Boys side only. One thing that may help keep DA over ECNL is the recent development of MLS DA squads finally not charging their top talent to play for their youth teams. This will start to chip away at one of our biggest issues with being competitive on the world stage: pay to play youth soccer. This likely won’t happen on the female side of things as NWSL can’t afford to do this, so ECNL and DA will continue to slug it out there.

Anyhow, from what I can see here’s the deal in NOVA on the girls side for next year (2019-2020) (leaving Bethesda out of this comment - but do hear there may be some interesting developments with them and Mo. Rush brewing, which could turn that program into a powerhouse for that locality):

At the older ages (Jr. / Sr.) BRYC and McLean are still tops in ECNL. At Fr / So. ages VDA and McLean will do well. At 7th/8th ages VDA and Loudoun. Loudoun is relatively new on the “elite” girls side and will start to stabilize and improve and attract away some younger FCV DA players due to new coaching regime at Loudoun and some FCV drama. Meanwhile Arlington DA (and to a lesser degree WSVA) will continue to nibble at McLean and BRYC, hence the absence of those clubs at the youngest ages. As long as Nadir and Clyde are at McLean they have a fighting chance at the middle to older ages, but if they ever leave, that club will be done similar to BRYC once their top guys left.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You just made my point and didn't even realize it. I clearly stated that the ECNL/HS combo is overloading the players. There is no arguing that and you even argued the same without being bright enough to recognize you were doing so. And if you think playing more games is utopia, then have at it. That thinking is endemic in youth soccer in this country and why we are aren't developing more than a once-in-a-while world class player unless they leave this country to play like Pulisic.

I cannot believe a DA parent is making this argument. While girls DA has only been around the last 2 years, boys DA has been around since 2007. Pulisic played for a boys DA team, PA Classics, from 2008-2015, before he left for Germany when he was 16.

However, according to the DA groupie poster above, US youth soccer sucks, and Pulisic had to leave for Germany at 16 to develop into a world-class player, because DA was incapable as a league to maximize his development.

Pulisic is arguably the best graduate produced by DA so far, and DA parents should be citing him as the best example of what DA can do for a player -- maybe something along the lines of "DA helped develop Pulisic into a player who was good enough to be signed by one of the top German professional teams at 16." Instead, we just get ignorant posts like the one above. smh

DP here. If you believe that Pulisic would have been anywhere near his current level by staying with PA Classics or by joining Philadelphia Union instead of going to Germany, you are very naive. You can have your kid in DA, but not being blind to DAs limitations.

Absolutely correct. Pulisic is where he is because he left the us soccer youth system. The DA doesn’t make world class players because they have the better structure. The better structure is just one piece. But coming in here and telling more games is better when 20+ of those are HS games is laughable with respect to developing players that can compete at highest levels globally. The ECNL/HS structure is a serious limitation. Our WNT will show that soon enough. The ECNL/HS model isn’t made for that. It has only been successful because the rest of the world has been ignoring women’s soccer. Those days are over.

What every needs to remember or maybe they have chosen to forget, the ECNL changed their rule on players playing HS. Not long ago our DD were not allowed to play for their HS if they were an ECNL player.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You just made my point and didn't even realize it. I clearly stated that the ECNL/HS combo is overloading the players. There is no arguing that and you even argued the same without being bright enough to recognize you were doing so. And if you think playing more games is utopia, then have at it. That thinking is endemic in youth soccer in this country and why we are aren't developing more than a once-in-a-while world class player unless they leave this country to play like Pulisic.

I cannot believe a DA parent is making this argument. While girls DA has only been around the last 2 years, boys DA has been around since 2007. Pulisic played for a boys DA team, PA Classics, from 2008-2015, before he left for Germany when he was 16.

However, according to the DA groupie poster above, US youth soccer sucks, and Pulisic had to leave for Germany at 16 to develop into a world-class player, because DA was incapable as a league to maximize his development.

Pulisic is arguably the best graduate produced by DA so far, and DA parents should be citing him as the best example of what DA can do for a player -- maybe something along the lines of "DA helped develop Pulisic into a player who was good enough to be signed by one of the top German professional teams at 16." Instead, we just get ignorant posts like the one above. smh

DP here. If you believe that Pulisic would have been anywhere near his current level by staying with PA Classics or by joining Philadelphia Union instead of going to Germany, you are very naive. You can have your kid in DA, but not being blind to DAs limitations.

