Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DA needs to go. We need one elite national league. Bring DA into ECNL. Let USSF manage national team prospects. IF ECNL becomes the elite national league then it should help USSF scout talent. They can use ECNL to build a strong player pool in each age group. Let USSF support club soccer and not compete against it.

I’d prefer to let an entity that actually cares about the players and development run things. As it stands, USSF cares about growing soccer popularity and US Club soccer cares about profiting on that growth. I know that USSF is a mess, but at least they can argue that they care more about the pure game and national interest. US Club soccer cares only about money. In the past three years, they’ve launched new (and more frequent) showcases, regional talent showcases, national talent showcases, etc.... It feels like the ODP model all over. They have more than quadrupled their club rosters since they started and now they have been giving clubs multiple teams per age group. None of this serves to help identify, develop or consolidate talent. It actually harms that process by simply recreating the mess we already have...but the cash now flows to the guys in Richmond instead of being more distributed. GDA should be funded by US Soccer to offset the costs and talent should be more critically evaluated for those clubs. Letting US Club Soccer manage the top league will only harm the consumer and our future soccer potential.

Me too. The ECNL leadership is just trying to protect its revenue stream.

Well duh. It is a business. Grow up.

So don't prevent anything the ECNL or these megaclubs are doing is about what's best for the players. It's all about the pocketbook.

Anonymous wrote:ECNL remains the better platform.

Half the year? How is half the year better? How is cramming a full year's worth of games into 5 months better?

ECNL remains the better platform.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DA needs to go. We need one elite national league. Bring DA into ECNL. Let USSF manage national team prospects. IF ECNL becomes the elite national league then it should help USSF scout talent. They can use ECNL to build a strong player pool in each age group. Let USSF support club soccer and not compete against it.

I’d prefer to let an entity that actually cares about the players and development run things. As it stands, USSF cares about growing soccer popularity and US Club soccer cares about profiting on that growth. I know that USSF is a mess, but at least they can argue that they care more about the pure game and national interest. US Club soccer cares only about money. In the past three years, they’ve launched new (and more frequent) showcases, regional talent showcases, national talent showcases, etc.... It feels like the ODP model all over. They have more than quadrupled their club rosters since they started and now they have been giving clubs multiple teams per age group. None of this serves to help identify, develop or consolidate talent. It actually harms that process by simply recreating the mess we already have...but the cash now flows to the guys in Richmond instead of being more distributed. GDA should be funded by US Soccer to offset the costs and talent should be more critically evaluated for those clubs. Letting US Club Soccer manage the top league will only harm the consumer and our future soccer potential.

Me too. The ECNL leadership is just trying to protect its revenue stream.

Well duh. It is a business. Grow up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DA needs to go. We need one elite national league. Bring DA into ECNL. Let USSF manage national team prospects. IF ECNL becomes the elite national league then it should help USSF scout talent. They can use ECNL to build a strong player pool in each age group. Let USSF support club soccer and not compete against it.

I’d prefer to let an entity that actually cares about the players and development run things. As it stands, USSF cares about growing soccer popularity and US Club soccer cares about profiting on that growth. I know that USSF is a mess, but at least they can argue that they care more about the pure game and national interest. US Club soccer cares only about money. In the past three years, they’ve launched new (and more frequent) showcases, regional talent showcases, national talent showcases, etc.... It feels like the ODP model all over. They have more than quadrupled their club rosters since they started and now they have been giving clubs multiple teams per age group. None of this serves to help identify, develop or consolidate talent. It actually harms that process by simply recreating the mess we already have...but the cash now flows to the guys in Richmond instead of being more distributed. GDA should be funded by US Soccer to offset the costs and talent should be more critically evaluated for those clubs. Letting US Club Soccer manage the top league will only harm the consumer and our future soccer potential.

Me too. The ECNL leadership is just trying to protect its revenue stream.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DA needs to go. We need one elite national league. Bring DA into ECNL. Let USSF manage national team prospects. IF ECNL becomes the elite national league then it should help USSF scout talent. They can use ECNL to build a strong player pool in each age group. Let USSF support club soccer and not compete against it.

