Another thing that people don't understand about SD Surf + USYNT placements is that not only does SD Surf provide very high level players at Talent IDs. Surf also has no issue playing the social / connections game and dropping $$$ to make things happen. While most clubs just submit a player to a Talent ID Surf has been working with the players they plan to submit to the Talent ID for 2-3 years before it happens. They've also been strategically planning on how to influence different people at US Soccer.

As others have said the top 40 or so players that make it to the u13 u14 pools are interchangeable. Unfortunately everything that goes on behind the scenes is what determines who gets to play. As an example Surf already has its top u13 players verbally committed to top colleges. If you have 2 players that are fairly equivalent but one is already going to UCLA who do you think US Soccer is going to pick.

Cool story bro.

Now, who's doing the book report on Solar in Texas? So every DMV parent can see how silly every thread that has the word "Natty" in it actually is.

Anonymous wrote:US soccer loses good players who get frustrated and go and represent other countries.
If I am looking at the correct rosters this team has two or three San Diego surf players being called up. You would expect that if that team is good enough that three players got selected to the National Team that they would have finished first in the Girls Academy southwest division or dominated the competition. It looks like they finished 7th out if 9 teams. A team from phoenix -SC del Sol -beat them 5-0 in October then again 2-1.

San Diego Surf plays in ECNL

You're probably looking at SDSC Surf (San Diego Soccer Club). SDSC has loose connections to San Diego Surf and plays in GA. Ironically I bet a couple of the SD Surf USYNT players started out at SCDC before being recruited by SD Surf.

San Diego Surf practices at the Polo Fields in Del Mar/San Diego. SDSC practices at a private school in 4S ranch. SD Surf and SDSC practice fields are 3 miles apart.

Here's a couple more tidbits of info. SD Surf and SDSC practice 3 miles apart. DMCV Sharks (another SoCal ECNL club) also practices 3 miles from SD Surf. San Diego Albion and CitySC (both GA clubs) practice 6-10 miles from SD Surf. And if you want to get really into it there's probably 15-20 different non ECNL/GA girls clubs all within 30 miles of SD Surf. Are you starting to understand why SD Surf is able to do so well? On top of local players SD Surf also has parents actually flying in to try out for the team + if their kid makes it they move to SD. On top of all of that Surf also runs Surf Cup Sports. This group puts on all the different Surf Cup events. What ends up happening is Surf has so much $$$ coming in that they can literally pay players to play for them (if they wanted to).

US soccer loses good players who get frustrated and go and represent other countries.
If I am looking at the correct rosters this team has two or three San Diego surf players being called up. You would expect that if that team is good enough that three players got selected to the National Team that they would have finished first in the Girls Academy southwest division or dominated the competition. It looks like they finished 7th out if 9 teams. A team from phoenix -SC del Sol -beat them 5-0 in October then again 2-1.

Mrs Drake and her friends.

As a parent with a child that has been in this system, I can tell you how it works.

ID Center is mostly Coach and Director recommendation. Some are chosen by US Scouts. Camps in the past were chosen through ID Center, USYNT Coach and Scout evaluations OR some are chosen without ID Center based on Scout recommendation. Also, I know for a fact that ECNL or GA clubs with connections and a good reputation also advocate for players after the regional camp…some do in fact take the place of better players due to politics. Just the way it is.

Every year girls who are deserving get left out due to politics on the girls side. It’s sad but true.

IMO, once they figure the top 11 or so players, their is not major gap between players 11-60 which allows US Soccer to play these types of games. I do think it is a minority of players though. Maybe 3-5 players tops are from “favors”. Not sure, but I am 100% that it happens.

Oh, and yes, once these players move up to U19, the environment certainly changes where no favors are given anymore. At this point, it’s a different kind of politics that affects the roster.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like it is through connections as much as anything. They are good players but I don’t think it has as much to do about them being seen at an event as it is they have somebody advocating for them. One of those players has parents who both played in college and are connected.

Stop. Most/all players have advocates. Anyone selected for YNT is a great (not good) player.

Stop. Politics/advocacy play as large a role as talent at the younger age groups for YNT selections. Of course none of the kids are bad and they are all good (or better).

Seriously. Some of you are acting offended over something well known in basically every level/age of any sport. And I'm dying over the comment that all top team players have advocates as though a mom is the same as a TD or coach for getting a player seen.

The mom was the player’s coach at club level and was also on the club’s board of directors. I am in no way trying to say the player isn’t good or deserved of the call up. So in this particular case mom was closer than most mom’s to the TD and was the player’s assistant coach alongside the player’s TD who was the coach.

A local club’s board has nothing to do with US Soccer picking teams.

Nobody suggested anything of the sort. What was suggested is that by being on the club’s board, being involved as an assistant coach to the player’s technical director there is a clear interest and ability to ensure advocacy for the player who clearly has talent. It is a prerequisite for players good enough to be on the national team at any level have the talent. What helps is when you have the talent and you also have multiple people in positions that can make the necessary connections to get that talent flagged for consideration by the people who make national team selections.

You just described how most things work not just national team soccer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like it is through connections as much as anything. They are good players but I don’t think it has as much to do about them being seen at an event as it is they have somebody advocating for them. One of those players has parents who both played in college and are connected.

Stop. Most/all players have advocates. Anyone selected for YNT is a great (not good) player.

