Anonymous wrote:Playing up a year is a dice roll - a kid can develop bad habits, like always passing the ball away, shying away from 1v1, or deferring to other players to take the initiative. The coach needs to keep an eye on the player and not just assume that everything is going fine.

True, doing it all the time can be very harmful. Doing it some gives the best of both worlds: the challenge of playing against older kids plus the creativity that comes with having time on the ball and being able to try new things.

Anonymous wrote:If McLean 2008 girls move over to play up with 2007 will they be competing in the DA?

Yes

If McLean 2008 girls move over to play up with 2007 will they be competing in the DA?

From this thread and the other one, looks like “someone” just got back from a short vacation. LOL. Wonder how much she’s getting paid for this BS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can email the TD and he will invite your DD out to a practice now. They are always interested in the younger players and getting that pipeline going. If you can afford it and are on Green, she will likely make a team even as an 08.

That's concerning (for WS).

Why? Is an entire McLean 08 team moving over? It is really that concerning that a couple of kids would play up one year?

For WS and the players it would make sense to play kids up a year in a developmental year that doesn’t even matter competively as much as it could developmentally in the long run. Those kids who get year playing up at a higher level will benefit when they return to age when the games really matter.

+1000

For Spirit it is not about winning games. It is about developing players. If given the opportunity to play up a year in the most competitive league with great coaches, why wouldn’t you. Many players playing up may end up playing with their own age when older.

Lolololololololololol are you a coach? Or a director at WS? Where did you come up with this information? It’s obvious they don’t have winning records, it’s funny how it’s spun by one or two spirit advocates that it’s not about wins but all about development. I have a serious question for you. In how many years do you expect development will turn in to wins?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can email the TD and he will invite your DD out to a practice now. They are always interested in the younger players and getting that pipeline going. If you can afford it and are on Green, she will likely make a team even as an 08.

That's concerning (for WS).

Why? Is an entire McLean 08 team moving over? It is really that concerning that a couple of kids would play up one year?

For WS and the players it would make sense to play kids up a year in a developmental year that doesn’t even matter competively as much as it could developmentally in the long run. Those kids who get year playing up at a higher level will benefit when they return to age when the games really matter.

So, as a parent, you are saying go to a club where you can play up? Or
Does it need to be a DA, or wash spirit? Playing up is for players who have outgrown their own age group. Parents are so delusional.

Anonymous wrote:I would be surprised if there are any 08s on Green that could play up in ECNL/DA next year. I've seen them play and - not trying to knock anyone - but no one looked ready for that.

Well then you should not be posting any kind of advice on this board. Please disregard ignorant comments like this.

The ultimate best players didn’t start out on a top team. If we’re looking to be even somewhat competitive in the US this mentality has GOT TO GO.

?

Playing up a year is a dice roll - a kid can develop bad habits, like always passing the ball away, shying away from 1v1, or deferring to other players to take the initiative. The coach needs to keep an eye on the player and not just assume that everything is going fine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes

Thanks. Any tips on what to expect?

What do players wear, training jersey from current team, white T-shirt?

You'll find a variety of different attire, but I've always felt something non-team is better than your current team jersey. Expect to be broken into groups for some drills, small sided match-ups, etc., followed by scrimmaging. That's what other ID sessions have looked like anyway.

Anonymous wrote:Yes

Thanks. Any tips on what to expect?

What do players wear, training jersey from current team, white T-shirt?

Yes

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can email the TD and he will invite your DD out to a practice now. They are always interested in the younger players and getting that pipeline going. If you can afford it and are on Green, she will likely make a team even as an 08.

That's concerning (for WS).

Why? Is an entire McLean 08 team moving over? It is really that concerning that a couple of kids would play up one year?

For WS and the players it would make sense to play kids up a year in a developmental year that doesn’t even matter competively as much as it could developmentally in the long run. Those kids who get year playing up at a higher level will benefit when they return to age when the games really matter.

W. Spirit has an ID session coming up, but there is no option in the registration for 2008s. Should we just put 2008 DOB and then check the 2007 button since that is the team she would be trying out for?

US Soccer has an interesting dilemma. If the best talent is not all self selecting for DA what do you do? You can bet US soccer will be scouting the regional and national ID2 events.

In that case there is no downside to continuing to play ECNL.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They may have intended to make DA the top tier but it did not turn out that way. Their best club along with many other very good ones left after one year. Now they need to shift resources to cover more teams. It’s not a bad thing for anyone. Funny that the DA teams are so defensive.

This is funny. It has been one year. They are playing for the long term. It’s not defensive, it’s just reality. Guess we’ll wait and see what happens. The rumor is apparently a wish, because you can’t substantiate it. No “resources” are shifting, unless they are shifting in someone’s head.

They should play for the long term. Thinking that all of the good players will be in either league is not reality, that’s fantasy. Do you really think that no NT quality players will be playing at LAFC Slammers, PDA, Hawks, etc? Ignoring those clubs would be bad for US soccer.

I guess that does not match your agenda. Your interests must not align with US Soccer.

What agenda? What on earth are you talking about? You post unsubstantiated rumors that have no credible source and others are the one with an agenda?

Crazy town.

I did not post the rumor. I just said it makes sense.

Based on what?? They aren't really scouting the u13 group anyway. There are no resources to be "saved" for ECNL scouting. The u13 group was introduced to provide a competing pathway to ECNL and expanded this year. The evidence is contrary to the notion you say makes sense. Makes a lot more sense that the older, established ECNL stars age out and the younger kids go disproportionately DA. It will take longer, because ECNL won't go down without a fight (which is why a few clubs moved back, as you allude to), but the writing is on the wall.