I’d prefer to let an entity that actually cares about the players and development run things. As it stands, USSF cares about growing soccer popularity and US Club soccer cares about profiting on that growth. I know that USSF is a mess, but at least they can argue that they care more about the pure game and national interest. US Club soccer cares only about money. In the past three years, they’ve launched new (and more frequent) showcases, regional talent showcases, national talent showcases, etc.... It feels like the ODP model all over. They have more than quadrupled their club rosters since they started and now they have been giving clubs multiple teams per age group. None of this serves to help identify, develop or consolidate talent. It actually harms that process by simply recreating the mess we already have...but the cash now flows to the guys in Richmond instead of being more distributed. GDA should be funded by US Soccer to offset the costs and talent should be more critically evaluated for those clubs. Letting US Club Soccer manage the top league will only harm the consumer and our future soccer potential.

You’re clueless. This is hilarious. Please go away.

Anonymous wrote:DA needs to go. We need one elite national league. Bring DA into ECNL. Let USSF manage national team prospects. IF ECNL becomes the elite national league then it should help USSF scout talent. They can use ECNL to build a strong player pool in each age group. Let USSF support club soccer and not compete against it.

I’d prefer to let an entity that actually cares about the players and development run things. As it stands, USSF cares about growing soccer popularity and US Club soccer cares about profiting on that growth. I know that USSF is a mess, but at least they can argue that they care more about the pure game and national interest. US Club soccer cares only about money. In the past three years, they’ve launched new (and more frequent) showcases, regional talent showcases, national talent showcases, etc.... It feels like the ODP model all over. They have more than quadrupled their club rosters since they started and now they have been giving clubs multiple teams per age group. None of this serves to help identify, develop or consolidate talent. It actually harms that process by simply recreating the mess we already have...but the cash now flows to the guys in Richmond instead of being more distributed. GDA should be funded by US Soccer to offset the costs and talent should be more critically evaluated for those clubs. Letting US Club Soccer manage the top league will only harm the consumer and our future soccer potential.

DA needs to go. We need one elite national league. Bring DA into ECNL. Let USSF manage national team prospects. IF ECNL becomes the elite national league then it should help USSF scout talent. They can use ECNL to build a strong player pool in each age group. Let USSF support club soccer and not compete against it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see another ECNL team in NoVA. If VDA implodes, FCV could take over that area if it moves closer. A FCV/BRYC merger makes some sense. I just don't see FCV sustaining itself as DA implodes. I imagine that DA will struggle to survive the CV. Arlington players are already looking for an exit [b]and MU is basically done. FCV has strong enough teams to remain relevant but that is not sustainable for rising age groups. Why risk you future in the DA when ECNL is a serious option.

What does this mean? Arlington has fielded successful girls DA teams-why would they want to leave?

Not the poster....but do you think clubs are leaving DA because they can’t field successful teams?

They’re leaving because the cost/benefit ratio doesn’t justify further participation.

If you are not aware, running a GDA is extremely expensive for the club to run.

USSF needs to bow out of the youth market and focus on a MLS/NWSL merger and focus on selecting the 1 percent as players mature and filter them into true MLS/NWSL academy...similar to England.

If you haven’t noticed, the BDA is about to take a major hit.

All of you folks rooting against US Soccer and for this further fragmentation of soccer in the US are pissing in the wind. These developments, if they lead to the dissolution of the DAs, will not help this country do any better. The countries that do well have well developed culture and professional leagues around soccer. The US doesn't. US Soccer is trying to help with that gap via the DAs. If clubs break that up because of their thirst for $$, it may help their packetbooks but will leave soccer in the US in a worse state.

It does seem strange that people are hoping for a DA fail. Most of the ideas behind DA are intended to increase quality of training, staff and facilities. Yes, these will cost more for the club, but the player (and their family) will receive a much better (quality controlled) experience. The DA is truly player centered. Don’t believe for a second that the clubs choosing away from DA will be passing any savings on to their players. The players will continue to be paying just as much but with fewer product standards (and likely roster dilution) Also, the clubs Director will probably be driving a much nicer car.

