Ever heard of Carli Lloyd?

Lloyd attended Delran High School from 1997 to 2000 where she played soccer under the tutelage of the late Rudy "The Red Baron" Klobach.[11] As a high school athlete, she was known for her exceptional ball control and skill at distributing the ball from the midfield.[8] During her senior year, she scored 26 goals and served eight assists while captaining her team to an 18–3 record.[11] The Philadelphia Inquirer twice-named her Girls' High School Player of the Year in 1999 and 2000.[12] She was named to the Star-Ledger All-State First Team twice and received 1999 and 2000 Parade All-American honors. In 2000, she was named the Courier Post Player of the Year and the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association (SJSCA) Midfielder of the Year.[11]

Ever heard of Abby Wambah?

Wambach attended Our Lady of Mercy High School in Rochester from 1994 to 1998, where she lettered in soccer and basketball.[7] During her high school career, she scored 142 goals, including 34 in 1997 alone. Mercy's soccer coach, Kathy Boughton, recalled that Wambach would stay after practice to practice diving headers – a skill that would later become her signature as an international player.[13] Following her senior season, Wambach was named to Parade Magazine's High School All-America Team. She was also voted national high school player of the year by Umbro and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).[7][14] In 1997, she was named NSCAA Regional Player of the Year, NSCAA State of New York Player of the Year, Gatorade Circle of Champions New York Player of the Year, and cited by USA Today as one of the nation's top 10 recruits

Ever heard of Morgan Brian?

Brian attended Frederica Academy in St. Simon's Island from 2007 to 2011, where she played soccer all four years and helped the team win four consecutive state titles.[6] In addition to soccer, Brian also played varsity basketball as an eighth-grader, freshman, sophomore, and senior. She received both All-Region and All-State recognition for basketball.[4]

Brian ended her high school soccer career with 186 goals and 95 assists. She was a two-time Parade All-American and two-time Gatorade Georgia State Player of the Year. In 2010, she was named an NSCAA High School and Youth All-American and was also the 2010 NSCAA Youth Player of the Year as well as the 2010 Parade National Player of the Year. In 2011, she was named Gatorade National Player of the Year. Brian was also the first soccer player to be honored as the Gatorade National Female Athlete of the Year in 2011.[2]

Ever heard of Mia Hamm?

Hamm played sports from a young age and excelled as a football player on the boys' team at junior high school. As a high school freshman and sophomore, she played soccer for Notre Dame Catholic High School in Wichita Falls. She played at the 1987 U.S. Olympic Festival, the youngest player to play for the United States women's national soccer team. As a new player, she often started as a forward but did not score a goal during her first year on the team.[14] Hamm spent a year at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia, and helped the Lake Braddock soccer team win the 1989 state championships

Ever heard of Mal Pugh?

Pugh attended Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch from 2012 to 2016. In her three seasons with the team, Pugh scored 47 goals and recorded 23 assists. As a freshman, Pugh was named to the All-Colorado Team after leading her team to a state title. She was named offensive MVP at Mountain Vista and a NSCAA Youth All-American for 2013. During her sophomore year, despite missing more than half of her high school games due to national team commitments, she helped the team to the state semifinals. As a junior, Pugh scored 24 goals and 12 assists in 18 games and helped the team reach the state semifinals. She was subsequently named the 2014–15 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year and Colorado Sports Hall of Fame 2015 High School Female Athlete of the Year. In addition, she was named NSCAA Youth Girls National Player of the Year for 2014 and 2015.[7]

In January 2016, it was reported that Pugh had rejected college in order to turn professional and play for National Women's Soccer League club Portland Thorns when she finished high school.[9] Later that week, her father said the reports were false and that Pugh would join the UCLA soccer team as originally planned.[10] In July 2016, it was announced she delayed entrance to UCLA until January 2017, due to national team commitments for the Rio Olympics and the 2016 FIFA U–20 Women's World Cup.[11] She appeared in three non-competitive Spring scrimmages in early 2017 before departing UCLA to pursue a professional career prior to starting her freshman season.[12]

Ever heard of Rose Lavelle?