You might be right on the resource front. I assumed part of shutting down the U12 boys is to save resources. Maybe there is no cost to US Soccer running U12 and U13. That would be surprising but I will take your word for it.

For the younger ages in this area the best players have not flocked to DA clubs. Since you want evidence I point to the low attendance at DA ID sessions at WS and FCV. Right now the best 07 teams are ECNL clubs. Like you said it may take time. I would not say the writing is on the wall though.

The only resources that would be saved are the scheduling and logistical arrangements for the games. Since there are only two U13 conference pilots underway now, there is not really a lot there.

As far as younger kids in this area.....not many of those will be of national team caliber. There are really few of those nationwide and they are mostly in other regions, CA, PA/NJ/NY, TX, FL. How numbers sort here is not really that big a concern for US Soccer. And the few that are of that caliber will be heavily recruited to USDA teams, and everyone knows who those players are. It's not some secret and there aren't tons and tons of them. I know folks in this area are high on the 07's, but I guarantee you no more than a handful will be NT prospects in the end, an no amount of US Soccer scouting of ECNL in the DC area will change that.

Referees too. US Soccer pays for the Refs. Putting any money into U12 and U13 is probably not well spent for US Soccer.

I agree with you on the talent. There are probably no NT caliber 07s in this area. Not even those playing up. We won’t know for at least 2 years anyway. That’s the point. Don’t waste money on that age group. Wait until U14 to scout.

That is why this ECNL vs DA battle it silly. Either platform is excellent to get players to D1. That should be the goal anyway.

Agree with the scouting, which is already true. They aren't scouting the u13 groups much, if at all. But they are using that group to compete with ECNL and it will continue IMO. Dropping the U12 boys side, if that is true, which has yet to be officially announced, is a different discussion. There is no real challenger on the boys side and no competition for these young guys. GDA wants the players in the program. They don't want to hop back and forth. They want their clubs to follow their programming, which they feel is best for player development. They want the girls to play with fewer subs, because that will prepare them better for the situations they will need to face when scouted at that level.

You are right, either platform is fine for college scouting, at least for now. If there is movement to DA, like there was on the boys side, then thta may not be true in 10 years. It may tun out to be that top D1s go to DA and lower D1s and the rest look further down the chain. We'll all see how it shakes out, but I wouldn't automatically say that USGDA is completely changing course just because they entered the scene last year and ECNL didn't fold like a house of cards.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They may have intended to make DA the top tier but it did not turn out that way. Their best club along with many other very good ones left after one year. Now they need to shift resources to cover more teams. It’s not a bad thing for anyone. Funny that the DA teams are so defensive.

This is funny. It has been one year. They are playing for the long term. It’s not defensive, it’s just reality. Guess we’ll wait and see what happens. The rumor is apparently a wish, because you can’t substantiate it. No “resources” are shifting, unless they are shifting in someone’s head.

They should play for the long term. Thinking that all of the good players will be in either league is not reality, that’s fantasy. Do you really think that no NT quality players will be playing at LAFC Slammers, PDA, Hawks, etc? Ignoring those clubs would be bad for US soccer.

I guess that does not match your agenda. Your interests must not align with US Soccer.

What agenda? What on earth are you talking about? You post unsubstantiated rumors that have no credible source and others are the one with an agenda?

Crazy town.

I did not post the rumor. I just said it makes sense.

Based on what?? They aren't really scouting the u13 group anyway. There are no resources to be "saved" for ECNL scouting. The u13 group was introduced to provide a competing pathway to ECNL and expanded this year. The evidence is contrary to the notion you say makes sense. Makes a lot more sense that the older, established ECNL stars age out and the younger kids go disproportionately DA. It will take longer, because ECNL won't go down without a fight (which is why a few clubs moved back, as you allude to), but the writing is on the wall.

You might be right on the resource front. I assumed part of shutting down the U12 boys is to save resources. Maybe there is no cost to US Soccer running U12 and U13. That would be surprising but I will take your word for it.

For the younger ages in this area the best players have not flocked to DA clubs. Since you want evidence I point to the low attendance at DA ID sessions at WS and FCV. Right now the best 07 teams are ECNL clubs. Like you said it may take time. I would not say the writing is on the wall though.

The only resources that would be saved are the scheduling and logistical arrangements for the games. Since there are only two U13 conference pilots underway now, there is not really a lot there.

As far as younger kids in this area.....not many of those will be of national team caliber. There are really few of those nationwide and they are mostly in other regions, CA, PA/NJ/NY, TX, FL. How numbers sort here is not really that big a concern for US Soccer. And the few that are of that caliber will be heavily recruited to USDA teams, and everyone knows who those players are. It's not some secret and there aren't tons and tons of them. I know folks in this area are high on the 07's, but I guarantee you no more than a handful will be NT prospects in the end, an no amount of US Soccer scouting of ECNL in the DC area will change that.

Referees too. US Soccer pays for the Refs. Putting any money into U12 and U13 is probably not well spent for US Soccer.

I agree with you on the talent. There are probably no NT caliber 07s in this area. Not even those playing up. We won’t know for at least 2 years anyway. That’s the point. Don’t waste money on that age group. Wait until U14 to scout.

That is why this ECNL vs DA battle it silly. Either platform is excellent to get players to D1. That should be the goal anyway.