Name a top soccer country where the national governing body also runs the to top youth league. I’ll wait.

Name a top country that dominates the soccer world without established soccer culture and a mature, very well funded professional and academy system, I’ll wait...

Which is why USSFs effort matters, and your rooting against DA is pissing directly into the wind.

Yeah, culture would help alot here. But we're not going to develop it overnight. We will likely never have the culture that you want. So now what?
Sure USSF matters. Unfortunately though they can't get out of their own way. And since our soccer culture is pay to play for the foreseeable future, we are dependent on organizations who can succeed in business. The USSF is not that organization. In fact, I dpn't think any government led organization can be successful in growing a nationwide soccer culture in this country. The free market must produce it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
What constitutes quality is in the eye of the beholder. There is not one formula that guarantees development and fits all. What people want is to minimize dilution and travel. Dropping back to one national league will do that. I don't have a problem with club directors making money either. After all, youth soccer is a business and that part is here to stay. Nobody is so altruistic that they're going to develop players without leveraging their effort to best advantage.

ECNL is not doing anything to reduce dilution. They are handing membership to any club that comes knocking. They can do this because there are little to no entry or operational requirements. Most parents have no clue what to look for in a soccer club, so the eye of the beholder argument is BS wrt quality - I can see it regarding value and ROI because people are looking for different experiences. If the club is for profit, the Directors are free to make much as money as they can convince their players to give them. If the clubs are non-profit, the Directors can’t. ECNL is like the android phone - some are good, most are crap. DA is like the iphone - almost always good.

Nobody said anything about ECNL reducing dilution. They are working the market to gain advantage is what they are doing. It's what happens in a free market. I will be pleased when one or the other league is defeated or we come to some sort of tiered system that better serves the country and youth. It is quite obvious that ECNL does a better job at what they do, feeding the college ranks. DA does a lousy job at feeding the NT's. The DA should collapse down to a much smaller, fully funded, elite league feeding NT's, and leave the bulk of the market to ECNL. That would improve the dilution problem we currently have.

Do you work for ECNL? I mean, this kind of unsupported BS feels like marketing.

I don't actually. You could easily switch those two names and I would be equally as happy. Let ECNL feed the NT's and DA be the college feeders. Either way, we do not need two massive leagues battling it out for our youth. It's counterproductive for our girls and for our country's NT programs. And who survives, should that be the case, will be dependent on money first, and soccer second. That's just reality.

Based on the last few years, ECNL has shown to be a better platform for clubs who make the decisions. and the market is reflecting that. On the present course, ECNL will slowly choke out GDA, barring a significant change. Either GDA will have to find a way for these clubs to prosper financially, or they will die. I am happy for any indication that one platform or the other will begin to dominate. We need a tiered system for this to work at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com/2020/03/23/north-carolina-courage-and-united-futbol-academy-ga-join-ecnl-girls-for-2020-21-season/

What's weird is they were already in the ECNL. NCFC is part of the same organization.

They will have two teams in ecnl next year.

Ahhh! The money train! Now I get it.

They already had two teams (1-GDA / 1- ECNL) They will now have two ECNL teams. NCFC/NC Courage is CASL and CASL is big enough to field two good teams per age group. They are the largest youth club in North Carolina.

Several mega clubs had both GDA and ECNL and have since went "all in" ECNL. These clubs had the benefit of doing a side by side comparison. There are a couple more club out there that still field both. Charlotte Independence is one to be watching with the NC Courage move.

This a pay to play model. The money must come from somewhere. It sure in the heck isn't coming from USSF and their surplus.

Mostly all MLS BDA Academies are free. The NWSL should do the same and the USSF should fully fund it. Put their money where their mouth is..Until then, its just another hypocritical soap box speech.

The rest of us will pay to play.

Or they had the benefit of doing a cost/profit analysis. ECNL teams are more profitable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see another ECNL team in NoVA. If VDA implodes, FCV could take over that area if it moves closer. A FCV/BRYC merger makes some sense. I just don't see FCV sustaining itself as DA implodes. I imagine that DA will struggle to survive the CV. Arlington players are already looking for an exit [b]and MU is basically done. FCV has strong enough teams to remain relevant but that is not sustainable for rising age groups. Why risk you future in the DA when ECNL is a serious option.

