting kickbacks. It is a megaclub, so it may be privileges others don't. That isn't really what's important though. Clubs conform to protect their entry into the big showcases and know that families will fall in line in order to get their kids rostered.

The fat cats are the ECNL league administration (housed in Richmond) and the travel agencies. Mostly that's Anthony Travel but lately it hasn't been them exclusively.

Initially it seemed like the corruption was a big reason why the gda was targeting the ecnl. But it quickly became clear it is just a contest to see which cat can get fatter.

Maybe. There's no question that youth soccer (and probably a lot of travel sports) are easy ways to get people to throw away their money. Parents throw a lot of money at it.

But one thing I learned is that the DA came out right when a lot of other countries were opening up girls' academies to mirror their boys' programs. Teams that win are better income sources, and the WNT wins - right now. There's a lot of research out there that shows we are falling behind on the girls' side. I think it was a stab at keeping the WNT on top.

That is bizarre logic. The women's team wins so to help preserve that they institute a poor quality version of the failing da from the male side which wins nothing.

It's called looking ahead. Most institutions, businesses, and anything that wants to be successful really tries to do that. It's easier to win when no one else is trying as hard.

Fine idea but poorly executed. Call me crazy but how about you copy successful soccer programs not failing programs if you want to have success. And they did not even institute the one part of the bda that was the most successful which is the mls academies.

Bizarre logic to the point that there clearly is another agenda at work.

They do have NWSL academies. Except for Spirit, they are generally competitive. But the NWSL isn't as strong as the MLS. It's barely surviving, so the NWSL academies aren't going to be a masterpiece either.

And yes, the DA, all of it, is weaker than what is overseas. That's no shock. We've seen that time and again when the MNT tries to compete in the world cup. The DA has many failings, but it is the closet version of what we have to what they do overseas. It is an effort to change things and to address systemic problems.

Of course, the MLS is itself pathetic. And it is the MLS clubs that run those MLS academies. So how do we expect it to be any better?

The same goes for the NWSL. That is an unimpressive league, a shadow of what is being done elsewhere. And what's worse is WNT players, if they want to stay on the roster, have to stay in the NWSL. They can take a year or two off, but that's it.

We don't soccer well, at all levels. Why should the DA be any different? It may have been established by US Soccer, but it depends on clubs that know what the hell they are doing, which they don't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clubs do not get money back from the ECNL for using their hotel platform

I did administration part time for one that was getting kickbacks. It is a megaclub, so it may be privileges others don't. That isn't really what's important though. Clubs conform to protect their entry into the big showcases and know that families will fall in line in order to get their kids rostered.

The fat cats are the ECNL league administration (housed in Richmond) and the travel agencies. Mostly that's Anthony Travel but lately it hasn't been them exclusively.

Initially it seemed like the corruption was a big reason why the gda was targeting the ecnl. But it quickly became clear it is just a contest to see which cat can get fatter.

Maybe. There's no question that youth soccer (and probably a lot of travel sports) are easy ways to get people to throw away their money. Parents throw a lot of money at it.

But one thing I learned is that the DA came out right when a lot of other countries were opening up girls' academies to mirror their boys' programs. Teams that win are better income sources, and the WNT wins - right now. There's a lot of research out there that shows we are falling behind on the girls' side. I think it was a stab at keeping the WNT on top.

That is bizarre logic. The women's team wins so to help preserve that they institute a poor quality version of the failing da from the male side which wins nothing.

It's called looking ahead. Most institutions, businesses, and anything that wants to be successful really tries to do that. It's easier to win when no one else is trying as hard.

Fine idea but poorly executed. Call me crazy but how about you copy successful soccer programs not failing programs if you want to have success. And they did not even institute the one part of the bda that was the most successful which is the mls academies.

Bizarre logic to the point that there clearly is another agenda at work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clubs do not get money back from the ECNL for using their hotel platform

I did administration part time for one that was getting kickbacks. It is a megaclub, so it may be privileges others don't. That isn't really what's important though. Clubs conform to protect their entry into the big showcases and know that families will fall in line in order to get their kids rostered.

The fat cats are the ECNL league administration (housed in Richmond) and the travel agencies. Mostly that's Anthony Travel but lately it hasn't been them exclusively.

Initially it seemed like the corruption was a big reason why the gda was targeting the ecnl. But it quickly became clear it is just a contest to see which cat can get fatter.

Maybe. There's no question that youth soccer (and probably a lot of travel sports) are easy ways to get people to throw away their money. Parents throw a lot of money at it.