Absolutely correct. Pulisic is where he is because he left the us soccer youth system. The DA doesn’t make world class players because they have the better structure. The better structure is just one piece. But coming in here and telling more games is better when 20+ of those are HS games is laughable with respect to developing players that can compete at highest levels globally. The ECNL/HS structure is a serious limitation. Our WNT will show that soon enough. The ECNL/HS model isn’t made for that. It has only been successful because the rest of the world has been ignoring women’s soccer. Those days are over.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You just made my point and didn't even realize it. I clearly stated that the ECNL/HS combo is overloading the players. There is no arguing that and you even argued the same without being bright enough to recognize you were doing so. And if you think playing more games is utopia, then have at it. That thinking is endemic in youth soccer in this country and why we are aren't developing more than a once-in-a-while world class player unless they leave this country to play like Pulisic.

I cannot believe a DA parent is making this argument. While girls DA has only been around the last 2 years, boys DA has been around since 2007. Pulisic played for a boys DA team, PA Classics, from 2008-2015, before he left for Germany when he was 16.

However, according to the DA groupie poster above, US youth soccer sucks, and Pulisic had to leave for Germany at 16 to develop into a world-class player, because DA was incapable as a league to maximize his development.

Pulisic is arguably the best graduate produced by DA so far, and DA parents should be citing him as the best example of what DA can do for a player -- maybe something along the lines of "DA helped develop Pulisic into a player who was good enough to be signed by one of the top German professional teams at 16." Instead, we just get ignorant posts like the one above. smh

DP here. If you believe that Pulisic would have been anywhere near his current level by staying with PA Classics or by joining Philadelphia Union instead of going to Germany, you are very naive. You can have your kid in DA, but not being blind to DAs limitations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL HS player do not play a Spring season. There is no HS/League overload in Virginia. The overload is in the fall when they play x2 the amount of games vs DA.

My other point is the 3 vs 4 days of practice. The extra day of DA practice is really not a practice. So no advantage gained.

The league doesnt make good players. The culture and who you are surrounded by does. Not ever club, requardless of league affiliation, has what it takes.

Is that right? A quick perusal of ECNL website says otherwise. Showcases and regular season games are being played in the spring.

You have to remember that not every conference runs the same schedule. Maryland and the Northeast teams play their regular season games in the spring as HS soccer for them is in the fall. So they ABSOLUTELY are playing league games now.

Not correct (not at least 100% correct) --- high school soccer is a fall sport in at least part of the NorthEast.
One of the things ECNL tries to do is schedule games in the opposite season than high school games ( spring HS games = fall ECNL games, fall HS games = spring ECNL games).
Obviously, showcases and playoffs are going to conflict with somebody's schedule unless they push playoffs far enough into the summer.
It may not work 100% of the time, but thats one of the things they consider when they group states into conferences.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You just made my point and didn't even realize it. I clearly stated that the ECNL/HS combo is overloading the players. There is no arguing that and you even argued the same without being bright enough to recognize you were doing so. And if you think playing more games is utopia, then have at it. That thinking is endemic in youth soccer in this country and why we are aren't developing more than a once-in-a-while world class player unless they leave this country to play like Pulisic.

I cannot believe a DA parent is making this argument. While girls DA has only been around the last 2 years, boys DA has been around since 2007. Pulisic played for a boys DA team, PA Classics, from 2008-2015, before he left for Germany when he was 16.

However, according to the DA groupie poster above, US youth soccer sucks, and Pulisic had to leave for Germany at 16 to develop into a world-class player, because DA was incapable as a league to maximize his development.

Pulisic is arguably the best graduate produced by DA so far, and DA parents should be citing him as the best example of what DA can do for a player -- maybe something along the lines of "DA helped develop Pulisic into a player who was good enough to be signed by one of the top German professional teams at 16." Instead, we just get ignorant posts like the one above. smh

PA Classics, Pulisic, and his family produced that talent. It had nothing to do with what league he played in. Come on.