Stop. Politics/advocacy play as large a role as talent at the younger age groups for YNT selections. Of course none of the kids are bad and they are all good (or better).

Seriously. Some of you are acting offended over something well known in basically every level/age of any sport. And I'm dying over the comment that all top team players have advocates as though a mom is the same as a TD or coach for getting a player seen.

The mom was the player’s coach at club level and was also on the club’s board of directors. I am in no way trying to say the player isn’t good or deserved of the call up. So in this particular case mom was closer than most mom’s to the TD and was the player’s assistant coach alongside the player’s TD who was the coach.

A local club’s board has nothing to do with US Soccer picking teams.

Nobody suggested anything of the sort. What was suggested is that by being on the club’s board, being involved as an assistant coach to the player’s technical director there is a clear interest and ability to ensure advocacy for the player who clearly has talent. It is a prerequisite for players good enough to be on the national team at any level have the talent. What helps is when you have the talent and you also have multiple people in positions that can make the necessary connections to get that talent flagged for consideration by the people who make national team selections.

Think of US Soccer and USYNT as the laziest way to field a top level team. The selection process benefits US Soccer recruiters, club coaches, docs, and club owners first. Actual player selection is a by product.

Unfortunately or fortunately depending on your perspective American girls youth soccer is able to dominate just by being big, fast, and direct. Just like with the men eventually other countries will start developing talent that's able to beat American style soccer consistently. However to do so they need to develop to a higher level and actually start supporting women's soccer. This is slowly starting to happen which is why the USWNT lost to Spain in the last World Cup.

Anonymous wrote:I will give you the magic formula for success in what it takes to be a youth national team player.

A player needs to be able to play 2 age groups up up on a top level team (ecnl for girls, MLS next for boys) and be able to contribute i.e. be a starter and a key player on the team. For example, if a 2009 player can play on a top level 2007 team and be a key player.

There you have it. If your kid isn't at that level, move over, there is someone else who is.

This is true at u19 its not true at u13 or u14.

At the younger ages its all about club, coach, doc, and parent connections. However, once you're been selected one time at a young age for a Talent ID it's 10x to be selected again.

Is USYNT worth it? Maybe. The players that get selected are definitely talented. Are they the best possible players? Not really but this is youth soccer everything is for sale.

I will give you the magic formula for success in what it takes to be a youth national team player.

A player needs to be able to play 2 age groups up up on a top level team (ecnl for girls, MLS next for boys) and be able to contribute i.e. be a starter and a key player on the team. For example, if a 2009 player can play on a top level 2007 team and be a key player.

There you have it. If your kid isn't at that level, move over, there is someone else who is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like it is through connections as much as anything. They are good players but I don’t think it has as much to do about them being seen at an event as it is they have somebody advocating for them. One of those players has parents who both played in college and are connected.

Stop. Most/all players have advocates. Anyone selected for YNT is a great (not good) player.

Stop. Politics/advocacy play as large a role as talent at the younger age groups for YNT selections. Of course none of the kids are bad and they are all good (or better).

Seriously. Some of you are acting offended over something well known in basically every level/age of any sport. And I'm dying over the comment that all top team players have advocates as though a mom is the same as a TD or coach for getting a player seen.

The mom was the player’s coach at club level and was also on the club’s board of directors. I am in no way trying to say the player isn’t good or deserved of the call up. So in this particular case mom was closer than most mom’s to the TD and was the player’s assistant coach alongside the player’s TD who was the coach.

A local club’s board has nothing to do with US Soccer picking teams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like it is through connections as much as anything. They are good players but I don’t think it has as much to do about them being seen at an event as it is they have somebody advocating for them. One of those players has parents who both played in college and are connected.

Stop. Most/all players have advocates. Anyone selected for YNT is a great (not good) player.

Stop. Politics/advocacy play as large a role as talent at the younger age groups for YNT selections. Of course none of the kids are bad and they are all good (or better).

Seriously. Some of you are acting offended over something well known in basically every level/age of any sport. And I'm dying over the comment that all top team players have advocates as though a mom is the same as a TD or coach for getting a player seen.

The mom was the player’s coach at club level and was also on the club’s board of directors. I am in no way trying to say the player isn’t good or deserved of the call up. So in this particular case mom was closer than most mom’s to the TD and was the player’s assistant coach alongside the player’s TD who was the coach.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like it is through connections as much as anything. They are good players but I don’t think it has as much to do about them being seen at an event as it is they have somebody advocating for them. One of those players has parents who both played in college and are connected.

Stop. Most/all players have advocates. Anyone selected for YNT is a great (not good) player.

Great….good…..the point I was making was that it wasn’t about her talent. The point I was making was that her parents are well connected, better than most.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The U16 team is very, very good. My friend’s dd is on it and I fully expect her to be on the USWNT in the future.

You might want to look at how many u16 national team players ever make to national team. The answer is not many. 15-18 years old are prime developmental years. Most of the u16 players will not make the u19 team let alone a professional team. Turn over on national teams is small. You are competing against not only your age group but 9-10 other age groups younger and older.

I am aware. And I still fully expect it.

Care to share the name of this incredible player? If she's that good, then she's already nationally and/or internationally known. There are professional NWSL 16 year olds. 1-3 at this age group will play on the USWNT at some point in the future? How does this girl compare to MacKenzie Whitham who has scored a goal for a NWSL team, Lilly Yohannes who scored a goal for USWNT or Casey Phair who has played in World Cup?