But one thing I learned is that the DA came out right when a lot of other countries were opening up girls' academies to mirror their boys' programs. Teams that win are better income sources, and the WNT wins - right now. There's a lot of research out there that shows we are falling behind on the girls' side. I think it was a stab at keeping the WNT on top.

That is bizarre logic. The women's team wins so to help preserve that they institute a poor quality version of the failing da from the male side which wins nothing.

It's called looking ahead. Most institutions, businesses, and anything that wants to be successful really tries to do that. It's easier to win when no one else is trying as hard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clubs do not get money back from the ECNL for using their hotel platform

I did administration part time for one that was getting kickbacks. It is a megaclub, so it may be privileges others don't. That isn't really what's important though. Clubs conform to protect their entry into the big showcases and know that families will fall in line in order to get their kids rostered.

The fat cats are the ECNL league administration (housed in Richmond) and the travel agencies. Mostly that's Anthony Travel but lately it hasn't been them exclusively.

Initially it seemed like the corruption was a big reason why the gda was targeting the ecnl. But it quickly became clear it is just a contest to see which cat can get fatter.

Maybe. There's no question that youth soccer (and probably a lot of travel sports) are easy ways to get people to throw away their money. Parents throw a lot of money at it.

But one thing I learned is that the DA came out right when a lot of other countries were opening up girls' academies to mirror their boys' programs. Teams that win are better income sources, and the WNT wins - right now. There's a lot of research out there that shows we are falling behind on the girls' side. I think it was a stab at keeping the WNT on top.

That is bizarre logic. The women's team wins so to help preserve that they institute a poor quality version of the failing da from the male side which wins nothing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clubs do not get money back from the ECNL for using their hotel platform

I did administration part time for one that was getting kickbacks. It is a megaclub, so it may be privileges others don't. That isn't really what's important though. Clubs conform to protect their entry into the big showcases and know that families will fall in line in order to get their kids rostered.

The fat cats are the ECNL league administration (housed in Richmond) and the travel agencies. Mostly that's Anthony Travel but lately it hasn't been them exclusively.

Initially it seemed like the corruption was a big reason why the gda was targeting the ecnl. But it quickly became clear it is just a contest to see which cat can get fatter.

Maybe. There's no question that youth soccer (and probably a lot of travel sports) are easy ways to get people to throw away their money. Parents throw a lot of money at it.

But one thing I learned is that the DA came out right when a lot of other countries were opening up girls' academies to mirror their boys' programs. Teams that win are better income sources, and the WNT wins - right now. There's a lot of research out there that shows we are falling behind on the girls' side. I think it was a stab at keeping the WNT on top.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clubs do not get money back from the ECNL for using their hotel platform

I did administration part time for one that was getting kickbacks. It is a megaclub, so it may be privileges others don't. That isn't really what's important though. Clubs conform to protect their entry into the big showcases and know that families will fall in line in order to get their kids rostered.

The fat cats are the ECNL league administration (housed in Richmond) and the travel agencies. Mostly that's Anthony Travel but lately it hasn't been them exclusively.

Initially it seemed like the corruption was a big reason why the gda was targeting the ecnl. But it quickly became clear it is just a contest to see which cat can get fatter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clubs do not get money back from the ECNL for using their hotel platform

I did administration part time for one that was getting kickbacks. It is a megaclub, so it may be privileges others don't. That isn't really what's important though. Clubs conform to protect their entry into the big showcases and know that families will fall in line in order to get their kids rostered.

The fat cats are the ECNL league administration (housed in Richmond) and the travel agencies. Mostly that's Anthony Travel but lately it hasn't been them exclusively.

Anonymous wrote:Clubs do not get money back from the ECNL for using their hotel platform

Anonymous wrote:Clubs do not get money back from the ECNL for using their hotel platform

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like I said, if a few brave souls color outside the lines, it will work. If we all did it, that's when they would crack down.

Dare them too. Surely they know all their customers detest this travel slap around. If they are unaware be of this they are really oblivious.

There was a team a few years back who got kicked out of Jeff Cup for not following the “stay to play”

That is ridiculous but still......sounds like pretty good odds.

You would jeopardize an entire club? If you are NCLS or it is some tiny little local event, it doesn't matter much. A major national ECNL or DA showcase, they are big enough they can kick a team or club out. Easy decision for them. I hope you do convince some club to boycott the cartel. Let us know how that goes.

And before you think soccer is special, it's so rampant it's in lacrosse, hockey, and across the board. You are a plankton in an ocean of youth sports. Go for it.

Soccer is not special at all. Participation is down across the board and it is easy to see why

Yep, it sure is. They've got all the major youth sports sectors participating in Stay to Play. They often try to sell it as a money saver, which is hilarious.