Anonymous wrote:

You just made my point and didn't even realize it. I clearly stated that the ECNL/HS combo is overloading the players. There is no arguing that and you even argued the same without being bright enough to recognize you were doing so. And if you think playing more games is utopia, then have at it. That thinking is endemic in youth soccer in this country and why we are aren't developing more than a once-in-a-while world class player unless they leave this country to play like Pulisic.

I cannot believe a DA parent is making this argument. While girls DA has only been around the last 2 years, boys DA has been around since 2007. Pulisic played for a boys DA team, PA Classics, from 2008-2015, before he left for Germany when he was 16.

However, according to the DA groupie poster above, US youth soccer sucks, and Pulisic had to leave for Germany at 16 to develop into a world-class player, because DA was incapable as a league to maximize his development.

Pulisic is arguably the best graduate produced by DA so far, and DA parents should be citing him as the best example of what DA can do for a player -- maybe something along the lines of "DA helped develop Pulisic into a player who was good enough to be signed by one of the top German professional teams at 16." Instead, we just get ignorant posts like the one above. smh

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL HS player do not play a Spring season. There is no HS/League overload in Virginia. The overload is in the fall when they play x2 the amount of games vs DA.

My other point is the 3 vs 4 days of practice. The extra day of DA practice is really not a practice. So no advantage gained.

The league doesnt make good players. The culture and who you are surrounded by does. Not ever club, requardless of league affiliation, has what it takes.

Is that right? A quick perusal of ECNL website says otherwise. Showcases and regular season games are being played in the spring.

You have to remember that not every conference runs the same schedule. Maryland and the Northeast teams play their regular season games in the spring as HS soccer for them is in the fall. So they ABSOLUTELY are playing league games now.

OMG!!!!

In relation to overload! I dont care the region. A ECNL league does not run concurrent to the HS season at U15 and above. Figure out the landscape before you get on a thread and preach from the Holy Mount.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL HS player do not play a Spring season. There is no HS/League overload in Virginia. The overload is in the fall when they play x2 the amount of games vs DA.

My other point is the 3 vs 4 days of practice. The extra day of DA practice is really not a practice. So no advantage gained.

The league doesnt make good players. The culture and who you are surrounded by does. Not ever club, requardless of league affiliation, has what it takes.

Is that right? A quick perusal of ECNL website says otherwise. Showcases and regular season games are being played in the spring.

You have to remember that not every conference runs the same schedule. Maryland and the Northeast teams play their regular season games in the spring as HS soccer for them is in the fall. So they ABSOLUTELY are playing league games now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL HS player do not play a Spring season. There is no HS/League overload in Virginia. The overload is in the fall when they play x2 the amount of games vs DA.

My other point is the 3 vs 4 days of practice. The extra day of DA practice is really not a practice. So no advantage gained.

The league doesnt make good players. The culture and who you are surrounded by does. Not ever club, requardless of league affiliation, has what it takes.

Is that right? A quick perusal of ECNL website says otherwise. Showcases and regular season games are being played in the spring.

U13/14 games are being played. There are SOME makeup games being played as well for older teams. Showcase games are certainly being played (ECNL NJ -- Memorial Day weekend).

Anonymous wrote:ECNL HS player do not play a Spring season. There is no HS/League overload in Virginia. The overload is in the fall when they play x2 the amount of games vs DA.

My other point is the 3 vs 4 days of practice. The extra day of DA practice is really not a practice. So no advantage gained.

The league doesnt make good players. The culture and who you are surrounded by does. Not ever club, requardless of league affiliation, has what it takes.

Is that right? A quick perusal of ECNL website says otherwise. Showcases and regular season games are being played in the spring.

Anonymous wrote:ECNL HS player do not play a Spring season. There is no HS/League overload in Virginia. The overload is in the fall when they play x2 the amount of games vs DA.

My other point is the 3 vs 4 days of practice. The extra day of DA practice is really not a practice. So no advantage gained.

The league doesnt make good players. The culture and who you are surrounded by does. Not ever club, requardless of league affiliation, has what it takes.

I think your last point is related to oversaturation. There are too many clubs between the DA and ECNL. Everybody can make it now somewhere.

