Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington will go ECNL. No way they can build a older DA team. I am sure their best have already left or plan to leave.

Moving to Loudoun will be devastating to DC United. No one will go out there under any circumstances. They will only be able to pull from local talent. It may even cause them to cancel their Academy program altogether or risk being a laughing stock in DA circles.

Absolutely the tier 1 clubs will see an influx of new recruits.

You're not serious about DCU are you? DCU for years has had players from all around the region and several who moved from out-of-state to join the DA. Bethesda's DA has had players from Stafford VA and Fredericksburg. Baltimore Armour has had kids from Bethesda. Especially at the older age groups, kids will travel from all over to be part of a DA program.

Getting to DC, Bethesda, or Columbia is a heck of a lot easier than getting to Loudoun at rush hour. In a DMV where commuting at rush hour is painful everywhere, nothing is worse than trying to commune to Loudoun.

Anonymous wrote:Folks are forgetting Arlington has a full girls DA.

ECNL is the place to be for girls. At least for now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks are forgetting Arlington has a full girls DA.

Girls DA is pretty weak and unbalanced in our region. FCV beats up on pretty much everyone. If Arlington wanted to switch their girls program to ECNL, they would not miss a beat.

Virginia is an odd state. The Girl's DA is mirrored by the Girl's ECNL, which is also weak and unbalanced. I think the fact that the ECNL HQ is here alters the geography. In most areas, the DA is continuing to gain traction and if you check the US soccer website, they are looking to the DAs now for the YNTs, so it's just a matter of time.

I don't know - US Soccer has been all over the place with the DA program over recent years. I think they are close to burning some bridges for good. They have jerked around a number of clubs and players. I know players who have chased the DA program the last several years as the member clubs and age groups keep changing. If you are McLean or Loudoun Soccer, aren't you about fed up with the DA program? How do people at VDA feel about it now? Will be interesting to see what happens with Arlington.

I'm not saying US soccer has done everything right, but from everyone I talk to - most especially coaches - there is still a conviction that the concept is right. That we should have the upper most players pulled into a league that is all year, rather than high school. And many college coaches prefer it too.

Besides, the ECNL isn't exactly politics free. Every house has its dirty laundry.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks are forgetting Arlington has a full girls DA.

Girls DA is pretty weak and unbalanced in our region. FCV beats up on pretty much everyone. If Arlington wanted to switch their girls program to ECNL, they would not miss a beat.

Virginia is an odd state. The Girl's DA is mirrored by the Girl's ECNL, which is also weak and unbalanced. I think the fact that the ECNL HQ is here alters the geography. In most areas, the DA is continuing to gain traction and if you check the US soccer website, they are looking to the DAs now for the YNTs, so it's just a matter of time.

I don't know - US Soccer has been all over the place with the DA program over recent years. I think they are close to burning some bridges for good. They have jerked around a number of clubs and players. I know players who have chased the DA program the last several years as the member clubs and age groups keep changing. If you are McLean or Loudoun Soccer, aren't you about fed up with the DA program? How do people at VDA feel about it now? Will be interesting to see what happens with Arlington.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks are forgetting Arlington has a full girls DA.

Girls DA is pretty weak and unbalanced in our region. FCV beats up on pretty much everyone. If Arlington wanted to switch their girls program to ECNL, they would not miss a beat.

Virginia is an odd state. The Girl's DA is mirrored by the Girl's ECNL, which is also weak and unbalanced. I think the fact that the ECNL HQ is here alters the geography. In most areas, the DA is continuing to gain traction and if you check the US soccer website, they are looking to the DAs now for the YNTs, so it's just a matter of time.

Anonymous wrote:Folks are forgetting Arlington has a full girls DA.

Girls DA is pretty weak and unbalanced in our region. FCV beats up on pretty much everyone. If Arlington wanted to switch their girls program to ECNL, they would not miss a beat.

Folks are forgetting Arlington has a full girls DA.

Anonymous wrote:Arlington will go ECNL. No way they can build a older DA team. I am sure their best have already left or plan to leave.

Moving to Loudoun will be devastating to DC United. No one will go out there under any circumstances. They will only be able to pull from local talent. It may even cause them to cancel their Academy program altogether or risk being a laughing stock in DA circles.

Absolutely the tier 1 clubs will see an influx of new recruits.

ECNL will make more sense for Arlington given their partial DA status and phasing out of the younger age groups at DA. Once U13 is phased out, Arlington will only have teams at U14-15 age groups. Even VDA with its full DA status could consider a switch to ECNL. VDA's oldest team has multiple trips to Florida and Georgia, some of which are only to play a single game. Recent changes in DA tiers show that DA is trying to make it unsustainable for non-MLS clubs, which were placed in the second tier of DA. Most tier 2 teams in the oldest age group face weaker competition and insane travel distances. Just ask VDA parents from their oldest age group.

Anonymous wrote:I do think if DC moves the academy they'll probably have to relocate their residential program from the Calverton School in Southern Maryland to some place out in Virginia.

I've been wondering about that. Has anyone heard what the plan is for a residential option for DCU?