What does this mean? Arlington has fielded successful girls DA teams-why would they want to leave?

Not the poster....but do you think clubs are leaving DA because they can’t field successful teams?

They’re leaving because the cost/benefit ratio doesn’t justify further participation.

If you are not aware, running a GDA is extremely expensive for the club to run.

USSF needs to bow out of the youth market and focus on a MLS/NWSL merger and focus on selecting the 1 percent as players mature and filter them into true MLS/NWSL academy...similar to England.

If you haven’t noticed, the BDA is about to take a major hit.

All of you folks rooting against US Soccer and for this further fragmentation of soccer in the US are pissing in the wind. These developments, if they lead to the dissolution of the DAs, will not help this country do any better. The countries that do well have well developed culture and professional leagues around soccer. The US doesn't. US Soccer is trying to help with that gap via the DAs. If clubs break that up because of their thirst for $$, it may help their packetbooks but will leave soccer in the US in a worse state.

It does seem strange that people are hoping for a DA fail. Most of the ideas behind DA are intended to increase quality of training, staff and facilities. Yes, these will cost more for the club, but the player (and their family) will receive a much better (quality controlled) experience. The DA is truly player centered. Don’t believe for a second that the clubs choosing away from DA will be passing any savings on to their players. The players will continue to be paying just as much but with fewer product standards (and likely roster dilution) Also, the clubs Director will probably be driving a much nicer car.

Name a top soccer country where the national governing body also runs the to top youth league. I’ll wait.

Name a top country that dominates the soccer world without established soccer culture and a mature, very well funded professional and academy system, I’ll wait...

Which is why USSFs effort matters, and your rooting against DA is pissing directly into the wind.

Even though what you say is true that does not mean it will result in success. On the men's side, there are only a handful of countries that have ever won or gotten to the final match of a World Cup, Copa America, or Euro Cup. On the women's side even less (and we are the historical best, starting well before DA was ever conceived). So there are many more failure stories than success stories. The keys on the men's side are: culture (obsessive, pervasive culture akin to what we have here in the states relative to football, basketball, and to a lesser degree baseball); and a world class professional league that pays millions to their top athletes (NFL, NBA, MLB, EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, etc.) or lack of such a league and clear routes from the country into another set of leagues (re: Brazil/Argentina into the top notch UEFA leagues). The culture results in lots of dads (and moms) that know the sport and can teach the sport well outside of all the "pro" youth coaches as well as families watching and going to games - exposing youths to the right way to play. The culture and dream of money (real money, not MLS salaries) also results in a small but important set of kids playing for hours, day after day until they become world class. For every one C. Pulisic we have here there are 50+ in every soccer obsessed country. So while we can talk about USSF and DA/ECNL, etc. they are not the keys to success.

On the women's side the pinnacle is getting a D1 scholarship and/or making the USWNT. We are the best and have been the best due to our progressive women's rights and Title IX and many other country's second class citizen rating of women in general. The progressive Euro countries are catching up, but we'll always be at or near the top as soccer is a part of female sports culture in this country and for women (athletically) has one of the most attractive financial pathways outside of WNBA (where we also dominate the world stage).

Culture and money. That's all that matters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see another ECNL team in NoVA. If VDA implodes, FCV could take over that area if it moves closer. A FCV/BRYC merger makes some sense. I just don't see FCV sustaining itself as DA implodes. I imagine that DA will struggle to survive the CV. Arlington players are already looking for an exit [b]and MU is basically done. FCV has strong enough teams to remain relevant but that is not sustainable for rising age groups. Why risk you future in the DA when ECNL is a serious option.

What does this mean? Arlington has fielded successful girls DA teams-why would they want to leave?

Not the poster....but do you think clubs are leaving DA because they can’t field successful teams?

They’re leaving because the cost/benefit ratio doesn’t justify further participation.

If you are not aware, running a GDA is extremely expensive for the club to run.