ECNL HS player do not play a Spring season. There is no HS/League overload in Virginia. The overload is in the fall when they play x2 the amount of games vs DA.

My other point is the 3 vs 4 days of practice. The extra day of DA practice is really not a practice. So no advantage gained.

The league doesnt make good players. The culture and who you are surrounded by does. Not ever club, requardless of league affiliation, has what it takes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDA announced that it is starting a new cup competition. Doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon

That doesn’t sound like its giving GDA players more incentive to not play club in the spring like ECNL and play HS. http://www.ussoccerda.com/20180418-NEWS-DA-Introduces-New-Cup-Comp-Structure-for-Girls

More meaningless BS. A champions league cup different from the playoffs. Lmfao. Who cames up with this idea?

DA just got more expensive for the parents of the best kids...lmfao

ECNL clubs cost just as much as DA clubs. Our team gets Double the amount of practices, games and exposure than ECNL teams do. Only benefit ECNL has over DA is playing High School. And how does that help your DD exposure to colleges. Best move we ever made.

Well, my ECNL club gets three times the amount of practice that DA does, along every college coach at every showcase, exclusive scouting sessions, lunch with professional players, ESPN junkets.
But we don't get that valuable "free" season ticket. Best move we ever made times 2!

While clearly this is sarcasm, there are points to address to the ECNL supporters. The structure of the DA is far superior to that of the ECNL in terms of game loading, season loading and training periodization, etc... Unless HS soccer does a complete about-face and become something that has any soccer value more than zero, the DA structure will remain far superior. This isn't about teams or clubs. It is about structure. 10 months of evenly spaced out training and games cannot be compared to over-loaded seasons of ECNL followed by over-loaded HS season. And in this area there is even the additional issue of different HS seasons between private and public high school and DC, MD and VA.

And yet they continually change it because people and clubs are unhappy with it. Now, they are adding more games with more travel that cost more money for a make believe "cup" in the Spring season.

The DA's one extra day of practice isnt even practice. Its recovery for the most part. It's not giving the DA kids an advantage to the ECNL kids practicing three days a week.

The DA says their players play 10 months out of the year...So do the ECNL players.

Fall season
ECNL plays more games than DA (almost x2)

Winter season
DA and ECNL players do futsal and other sports

Spring season
DA plays a spring season and catches up to the amount of games the ECNL kids have played. However, the ECNL kids are also playing HS ball. So in fact, ECNL kids play more soccer than the DA kids. On top of that, ECNL still showcases in the Spring and the kids attend summer nationals if they qualified.

Oh...and how silly do you have to be to write in your press release "to make showcases more meaningful". The purpose of a showcase it to showcase. Its not supposed to be a game with consequences. That is what league games are for.

Stick with DA. You seem to like it. That's fine. However, dont feel superior because of your choice. Both our kids will end up playing in college I'm sure. You will just have given more to get there.

You just made my point and didn't even realize it. I clearly stated that the ECNL/HS combo is overloading the players. There is no arguing that and you even argued the same without being bright enough to recognize you were doing so. And if you think playing more games is utopia, then have at it. That thinking is endemic in youth soccer in this country and why we are aren't developing more than a once-in-a-while world class player unless they leave this country to play like Pulisic.

So your point is this....DA is better because the games in the fall are more spread out and there is no HS in the Spring. That's going to separate your player from mine, right? That's going to create world class players, right?

Also, you should contact US Soccer about the new champions league cup because it's an overload.

I assume you agree on my other points since they weren't contested, no?

Both the DA and ECNL have made changes/adjustments to what they are doing. For example, the ECNL stopped playing multiple games on the same day at showcases after the DA did it. Good for ECNL, they saw a better way and made the change. I am not bashing the ECNL for anything more than its structure. Loading up games to the tune of 25 in 3 months then another 30 in the spring when you combine public HS and ECNL is not overloading? I am guessing no one on this board will have a world-class player in their family. That isn't the point. My children don't play sports in order to be world-class. But if strive for that, good for them. The world-class comment is a commentary on how poorly we are running youth soccer in this country. The DA, ECNL, EDP, CCL, NCSL, WAGS, etc all have their problems.

So what other points are you making?