A four-year varsity girl's soccer player at Mount Notre Dame High School, Lavelle was rewarded with being named Cincinnati's Player of the Year by The Cincinnati Enquirer her senior year. That same year, Lavelle scored 15 goals and scored a total of 38 points for her team. At the end of her high school career, Lavelle led her team in number of goals scored, totaling 57. This led Lavelle to being rewarded NSCAA All-Region her junior and senior year of high school and first-team all-state honors. Having a decorated background at Mount Notre Dame High School, Lavelle was rewarded the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Sports Women of the Year award in 2013.[2]

Lavelle played club soccer for Cincinnati United Premier team starting on the U-14 premier league that spanned for five years until attending college.

Anonymous wrote:you also forgot that HS soccer isn't about long term development or learning, its about winning games.

It's always about winning. Unless you enjoy having your kid in a culture of losing. What's the point of competetion? Let me guess, the winning teams suck at development and the losing teams are doing it right?

But since you like regurgitating DA talking points, why dont you tell your people at USSF to get rid of league standings, showcases that go towards seedings, and playoffs.

The hypocrisy is something special.

you also forgot that HS soccer isn't about long term development or learning, its about winning games.

Not BRYC 04 but shout out to Mikey

What parents need to realize is that US Soccer isn't the one with the power. They aren't paying anybody's bills and they don't really care about what is best for the holistic development of your player. All they care about is whether your player is a commodity that they can benefit from. Desire and talent is the key. Not a particular league. The vast majority of coaches are simply talent aggregators and not talent developers.

Get a good coach on a good team that gets into the good showcases and let your player do the things that make them happy. They will last a much longer time in the sport.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here. I'll take it a step further for you my friend.

The DA spring season is approximately 78 days long. (11 weeks)

The HS season (including Districts) is approx. 72 days long (10 weeks)

By time kids are committed...(beginning of Junior year) DA kids will have 88 CLUB related Spring practices (11x4=44x2=88). ECNL kids have 80 HS realated Spring practices (10x4 =40x2=80).

DA and ECNL will both train Summer, Winter, and Fall at about the same frequency (The 4th practice for DA is recovery).

I know you believe that the 88 days combined of club practice vs the 80 days of combined HS practice is going to set your kid apart. However, it's not.

You forgot to add the 20 or so spring ECNL games and showcase games (Loudoun U17 as a case in point) PLUS the High school 20 game non playoff season. Many weeks with two games a week. 40 games from January through June and that is on top of 19 ECNL games in the Fall.

But ECNL wanted to limit overload you said. That is almost 60 games before we even count a friendly here or there or Futsal. DA never claimed more was better. In fact, they believe that less is more. There is diminishing returns in a very long and at times very compressed 60 game season at the high school level. That kind of schedule is a war of attrition not development. I'm sure your DD's knees will thank you later.

Well, my kid doesnt play for Loudoun U17.

However, would you like for me to add all the friendlies, back to back NY games, and outside events (like Penn fusion showcase) for the DA players?

My daughters team plays two Spring showcase (6 games) and zero league games. No big deal. Guess what shes not doing those weekends? Playing HS games.

That would mean you are likely a 04 BRYC. And as such you still left out Jeff Cup. But you might want to look at the schedule of the older ECNL teams to get a better handle of the workload coming your DDs way next year and the year after.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here. I'll take it a step further for you my friend.

The DA spring season is approximately 78 days long. (11 weeks)

The HS season (including Districts) is approx. 72 days long (10 weeks)

By time kids are committed...(beginning of Junior year) DA kids will have 88 CLUB related Spring practices (11x4=44x2=88). ECNL kids have 80 HS realated Spring practices (10x4 =40x2=80).

DA and ECNL will both train Summer, Winter, and Fall at about the same frequency (The 4th practice for DA is recovery).

I know you believe that the 88 days combined of club practice vs the 80 days of combined HS practice is going to set your kid apart. However, it's not.