USSF needs to bow out of the youth market and focus on a MLS/NWSL merger and focus on selecting the 1 percent as players mature and filter them into true MLS/NWSL academy...similar to England.

If you haven’t noticed, the BDA is about to take a major hit.

All of you folks rooting against US Soccer and for this further fragmentation of soccer in the US are pissing in the wind. These developments, if they lead to the dissolution of the DAs, will not help this country do any better. The countries that do well have well developed culture and professional leagues around soccer. The US doesn't. US Soccer is trying to help with that gap via the DAs. If clubs break that up because of their thirst for $$, it may help their packetbooks but will leave soccer in the US in a worse state.

It does seem strange that people are hoping for a DA fail. Most of the ideas behind DA are intended to increase quality of training, staff and facilities. Yes, these will cost more for the club, but the player (and their family) will receive a much better (quality controlled) experience. The DA is truly player centered. Don’t believe for a second that the clubs choosing away from DA will be passing any savings on to their players. The players will continue to be paying just as much but with fewer product standards (and likely roster dilution) Also, the clubs Director will probably be driving a much nicer car.

Name a top soccer country where the national governing body also runs the to top youth league. I’ll wait.

Name a top country that dominates the soccer world without established soccer culture and a mature, very well funded professional and academy system, I’ll wait...

Which is why USSFs effort matters, and your rooting against DA is pissing directly into the wind.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
What constitutes quality is in the eye of the beholder. There is not one formula that guarantees development and fits all. What people want is to minimize dilution and travel. Dropping back to one national league will do that. I don't have a problem with club directors making money either. After all, youth soccer is a business and that part is here to stay. Nobody is so altruistic that they're going to develop players without leveraging their effort to best advantage.

ECNL is not doing anything to reduce dilution. They are handing membership to any club that comes knocking. They can do this because there are little to no entry or operational requirements. Most parents have no clue what to look for in a soccer club, so the eye of the beholder argument is BS wrt quality - I can see it regarding value and ROI because people are looking for different experiences. If the club is for profit, the Directors are free to make much as money as they can convince their players to give them. If the clubs are non-profit, the Directors can’t. ECNL is like the android phone - some are good, most are crap. DA is like the iphone - almost always good.

Nobody said anything about ECNL reducing dilution. They are working the market to gain advantage is what they are doing. It's what happens in a free market. I will be pleased when one or the other league is defeated or we come to some sort of tiered system that better serves the country and youth. It is quite obvious that ECNL does a better job at what they do, feeding the college ranks. DA does a lousy job at feeding the NT's. The DA should collapse down to a much smaller, fully funded, elite league feeding NT's, and leave the bulk of the market to ECNL. That would improve the dilution problem we currently have.

Do you work for ECNL? I mean, this kind of unsupported BS feels like marketing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
What constitutes quality is in the eye of the beholder. There is not one formula that guarantees development and fits all. What people want is to minimize dilution and travel. Dropping back to one national league will do that. I don't have a problem with club directors making money either. After all, youth soccer is a business and that part is here to stay. Nobody is so altruistic that they're going to develop players without leveraging their effort to best advantage.

ECNL is not doing anything to reduce dilution. They are handing membership to any club that comes knocking. They can do this because there are little to no entry or operational requirements. Most parents have no clue what to look for in a soccer club, so the eye of the beholder argument is BS wrt quality - I can see it regarding value and ROI because people are looking for different experiences. If the club is for profit, the Directors are free to make much as money as they can convince their players to give them. If the clubs are non-profit, the Directors can’t. ECNL is like the android phone - some are good, most are crap. DA is like the iphone - almost always good.

Nobody said anything about ECNL reducing dilution. They are working the market to gain advantage is what they are doing. It's what happens in a free market. I will be pleased when one or the other league is defeated or we come to some sort of tiered system that better serves the country and youth. It is quite obvious that ECNL does a better job at what they do, feeding the college ranks. DA does a lousy job at feeding the NT's. The DA should collapse down to a much smaller, fully funded, elite league feeding NT's, and leave the bulk of the market to ECNL. That would improve the dilution problem we currently have.