You forgot to add the 20 or so spring ECNL games and showcase games (Loudoun U17 as a case in point) PLUS the High school 20 game non playoff season. Many weeks with two games a week. 40 games from January through June and that is on top of 19 ECNL games in the Fall.

But ECNL wanted to limit overload you said. That is almost 60 games before we even count a friendly here or there or Futsal. DA never claimed more was better. In fact, they believe that less is more. There is diminishing returns in a very long and at times very compressed 60 game season at the high school level. That kind of schedule is a war of attrition not development. I'm sure your DD's knees will thank you later.

Well, my kid doesnt play for Loudoun U17.

However, would you like for me to add all the friendlies, back to back NY games, and outside events (like Penn fusion showcase) for the DA players?

My daughters team plays two Spring showcase (6 games) and zero league games. No big deal. Guess what shes not doing those weekends? Playing HS games.

Anonymous wrote:Here. I'll take it a step further for you my friend.

The DA spring season is approximately 78 days long. (11 weeks)

The HS season (including Districts) is approx. 72 days long (10 weeks)

By time kids are committed...(beginning of Junior year) DA kids will have 88 CLUB related Spring practices (11x4=44x2=88). ECNL kids have 80 HS realated Spring practices (10x4 =40x2=80).

DA and ECNL will both train Summer, Winter, and Fall at about the same frequency (The 4th practice for DA is recovery).

I know you believe that the 88 days combined of club practice vs the 80 days of combined HS practice is going to set your kid apart. However, it's not.

How can HS have 80 practices plus 20 games in a 72 day season?

Anonymous wrote:Here. I'll take it a step further for you my friend.

The DA spring season is approximately 78 days long. (11 weeks)

The HS season (including Districts) is approx. 72 days long (10 weeks)

By time kids are committed...(beginning of Junior year) DA kids will have 88 CLUB related Spring practices (11x4=44x2=88). ECNL kids have 80 HS realated Spring practices (10x4 =40x2=80).

DA and ECNL will both train Summer, Winter, and Fall at about the same frequency (The 4th practice for DA is recovery).

I know you believe that the 88 days combined of club practice vs the 80 days of combined HS practice is going to set your kid apart. However, it's not.

You forgot to add the 20 or so spring ECNL games and showcase games (Loudoun U17 as a case in point) PLUS the High school 20 game non playoff season. Many weeks with two games a week. 40 games from January through June and that is on top of 19 ECNL games in the Fall.

But ECNL wanted to limit overload you said. That is almost 60 games before we even count a friendly here or there or Futsal. DA never claimed more was better. In fact, they believe that less is more. There is diminishing returns in a very long and at times very compressed 60 game season at the high school level. That kind of schedule is a war of attrition not development. I'm sure your DD's knees will thank you later.

Here. I'll take it a step further for you my friend.

The DA spring season is approximately 78 days long. (11 weeks)

The HS season (including Districts) is approx. 72 days long (10 weeks)

By time kids are committed...(beginning of Junior year) DA kids will have 88 CLUB related Spring practices (11x4=44x2=88). ECNL kids have 80 HS realated Spring practices (10x4 =40x2=80).

DA and ECNL will both train Summer, Winter, and Fall at about the same frequency (The 4th practice for DA is recovery).

I know you believe that the 88 days combined of club practice vs the 80 days of combined HS practice is going to set your kid apart. However, it's not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PDA is the real deal. Even if DA is better, the fact that PDA brought home multiple titles says enough. PDA is a super club.

https://www.soccerwire.com/news/ecnl-national-finals-conclude-with-u14-u17-title-matches-in-richmond-va/

PDA is one of those clubs that doesn't need a league. They went back to ECNL because they can charge for two ECNL teams and pull it off. It isn't about any ideological belief in this league versus that league. ECNL gave them two teams and a showcase to host. ANY club takes that deal 10 out of 10 times but not many clubs can demand that kind of a deal.

There are only 5 or so clubs in the nation with that kind of cache though the rest are just not that different than any other club.

They went back to ECNL because players wanted to play high school and the coaches didn’t like having tactics dictated to them from Chicago. The “back to ECNL to charge more money theory” makes no sense. Not every club is a money grubbing cash grab.

I love the revisionist history that claims that ECNL has always been in lock step and in full support of High School Soccer. While never forbidden by the league High School Soccer was always heavily discouraged by ECNL club coaches.

Now ECNL clubs are using HS soccer as a distinction because it suits their needs not because they suddenly see it’s benefits.

Talk about revisionist history.

BEFORE....ECNL played essentially 10 months our of the year (if you include winter training, futsal, etc.) ON TOP OF THAT, they played HS in CONJUNCTION with their club season. It was an over load and caused kids to be overworked. That's why it was discouraged!

NOW, the overload has been fixed. NOW kids DONT play club for 2-3 months every year while they play HS thus removing the overload. However, they still do showcases for college exposure. In Virginia, the ECNL National playoffs occurr at the end of the HS. So they have that as well.

I know people love to say that ECNL kids take off part of the year. However, they absolutely do not. They are still playing the game. Just not in club league format.

Yes, HS soccer is lower quality than ECNL or DA. However, it provides different challenges. A freshman or Sophomore playing Varsity against older kids is tough...even if they are not as "good".

Now check this out....

Most ECNL and DA players are committing to their college of choice after their Sophmore year in HS. At that point in time, a DA player will have 4-6 months of club league soccer over their ECNL counterparts who were playing HS during that time.

I assure you, that total of 4-6 months (combined over 2 years) of club soccer vs HS soccer is not going to separate 16- 17 year olds who have been playing the game for the past 8-9 years of their life.

ECNL painted themselves into a corner with shutting their season down to allow for High School. The message is clear, if you play ECNL you might as play High School soccer because there will be no real club season. The kids are now given the opposite of choice. They almost have to play HS if they want any spring or fall games during the HS season.

What a fantastic solution to go and play in showcases or the ECNL National Championship when the team hasn't played together for the past three months and coming off a very physical HS season to boot.

You are a goof ball. You don't like it? Dont have your kid play it! You think your DA kid has an advantage because they wear a DA patch? They dont.
You think ECNL painted themselves in a corner? They didn't. I laid it out for you. By time kids are getting recruited, the 4 + months of club soccer vs HS soccer doesnt separate them.

Mal Pugh played HS
Rose Lavelle played HS (right Bobby!)
Mia Hamm played HS.

I could go one. But why? You don't care.

The US Soccer Develoment Academy is not a school of learning. It's just club soccer. Get over yourself.

The High School soccer season runs from late February to early/mid June depending on playoffs. that is 3 to 4 months not 2 to 3 months.

Many kids play all four years of High School so that is 12 to 16 months away from club soccer over that time of which only Freshman through Junior seasons are truly impactful.

And yes, ECNL painted themselves into a corner by essentially shutting down during the HS season which is great if your kid really wants to play HS. But the cost of ECNL should be reflective and prorated with cutting a season out almost entirely. Getting the gang together for two or three showcases during the HS season is not elite.

Training 6 months out of ten is not an elite league. It is over priced for what you get though. Paying a club 3-4k a year for 6 months out of a possible 10 to let High School do the rest for free.

Long winded response dont make you right.

VHSL 1st practice: 2/24/2020
VHSL 1st contest: 3/16/2020
USDA 1st contest: 3/3/2020
USDA End of Season: 5/19/2020
VHSL REGIONALS - 5/27/2020

VERY FEW TEAMS GET PAST REGIONALS

FEB 24 TO MAY 27 IS 3 MONTHS.

BEGINNING OF JUNE: ECNL practice starts back up for ECNL playoffs at the end of June.

So, as I said before, by time kids are committing to college (beginning of their junior year)DA kids have 6 extra months of club play over their ECNL counterparts who were playing high school during the same time frame.

It wont make a difference. Sorry.



Yawn, anything else.

Well you said 2 months and it is in fact 3 months. I was in fact right.